Furcation tubing and fanout furcation kit

• US 7,461,981 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Leyva, Daniel Jr., Yow, Charles A. Jr., Cooke, Terry Lee, Johnson, John Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): KIANNI, KAVEH C
• Application Number:
  US11/636,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20080138026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 385/76, 385/92
• US Class Current: 385/76
• 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 6/4477 with means for strain-relieving to interior strengths element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44775 Cable seals e.g. feed-through cable seals integrated to the box seals G02B6/4444; pulling eyes G02B6/44465

Abstract

Furcation tubing is made of glass-filled Teflon (PTFE) that provides reduced longitudinal shrinkage and increased tensile bond strength in the standard colors utilized for fiber identification. The furcation tubing experiences no more longitudinal shrinkage than furcation tubing made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and has a tensile bond strength no less than furcation tubing made of clear, etched Teflon (PTFE). A fanout furcation kit prevents movement of the separated optical fibers in a funnel area of a lower furcation body. The funnel area is bathtub shaped with an increasing depth in the direction of an insert block having at least two rows of passageways in a staggered array. Guide walls defining the funnel area form a seal with an upper furcation body. Use of the furcation tubing and fanout furcation kit significantly reduces unacceptable attenuation and micro-damage to optical fibers deployed in an outdoor fiber optic network.

Claims

1. A ribbon fanout kit for separating an optical fiber ribbon comprising a plurality of optical fibers into individual optical fibers and protecting the individual optical fibers, the ribbon fanout kit comprising:

a lower furcation body having a lead-in area adjacent a first end and a funnel area disposed medially between the lead-in area and a second end, the optical fiber ribbon positioned within the lead-in area and the individual optical fibers positioned within the funnel area;

a heat shrink having a rearward face and a passageway therethrough for receiving the optical fiber ribbon, the heat shrink disposed about the optical fiber ribbon and positioned within the lead-in area of the lower furcation body;

an insert block having a forward face and a plurality of passageways therethrough for receiving the individual optical fibers, the insert block positioned within the lower furcation body between the funnel area and the second end, wherein the lower furcation body comprises a pair of upwardly projecting guide walls that are angled outwardly in the direction of the second end and wherein the funnel area is defined by the rearward face of the heat shrink, the forward face of the insert block and the guide walls; and

an upper furcation body made of a generally transparent material and configured to be secured to the lower furcation body such that the individual optical fibers within the funnel area are visible through the upper furcation body.

2. A ribbon fanout kit according to claim 1, wherein the funnel area is generally bathtub shaped such that the funnel area has an increasing depth in the direction of the second end.

3. A ribbon fanout kit according to claim 1, wherein the passageways of the insert block are arranged in at least two spaced apart rows defining a staggered array.

4. A ribbon fanout kit according to claim 1, wherein the funnel area is filled with an acrylate having thixotropic properties that is cured by ultraviolet (UV) wavelength light.

5. The ribbon fanout kit according to claim 1, wherein the kit is a portion of a furcation assembly having a furcation tubing made of a material comprising glass-filled Teflon (PTFE).

6. The ribbon fanout kit according to claim 1, wherein the kit is a portion of a furcation assembly having furcation tubing, wherein the furcation tubing has an inner diameter and an outer diameter defining a first layer therebetween made of a material consisting essentially of Teflon (PTFE) and a second layer therebetween made of the material comprising glass-filled PTFE.

7. The ribbon fanout kit of claim 4, further comprising an indicator, wherein the indicator provides visual indication when the acrylate is cured.