1988-03-30
1989-07-11
Lee, John D.
350 9623, G02B 638
Patent
active
048465453
ABSTRACT:
An apparatus that joins ends of fiber optic cables includes a fiber proteon sleeve fitted over an area of optical coupling to cover bare optical fibers at the coupling. The sleeve extends from the bare fibers to cover a portion of a buffer section of each cable. The fiber protection sleeve has an inner heat shrinkable tube that overlaps the area of optical coupling, a flexure suppressant rigidity member disposed exteriorly adjacent the inner heat shrinkable tube, and an outer heat shrinkable tube that overlaps the rigidity member and the inner heat shrinkable tube. The inner and outer heat shrinkable tubes are shrink-fitted to strengthen and seal the area of optical coupling. Additionally, a strength member sleeve is fitted over cable strength member sections that are interlayed over the fiber protection sleeve. The strength member sleeve includes a solder impregnated tubular braid and a heat shrinkable tube covering the braid. Heating the strength member sleeve causes solder within the braid to join the braid with the interlayed strength members, and causes the heat shrinkable tube surrounding the tubular braid to shrink the braid and itself upon the interlayed strength members. An encapsulant lined outer protective heat shrinkable sheath overlaps the other elements of the invention and extends onto a portion of the sheath of each cable. The outer protective sheath is heat shrunk to seal the area of optical coupling from the ambient and to distribute the encapsulant throughout the sheath to further seal the area of optical coupling.
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Baker Robert M.
Daguio Gerard N.
Estabrook Andrew R.
Shook Laura A.
Fendelman Harvey
Keough Thomas Glenn
Lee John D.
Lipovsky Peter A.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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