Cable enclosure assemblies and methods for using the same

• US 7,477,826 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Powell, James Bert, Hastings, Christopher Alan, Carrico, William Alan, Mullaney, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood; Kevin S
• Application Number:
  US11/978,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20080169116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 385/51, 385134-139, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4477 with means for strain-relieving to interior strengths element
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/013 Sealing means for cable inlets inlets for cables filled with, or surrounded by, gas or oil H02G15/32
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/115 Boxes split perpendicularly to main cable direction

Abstract

According to embodiments of the present invention, a cable sealing assembly for providing an environmental seal about a cable includes a housing, a flowable cable sealant and a compression feature. The housing includes first and second housing parts. The first housing part defines a cable passage to receive a cable having a lengthwise cable axis. The cable sealant is disposed in the cable passage. The compression feature forms at least a part of the second housing part and is movable in an installation direction between a ready position and an installed position. The compression feature is shaped and configured to force the cable sealant to flow about the cable in a direction transverse to the cable axis to circumferentially surround a portion of the cable when the compression feature is moved from the ready position to the installed position.

Claims

1. A cable sealing assembly for providing an environmental seal about a cable, the assembly comprising:

a housing including first and second housing parts, the first housing part defining a cable passage to receive a cable having a lengthwise cable axis;

a flowable cable sealant disposed in the cable passage; and

a compression feature forming at least a part of the second housing part and movable in an installation direction between a ready position and an installed position;

wherein the compression feature is shaped and configured to force the cable sealant to flow about the cable in a direction transverse to the cable axis to circumferentially surround a portion of the cable when the compression feature is moved from the ready position to the installed position; and

wherein the compression feature, when moved from the ready position to the installed position in the installation direction, applies a compressive load to the cable sealant in each of;

a first direction generally toward the cable, substantially parallel to the installation direction and substantially perpendicular to the cable axis;

a second direction generally toward the cable, transverse to the cable axis and transverse to the first direction; and

a third direction generally toward the cable, transverse to the cable axis, transverse to the first direction, and generally opposing the second direction.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the compression feature has a generally concave engagement surface.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the assembly is configured to initially receive the cable in the cable passage such that a cable entry trough is defined in the cable sealant along the portion of the cable; and

the compression feature is shaped and configured to force the cable sealant to flow about the cable to fill the cable entry trough with the cable sealant when the compression feature is moved from the ready position to the installed position.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

when the compression feature is in the installed position, a buffer region is defined between the compression feature and the cable; and

the compression feature is shaped and configured to force the cable sealant to flow about the cable to fill the buffer region with the cable sealant when the compression feature is moved from the ready position to the installed position.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the second housing part includes a locator feature configured to engage the cable to maintain a buffer spacing distance between the cable and the compression member to maintain the buffer region.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the assembly is a cable enclosure assembly, the first and second housing parts are relatively movable between an open position and a closed position, and the cable enclosure assembly defines an enclosed chamber when the cable enclosure assembly is in its closed position.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the cable enclosure assembly is a clamshell assembly and the first and second housing parts are pivotally joined by a hinge mechanism.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the hinge is located on a hinge side of the cable enclosure assembly, the assembly includes a cable port communicating with the cable passage to receive the cable, the cable port is defined in the hinge side of the cable enclosure assembly, and the cable sealant and the compression feature are located adjacent the cable port.

9. The assembly of claim 6 including a perimeter sealant, wherein the cable sealant and the perimeter sealant in combination environmentally seal the chamber when the cable enclosure assembly is in its closed position.

10. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the second housing part is free of sealant when the cable enclosure assembly is in its open position.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first housing part includes at least one containment wall defining a sealant cavity in the cable passage, wherein the cable sealant is bounded by the at least one containment wall to limit displacement of the cable sealant from the sealant cavity when the compression feature is moved from its ready position to its installed position.

12. The assembly of claim 1 including the cable installed in the cable passage, wherein the cable is a fiber optic cable including an optical fiber.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the cable is a flat drop cable including a strength member, an optical fiber, and a jacket surrounding the strength member and the optical fiber.

14. The assembly of claim 12 including:

a second cable, wherein the second cable is a fiber optic cable including an optical fiber; and

a splice connection coupling the optical fibers of the first and second cables in chamber defined by the first and second housing parts.

15. The assembly of claim 1 including a triple point filler feature configured to occupy a triple point void channel formed in the cable sealant by movement of the compression feature from the ready position to the installed position.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the triple point filler feature is located on the compression feature.

17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sealant is an elastically elongatable gel sealant.

18. A method for providing an environmental seal about a cable having a lengthwise cable axis using a cable sealing assembly including first and second housing parts, the method comprising:

installing the cable in a cable passage defined in the first housing part; and

thereafter

moving a compression feature forming at least a part of the second housing part in an installation direction between a ready position and an installed position such that the compression feature forces a flowable cable sealant disposed in the cable passage to flow about the cable in each of;

a first direction generally toward the cable, substantially parallel to the installation direction and substantially perpendicular to the cable axis;

a second direction generally toward the cable, transverse to the cable axis and transverse to the first direction; and

a third direction generally toward the cable, transverse to the cable axis, transverse to the first direction, and generally opposing the second direction

to circumferentially surround a portion of the cable.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the cable sealant is an elastically deformable gel sealant and including elastically elongating and deforming the gel sealant such that the gel sealant deforms to substantially conform to the portion of the cable and a restoring force in the elastically deformed gel sealant bears against the portion of the cable.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein:

installing the cable in the cable passage includes forming a cable entry trough in the cable sealant along the portion of the cable; and

the compression feature is shaped and configured to force the cable sealant to flow about the cable to fill the cable entry trough with the cable sealant when the compression feature is moved from the ready position to the installed position.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the compression feature has a generally concave engagement surface.

20. A cable sealing assembly for providing an environmental seal about a cable, the assembly comprising:

a housing assembly defining a cable passage to receive a cable having a lengthwise cable axis; and

a flowable cable sealant disposed in the cable passage;

wherein the housing assembly includes;

a compression feature movable between a ready position and an installed position to flowably displace the cable sealant about the cable; and

a triple point filler feature configured to occupy a triple point void channel formed in the cable sealant by movement of the compression feature from the ready position to the installed position.

21. A method for providing an environmental seal about a cable having a lengthwise cable axis using a cable sealing assembly, the method comprising:

installing the cable in a cable passage defined in the cable sealing assembly, the cable passage having a flowable cable sealant disposed therein; and

thereafter

moving a compression feature from a ready position to an installed position to flowably displace the cable sealant about the cable and position a triple point filler feature in a triple point void channel formed thereby in the cable sealant.

24. A cable sealing assembly for providing an environmental seal about a cable, the assembly comprising:

a housing including first and second housing parts, the first housing part defining a cable passage to receive a cable having a lengthwise cable axis;

a flowable cable sealant disposed in the cable passage; and

a compression feature forming at least a part of the second housing part and movable in an installation direction between a ready position and an installed position;

wherein the compression feature is shaped and configured to force the cable sealant to flow about the cable in a direction transverse to the cable axis to circumferentially surround a portion of the cable when the compression feature is moved from the ready position to the installed position; and

wherein the compression feature has a generally concave engagement surface.

25. A cable sealing assembly for providing an environmental seal about a cable, the assembly comprising:

a housing including first and second housing parts, the first housing part defining a cable passage to receive a cable having a lengthwise cable axis;

a flowable cable sealant disposed in the cable passage; and

a compression feature forming at least a part of the second housing part and movable in an installation direction between a ready position and an installed position;

wherein the compression feature is shaped and configured to force the cable sealant to flow about the cable in a direction transverse to the cable axis to circumferentially surround a portion of the cable when the compression feature is moved from the ready position to the installed position;

wherein, when the compression feature is in the installed position, a buffer region is defined between the compression feature and the cable;

wherein the compression feature is shaped and configured to force the cable sealant to flow about the cable to fill the buffer region with the cable sealant when the compression feature is moved from the ready position to the installed position; and

wherein the second housing part includes a locator feature that is configured to engage the cable to maintain a buffer spacing distance between the cable and the compression member to maintain the buffer region.

26. A cable sealing assembly for providing an environmental seal about a cable, the assembly comprising:

a housing including first and second housing parts, the first housing part defining a cable passage to receive a cable having a lengthwise cable axis;

a flowable cable sealant disposed in the cable passage; and

a compression feature forming at least a part of the second housing part and movable in an installation direction between a ready position and an installed position;

wherein the compression feature is shaped and configured to force the cable sealant to flow about the cable in a direction transverse to the cable axis to circumferentially surround a portion of the cable when the compression feature is moved from the ready position to the installed position;

wherein the assembly is configured to initially receive the cable in the cable passage such that a cable entry trough is defined in the cable sealant along the portion of the cable; and

wherein the compression feature is shaped and configured to force the cable sealant to flow about the cable to fill the cable entry trough with the cable sealant when the compression feature is moved from the ready position to the installed position.

27. A cable sealing assembly for providing an environmental seal about a cable, the assembly comprising:

a housing including first and second housing parts, the first housing part defining a cable passage to receive a cable having a lengthwise cable axis;

a flowable cable sealant disposed in the cable passage; and

a compression feature forming at least a part of the second housing part and movable in an installation direction between a ready position and an installed position;

wherein the compression feature is shaped and configured to force the cable sealant to flow about the cable in a direction transverse to the cable axis to circumferentially surround a portion of the cable when the compression feature is moved from the ready position to the installed position; and

wherein the cable sealing assembly further includes a triple point filler feature configured to occupy a triple point void channel formed in the cable sealant by movement of the compression feature from the ready position to the installed position.