Sub-surface fiber optic splice housing and method of splicing fiber optic cable

• US 5,684,911 A
• Filed: 09/01/1995
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Incorporated (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Burgett, Mark Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, ELLEN E
• Application Number:
  US08/522,896
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135, 385/134, 385/138, 385/139, 385/49, 385/100, 385/56
• 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 6/44465 Seals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4447 with divided shells G02B6/4448 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/501 underground installation of connection boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/14 specially adapted for submarine cables

Abstract

A splice housing assembly for joining together at least two fiber optic cables. The splice housing assembly has a housing adapted to create a water impervious seal around both a splicing chamber and at least two fiber optic cables that lead into the splicing chamber though the housing. Within the splicing chamber, the various fiber optic cables are joined together via a grounding block or by a direct optical splice. The housing provides structural integrity, electrical insulation and water tightness to the splice, yet the housing can be selectively opened and closed. As a result, any splice can be made and tested, then repaired or adjusted before the housing is permanently sealed with an encapsulation compound.

Claims

1. A splice housing device for connecting at least one first fiber optic element to a second fiber optic element, wherein each said first fiber optic element is surrounded by a casing that includes a conductive sheathing, said device comprising:

a housing having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein said housing includes a first section and a second section that join together along a common seam;

an optical coupling chamber defined within said housing between said first end and said second end;

a first sheathing coupling chamber defined within said housing between said optical coupling chamber and said first end;

at least one first conduit defined within said housing, wherein each said first conduit extends from said first end to said optical coupling chamber through said first sheathing coupling chamber and one said first fiber optic element passes through each said first conduit and extends into said optical coupling chamber;

a second conduit defined within said housing, wherein said second conduit extends from said second end to said optical coupling chamber and said second optic element passes through said second conduit and extends into said optical coupling chamber;

a grounding block contained within said internal chamber that optically couples each said first fiber optic element to said second fiber optic element; and

a conductive element extending within said housing from said first sheathing coupling chamber to a connection point proximate said second end of said housing;

an electrical coupler for coupling the conductive sheathing surrounding each said first fiber optic element to said conductive element within said sheathing coupling chamber; and

an electrical connecting means disposed at said connection point for joining said conductive element to an external element that extends away from said housing.

2. The device according to claim 1, further including at least one water impervious seal disposed between both said housing and each said first fiber optic element and said housing and said second fiber optic element.

3. The device according to claim 1, further including at least one seal disposed between said first section and said second section of said housing, wherein said at least one seal creates a water impervious joint between said first section and said second section when joined.

4. The device according to claim 1, further including threaded fittings for threadably coupling each said first optical fiber and said second optical fiber to said grounding block.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second fiber optic element has a casing that includes a metal sheathing which serves as said external element, and said electrical coupling means electrically couples said metal sheathing to said conductive element, thereby creating an electrical connection between the conductive sheathing of each said first fiber optic element and said metal sheathing of said second fiber optic element.

6. The device according to claim 1, further including a wire connector that extends through said second end of said housing to a point on an exterior surface of said housing wherein said wire connector joins to said conductive element at said connection point in said housing.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes filling ports that communicate with said optical coupling chamber and said sheathing coupling chamber, thereby enabling an encapsulation compound to be added to said housing and fill both said optical coupling chamber and said sheathing coupling chamber.

8. A method of coupling at least one first fiber optic element to at least one second fiber optic element, wherein said at least one first fiber optic element is surrounded by a casing that includes a conductive sheathing, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a water impermeable housing that defines a optical coupling chamber therein;

optically joining said at least one first fiber optic element to said at least one second fiber optic element within said optical coupling chamber by mechanically joining said at least one first fiber optic element and said at least one second fiber optic element to a grounding block;

exposing a segment of the conductive sheathing of each said first optical fiber within said housing on one side of said optical connection chamber;

joining a conductive element to each said segment of conductive sheathing, wherein each said conductive element extends past said optical coupling chamber to a connection point on an opposite side of said optical connection chamber; and

providing a connector at said connection point for joining said conductive element to an external element that extends away from said housing.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said second fiber optic element is surrounded by a casing having a metal sheathing contained therein, and said method further includes the step of electrically interconnecting said metal sheathing to said conductive element at said connection point within said housing.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said connector extends from said connection point in said housing to a point external of said housing.

11. The method according to claim 8 wherein said housing is comprised of two housing halves, wherein said two housing halves creates a water impervious seal against each other and against both said first fiber optic element and said second fiber optic element when said two housing halves are affixed to each other.