Fiber optic conduit-connector assembly

Claim 2

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly comprising: a conduit having a flexible, crush resistant and fluid resistant inner tube adapted for enclosing at least one optical fiber, an electromagnetic shielding layer disposed circumferentially about said inner tube, and a pressure tight outer layer disposed circumferentially about said shielding layer, said outer layer having an end portion stripped away to expose an end portion of said shielding layer; an electrically conductive connector fixedly attached to at least one end of said conduit and adapted to allow at least one optical fiber to be passed therethrough; said connector having a first end for attachment to a coaxial cable entry port and a second end having a receptacle for insertion of an end portion of said inner tube; said inner tube of said conduit having an end portion thereof inserted into said connector receptacle, said end portion of said shielding layer being disposed circumferentially about said second connector end and having connecting means mounted thereon for affixing said shielding layer end portion to said second connector end, and said connecting means and said end portion of said shielding layer having a pressure light tube disposed thereabout; and wherein said inner tube is helical convoluted tubing and said second connector end is internally threaded for engagement with said inner tube.

Claim 3

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly comprising: a conduit having a flexible, crush resistant and fluid resistant inner tube adapted for enclosing at least one optical fiber, an electromagnetic shielding layer disposed circumferentially about said inner tube, and a pressure tight outer layer disposed circumferentially about said shielding layer, said outer layer having an end portion stripped away to expose an end portion of said shielding layer; an electrically conductive connector fixedly attached to at least one end of said conduit and adapted to allow at least one optical fiber to be passed therethrough, said connector having a first end for attachment to a coaxial cable entry port and a second end having a receptacle for insertion of an end portion of said inner tube; said inner tube of said conduit having an end portion thereof inserted into said connector receptacle, said end portion of said shielding layer being disposed circumferentially about said second connector end and having connecting means mounted thereon for affixing said shielding layer end portion to said second connector end, and said connecting means and said end portion of said shielding layer having a pressure tight tube disposed thereabout; and wherein said inner tube is helical convoluted tubing formed of radiation crosslinked ethylene tetraflluoroethylene and said second connector end is internally threaded for engagement with said inner tube.

Claim 4

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly comprising: a conduit having a flexible, crush resistant and fluid resistant inner tube adapted for enclosing at least one optical fiber, an electromagnetic shielding layer disposed circumferentially about said inner tube, and a pressure tight outer layer disposed circumferentially about said shielding layer, said outer layer having an end portion stripped away to expose an end portion of said shielding layer; an electrically conductive connector fixedly attached to at least one end of said conduit and adapted to allow at least one optical fiber to be passed therethrough, said connector having a first end for attachment to a coaxial cable entry port and a second end having a receptacle for insertion of an end portion of said inner tube; said inner tube of said conduit having an end portion thereof inserted into said connector receptacle, said end portion of said shielding layer being disposed circumferentially about said second connector end and having connecting means mounted thereon for affixing said shielding layer end portion to said second connector end, and said connecting means and said end portion of said shielding layer having a pressure tight tube disposed thereabout; and wherein said inner tube is helical convoluted tubing formed of radiation crosslinked ethylene tetraflluoroethylene and said second connector end is internally threaded for engagement with said inner tube.

Claim 5

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said electromagnetic shielding layer further provides tensile strength for said conduit-connector assembly.

Claim 6

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 3 wherein the tensile strength of said conduit-connector assembly is at least 100 pounds.

Claim 7

A fiber optical conduit-connector assembly according to claim 3 wherein said electromagnetic shielding layer is formed of stainless steel braiding.

Claim 8

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 3 wherein said electromagnetic shielding layer is formed of copper braiding.

Claim 9

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said electromagnetic shielding layer is formed of stainless steel braiding.

Claim 10

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said electromagnetic shielding layer is formed of copper braiding.

Claim 11

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said outer pressure tight layer is formed of polypropylene.

Claim 12

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 2 where said connector is formed of a non-corrosive material.

Claim 13

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said connector is formed of aluminum.

Claim 14

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said connector is formed of steel.

Claim 15

A fiber optical conduit-connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said connector is formed of an electrically conductive, non-metallic material.

Claim 16

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said first connector end is threaded for engagement with a KS-type coaxial cable entry port.

Claim 17

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said conduit and said connector have substantially equal inner diameters.

Claim 18

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprises a thermofit ring.

Claim 19

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprises a collet ring and clamp nut, said collet ring having at least a portion of the external surface thereof threaded for engagement with the internal surface of said clamp nut.

Claim 20

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein said pressure tight tube is a heat shrink tube.

Claim 21

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly comprising: a conduit having a flexible, crush resistant and fluid resistant inner tube formed of helical convoluted radiation crosslinked, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene adapted for enclosing at least one optical fiber, an electromagnetic shielding and pull strength layer formed of stainless steel braiding disposed circumferentially about said inner tube, and an outer pressure tight polypropylene layer disposed circumferentially about said shielding layer, said outer layer having an end portion stripped away to expose an end portion of said shielding, and pull strength layer; an electrically conductive, non-corrosive connector formed of aluminum fixedly attached on at least one end of said conduit and adapted to allow at least one optical fiber to be passed therethrough, said connector having a first threaded end for engagement with a coaxial cable entry port and a second end having an internally threaded receptacle for engagement with an end portion of said inner tube; said inner tube having an end portion inserted into said connector receptacle, said end portion of said shielding and pull strength layer being disposed circumferentially about an outer surface of said second connector end and having a thermofit ring mounted thereon for affixing said shielding and pull strength layer end portion to said outer surface of said second connector end, and said thermofit ring and said end portion of said shielding and pull strength layer having a pressure-tight heat shrink tube disposed thereabout.

Claim 22

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly comprising: a conduit having a flexible, crush resistant and fluid resistant inner tube formed of helical convoluted radiation crosslinked, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene adapted for enclosing at least one optical fiber, an electromagnetic shielding and pull strength layer formed of stainless steel braiding disposed circumferentially about said inner tube, and an outer pressure tight polypropylene layer disposed circumferentially about said shielding layer, said outer layer having an end portion stripped away to expose an end portion of said shielding, and pull strength layer; an electrically conductive, non-corrosive connector formed of aluminum fixedly attached on at least one end of said conduit and adapted to allow at least one optical fiber to be passed therethrough, said connector having a first threaded end for engagement with a coaxial cable entry port and a second end having an internally threaded receptacle for engagement with an end portion of said inner tube; said inner tube having an end portion inserted into said connector receptacle, said end portion of said shielding and pull strength layer being disposed circumferentially about an outer surface of said second connector end and having a thermofit ring mounted thereon for affixing said shielding and pull strength layer end portion to said outer surface of said second connector end, and said thermofit ring and said end portion of said shielding and pull strength layer having a pressure-tight heat shrink tube disposed thereabout.

Claim 23

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly comprising: a conduit having a flexible, crush resistant and fluid resistant inner tube formed of helical convoluted radiation crosslinked, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene adapted for enclosing at least one optical fiber, an electromagnetic shielding and pull strength layer formed of stainless steel braiding disposed circumferentially about said inner tube, and an outer pressure tight polypropylene layer disposed circumferentially about said shielding layer, said outer layer having an end portion stripped away to expose an end portion of said shielding and pull strength layer; an electrically conductive, non-corrosive connector formed of aluminum fixedly attached on at least one end of said conduit and adapted to allow at least one optical fiber to be passed therethrough, said connector having a first threaded end for engagement with a coaxial cable entry port and a second end having an internally threaded receptacle for engagement with an end portion of said inner tube; said inner tube having an end portion inserted into said connector receptacle, said end portion of said shielding and pull strength layer being disposed circumferentially about an outer surface of said second connector end and having a collet ring and clamp nut mounted thereon for affixing said shielding and pull strength layer end portion to said outer surface of said second connector end, said collet ring having at least a portion of an external surface thereof threaded for engagement with a threaded internal surface of said clamp nut, and said clamp nut and said end portion of said shielding and pull strength layer having a pressure-tight heat shrink tube disposed thereabout.

Claim 24

A fiber optic conduit-connector assembly comprising: a conduit having a flexible, crush resistant and fluid resistant inner tube formed of helical convoluted radiation crosslinked, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene adapted for enclosing at least one optical fiber, an electromagnetic shielding and pull strength layer formed of stainless steel braiding disposed circumferentially about said inner tube, and an outer pressure tight polypropylene layer disposed circumferentially about said shielding layer, said outer layer having an end portion stripped away to expose an end portion of said shielding and pull strength layer; an electrically conductive, non-corrosive connector formed of aluminum fixedly attached on at least one end of said conduit and adapted to allow at least one optical fiber to be passed therethrough, said connector having a first threaded end for engagement with a coaxial cable entry port and a second end having an internally threaded receptacle for engagement with an end portion of said inner tube; said inner tube having an end portion inserted into said connector receptacle, said end portion of said shielding and pull strength layer being disposed circumferentially about an outer surface of said second connector end and having a collet ring and clamp nut mounted thereon for affixing said shielding and pull strength layer end portion to said outer surface of said second connector end, said collet ring having at least a portion of an external surface thereof threaded for engagement with a threaded internal surface of said clamp nut, and said clamp nut and said end portion of said shielding and pull strength layer having a pressure-tight heat shrink tube disposed thereabout.

Claim 25

A connector assembly for use with a conduit having a flexible, crush resistant and fluid resistant inner tube formed of helically convoluted tubing, a layer of electromagnetic shielding disposed circumferentially about said inner tube, and an outer pressure tight layer disposed circumferentially about said shielding layer with an end portion of said outer layer stripped away to expose an end portion of said shielding layer and an end portion of said conduit, said connector assembly comprising: an electrically conductive connector, adapted to allow at least one optical fiber to be passed therethrough, having a first end for engagement with a coaxial cable entry port, and a second end having a receptacle internally threaded for engagement with said inner tube of said conduit; said second end of said connector being fixedly attached to said end portion of said conduit, said second connector end having said end portion of said shielding layer disposed circumferentially thereabout and connecting means mounted on said shielding layer end portion for affixing said shielding layer end portion to said second connector end.

Claim 26

A connector assembly for use with a conduit having a flexible, crush resistant and fluid resistant inner tube formed of helically convoluted tubing, a layer of electromagnetic shielding disposed circumferentially about said inner tube, and an outer pressure tight layer disposed circumferentially about said shielding layer with an end portion of said outer layer stripped away to expose an end portion of said shielding layer and an end portion of said conduit, said connector assembly comprising: an electrically conductive connector, adapted to allow at least one optical fiber to be passed therethrough, having a first end for engagement with a coaxial cable entry port, and a second end having a receptacle internally threaded for engagement with said inner tube of said conduit; said second end of said connector being fixedly attached to said end portion of said conduit, said second connector end having said end portion of said shielding layer disposed circumferentially thereabout and connecting means mounted on said shielding layer end portion for affixing said shielding layer end portion to said second connector end.

Claim 27

A connector according to claim 21 wherein said connector is formed of a non-corrosive material.

Claim 28

A connector according to claim 21 wherein said connector is formed of aluminum.

Claim 29

A connector according to claim 21 wherein said connecting means comprises a thermofit ring.

Claim 30

A connector according to claim 21 wherein said connecting means comprises a collet ring and clamp nut, said collet ring having at least a portion of an external surface thereof threaded for engagement with a threaded internal surface of said clamp nut.