US4412878A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of joining together optical fibre undersea cables
Assignee: Cables de Lyon SA
•
Filing: 1982-04-06
•
Granted: 1983-11-01
•
Expires: 2002-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A method of joining together optical fibre undersea cables. In a first step, a given length of a carrier vault (1, 2) which surrounds the optical-fibre containing core (3, 4) of the cable end is cut off so as to clear a sufficient length of optical fibre (5, 6), a part (9, 10) with at least one opening (11, 12) in which said optical fibre (5, 6) is inserted is placed in each said cable ends between the strands of the carrier vault, the ends of said carrier vaults (1, 2) are brought together and fixed substantially in contact each with another, said optical fibre ends (5, 6) of each of said cables are connected together then the excess length of fibre thus formed is stretched and helically wound around a sleeve (14).
Inventors
- 👤 Lucien Guazzo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:08
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4415; G02B6/4427; G02B6/4428; G02B6/4439; G02B6/444; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49838; Y10T29/49947; Y10T29/49959; Y10T29/49966; Y10T29/49968
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of joining together two lengths of optical fibre undersea cable, each length having a core in which at least one optical fibre is disposed, said core being surrounded by a carrier vault formed by metal strands, said method comprising the steps of: cutting off a given length of said carrier vault at each cable end to free suitable lengths of said optical fibres, inserting each optical fibre free length into a part with the free length passing through an opening within the side of said part and positioning said part within the center of the carrier vault inwardly from the end thereof and passing the fibre free length protruding from the opening within the side of said part outwardly between the strands of the carrier vault, bringing the ends of said carrier vaults together and fixing them substantially in contact each with another while placing a first sleeve about the contacting ends of said carrier vaults, interconnecting the free ends of said optical fibres, tensioning the free ends of the optical fibres from each of said cable ends, and then helically winding the excess length of said fibres around said first sleeve.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of joining together two lengths of optical fibre undersea cable, each length having a core in which at least one optical fibre is disposed, said core being surrounded by a carrier vault formed by metal strands, said method comprising the steps of: cutting off a given length of said carrier vault at each cable end to free suitable lengths of said optical fibres, inserting each optical fibre free length into a part with the free length passing through an opening within the side of said part and positioning said part within the center of the carrier vault inwardly from the end thereof and passing the fibre free length protruding from the opening within the side of said part outwardly between the strands of the carrier vault, bringing the ends of said carrier vaults together and fixing them substantially in contact each with another while placing a first sleeve about the contacting ends of said carrier vaults, interconnecting the free ends of said optical fibres, tensioning the free ends of the optical fibres from each of said cable ends, and then helically winding the excess length of said fibres around said first sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of fixing said cable ends together comprises disposing a second, metal sleeve about the ends of said carrier vaults internally of said first sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said first sleeve is disposed around said second, metal sleeve after said metal sleeve is disposed about the ends of said carrier vaults prior to winding said excess length fibres about said first sleeve and wherein said first sleeve is made of a flexible foam plastics substance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a protective housing around the connection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of interconnecting the ends of the optical fibres comprises welding said ends.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3798099A
Cited
US4172746A
Cited
US4171867A
Cited
FR2401434A1
Cited
US4148557A
Cited
GB2025650A
Cited
FR2435051A1
Cited
US4362356A
Cited
JPS5584905A
Cited
US4283125A
Cited
US4319802A
Cited
DE3006131A1
Cited
DE3011429A1
Cited
DE3129828A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-10-31 | 1987-05-02 | 1987-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-31 | 1991-05-02 | 1991-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-31 | 1995-05-02 | 1995-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |