SZ Stranded Buffer Tube Optical Cable Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical cable designs with central strength members and buffer tubes result in larger diameters and more components, making them heavier, harder to install, and more costly, while also using more materials than necessary.
Innovation Solution
The optical cable design incorporates a central strength member with one or two buffer tubes stranded in a SZ pattern, eliminating the need for a continuum of abutted buffer tubes and filler rods, thereby creating an air gap and reducing the overall diameter and component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a continuum of abutted buffer tubes and filler rods is used around the central strength member, then the cable structure is more stable and circular, but the cable diameter increases and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes filler rods from the cable structure, extracting unnecessary components that contribute to weight and material usage. The buffer tubes are stranded directly around the central strength member without filler rods, creating gaps between adjacent buffer tubes while maintaining structural integrity through the SZ stranding pattern.
2Shape
If multiple filler rods and buffer tubes are used to create a circular cable structure, then the cable jacket forms a regular circular cross-section, but the number of components and materials increases
Solution Approach 1:
Filler rods are completely removed from the cable structure. The patent uses only buffer tubes stranded around the central strength member, reducing the component count from multiple filler rods plus buffer tubes to just buffer tubes alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable structure is segmented into discrete buffer tubes stranded in an SZ pattern around the central strength member. The gaps between buffer tubes are accepted as part of the design, segmenting the previously continuous circular structure into discrete elements that still provide overall structural stability.
3Strength
If buffer tubes are densely packed around the central strength member, then structural support is maximized, but the cable diameter and wind/ice loads increase
Solution Approach 1:
Filler rods that contribute to increasing cable diameter and external surface area are removed. The gaps between buffer tubes reduce the overall cable diameter and external surface area, thereby reducing wind and ice loads while maintaining structural support through the buffer tubes and central strength member.
4Quantity of substance
If a continuum of buffer tubes and filler rods is used, then material usage is higher, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Filler rods are extracted from the cable structure, directly reducing material usage. Since filler rods are separate components that require manufacturing and assembly, their removal reduces both material costs and manufacturing complexity, lowering overall production costs.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical cable includes a central strength member. A buffer tube, surrounding at least one optical fiber, is SZ stranded around the strength member. An air gap exists between adjacent lays of the buffer tube as the buffer tube follows a SZ stranding path along the strength member. The buffer tube has a diameter and occupies a first angular portion of the three hundred sixty degrees surrounding the strength member, and the air gap occupies a second angular portion of the three hundred sixty degrees surrounding the strength member, which is greater than the first angular portion. At least one element holds the buffer tube in the SZ stranding path along the strength member, and an outer jacket surrounds the at least one element, the buffer tube and the strength member.