Method for mid-span branching of optical fiber cable

• US 6,493,500 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2000
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Telecom (KT Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Korea Telecom (KT Corporation)
• Inventors: Oh, Sung-Keun, Kim, Won-Lok, Kang, Won-Cheol
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRASAD, CHANDRIKA
• Application Number:
  US09/665,169
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 385/100, 385/106, 385/110, 385/98, 385/99, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for mid-span branching of optical fiber cable which makes the mid-span branching possible without excess length of the optical fiber cable by forming main branching part and sub branching part for branched cores to be taken out from an existing main cable. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for mid-span branching that provides marginal length of the existing main cable from which the branch cable branches off without the excess length of cables. To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a method for mid-span branching of optical fiber cable, comprising the steps of: setting an existing main cable and a branch cable; unsheathing main branched part and sub branched part of the main cable with preserved part; choosing and cutting branched cores with preserved cores remaining uncut; connecting the first branched cores to first branching cores to make temporary connection; pulling out the temporary connection to the sub branched part through the preserved part; and splicing the first branched cores and the first branching cores at the sub branched part, and splicing the second branched cores and second branching cores at the main branching part, second branching cores in the branch cable.

Claims

1. A method of mid-span branching of optical fiber cable, comprising:

setting an existing main cable and a branch cable;

unsheathing a main branched part and a sub branched part of the main cable with a preserved part formed between the main branched part and the sub branched part;

choosing and cutting branched cores with preserved cores remaining uncut at the main branched part, the branched cores having first branched cores and second branched cores;

connecting the first branched cores to first branching cores to make a temporary connection in the main branched part, the first branching cores located in the branch cable;

pulling out the temporary connection in the main branched part to the sub branched part through the preserved part; and

splicing the first branched cores and the first branching cores at the sub branched part, and splicing the second branched cores and second branching cores at the main branching part, the second branching cores located in the branch cable.

2.The method of claim 1, further comprising step of covering the preserved cores in the main branched part and the sub branched part with sheathing member.

2. The method of claim 2, further comprising step of setting trays to the main branched part an sub branched part respectively, and arranging the branched cores and branching cores on the trays.

3. The method of claim 3, wherein the cutting step cuts the branched cores so that the length of the first branched cores exposed is same as the length of the second branched cores exposed.

4. The method of claim 4, wherein the length of the preserved part and the sub branched part is respectively about 25 to 30 centimeters long, and the length of the main branched part is about 50 to 60 centimeters long.

5. A method of mid-span branching of optical fiber cable, comprising:

setting an existing main cable and a branch cable;

unsheathing a main branched part and a sub branched part of the main cable with a preserved part formed between the main branched part and the sub branched part;

choosing and cutting branched cores with preserved cores remaining uncut at the main branched part, the branched cores consisting of first branched cores and second branched cores;

pulling out the first branched cores in the main branched part to the sub branched part through the preserved part;

setting a hollow member above the preserved part;

pulling out first branching cores to the sub branched part through the hollow member, the first branching cores located in the branch cable; and

splicing the first branched cores and the first branching cores at the sub branched part and splicing the second branched cores and second branching cores at the main branched part, the second branching cores located in the branch cable.

6. The method of claim 6, further comprising step of covering preserved cores in the main branch part and sub branched part with sheathing member.

7. The method of claim 7, further comprising step of covering the first branching cores between the hollow member and the branched part with sheathing member.

8. The method of claim 8, further comprising step of setting trays to the main branched part and sub branched part respectively, and arranging the branch ed cores and branching cores on the trays.

9. The method of claim 9, wherein the cutting step cuts the branch ed cores so that the length of the first branched cores exposed is same as the length of the second branched cores exposed.

10. The method of claim 10, wherein the length of the preserved part and the sub branched part is respectively about 25 to 30 centimeters long, and the length of the main branched part is about 50 to 60 centimeters long.

11. The method of claim 11, wherein the hollow member is tube cable or empty pipe cable.

12. A method of mid-span branching of optical fiber cable, comprising:

setting an existing main cable and a branch cable;

unsheathing a main branched part and a sub branched part of the main cable, a preserved part formed between the main branched part and the sub branched part;

choosing and cutting branched cores with preserved cores remaining uncut at the main branched part, the branched cores consisting of first branched cores and second branched cores;

pulling out the first branched cores in the main branched part to the sub branched part through the preserved part;

aligning an end of the branch cable with an end of the sub branched part;

unsheathing a main branching part and a sub branching part of the branch cable with a second preserved part formed between the main branching part and the sub branching part, the main branching part and the sub branching part of the branch cable corresponding respectively to the main branched part and the sub branched part of the main cable;

pulling out second branching cores to the main branching part through the second preserved part, the second branching cores located in the branch cable; and

splicing the first branched cores and first branching cores at the sub branched part and splicing the second branched cores and the second branching cores at the main branched part, the first branching cores located in the branch cable.

13. The method of claim 13, further comprising step of covering preserved cores in the main branched part with sheathing member.

14. The method of claim 14, further comprising step of covering the first branching cores in the main branching part with sheathing member.

15. The method of claim 15, further comprising step of setting trays to the main branched part and sub branched part respectively, and arranging the branched cores and branching cores on the trays.

16. The method of claim 16, wherein the cutting step cuts the branched cores so that the length of the first branched cores exposed is same as the length of the second branched cores exposed.

17. The method of 17, claim wherein the length of the preserved part and the sub branched part is respectively about 25 to 30 centimeters long, and the length of the main branched part is about 50 to 60 centimeters long.