U.S. patent number RE36,592 [Application Number 08/856,106] was granted by the patent office on 2000-02-29 for optical receiver stub fitting.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Siecor Corporation. Invention is credited to Terry L. Cooke, Markus A. Giebel.
United States Patent |
RE36,592 |
Giebel , et al. |
February 29, 2000 |
Optical receiver stub fitting
Abstract
A cable assembly for attachment to an entry port of an optical
enclosure. The assembly includes a plug for an end of an optical
cable in a sealed housing having a single rigid tube and a single
sealed nut. Connectorized optical fibers or an optical ribbon
extend from the plug into the equipment enclosure.
Inventors: |
Giebel; Markus A. (Hickory,
NC), Cooke; Terry L. (Hickory, NC) |
Assignee: |
Siecor Corporation (Hickory,
NC)
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Family
ID: |
23042028 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/856,106 |
Filed: |
May 14, 1997 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
272975 |
Jul 1, 1994 |
05416874 |
May 16, 1995 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
385/100; 174/23R;
385/103; 385/106; 385/113; 385/114; 428/392 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B
6/3897 (20130101); G02B 6/4471 (20130101); G02B
6/3878 (20130101); G02B 6/4248 (20130101); Y10T
428/2964 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
G02B
6/44 (20060101); G02B 6/38 (20060101); G02B
006/44 () |
Field of
Search: |
;385/62,81,87,100-117
;428/392,34.9 ;174/23R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0 199 267 A1 |
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Apr 1986 |
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EP |
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1247410 |
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Oct 1960 |
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FR |
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2662270 |
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May 1990 |
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FR |
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2670303 |
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Dec 1990 |
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FR |
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38 20 950 A1 |
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Dec 1989 |
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DE |
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58-11906 |
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Jan 1983 |
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JP |
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61-282807 |
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Jun 1985 |
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JP |
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2030723 |
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Apr 1980 |
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GB |
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Other References
"Fiber Optic Transport Connector," Production Products Company,
Publication No. 05-01-92. .
Amphenol Strain Relief Assembly, Drawing No. 909-116-12 1981. .
"Back-fed Cable Stub Installation," Siecor Recommended Procedure
SRP-009-002, Issue 1, pp. 1-3 (Jan. 1993). .
"Siecor Front-fed Cable Stub Installation," Siecor Recommended
Procedure SRP-009-003, Issue 1, pp. 1-4 (Apr. 1993). .
"Installation of Siecor Fanout Assemblies on Loose Tube Fiber Optic
Cable," Siecor Recommended Procedure SRP-000-082, Issue 1, pp. 1-8
(Nov. 1991). .
"Installation of Siecor Fan-Out Assemblies on Loose Tube and Mini
Bundle.RTM. Riser Fiber Optic Cable," Siecor Recommended Procedure
SRP-000-082, Issue 2, pp. 1-10 (Dec. 1992). .
"Installation of Siecor Fan-Out Assemblies on Loose Tube and Mini
Bundle.RTM. Riser Fiber Optic Cable," Siecor Recommended Procedure
SRP-000-082, Issue 3, pp. 1-10 (Jul. 1993). .
"Installation of Siecor Fan-Out Assemblies on Loose Tube and Mini
Bundle.RTM. Riser Fiber Optic Cable," Siecor Recommended Procedure
SRP-000-082, Issue 4, pp. 1-10 (Nov. 1994). .
"Installation of Siecor Fan-Out Assemblies on Loose Tube and Mini
Bundle.RTM. Riser Fiber Optic Cable," Siecor Recommended Procedure
SRP-000-082, Issue 5, pp. 1-7 (Mar. 1996). .
Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-004-018, Issue No. 1, pp. 1-4
(1988). .
Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-004-018, Issue 5, pp. 1-6 (Jun.
1991). .
Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-004-018, Issue 7, pp. 1-6 (Jan.
1993). .
Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-004-018, Issue 8, pp. 1-7 (Apr.
1994). .
Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-004-018, Issue 9, pp. 1-7 (Dec.
1994). .
IBM/Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-009-001, Issue 3, pp. 1-4
(Apr. 1991). .
IBM/Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-009-001, Issue 5, pp. 1-4
(Jun. 1991). .
IBM/Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-009-001, Issue 6, pp. 1-9
(Feb. 1992). .
IBM/Siecor Recommended Procedure, SRP-009-001, Issue 11, pp. 1-10
(Oct. 1992)..
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Primary Examiner: Palmer; Phan T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nixon Peabody LLP
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.This application is a Reissue of application Ser. No.
08/272,975 U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,874, filed Jul. 1, 1994. .Iaddend.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cable assembly for use with optical enclosures,
comprising:
a plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber including a
proximal span in which the optical fiber is held within a sheathed
cable, a distal end, and a mediate span therebetween.[.:.]..Iadd.;
.Iaddend.
a plurality of flexible tubes, each said flexible tube surrounding
a mediate span of one of .[.the.]. said optical fibers;
a water-impervious plug encasing a portion of the mediate span of
the plurality of optical fibers and the flexible tubes, the plug
extending over a portion of the cable sheath; .[.and,.].
a rigid jacket encasing the plug.Iadd.; and
an environmentally sealed housing over the rigid jacket for
attaching the cable to an optical equipment enclosure.Iaddend..
2. A cable assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a
cable strength member having a portion thereof extending into and
embedded in the plug. .[.3. A cable assembly as recited in claim 1
further comprising an environmentally sealed housing over the rigid
tube for attaching the
cable to an optical equipment enclosure..].4. A cable assembly as
recited in claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., wherein the housing
comprises a single rigid tube and a single nut directly connectable
to the rigid tube, the
housing having no third nut. 5. A cable assembly, comprising:
an optical enclosure having an internally threaded optical entry
port;
a single rigid tube having first and second ends, the first end
having an externally threaded extension connected to the entry port
such that the rigid tube is outside the enclosure, and means
environmentally sealing such connection;
a plurality of optical fibers each including a proximal span held
in a sheathed cable, a distal end within the enclosure, and a
mediate span therebetween;
a plurality of flexible tubes, each said flexible tube surrounding
a mediate span of one of the optical fibers; and,
a water-impervious plug contained in the rigid tube, the plug
encasing a portion of the mediate span of the plurality of the
optical fibers and
flexible tubes, the plug extending over a portion of the cable
sheath. 6. A cable assembly as recited in claim 5, further
comprising a rigid
jacket encasing the plug. 7. A cable assembly as recited in claim
5, further comprising a cable strength member having a portion
thereof
extending into and embedded in the plug. 8. A cable assembly as
recited in claim 5, further comprising a single environmentally
sealed nut directly connectable to the second end of the rigid tube
in the absence of a third
nut. 9. A cable assembly for use with optical enclosures,
comprising:
an optical ribbon including a proximal span in which the optical
fiber is held within a sheathed cable, a distal end, and a mediate
span therebetween:
a flexible tube surrounding the mediate span of the optical ribbon;
and,
a water-impervious plug encasing a portion of the mediate span of
the optical ribbon and the flexible tube, the plug extending over a
portion of
the cable sheath. 10. A cable assembly as recited in claim 9,
further
comprising a rigid jacket encasing the plug. 11. A cable assembly
as recited in claim 9, further comprising a cable strength member
extending
into and embedded in the plug. 12. A cable assembly as recited in
claim .[.9.]. .Iadd.10.Iaddend., further comprising an
environmentally sealed housing over the rigid .[.tube.].
.Iadd.jacket .Iaddend.for attaching the
cable to an optical enclosure. 13. A cable assembly as recited in
claim 12, wherein the housing comprises a single rigid tube and a
.[.Single.]. .Iadd.single .Iaddend.nut directly connectable to the
rigid tube, the
housing having no third nut. 14. A cable assembly for cable pulls,
comprising:
an optical element including a proximal span in which the optical
element is held within a sheathed cable, a distal end, and a
mediate span therebetween:
a flexible tube surrounding the mediate span of the optical
element;
a water-impervious plug encasing a portion of the mediate span of
the optical element and the flexible tube, the plug extending over
a portion of the cable sheath; and,
a strong, flexible tubular hose holding the optical element distal
end, the hose having two ends, one hose end mounted to a cable
pulling eye and the
other hose end mounted to a housing over the plug. .Iadd.15. A
cable assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing further
comprises:
a rigid tube having opposed first and second openings and
a connector configured to fit into the first opening.
.Iaddend..Iadd.16. A cable assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein
the rigid tube and the connector each threadably engage one another
so that the connector fits into the first opening of the rigid
tube. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. A cable assembly as recited in claim 16,
wherein the rigid tube is internally threaded at the first opening
to receivably engage a threaded end of the connector.
.Iaddend..Iadd.18. A cable assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein
the housing is placed over the rigid jacket so that the first
opening is remote from the distal end of the plurality of optical
fibers. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. A cable assembly as recited in claim 15,
wherein the rigid tube is threaded to facilitate connection of the
cable assembly to an optical enclosure through a threaded optical
entry port in the optical enclosure. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. A cable
assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the second end of the
rigid tube comprises an externally threaded extension to facilitate
connection of the cable assembly to an optical enclosure through an
internally threaded optical entry port in the optical enclosure.
.Iaddend..Iadd.21. A cable assembly as recited in claim 1 further
comprising:
a heat shrinkable tube over the housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. A cable
assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of optical connectors at the distal end of the
plurality of
optical fibers. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. A cable assembly as recited in
claim 15 further comprising:
a grommet within the rigid tube between the jacket and the
connector. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. A cable assembly as recited in claim
1, wherein the plurality of optical fibers is an optical fiber
ribbon within a single
tube. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. A cable assembly comprising:
a plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber including a
proximal span in which the optical fiber is held within a sheathed
cable, a distal end, and a mediate span therebetween;
a plurality of flexible tubes, each said flexible tube surrounding
a mediate span of one of said optical fibers;
a water-impervious plug encasing a portion of the mediate span of
the plurality of optical fibers and the flexible tubes, the plug
extending over a portion of the cable sheath; and
an environmentally sealed housing separate from the plug and around
the plug. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. A cable assembly as recited in claim
25, wherein the housing further comprises:
a rigid tube having opposed first and second openings and
a connector configured to fit into the first opening.
.Iaddend..Iadd.27. A cable assembly as recited in claim 26, wherein
the rigid tube and the connector each threadably engage one another
so that the connector fits into the first opening of the rigid
tube. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. A cable assembly as recited in claim 27,
wherein the rigid tube is internally threaded at the first opening
to receivably engage a threaded end of the connector.
.Iaddend..Iadd.29. A cable assembly as recited in claim 26, wherein
the housing is placed over the plug so that the first opening is
remote from the distal end of the plurality of optical fibers.
.Iaddend..Iadd.30. A cable assembly as recited in claim 26, wherein
the rigid tube is threaded to facilitate connection of the cable
assembly to an optical enclosure through a threaded optical entry
port in the optical enclosure. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. A cable assembly
as recited in claim 30, wherein the second end of the rigid tube
comprises an externally threaded extension to facilitate connection
of the cable assembly to an optical enclosure through an internally
threaded optical entry port in the optical enclosure.
.Iaddend..Iadd.32. A cable assembly as recited in claim 25 further
comprising:
a heat shrinkable tube over the housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. A cable
assembly as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
a plurality of optical connectors at the distal end of the
plurality of optical fibers. .Iaddend..Iadd.34. A cable assembly ad
recited in claim 26 further comprising:
a rigid jacket encasing the plug and within the housing.
.Iaddend..Iadd.35. A cable assembly as recited in claim 34 further
comprising:
a grommet within the rigid tube between the jacket and the
connector. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. A cable assembly as recited in claim
25 further comprising:
a cable strength member having a portion thereof extending into
said embedded in the plug. .Iaddend..Iadd.37. A cable assembly as
recited in claim 25, wherein the plurality of optical fibers is an
optical fiber
ribbon within a single tube. .Iaddend..Iadd.38. A cable assembly
comprising:
a plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber including a
proximal span in which the optical fiber is held within a sheathed
cable, a distal end, and a mediate span therebetween;
a plurality of flexible tubes, each said flexible tube surrounding
a mediate span of one of said optical fibers;
a water-impervious plug encasing a portion of the mediate span of
the plurality of optical fibers and the flexible tubes, the plug
extending over a portion of the cable sheath;
a rigid jacket encasing the plug; and
an environmentally sealed housings around the rigid jacket, wherein
the housing comprises:
a rigid tube having opposed first and second openings with the
first opening being remote from the distal end of the plurality of
optical fibers and the second opening being externally threaded to
facilitate connection of the cable assembly to an optical enclosure
through an internally threaded optical entry port in the optical
enclosure and
a connector configured to fit into the first opening, wherein the
rigid tube is internally threaded at the first opening to
receivable engage a threaded end of the connector. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fiber optic cable assemblies for connection to optical enclosures
are currently available. Such assemblies must securely anchor the
cable and be environmentally sealed. Certain connectors anchor the
cable by means of a clamping mechanism requiring two nuts in
addition to a rear sealing nut. Although these connectors provide
some anchoring and environmental sealing, the anchoring strength of
the connector is limited due to the limited tolerance of many
cables to clamping. A further disadvantage of such connectors is
the additional opening between the two clamping nuts which must be
sealed.
Objects of the invention are to provide a simple means for
anchoring cable strength elements and to eliminate a possible
moisture entry point.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an improved cable assembly joining optical
cables having optical fibers or optical fiber ribbons to optical
enclosures such as patch panels or opto-electronic enclosures for
optical networks. The cable holds the proximal span of a plurality
of optical fibers or an optical ribbon including optical fibers.
Connectorized or unconnectorized distal ends of the optical fibers
or optical ribbon are contained within an optical enclosure having
an internally threaded optical entry port. Mediate spans of the
optical fibers or the optical ribbon are each surrounded by a
flexible tube. A water-impervious plug encases a portion of the
mediate span of each of the optical fibers or optical ribbon and
the flexible tube or tubes, the plug also preferably encasing a
portion of at least one cable strength member. The plug extends
over a portion of the cable sheath. A metallic rigid jacket
preferably encases the plug. Over the plug is an environmentally
sealed housing for attaching the cable to the enclosure. As the
housing does not depend on cable clamping, it requires only two
members, namely a single rigid tube having two ends, a first end
having an externally threaded extension connected to the entry port
such that the rigid tube is outside the enclosure, and a second
internally threaded end to which is attached a sealing nut having
an externally threaded extension. A grommet is preferably present
over the cable jacket between the sealing nut and the plug, and
O-rings are placed in slots behind the external threads of the
rigid tube and the sealing nut. The assembly may be grounded if
desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of portions of a plurality of
bundled flexible tubes;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembly prior to formation of
the sealed plug;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly including the plug and
the optical connectors;
FIG. 5a is a perspective view of the assembly including the
housing:
FIG. 5b is a perspective view of the assembly according to the
embodiment including an optical ribbon:
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembly including an optical
enclosure; and,
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a heat shrinkable tube applied over
the assembly as attached to an optical enclosure.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cable pulls.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Nut 31 and grommet 30 are first placed over cable sheath 14. An
array of flexible tubes 10 are bundled as shown in FIG. 1 by two
strips 11,12 of heat shrinkable material which are preferably 1/4
inch wide. Tubes 10 are preferably made of a lightweight, low
friction, highly flexible plastic such as Teflon.RTM. plastic.
Strips 11, 12 are placed 3/16th of an inch apart. Strip 12 is
located around 1/4 inch from one end of tubes 10.
After strips 11, 12 have cooled, spiral wrap material 13 is placed
over the bundle of tubes 10, with one edge over strip 11 and the
remainder proceeding in the direction opposite strip 12.
An optical cable is then prepared as shown in FIG. 3. After one end
of cable sheath 14 has been stripped back, a buffer tube including
optical fibers 17 extends a short distance. A cable strength member
such as aramid yarn 29 also extend a short distance. Each optical
fiber 17 is threaded through a flexible tube 10, with an optical
connector 18 being placed on the distal end of each optical fiber
17. As shown in FIG. 4, tubes 10 extend to meet the rear of
connectors 18. A protective boot on each connector 18 may cover the
end of a tube 10. After one end of tubes 10 have been placed inside
a tube 15, an adhesive lined piece of heat shrinkable material 16
is placed over the junction of buffer tube 15 and flexible tubes
10. Heat is then applied to produce the configuration of FIG.
3.
The assembly of FIG. 3 is then placed in a rigid aluminum tubular
jacket 19 held in a vertical fixture such that the end of cable
sheath 14 and strength members 29 lie at the lower end of jacket 19
and spiral wrap material 13 and tubes 10 extend from the upper end
of jacket 19. After grommet 30 is placed at the lower end of jacket
19, an epoxy is injected into the jacket to produce a cylindrical
water impervious plug 34. If grounding is desired, jacket 19 should
not be filled to the top in order to ensure electrical continuity
between jacket 19 and rigid tube 32, made of an electrically
conductive material such as aluminum. A conductor wire or spring
would also be connected between metallic cable armor and jacket 19,
made of a conductive metal such as aluminum. The wire may also be
connected directly to enclosure 24. The assembly then has the
appearance shown in FIG. 4.
Alternate preferred embodiments are shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b. A
section of heat shrinkable tubing 25 is not shown to the left of
nut 31. Grommet 30 is located around sheath 14 between nut 31 and
jacket 19 within rigid tube 32. Rigid tube 32 has on one end an
externally threaded extension 36 for fitting to an enclosure. A
single tube 10 containing an optical ribbon is attached to a ribbon
connector 35 as shown in FIG. 5b, or tubes 10 each containing an
optical fiber proceed to connectors 18. Spiral wrap 13 protects a
tube 10 in either case.
Threaded end 36 is then inserted into an internally threaded
optical entry port 40 of optical enclosure 24. Nut 31 is threaded
into rigid tube 32, providing a compressive fit with grommet 30.
For added environmental protection, heat shrinkable tubing 25 is
then cured over rigid tube 32 and nut 31.
The invention can also be used in cable pulls as shown by the
assembly in FIG. 8. Pulling eye 52 is mounted to a flexible, strong
tubular hose 51 which may be a mesh of flexible metal wires or
other material such as strong plastic. A nut 50, having the same
connection geometry as port 40, is attached to hose 51. A
protective member such as a split foam or plastic tube is placed
over the optical elements extending from the member 32 into hose
51.
It will be appreciated that variations of the preferred embodiments
may be used within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *