Telecom Enclosure Sealed Interface and Latch Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Telecommunications enclosures face challenges in maintaining re-enterability and effective sealing while allowing access to internal components without compromising the integrity of the enclosure, especially in protecting against moisture and contaminants.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates an enclosure with a base and cover that join at a sealed interface, featuring offset seal portions and latches with trapezoidal lever handles and wire clips for secure closure, along with resilient members to resist pivotal movement of fiber management trays, ensuring the enclosure remains sealed and accessible.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the enclosure uses a sealed interface to protect against moisture and contaminants, then protection reliability is improved, but access to internal components becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection reliabilityVSAvoidaccess ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosure is divided into separable parts (enclosure base and enclosure cover) that can be joined to form a sealed environment or separated to allow access. The sealed interface extends about a perimeter of the enclosure, creating a protective barrier when closed, while the modular design enables easy opening and closing for component access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the enclosure uses latches to secure the cover, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidlatch mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The latch mechanism is designed to automatically engage and secure the enclosure cover when closed, without requiring additional fastening operations. The latch lever handles are positioned to overhand the top side when latched, providing visual confirmation of the sealed state while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the seal interface extends about the entire perimeter, then protection against contaminants is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sealed interface extends about a perimeter of the enclosure, providing localized sealing at critical junctions where the enclosure base and cover meet. This perimeter sealing approach protects against moisture and contaminants entering through the primary access points while avoiding the complexity of sealing entire surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11280975B2Fiber management tray with crossing location

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 COMMSCOPE CONNECTIVITY BELGIUM BVBA

AI summary

Example telecommunications apparatus (100) include an enclosure (103) having an enclosure base (101) and a enclosure cover (102) that join together at a sealed interface. The enclosure cover (102) is latchable to the enclosure base (101). A splice tray assembly (106) is disposed within the interior (104) of the enclosure (103). The splice tray assembly (106) includes splice trays (150) mounted to a manager insert. A splitter (192) may be provided on the manager insert. The manager insert also may include a groove plate (160) latched to a base plate (180). One or more port assemblies (107-109) enable cables to enter and/or exit the enclosure (103) through sealed cable ports (145-147). The port assemblies (107-109) may provide anchors (214, 234) for cable strength members and/or organizers (243, 244, 253, 254) for fiber tubes.