Fiber optic cable assemblies with mechanically interlocking crimp bands and methods of making the assemblies

• US 8,221,006 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2010
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Theuerkorn, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GUY G
• Application Number:
  US12/861,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20120045178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 385 53- 94
• US Class Current: 385/53
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3802 Assembly tools, e.g. crimping tool or pressing bench splicing machines G02B6/2553
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49908 Joining by deforming

Abstract

A fiber optic cable assembly includes a fiber optic cable with one or more optical fibers attached to a housing. The housing includes a connector housing for a connector, a furcation housing for a furcation, and a splice housing for a mid-span cable splice. The furcation housing and the splice housing include a crimp body. The crimp body has a compression area and at least one hoop about the compression area defining a crimp zone. A crimp band is arranged for engaging the crimp zone and including an indentation defining a compression surface and a rib defining a rib interior. The crimp band and the crimp body cooperate to grip the strength element and resist cable pull off forces. A method of making the fiber optic cable assembly is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector assembly, comprising:

a fiber optic cable, the fiber optic cable having at least an optical fiber ribbon and at least one strength element;

a fiber optic connector, the connector comprising;

at least one ferrule assembly;

a crimp body, the crimp body including at least one compression area and at least one hoop about the compression area defining a crimp zone; and

a crimp band, the crimp band arranged for engaging the crimp zone and including at least one indentation defining at least one compression surface and at least one rib defining at least one rib interior, wherein the crimp band and the crimp body cooperate to grip the strength element and resist a cable pull off force.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the crimp band and the crimp body resist a cable pull off force from about 200 lbf to about 400 lbf.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the crimp band and the crimp body resist a cable pull off force from about 265 lbf to about 275 lbf.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the crimp band and the crimp body resist a cable pull off force of about 272 lbf.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the rib interior generally surrounds the hoop.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the compression surface generally compresses the compression area.

7. A fiber optic cable assembly, the assembly comprising:

a fiber optic cable, the cable having a fibrous strength element and a predetermined yield strength;

a housing, the housing having at least one end adapted to receive the fiber optic cable, the at least one end having a crimp zone, the crimp zone including at least one compression area and at least one hoop about the compression area; and

a crimp band, the crimp band arranged for engaging the crimp zone and including at least one indentation defining at least one compression surface and at least one rib defining at least one rib interior, the crimp band and the crimp body cooperating to grip the strength element and resist a predetermined cable pull off force, the cable yield strength defining the cable pull off force.

8. The assembly of claim 7, the predetermined cable pull off force is from about 200 lbf to about 600 lbf.

9. The assembly of claim 7, the housing comprising a furcation housing.

10. The assembly of claim 7, the housing comprising a splice housing.

11. The assembly of claim 10, the splice housing having a crimp zone on two ends.

12. A method of assembling a fiber optic connector assembly, comprising;

providing a fiber optic cable, the cable including a strength element;

providing a fiber optic connector, the connector including at least a crimp body, the crimp body having at least one compression area and at least one hoop defining a crimp zone thereon;

providing a sleeve for making a crimp band form;

providing a crimp tool having a crimp die thereon for making at least one rib and at least one indentation;

installing the cable onto the connector assembly, wherein the strength element is placed about the crimp zone;

moving the sleeve to be about the strength element and the crimp zone;

placing the sleeve within the crimp tool, and activating the tool crushing the sleeve into the crimp band form; and

mechanically interlocking the sleeve to the crimp zone.

13. The method of claim 12, including the step of providing a boot.

14. The method of claim 13, including the step of applying a pull force on the cable, causing the crimp band form to pull towards the cable and causing the crimp band form and the hoop to apply compressive forces to the strength member.