Patent EP0178179A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0178179A2
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EP
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Handling and storing cable spliced ends of optical fibers
Assignee: Reliance Electric Co
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Filing: 1985-10-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-10-11
Abstract
Abstract For storing the spliced end sections of optical fibers, a tray (1) is used having a first and second series of channels (9, 11) each for receiving an optical fiber (20), the first series being spaced from the second series by a gap, and a splice block (31) is releasably mounted in the gap, the splice block also having a series of channels (33) that substantially span the gap whereby the respective channels of the first series are connected to the corresponding channels of the second series by the channels in the splice block. A tray (1) is used for each group of fibers (one group from each cable (27, 29)), spliced together respectively to connect the cables together. The optical fibers (20) from a first cable (27) are spliced to the corresponding optical fibers (20) in a second cable (29), the splices being mounted on the splice block (31). The tray constitutes a means (39, 41, 47, 49, 51, 53) for storing the buffer tubing (23, 25) that is wound up on the tray (1). A receptacle (59) is provided with a plurality of tray mounting cavities (69) for storage and individual retrieval of each of the trays (1).
Inventors
- 👤 David J. Coulombe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:11
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4439; G02B6/444; G02B6/4453; G02B6/4454; G02B6/4452; G02B6/44524
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for storing the spliced end sections of optical fibers, characterized in that it comprises a tray (1) having means forming first and second series of channels (9,11) each for receiving an optical fiber (20), the first series (9) being spaced from the second series (11) by a gap, a splice block (31) releasably mounted in said gap, said splice block also having means forming a series of channels (33) that substantially span said gap whereby the respective channels in the first series are connected to the corresponding channels in the second series by the channels in the splice block, so that optical fibers from a first cable (27) may be spliced to corresponding optical fibers from a second cable (29) by splices in said splice block channels, and means (39, 41, 47-53) for accumulating and storing on said tray fibers leading from the splices to the first and second cables.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for storing the spliced end sections of optical fibers, characterized in that it comprises a tray (1) having means forming first and second series of channels (9,11) each for receiving an optical fiber (20), the first series (9) being spaced from the second series (11) by a gap, a splice block (31) releasably mounted in said gap, said splice block also having means forming a series of channels (33) that substantially span said gap whereby the respective channels in the first series are connected to the corresponding channels in the second series by the channels in the splice block, so that optical fibers from a first cable (27) may be spliced to corresponding optical fibers from a second cable (29) by splices in said splice block channels, and means (39, 41, 47-53) for accumulating and storing on said tray fibers leading from the splices to the first and second cables.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second series of optical fiber receiving channels (9,11) are side-by-side arcuate channels each for confining a said optical fiber (20) in a path which defines a radius greater than the shortest radius of bend which the fiber can undergo without damage-due to excess flexure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, in which the tray has arcuate walls (39,41) spaced from said channels and forming a means for supporting fibers in a fiber-encasing buffer tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which said tray has means (15,17,19,21) for receiving a series of buffer tube encased fibers wound thereon to take up a length of the fibers and the encasing buffer tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including a receptacle (59) having means for receiving and supporting a tray (1) with a length of buffer tube and fibers wound on said tray.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said receptacle (59) is provided with means (61,63) for mounting said first and second cables, means (66,69) for receiving said tray, and means (67) for storing in said receptacle lengths of buffer tube encased fibers that run between the tray and the cable portions at said mounting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said storing means comprises a cavity (67) in the container that surrounds said tray.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, 6 or 7, wherein said receptacle is provided with a plurality of tray mounting means for mounting a plurality of trays (1) for individual retrieval without disturbing the other trays.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
266 words
A method of handling and storing spliced ends of optical fibers of first and second optical fiber cables (27,29) in which the fibers (20) in each cable are in a plurality of buffer tubes (23,25) with each buffer tube encasing a plurality of optical fibers and each cable having a sheath (65) encasing the buffer tubes, said method comprising providing for each of said first and second cables a length of buffer tube that extends beyond the end of the associated cable sheath, providing for each said buffer tube a length of each of the optical fibers in the tube that extends beyond the end of the associated buffer tube, splicing the end of each fiber with an end of a fiber projecting from the other cable to form a plurality of optical fiber splices between the ends of the buffer tubes of said first and second optical fiber cables, mounting the splices on a splice block (31) such that the splices are spaced from each other but are in juxtaposed relationship, securing said splices in place on said splice block in said spaced juxtaposed relationship, mounting said splice block with the splices thereon on a support member (1,3,35,37) with the fibers being retained on the support member for disposition along predetermined paths, wrapping the buffer tubes over said support member (for example a plurality of times) to take up and store the length of buffer tube resulting from the portion of the buffer tube that projects from the end of its associated cable sheath, and retrievably storing the support member on an additional structure (59).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
266 words
A method of handling and storing spliced ends of optical fibers of first and second optical fiber cables (27,29) in which the fibers (20) in each cable are in a plurality of buffer tubes (23,25) with each buffer tube encasing a plurality of optical fibers and each cable having a sheath (65) encasing the buffer tubes, said method comprising providing for each of said first and second cables a length of buffer tube that extends beyond the end of the associated cable sheath, providing for each said buffer tube a length of each of the optical fibers in the tube that extends beyond the end of the associated buffer tube, splicing the end of each fiber with an end of a fiber projecting from the other cable to form a plurality of optical fiber splices between the ends of the buffer tubes of said first and second optical fiber cables, mounting the splices on a splice block (31) such that the splices are spaced from each other but are in juxtaposed relationship, securing said splices in place on said splice block in said spaced juxtaposed relationship, mounting said splice block with the splices thereon on a support member (1,3,35,37) with the fibers being retained on the support member for disposition along predetermined paths, wrapping the buffer tubes over said support member (for example a plurality of times) to take up and store the length of buffer tube resulting from the portion of the buffer tube that projects from the end of its associated cable sheath, and retrievably storing the support member on an additional structure (59).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 9, in which said wrapping is effected by turning said support member to take up the lengths simultaneously in both buffer tubes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method according to claim 9 or 10, including removably storing the support member on a structure capable of storing a plurality of support members for other optical fiber-containing buffer tubes of the cables such that a plurality of support members containing wrapped on buffer tubes may be mounted on said structure in such a manner that any support member may be removed from said structure without disturbing the other support members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 9, 10 or 11, including mounting the ends of the first and second cables on said structure.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
20 words
A method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, including disposing-fiber portions extending-from said splices in arcuate paths.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 13, in which said arcuate paths are on opposite sides of said splice block.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, in which the splices are secured to the splice block by an adhesive.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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