Abstract: Optical cable enclosure for connecting a supply optical cable to a customer cable having respective storage regions for optical fibers of both cables and an interconnection region for the fibers. The optical fibers of the customer cable extend either to their storage region or to the interconnection region, guide members being positioned for change in direction from one region to the other. The paths of the optical fibers are controlled regardless of their destination to ensure no undue stresses are placed upon the fibers. This control is effected quickly and easily.

Abstract: An ibuprofen-containing medicament which contains ibuprofen only in the (S)-(+)-form is disclosed. (S)-(+)ibuprofen is more than twice as active as the racemate which has until now been used in the treatment of rheumatism. This permits reduction of the quantity of active ingredient and the size of the tablets or dragees.

Abstract: An optical fiber mechanical splice comprises a pair of gripping members and a resilient biasing member. Each gripping member has a plastically deformable griping surface. One of the gripping surfaces has a v-groove for receiving and aligning optical fiber ends. The resilient biasing means acts between the gripping members to resiliently bias the gripping surfaces of the gripping members toward one another. In use of the mechanical splice, the gripping surfaces are urged toward one another with optical fiber ends in abutting alignment in the v-groove. The gripping surfaces plastically deform around the fiber ends to provide a larger area of contact between the fiber ends and the gripping surfaces.

Abstract: A planar connector holder for optical fibers with a storage facility for coiled fiber, a mounting region at the front end region of the holder for connectors with an end of each connector facing forwardly. The holder has a connector guard to shield the forward facing ends of the connectors. The shield is located in front of the mounting region to define a space for other optical fibers to be connected to the forward facing ends of the connectors. Provision is made for limiting the minimum bend radius of fibers as they enter into this space and then laterally of the holder through an inlet to the space.

Abstract: An optical fiber mechanical splice comprises a pair of gripping members and a resilient biasing member. Each gripping member has a gripping surface. One of the gripping surfaces has a v-groove for receiving and aligning optical fiber ends. The v-groove is defined by walls of a plastically deformable material. The resilient biasing means acts between the gripping members to resiliently bias the gripping surfaces of the gripping members toward one another. In use of the mechanical splice, the gripping surfaces are urged toward one another with optical fiber ends in abutting alignment in the v-groove. The walls of the v-groove plastically deform around the fiber ends to provide a larger area of contact between the fiber ends and the walls of the v-groove.

Abstract: An optical fiber splice retainer comprises a base member having a groove extending along a reference surface of the base member, resilient biasing means carried by the base member, and three gripping members which are urged by the resilient biasing means into a gripping position against the reference surface to span the groove at respective gripping locations along the groove. The gripping members are movable against the urging of the resilient biasing means away from the reference surface to permit insertion of optical fibers into the grooves. The gripping members are permitted to close on the inserted optical fibers to clamp the optical fibers in the groove with the fibers in axial alignment. A jig is provided for holding the splice retainer and for urging the gripping members away from the reference surface as required during insertion and alignment of the optical fibers.

Abstract: An ibuprofen-containing medicament which contains ibuprofen only in the (S)-(+)-form is disclosed. (S)-(+)-ibuprofen is more than twice as active as the racemate which has until now been used in the treatment of rheumatism. This permits reduction of the quantity of active ingredient and the size of the tablets or dragees.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing an optical fiber for connection to another optical fiber is comprised of a clamp for gripping an optical fiber at a first location, a mechanism for transversely severing and removing insulation from a predetermined length of the fiber to provide a insulation severed end portion and a bared fiber portion, a cleaving mechanism for forming a transverse score in the bared fiber portion at a predetermined distance from the severed end portion of the insulation, and a fiber tensioning mechanism for breaking the optical fiber along a transverse plane containing the score.

Abstract: In an optical fiber connector having a snap lock latching arrangement, internal springs act between housings and fiber holding inserts to bias the fiber holding inserts axially together into an alignment sleeve and to bias the housings axially apart to a stop position at which latching formations on the housings abut axially together. The biasing arrangement inhibits relative axial movement of the inserts and housings which would result in variable insertion loss at the connection. Stop formations provided on one of the housings center the housings with respect to one another to facilitate disengagement of the snap lock engagement.

Abstract: Fusion splicing apparatus for fusion splicing pairs of single mode optical fibers has a fusion head having two spaced guiding and locating members mounted on hinge members. One hinge member moves a guiding and locating member up and down, the other hinge member moves the other guiding and locating member forward and back. Actuation of the hinge member is by stepping motors and micrometers. The fibers are held in the guiding and locating members by clamping members, one of which can be pivotted to move a holding member at its upper end laterally. The fiber cores can be aligned axially by actuation of the hinge members and the fiber ends can be separated and pushed together by pivotting the pivot clamping member. Light signal input and detecting modules can be positioned either side of the fusion head. Detected light signals can be used to operate the stepping motor to give automatic alignment. Arc electrodes are provided for giving a preclean arc, a softening arc and a fusion arc.

Abstract: A connector for hermaphroditic coupling with a similar connector has a hermaphroditic end cap which mates with the end face of the connector body when the latter is not in use. To ensure that the end cap is correctly located immediately the connector is disconnected, it is hinged to the connector body and spring-loaded to bias it closed. When two connectors are connected together, their respective end caps mate automatically so that they too are kept clean. This is possible because each end cap can pivot to a position in which its end face is coplanar with that of the connector body. Various locking devices are disclosed for locking two connectors together and for locking the end cap closed.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning an article, for example an optical fiber, relative to a datum, for example a Vee groove, another fiber, or a light source, includes means for manipulating the article in two intersecting directions. The manipulating means comprises a part fixed relative to the datum and a first arm coupled to the fixed part by a hinge. A second arm is coupled by a second hinge to the first arm at a position adjacent the first hinge. Adjacent its proximal end, the second arm carries a mount for the fiber. The arrangement is such that pivoting of the first arm displaces the mount in one of the intersecting directions. Pivoting of the second arm displaces the mount in the other of the intersecting directions. Preferably, the fixed part, hinges and arms are integral with one another, substantially eliminating play and backlash. The apparatus affords precise manipulation of articles such as single-mode optical fibers prior to and during fusion splicing.

Abstract: In a method of breaking an optical fiber, wherein the fiber is scored transversely and tensioned to cause a crack to propagate completely across the fiber, tension sufficient to cause the crack to propagate is applied after, but not during, the scoring step. During the scoring step the fiber is subjected to a controlled tension insufficient to sever the scored fiber. The resulting broken fiber ends generally are flat and perpendicular, and thus suitable for making low-loss interconnections. Preferred apparatus for breaking the fiber has a common actuator providing sequential control of individual means for locating, scoring and tensioning the fiber. The common actuator may be rotational, facilitating powered operation by a drive motor, and may be adjustable axially to enable accurate adjustment of the position at which the fiber is scored. In one, preferred, embodiment suitable for breaking a fiber at a predetermined distance from a connector already attached to it, the connector skirt screws onto a bush.

Abstract: An optical fibre connector for connecting one or more pairs of single fibres in end-to-end relationship has an alignment member having two opposed and inclined datum surfaces, generally in the form of a Vee, and two tubular ferrules resting on the datum surfaces. The ferrules each have two datum positions extending along the ferrule and spaced circumferentially to cooperate with the datum surfaces. Each ferrule has a fibre receiving bore which is formed at a predetermined positional relationship to the datum positions. Rotational location is provided between ferrules and alignment member. The bore is formed by casting material in the ferrule using a mandrel, the ferrule and mandrel accurately positioned in an alignment tool which reproduces the datum surfaces of the alignment member. Build up of tolerances is avoided and slight variation in diameters of the ferrules, and lack of concentricity can be accommodated with accurate alignment of fibre ends still obtained.

Abstract: A protective package for an optical fiber splice comprises two elongate plastic members, each having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on a front face. Elongate grooves are formed at each end of each member. The grooves are dimensioned so as to be a close fit over the uncoated portions of spliced fibers and intervening adhesive material, with the members in face-to-face assembly. The members may be hingedly connected by the adhesive layer or by a thin deformable hinge portion. A further groove may connect the end grooves, being of a dimension to fit firmly over the uncoated end portions of spliced fibers.

Abstract: A multiple connector for releasably connecting a plurality of pairs of optical fibres having two connector members, one having an axially moveable member therein with a plurality of axial holes, the other member having a plurality of aligning members extending axially. When assembled, an aligning member is aligned with an axial hole. The aligning member has a central bore portion a close fit on an uncoated fibre and tapered bores leading into the central bore portion. The axially moveable member is resiliently biased to project from a front face of the related connector member. On assembly the axially moveable member is pushed back into the connector member to expose one set of fibre ends which enter the aligning members. The other set of fibre ends are initially positioned in the aligning members. Preferably holding members are attached to the fibres and inserted from the rear of each connector member. This permits rear insertion of fibres.

Abstract: A tool for breaking an optical fibre comprises an elongate base member and an elongate top member pivotally connected at a rear end. An elongate cam member slides longitudinally in the base member, being actuated by pivotting of the top member. At the front end of the base member are a front pair of opposed gripping jaws and a further, rear, pair of gripping jaws are spaced from the front jaws. A bending member is positioned between the two pairs of jaws. Pivotting of the top member towards the base member actuates the cam member which in turn first closes the front jaws, then the rear jaws. The rear jaws then pivot backwards to tension the fibre and then the bending member moves up to cause the fibre to bend over an arcuate top surface. Finally a pivotally mounted scoring member in the top member is actuated to sweep a sharp edge across the fibre to initiate a crack, which propagates across the fibre.

Abstract: Preparation of alkylidenecyclobutane derivatives and of cyclobutene derivatives by contacting a (cyclo)alkene with an allene or with a 1-alkyne in the liquid phase in the presence of a dissolved Lewis acid derived from an element of Group III A of the Periodic Table of the Elements, titanium, tin, antimony, tantalum, rhenium, iron, or zinc.

Abstract: A connector comprising a tubular connecting member having a bore which fits over a coated fiber and having a section which is preformed by deforming the walls of the member inwards to define a smaller central bore which is a close sliding fit on an uncoated fiber. Two coated fibers are connected by the uncoated fibers ends being inserted into the preformed section, a fiber from each end, until in end to end relationship. For a splice, a single connecting member is used and after insertion of the fibers, the ends of the member are crimped on to the coated fiber. For a releasable connector, the preformed section is toward one end of the connecting member which is crimped on to one coated fiber. The other fiber is crimped into a further tubular member with the uncoated fiber extending from the end for insertion in the preformed section of the connecting member. The connecting member and the further tubular member are held in axial alignment by a housing.