End plug for a fiber optic in-line splice case assembly

• US 4,556,281 A
• Filed: 12/19/1983
• Issued: 12/03/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siecor Puerto Rico Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GTE Products Corporation (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Anderton, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John
• Application Number:
  US06/562,929
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.20, 350/96.21
• US Class Current: 385/139
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression

Abstract

An end plug is characterized by a pair of rounded surfaces complementary to the interior of a splice case housing and a pair of flat surfaces to which torque bars are fastened. The end plugs exhibit two pairs of apertures extending in an axial direction the length of the end plugs. The larger diameter apertures accommodate the coated glass fibers which may be surrounded by woven protective layers. In practice the protective layers are dressed back and away from the fibers, positioned in lateral cutout portions, and secured by a pair of tie-off screws. In addition, the fiber optic cable will be customarily provided with a reinforcing "wand" running the length of the cable. The wand may be comprised of a strand of steel, fiberglass, copper or other material of suitable tensile strength. The wands are to be dressed through smaller diameter apertures and severed at the other side of the end plugs. A pair of fasteners is provided each of the end plugs in order to secure the wands thereto. The fasteners are in the form of a pair of setscrews that are threaded into bores extending generally radially from the rounded surface toward the interior of the end plugs.

Claims

1. An end plug for a fiber optic splice case assembly, said end plug comprising:

a substantially solid body having a longitudinal axis and having a pair of diametrically opposed rounded surfaces, said rounded surfaces having a configuration matching the internal circumference of a splice case housing;

a pair of flat surfaces, oppositely disposed from one another and orthogonal to and joining said rounded surfaces, said flat surfaces being adapted for the connection of torque bars thereto;

a first aperture through said end plug, substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis for receiving a glass fiber;

a second aperture through said end plug, substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and displaced from said first aperture, for receiving a fiber wand;

a cutout portion in an end surface of said end plug, said cutout portion being formed to receive a protective layer dressed away from an optical fiber;

a threaded bore in a rounded surface of said end plug extending radially toward and communicating with said second aperture; and

a setscrew threaded into said bore for securing said fiber wand in said second aperture.