The present invention relates to a pull-end attachment structure.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-202338, filed Dec. 14, 2021, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
In the related art, there is known a method for connecting a plurality of data centers by pulling a cable (optical cable) having an end portion to which a connector is attached to pass the cable through a thin duct provided in the ground. In this method, a so-called pull end, which is a portion to which an operator applies a pulling force, is attached to the cable. As a structure (hereinafter, referred to as a pull-end attachment structure) for attaching the pull end to the cable, generally, a structure is known in which a dam case fixed to the cable and the pull end are fixed by a plurality of bolts arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction.
In recent years, as optical cable networks have been expanded, it has become necessary to insert a plurality of cables into a thin duct. Patent Document 1 discloses a cable terminal structure in which a plurality of cables can be accommodated in a pull end by disposing a plurality of connectors to be shifted in a front-rear direction (axial direction).
By the way, when a cable is newly inserted into a thin duct in which a plurality of cables are already arranged, a sufficient space for inserting a pull end may not be secured, and there is a case where insertion of the pull end becomes difficult. In order to allow the pull end to be inserted even in such a limited space, it is preferable to reduce an outer diameter of the pull end.
However, even when the arrangement of objects accommodated in the pull end is improved as in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to realize a reduction in diameter of the pull end itself. Here, a method for reducing the diameter of the pull end by thinning the pull end is also conceivable. However, in the general pull-end attachment structure described above, the bolt also becomes smaller as the pull end is thinner, so that there is a possibility that sufficient attachment strength cannot be obtained. If the attachment strength is insufficient, the pull end may fall off from the cable when the pull end is pulled.
The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pull-end attachment structure capable of achieving both a reduction in diameter of a pull end and securing attachment strength of the pull end with respect to a cable.
In order to solve the above problems, a pull-end attachment structure according to an aspect of the present invention includes a cable having an optical fiber, a dam case formed in a cylindrical shape and fixed to the cable so as to surround the cable, a cylindrical member to which a pull-hose configured to accommodate an end portion of the optical fiber is attached and which is provided so as to surround an outer circumferential surface of the dam case, and a fixing member formed in a cylindrical shape, provided so as to surround the cable, and capable of fixing to the cylindrical member, in which an outer diameter of the fixing member is equal to or less than an outer diameter of the cylindrical member, and a contacting surface is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, the contacting surface that contacts the dam case and transfers a pulling force to the dam case when the cylindrical member and the fixing member are pulled through the pull-hose.
According to the aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a pull-end attachment structure capable of reducing a diameter of a pull end and securing attachment strength of the pull end with respect to a cable.
Hereinafter, a pull-end attachment structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in
Here, in the present embodiment, a direction parallel to the central axis O of the cylindrical metal fitting 30 or the like is referred to as a longitudinal direction Z, a Z direction, or an axial direction Z. A direction from the fixing member 40 toward the cylindrical metal fitting 30 along the axial direction Z is referred to as a +Z direction, a front side, or a distal end side. A direction opposite to the +Z direction is referred to as a −Z direction, a rear side, or a proximal end side. A direction orthogonal to the central axis O of the cylindrical metal fitting 30 or the like is referred to as a radial direction. Along the radial direction, a direction closer to the central axis O will be referred to as a radially inner side, and a direction away from the central axis O will be referred to as a radially outer side. A direction that orbits around the central axis O when viewed from the axial direction Z is referred to as a circumferential direction.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The sheath 12 covers and coats the plurality of optical fibers 11 from the radially outer side. As the material of the sheath 12, polyolefin (PO) resin such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer (EEA), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and ethylene propylene copolymer (EP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or the like may be used. Further, a compound (alloy, mixture) of the above resins may be used to form the sheath 12. A front end of the sheath 12 according to the present embodiment is located in the dam case 20.
As shown in the example of
The tensile strength member 13 according to the present embodiment is embedded in the sheath 12. Each tensile strength member 13 extends in the axial direction Z along the optical fiber 11. The tensile strength member 13 is a member having a higher spring constant or higher tensile strength in the axial direction Z than the sheath 12. As the material of the tensile strength member 13, for example, a metal wire (steel wire or the like), fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), or the like may be used. When the pulling force (tension) is applied to the cable 10 along the axial direction Z, the tensile strength member 13 has a role of receiving the pulling force and protecting the optical fiber 11. In the present embodiment, four tensile strength members 13 are disposed so as to sandwich the plurality of optical fibers 11 in the radial direction. The number and positions of the tensile strength members 13 are not limited to the shown example, and can be changed as appropriate.
As shown in
As shown in
As described above, the pull-hose 100 is attached to the cylindrical metal fitting 30. As shown in
Here, the outer circumferential surface 22 of the dam case 20 according to the present embodiment has a small diameter portion 23. An outer diameter of the small diameter portion 23 is smaller than an outer diameter of the outer circumferential surface 22 in the other portion. The small diameter portion 23 is formed in the distal end portion of the dam case 20. Since the small diameter portion 23 is formed in the dam case 20, the hose 110 and the dam case 20 are less likely to interfere with each other, and the deformation of the hose 110 is less likely to be hindered by the dam case 20.
As shown in
As shown in
An accommodation recessed portion 43 that is recessed toward the radially outer side and is open forward is formed in an inner circumferential surface 41 of the fixing member 40 according to the present embodiment. The rear end of the dam case 20 is accommodated in the accommodation recessed portion 43 of the fixing member 40. In addition, the accommodation recessed portion 43 of the fixing member 40 includes a contacting surface 43a that faces forward. The contacting surface 43a faces a rear end surface 20a of the dam case 20 in the axial direction Z. Although the details will be described later, the contacting surface 43a contacts the dam case 20 and has a role of transferring a pulling force to the dam case 20 when the cylindrical metal fitting 30 and the fixing member 40 are pulled through the pull-hose 100.
A first threaded portion 42a is provided at a front end portion of the fixing member 40 according to the present embodiment. In the example shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The pin 44 is inserted into the pin hole 45, whereby the first facing surface S1 and the second facing surface S2 come into contact with each other, and the first member 40A and the second member 40B are fitted to each other. Further, since the pin 44 is inserted into the pin hole 45, the first member 40A and the second member 40B are prevented from shifting in the axial direction Z. Conversely, by removing the pin 44 from the pin hole 45, the fixing member 40 is split into the first member 40A and the second member 40B. The number and disposition of the pins 44 and the pin holes 45 are not limited to the example of
Next, an operation of the pull-end attachment structure 1 configured as described above will be described.
When the cable 10 is inserted into a duct or the like using the pull end P according to the present embodiment, an attachment step of attaching the pull end P to the cable 10, and a step of pulling the cable 10 via the pull end P are performed.
In the attachment step, first, the cable 10 is inserted into the pull end P from the rear end of the pull end P so that the dam case 20 and the cylindrical metal fitting 30 face each other in the radial direction (see
After the attachment step is performed, the pulling step is performed. In the pulling step, for example, the grip 121 of the pulling portion 120 is pulled forward. Here, since the pulling portion 120, the hose 110, the cylindrical metal fitting 30, and the fixing member 40 are fixed to each other, the pulling portion 120, the hose 110, the cylindrical metal fitting 30, and the fixing member 40 are integrally pulled forward. In other words, the cylindrical metal fitting 30 and the fixing member 40 are pulled through the pull-hose 100. In this case, the contacting surface 43a of the fixing member 40 and the rear end surface 20a of the dam case 20 come into contact with each other (see also
After pulling the cable 10 by the above method, the screwing between the first threaded portion 42a and the second threaded portion 31a may be released by rotating the fixing member 40 in the reverse direction with respect to the cylindrical metal fitting 30 (see
Further, as shown in
Meanwhile, as a pull-end attachment structure of the related art, a structure is generally known in which a dam case fixed to a cable and a pull end are fixed by a plurality of bolts disposed at intervals in a circumferential direction. In such a pull-end attachment structure, when a new cable is to be inserted into a thin duct in which a plurality of cables are already arranged, a sufficient space for inserting the pull end may not be secured, and there is a case where insertion of the pull end becomes difficult. In order to allow the pull end to be inserted even in a limited space, it is preferable to reduce an outer diameter of the pull end.
Here, a method of thinning of the pull end is conceivable in order to reduce the outer diameter of the pull end. However, in the general pull-end attachment structure described above, the bolt also becomes smaller as the pull end is thinner, so that there is a possibility that sufficient attachment strength cannot be obtained. If the attachment strength is insufficient, the pull end may fall off from the cable when the pull end is pulled. Further, it is conceivable to increase the number of bolts, but even in this method, the attachment strength may be unstable. The reason is as follows. That is, in a case in which loads applied to the plurality of bolts are non-uniform, the load is locally concentrated on a specific bolt, and there is a possibility that the bolt is damaged.
In the pull-end attachment structure 1 according to the present embodiment, the pull end P is attached to the cable 10 by the cylindrical fixing member 40 disposed so as to surround the cable 10. Here, the fixing member 40 according to the present embodiment is a member that is continuous in the circumferential direction, whereas the plurality of bolts are provided intermittently in the circumferential direction in the pull-end attachment structure in the related art. Therefore, a contact area where the fixing member 40 and the pull end P are in contact with each other can be made larger than a contact area where the bolt and the pull end are in contact with each other in the related-art structure. Therefore, according to the pull-end attachment structure 1 of the present embodiment, the attachment strength can be secured even in a case where the pull end P is thinned and reduced in diameter. That is, it is possible to achieve both the reduction in the diameter of the pull end P and the securing of the attachment strength of the pull end P to the cable 10.
Further, the outer diameter R1 of the fixing member 40 according to the present embodiment is equal to or less than the outer diameter R2 of the cylindrical metal fitting 30. As a result, when the cable 10 is pulled into the duct, the fixing member 40 and other cables in the duct or the like are less likely to interfere with each other. Therefore, the pulling work of the cable 10 can be made easier.
Further, in the pull-end attachment structure 1 according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to screw a plurality of bolts. Therefore, as compared with the related-art structure, it is possible to reduce the time required to attach the pull end P to the cable 10 or detach the pull end P from the cable 10.
As described above, the pull-end attachment structure 1 according to the present embodiment includes the cable 10 having the optical fiber 11, the dam case 20 formed in a cylindrical shape and fixed to the cable 10 so as to surround the cable 10, the cylindrical metal fitting 30 to which the pull-hose 100 configured to accommodate the end portion of the optical fiber 11 is attached and which is provided so as to surround the outer circumferential surface 22 of the dam case 20, and the fixing member 40 formed in a cylindrical shape, provided so as to surround the cable 10, and capable of fixing to the cylindrical metal fitting 30, in which the outer diameter R1 of the fixing member 40 is equal to or less than the outer diameter R2 of the cylindrical metal fitting 30, and the contacting surface 43a is formed on the inner circumferential surface 41 of the fixing member 40, the contacting surface 43 that contacts the dam case 20 and transfers the pulling force to the dam case 20 when the cylindrical metal fitting 30 and the fixing member 40 are pulled through the pull-hose 100.
According to this configuration, the contact area where the fixing member 40 and the pull end P are in contact with each other can be made larger than the contact area where a bolt and a pull end are in contact with each other in the related-art structure. Therefore, it is possible to achieve both the reduction in the diameter of the pull end P and the improvement of the attachment strength of the pull end P to the cable 10.
Further, the fixing member 40 has the first threaded portion 42a, the cylindrical metal fitting 30 has the second threaded portion 31a, and the fixing member 40 is fixed to the cylindrical metal fitting 30 by fastening the first threaded portion 42a with the second threaded portion 31a. According to this configuration, the fixing member 40 can be reliably fixed to the cylindrical metal fitting 30 by fastening the first threaded portion 42a with the second threaded portion 31a.
Further, the first threaded portion 42a is a male screw, and the second threaded portion 31a is a female screw. With this configuration, the fixing member 40 can be more reliably fixed to the cylindrical metal fitting 30 by screwing the first threaded portion 42a which is a male screw into the second threaded portion 31a which is a female screw.
Further, the fixing member 40 has the first member 40A and the second member 40B disposed so as to sandwich the cable 10 in the radial direction, and is capable of being split into the first member 40A and the second member 40B. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the fixing member 40 from remaining attached to the cable 10 after the optical fiber 11 is wired in the data center or the like.
Further, the first member 40A has the first facing surface S1 facing the second member 40B and the pin 44 protruding from the first facing surface S1 toward the second member 40B, the second member 40B has the second facing surface S2 facing the first member 40A and the pin hole 45 formed in the second facing surface S2, and the first member 40A and the second member 40B are fitted together by inserting the pin 44 into the pin hole 45. With this configuration, the shifting between the first member 40A and the second member 40B is suppressed, and the fixing member 40 can be more reliably fixed to the cylindrical metal fitting 30.
A technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is possible to have various modifications be made within a scope that does not depart from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the fixing member 40 is fixed to the cylindrical metal fitting 30 by screwing. However, a method for fixing the fixing member 40 to the cylindrical metal fitting 30 is not limited to the screwing. As an example, as in a pull-end attachment structure 1A shown in
Further, in the above embodiment, the cable 10 has the plurality of optical fibers 11, but the cable 10 may have only one optical fiber 11.
Further, the cylindrical member 30 may not be formed of metal.
Further, it is possible to appropriately replace the configuring components in the above-described embodiment with well-known configuring components, and the above-described embodiment and modification examples may be appropriately combined within a scope that does not depart from the gist of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2021-202338 | Dec 2021 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2022/027497 | 7/13/2022 | WO |