Furcation kit

• US 6,738,555 B1
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Laws, Timothy S., Melton, Stuart R., Cooke, Terry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F.
• Application Number:
  US09/819,838
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135-137, 385/99-100, 385/101, 385/1, 385/106, 385/107, 439/99, 439/623, 174/91, 174/92, 174/93
• US Class Current: 385/136
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38875 Protection from bending or twisting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3889 using encapsulation for protection, e.g. adhesive, molding or casting resin
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps

Abstract

A furcation kit utilizes the strength aramid fibers from the multiple fiber cable to form the mechanical connection between the cable and the furcation unit. This furcation kit has at least one and preferably two crimping surfaces where the strength fibers can be affixed. This furcation kit is usable with a variety of cables, including cables with two sets of strength fibers, cables with one set of strength fibers, and cables with an oval or a rectangular profile, among others. In accordance to one aspect, the furcation kit also allows the multiple fiber cable to be separated into single fibers or into smaller multiple fiber cables. In accordance to another aspect, the kit resists relative rotational movement between the housing of the kit and a fanout body contained therein. In accordance to another aspect, the furcation kit can be stacked or bundled with one another.

Claims

1. A furcation device for furcating a multiple fiber cable having strength members, said furcation device comprising:

a housing member adapted to receive a fanout body, wherein the fanout body comprises a plurality of passageways and wherein each passageway receives at least one individual fiber from the multiple fiber cable;

wherein said housing member has at one end a cable crimp body, wherein at least some of the strength members from the multiple fiber cable are crimped between the cable crimp body and a first crimp band to affix the multiple fiber cable to the furcation device; and

wherein the fanout body defines a fanout crimp surface, wherein at least some of the strength members from the multiple fiber cable are crimped between the fanout crimp surface and a second crimp band.

2. The furcation device of claim 1 wherein the strength members from the multiple fiber cable comprise outer strength members and inner strength members disposed inside the outer strength members, and wherein some of the outer strength members are crimped between the cable crimp body and the first crimp band.

3. The furcation device of claim 2 wherein some of the inner strength members are crimped between the fanout crimp surface and the second crimp band.

4. The furcation device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of passageways comprises at least one passageway adapted to receive one individual fiber and at least one passageway adapted to receive one multiple fiber cable.

5. The furcation device of claim 1 wherein the fanout body comprises at least one surface thereon, said surface cooperates with a corresponding surface defined on the housing members to resist relative rotational movement between the fanout body and the housing member.

6. The furcation device of claim 1 wherein a plurality of furcation tubes corresponding to the plurality of passageways on the fanout body is insertable into said passageways to conduct the at least one individual fiber to an optical apparatus.

7. The furcation device of claim 1 further comprising a top member removably connected to the housing member to hold the fanout body securely within the furcation device.

8. A furcation device for furcating a multiple fiber cable having strength members, said furcation device comprising:

a housing member adapted to receive a fanout body, wherein the fanout body comprises a plurality of passageways and wherein each passageway receives at least one individual fiber from the multiple fiber cable;

wherein said fanout body has an exterior fanout crimp surface, and wherein at least some of the strength members from the multiple fiber cable are crimped between the fanout crimp surface and a second crimp band to affix the multiple fiber cable to the furcation device.

9. The furcation device of claim 8 wherein at least some of the strength members from the multiple fiber cable are crimped between a cable crimp body located at one end of the housing member and a first crimp band.

10. The furcation device of claim 8 wherein the strength members from the multiple fiber cable comprise outer strength members and inner strength members disposed inside the outer strength members, and wherein some of the inner strength members are crimped between a cable crimp body located at one end of the housing member and a first crimp band.

11. The furcation device of claim 10 wherein some of the outer strength members are crimped between the fanout crimp surface and the second crimp band.

12. The furcation device of claim 8 wherein the plurality of passageways comprises at least one passageway adapted to receive one individual fiber and at least one passageway adapted to receive one multiple fiber cable.

13. The furcation device of claim 8 wherein the fanout body comprises at substantially flat surface thereon, said substantially flat surface cooperates with a corresponding at least one substantially flat surface defined on the housing member to resist relative rotational movement between the fanout body and the housing member.

14. The furcation device of claim 8 wherein a plurality of furcation tubes corresponding to the plurality of passageways on the fanout body is insertable into said passageways to conduct the at least one individual fiber to an optical apparatus.

15. The furcation device of claim 8 further comprising a top member removably connected to the housing member to hold the fanout body securely within the furcation device.

16. A furcation device for furcating a multiple fiber cable comprising:

a housing member adapted to receive a fanout body, wherein the fanout body comprises a plurality of passageways and wherein each passageway receives at least one individual fiber from the multiple fiber cable;

wherein the housing member further comprises a first interlocking member and a second interlocking member, wherein the first interlocking member is adapted to interlock with the second interlocking member disposed on an adjacent furcation device.

17. The furcation device of claim 16 wherein the first interlocking member is a knob disposed on the surface of the housing member.

18. The furcation device of claim 17 wherein the knob is tapered and defines a slit.

19. The furcation device of claim 17 wherein the second interlocking member is a recess hole adapted to receive the knob.

20. The furcation device of claim 18 wherein the second interlocking member is a hole adapted to receive the knob.

21. The furcation device of claim 16 wherein the first interlocking member is disposed on a top surface of the housing member and the second interlocking member is disposed on the bottom end of the housing member.

22. The furcation device of claim 16 wherein the first interlocking member is disposed on a first side surface of the housing member and the second interlocking surface is disposed on a second side surface, and wherein said first side surface is opposite to said second side surface.

23. The furcation device of claim 16 wherein the fanout body comprises at least one surface thereon, said surface cooperates with a corresponding at least one surface defined on the housing member to resist relative rotational movement between the fanout body and the housing member.

24. A furcation device for furcating a multiple fiber cable comprising:

a housing member adapted to receive a fanout body, wherein the fanout body comprises a plurality of passageways and wherein each passageway receives at least one individual fiber from the multiple fiber cable;

wherein the plurality of passageways comprises at least one passageway adapted to receive one individual fiber and at least one passageway adapted to receive one multiple fiber cable.

25. The furcation device of claim 24 wherein the fanout body comprises at least one surface thereon, said surface cooperates with a corresponding at least one surface defined on the housing member to resist relative rotational movement between the fanout body and the housing member.

26. The furcation device of claim 24 wherein a plurality of furcation tubes corresponding to the plurality of passageways on the fanout body is insertable into said passageways to conduct the at least one individual fiber to an optical apparatus.

27. The furcation device of claim 24 further comprises a top member removably connected to the housing member to hold the fanout body securely within the furcation device.