Splice box for splicing together opticl-fiber cables

• US 5,633,973 A
• Filed: 12/07/1995
• Issued: 05/27/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel Cable Interface
• Original Assignee: Alcatel Cable Interface
• Inventors: Vincent, Alain, Milanowski, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US08/568,683
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4446 Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4447 with divided shells G02B6/4448 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/445 with lateral pivoting cover
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4477 with means for strain-relieving to interior strengths element

Abstract

A splice box for splicing together optical-fiber cables includes a box body provided with side accesses for the cables, and fastening base-plates for fastening said cables, the base-plates being removably fixed to a support inside the body. Each access serves to receive a plurality of cables that are held stationary on their respective base-plates, and said base-plates are superposable inside the box body and facing a common access.

Claims

1. A splice box for splicing together optical-fiber cables, the splice box comprising:

a box body having side accesses for the cables;

fastening base-plates for removably fastening each one of the cables inside said box body; and

means for coiling fibers from the cables and for holding splice connections between the fibers,

wherein the cables are secured to said fastening base-plates before said fastening base-plates are inserted in the accesses and removably fixed inside said box body, and the fibers have free surplus lengths at a front end portion of said fastening base-plates, and

wherein each one of the accesses to said box body accepts a plurality of cables that are already secured to respective ones of said fastening base-plates, and said fastening base-plates comprise at least one flange for at least partially superposing said fastening base-plates on top of each other inside said box body and facing a common one of the accesses for receiving said plurality of cables.

2. A splice box according to claim 1, wherein said splice box comprises a support, and said support has a set of screw holes in line with each one of the accesses for removably fixing said fastening base-plates.

3. A splice box according to claim 2, wherein said set of screw holes includes at least two screw holes for fixing two fastening base-plates disposed substantially side-by-side on said support.

4. A splice box according to claim 3, wherein said set of screw holes includes a third screw hole between said at least two screw holes for selectively fixing one of a single fastening base-plate on said support, a single fastening base-plate superposed on a lower fastening base-plate, and a third fastening base-plate superposed on two lower fastening base-plates disposed side-by-side.

5. A splice box according to claim 1, including guiding and sealing means for guiding and sealing the cables in the accesses, said guiding and sealing means comprising, for each one of the accesses, at least one rigid ring for guiding the cables through the access, a deformable sealing ring, and an outside clamping nut for clamping said at least one rigid ring and said deformable sealing ring in the access and around each one of the cables.

6. A splice box according to claim 1, wherein said fastening base-plates are elongated members each having a substantially U-shaped cross section over at least a portion of the length of said fastening base-plates.

7. A splice box according to claim 6, wherein said fastening base-plates each comprise a plane web having a first width over a front half and a second width over a rear half, said second width being smaller than said first width, and a front end block that is integral with said web, projects axially therefrom, and includes a screw hole for fixing said base-plate to said box body.

8. A splice box according to claim 7, wherein said fastening base-plates each comprise two flanges on opposite sides of the front half of the fastening base-plate, two side fins on opposite sides of the rear half of the fastening base-plate, and a notch between each fin and each flange.

9. A splice box according to claim 1, further comprising a split foam pad retained on the front end portion of said fastening base-plates for receiving and guiding the free surplus lengths of the fibers.

10. A splice box for splicing together optical-fiber cables, the splice box comprising:

a box body having side accesses for the cables;

fastening base-plates for removably fastening each one of the cables inside said box body; and

means for coiling fibers from the cables and for holding splice connections between the fibers,

wherein the cables are secured to said fastening base-plates before said fastening base-plates are inserted in the accesses and removably fixed inside said box body, and the fibers have free surplus lengths at a front end portion of said fastening base-plates, and

wherein each one of the accesses to said box body accepts a plurality of cables that are already secured to respective ones of said fastening base-plates, and said fastening base-plates comprise at least one flange for at least partially superposing other ones of said fastening base-plates on top of each other inside said box body and facing a common one of the accesses for receiving said plurality of cables,

wherein said fastening base-plates each comprise a plane web having a first width over a front half and a second width over a rear half, said second width being smaller than said first width, and a front end block that is integral with said web, projects axially therefrom, and includes a screw hole for fixing said base-plate to said box body.

11. A splice box according to claim 10, wherein said fastening base-plates each comprise two flanges on opposite sides of the front half of the fastening base-plate, two side fins on opposite sides of the rear half of the fastening base-plate, and a notch between each fin and each flange.