Optical waveguides – Optical transmission cable – Loose tube type
Reissue Patent
1997-05-14
2001-01-23
Ullah, Akm E. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Optical transmission cable
Loose tube type
Reissue Patent
active
RE037028
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention is optical cable assembles.
Background of the Invention. There are several disadvantages associated with the current practices for installation, termination, and environmental sealing of fiber optic cables placed into cable television system electronic equipment enclosures. A prior art practice is to strip back the end of a fiber optic cable and feed the exposed coated optical fibers into the fiber optic entry point of an electronic closure. A threaded connector on the cable is screwed into the entry port. The connector, after tightening, grips the fiber optic cable jacket for strain relief. The exposed fibers are then fusion spliced inside the enclosure. No additional protection is provided for the fibers, no mechanism is provided to control core pistoning into the enclosure, and no mechanism is provided to block the migration of water from entering the electronic enclosure if the cable sheath is damaged behind the strain relief connector. The current method is also labor intensive and costly to the cable television company.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention solves the foregoing problems by pre-connectorizing the optical fiber terminal ends, protecting the exposed optical fibers with flexible tubing, and sealing the assembly by providing a plug around the end of the cutback cable jacket through which moisture might otherwise enter. A jacketed cable includes a plurality of light waveguides. The plurality of light waveguides includes a proximal span included within the jacketed cable, a distal end to which an optical coupler is affixed, and a mediate span therebetween. A plurality of flexible tubes is provided, each flexible tube surrounding a mediate span of one of the said light waveguides. A water impervious plug encases a portion of the mediate span of the plurality of light waveguides, the plug extending onto and over a portion of the cable jacket. The optical couplers and the plug are placed in an opto-electronic equipment enclosure. A prior art threaded connector mounts the cable to the entry port of the closure and is surrounded by a watertight seal. The equipment closure may be an aerial closure which is part of a cable television system.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4153332 (1979-05-01), Longoni
patent: 4230395 (1980-10-01), Dean et al.
patent: 4319802 (1982-03-01), Bowes
patent: 4365865 (1982-12-01), Stiles
patent: 4447120 (1984-05-01), Borsuk
patent: 4460159 (1984-07-01), Charlebois et al.
patent: 4697873 (1987-10-01), Bouvard et al.
patent: 4786137 (1988-11-01), Cornelison et al.
patent: 4928135 (1990-05-01), Kayoun et al.
patent: 4932746 (1990-06-01), Calzolari et al.
patent: 4948222 (1990-08-01), Corke et al.
patent: 4984865 (1991-01-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5181272 (1993-01-01), Hopper
patent: 5245134 (1993-09-01), Vana, Jr. et al.
patent: 5271080 (1993-12-01), Hopper et al.
patent: 5271081 (1993-12-01), Khalil
patent: 5289556 (1994-02-01), Rawlyk et al.
patent: 5418874 (1995-05-01), Carlisle et al.
patent: 5574819 (1996-11-01), Gunther et al.
patent: 5588086 (1996-12-01), Fan
patent: 38 20 950 A1 (1989-12-01), None
patent: 0 199 267 A1 (1995-07-01), None
patent: 1247410 (1959-10-01), None
patent: 2662270 (1990-05-01), None
patent: 2670303 (1990-12-01), None
patent: 2030723 (1980-04-01), None
patent: 58-11906 (1983-01-01), None
patent: 61-282807 (1985-06-01), None
“Optical Receiver Cable Assembly,” CCA-74A (No Date).
“Sheath Removal for Siecor Maxibundle Cable,” Siecor Recommended Procedure SRP-004-018, Issue 1, pp. 1-4 (1987).
“Sheath Removal and Grounding of Siecor Maxi-Bundle Cable,” Siecor Recommended Procedure SRP-004-018, Issue 3, pp. 1-6 (1991).
Alcoa Fujikura Instruction Manual 436-652-000 (No Date).
Jerrold Communications Installation Manual 436-584-200 (No Date).
“Siecor Front-fed Cable Stub Installation,” Siecor Recommended Procedure SRP-009-003, Issue 1, pp. 1-4 (Apr., 1993).
“Installation of Siecor Fanout Assemblies on Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cable,” Siecor Recommended Procedure SRP-000-082, Issue 1, pp. 1-8 (Nov. 1991).
“Installation of Siecor Fan-Out Assemblies on Loose Tube and Mini Bundle® Riser Fiber Optic Cable,” Siecor Recommended Procedure SRP-000-082, Issue 2, pp. 1-10 (Dec. 1992).
“Installation of Siecor Fan-Out Assemblies on Loose Tube and Mini Bundle® Riser Fiber Optic Cable,” Siecor Recommended Procedure SRP-000-082, Issue 3 pp. 1-10 (Jul. 1993).
“Installation of Siecor Fan-Out Assemblies on Loose Tube and Mini Bundle® Riser Fiber Optic Cable,” Siecor Recommended Procedure SRP-000-082, Issue 4, pp. 1-10 (Nov. 1994).
“Installation of Siecor Fan-Out Assemblies on Loose Tube and Mini Bundle® Riser Fiber Optic Cable,” Siecor Recommended Procedure SRP-000-082, Issue 5, pp. 1-7 (Mar. 1996).
Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-004-018, Issue No. 1, pp. 1-4 (1988).
Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-004-018, Issue 5, pp. 1-6 (Jun. 1991).
Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-004-018, Issue 7, pp. 1-6 (Jan. 1993).
Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-004-018, Issue 8, pp. 1-7 (Apr. 1994).
Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-004-018, Issue 9, pp. 1-7 (Dec. 1994).
IBM/Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-009-001, Issue 3, pp. 1-4 (Apr. 1991).
IBM/Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-009-001, Issue 5, pp. 1-4 (Jun. 1991).
IBM/Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-009-001, Issue 6, pp. 1-9 (Feb. 1992).
IBM/Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-009-001, Issue 11, pp. 1-10 (Oct. 1992).
“Back-fed Cable Stub Installation” by Siecor Recommended Procedure SRP-009-002, Issue 1, pp 1-3, Jan. 1993.
Cooke Terry L.
Mutzabaugh David H.
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Siecor Corporation
Ullah Akm E.
LandOfFree
Cable assembly for use with opto-electronic equipment... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cable assembly for use with opto-electronic equipment..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cable assembly for use with opto-electronic equipment... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2534623