Optical fiber splice organizer

Details Optical fiber splice organizer Optical fiber splice organizer

1992-01-24

1995-10-10

Healy, Brian

Optical waveguides

Accessories

Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers

385134, G02B 636

Patent

active

054577632

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to optical fibre distribution and in particular but not exclusively to branched networks for optical telecommunications.
Presently optical fibres are utilised in trunk lines for telecommunications but it is desirable to have optical transmission within other points in a network, such as in branches between an exchange and a subscriber. Elements in such branches need to be reliable under the extremes of ambient temperature and to permit broad spectrum transmission over the range of wavelengths utilised, at present usually 1300 to 1550 nm. It is also necessary to ensure that minimum losses occur due to macrobending as optical fibres emerge from branching elements such as couplers.
Our co-pending British application No. 8827348.7 describes an optical fibre distribution arrangement comprising a coupling array and a splice organiser associated with each input and output line of the coupling array, the splice organisers being mounted to a supporting frame and capable of limited relative movement with respect to one another so as to permit access to the splices stored therein. A splice organiser described in the application comprises a tray having a groove for retaining a splice and recesses for confining loops of optical fibre under their own natural resilience. In this splice tray there is only one entry/exit port for the fibre, which port is located at one corner. However, in some instances it would be preferable to be able to have a choice of entry and/or exit port from a number of alternatives. In this case it is desirable that means be provided for the fibre to be routed to the alternative entry/exit ports in such a way that significant optical loss from the fibre due to macrobending is avoided. It is additionally desirable that there are a number of alternative routes to each alternative entry/exit port.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a splice organiser comprising a tray having a plurality of formers to define the minimum bend radius of optical fibres so that significant optical loss from the fibres is avoided, a groove for retaining a splice, and at least one recess for confining loops of optical fibre under their own natural resilience, the or each recess being positioned between a respective pair of adjacent formers and being sized and shaped to confine loops of optical fibre having radii of curvature exceeding the minimum bend radius, and in which a plurality of guide tracks are provided to enable fibres to enter or exit the organiser at any one of a plurality of ports.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a splice organiser according to the invention;
FIG. 2A shows a detail of one feature of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the feature shown in FIG. 2A; and
FIG. 3 shows a further feature of the preferred embodiment.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a preferred splice organiser which enables a single splice 16 to be stored on one side of an organiser and fibre to enter or exit the organiser at any one of the four entry/exit ports 27 located at the four corners of the tray. The organiser comprises a tray 13 having a central raised, substantially circular former 14, and two raised curved end formers 15, the splice 16 being positioned in a splice retaining groove located, as shown, on a long side of the organiser. The fibres enter and pass out of the organiser along any one of separate channels 17 which lead to each of the four corners of the tray. Spare loops of fibre on each side of the splice are stored in the organiser by forming coils of fibre and placing these over the former 14 after passing the first bend after the splice around the outer side of the curved end former 15. Alternative winding patterns around both the end formers or over one end former and the opposite side of the central former may also be used, but se

REFERENCES:
patent: 4840449 (1989-06-01), Ghandeharizadeh
patent: 5066149 (1991-11-01), Wheeler et al.
patent: 5067784 (1991-11-01), Debortoli et al.
patent: 5249252 (1993-09-01), Noto
patent: 5319732 (1994-06-01), Jones

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