Split open dead end

Details Split open dead end Split open dead end

1999-03-22

2001-01-09

Ngo, Hung N. (Department: 2874)

Optical waveguides

Accessories

External retainer/clamp

C385S083000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06173103

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a split open dead end which holds the outer layers of a cable without damaging the core of the cable and is particularly suited for use with fiber optic cables while having uses with other types of cables.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fiber optic composite cable is used to construct utility transmission lines. This replaces overhead ground wire for communications applications and further protects the phase conductor on the transmission line from lightning damage and short circuit conditions. The delicate optical fibers are housed and protected in a cavity within the central core of the cable. Smaller wire strands are wound spirally about the outer surface of the cable.
The installation, rigging and engagement of fiber optic cable, including the use of a “dead end”, must be done in a way that does not put excessive stress on the delicate optical fibers within the cable. Otherwise the optical fibers are damaged.
One prior art technique of protecting the fiber optic cable during installation and rigging is to use layers of material to wrap the fiber optic cable. However, this is labor intensive.
Other techniques include bolt-tightened and similar mechanical techniques without appropriate inherent limitations wherein over-tightening can damage the fiber optical cable and under-tightening can result in a failure of the engagement.
Examples of prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,005 entitled “Anchor Device for an Optical Cable”, issued on May 26, 1998 to Yoshida; U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,724 entitled “Fiber Optic Support Apparatus”, issued on May 19, 1998 to Peterson et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,491 entitled “Dead End for Fiber Optic Shield Cable” issued on Sep. 13, 1988 to Champa et al.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a mechanism to engage cables, particularly fiber optic cables.
It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a “dead end” for fiber optic cables.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide such a device which does not damage the delicate optical fibers of a fiber optic cable.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide such a device which has a limited range of tightening.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide such a device which does not require excessive labor during installation.
It is therefore a final object of this invention to provide such a device which securely and reliably engages a fiber optical cable.
These and other objects are attained by providing a split open dead end with a body of two halves hinged together, two sliding wedges and a U-shaped bail. The two halves each include a half round serrated groove through the entire length thereof. The halves are folded over each other or assembled to form a cylindrical serrated aperture to engage the optical cable. The inside diameter of the resulting serrated aperture is designed to grip just the outer layer of an optical cable without creating any force on the fiber core. The two halves further have half taper rails along the length of both sides of the halves. When the two halves are folded over each other or assembled, half taper rails from both halves align on each side of the body and a full taper is formed on each side of the body. The two halves are held together by two sliding wedges with matching internal tapers, one sliding wedge on each side of the body. As the wedges travel up the taper of the body, the force is increased. This force increases until the two halves of the body are completely flush with each other. This limits the amount of force transmitted to the fiber optical cable. A U-shaped bail has parallel prongs which pass through apertures formed in external loops on the sliding wedge and in external loops and the hinge of the body. Nuts are then attached to the ends of the prongs of the bail.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4770491 (1988-09-01), Champa et al.
patent: 5647046 (1997-07-01), Cowen et al.
patent: 5754724 (1998-05-01), Peterson et al.
patent: 5758005 (1998-05-01), Yoshida
patent: 6023549 (2000-02-01), Polidori

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