Off-site Cable Termination for Watercraft Installation Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficient installation of electrical and optical cables in watercraft due to customization, precise length requirements, and the difficulty of terminating large connectors in cramped or inaccessible areas, leading to increased labor costs and potential errors.
Innovation Solution
Terminating one end of the cable off-site using automated machines, then routing and terminating the other end on-site through watertight bulkheads and ductwork, allowing for pre-testing to ensure error-free connections and reducing on-site labor and troubleshooting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cables are terminated on-site in watercraft, then installation can be completed in one location, but labor costs increase and errors may occur due to cramped or inaccessible areas
Solution Approach 1:
The cable installation process is divided into two separate stages: off-site termination at a manufacturing location, and on-site installation through bulkheads. This segmentation allows complex termination work to be performed in an accessible environment with proper equipment, while the simpler installation task is performed on-site, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Cable terminations are performed in advance at a manufacturing location before the cable is installed in the watercraft. This preliminary action allows terminations to be completed in an accessible environment with proper tools and equipment, eliminating the difficulty of working in cramped spaces during final installation and reducing on-site installation time.
2Productivity
If cables are cut to precise lengths for customization, then installation efficiency improves, but the complexity of managing multiple cable lengths increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable system is segmented into standardized sections that can be pre-assembled with connectors. Rather than cutting individual cables to custom lengths, the system uses modular cable segments that can be configured through connection arrangements, maintaining installation efficiency while reducing the complexity of managing varying cable lengths.
3Loss of time
If pre-terminated cables are installed, then on-site labor is reduced, but testing capabilities are limited without full termination
Solution Approach 1:
Cable terminations are performed in advance at a manufacturing location where comprehensive testing equipment and expertise are available. This preliminary termination allows for thorough testing and validation of connections before installation, ensuring reliability while reducing on-site labor time. The pre-terminated cables are then installed as complete units through bulkheads.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application is directed towards systems and methods for efficient installation of optical and electrical cable in watercraft. A manufacturer may terminate one end of a cable in a location removed from the watercraft, allowing use of automated cable termination machines for efficiency and consistency of terminations. The single-terminated cable may then be brought to the watercraft and installed by pulling or routing the unterminated end through ductwork and pipes, watertight bulkhead throughways, and cable trays and ladders as necessary, prior to termination. Accordingly, more difficult and expensive on-site labor is reduced, and reliability is greatly increased. Furthermore, many cable tests that require termination but cannot be executed post-installation can be performed prior to installation, to ensure that at least the first termination, performed off-site, is error-free, reducing later troubleshooting and further increasing installation efficiency.