Optical waveguides – Accessories – Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
Patent
1992-03-17
1993-06-22
Lee, John D.
Optical waveguides
Accessories
Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
385137, G02B 636
Patent
active
052221849
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an optical fibre splice storage tray for effecting storage and protection of optical fibre cable splices within a cable jointing closure.
Such trays are used to protect the minute and therefore delicate glass or polymer optical fibres from damage during formation of the cable joint and its enclosure, or during reentry to the closure for maintenance and/or changing the number of splices within the closure. One or more trays can be used in a single closure and each tray holds a number of fibre splices. The maximum number of splices is dependent on the physical size of the tray, but this is largely dictated by the size of the cable jointing closure and space available to store the closure. Each tray is limited in the number of its splices to avoid congestion and tangling of the fibres.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, there is provided an optical fibre splice storage tray, which is provided with a series of ridges, of which alternate ridges are of lesser height than the intervening ridges so that smaller cross-section splices can be disposed as an interference fit between any adjacent pair of the ridges and larger cross-section splices can be disposed as an interference fit between any adjacent pair of the higher ridges.
Preferably there is a narrow space or slot between each adjacent pair of ridges at their roots and a wider space or slot between them at a higher level (but below the tops of the lower-height ridges). Thus very small cross-section splices can be disposed as an interference fit between any adjacent pair of ridges at a higher level, and the larger cross-section splices can be disposed as an interference fit between adjacent ones of the higher ridges (in which case the larger cross-section splice sits over the top of the lesser-height intervening ridge).
Accordingly, this splice storage tray is able to locate and store a number of different types of optical fibre splices, including those which comprise (a) heatshrink sleeves recovered onto the fibres with an inner liner which melts and encapsulates the fused glass fibres, (b) hollow tubular or channel-shaped protectors providing a local environment to reduce impact or stress on the fused glass fibres, (c) mechanical resin encapsulation around the ends of the glass fibres to provide a path for the light to be transmitted through the fibre as well as acting as a splice protector (the resin being anchored to the body of the splice protector which is larger than other types described above), and (d) fold-over splice protectors which are hinged and have a means e.g. adhesive backing to keep them closed.
Preferably the fibre splices once located in the slots are secured with an elastic strap which is tensioned over the top of the tray and across the splices. This is particularly important with the interference fit of the splices in the slots and the possibility of movement in service from vibration or handling of the closure by the jointer. To reduce chaffing due to vibration a mastic or non-stick malleable substance e.g. plasticine can be used to bed the splices firmly into their slots. Each splice can be removed easily by placing a wedge-type tool e.g. a small screwdriver under the splice and towards its end to remove it.
The tray is preferably circular so as to be more able to maximise the optical fibre bend radii near the upper limit of the dimensional band (of 35 mm to 50 mm) than a rectangular shape. Preferably the tray enables the use of cable ties for securing the fibre carrying tubes to the tray, which cable ties can be replaced when adding other tubes. The cable ties when tightened are recessed below the top and bottom surfaces of the tray ensuring ease of stacking. Preferably a number of projections from the top of the tray are provided to ensure that the fibres do not fall out during service. Preferably two central projections are positioned to ensure maximum fibre support. Preferably there are two series of slots to allow splices to be put either side of
REFERENCES:
patent: 4627686 (1989-12-01), Szentesi et al.
patent: 4805976 (1989-02-01), Bossard et al.
patent: 4961623 (1990-10-01), Midkiff et al.
Barns S. W.
Bowthorpe-Hellermann Limited
Gordon David P.
Lee John D.
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