Installation of Fiber Optic Cables

• US 20080011990A1
• Filed: 10/19/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tenvera, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tenvera, Inc.
• Inventors: Zheng, Wenxin, Akers, Tim, Ware, Brent, Kostet, Mikael, Zumovitch, Neal
• Application Number:
  US11/551,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20080011990A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 254/134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/475 Mechanical aspects of installing cables in ducts or the like for buildings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/52 using fluid, e.g. air

Abstract

A method and system for installing fiber optic cable in a building is provided. The fiber optic cable includes a pre-installed ferrule configured to connect to an outlet frame at a destination location. Each fiber optic cable may further be stored in a fiber dispensing reel. A conduit may be installed between a source and destination location and used to direct a cable and attached ferrule to the destination location. A fiber blowing device may use pressurized air to convey the ferrule and cable through the conduit. The conduit may be attached to an optical distribution frame configured to store and organize the fiber optic cables and/or reels. A conduit may extend into and/or through the frame using a grommeted opening in the walls of the frame. The source end of a fiber optic cable may be attached to a service connection through a connection panel of the frame.

Claims

1. A method for installing optical fiber in a building, the method comprising:

attaching a first end of a conduit to a fiber blowing device; and

blowing a fiber and a ferrule attached to the fiber through the conduit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of attaching an air permeable ferrule holder at a second end of the conduit prior to the blowing step, wherein the second end of the conduit is located adjacent the destination location.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

after the blowing step, attaching a fiber reel to which the fiber is attached to a storage frame; and

connecting a tail-end of the fiber to a panel of the storage frame.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching an air-permeable ferrule holder to a second end of the conduit prior to the step of blowing.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of catching the ferrule in the ferrule holder.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of removing the fiber from the fiber blowing device while the fiber is connected to a fiber dispensing reel and after the blowing step.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of extending the conduit through an opening of a storage frame prior to the step of attaching a first end of the conduit to the fiber blowing device.

8. A system for installing fiber optic cable in a building, the system comprising:

an optical fiber with a ferrule attached at a first end;

a conduit extending between a source location and a destination location; and

a fiber blowing device coupled to the conduit, the fiber blowing device including a bore and a fiber inlet, wherein a first portion of the optical fiber including the attached ferrule is located inside the conduit and a second portion of the optical fiber is located inside the bore.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the fiber blowing device further includes an acoustic measurement device configured to approximate the distance between the source location and the destination location.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the acoustic measurement device includes an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic sensor.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the fiber blowing device further includes a display device for displaying a distance measured by the acoustic measurement device.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a fiber dispensing reel, wherein the fiber dispensing reel secures a third portion of the optical fiber including a second end of the fiber from being blown through the fiber blowing device.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a storage frame, wherein the conduit extends through an opening of the storage frame.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising an air permeable and removable ferrule holder, wherein the ferrule holder is attached to a destination end of the conduit.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein a first length of the ferrule holder is at least equal to a second length of the first ferrule.

16. An optical connection apparatus, comprising:

a reel having a recess; and

an optical fiber stored on the reel, wherein the optical fiber includes a first ferrule connected to a first end of the optical fiber, wherein a first portion of the optical fiber is stored in an interior portion of the reel and a second portion of the optical fiber is stored in the recess.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second end of the optical fiber includes a second ferrule.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second ferrule has an outer surface that is keyed so as to fit through a matching keyed opening only when the second ferrule is at a predetermined rotational angle about its longitudinal axis relative to the opening.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the optical fiber is at least 5 feet long and the fixed portion of the optical fiber is no more than 20 inches from the end.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the reel further includes a plurality of guard ears overhanging the recess.