Multiple joint for underwater optical fiber cables

Claim 1

Multiple joint for underwater optical fiber cables (1, 2, 3) each comprising an optical core of optical fibers (11, 52, 53), a strength member (12) of steel wires, a copper tube swaged onto said strength member and an insulative outer sheath (13), said joint comprising a first cable termination which terminates at least one cable (1), a first storage chamber (22) for storing excess lengths of fiber (11) in said first cable termination, a first connecting member (14) receiving said at least one cable through a bore therein and fastened to the end of said at least one cable (1), a first water tight member (18) closing off said bore within said first connecting member and forming a water tight passage (19) therethrough for passage of the optical fibers (11) of said at least one cable, a first hollow reinforcing member (4) concentrically surrounding said first cable termination, a second cable termination which terminates at least two cables (2, 3) disposed parallel to one another, a common connecting member (40) having parallel bores therein receiving respectively the ends of each of said at least two cables (2, 3) a second watertight member (50) closing off said parallel bores of said common connecting member (40), watertight passages (53, 54) within said second watertight member (50) receiving respective fibers (52, 53) of said at least two cables (2, 3), a second storage chamber (62) for storing excess lengths of fibers (52, 53) projecting from said second watertight member (50), a second hollow reinforcing member (6) concentrically surrounding said second cable termination, an access cable (30) incorporating fibers (11) from said first storage chamber (22) welded to fibers (52,53) from said second storage chamber (62) , a watertight insulative coating (24, 70) protecting the combination of said first and second cable terminations and said access cable, and a hollow, tubular coupling box (8), and means mechanically linking opposite ends of said coupling box (8) to said first and second reinforcing members (4, 6), said coupling box (8) accommodating said access cable (30), wherein fibers of said at least one cable (1) welded to fibers of said at least two cables (2, 3) are held by said access cable and mechanically protected by said hollow, tubular coupling box.