Crimp for fiber optic connector

• US 5,475,782 A
• Filed: 05/16/1994
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Ziebol, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Application Number:
  US08/243,462
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 385/69, 385/86, 385/87
• US Class Current: 385/87
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression

Abstract

A fiber optic cable is crimped to a fiber optic connector using a crimp sleeve having an insertion tube which is inserted between the optical fiber and reinforcement yarns of the cable. A flange projecting from the tube flares the yarn upon insertion of the tube into the cable. Subsequent insertion of the crimp sleeve and cable into a housing causes the flared yarn to fold back onto the cable avoiding contact of the yarn with adhesive in the connector.

Claims

1. A crimp for securing a fiber optic cable to a fiber optic connector wherein said cable includes an axially extending optical fiber, a layer of reinforcement yarn fibers surrounding said optical fiber and a jacket surrounding said layer of yarn fibers;

said crimp comprising;

(a) a crimp sleeve including;

(i) an insertion tube having;

(1) a bore extending axially therethrough and sized to pass said optical fiber;

(2) an external dimension sized for said insertion tube to be inserted within an end of said cable with said optical fiber passing through said bore and with said tube disposed between said optical fiber and said layer of reinforcement yarn fibers;

(ii) a flange projecting radially from said tube and sized to oppose an axial end of said jacket when said tube is inserted within said end of said cable;

(b) a housing having internal surfaces defining a chamber and an entrance opening exposing said chamber, said chamber and said entrance opening sized for said crimp sleeve to be inserted through said entrance opening and into said chamber with said internal surfaces opposing said flange and said end of said cable; and

(c) said opening further sized for said housing at said entrance opening to urge opposing ones of said yarn fibers to fold over onto said jacket upon insertion of said crimp sleeve and said cable into said chamber.

2. A crimp according to claim 1 wherein said flange, has a radial dimension approximate to a thickness of said jacket.

3. A crimp according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a stop for limiting insertion of said crimp sleeve into said chamber.

4. A crimp according to claim 1 wherein said housing in a region thereof opposing said inserted crimp sleeve is deformable in response to a crimping force.

5. A crimp according to claim 4 wherein said sleeve is rigid and substantially non-deformable in response to said crimping force.

6. A crimp according to claim 4 wherein said flange includes a sharp edge at a radially outer end of said flange, said housing in said region deformable over said edge in response to said crimping force.

7. A crimp according to claim 1 wherein said tube is provided with an outer surface having a plurality of raised areas on said surface.

8. A method for crimping a fiber optic cable onto a fiber optic connector having a housing including an entrance opening, and where said cable includes an axially extending optical fiber, a layer of reinforcement yarn fibers surrounding said optical fiber and a jacket surrounding said layer of yarn fibers, said method comprising:

stripping a portion of said jacket from an end of said cable to expose a length of said optical fiber and covered by an exposed length of said layer at said end;

inserting a crimp sleeve having at least an insertion tube by inserting said tube into said end with said optical fiber passing through said tube and with said tube positioned between said optical fiber and said layer of reinforcement yarn fibers;

flaring said exposed length of said layer of yarn fibers radially outwardly to expose an uncovered length of said optical fiber at said end;

said crimp sleeve includes a flange, said flaring of said yarn fibers including said insertion of said crimp sleeve until said flange urges said yarn fibers to flare radially outwardly;

inserting said end of said cable into said housing through said entrance opening while folding said flared length of said layer rearwardly onto said jacket with said folded length at least partially inserted into said housing; and

crimping said housing onto said end inserted within said housing.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said folding of said flared length includes urging said flared length against an edge of said housing defining said entrance opening while inserting said end into said housing.