Splice closure

• US 4,958,903 A
• Filed: 12/09/1988
• Issued: 09/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fitel USA Corporation (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: Thomas, Phillip M., Cobb, Gary S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wise, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US07/282,811
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.20, 350/96.21, 350/96.22
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/444 Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4442 Cap coupling boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44465 Seals

Abstract

A design for an underwater splice closure is disclosed that protects splices essentially independent of operating depth, while allowing for ease of use and low-cost manufacture. The primary splice housing consists of an upper and a lower half-cast of beryllium copper. The splices are made and then organized along a series of interior trays mounted from risers attached to the lower half of the housing. The two halves bolt together. An end-seal assembly contained on the lower half of the closure, and consisting of a series of O-ring applications, receives the sheathed cable and directs it to a mounting means which secures the sheath to the lower half of the splice closure. The invention is particularly adapted to optical fiber splice closures which require protective fill.

Claims

1. A cable splice closure comprising:

an upper housing;

a lower housing having end portions comprising;

circular cable entrances to the lower housing interior;

and a plurality of fixed mounting means extending from the surface of said lower housing interior;

an end-seal assembly for introducing a cable into said lower housing interior and sealing each of said entrances, each said assembly comprising;

insert means having an axial passage and an exterior surface extending through said lower housing entrance;

first sealing means disposed on said exterior surface and contacting said lower housing entrance;

second sealing means for contacting a cable contained in said passage;

locking means mounted into said passage and having an axial passage and an interior end, for compressing said second sealing means onto a cable; and

retaining means engaging said insert means exterior surface and said lower housing end portions;

means secured to said lower housing fixed mounting means for containing in layered relation a plurality of splices; and

means for anchoring to the interior floor mounting means for housing, respective ends of a cable extending through said insert means axial passage.

2. A cable splice closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said upper housing includes:

access ways for introducing fill to the interior of said closure; and

means for plugging said access ways.

3. A cable splice closure in accordance with claim 2, wherein said containing means comprises:

top and bottom members;

a plurality of trays disposed there-between for holding plural splices; and

wherein said closure further includes;

means for locating said containing means substantially into the interior of said upper housing.

4. A closure in accordance with claim 3, wherein said first sealing means comprises:

a plurality of first O-ring seals; and

a like plurality of circular grooves in said exterior surface for receiving said first O-ring seals.

5. A closure in accordance with claim 4, wherein said second second sealing means comprises:

a plurality of second O-ring seals; and

a plurality of non-metallic backup rings spaced between and containing said second O-ring seals;

and wherein said axial passage of said insert means includes an internal end flange;

the innermost said backup ring seating on the internal end flange of said axial passage; and

the outermost said backup ring contacting said interior end of said locking means.

6. A cable closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said insert means exterior surface comprises:

two parallel slots formed on opposite sides of said surface and to the interior side of said first sealing means; and

said retaining means comprises;

a U-shaped key engaging in said two slots.