Patents by Inventor Kevin C. Beach

Kevin C. Beach has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9841562
    Abstract: A fiber cleaver having a displaceable fiber guide for aligning and guiding an optical fiber. Generally, the fiber cleaver includes a pair of clamps that may articulate between a retracted position and a clamping position. A displaceable fiber guide directs the optical fiber as it travels along an internal path of the fiber cleaver. The fiber guide translates between a loading position and a clamping position. When the clamps are securing the optical fiber to the internal path, a linear actuator may be depressed in order to translate the fiber guide and ultimately direct the optical fiber toward a scoring blade to cleave the fiber. The fiber guide is sized and shaped such that a predetermined length of optical fiber will remain after cleaving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kevin C. Beach, Daniel Leyva, Jr., David W. Meek, Jackie E. Thomison, Ashley W. Jones
  • Patent number: 8826517
    Abstract: A fiber handler for handling a plurality of different fiber optic cable constructions is disclosed. Generally, the fiber handler comprises a first face that accepts a fiber optic cable of a first construction and a second face that accepts a fiber optic cable of a second construction. An alternate embodiment is disclosed that can accommodate up to four different fiber optic cable constructions. The fiber handler may interface with a fiber optic installation tool such as a fiber cleaving tool or a fiber splicing tool where it functions to align an optical fiber of the cable with functional components of the tool to be cleaved, fused, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Leyva, Jr., David W. Meek, Ashley W. Jones, Kevin C. Beach
  • Patent number: 8459877
    Abstract: An optical fiber handler for optical connector termination systems and other devices are disclosed herein. The optical fiber handler attaches to the optical fiber or cable and cooperates with other components for preparing the optical fiber and/or making the optical connection, thereby providing a simple, reliable, and easy termination for the optical fiber. For instance, the handler may cooperate with one or more of the following a strip tool, strip/clean tool, cleave tool for preparing the end of the optical fiber(s), and/or a mechanical splice connector for making the optical connection. Additionally, after the optical fiber handler is attached to the mechanical splice connector it may be easily removed by the craft if necessary to reposition and reterminated the mechanical splice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Kevin C. Beach, Ashley W. Jones, Greg J. Scherer
  • Patent number: 8403569
    Abstract: Termination systems and devices disclosed herein use a handler that attaches to the optical fiber or cable and cooperates with other components for preparing the optical fiber and/or making the optical connection, thereby providing a simple, reliable, and easy termination for the optical fiber. For instance, the handler may cooperate with one or more of the following a strip tool, strip/clean tool, cleave tool for preparing the end of the optical fiber(s), and/or a connector-to-handler adapter for making the optical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Kevin C. Beach, Greg James Scherer, Scott E. Semmler
  • Publication number: 20110247473
    Abstract: A fiber cleaver having a displaceable fiber guide for aligning and guiding an optical fiber is disclosed. Generally, the fiber cleaver comprises a pair of clamps that may articulate between a retracted position and a clamping position. A displaceable fiber guide directs the optical fiber as it travels along an internal path of the fiber cleaver. The fiber guide translates between a loading position and a clamping position. When the clamps are securing the optical fiber to the internal path, a linear actuator may be depressed in order to translate the fiber guide and ultimately direct the optical fiber toward a scoring blade to cleave the fiber. The fiber guide is sized and shaped such that a predetermined length of optical fiber will remain after cleaving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin C. Beach, Daniel Leyva, JR., David W. Meek, Jackie E. Thomison, Ashey W. Jones
  • Publication number: 20110247200
    Abstract: A fiber handler for handling a plurality of different fiber optic cable constructions is disclosed. Generally, the fiber handler comprises a first face that accepts a fiber optic cable of a first construction and a second face that accepts a fiber optic cable of a second construction. An alternate embodiment is disclosed that can accommodate up to four different fiber optic cable constructions. The fiber handler may interface with a fiber optic installation tool such as a fiber cleaving tool or a fiber splicing tool where it functions to align an optical fiber of the cable with functional components of the tool to be cleaved, fused, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel Leyva, JR., David W. Meek, Ashley W. Jones, Kevin C. Beach
  • Publication number: 20110176774
    Abstract: An optical fiber handler for optical connector termination systems and other devices are disclosed herein. The optical fiber handler attaches to the optical fiber or cable and cooperates with other components for preparing the optical fiber and/or making the optical connection, thereby providing a simple, reliable, and easy termination for the optical fiber. For instance, the handler may cooperate with one or more of the following a strip tool, strip/clean tool, cleave tool for preparing the end of the optical fiber(s), and/or a mechanical splice connector for making the optical connection. Additionally, after the optical fiber handler is attached to the mechanical splice connector it may be easily removed by the craft if necessary to reposition and reterminated the mechanical splice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Kevin C. Beach, Ashley W. Jones, Greg J. Scherer
  • Publication number: 20100183265
    Abstract: Termination systems and devices disclosed herein use a handler that attaches to the optical fiber or cable and cooperates with other components for preparing the optical fiber and/or making the optical connection, thereby providing a simple, reliable, and easy termination for the optical fiber. For instance, the handler may cooperate with one or more of the following a strip tool, strip/clean tool, cleave tool for preparing the end of the optical fiber(s), and/or a connector-to-handler adapter for making the optical connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Brandon A. Barnes, Kevin C. Beach, Greg James Scherer, Scott E. Semmler
  • Patent number: 7658553
    Abstract: A mechanical splice connector is shown and described for sequentially performing a splice actuation followed by a strain relief actuation by rotating a single, multiple-position cam member or multiple cam members from an unactuated position to a first actuated position and a second actuated position. The mechanical splice connector aligns and retains at least one stub optical fiber and the bare glass portion of at least one adjoining field optical fiber, as well as strain relieving a coated portion of the field optical fiber, or alternatively, a buffered portion of the field optical fiber. A method is also described for sequentially performing a splice actuation followed by a strain relief actuation, wherein the splice actuation is reversible prior to performing the strain relief actuation in the event that the optical continuity of the splice coupling is unacceptable, thereby avoiding potential damage to the field optical fiber or the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Scott E. Semmler, Brandon A. Barnes, Kevin C. Beach, Bradley S. Billman, Donald G. Doss, David W. Meek
  • Patent number: 7594764
    Abstract: A field-installable fusion spliced optical fiber connector including a ferrule, a fiber stub, a splice cover defining a longitudinal passage therethrough, a crimp body coupled to the splice cover, a biasing spring and a connector housing. A ferrule handling block is used for handling the ferrule during connector assembly and a splice cover handling block is used for handling the crimp body, the splice cover and the spring during connector assembly. A fusion splice point of the fiber optic stub and a field fiber is positioned within the longitudinal passage of the splice cover. A method for assembling a field-installable fusion spliced optical fiber connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Palmer, Jason F. Forsberg, Kevin C. Beach
  • Patent number: 7579844
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system used for inspecting the position of a compressor rotor within a compressor rotor case. A compressor rotor blade is moved about the rotor blade path of the compressor rotor case, a probe holder attached to the rotor blade has a scanning device as part of the holder used for gathering information relative to the compressor rotor case. A fixture attached to the compressor rotor gathers information about the position of the compressor rotor with respect to the compressor rotor case to determine the relative position of both the compressor rotor in relation to the compressor rotor case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Standard Aero Limited
    Inventors: Kevin M. Ducheminsky, Kevin C. Beach
  • Publication number: 20080218181
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system used for inspecting the position of a compressor rotor within a compressor rotor case. A compressor rotor blade is moved about the rotor blade path of the compressor rotor case, a probe holder attached to the rotor blade has a scanning device as part of the holder used for gathering information relative to the compressor rotor case. A fixture attached to the compressor rotor gathers information about the position of the compressor rotor with respect to the compressor rotor case to determine the relative position of both the compressor rotor in relation to the compressor rotor case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Kevin M. Ducheminsky, Kevin C. Beach