Optical fiber path joint member and method of blowing optical fiber

• US 5,781,678 A
• Filed: 01/25/1996
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Hiroki, Hogari, Kazuo, Sano, Hiroaki, Kawata, Osamu, Imaizumi, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Application Number:
  US08/591,370
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 254/134.4, 254/134.3, 385/137, 385/138, 385/102, 385/109, 385/115, 385/147, 226/97, 226/1-8, 406/82, 406/93, 406/195
• US Class Current: 385/45
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/52 using fluid, e.g. air

Abstract

An optical fiber path joint member according to the present invention includes a main path having an inlet and an outlet at respective ends thereof; and at least one joint path joining to the main path in one direction at an angle of equal to or less than 45°. A method of blowing an optical fiber is comprised of the step of blowing an optical fiber into a pipe through the optical fiber path joint member according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of blowing an optical fiber into a pipe comprising the steps of:

providing an optical fiber path joint member defining a main path, the joint member having an inlet and an outlet at respective ends thereof and at least one joint path joining to said main path at an angle of equal to or less than 45°

,

connecting a first portion of the pipe to said outlet,

connecting a second portion of the pipe to said inlet, and

introducing said optical fiber into said joint path and blowing it therethrough and into the pipe via said main path.

2. A method of blowing an optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein said optical fiber path joint member comprising a plurality of joint paths joining to said main path in one direction at an angle of equal to or less than 45°

.

3. A method of blowing an optical fiber according to claim 2, further comprising the step of, before said blowing step, sealing said main path and said joint paths.

4. A method of blowing an optical fiber comprising the steps of:

preparing an optical fiber path joint member which is divided into a first and second body parts, wherein a groove is formed on each of surfaces of said first and second body parts, and said groove forms a main path having an inlet and an outlet at respective ends thereof and at least one joint path joining to said main path in one direction at an angle of equal to or less than 45°

when said first and second body parts are assembled;

cutting a pipe in which an optical fiber is previously laid;

assembling said first and second parts to form said optical fiber path joint member at the position where said pipe is cut, while passing said previously laid optical fiber in said main path;

connecting said main path to said pipe through said inlet and outlet, while connecting a joint pipe to said joint path; and

blowing an optical fiber from the side of said joint pipe to said pipe through said joint path and main path.

5. A method of blowing an optical fiber according to claim 4, wherein said optical fiber path joint member is provided with a plurality of join paths.

6. A method of blowing an optical fiber according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of, before said blowing step, sealing said main path and said joint paths.

7. A method of blowing an optical fiber comprising the steps of:

preparing an optical fiber path joint member which is divided into a first and second body parts, wherein a groove is formed on each of surfaces of said first and second body parts, and said groove forms a main path having an inlet and an outlet at respective ends thereof and at least one joint path joining to said main path in one direction at an angle of equal to or less than 45°

when said first and second body parts are assembled;

assembling said first and second parts to form said optical fiber path joint member at an end of a pipe where at least one optical fiber which is previously laid in said pipe is introduced out, while passing said previously laid optical fiber in at least one of said main path and said at least one joint path;

sealing said main path and said at least one joint path; and

blowing an optical fiber from one of said at least one joint path to said pipe through said main path.

8. A method of blowing an optical fiber according to claim 7, wherein said optical fiber path joint member is provided with a plurality of join paths.