Field installed fiber optic connector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A field installable connector system comprising:
- a first subassembly including a fiber optic cable including an optical fiber terminated at a ferrule; and
a second subassembly including;
a housing including a front end and a rear end, the housing defining a through passage;
a hardened coupling element mounted to turn about a longitudinal axis of the housing, the hardened coupling element including a twist-to-lock coupling interface;
a seal element mounted on the housing closer to the front end than the rear end;
an elastomeric sealing sleeve mounted over the rear end of the housing; and
a removable seal expansion tube positioned within the elastomeric sealing sleeve for holding the elastomeric sealing sleeve open, wherein the first sub assembly is inserted through the elastomeric sealing sleeve and into the through passage of the housing by inserting the first subassembly through the removeable seal expansion tube.
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a field installable connector system. The connector system includes a factory terminated subassembly including a ferrule terminating an optical fiber of an optical fiber cable. The factory terminated subassembly has a small transverse cross-section to facilitate routing through a duct. The connector system also includes a field installable subassembly including various connector components that can be installed after the factory terminated subassembly has been routed through a duct. The components can be sealed and hardened.
34 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A field installable connector system comprising:
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a first subassembly including a fiber optic cable including an optical fiber terminated at a ferrule; and a second subassembly including; a housing including a front end and a rear end, the housing defining a through passage; a hardened coupling element mounted to turn about a longitudinal axis of the housing, the hardened coupling element including a twist-to-lock coupling interface; a seal element mounted on the housing closer to the front end than the rear end; an elastomeric sealing sleeve mounted over the rear end of the housing; and a removable seal expansion tube positioned within the elastomeric sealing sleeve for holding the elastomeric sealing sleeve open, wherein the first sub assembly is inserted through the elastomeric sealing sleeve and into the through passage of the housing by inserting the first subassembly through the removeable seal expansion tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A field installable connector system comprising:
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a first subassembly including a fiber optic cable including an optical fiber terminated at a ferrule; and a second subassembly including; a hardened coupling element including a front end and a rear end, the hardened coupling element including a twist-to-lock coupling interface near the front end, the hardened coupling element defining a through passage; a seal element mounted on the hardened coupling element closer to the front end than the rear end; an elastomeric sealing sleeve mounted over the rear end of the hardened coupling element; and a removable seal expansion tube positioned within the elastomeric sealing sleeve for holding the elastomeric sealing sleeve open, wherein the first sub assembly is inserted through the elastomeric sealing sleeve and into the through passage of the hardened coupling element by inserting the first subassembly through the removeable seal expansion tube. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A component comprising:
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a housing having a first end and a second end an elastomeric sealing sleeve mounted over the second end of the housing; and a removable seal expansion tube positioned within the elastomeric sealing sleeve for holding the elastomeric sealing sleeve open to allow a fiber optic cable to be inserted through the elastomeric sealing sleeve and into the housing. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A subassembly comprising:
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a ferrule assembly including a ferrule having a base end supported in a ferrule hub, the ferrule hub having a flange defining a plurality of first discrete circumferential positions positioned around a central axis of the ferrule, the ferrule hub also including a key mount defining a plurality of second discrete circumferential positions that align with the first circumferential positions; a tuning key that has an internal shape that complements the shape of the key mount, the tuning key including a key member that protrudes from a main body of the tuning key, the tuning key being mountable on the key mount at a rotational position where the key member is set at a predetermined position relative to a core offset direction of an optical fiber supported by the ferrule. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification