Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
Patent
1993-02-10
1994-05-17
Bovernick, Rodney B.
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
385 84, 385134, G02B 636
Patent
active
053135393
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a branching section of a sheathed multicore optical fiber to be realized by an improved branching mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a sheathed multicore optical fiber is branched, typically a series of operations as described below by referring to FIG. 5(A) through 5(C) of the accompanying drawings are carried out.
Referring firstly to FIG. 5(A), a cylindrical boot 2a having a tapered section and a cylindrical holding member 3a are fitted onto an end portion of a sheathed multicore optical fiber 1 comprising a plurality of strip-shaped optical cords to cover the outer peripheral surface of the sheath 4 at that portion.
Then, the sheath 4 of the multicore optical fiber 1 is partly removed at a very end portion extending from the holding member 3a to expose corresponding end portions of the optical fiber cores 5 and tension-resistive fibrous members 6 it comprises.
Then, a cylindrical sleeve 7 is fitted to the unsheathed end portion of the optical fiber 1 to partly cover the exposed optical fiber cores 5 and, subsequently, tubes 9 each having tension-resistive members 8 are put on the respective remaining end portions of the optical fiber cores 5. Thereafter, a cylindrical holding member 3b and a cylindrical boot 2b having a tapered section is fitted onto the tubes 9 to partly cover the tubes 9.
Then, as shown in FIG. 5(B), the corresponding remaining end portions of the tension-resistive members 6, 8 are placed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 7 at the opposite ends and the holding members 3a, 3b and the boots 2a, 2b are sequentially moved onto the sleeve 7 and securely held there to establish a complete branching section 10 as illustrated in FIG. 5(C).
The end portions of the optical fiber cores 5 of a branching section 10 which is prepared in this manner are protected by a sleeve 7 and respective tubes 9 and made resistive against tension by the sleeve 7 and the end portions of the tension-resistive members 6, 8 secured to the sleeve at the opposite ends thereof so that the branching section 10 is consequently highly resistive against tension.
However, since each of the components of a branching section 10 as illustrated in FIG. 5(C) have a circular cross section, the optical fiber cores 5 in the sleeve 7 can be inevitably twisted and/or bent to damage their transmission capabilities when the components are assembled.
While it is highly desirable to check the established branching section 10, the optical fiber cores 5 in the sleeve 7 are invisible from outside and any twisted and/or bent optical fiber cores 5 are normally left unchecked.
If the sleeve 7 is made of a transparent material and twisted and/or bent optical fiber cores 5 are visible from outside, any efforts of remedying such faulty optical fiber cores 5 can significantly reduce the efficiency of branching operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above described technological problems, it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved branching section of a sheathed multicore optical fiber which is free from twisted and/or bent optical fiber cores during the operation of assembling the component of the branching section so that the operation may be carried out effectively and efficiently to provide a stable branching section of a sheathed multicore optical fiber.
According to the present invention, the above object is achieved by providing a branching section of a sheathed multicore optical fiber characterized in that a stop ring having a noncircular flange is fitted to an end portion of the sheathed multicore optical fiber having exposed optical fiber cores and tension-resistive members, said tension-resistive members are partly folded back on the outer peripheral surface of said stop ring and a holder is fitted thereon so that the stop ring and the folded portions of the tension-resistive members are secured to each other, that another stop ring is fitted to a bundle of as many tubes as the optic
REFERENCES:
patent: 4697873 (1987-10-01), Bouvard et al.
patent: 4815810 (1989-03-01), Betzler et al.
patent: 5185840 (1993-02-01), Iapicco
Moriguchi Akira
Ogawa Takahiro
Bovernick Rodney B.
Ngo John
The Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.
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