Method and apparatus for performing a compression splice

• US 20080267568A1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dean, David Lee
• Application Number:
  US11/799,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20080267568A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/96
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2551 using thermal methods, e.g. fusion welding by arc discharge, laser beam, plasma torch
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3801 Permanent connections, i.e. wherein fibres are kept aligned by mechanical means splices by bonding G02B6/255; fusion splices G02B6/2551

Abstract

A method for compression splicing optical fibers comprising providing first and second optical fibers, providing a deformable splice tube, heating the deformable splice tube with a heat source, inserting the optical fibers into the heated splice tube until they contact, and applying compression to the heated splice tube to deform the splice tube and maintain their ends in contact. An apparatus for compression splicing optical fibers comprising a deformable splice tube, a compression device and a heat source coupled to the deformable splice tube through the compression device.

Claims

1. A method for compression splicing optical fibers, comprising:

providing a first optical fiber defining a first end and a second optical fiber defining a second end;

providing a deformable splice tube;

placing the deformable splice tube within a crimping device operable to deform the deformable splice rube;

connecting a heat source to a lead of the crimping device to heat the deformable splice tube;

inserting the first and second ends of the first and second optical fibers into the deformable splice tube until the first and second ends contact; and

applying compression to the crimping device to apply compression to the heated splice tube to deform the splice tube and maintain the first and second ends in contact.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second ends are inserted prior to heating the deformable splice tube.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the splice tube is deformed using a crimping device having a predetermined geometry.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the crimping device defines features for aligning a plurality of deformable splice tubes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the features are channels having a cross-sectional contour that is generally V-shaped.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the deformable splice tube is a hypotube.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the deformable splice tube comprises stainless steel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second optical fibers comprise a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular hole-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed holes such that the optical fibers are capable of single mode or multi-mode transmission at one or more wavelengths in one or more operating wavelength ranges.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second ends are inserted after heating the deformable splice tube.

8. (canceled)

10. An apparatus for compression splicing optical fibers, comprising:

a deformable splice tube defining a first end for receiving a first optical fiber and a second end for receiving a second optical fiber; and

a compression device comprising a first part defining a surface having a splice tube alignment geometry in contact with the splice tube, and a second part defining a surface having a geometry for applying the compressive force, wherein the compression device is operable to be coupled to a heat source to operatively couple the heat source to the deformable splice tube, and further operable to apply a compressive force to the splice tube to deform the splice tube after the splice tube is heated by the heat source.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the compression device further comprises a lead for connecting to the heat source.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the heat source is a battery.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the splice tube defines at least one flared end.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the compression device comprises a first component and a second component for receiving the splice tube therebetween.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the compression device is stainless steel.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the splice tube is a hypotube.

11. (canceled)

19. A method for compression splicing optical fibers, comprising:

providing a first optical fiber defining a first end and a second optical fiber defining a second end;

providing a deformable splice tube;

aligning the deformable splice tube within a crimping device defining features for aligning a plurality of deformable splice tubes;

heating the deformable splice tube with a heat source;

inserting the first and second ends of the first and second optical fibers into the deformable splice tube until the first and second ends contact; and

applying compression to the crimping device to apply compression to the heated splice tube to deform the splice tube and maintain the first and second ends in contact.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the features are channels having a cross-sectional contour that is generally V-shaped.