Electric heating – Heating devices – Electric arc-type devices
Reexamination Certificate
2003-08-07
2004-09-14
Jeffery, John A. (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Electric arc-type devices
C385S096000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06791067
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a fusion welding apparatus for optical fibers used for permanently connecting optical fibers to each other.
As is common knowledge, fusion welding apparatuses for fusion welding optical fibers by making use of high frequencies and high voltage discharges are used and, in
FIG. 6
, an example of this type of fusion welding apparatuses for optical fibers is shown. As shown in the same figure, this type of fusion welding apparatus for optical fibers comprises a pair of discharge electrodes (discharge electrode rods)
1
for fusion welding optical fibers. In the apparatus illustrated in
FIG. 6
, the discharge electrodes
1
are retained by a U-shaped electrode retaining member
14
and discharge forming ends
5
on the tip ends of the discharge electrodes are arranged so as to oppose each other via a space. Between the discharge electrodes
1
, a pair of optical fibers
2
are arranged so that connection end face sides thereof are opposed to each other, and which are arranged, for example, so that the optical axis of the optical fibers and the axis of the discharge electrodes
1
are roughly orthogonal to each other.
The optical fibers
2
are arrayed on the optical fiber arraying means
13
in a condition where sheathes on the tip end sides are removed and bare optical fibers
6
are exposed. On the surface of the optical fiber arraying means
13
, V grooves
9
serving as optical fiber aligning grooves to insert the bare optical fibers
6
are formed. Herein, in the apparatus illustrated in
FIG. 6
, the optical fiber arraying means
13
are formed in the U-shape and the electrode retaining means
14
is fixed on a U-shaped concave portion
25
of the optical fiber arraying means
13
.
Also, on the pair of discharge electrodes
1
, a power source for discharge (not illustrated) is connected and by driving the power source for discharge, the connection end faces of the optical fibers
2
are fusion welded by discharge heat from the discharge electrodes
1
.
Incidentally, in the abovementioned fusion welding apparatus for optical fibers, as shown in
FIG. 7A
, it is desirable that discharges A between the pair of electrodes
1
are stable, however, in actual fact, as shown in FIG.
7
B and
FIG. 7C
, a phenomena where the discharges A sway and become unstable is recognized.
As a factor of the sway of the discharges A, the sway of the air due to the wind can be considered. In addition, as another factor of the sway of the discharges A, it is considered that electric field conditions surrounding the discharges change due to changes in the environment inside the fusion welding apparatus etc., thereby the location of the discharges is distorted or shifted. That is, in the fusion welding apparatus for optical fibers, for example, fusion mechanism portions such as an alignment mechanism (not illustrated) of the optical fibers
2
are provided, and it is considered that positions of these mechanism portions slightly change in each connecting operation and electric field conditions surrounding the discharges change due to subtle balance of an incorporated position of each portion of the fusion mechanism portion, thereby the location of the discharges is distorted and shifted.
Therefore, in order to prevent the discharges A from swaying under the influence of the wind, as shown in
FIG. 8
, a fusion welding apparatus for optical fibers which is provided with a windshield cover
12
for covering the connection end face sides of the optical fibers
2
, discharge electrodes
1
, optical fiber arraying means
13
, and electrode retaining member
14
as a whole has been suggested.
Also, as shown in FIG.
9
and
FIG. 10
, fusion welding apparatuses for optical fibers which are provided with magnetic field control mechanisms for suppressing {compensating) the sway of the discharges A by controlling magnetic fields have been suggested. In the fusion welding apparatus for optical fibers as shown in
FIG. 9
, a coil
10
is wound around a magnetic core
23
for horizontal deflection and when a power source for discharge
8
is driven, a high frequency current is supplied with the coil
10
, whereby magnetic fields are generated in a gap
24
of the magnetic core
23
, thereby the sway of the discharges between the discharge electrodes
1
has been suppressed.
In the fusion welding apparatus for optical fibers as shown in
FIG. 10
, the magnetic core
23
and coil
10
for horizontal deflection are replaced with a magnetic core
23
and a coil
10
for vertical deflection, and by an effect similar to the case of
FIG. 9
, the sway of the discharges A is suppressed. Furthermore, in FIG.
9
and
FIG. 10
,
3
denotes a fiber cramp for cramping the optical fibers
2
and
16
denotes a driving unit.
However, as shown in
FIG. 8
, in the apparatus provided with the windshield cover
12
, the sway of the discharges between the discharge electrodes
1
due to the wind can be suppressed, whereas the sway of the discharges between the discharge electrodes due to other factors cannot be suppressed, therefore, there have been many cases where the sway of the discharges between the discharge electrodes
1
cannot completely be suppressed. In addition, since such fusion welding apparatuses for optical fibers as described above are used for lay work of optical fibers, etc. to make the apparatuses lightweight and compact is demanded, however, in terms of the apparatuses shown in FIG.
9
and
FIG. 10
, there have been problems such that the apparatuses increase in size since the mechanisms for magnetic field control are provided and, moreover, the apparatuses have no practical use due to the large power consumption thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is made for solving the above-described conventional problems as described above, and the object thereof is to provide a compact fusion welding apparatus for optical fibers which has a simple construction and which can stabilize discharges between discharge electrodes.
In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a fusion welding apparatus for optical fibers having the following construction. That is, a fusion welding apparatus for optical fibers according to the present invention is constructed so that a pair of discharge electrode tip ends, to which optical fibers are fusion welded, are arranged to oppose each other via a space, and connection end faces of a pair of optical fibers, which are arranged so that the connection end face sides thereof are opposed to each other between the discharge electrode tip end faces, are fusion welded by discharge heat from the discharge electrodes, wherein; dielectric bodies for suppressing the sway of discharges between the pair of discharge electrodes are provided.
Preferably, the dielectric bodies are provided along the longitudinal direction of the pair of discharge electrodes in a form so as to sandwich said pair of discharge electrodes from both sides thereof.
Furthermore, if necessary, in addition to providing the dielectric bodies, a windshield cover for covering, at least, a space between the discharge electrode tip ends and optical fiber connection end face sides is provided.
As an example mode of the present embodiment, the dielectric bodies are attached inside the windshield cover. And as a preferable example mode, the windshield cover is an open-and-close type cover which opens and closes by rotations around a spindle as its fulcrum and by a closing operation of the windshield cover, the pair of dielectric bodies are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the discharge electrodes at positions so as to sandwich said discharge electrodes from both sides thereof.
In the fusion welding apparatuses for optical fibers according to the present invention and prior art, electric fields as shown in
FIG. 3A
generate when a current flows between the pair of discharge electrodes arranged so that the tip ends oppose each other via the space. Namely an X axis shown in
FIG. 3A
corresp
Jeffery John A.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
The Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.
LandOfFree
Fusion welding apparatus for optical fiber does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Fusion welding apparatus for optical fiber, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fusion welding apparatus for optical fiber will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3255399