Fiberoptic furcation device with crimp

• US 7,035,510 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Zimmel, Steven C., Shorter, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasri, Javaid H.
• Application Number:
  US10/613,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20050002621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 385100-101, 385/106, 385/103, 385109-110, 385112-113, 385134-137, 385/139, 385/86
• US Class Current: 385/100
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44715 Fan-out devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4476 with heat-shrinkable elements

Abstract

A cable breakout assembly comprising: a cable furcation device joining a cable including an outer jacket and an inner optical fiber, to an upjacket. The upjacket includes an inner tube for receiving the optical fiber, a stranded strength member outside the inner tube, and an outer tube outside of the strength member. The cable furcation device includes a first end disposed around the end of the outer jacket of the cable. The second end has a projecting tube for receiving the outer tube of the upjacket, the first tube having an inner diameter receiving the inner tube and the optical fiber. The device has an outer crimp surface, and a crimp ring crimps the strength member to the crimp surface. A heat shrunk tube is positioned around a portion of the upjacket, the cable furcation device, and a portion of the cable.

Claims

1. A cable furcation device comprising:

a body having a front end and an opposite rear end, the body defining a longitudinal axis therebetween;

the front end including a first tube having a first outer diameter, and a first inner diameter;

the front end including a crimp surface having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter, the crimp surface located between the first tube and the rear end;

the rear end having a third outer diameter larger than the second outer diameter and an inner bore having first and second inner bore portions with first and second bore diameters respectively, the second inner bore diameter smaller than the first inner bore diameter, the second inner bore portion located between the first bore portion and the front end,

the inner bore extending from the rear end and terminating at an end wall;

the body defining a first passage from the first tube to the inner bore;

wherein the first inner diameter of the first tube and the first and second inner bore diameters are sized for receiving an optical fiber;

wherein the first inner bore diameter is further sized for receiving a jacket of a cable surrounding the optical fiber;

wherein the crimp surface is sized for receiving a crimp ring to crimp a strength member of an upjacket;

wherein the first outer diameter of the first tube is sized to be received inside an outer tubular member of the upjacket;

wherein the first inner diameter of the first tube and the first and second inner bore diameters are sized for receiving an inner tubular member of the upjacket around optical fiber.

2. The cable furcation device of claim 1, further comprising a second tube, having the same first outer and inner diameters as the first tube, the first and second tubes extending parallel to one another.

3. A cable breakout assembly comprising:

a. a drop cable including an outer jacket defining an outer diameter, and a first inner optical fiber, having a first portion surrounded by the outer jacket, and a second portion extending beyond the outer jacket at a terminal end of the outer jacket;

b. a first upjacket including;

1. a first inner tube defining an inner diameter, the inner tube receiving the second portion of the first optical fiber in the inner diameter, the inner tube defining an outer diameter;

2. a stranded strength member outside the first inner tube;

3. a first outer tube outside of the strength member, the first outer tube having an inner diameter;

c. a cable furcation device including;

1. a body having a first end disposed around the outer diameter of the outer jacket of the drop cable;

2. the body having an inner passage for receiving the second portion of the first optical fiber;

3. the body having a projecting first tube in communication with the inner passage and received inside the inner diameter of the first outer tube of the first upjacket, the first tube having an inner diameter receiving the first inner tube and the second portion of the first optical fiber;

4. the body having an outer crimp surface;

5. a crimp ring crimping the strength member to the crimp surface;

6. a heat shrunk tube around a portion of the first upjacket, the cable furcation device, and a portion of the drop cable.

4. The cable breakout assembly of claim 3, wherein the drop cable includes a plurality of first optical fibers, and the body includes a plurality of inner passages and projecting first tubes, and further comprising a plurality of first upjackets, wherein each first optical fiber is positioned in one of the inner passages and in one of the projecting first tubes, wherein each of the first inner tubes are received in one of the first tubes, wherein each of the first outer tubes are received by one of the first tubes, wherein each of the strength members are crimped by the same crimp ring, and the heat shrunk tube is around all of the first upjackets.

5. The cable breakout assembly of claim 4, wherein the drop cable includes an inner jacket which terminates within the body of the cable furcation device.

6. The cable breakout assembly of claim 3, wherein the drop cable includes an inner jacket which terminates within the body of the cable furcation device.

7. A method of breaking out optical fibers comprising the steps of:

positioning a furcation device over the optical fibers extending from within a jacket of a cable;

positioning each optical fiber in a protective inner tube of an individual upjacket;

passing the protective inner tube of each of the upjackets into an interior of the furcation device;

inserting an end of an outer protective tube of each of the upjackets over a projecting tube of the furcation device;

crimping a strength member of each of the upjackets to the furcation device;

inserting an end of the jacket of the cable into the furcation device;

heat shrinking a tubing around the furcation device, an exposed portion of the jacket of the cable adjacent to the furcation device, and an exposed portion of the upjacket adjacent to the furcation device.