Optical waveguides – Accessories – Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-17
2004-12-07
Nguyen, Thong (Department: 2872)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
C385S147000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06829424
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an optical-fibre transmission system comprising a cable closure for optical waveguides with splice organizers and excess-length depositories for excess lengths of optical waveguide and comprises at least one optical-fibre cable, cable lead-in units in the form of cable lead-in spigots being arranged into the cable closure perpendicularly with respect to the axis of the closure body of the cable closure, the excess lengths of optical waveguide and the splice organizers being arranged within the closure body removably in the axial direction of the closure body, and at least one end face of the closure body being closed off in a sealing manner by an externally accessible cover.
DE 39 04 232-A1 discloses cross-connecting and branching accessories for communication cables and distribution networks, and the accessories have a branching junction box and at least one branch cable closure housed therein. The accessory has a hood closure with customary cable lead-in seals, and the cables led into the branching junction box are laid with excess lengths so that the hood closure can be taken out for service work. The cables are fed to the hood closure via separately laid cable ducts, and corresponding excess lengths of the cables are deposited in the cable junction box or manhole before they are led into the hood closures. For service work, the hood closures are lifted or swung out of their manhole position, so that the hood closure in then accessible and can be opened. However, such cable installations are designed for a normal laying method of freely layable cables.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,980 discloses a cable closure in which the cable lead-ins of the optical waveguides are arranged perpendicularly with respect to the axis of the cable closure. Contained therein are splice organizers, which can be removed upwards after opening a cover.
German Patent Specification 41 40 701 C1 discloses a cable closure as an underfloor container in which the cable lead-ins take place perpendicularly with respect to the cable closure axis, and the lead-ins are performed via lead-through flanges, so that the cables also have to be provided with corresponding units. Organizers which can be removed upwards are likewise included here.
EP-A-0 532 980 discloses a hood closure with lead-in spigots which, running in obliquely from below, are fitted into a base plate of the hood closure. Such a cable closure in designed for use in cable shafts and, if appropriate, for fastening to masts.
JP-04289451 describes a protective housing for a cable closure arranged in the ground. This protective housing comprises annular components which are arranged on a base. The closure is mounted therein on a frame and surrounded with filling material.
JP-61148782 describes a cable closure in which optical-fibre cables are led in axially. The cable closure comprises a lead housing and is designed such that organizer arrangements for excess lengths of optical waveguide can be arranged to lie therein. This cable closure is particularly suitable for use in cases where there are great temperature changes. The seals are established by welding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is, however, to provide a cable closure for optical waveguides which is suitable for easy-to-lay minicables or microcables, and these minicables or microcables comprise pipes in which optical waveguides or optical waveguide bundles are loosely led in. The object set is achieved according to a first way with a cable closure of the type explained at the beginning by the cable lead-in units being designed as lead-in spigots in the form of pipes tightly fitted on, by the optical-fibre cables in the form of optical waveguide minicables or optical waveguide microcables, respectively comprising a pipe and optical waveguides, optical waveguide strips or optical waveguide bundles loosely introduced therein, being arranged in the cable lead-in units designed in terms of pipe connecting technology for receiving and sealing off the pipes of the optical-fibre cables, and the sealing connection of the pipe connecting technology being a welded, soldered or adhesively bonded connection between the pipe of the optical-fibre cable and the cable lead-in unit.
The object set is, however, also achieved according to a second and third way of forming the sealing connections by a press connection with a union nut, a plastic crimped connector or an elastic annular seal.
The new type of design of optical-fibre cables as minicables or microcables allows considerable advantages to be achieved in terms of laying technology. For instance, first and foremost there is a drastic reduction in costs, since the thin pipes of the optical-fibre cables can be laid in slits which are easy to make in the surface of the ground, so that a distinct reduction in the overall line costs for a new installation is possible. In addition, an increase in the operational reliability is possible by redundant routing, which is particularly suitable if a ring form of network structure is implemented.
For example, by using optical switches to connect up to existing networks, these easy-to-lay microcables allow flexible and intelligent networks to be built up in a simple way. Simple pigtail rings with optical switching can be used in this case, so that optical fibres can be used right up to the final subscriber. The great advantage is also that these simple microcables can be introduced at a later time into roads, pavements, kerb-stones, in the plinth region of walls of houses and special routes. In such cases it is possible to put into practice a technical concept adapted according to the wishes of the operator, allowing account to be taken of existing infrastructure with respect to rights of way, pipes for waste water, gas and district heating. The laying of the microcables is particularly easy to manage in this respect, since the pipe diameter of the microcables is only between 3.5 and 5.5 mm, so that a cutting width of 7 to 10 mm is adequate for the laying channel to be made. Such a laying channel can be accomplished with commercially available cutting machines, a, cutting depth of about 70 mm being quite sufficient. The pipe of such a minicable or microcable may consist of plastic, steel, chromium-nickel-molybdenum alloys, copper, copper alloys (brass, bronze, etc.), aluminium or similar materials. The cable closures according to the invention are preferably cylindrically designed and are fitted perpendicularly into a core hole cut out for this purpose and having a diameter corresponding to the cable closure, the core hole preferably being about 10 to 30 mm greater than the diameter of the cable closures. The closure height of the cable closure is about 200 mm, it preferably being designed in a pot shape and pointing with its end-face opening towards the surface, which opening can then be closed off in a pressure-watertight manner with the aid of a cover and a seal. The closure body itself is inserted for example by up to ⅔ of its height into a concrete bed and thereby receives adequate anchorage. The upper part of the core hole is then plugged with lean concrete, hot bitumen, two-component casting compound or expandable plastics materials. The closure cover may also be designed to withstand loading, but a separate covering with an additional manhole cover in also possible. It is consequently a pressure-water-tight cable closure which can be opened and reclosed at any time and has special cable lead-in units for minicables or microcables. The cross-connection excess length of the optical fibres or excess length of optical waveguides for subsequent splicing and all optical-fibre splices are accommodated in the closure body itself, these splices being mounted on a corresponding splice organizer. This splice organizer can be removed upwards in the axial direction of the cable closure, so that the closure itself can remain in its position. The optical waveguides are protected by a flexible tube, so that there is no risk of buckling during service
Diermeier Heinz
Finzel Lothar
Schröder Günter
CCS Technology Inc.
Lavarias Amel C.
Nguyen Thong
LandOfFree
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