Termination system for optical fibres

• US 5,231,687 A
• Filed: 06/03/1991
• Issued: 07/27/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BICC PLC (Balfour Beatty Plc), Corning Limited (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: BICC PLC (Balfour Beatty Plc), Corning Limited (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Handley, Graham R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US07/711,049
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/56, 385/60, 385/66, 385/76, 385/78, 385/84, 385/135, 385/137, 385/138, 385/139, 385/147, 254/134.4
• US Class Current: 385/139
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/444 Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/52 using fluid, e.g. air

Abstract

A termination system is provided for use with optical fibre members installed in tubular passageways using a flow of air or other gas. The system comprises a chamber defined by a body having an opening provided with a removable cover. An end of at least one passageway in which a first optical fibre member may be installed is terminated on the body so that the passageway communicates with the interior of the chamber. Means are mounted on the cover for terminating an end of at least one second optical fibre member. Preferably the passageway carries a plurality of first optical fibre members and the cover has means for terminating the ends of an equal plurality of the second optical fibre members.

Claims

1. A termination system for use with optical fibre members installed in tubular passageways using a flow of air or other gas, comprising a chamber defined by a body having a first opening provided with a removable cover, said cover having a rear face which faces an interior of the chamber and a front face which faces away from the chamber;

means mounted on the body for terminating an end of at least one passageway in which at least one first optical fibre member may be installed, the body having at least one second opening through which said at least one passageway communicates with the interior of the chamber;

first fibre terminating means mounted on the said rear face of the cover for terminating an end of said at least one first optical fibre member; and

second fibre terminating means mounted on the front face of the cover for terminating an end of at least one second optical fibre member in optical communication with a respective said first optical fibre member, said chamber being substantially fully enclosed except for said first and second openings.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber has a rear wall portion in which is provided the means for terminating the said end of said passageway, and the opening provided with the removable cover is located at a front portion of the chamber.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for terminating said end of said passageway serves to terminate a single passageway, said first and second fibre terminating means each serving to terminate a plurality of optical fibre members.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber has therein a fibre-receiving tray on which may be formed a coil of said at least one first fibre member.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of said chambers forming a multi-chamber module.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, comprising organiser means for holding excess lengths of said second optical fibre members.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said organiser means comprises a plurality of rings through which said second optical fibre members can pass, said rings being disposed adjacent the edges of said module.

8. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said organiser means comprises an organiser tray disposed adjacent the said module, said tray being disposed to allow said second optical fibre members to pass to their terminations on the covers via the tray.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the organiser tray has an entrance provided with fibre-engaging means.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fibre-engaging means comprises at least one tufted brush.

11. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fibre-engaging means comprises at least one foam strip

13. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the modules are arranged adjacent one another in a rectangular array.

15. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said first optical fibre member comprises a first portion installable in the passageway by blowing and a second portion within the chamber and optically connected to the said first portion.

12. A tool for use in installing an optical fibre member in a tubular passageway, comprising an elongate shaft having a longitudinal bore extending from a first end of the shaft to a second end of the shaft;

means at the first end of the shaft for receiving a tubular member through which a fluid carrying an optical fibre member to be installed can enter the said bore; and

an elongate sleeve surrounding the shaft with a portion of the shaft at the second end extending beyond the adjacent end of the sleeve, the sleeve being longitudinally movable with respect to the shaft.

14. A termination system for use with optical fibre members installed in tubular passageways using a flow of air or other gas, comprising a chamber defined by a body having a first opening provided with a removable cover, the cover having a rear face which faces an interior of the chamber and a front face which faces away from the chamber;

means mounted on the body for terminating an end of at least one passageway in which at least one first optical fibre member may be installed, the body having at least one second opening through which said at least one passageway communicates with the interior of the chamber; and

at least one third opening in the cover to permit at least one second optical fibre member to pass therethrough into said chamber for connection with said at least one first optical fibre member, said chamber being substantially fully enclosed except for said first, second and third openings.