Fiber optic cable assembly

• US 8,500,341 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Zimmel, Steven C., Stroth, Christopher, Kachmar, Wayne M., Kleckowski, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Application Number:
  US12/950,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20110150398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 385/62, 385/81
• US Class Current: 385/81
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3889 using encapsulation for protection, e.g. adhesive, molding or casting resin
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4431 with provision in the protective covering, e.g. weak line, for gaining access to one or more fibres, e.g. for branching or tapping break-out terminations G02B6/4471
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4433 Double reinforcement laying in straight line with optical transmission element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/475 Mechanical aspects of installing cables in ducts or the like for buildings

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a drop cable assembly including a fiber optic drop cable having a length that extends from a first end of the fiber optic drop cable to an opposite second end of the fiber optic drop cable. The fiber optic drop cable also includes an intermediate location located between the first and second ends of the fiber optic drop cable. The drop cable assembly also includes a first fiber optic connector mounted at the first end of the fiber optic drop cable and a second fiber optic connector mounted at the second end of the fiber optic drop cable. The drop cable assembly further includes an optical fiber that extends continuously without splicing along the length of the fiber optic drop cable from the first fiber optic connector to the second fiber optic connector. The fiber optic drop cable has a first cable segment that extends from the first end of the fiber optic drop cable to the intermediate location and a second cable segment that extends from the intermediate location to the second end of the fiber optic drop cable. The first cable segment is more robust than the second cable segment and the second cable segment being more flexible than the first cable segment. The present disclosure also relates t methods and arrangements for mechanically attaching fiber optic connectors to drop cables of the type described above.

Claims

1. A cable assembly comprising:

a fiber optic cable including an optical fiber, a first jacket surrounding the optical fiber and a strength layer positioned between the optical fiber and the first jacket;

an outer jacket arrangement enclosing at least a portion of the fiber optic cable, the outer jacket arrangement including a second jacket that is more robust than the first jacket, the second jacket defining a first passage in which a first strength member is positioned and a second passage in which the fiber optic cable is positioned;

a fiber optic connector located at an end of the cable assembly, the fiber optic connector including;

a plug body having a distal end and an opposite proximal end;

a ferrule supporting an end portion of the optical fiber of the fiber optic cable, the ferrule being positioned at the distal end of the plug body;

a spring positioned within the plug body for biasing the ferule in a distal direction;

a spring stop secured to the proximal end of the plug body, the spring stop including a strength layer anchoring portion that extends proximally outwardly from the proximal end of the plug body;

a crimp sleeve that secures an end portion of the strength layer to the strength layer anchoring portion of the spring stop, the crimp sleeve including a distal portion that extends over the strength layer anchoring portion of the spring stop and a proximal portion that extends over an end portion of the first jacket; and

a strength member retention housing positioned adjacent the proximal end of the plug body, the strength member retention housing surrounding the crimp sleeve and including a first retention portion in which the first strength is adhesively affixed.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the second jacket defines a third passage, wherein a second strength member is positioned within the third passage, and wherein the strength member retention housing includes a second retention portion in which the second strength member is adhesively affixed.

3. The cable assembly of claim 2, wherein the first, second and third passages of the second jacket are aligned along a single plane with the second passage positioned between the first and third passages.

4. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic connector includes a threaded fastener positioned around the strength member retention housing, the threaded fastener being configured for securing the fiber optic connector to a fiber optic adapter.

5. A cable assembly comprising:

a fiber optic cable including an optical fiber, a first jacket surrounding the optical fiber and a strength layer positioned between the optical fiber and the first jacket;

an outer jacket arrangement enclosing at least a portion of the fiber optic cable, the outer jacket arrangement including a second jacket that is more robust than the first jacket, the second jacket defining a first passage in which a first strength member is positioned and a second passage in which the fiber optic cable is positioned;

a fiber optic connector located at an end of the cable assembly, the fiber optic connector including;

a plug body having a distal end and an opposite proximal end;

a ferrule supporting an end portion of the optical fiber of the fiber optic cable, the ferrule being positioned at the distal end of the plug body;

a spring positioned within the plug body for biasing the ferule in a distal direction;

a spring stop secured to the proximal end of the plug body, the spring stop including a proximal portion that extends proximally outwardly from the proximal end of the plug body;

a crimp sleeve including a distal portion that extends over the proximal portion of the spring stop and a proximal portion that extends over an end portion of the first jacket; and

a strength member retention housing positioned adjacent the proximal end of the plug body, the strength member retention housing surrounding the crimp sleeve and including a first retention portion in which the first strength is adhesively affixed.

6. A drop cable assembly comprising:

a fiber optic drop cable having a length that extends from a first end of the fiber optic drop cable to an opposite second end of the fiber optic drop cable;

a first fiber optic connector mounted at the first end of the fiber optic drop cable and a second fiber optic connector mounted at the second end of the fiber optic drop cable;

the fiber optic drop cable including a first portion that extends from the first end of the fiber optic drop cable to an intermediate location along the length of the drop cable, and a second portion that extends from the intermediate location to the second end of the fiber optic drop cable;

the first portion of the fiber optic drop cable including;

an optical fiber;

a first jacket surrounding the optical fiber;

a strength layer positioned between the first jacket and the optical fiber;

a second jacket surrounding the first jacket, the second jacket having an elongate transverse cross-sectional profile;

a first strength member positioned outside the first jacket and within the second jacket, the first strength member being capable of accommodating a tensile load of at least 150 pounds;

the second portion of fiber optic drop cable including the optical fiber, the first jacket and the strength layer, but not including the first strength member or the second jacket; and

a pulling sock mounted over the second portion of the fiber optic drop cable, the pulling sock including a first end including a pulling eye and a second end attached to the second jacket of the fiber optic drop cable.

7. The drop cable assembly of claim 6, wherein the second jacket is more abrasion resistant than the first jacket.

8. The drop cable assembly of claim 6, wherein the first fiber optic connector is more robust than the second fiber optic connector.

9. The drop cable assembly of claim 6, further comprising a second strength member positioned outside the first jacket and within the second jacket, the second strength member being capable of accommodating a tensile load of at least 150 pounds.

10. A drop cable assembly comprising:

a fiber optic drop cable having a length that extends from a first end of the fiber optic drop cable to an opposite second end of the fiber optic drop cable, the fiber optic drop cable also including an intermediate location located between the first and second ends of the fiber optic drop cable;

a first fiber optic connector mounted at the first end of the fiber optic drop cable and a second fiber optic connector mounted at the second end of the fiber optic drop cable;

an optical fiber that extends continuously without splicing along the length of the fiber optic drop cable from the first fiber optic connector to the second fiber optic connector;

a first jacket surrounding the optical fiber, the first jacket extending along the length of the fiber optic drop cable from the first fiber optic connector to the second fiber optic connector;

a strength layer positioned between the first jacket and the optical fiber, the strength layer extending along the length of the fiber optic drop cable from the first fiber optic connector to the second fiber optic connector;

a second jacket surrounding the first jacket, the second jacket extending along the length of the fiber optic drop cable from the first fiber optic connector to the intermediate location, the second jacket having an elongate transverse cross-sectional profile, the second jacket terminating at the intermediate location;

a first strength member positioned outside the first jacket and within the second jacket, the first strength member extending along the length of the fiber optic drop cable from the first fiber optic connector to the intermediate location, the first strength member terminating at the intermediate location, the first strength member being capable of accommodating a tensile load of at least 150 pounds; and

a pulling sock mounted over the second end of the fiber optic drop cable, the pulling sock extending along the length of the fiber optic drop cable from the second end of the fiber optic drop cable to the intermediate location of the fiber optic drop cable, the pulling sock including a first end including a pulling eye and a second end attached to the second jacket of the fiber optic drop cable.

11. The drop cable assembly of claim 10, wherein the second jacket is more abrasion resistant than the first jacket.

12. The drop cable assembly of claim 10, wherein the first fiber optic connector is more robust than the second fiber optic connector.

13. The drop cable assembly of claim 10, further comprising a second strength member positioned outside the first jacket and within the second jacket, the second strength member being capable of accommodating a tensile load of at least 150 pounds.

14. A drop cable assembly comprising:

a fiber optic drop cable having a length that extends from a first end of the fiber optic drop cable to an opposite second end of the fiber optic drop cable, the fiber optic drop cable also including an intermediate location located between the first and second ends of the fiber optic drop cable;

a first fiber optic connector mounted at the first end of the fiber optic drop cable and a second fiber optic connector mounted at the second end of the fiber optic drop cable;

an optical fiber that extends continuously without splicing along the length of the fiber optic drop cable from the first fiber optic connector to the second fiber optic connector;

the fiber optic drop cable having a first cable segment that extends from the first end of the fiber optic drop cable to the intermediate location and a second cable segment that extends from the intermediate location to the second end of the fiber optic drop cable, the first cable segment being more robust than the second cable segment and the second cable segment being more flexible than the first cable segment;

the fiber optic drop cable including a cable unit that extends from the first end of the drop cable to the second end of the drop cable, the cable unit including the optical fiber, a first jacket surrounding the optical fiber and a strength layer positioned between the optical fiber and the first jacket, the fiber optic drop cable also including an outer jacket and reinforcing arrangement that extends from the first end of the drop cable to the intermediate location, the outer jacket and reinforcing arrangement defining an elongate transverse cross-sectional profile and being able to accommodate a tensile load of at least 300 pounds; and

a pulling sock mounted over the second end of the fiber optic drop cable, the pulling sock extending along the fiber optic drop cable from the second end of the fiber optic drop cable to the intermediate location of the fiber optic drop cable, the pulling sock including a first end including a pulling eye and a second end attached to the first cable segment of the fiber optic drop cable.

15. The drop cable assembly of claim 14, wherein the first jacket includes a polymeric base material and a liquid crystal polymer within the polymeric base material.