Frame for supporting fiber optic cable splices

• US 5,970,199 A
• Filed: 12/11/1996
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ge-Act Communications Inc.
• Original Assignee: ACT Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Glaser, Daniel, Glaser, James, Minchey, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, HUNG NHAT
• Application Number:
  US08/763,228
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/138, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3801 Permanent connections, i.e. wherein fibres are kept aligned by mechanical means splices by bonding G02B6/255; fusion splices G02B6/2551
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4422 of the overhead type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps

Abstract

A frame is provided for relieving stress on a cable splice. The frame includes a pair of rails spaced apart to accommodate a splice enclosure. At least one mounting plate is coupled to spaces of the rails for detachably mounting the splice enclosure. A strain relief is coupled to the rails for receiving a cable and isolating the weight of the cable from a splice of the cable disposed within the splice enclosure.

Claims

1. A frame for relieving stress on a cable splice comprising:

a pair of rails spaced apart to accommodate a splice enclosure;

at least one mounting plate coupled to and spacing said rails, said mounting plate being configured for securing said splice enclosure; and

a strain relief coupled to both of said rails for receiving and supporting a cable extending beyond said strain relief to said splice enclosure, and for isolating a portion of the weight of the cable from a splice of the cable disposed within said splice enclosure.

2. The frame of claim 1 wherein said at least one mounting plate comprises a first mounting plate for attaching to a first end of the selected enclosure and a second mounting plate of attaching to a second end of the selected enclosure, said first and second mounting plates spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of said frame.

3. The frame of claim 2 wherein at least one of said first and second mounting plates is adjustable along said longitudinal axis of said frame to accommodate enclosures of varying lengths.

4. The frame of claim 1 further comprising a mounting bracket for attaching said frame to a cable suspension structure.

5. The frame of claim 1 wherein said strain relief is adjustably mounted to a bracket coupled to and spacing said rails.

6. The frame of claim 5 wherein said bracket includes a slot for positioning said strain relief along a horizontal axis of said frame.

7. The frame of claim 2 wherein each of said rails includes a plurality of holes for selectively adjusting at least one of said first and second mounting plates along said longitudinal axis of said frame.

8. The frame of claim 1 wherein said mounting plate includes a mounting hole for receiving means for attaching the enclosure.

9. A method of supporting a cable splice comprising the steps of:

splicing a break in a cable;

enclosing the splice in an enclosure;

attaching the enclosure to a frame; and

isolating the cable weight external of the enclosure.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of supporting the cable weight from the splice and enclosure comprises the step of supporting the weight with a strain relief attached to said frame and spaced from the enclosure.

11. The method of claim 9, the cable is optical ground wire cable having a core of containing fiber optic cables within a conduit and an outer jacket of strands surrounding the conduit.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

providing at least two lengths of optical ground wire cable, each length having an end;

removing a portion of the outer jacket of the end of the optical ground wire cable to expose a segment of conduit; and

removing a portion of the conduit to expose a segment of fiber optic cables;

wherein the splice is among the fiber optic cables.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the enclosure has a removable end plate having access holes;

and further comprising the steps of;

removing the end plate; and

inserting the fiber optic cables and the conduit through the access holes before splicing the fiber optic cables.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of mounting the frame to transmission tower.

15. An assembly for securing splices of optical ground wire, comprising:

a frame having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end defining one or more mounting holes;

a lower mounting plate and a strain relief bracket attached to the frame at the lower end of the frame;

an upper mounting plate attached to the frame through one of the mounting holes;

a strain relief attached to the strain relief bracket for isolating force from an optical ground wire; and

a fiber optic cable splicing enclosure having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of the enclosure mounted to the upper mounting plate and the lower end of the enclosure mounted to the lower mounting plate, the enclosure for enclosing a splice of a cable passed through the strain relief externally of said splice enclosure.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the strain relief is adapted for receiving a length of optical ground wire, and wherein the weight of the optical ground wire is carried by the strain relief.

17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the strain relief bracket defines a slot, and the assembly further comprises a fastener used to secure the strain relief to the strain relief bracket, wherein the fastener extends through the slot, allowing the position of the strain relief to be adjusted horizontally with respect to the frame.

18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the frame is made of steel and is galvanized.

19. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the frame is made of aluminum.

20. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said enclosure has a selected length, at least one of said upper and lower mounting places adjustable to accommodate said length.