Fiber optic assembly and crimp sleeve used with the assembly

• US 5,317,664 A
• Filed: 12/15/1992
• Issued: 05/31/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcoa Fujikura Ltd. (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Grabiec, Alan R., Frey, William G., Davies, Scott T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US07/991,048
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 385/87, 385/84, 385/86, 385/81, 385/69, 385/66, 385/62, 385/77, 385/78
• US Class Current: 385/87
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression

Abstract

A crimp sleeve, for connection of the back shell of a fiber optic cable connector with a fiber optic cable of a type including a buffered optic fiber having an encircling jacket inclusive of fibrous matter, includes a crimpable body member having first and second open ends and defining a passage between the first and second open ends, the crimpable member having first and second interior surfaces bounding the passage successively lengthwise of the body member. The first interior surface extends from the first open end interiorly of the body member and has a first radius relative to a central axis of the body member and the second interior surface has a second radius relative to the central axis of the body member of measure less than the first radius. The first interior surface is adapted, upon crimping of the body member onto the cable, to retentively engage exposed fibrous matter of the cable and the second interior surface is adapted, upon crimping of the body member onto the cable, to retentively engage the jacket of the cable adjacent the exposed fibrous matter.

Claims

1. A connector for a fiber optic cable of a type including a buffered optic fiber having an encircling jacket inclusive of fibrous matter, the connector including a back shell and a crimp sleeve connecting said back shell and said fiber optic cable, the crimp sleeve including a crimpable body member having first and second open ends and defining a passage between the first and second open ends, the crimpable member having first, second and third interior surfaces bounding the passage successively lengthwise of the body member, the first interior surface extending from the first open end interiorly of the body member and having a first radius relative to a central axis of the body member, the second interior surface having a second radius relative to the central axis of the body member of measure less than the first radius, the third interior surface extending from the second open end interiorly of the body member and having radii relative to the central axis of the body member progressively therealong of measure successively exceeding the second radius, the first interior surface retentively engaging fibrous matter of the cable and circumscribing the back shell, the second interior surface retentively engaging the jacket of the cable adjacent the fibrous matter, the third interior surface being selectively engageable with the cable, upon pulling of the cable transversely of the body member.

2. The connector claimed in claim 1 wherein said second interior surface includes radially interiorly directed means for retentive engagement of said jacket of the cable adjacent said exposed fibrous matter.

3. The connector claimed in claim 1 wherein said back shell includes radially outwardly directed means for retentive engagement of said exposed fibrous matter.

4. The connector claimed in claim 3 wherein said second interior surface includes radially interiorly directed means for retentive engagement of said jacket of the cable adjacent said exposed fibrous matter.

5. The connector claimed in claim 2 wherein said radially interiorly directed means comprises threading on the second interior surface.

6. The connector claimed in claim 3 wherein said radially outwardly directed means for retentive engagement of said exposed fibrous matter comprises knurling on said back shell.

7. A crimp sleeve for connection of the back shell of a fiber optic cable connector with a fiber optic cable of a type including a buffered optic fiber having an encircling jacket inclusive of fibrous matter, the crimp sleeve including a crimpable body member having first and second open ends and defining a passage between the first and second open ends, the crimpable member having first, second and third interior surfaces bounding the passage successively lengthwise of the body member, the first interior surface extending from the first open end interiorly of the body member and having a first radius relative to a central axis of the body member, the second interior surface having a second radius relative to the central axis of the body member of measure less than the first radius, the third interior surface extending from the second open end interiorly of the body member and having radii relative to the central axis of the body member progressively therealong of measure successively exceeding the second radius, the first interior surface being adapted, upon crimping of the body member onto the cable, to retentively engage exposed fibrous matter of the cable and to circumscribe the back shell, the second interior surface being adapted, upon crimping of the body member onto the cable, to retentively engage the jacket of the cable adjacent the exposed fibrous matter, the third interior surface being selectively engageable with the cable, following crimping of the body member onto the cable, upon pulling of the cable transversely of the body member.

8. The crimp sleeve claimed in claim 7 wherein said second interior surface includes radially interiorly directed means for retentive engagement of said jacket of the cable adjacent said exposed fibrous matter.

9. The connector claimed in claim 8 wherein said radially interiorly directed means comprises threading on the second interior surface.