Fiber Splice Housing with Temperature Compensation

• US 20140219620A1
• Filed: 02/01/2013
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Jaaskelainen, Mikko, Mitchell, Ian Bradford, Park, Brian Vandelyn, Therrien, Jason Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,091,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2558 Reinforcement of splice joint
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A method and device for relieving thermal stresses on the optical fibers in fiber optic splice housings used in hostile thermal environments.

Claims

1. A fiber optic splice housing for use in fluctuating thermal environments comprising:

a. a pressure housing surrounding a splice tray;

b. FIMT'"'"'s connected at each end of pressure housing and attached by compression fittings;

c. optical fibers deployed through said FIMT'"'"'s and through splice tray;

d. a central splice of fibers located within the splice tray;

e. removable pins inserted along the length of the splice tray;

f. wherein the optical fibers deployed through the splice tray are woven around the removable pins in a wave pattern during assembly of the fiber optic splice housing before the removable pins are removed.

2. The fiber optic splice housing for use in fluctuating thermal environments of claim 1 wherein the optical fibers are feeding pressure sensors.

3. The fiber optic splice housing for use in fluctuating thermal environments of claim 1 wherein the optical fibers are feeding flow sensors.

4. The fiber optic splice housing for use in fluctuating thermal environments of claim 1 wherein the optical fibers are feeding distributed temperature sensors.

5. The fiber optic splice housing for use in fluctuating thermal environments of claim 1 wherein the optical fibers are feeding distributed acoustic sensors.

6. A method for increasing the reliability of the splice in optical fiber splice housings comprising the steps of:

a. providing a pressure housing surrounding a splice tray;

b. providing FIMT'"'"'s connected at each end of the pressure housing and attached by compression fittings;

c. providing optical fibers deployed through the FIMT'"'"'s and through the splice tray;

d. providing a central splice of fibers located within the splice tray;

e. providing removable pins along the length of the splice tray;

f. weaving the optical fibers deployed through the splice tray around the removable pins in a wave pattern during assembly of the fiber optic splice housing;

g. removing the removable pins prior to final assembly leaving the optical fiber in a wave shape inside the splice tray.