Abstract: Each fibre end of a plurality of fibres to be coupled is placed under longitudinal tension coaxially along an axial bore of a precision cylinder body so that the fibre is accurately aligned with the axis of the cylinder surface of the body whereafter the bore of said body is filled with a resin material which will subsequently set hard, and after setting of the resin material the fibre is snapped, after releasing the tension, either within or closely adjacent to, the mass of resin material, at a point where a cleavage has previously been formed.

Abstract: A cable entry gland which will provide an effective seal at the end of a pressurized fibre optic cable so that the pressurization within the cable is not lost when the cable is removed from a repeater box consists of a housing sealed to the outer covering of the cable. The optical fibres extend through the housing and out through the end wall of the housing, suitable seals being provided between the optical fibres and the wall. A strain wire connects the cable to the end wall to prevent stresses passing to the fibres. It is possible to replace a broken fibre without dismantling the gland by drilling out the seal in the end wall, withdrawing the broken fibre, threading a new fibre through the gland and re-sealing the fibre to the wall.

Abstract: In an optical fibre switch it is important that the ends of the fibres are very accurately aligned after the switching operation so that the minimum amount of light is lost in the switch. This is achieved by mounting an optical fibre in each of the corners of, for example an accurately formed square hole, and having a moveable fibre which can be moved into each corner and which is accurately aligned with one of the other fibres by the sides of the corner itself. Optical switches are used for transmitting light from a light source to one of several different locations. Typical uses are the transmission of data, telecommunications and similar signal transmission systems.

Abstract: Connection between optical fibres must be very precise to avoid light loss across the connection and it is an object of this invention to provide a connector which can be used to connect fibres accurately, in poor lighting conditions and in the minimum of time.This is achieved by providing a connector consisting of two identical couplers each having a probe over which is slidably mounted a probe-gripping collet. The two couplers are aligned with the probes of the couplers aligned and abutting, and one of the collets of one of the couplers is moved along to span the abuttment between the two probes, thus holding the probes in precise alignment.

Abstract: Each fibre end of a plurality of fibres to be coupled is placed under longitudinal tension coaxially along an axial bore of a precision cylinder body so that the fibre is accurately aligned with the axis of the cylinder surface of the body whereafter the bore of said body is filled with a resin material which will subsequently set hard, and after setting of the resin material the fibre snapped, after releasing the tension, either within or closely adjacent to, the mass of resin material, at a point where a cleavage has previously been formed.