Optical waveguides – Accessories – Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
Patent
1996-06-28
1999-02-09
Lee, John D.
Optical waveguides
Accessories
Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
G02B 636
Patent
active
058705198
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a splice tray for accommodating optical fibers.
Where optical fibers have to be connected to one another, a splicing technique is used. The splices have to be stored carefully and with an ample supply of fibre on either side of the splice so that the splice can, if necessary, be remade. Since fibers are normally routed in fibre bundles, it is normal for a large number of fibers to be spliced in the same physical location.
It is therefore conventional to provide a splice tray in which the splice and an associated fibre can be accommodated.
It is always desirable to reduce the volume needed for storing multiple splices, provided that this can be done without comprising the requirements of safe storage and subsequent access.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect the invention provides a splice tray for accommodating optical fibers, the tray comprising a body with a plurality of splice holders at fixed locations thereof, the body having fibre access points with which fibre can enter and leave the body, and fibre paths on the body leading from the access points to and from each splice holder, each holder being adapted to receive and hold a splice reinforcer within which a fibre splice is present, and the body being provided with means to accommodate a length of fibre of either side of the splice.
Preferably at least some of the splice holders are removably mounted at the fixed locations.
This feature permits a particularly flexible arrangement to be provided in which different types of splice and respective fibre storage arrangement may be accommodated simply by using an appropriate holder.
Preferably a fibre storage chamber is provided to accommodate lengths of fibre, and fibre paths on the body provide routes between each splice holder and the chamber. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of splice holders are arranged in a first plane on the body and the fibre storage chamber lies in a second plane beneath the first plane.
In addition an auxiliary fibre storage chamber may be provided at one end of the body.
Optical fibre associated with each splice may be stored in one of the chambers on the tray. However some of the splice holders may support a fibre storage leaf upon where fibre for the respective splice is stored. Preferably the leaf is hingedly secured to a base part.
In order to test fibre circuits without interrupting the circuit, it is known to use a socalled clip on power meter. In order to use such a meter, each single fibre has to be accurately held within a "window" of predetermined size to allow the weight to operate. It is important that provision should be made for using such a meter to test each individual fibre circuit. In another aspect the invention provides a splice tray for accommodating optical fibers, the tray comprising a body with a plurality of leaves attached to the body, the body having fibre access points at which fibre can enter and leave the body, and fibre paths on the body leading from the access point to and from each leaf, each leaf having means for receiving and retaining a splice and a length of fibre either side of the splice, wherein each leaf also has windows through the leaf material, with fibre guides on the leaf arranged so that a fibre on each side of the splice traverses one of the windows, the leaf being adapted to receive an adaptor by which a clip on power meter can be used to take readings of the transmissivity of each fibre, accessing the fibre through one of the windows. The invention also provides a method of measuring the transmissivity of an optical fibre, wherein the fibre is located on a leaf hinged to a splice tray body and the leaf has a window cut through the leaf material, the fibers on the leaf arranged so that the fibre traverses the window, the method comprising the steps of fitting an adaptor to the leaf so that a window on the adaptor registers with the window on the leaf, and connecting a clip on power meter to the adaptor to take readings or the transmissivity of the fibre.
The inven
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Benton Simon C. T.
Gregory Brian
Jenkins Peter D
Jung Roger E
Kang Ellen E.
Lee John D.
Telephone Cables Limited
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