EP0350245A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connecting device for use with optical fibres
Assignee: Balfour Beatty PLC
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Filing: 1989-07-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-07-03
Abstract
Abstract A device is described which comprises a housing (1) having openings through which a plurality of tubes (8, 8a) can communicate with the interior thereof. At least one of the tubes is such as to permit an optical fibre (20, 21) to be blown along it. Within the housing a hollow mandrel (11) is provided, the mandrel having a slot to enable the leading end portion of a fibre to be received in coiled form within the mandrel. Fibre may also be wound around the exterior of the mandrel. The mandrel thus provides a fibre storage means.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian Pilkington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:53
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4439; G02B6/444; G02B6/4441; G02B6/44528; G02B6/46; G02B6/50; G02B6/52; G02B6/4459
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A connecting device which comprises a housing (1) having means for allowing at least two tubes (8,8a; 30-38, 40-44) to communicate with the interior thereof, at least one of the tubes being such as to permit an optical fibre (20, 21) to be blown therealong, and fibre storage means (11; 60) within the housing for receiving a leading portion of a fibre blown along the said at least one tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A connecting device which comprises a housing (1) having means for allowing at least two tubes (8,8a; 30-38, 40-44) to communicate with the interior thereof, at least one of the tubes being such as to permit an optical fibre (20, 21) to be blown therealong, and fibre storage means (11; 60) within the housing for receiving a leading portion of a fibre blown along the said at least one tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the housing (1) is in the form of a box having at least two openings therein for the tubes to communicate with the interior thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein the housing (1) has openings in at least two opposed walls thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the housing has openings in at least two walls which run transversely to one another.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
29 words
A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the fibre storage means (11; 60) comprises a member having an exterior surface around which fibre is wound to store it.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
40 words
A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fibre storage means (11; 60) comprises a hollow member having a slot (12; 62) to permit the leading portion of a fibre to enter the hollow member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein the hollow member comprises a storage portion which is generally cylindrical in cross-section, the said slot (12; 62) running generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the storage portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein the hollow member further comprises a flange (15) which extends at least radially inwardly and/or radially outwardly from the cylindrical surface of the storage portion to assist in retaining fibre within the hollow member and/or enable fibre to be stored on the exterior of the hollow member.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
47 words
A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the fibre storage means (11; 60) is provided with tube retaining means (61, 63) to enable a length of tube (51,52,55,56,59a,59b,50a,50b) to be connected between the fibre storage means and the locations at which the fibres enter the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein the tubes (30-38, 40-44) exterior of the housing are connected the tube or tubes (51, 52, 55, 56, 59a, 59b, 50a, 50b) interior of the housing by releasable connectors.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
15 words
A device according to any preceding claim wherein the housing is provided by a rack.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical fibre storage means (11; 60) for storing an end portion of an optical fibre, which comprises a hollow member having a slot (12; 62) to permit the leading portion of a fibre to enter the hollow member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical fibre storage means (11; 60) for storing an end portion of an optical fibre, which comprises a hollow member having a slot (12; 62) to permit the leading portion of a fibre to enter the hollow member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A storage means according to claim 120, wherein the hollow member comprises a storage portion which is generally cylindrical in cross-section, the said slot (12; 62) running generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the storage portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A storage means according to claim 13, wherein the hollow member further comprises a flange (15) which extends at least radially inwardly and/or radially outwardly from the cylindrical surface of the storage portion to assist in retaining fibre within the hollow member and/or enable fibre to be stored on the exterior of the hollow member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A storage means according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the fibre storage means (11; 60) is provided with tube retaining means (61, 63) to enable a length of tube (51,52,55,56,59a,59b,50a,50b) to be connected between the fibre storage means and the locations at which the fibres enter the housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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