Fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting

• US 5,394,502 A
• Filed: 12/21/1993
• Issued: 02/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Caron, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US08/171,073
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 385/44, 385/66, 385/84, 385/100, 385/104, 385/109, 385/114, 385/115, 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137, 385/139, 385/147, 174/70 R, 174/71 R, 174/72 R, 174/72 A
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4473 Three-way systems

Abstract

A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting (10) is provided with a pair of support legs (12, 14) for supporting contact with a fiber optic cable harness (42) having a plurality of fiber optic cables (45). A take-off tube (20) is positioned between the support legs (12, 14), and the fitting is positioned on the harness such that fiber optic cables (47) which break-out from the fiber optic cable harness are received through a throat (22) of the take-off tube (20). Support surfaces (37,39) are provided between each of the legs (12,14) and the take-off tube (20), the surfaces having a controlled radius to control the degree of bend in the break-out fibers (47). The legs (12,14) are mounted on the harness (42) using tie down material (53), and the end of the take-off tube is slotted (24) such that the break-out fibers exiting the tube are secured within the tube with tie down material (53), the slots providing the necessary flexibility to allow the take-off tube end to securely grip the break-out fibers. The fitting may be provided in two halves (60,62) for installation in pre-existing fiber optic cable systems and for easy installation in new fiber optic cable systems.

Claims

1. A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting for use at a fiber optic cable break-out location on a fiber optic cable harness containing a plurality of fiber optic cables, said fitting comprising:

a pair of support legs for supporting contact with said harness;

a take-off tube having a throat, said take-off tube being positioned between said support legs, said fitting being positioned with respect to said harness such that break-out fibers which exit said harness at said break-out location are received through said throat; and

a pair of support surfaces between each of said legs and said take-off tube, said support surfaces having a controlled radius for controlling the degree of bend in said break-out fibers.

2. A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting according to claim 1 further comprising reinforcing members mounted on the ends of said legs and said take-off tube.

3. A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting according to claim 1 further comprising:

slots formed in the end of said take-off tube; and

tie-down means received over the end of said take-off tube in the region of said slots;

said slots allowing the end of said take-off tube to flex and grip said break-out fibers contained therein in response to pressure applied by said tie-down means.

4. A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting according to claim 3 further comprising reinforcing members mounted on the ends of said legs and said take-off tube, said take-off tube reinforcing member retaining said tie-down means on said take-off tube.

5. A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting according to claim 4 further comprising tie-down means mounted on the ends of said legs adjacent to said reinforcing members, said tie-down means securing said fitting on said harness, said reinforcing means retaining said tie-down means on said legs.

6. A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting according to claim 1 further comprising tie-down means mounted on the ends of said legs for securing said fitting on said harness.

7. A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting according to claim 1 further comprising:

a fitting first half, and

a fitting second half.

8. A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting according to claim 7 further comprising fastening means for attaching said first half and said second half together.

9. A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting according to claim 7 further comprising alignment means for aligning said first half and said second half.

10. A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting according to claim 5 further comprising:

a fitting first half, and

a fitting second half.

11. A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting according to claim 10 further comprising fastening means for attaching said first half and said second half together.

12. A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting according to claim 10 further comprising alignment means for aligning said first half and said second half.