Optical fibre manifold

Details Optical fibre manifold Optical fibre manifold

1995-12-15

1998-06-30

Ngo, John

Optical waveguides

Accessories

G02B 636

Patent

active

057746176

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to an optical fibre manifold for "breaking out" individual fibres or fibre groups from a multi-fibre bundle carried by a single cable element tube. Such manifolds are also sometimes called `break-outs`.
In order to separate out individual fibres or groups of fibres from a multi-fibre bundle, it is necessary to provide distinct discrete paths by which the separated fibres can pass to their intended destinations. It is important that the manifold be physically of small dimension, that it be easy to fit in relation to the fibres and that it should guide the fibres without subjecting them to undue bending. It always has to be borne in mind that optical fibres are extremely fragile.
According to the present invention, there is provided an optical fibre manifold having an inlet channel and a plurality of outlet channels communicating with the inlet channel, the manifold having components moveable between an assembly position and an in use position, wherein in the assembly position fibre can be placed laterally into the inlet channel and into the outlet channels and in the in use position the lateral access to the inlet and outlet channels is closed.
Each fibre passage leading, within the manifold, from an inlet to an outlet is preferably configured to guide the fibre through the passage in such a way as to avoid any impairment of the optical and/or mechanical performance characteristics of the fibre.
By allowing lateral entry of the fibre into the channels, the advantage is obtained that the fibre does not have to be threaded through the manifold. As a result it is not necessary to have access to the fibre ends, and it is easier to handle the fibres with the necessary care to avoid damaging them.
The manifold may have any number of inlet channels and any number of outlet channels. However there will always be more outlet channels than inlet channels. In most cases however there will be a single inlet channel with a plurality of associated outlet channels. The invention is not limited to any particular number of inlet or outlet channels, or to any particular ratio of numbers of inlet to numbers of outlet channels.
The manifold of the invention may also be used as a fibre `combiner`, ie to direct a plurality of separate fibres entering the manifold through the `outlet` channels into a lesser number of fibre streams leaving the manifold through the `inlet` channel.
The manifold may be designed so that it can be combined with other manifolds. Where a plurality of cable element tubes are to have their fibres broken out at the same place, a number of manifolds, each with an inlet channel, can be connected together to form a single manifold structure.
The manifold may comprise a plastics moulding which can be moved between the in use and assembly positions by exercising live hinges which form part of the moulding. The action of opening and closing the moulding about the live hinge may open and close a lateral access channel.
Lateral access channels may also be closed by applying a lid or sleeve to the manifold structure.
Either the inlet channel or the outlet channels or both may include means for connection to a bend limiting sleeve along which a cable element tube can be passed. The connection means may retain the bend limiting sleeve to provide a secure connection between the manifold and the bend limiting tube.
The channels preferably have a large diameter mouth and a smaller diameter fibre routing section aligned with the mouth. Each mouth may be a bell-shaped mouth with radiused edges to prevent the fibre being bent sharply, or may be a cylindrical section adapted to receive an end of a cable element tube, which may be a bend-limiting tube, within which the fibre is carried. Such a cylindrical section can have a diameter of 5 mm or 6 mm, or other diameter depending on the cable element tube which is used.
The fibre routing section should be capable of accommodating one or more fibres. It is important that the fibre routing section ensures that the fibre is nowhere bent through a radius smal

REFERENCES:
Noane; "Low Loss Optical-Fiber Connectoion System"; Elctronics Letters, vol. 15, No. 1; pp. 12-13, Jan. 4, 1979.

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