Cable termination assembly and method for connectors

• US 9,625,660 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2016
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bison Patent Licensing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Commscope Connectivity Belgium BVBA (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Daems, Daniel Francois, Verheyden, Danny Willy August, Vos, Bart
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, ELLEN E
• Application Number:
  US15/014,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20160259134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 385 77, 385 78, 385 81, 385 86, 385 87, 385102-108, 385113
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3809 without a ferrule embedding the fibre end, i.e. with bare fibre end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3859 Ferrules characterised by use of shape memory material [SMM], e.g. heat recoverable polymers, Ti-Ni compounds chemical aspects of SMM see the relevant places under C08 and C22; SMM used for shaping by moulding B29C61/00; SMM for electrical coupling H01R4/01, H01R4/72, H01R12/856, H02G15/1806
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38875 Protection from bending or twisting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3889 using encapsulation for protection, e.g. adhesive, molding or casting resin
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4476 with heat-shrinkable elements

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic connector assembly having a fiber optic connector including a main connector body and a rear insert secured within a rear cable termination end of the main connector body. The fiber optic connector assembly has a fiber optic cable that includes an optical fiber, a strength layer and an outer jacket. The optical fiber has a ferrule-less end portion accessible at a front mating end of the main connector body. A first shape recoverable sleeve secures the optical fiber to a substrate anchored to the rear insert. An axial gap exists between the forward end of the outer jacket and the rearward end of the rear insert. A second shape recoverable sleeve secures the outer jacket to the rear insert. An adhesive material at least partially fills the axial gap.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector assembly comprising:

a fiber optic cable including an optical fiber, an outer jacket surrounding the optical fiber, and a strength member layer between the optical fiber and the outer jacket, wherein a portion of the outer jacket has been stripped to expose a length of the optical fiber and a length of the strength member layer;

a connector body defining a front end and a rear end and configured to receive the exposed length of the optical fiber through the rear end thereof, the connector body including a plurality of notches adjacent the rear end thereof;

a strength member clamp defining a front end, a rear end, and a throughhole extending therebetween, the throughhole configured to receive the outer jacket when the strength member clamp is slid rearwardly over thereof, the strength member clamp defining a plurality of projections extending transversely toward a longitudinal axis of the strength member clamp, the projections configured to be inserted within the notches for coupling the strength member clamp to the connector body, wherein the strength member clamp defines a complete circular ring with a plurality of fingers extending forwardly, the plurality of fingers defining the projections and configured to flex radially, wherein a first portion of the exposed length of the strength member layer is captured between the projections and the notches and a second portion of the exposed length of the strength member layer is folded rearwardly over an exterior of the strength member clamp after the strength member clamp has been slid over thereof; and

a heat-recoverable tube placed over the strength member clamp and fixing the strength member clamp relative to the connector body, the heat-recoverable tube covering the first portion of the exposed length of the strength member layer that is captured between the projections and the notches and at least partially covering the second portion of the exposed length of the strength member layer that is folded rearwardly over the exterior of the strength member clamp.

2. A fiber optic connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector body defines a front housing and a rear insert coupled to the front housing, the rear insert defining the notches.

3. A fiber optic connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein the rear insert is metallic.

4. A fiber optic connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein the rear insert defines a cylindrical portion with the plurality of the notches provided along the perimeter thereof.

5. A fiber optic connector assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a strain relief boot covering the heat-recoverable tube.

6. A fiber optic connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the heat-recoverable tube defines a dual-wall construction including a heat-recoverable layer surrounding an adhesive layer.

7. A fiber optic connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the strength member clamp is metallic.

8. A fiber optic connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the strength member layer includes aramid yarns.

9. A method of fixing a fiber optic cable to a connector body, the method comprising:

providing a fiber optic cable including an optical fiber, an outer jacket surrounding the optical fiber, and a strength member layer between the optical fiber and the outer jacket;

stripping a portion of the outer jacket to expose a length of the optical fiber and a length of the strength member layer;

sliding a strength member clamp rearwardly over the outer jacket;

sliding a heat-recoverable tube rearwardly over the outer jacket;

folding a portion of the exposed length of the strength member layer rearwardly over an exterior of the strength member clamp after sliding the strength member clamp over the exposed length of the strength member layer;

inserting a portion of the exposed length of the optical fiber into a connector body;

coupling the strength member clamp to the connector body so as to capture another portion of the exposed length of the strength member between the connector body and the strength member clamp; and

after a portion of the exposed length of the strength member layer has been folded rearwardly over the exterior of the strength member clamp, using the heat-recoverable tube to cover the other portion of the exposed length of the strength member layer that is captured between the strength member clamp and the connector body and to at least partially cover the folded portion of the exposed length of the strength member layer that has been folded rearwardly over the exterior of the strength member clamp;

wherein the method further comprises inserting a plurality of projections defined by the strength member clamp into a plurality of notches defined by the connector body in coupling the strength member clamp to the connector body, the projections extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the strength member clamp, wherein the strength member clamp defines a complete circular ring with a plurality of fingers extending forwardly, the plurality of fingers defining the projections and configured to flex radially.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising sliding a strain relief boot forwardly over the heat-recoverable tube after using the heat-recoverable tube to cover the folded portion of the exposed length of the strength member layer.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the connector body defines a front housing and a rear insert coupled to the front housing, the rear insert defining the notches.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the rear insert is metallic.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the rear insert defines a cylindrical portion with the plurality of the notches provided along the perimeter thereof.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the heat-recoverable tube defines a dual wall construction including a heat-recoverable layer surrounding an adhesive layer.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the strength member clamp is metallic.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein the strength member layer includes aramid yarns.

17. A kit for fixing a fiber optic cable to a connector body, the kit comprising:

a length of fiber optic cable, the length of fiber optic cable including an optical fiber, an outer jacket surrounding the optical fiber, and a strength member layer between the optical fiber and the outer jacket;

a connector body defining a front end and a rear end, the connector body including a plurality of notches adjacent the rear end thereof;

a strength member clamp defining a front end, a rear end, and a throughhole extending therebetween, the strength member clamp defining a plurality of projections extending transversely toward a longitudinal axis of the strength member clamp, the projections configured to be inserted within the notches for coupling the strength member clamp to the connector body and for capturing at least a portion the strength member layer therebetween, wherein the strength member clamp defines a complete circular ring with a plurality of fingers extending forwardly, the plurality of fingers defining the projections and configured to flex radially;

a length of heat-recoverable tubing for placement over the strength member clamp for fixing the strength member clamp to the connector body; and

a strain-relief boot for slidable placement over the length of heat-recoverable tubing.

18. A fiber optic connector assembly comprising:

a fiber optic cable including an optical fiber, an outer jacket surrounding the optical fiber, and a strength member layer between the optical fiber and the outer jacket, wherein a portion of the outer jacket has been stripped to expose a length of the optical fiber and a length of the strength member layer;

a connector body that receives at least a portion of the exposed length of the optical fiber, the connector body defining a plurality of notches;

a strength member clamp coupled to the connector body, the strength member clamp defining a plurality of projections extending transversely toward a longitudinal axis of the strength member clamp, the projections configured to be inserted within the notches in coupling the strength member clamp to the connector body, wherein the strength member clamp defines a complete circular ring with a plurality of fingers extending forwardly, the plurality of fingers defining the projections and configured to flex radially; and

a heat-recoverable tube placed over the strength member clamp;

wherein a first portion of the exposed length of the strength member layer is captured between the connector body and the strength member clamp and a second portion of the exposed length of the strength member layer is captured between the heat-recoverable tube and the strength member clamp.