1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a device for splicing optical fibers. In particular, the present invention is directed to a one-piece fiber splicing device having a self-locking mechanism.
2. Related Art
Mechanical devices for connecting and/or splicing optical fibers for the telecommunications industry are known. For example, conventional devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,824,197; 5,102,212; 5,138,681; 5,159,653; 5,337,390; and 5,155,787.
Another preferred conventional splicing method is fusion splicing. In large deployments, many splices are required to be made in many different areas of the city at the same time. However, as fiber optics are being deployed deeper into the metro and access areas of the network, splicing in these areas of the network are often performed in the air, in cramped closets, and in difficult-to-maneuver locations. Fusion splicing in these types of locations is difficult, and often there is no power available for fusion splicing machine, thus requiring battery power. Also, if many locations are scheduled in a given day, many different installation crews will require fusion splicing machines, resulting in a capital investment for the installation company. Thus, a lower cost, mechanical splicing device that can be activated via a simple low cost tool, and that requires no electrical power, may be desired. This can be an important factor in a flammable environment or an environment where using complicated electronic fusion splicing equipment is difficult.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a fiber splice device includes a body comprising a ductile material. First and second end port sections located on opposite ends of the body are provided and are adapted to receive first and second optical fibers, respectively. The splice device further includes a fiber splicing section, adapted to house a fiber splice, located on the body between the end port sections. The fiber splicing section includes a fiber splice actuation section having a self-locking mechanism integral with the body. In an example construction, a first and second hinge sections provide hinges adapted to support a greater than 90 degree bend in the body. Also, a bend region is provided that is adapted to support an about 90 degree bend in the body.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of making a fiber splice includes placing first and second optical fibers in first and second end port sections of a fiber splicing device such that ends of the fibers are butted to each other. The fiber splicing device further includes a body of a ductile material, a fiber splicing section, adapted to house a fiber splice, located on the body between the end port sections. The fiber splicing section includes a fiber splice actuation section having a self-locking mechanism integral with the body. The method further includes engaging the fiber actuation section with the self-locking mechanism. In an additional embodiment, the method further includes crimping the surfaces of the first and second end port sections.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The figures and the detailed description which follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.
The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
In an exemplary embodiment, splice device 10 includes end ports 35, 45 that are each configured to receive an optical fiber. In exemplary embodiments, end ports 35, 45 each have a tubular shape that can be formed, e.g., through an embossing process. End ports 35, 45 can be constructed as domes or half tubes on the sheet 11, thus creating a circular tube-shaped opening after the folding of sheet 11.
In alternative embodiments, end ports 35, 45 can be configured to have elliptical or other shapes, depending on the desired fiber being spliced. In the open position, the fibers being spliced can be inserted, removed, and/or reinserted into fiber splicing section 20 if a first splice is not successful. End port sections 30, 40 can each further include fiber entrance extensions 36, 46 to further support and help guide fibers 50, 51. Extensions 36, 46 can be shaped as half-tubes and can provide a straightforward visual reference of the location of the end ports without the need to reposition the viewing angle.
End port sections 30, 40 may be secured through end port locking sections 32, 42, respectively. In addition, end port sections 30, 40 can provide crimping regions 38, 48 to further secure the optical fibers being spliced. Prior to crimping or locking operations, described further below, the end ports 35, 45 provide adequate clearance for the passage of the optical fibers 50, 51.
Optical fibers 50, 51 may include conventional (e.g., single mode or multimode) silica (or glass-based) fibers, protective-coated fibers, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 36,146, POF (Plastic Optical Fiber), and TECS™ (Technically Enhanced Clad Silica) fiber, such as is available from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn. These fibers may have several standard diameters (including buffer coatings) of about 125 micrometers (μm) (with or without a buffer coating being removed), 250 μm outer diameter, and/or 900 μm outer diameter, as well as nonstandard diameters, e.g., less than 125 μm, in between 125 μm and 900 μm, and larger.
As mentioned above, fiber splice device 10 can be constructed from a single piece of material. In an exemplary embodiment, body 11 is constructed from one piece of deformable material, preferably a ductile metal such as aluminum. An exemplary material is an aluminum alloy conventionally known as “3003”, having a temper of 0 and a hardness on the Brinnell scale (BHN) of between 23 and 32. Another acceptable alloy is referred to as “1100”, and has a temper of 0, H14 or H15. Acceptable tensile strengths vary from 35 to 115 megapascals. Other metals and alloys, or laminates thereof, may be used in the construction of body 11. Such metals include, but are not limited to, copper, tin, zinc, lead, indium, gold and alloys thereof. In alternative embodiments, a polymeric material, clear or opaque, may be used for body 11. Suitable polymers include polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, acetate, polycarbonate, polyethersulfone, polyetheretherketone, polyetherimide, polyvinylidene fluoride, polysulfone, and copolyesters such as VIVAK (a trademark of Sheffield Plastics, Inc., of Sheffield, Mass.).
For example, a sheet of aluminum can be used as body 11, and, as shown in
With further reference to
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, fiber receiving grooves 72 and 74 are formed on the inside surface of sheet 11, such that when the device 10 is folded, a fiber receiving channel is formed in the fiber splicing section 20. For example, grooves 72 and 74 can be formed in a pre-grooving process, as described in co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/668,401 incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In this embodiment, grooves 72 and 74 are configured to provide guidance and alignment to the fiber portions being spliced. In addition, when the grooves are formed in a pre-grooving process, mechanical compressive forces can be uniformly applied to the outer diameter of the fibers. Such substantially evenly distributed compressive forces can help ensure one or more of the following: coating integrity and reliability, axial alignment between two fibers held in the device, and mechanical fiber retention for the lifetime of the device.
In an exemplary embodiment, grooves 72 and 74 are each substantially semi-circular in shape and are generally parallel with hinge region 64, and equidistant therefrom. For example, a pre-grooving process can be used to form grooves that can contact 300 degrees of the outer perimeter of the fiber. In another example, a fiber can be contacted on about 340 degrees of its outer diameter, or more. Alternatively, one or both of grooves 72, 74 can be formed as conventional V-grooves.
In addition, grooves 72 and 74 can extend along a substantial portion of the fiber splicing section 20.
In an exemplary embodiment, sheet 11 further includes recesses or conical groove sections 75 and 77 that can be formed to lie at both ends of grooves 72 and 74, respectively, such that when the sheet 11 is folded, (as shown in
Also, sheet 11 can further include cutout sections 37, 47 located on each side of the fiber clamping plate 22. These cutouts 37, 47 can be used for manufacturing purposes, as described below. In addition, body 11 can optionally further include one or more clamp relief pads 79 and an access hole 85. Clamp relief pads 79 can be used in conjunction with the locking mechanism or plate 24.
For example, in an exemplary embodiment, such as shown in
The optional access hole 85 can be formed through the splice backbone 33 across from the locking plate 24. The access hole 85 can be used to open the locking plate 24 by, e.g., pushing a small diameter pin or rod (not shown) through the hole 85 onto the locking plate 24 until it opens. While frequent openings of the locking plate 24 can reduce the integrity of the hinge 62, the splice device 10 can be used for more than one splicing operation. A minimal opening distance of plate 24 can extend hinge life and integrity.
An exemplary folding operation is shown schematically in
The fiber end port sections 30, 40 can be folded in a similar manner, as is illustrated schematically if
In accordance with exemplary embodiments, in the closed position, stress is induced in the hinge areas on both the locking mechanism and the fiber clamping plate, which forces the respective plates towards an open portion. The structure of the splice device of the present invention is designed to counteract these forces, one opposing the other, to maintain closure of the splice device through the use of a self-locking mechanism. For example,
The folding operation (that transforms sheet 11 into a working splice device 10) can be performed manually, with a machine, or with a combination of both. For example, the material can be formed and cut from a strip in a manual or progressive die, or combination, resulting in sheet 11. The bend region 65 can also be bent in the manual and/or progressive die. Sheet 11 can be transferred by human action and/or with automation, into a folding/gelling/date-coding machine (not shown). A set of locating and clamping fingers (not shown) can be used to move vertically down onto the flat sheet 11, locating into the cutout areas 37, 47 (shown in
As mentioned above, crimping can also be performed to further secure the fibers being spliced and to prevent torsional movement of the fibers. An exemplary crimping procedure is illustrated in
According to a further alternative embodiment, strain relief can also be accomplished using a modified design and procedure. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the end port sections 30, 40 can have “open” and “closed” positions, similar to the open and closed positions of the fiber splicing section 20. In the open position, e.g., as shown in
In addition, the splice device of the present invention can be a small, lightweight device. For example, the footprint of the entire device can be on the order of 0.75 inches or greater. In one example, the footprint for the device can be about 1.2 inches in length, about 0.2 in. in width, and about 0.145 in. in height. Of course, other sizes would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art given the present invention.
The splice device of the embodiments of the present invention can thus provide a straightforward method of splicing optical fibers in the field. For example, first and second optical fibers can be placed in the first and second end port sections of a splicing device 10 such that ends of the optical fibers are butted to each other. Then, the fiber splicing section 20 can be actuated to complete the splice, with the self-locking mechanism 24 fastening the clamping plate securely on the spliced fiber ends. Further strain relief can be provided by crimping the end port sections or engaging teeth formed in the end ports to grab the extended portions of the fibers.
As fiber optics are deployed deeper into the metro and access areas of a network, the benefits of such mechanical interconnection products can be utilized for Fiber-To-The-Home/Desk/Building/Business (FTTX) applications. The devices of the present invention can be utilized in installation environments that require ease of use when handling multiple splices and connections, especially where labor costs are more expensive.
The present invention should not be considered limited to the particular examples described above, but rather should be understood to cover all aspects of the invention as fairly set out in the attached claims. Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerous structures to which the present invention may be applicable will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art to which the present invention is directed upon review of the present specification. The claims are intended to cover such modifications and devices.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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