OPTICAL FIBER FURCATION ASSEMBLY AND METHOD

• US 20160124174A1
• Filed: 06/10/2014
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLC (Fujikura Limited)
• Original Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLC (Fujikura Limited)
• Inventors: Courchaine, Wilfred, Vaughn, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 9,529,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/46 Processes or apparatus adapted for installing or repairing optical fibres or optical cables installation of cables containing electric conductors and optical fibres H02G
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/566 Devices for opening or removing the mantle

Abstract

A furcation assembly for use with multi-fiber optical fiber cable comprises a housing having a first housing piece and a housing cover. The first housing piece has a furcation block at which a plurality of furcation tubes are terminated and which is configured to receive an end portion of the optical fiber cable such that respective optical fibers thereof may be inserted into a selected furcation tube. The housing cover is received over the first housing piece so as to be locked in a closed position. When the housing cover is in the closed position, the multi-fiber cable is axially retained with respect to the housing.

Claims

1. A furcation assembly for use with an optical fiber cable having a plurality of optical fibers, said assembly comprising:

a housing having a first housing piece and a second housing piece;

the first housing piece includes a furcation block at which a plurality of furcation tubes are terminated, said first housing piece being configured to receive an end portion of the optical fiber cable such that respective optical fibers may be inserted into a selected furcation tube;

wherein the second housing piece is received over the first housing piece so as to be locked in a closed position; and

wherein the optical fiber cable is axially retained with respect to the housing when the second housing piece is locked in the closed position.

2. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a resilient gripping element which is urged into engagement with an outer surface of the optical fiber cable when the housing is in the closed position.

3. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first and second housing pieces have complementary ramped surfaces which together function to urge the gripping element into engagement with the outer surface of the optical fiber cable.

4. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein the gripping element comprises two opposed pad structures each of which has a concave engaging surface to engage the outer surface of the optical fiber cable.

5. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein the gripping element comprises at least one retaining element interlocking with a complementary structure of the first housing piece, such that the gripping element is fixed with respect to the first housing piece.

6. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the furcation block is an integral part of the first housing piece.

7. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the furcation block comprises a separate unit attached to the first housing piece.

8. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of furcation tubes are transparent.

9. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the furcation block has through bores for receiving each of the plurality of optical fibers, and wherein the cable end of the through bores defines a funnel-shaped opening.

10. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing has a pin and socket arrangement configured to facilitate the stacking of multiple furcation assemblies.

11. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing has an aperture configured to receive a fastening member.

12. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the complementary surfaces of the first housing piece and the second housing piece have at least one locking tab and aperture, respectively, that releasably engage each other to lock the second housing piece in the closed position while allowing for disassembly of the housing.

13. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second housing piece is a cover.

14. A furcation assembly for furcating a multiple fiber cable, the assembly comprising:

a first housing piece comprising a furcation block and a boot retaining slot;

a boot for covering the multiple fiber cable near the furcation assembly, the boot comprising a boot retaining feature protruding therefrom; and

a second housing piece configured to be received over the first housing piece in a manner that promotes firm contact between the boot and multiple fiber cable and locks the furcation assembly into the closed position,

wherein the multiple fiber cable is inserted through the boot and the boot retaining feature is inserted into the boot retaining slot of the first housing piece, and

wherein the multiple fiber cable comprises a plurality of optical fibers, each of which is received in one of a plurality of through bores defined in the furcation block.

15. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first and second housing pieces have complementary ramped surfaces which together function to urge the boot into engagement with the outer surface of the multiple fiber cable.

16. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein the boot comprises two opposed pad structures each of which has a concave engaging surface to engage the outer surface of the multiple fiber cable.

17. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein the furcation block is an integral part of the first housing piece.

18. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein a plurality of furcation tubes are terminated at the furcation block.

19. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein the plurality of furcation tubes are transparent.

20. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein the through bores have a funnel-shaped opening on the cable end of the furcation block.

21. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein the furcation assembly has a pin and socket arrangement configured to facilitate the stacking of multiple furcation assemblies.

22. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein the furcation assembly has an aperture configured to receive a fastening member.

23. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein the complementary surfaces of the first housing piece and the second housing piece have at least one locking tab and aperture, respectively, that releasably engage each other to lock the second housing piece in the closed position while allowing for disassembly of the furcation assembly.

24. A furcation assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein the second housing piece is a cover.

25. A method for furcating a multi-fiber cable that contains a plurality of optical fibers, the method comprising:

feeding the end of the multi-fiber cable through a housing cover and a protective boot;

removing a portion of an outer jacket from the multi-fiber cable to expose a desired length of optical fiber;

feeding each optical fiber through an aperture in a furcation block and through furcation tubes that are attached to the apertures on the furcation block;

securing the protective boot to the first housing piece by inserting an integral protruding retaining feature into a corresponding boot retaining slot in the first housing piece;

sliding the housing cover over the first housing piece and thereby urging the protective boot into gripping contact with the multi-fiber cable and ensuring axial retention, and wherein the housing cover is releasably locked onto the first housing piece to secure the entire assembly.

26. A method for furcating a multi-fiber cable as set forth in claim 25, the method further comprising stacking multiple furcation assemblies by connecting them with a pin and socket arrangement.

27. A method for furcating a multi-fiber cable as set forth in claim 25, the method further comprising connecting multiple furcation assemblies by inserting a fastening member through an aperture in each furcation assembly.

28. A method for furcating a multi-fiber cable as set forth in claim 25, the method further comprising disassembling the furcation assembly by pressing locking tabs to release the housing cover and sliding the housing cover off of the first housing piece.