FANOUT CABLE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD

• US 20100092136A1
• Filed: 10/05/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bison Patent Licensing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: NHEP, PONHARITH
• Granted Patent: US 8,573,855 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/76
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/387 Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling

Abstract

A cable fanout defines an entry location for receiving a multi-fiber cable at one end, and an opposite end defining an exit location for individual cables. The cable fanout includes an inner housing having a first end defining a plurality of openings for the individual cables, and first and second side extensions extending in a longitudinal direction. The cable fanout further includes an outer housing including first and second identical halves enclosing the inner housing. One of the halves and the inner housing cooperating to form a pocket for holding epoxy around exposed fibers in the fanout during assembly. In a preferred embodiment, a snap arrangement mounts the first and second outer housing halves together.

Claims

1. A cable fanout comprising:

an inner housing including a first end including a plurality of openings, and first and second extensions extending from the first end in a longitudinal direction;

an outer housing including first and second housing portions, each housing portion extending from a first end to a second end along the longitudinal direction, wherein each housing portion includes a half cylindrical exterior surface which cooperate to form a fully cylindrical outer surface when mounted together;

wherein one of the first and second housing portions is mountable to the inner housing to form a pocket for receiving telecommunications cables and epoxy extending between the plurality of openings to an opposite end defining an input opening;

a snap arrangement between the first and second housing portions to mount the first and second housing portions together with the inner housing therebetween;

wherein when the first and second housing portions are mounted together, a cylindrically shaped fanout body is formed.

2. The cable fanout of claim 1, further comprising:

a multi-fiber telecommunications input cable including a multi-fiber connector at a distal end, an outer jacket containing a plurality of individual fibers and a first strength member, and a first crimp member connected to the outer jacket and the first strength member at proximal ends, the first crimp member mounted to one end of the fanout body at the input opening, wherein the individual fibers extend from the outer jacket and the strength member through the fanout body;

a plurality of furcation jackets extending from an opposite end of the fanout body at the plurality of openings, each of the furcation jackets including an outer tube, and inner tube, and a second strength member between the inner and outer tubes, and second crimp members connected to the inner and outer tubes and the second strength member at proximal ends, the second crimp members mounted to the opposite end of the fanout body at the plurality of openings, wherein the furcation jackets pass through the plurality of openings in the inner housing;

epoxy positioned in the pocket around individual fibers extending between the first crimp member and the second crimp members.

3. The cable fanout of claim 2, wherein the individual fibers are terminated with single fiber connectors at ends opposite to the distal end of the input cable.

4. The cable fanout of claim 2, further comprising a strain relief boot around the input cable and mounted adjacent to the input opening.

5. The cable fanout of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing portions are identical.

6. The cable fanout of claim 1, wherein the inner housing includes a key adjacent to the first end.

7. The cable fanout of claim 1, wherein the first and second extensions include a plurality of ribs which cooperate with mating slots on each of the first and second housing portions.

8. A cable fanout comprising:

an inner housing including a first end including a plurality of openings, and first and second extensions extending from the first end in a longitudinal direction;

an outer housing including first and second housing portions, each housing portion extending from a first end to a second end along the longitudinal direction, wherein each housing portion includes a half cylindrical exterior surface which cooperate to form a fully cylindrical outer surface when mounted together;

wherein one of the first and second housing portions is mountable to the inner housing to form a pocket for receiving telecommunications cables and a hardenable material extending between the plurality of openings to an opposite end defining an input opening;

wherein the first and second housing portions are mounted together with the inner housing therebetween;

wherein when the first and second housing portions are mounted together, a cylindrically shaped fanout body is formed;

wherein the first and second housing portions are identical;

a multi-fiber telecommunications input cable including a multi-fiber connector at a distal end, an outer jacket containing a plurality of individual fibers and a first strength member, and a first crimp member connected to the outer jacket and the first strength member at proximal ends, the first crimp member mounted to one end of the fanout body at the input opening, wherein the individual fibers extend from the outer jacket and the strength member through the fanout body;

a plurality of furcation jackets extending from an opposite end of the fanout body at the plurality of openings, each of the furcation jackets including an outer tube, and inner tube, and a second strength member between the inner and outer tubes, and second crimp members connected to the inner and outer tubes and the second strength member at proximal ends, the second crimp members mounted to the opposite end of the fanout body at the plurality of openings, wherein the furcation jackets pass through the plurality of openings in the inner housing;

a hardenable material positioned in the pocket around individual fibers extending between the first crimp member and the second crimp members.

9. The cable fanout of claim 8, wherein the individual fibers are terminated with single fiber connectors at ends opposite to the distal end of the input cable.

10. The cable fanout of claim 8, further comprising a strain relief boot around the input cable and mounted adjacent to the input opening.

11. The cable fanout of claim 8, wherein the inner housing includes a key adjacent to the first end.

12. The cable fanout of claim 8, wherein the first and second extensions include a plurality of ribs which cooperate with mating slots on each of the first and second housing portions.

13. A method of assembling a cable fanout comprising:

providing a multi-fiber cable including a multi-fiber connector at one end of the cable and a first crimp at an opposite end of the cable, the multi-fiber cable including a plurality of individual fibers extending from the cable beyond the first crimp;

inserting furcation tubes into an inner housing of a fanout assembly body;

inserting the individual fibers into the furcation tubes mounted to the inner housing;

inserting the inner housing into a first housing to form a housing construction having a pocket;

positioning the first crimp into a mating arrangement of the housing construction;

pouring epoxy into the pocket around the individual fibers extending from the crimp to the furcation tubes;

curing the epoxy;

mounting a second housing to the first housing to enclose the inner housing and the epoxy.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a fixture including a base defining a plurality of channels for each receiving an inner housing, a first housing portion, and a multi-fiber cable to form a pocket;

pouring epoxy into each pocket;

mounting a second housing to each first housing to create each cable fanout.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second housings are identically shaped, and the method further comprising snapping the first and second housings together.