Abstract: A manufacturing process (10) for producing a product (50,50') comprises a product making section (20) and an operation section (60). Product making section (20) is operative to produce, for example, a complete but unmarked cable product (50). Operation section (60) is operative to affect a manufacturing operation on product (50), for example, indent marking of reversal points of product (50). A completed product (50') comprising markings over reversal points is then stored on a product storage device comprising a take-up reel (98).

Abstract: A surge protector is provided that has a gas tube and at least one MOV that is coordinated with the gas tube such that the MOV interacts with the gas tube to lower the impulse breakdown voltage of a gas tube of a type that has a wide range of DC breakdown voltages across a population of the gas tubes. The gas tube is a generally cylindrical three element gas tube and the MOVs are disposed at opposite ends of the gas with fusible elements maintained in position by a clip. A population of the gas tubes has a range of breakdown voltages and the clamping voltage of the MOVs is set within this range such that the MOV will interact with any gas tube with a breakdown voltage in the population range to divert a surge to ground.

Abstract: The receptacle permits selected ones of the ferrules to be withdrawn from the receptacle without disconnecting the fiber optic connector from the receptacle and without disassembling the receptacle. As such, the ferrule that is withdrawn from the receptacle can be disconnected from the corresponding ferrule of the fiber optic connector assembly without disconnecting the other ferrules from the corresponding ferrules of the fiber optic connector assembly.

Abstract: An adapter is provided for operatively mating two optical fiber connectors of the type that are aligned relative to each other by guide pins. The adapter has two sleeve body halves that are joined together at a mating ends. A guide pin mount is captured between the two sleeve body halves that defines an opening to allow abutment of the two connectors therethrough. Two guide pins mounted on the guide pin mount parallel with the passageway defined through the sleeve and located so as to engage the guide pin holes on the connectors and align two connectors inserted into the adapter.

Abstract: The pulling grip includes an elongated, flexible pulling grip housing for use in installing fiber optic cable and, more particularly, for installing a fiber optic cable which contains a number of pre-connectorized optical fibers. The pulling grip housing includes first and second portions which mate to form the pulling grip housing and which open to provide access to an internal cavity for placement of the pre-connectorized optical fibers of the fiber optic cable. The pulling grip housing can secure the connectors within the internal cavity to prevent undesirable tangling of the optical fibers during installation. For example, the pulling grip housing can include an adhesive surface or a number of slots for retaining respective ones of the connectors.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable suitable for indoor applications includes a core tube surrounding a plurality of coated optical fibers; a jacket formed of flame-retardant polymer material surrounding the core tube; and at least one layer of strength members disposed between said core tube and said jacket. The jacket has an outer diameter of not greater than about seven mm and the coated optical fibers experience a short-term increase in signal attenuation of no more than about 0.01 dB when the cable is looped in a radius of 5 centimeters.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable having a minimum bend radius and comprising at least one U-shaped carrier helically stranded about a coaxial rod having a central axis and including in its lateral peripheral surface at least one groove, said groove containing at least one optical fiber element, is characterized in that the maximum compressive force on said U-shaped carrier caused by bending the cable to its minimum bend radius is less than the minimum such force which could cause said U-shaped carrier to buckle toward said groove. A cable with 16-fiber ribbons containing 250 .mu.m outer diameter (OD) fibers may contain up to 3200 optical fibers. The cable cross-section packing density may be 2.13 fibers/mm.sup.2.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extruding a plastic rod having helical slots in its external surface includes the use of a die including a relieved exit end face, resulting in a more uniform drag on the plastic melt. Plastic rods so formed are used in slotted core type optical fiber telecommunication cables. The die includes internal channels which form peripheral ribs on the plastic rod. The channels may follow either a helical or a straight path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a grooved plastic spacer for a slotted core type telecommunications cable includes a helically shaped calibration member inserted into each groove after extrusion of the spacer to maintain the shape of the groove until it is sufficiently cooled. A telecommunications cable made according to the method includes a spacer made of plastic having a melt flow index equal to or greater than 0.65 g/10 min.

Abstract: An optical fiber splice housing is provided for connection to a distribution frame adjacent to the rear of an optical fiber raceway unit. The splice housing comprises a cabinet having a front end defining a cabinet height and a cabinet width and a rear end defining a rear facing opening. The front end of a cabinet is adapted for connection to a distribution frame adjacent the rear side of the raceway member, and the cabinet height is not greater than the raceway height while the cabinet width is not greater than the raceway width. The splice housing can therefore be connected to a distribution frame adjacent to the rear side of a raceway unit without using additional vertical space in the frame and access to a splice tray mounted on the splice tray shelf can be had through the rear facing opening of the cabinet.

Abstract: A universal tool for cutting fiber optic cables and, more particularly, for cutting buffer tubes of various diameters and wall thicknesses includes first and second housings having respective inner surfaces. The inner surface of each housing can define a respective groove which, in turn, defines a respective longitudinal axis. The second housing is adjustably attached to the first housing so that the first and second grooves are maintained in an aligned relationship to thereby form a channel having a width which can be controllably adjusted so as to substantially match the diameter of the buffer tube to be cut, thereby allowing the universal tool to access the optical fibers within buffer tubes of different diameters. The tool also includes a first blade which is at least partially disposed in the first housing so that the first blade extends a predetermined distance into the respective groove.

Abstract: A wall mount cabinet is provided that has a front door that pivots downward and a side door that pivots out to the side. The side door is latched to the front door such that opening of the front door also opens the side door.

Abstract: An optical cable or optical cable element and a method of manufacturing the same. The cable or cable element includes a tubular jacket containing a single optical fiber and a layer of loose tensile strength fibers applied without an intended lay surrounding the optical fiber. The tension applied to the tensile strength fibers during manufacturing does not exceed the tension applied during manufacturing to the optical fiber.

Abstract: A structure is provided for securing cable, which has internal working fibers and an external outer coat, to a terminal connector. Included in the structure is a crimp body which has an interior axial hole extending therethrough and an exterior surface with at least one groove and at least one ridge. The outer coat of the cable is placed around the exterior surface of the crimp body and a crimp ring is placed around the outer coat and the crimp body. The crimp ring is deformable and has an interior large enough to accommodate the crimp body and the outer coat. The crimp ring is deformable so that it can secure the outer coat between the crimp ring and the crimp body, with the groove and ridge arrangement of the crimp body further holding the outer coat in place.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light waveguide cable which is designed such that one end is to be installed within a building and the other end is to be installed outside the building. The outdoor portion of the cable contains waterblocking materials, while the inside building portion does not. The cable has a flame retardant outer jacket throughout.

Abstract: An optical fiber interconnect and canister closure assembly is provided for interconnecting optical fiber cables in a canister closure. The assembly comprises a canister and end cap that closes over one end of the canister. Extending from the end cap to be received in the canister is a longitudinal interconnect assembly that comprises a longitudinal adapter mount. A plurality of adapters are mounted along the adapter mount in a row. The assembly is further provided with fiber management guides along a portion of the interconnect assembly that allow any pigtail of a set of equal length pigtails to be interconnected to any adapter mounted on the adapter mount.

Abstract: A guide block assembly is provided for retaining a plurality of fiber bore forming pins and at least one guide bore forming pin in precise relation to each other during molding of a multi-fiber ferrule used in a multi-fiber connector. The assembly includes an array of fiber bore blocks each with a fiber bore therethrough to retain a respective one of the fiber bore forming pins. At least one guide bore block that defines a guide bore for retaining a guide bore forming pin is assembled with the array of fiber bore blocks. Adjoining surfaces are defined between adjacent fiber bore blocks and between the guide bore blocks and the array fiber bore blocks. The use of bores more precisely retains the pins during the molding process, and the use of blocks with adjoining surfaces allows for the machining of such surfaces to precisely establish the relationships between successive fiber bore blocks and between the array of fiber bore blocks and the guide bore blocks.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adapter for sealingly receiving ferrules of standard optical fiber connectors such that the end faces of the ferrules are protected from moisture when inserted into the adapter. The adapter has a sealing sleeve that defines a sealing surface at each end to circumferentially seal about a ferrule. An alignment sleeve that is sized for operatively aligning the end faces of the ferrules is disposed coaxially inside the sealing sleeve. A retainer retains the sealing sleeve and allows for mounting of connectors thereto.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector housing or facilitating the cross-connection or interconnection of optical fibers is provided having upper and lower plate members spaced apart from one another with the front edge of the lower plate member extending further forward than the front edge of the upper plate member. A connecter panel depends generally vertically downward from the front edge of the upper plate member thereby defining a shelf portion at the forward part of the lower plate member. A door is hingeably connected to the front edge of the lower plate member thereby defining a forward cable area, at least one side aperture, and at least one top aperture forward of the connector panel.