Fiber transport holding device and method

• US 6,396,991 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SubCom, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tycom Limited (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Talamini, Victor J. Sr., Wislinski, Martin T., Sedgwick, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Palmer, Phan T. H.
• Application Number:
  US09/478,814
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135,134,147,95-99,136,137,145
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/444 Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes

Abstract

A method for interconnecting at least one pair of optical fibers attached to an amp pair and devices used for transporting the amp pair including a splicing station and an apparatus for holding a plurality of optical fibers is diclosed. The method includes storing each of the optical fibers on a fiber transport attached to the amp pair, placing the amp pair into a splicing station, splicing at least two of the optical fibers and receiveing fiber transports on a holder attached to the amp pair. An apparatus for suppporting an amp pair having a plurality of fiber transports associated therewith includes a base defining a plurality of cavities adapted to hold the fiber transports and an aperture adapted to surround the amp pair. An apparatus for holding a plurality of optical fiber transports includes a fixture adapted to mount the optical fiber storage assembly and to separately receive each optical fiber transports from a plurality of optical fiber transports.

Claims

1. A method for interconnecting at least one pair of optical fibers attached to an amp pair comprising the steps of:

storing each one of the at least one pair of optical fibers on a fiber transport attached to the amp pair;

placing the amp pair into a splicing station;

removing the fiber transport from the amp pair;

splicing the at least one pair of optical fibers; and

receiving the fiber transports on a fiber transport holder attached to the amp pair.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of placing the amp pair into a splicing station further comprises the step of placing the amp pair in an aperture defined by the splicing station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of removing the fiber transport further comprises storing the fiber transport in a corresponding storage slot in the amp pair splicing station.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of attaching the fiber transport holder to a storage tray.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fiber transport is circular.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of detaching the fiber transport from the amp pair.

7. An apparatus adapted for working in conjunction with an amp pair having a plurality of fiber transports associated therewith, comprising:

a base,

an aperture defined by said base and adapted to surround the amp pair,

a plurality of cavities defined by said base and adapted to hold the fiber transports, said cavities located within a working distance from said aperture.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said cavities are aligned collinearly.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said base is adapted to connect to a pair of stabilizer plates attached to the amp pair.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said base is adapted to connect via a pair of amp pair anchor to a pair of stabilizer plates attached to the amp pair.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said base is adapted to connect via a pair of amp pair anchor to a pair of stabilizer plates attached to the amp pair, said amp pair anchor attached to said stabilizer plates with at least one mechanical fastener.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said base is adapted to connect via a pair of amp pair anchor to a pair of stabilizer plates attached to the amp pair, said amp pair anchor connected to said base with at least one mechanical fastener.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said base further comprises a pair of amp pair anchor adapted to engage a pair of stabilizer plates attached to the amp pair via at least one protrusion on each of said amp pair anchor.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said aperture is adapted to allow the amplifier to pass therethrough.

15. A method for accessing one of a plurality of fiber transports associated with an optical amplifier for splicing, comprising:

providing an amp pair splicing station having a base defining a plurality of storage slots;

engaging said amp pair with the base; and

storing each of the plurality of fiber transports in one of the storage slots.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the base further comprises at least one pair of amp pair anchor.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the base is removably engaged to a pair of amp pair anchor.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the base is removably engaged to a pair of amp pair anchor, the amp pair anchor adapted to engage the amp pair.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of storage slots is configured to hold one of the plurality of fiber transports.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the base is configured to be securely received by a splicing machine.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the base defines an aperture, the aperture positioned within a working distance from the storage slots.

22. A device for holding a plurality of optical fiber transports associated with an optical fiber storage assembly, said device comprising:

a fixture adapted to mount to the optical fiber storage assembly and adapted to separately receive each optical fiber transport from the plurality of optical fiber transports;

wherein said fixture is adapted to temporarily mount to the optical fiber storage assembly.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein said fixture has a plurality of edges, each of said edges rounded to a radius of at least 0.050 inches.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein said fixture is adapted to releasably mount to the optical fiber storage assembly via captured hardware.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein said fixture is adapted to releasably mount to the optical fiber storage assembly via mounting hardware unreleasably connected to said fixture.

26. The device of claim 22, wherein said fixture is adapted to releasably receive each optical fiber transport from the plurality of optical fiber transports.

27. The device of claim 22, wherein said fixture includes a plurality of transport receiving pins.

28. The device of claim 22, wherein said fixture includes a plurality of transport receiving pins, each transport receiving pin from said plurality of transport receiving pins capable of receiving a single optical fiber transport.

29. The device of claim 22, wherein said fixture includes a plurality of transport receiving pins, each transport receiving pin from said plurality of transport receiving pins having a longitudinal axis, each longitudinal axis being non-co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the remaining transport receiving pins from said plurality of transport receiving pins.

30. The device of claim 22, wherein said fixture includes a plurality of transport receiving pins, each transport receiving pin from said plurality of transport receiving pins having a longitudinal axis, each longitudinal axis being non-coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the remaining transport receiving pins from said plurality of transport receiving pins.

31. The device of claim 22, wherein said fixture includes a plurality of transport receiving pins distributed along spherical radii extending from a spooling axis of an optical fiber stored in the optical fiber storage assembly.

32. The device of claim 22, wherein, in an operative configuration, said fixture holds the plurality of optical fiber transports so that each optical fiber transport from the plurality of optical fiber transports can be accessed without disturbing the remainder of optical fiber transports from the plurality of optical fiber transports.

33. The device of claim 22, wherein, in an operative configuration, said fixture allows independent access to each optical fiber transport from the plurality of optical fiber transports.

34. The device of claim 22, wherein, in an operative configuration, said fixture holds the plurality of optical fiber transports so that no optical fiber transport from the plurality of optical fiber transports is in contact with another optical fiber transport from the plurality of optical fiber transports.

35. The device of claim 22, wherein, in an operative configuration, said fixture holds the plurality of optical fiber transports such that an optical fiber can be received on an optical fiber transport without exceeding a minimum bending radius of the optical fiber.

36. The device of claim 22, wherein said fixture has no sharp edges capable of damaging an optical fiber.

37. The device of claim 22, wherein said fixture has a plurality of edges, each of said edges rounded to a radius above an optical fiber cutting edge radius.

38. A method for temporarily storing an optical fiber located on an optical fiber storage assembly, said method comprising:

mounting an optical fiber transport fixture on the optical fiber storage assembly;

placing an optical fiber transport on the optical fiber transport fixture;

removing the optical fiber from the optical fiber storage assembly;

receiving the optical fiber on the optical fiber transport; and

coiling the optical fiber on the optical fiber transport.

39. A device for holding a plurality of optical fiber transports in close proximity to an optical fiber storage assembly, said device comprising:

a platform having a plurality of legs that are adapted to releasably mount to the optical fiber storage assembly, said platform having a plurality of pins adapted to releasably receive the plurality of optical fiber transports.

40. A system for manipulating an optical fiber comprising:

a platform having a plurality of legs releasably mounted to an optical fiber storage assembly, said platform having a plurality of pins releasably engaging a plurality of optical fiber transports.

41. A method for obtaining access to a first optical fiber stored beneath a second optical fiber on an optical fiber storage assembly, said method comprising:

mounting an optical fiber transport fixture on the optical fiber storage assembly;

placing an optical fiber transport on the optical fiber transport fixture;

receiving the second optical fiber on the optical fiber transport; and

accessing the first optical fiber.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

removing the first optical fiber from the optical fiber storage assembly.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

coiling the second optical fiber on the optical fiber transport.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

sliding the optical fiber transport over a pin attached to the optical fiber transport fixture.

45. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

releasably attaching the optical fiber transport to the optical fiber transport fixture.

46. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

removing the second optical fiber from the optical fiber storage assembly.