Fiber optic splice organizer
First Claim
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1. A device for helically wrapping an optical fiber about a cylindrical core, comprising:
- (a) a cylindrical core having a radius of which is less than the minimum bending radius of said fiber(b) a sheet of flexible material, which sheet is attached longitudinally to said core along one edge of the sheet, and is wrapped around said cylindrical core, said optical fiber being arranged on said sheet such that when said sheet is wrapped about said core a minimum helical pitch angle, θ
, of said fiber is determined from r'"'"'=r/cos θ
where r'"'"' is the minimum bending radius of the fiber and r is the radius of the core.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and device for organizing a bight of an optical fiber and the like at a splice or slack point is provided. The method comprises wrapping the bight about a cylindrical core to form a helix or a pair of helices of opposite handedness, thereby both minimizing the diameter of a container necessary to enclose that bight and maximizing the bend radius of the fiber. The bight may be laid on a sheet for convenient wrapping, and a plurality of fibers per sheet, sheets per core, or cores per splice may be used if the number of fibers to be organized is large. A ready means of encapsulation is also provided.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A device for helically wrapping an optical fiber about a cylindrical core, comprising:
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(a) a cylindrical core having a radius of which is less than the minimum bending radius of said fiber (b) a sheet of flexible material, which sheet is attached longitudinally to said core along one edge of the sheet, and is wrapped around said cylindrical core, said optical fiber being arranged on said sheet such that when said sheet is wrapped about said core a minimum helical pitch angle, θ
, of said fiber is determined from r'"'"'=r/cos θ
where r'"'"' is the minimum bending radius of the fiber and r is the radius of the core. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An optical fiber organizer kit having component parts capable of being assembled for organizing a bight in an optical fiber between two points, the kit comprising the combination of:
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(a) a cylindrical core having a length adapted to be inserted on an axis between said two points and having a radius which is less than the minimum bending radius of said fiber; and (b) a sheet of flexible material adapted to have said optical fiber arranged thereon and to be wrapped about said core, said sheet being wrapped around said core, said optical fiber being arranged on said sheet such that when said sheet is wrapped about said core a minimum helical pitch angle, θ
, of said fiber is determined from r'"'"'=r/cos θ
where r'"'"' is the minimum bending radius of the fiber and r is the radius of the core.
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9. A fiber optic cable joint kit having component parts capable of being assembled for forming a joint between two fiber optic cables, said cables each comprising an optical fiber surrounded by an outer jacket wherein a portion of the outer jacket is removed to expose said fiber, the kit comprising the combination of:
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(a) a cylindrical core having a length adapted to be placed between the ends of the jacketed portions of said cables and having a radius which is less than the minimum bending radius of said fiber; (b) a sheet of flexible material adapted to have said optical fiber arranged thereon when said fiber has been joined to be wrapped about said core, said sheet being wrapped around said cylindrical core, said optical fiber being arranged on said sheet such that when said sheet is wrapped about said core a minimum helical pitch angle, θ
, of said fiber is determined from r'"'"'=r/cos θ
where r'"'"' is the minimum bending radius of the fiber and r is the radius of the core; and(c) covering means for covering said joint when said sheet has been wrapped about said core. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A joint between two fiber optic cables, each cable comprising an optical fiber and said optical fibers having been jointed to form a bight, wherein said bight has been organized by being helically wrapped about a cylindrical core positioned generally parallel to the axis between said two cables and having a radius which is less than the minimum bending radius of said fiber, said bight being helically wrapped about said core in such a manner that a minimum helical pitch angle, θ
- , of said bight is determined by r'"'"'=r/cos θ
where r'"'"' is the minimum bending radius of the fiber and r is the radius of the core.
- , of said bight is determined by r'"'"'=r/cos θ
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13. A method of organizing a bight between two points in an optical fiber, which method comprises helically wrapping said bight about a cylindrical core positioned generally parallel to an axis between said two points wherein the radius of said core is less than the minimum bending radius of said fiber and wherein a minimum helical angle, θ
- , of said bight is determined from r'"'"'=r/cos θ
where r'"'"' is the minimum bending radius of the fiber and r is the radius of the core. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- , of said bight is determined from r'"'"'=r/cos θ
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26. A method of making a joint between two fiber optic cables, each cable comprising an optical fiber, which method comprises:
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(a) joining said optical fibers, thereby forming a bight; (b) providing a cylindrical core for organizing said bight wherein a radius of said core is less than the minimum bending radius of said fiber; (c) helically wrapping said bight about said cylindrical core; and (d) determining a minimum helical angle, θ
, from r'"'"'=r/cos θ
where r'"'"' is the minimum bending radius of the fiber and r is the radius of the core. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification