Tool-Less Multi-Fiber Breakout Assembly for Stable Cable Constraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fiber optic cable breakouts require tools for assembly and are not compatible with multi-fiber cables having annular grooves, lacking effective axial and circumferential constraints.
Innovation Solution
A tool-less breakout assembly that includes a breakout body, cable body, and coupler portion, utilizing snap-fit housings and threaded connections to securely engage multi-fiber cables without tools, with annular ridges and compressible features for mechanical constraint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional breakouts are used, then mechanical connection is provided, but tools are required for assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The breakout assembly is designed to be self-assembling through a tool-less coupling mechanism. The coupler portion with external threads engages directly with the cable body internal threads, allowing the breakout to be assembled by simply inserting the cable and tightening the coupler hand-tight, without requiring external tools like pliers or heat guns.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakout assembly is divided into separate functional components: a breakout body portion for fiber management, a cable body portion for cable engagement, and a coupler portion for securing the cable. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables tool-less assembly through their interconnected features.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional breakouts are used, then connection is provided, but compatibility with multi-fiber cables having annular grooves is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler portion incorporates an asymmetric annular ridge that engages with the annular groove on the multi-fiber cable. This asymmetric feature provides precise positioning and prevents rotational movement, ensuring reliable connection specifically for cables with annular grooves while maintaining compatibility with standard cable configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable engaging body end portion includes localized features such as the annular ridge and internal threaded portion positioned specifically to interface with the cable's annular groove and outer surface. This localized design provides targeted engagement points that ensure secure attachment without requiring modification of the entire cable structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional breakouts are used, then cable connection is provided, but axial and circumferential constraints are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cable body portion is pre-formed with an external threaded portion and radially compressible portion that are positioned to engage the cable before final assembly. The coupler portion includes a tapered inner surface that guides the cable into proper alignment and applies initial compressive force, ensuring stable axial and circumferential constraints are established during the simple tightening operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The radially compressible portion of the cable body changes its radial dimension when the coupler is tightened, transitioning from a loose state to a compressed state that provides firm circumferential grip on the cable. This parameter change enables simple hand-tightening to produce strong mechanical constraints without complex constraint mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a secure, tool-less connection that maintains axial and rotational stability of multi-fiber cables, facilitating easy installation and reducing assembly complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a radially compressible portion that extends from the external threaded portion in a direction away from the breakout proximate body end portion of the cable body portion. The coupler portion may include an internal threaded coupler portion and a tapered inner coupler surface that extends from the internal threaded coupler portion in a direction away from the cable body portion, the internal threaded coupler portion of the coupler portion may be configured to be threadedly coupled with the external threaded portion of the cable body portion, and the tapered inner surface of the coupler portion may be configured to urge the radially compressible portion of the cable body portion radially inward when the coupler portion is threadedly coupled with the cable body portion so as radially compress the radially compressible portion onto a multi-fiber cable
Implementation Method 2
The coupler portion may include an annularly extending ridge portion that may be configured to protrude radially inward from an inner surface portion of the cable body portion, the annularly extending ridge portion may be configured to engage an annular groove portion in a multi-fiber cable when the cable body portion is coupled with the coupler portion so as to prevent relative axial movement between the coupler portion and the multi-fiber cable
Implementation Method 3
the housing may be configured to be coupled with the cable body portion such that the cable body portion is prevented from rotating and from moving axially relative to the housing, and the housing may be configured to be coupled with the breakout body portion such that the breakout body portion is prevented from rotating and from moving axially relative to the housing
Implementation Method 4
the internal threaded coupler portion of the coupler portion may be configured to be threadedly coupled with the external threaded portion of the cable body portion
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-fiber breakout assembly may include a breakout body portion that may be configured to break out a plurality of fiber cables from a multi-fiber cable, a body portion that may include a body-to-coupler engaging portion and a radially inward body-to-cable engaging portion that may be configured to engage an outwardly facing cable portion of a cable, and a coupler portion that may include a coupler-to-body engaging portion that may be configured to engage the body-to-coupler engaging portion of the body portion when the connector assembly is terminated on a cable. The coupler portion may be configured to move from a first position, where the coupler portion does not urge the radially inward body-to-cable engaging portion radially inward onto the outwardly facing cable portion of the multi-fiber cable, to a second position, where the coupler portion urges the radially body-to-cable engaging portion radially inward onto the outwardly facing cable portion of the cable so as to form a body-to-cable engagement portion when the coupler portion is in the second position. The body portion may include a breakout proximate body end portion that is located proximate to the breakout body portion when the coupler portion is in the second position. The coupler portion may be configured to tool-lessly provide a mechanical connector assembly-to-cable connection that may be configured to allow the connector to be connected to the cable without having to use a tool.