Breakout and connector assemblies for use with high count fiber optic cables

• US 7,228,047 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Inventors: Szilagyi, B. Daniel, Schiltz, Thomas D., Phifer, Malcolm R., Katarziene, Laima
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi; Hemang
• Application Number:
  US11/454,591
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 385/65, 385 83- 86, 385113-114, 385134-139
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/545 Pulling eyes G02B6/475 takes precedence

Abstract

An adapter assembly comprises a cable ferrule that terminates environmental and strength members of a high count fiber optic cable while allowing a plurality of optical fibers to pass therethrough. A flange on the cable ferrule mates with a corresponding groove of a breakout body. A breakout body cover is provided to enclose an open longitudinal channel of the breakout body. Flexible jacketing may be coupled to an end of the breakout body with a traversing plurality of optic fiber encased in the flexible jacketing. In another aspect of the present invention, a modular connector assembly is provided that may be configured in both a pulling configuration (for installation of the cable assembly) and a connector configuration (for termination of the optical fibers). In this manner, relatively inflexible high count fiber optic cables may be transitioned into more flexible configurations for subsequent termination in a relatively inexpensive manner.

Claims

1. An adapter assembly for terminating a fiber optic cable comprising a plurality of optic fibers, comprising:

a cable ferrule comprising a tubular body forming a passage between a front opening and a back opening along a longitudinal axis, and a flange formed on an exterior surface of the cable ferrule and proximate the front opening, wherein the rear opening is configured to receive the fiber optic cable into the passage;

a breakout body having a first open end and a second open end and an open longitudinal channel between the first and second open ends for receiving the plurality of optic fibers from the fiber optic cable, and further comprising a groove, in proximity to the first open end, disposed within an interior surface defined by the open longitudinal channel, wherein the groove is configured to matably receive the flange and substantially maintain the cable ferrule and the breakout body in fixed axial alignment along the longitudinal axis; and

a breakout body cover configured to mate with the breakout body thereby substantially enclosing the open longitudinal channel.

2. The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable ferrule further comprises at least one radial opening in communication with the passage.

3. The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the groove and flange each comprise mating surface profiles configured to substantially maintain the cable ferrule and the breakout body in fixed rotational alignment.

4. The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the flange comprises a front surface and a back surface and an opening between the front surface and the back surface configured to receive a pulling member.

5. The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the breakout body and the breakout body cover each comprise at least one outer groove formed within respective exterior surfaces such that, when the breakout body cover mates with the breakout body, the at least one outer groove is aligned to form at least one circumferential groove around the breakout body and the breakout body cover.

6. The adapter assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

at least one band configured to be received within the at least one circumferential groove and affix the breakout body cover to the breakout body.

7. The adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the breakout body further comprises at least one partition disposed longitudinally within the open longitudinal channel and defining at least two courses for receiving the plurality of optic fibers.

8. The adapter assembly of claim 7, wherein the breakout body further comprises at least one retention recess formed within the at least one partition and the interior surface of the elongate breakout body.

9. An assembly for terminating a plurality of optic fibers, the assembly comprising:

a rear base having a front end and a back end and an open longitudinal channel between the front and back ends for receiving the plurality of optic fibers from the fiber optic cable via the back end, and further comprising a first coupling portion disposed proximate the front end; and

a front pulling base comprising a first cavity for receiving the plurality of optic fibers, and further comprising a pulling portion for connection thereto of a pulling device and a second coupling portion disposed proximate an opening providing access to the first cavity, wherein the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion, during a pulling configuration of the assembly, fixedly engage complementary surfaces thereof to maintain the rear base and the front pulling base in longitudinal alignment.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

a rear base cover configured to mate with the rear base thereby substantially enclosing the open longitudinal channel.

11. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

a front pulling cover configured to mate with the front pulling base thereby substantially enclosing the first cavity.

12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the second coupling portion is configured to slidably engage the first coupling portion.

13. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

a front backshell base comprising a second cavity for receiving the plurality of optic fibers, and further comprising a front opening for terminating the plurality of optical fibers and a third coupling portion disposed proximate a rear opening providing access to the second cavity, wherein the first coupling portion and the third coupling portion, during a connector configuration of the assembly, fixedly engage complementary surfaces thereof to maintain the rear base and the front backshell base in longitudinal alignment.

14. The assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

a front backshell cover configured to mate with the front backshell base thereby substantially enclosing the second cavity.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the third coupling portion is configured to slidably engage the first coupling portion.

16. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the rear base further comprises at least one partition disposed longitudinally within the open longitudinal channel and defining at least two courses for receiving the plurality of optic fibers.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the rear base further comprises at least one retention recess formed within the at least one partition and an interior surface of the rear base.

18. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the rear base further comprises a post for terminating a pulling member.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the post is disposed within the open longitudinal channel.

20. A fiber optic cable assembly comprising:

a high count fiber optic cable comprising strength and environmental protection members and a plurality of optical fibers;

an adapter assembly, positioned along a length of the high count fiber optic cable, coupled to and substantially terminating the strength and environmental members while allowing passage of the plurality of optical fibers therethrough, and further comprising means for securing a pulling member to the adapter assembly; and

a connector assembly, positioned at a distal end of the plurality of optical fibers corresponding to the adapter assembly and comprising means for securing the pulling member to the connector assembly, wherein tensional forces applied to the connector assembly, when in a pulling configuration, are transferred via the pulling member to the adapter assembly and the strength members of the high count fiber optic cable.

21. The fiber optic cable assembly of claim 20, further comprising:

flexible jacketing disposed between the adapter assembly and the connector assembly and substantially enclosing at least the plurality of optical fibers.