Fiber optic cable and furcation module
An optical fiber cable assembly comprising an optical fiber slidably enclosed within a hollow tubing, both the fiber and the tubing having corresponding first and second ends. The cable is terminated with the first and second ends of the tubing and the fiber constrained with respect to each other such that fiber and the tubing are approximately the same length when the cable is at a first temperature. The tubing is made of a material which contracts more than the optical fiber when the cable is exposed to temperatures below the first temperature, such that the fiber is longer than the tubing and excess fiber length is formed. An intermediate portion of the tubing permits the excess fiber length to accumulate without bending in a radius smaller than a minimum bend radius
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/834,155, filed Aug. 24, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. RE47,069; and this application is a reissue of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/658,802 filed Sep. 8, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,885,798. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/834,155 is a reissue of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/658,802 filed Sep. 8, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,885,798.
FIELDThe present invention generally relates to optical fiber cable construction and furcation module construction.
BACKGROUNDOptical fiber cables are typically composed of a variety of linear elements which are terminated and constrained linearly with respect to each other. These elements may include the optical fiber itself, tubular sheathing materials, linear strength members, and outer layers for sealing the other elements from environmental damage from rain or other moisture. Each of these elements may have different thermal coefficients of expansion. At temperatures near the ambient temperature present when the cable is assembled and terminated, the differences in thermal expansion of the various elements is not significant enough to cause any attenuation or insertion loss to optical signals being transmitted by the cable.
However, as these cables are exposed to temperatures more extreme with respect to the ambient temperature at the time of assembly and termination, the differing thermal expansion coefficients may become more significant. Optical fiber cables may be exposed to operating temperatures up to one hundred degrees Fahrenheit removed from the ambient temperature of assembly and termination. At these temperatures, the differing degrees of elongation or contraction among the elements of the cable may damage the fiber or may cause unacceptable amounts of attenuation or insertion loss of signals being transmitted over the cable. Improvements to known optical fiber cables to address temperature-induced stresses are desirable.
SUMMARYThe present invention relates to an optical fiber cable assembly comprising an optical fiber slidably enclosed within a hollow tubing, both the fiber and the tubing having corresponding first and second ends. The cable is terminated with the first and second ends of the tubing and the fiber constrained with respect to each other such that fiber and the tubing are approximately the same length when the cable is at a first temperature. The tubing is made of a material which contracts more than the optical fiber when the cable is exposed to temperatures below the first temperature, such that the fiber is longer than the tubing and excess fiber length is formed relative to the tubing. A fiber receiving device is provided for receiving the excess fiber length when the tubing contracts more than the fiber. In one preferred embodiment, the fiber receiving device is an intermediate portion of the tubing permits the excess fiber length to accumulate without bending in a radius smaller than a minimum bend radius.
The present invention further relates to an optical fiber cable assembly comprising an optical fiber slidably enclosed within a hollow tubing, both the fiber and the tubing having corresponding first and second ends. The second ends of the fiber and the tubing are constrained with respect to each other. The first end of the fiber constrained beyond where the first end of the tubing is constrained. The cable is assembled at a first temperature and at a second lower temperature the tubing shrinks in length relative to the fiber and any excess fiber length accumulates beyond the first end of the tube.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:
Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary aspects of the present invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Optical fiber cables may be installed within telecommunications networks and exposed to the extremes of outside air temperatures. These optical fiber cables are made of a variety of materials, including but not limited to the optical fiber itself, jacketing and cladding, and strength members. Each of these constituent materials may have a different thermal coefficient of expansion, meaning that the materials will expand or contract at different rates due to temperature changes. The prior art optical fiber cables in
In
In FIG, 2, cable 10 has now been exposed to a second temperature below the first temperature. Fiber 14 has a thermal coefficient of expansion which is relatively smaller than a thermal coefficient of expansion of jacket 12. At the second temperature, jacket 12 has contracted much more than fiber 14. Ends 22 and 24 of fiber 14 extend beyond ends 18 and 20, respectively, of jacket 12. Ends 22 and 24 of fiber 14 are unconstrained at ends 18 and 20, respectively, and are free to move beyond ends 18 and 20, as shown. Ends 22 and 24 extend beyond ends 18 and 20 to define an excess length 15 of fiber 14.
Alternatively, one of the first or second ends of fiber 14 and jacket 12 might be constrained with respect to each other provided the opposite ends are unconstrained and fiber 14 is freely movable within opening 16 of jacket 12.
In
Referring now to
When cable 30 is exposed to a range of temperatures and jacket segments 32 and 34 extend and contract in response, any excess length of fiber 14 is gathered within box 36. Loop 38 of fiber 14 is sized to fit within box 36 offset from the inner surfaces 40. This will allow loop 38 to grow in size without being limited by inner surfaces 40 as excess length 15 is incorporated within loop 38. Box 36 should be sized to permit the formation of a loop that is greater in diameter than the minimum bend radius of fiber 14.
Referring now to
On each of the sides 110 is a mounting rail 120, adapted for mounting module 100 to a telecommunications equipment rack or similar structure. Adjacent sides 110, face 106 includes a pair of flanges 122 with one or more fastener openings 124. Flanges 122 and openings 124 aid with the mounting and secure fastening of module 100 to such a rack or structure. Each of the holders 104 includes eight openings 126, each opening 126 adapted to receive one of the output fibers 118. On front 106 is a space 128 for receiving indicia identifying module 100 or the cables extending to or from module 100. On top 108 is a space for receiving a label 130. As shown, front 106 is angled with respect to back 114 to aid access to front 106 or cables 102 and 118 and to improve the cable management of these cables extending to and from module 100.
Any contraction of the jacket of cable 102 might result in the formation of excess length 15 of fiber 136. Loop 138 provides a place to accumulate any such excess length 15 and avoid the creation of undesirably tight bends of fiber 136 within module 100 or cable 102.
A plurality of ribbon cables 144 extend from splitter 42 opposite fiber 136. Splitter 42 separates the optical signals carried by fiber 136 into up to thirty-two individual optical signals. Each ribbon cable 144 may include up to eight fibers 146, each fiber carrying one of those optical signals. Ribbon cables 144 extend from splitter 42 to mounting holders 104 in front 106. Ribbon cables 144 form a loop 148 within interior 116 between splitter 42 and holders 104. Cable clips 142 are provided to aid in the routing and organization of loop 148 of cables 144 and cables 146 within interior 116. Loop 148 is shown in ribbon cables 144 with fibers 146 being broken out from ribbon cables 144 shortly before fibers 146 enter openings 126 of holders 104. Alternatively, individual fibers 146 could extend from splitter 42 about loop 148 with no ribbon cables included within interior 116.
Fibers 146 are freely slidable within jackets of cables 118 and both the jacket and fibers 146 are terminated and constrained at connector 119. Cables 118 are also constrained at holders 104, as will be described further below. Fibers 146 extend through holder 104 to ribbon cables 144 and ribbon cables 144 are constrained at splitter 42. In one alternative where fibers 146 extend from holders 104 to splitter 42, fibers 146 are constrained at splitter 42. Any excess length 15 of fiber 146 within cable 118 created due to contraction of the jacket of cable 118 is accumulated within interior 116 by loop 148.
Inner tube 174 is inserted through cable mount 166 so that strength member 178 is positioned about as crimp portion of cable mount 166. A crimp sleeve 172 is positioned outer tube 176 and strength member 178 and crimped about crimp portion 165 to hold these elements together. Boot 140 is positioned about crimp sleeve 172 to provide strain relief and protection to cable 102 and its connection to module 100.
The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
Claims
1. An optical fiber cable assembly comprising:
- an optical fiber slidably enclosed within a hollow tubing, both the fiber and the tubing having corresponding first and second ends;
- the cable being terminated with the first ends of the tubing and the fiber constrained with respect to each other and the second ends of the tubing and the fiber constrained with respect to each other, such that fiber and the tubing are approximately the same length when at a first temperature;
- the tubing is made of a material which contracts more than the optical fiber when the cable is exposed to temperatures below the first temperature, such that the fiber is longer than the tubing and excess fiber length is formed; and
- wherein a fiber receiving device permits the excess fiber length to accumulate without bending in a radius smaller than a minimum bend radius.
2. The optical fiber cable of claim 1, wherein the fiber receiving device includes an intermediate portion of the tubing which permits the excess fiber length to accumulate without bending in a radius smaller than a minimum bend radius.
3. The optical fiber cable of claim 1, wherein the fiber receiving device includes a box, a first and a second intermediate end of the tubing attached to the box and the fiber passing through the box.
4. The optical fiber cable of claim 3, wherein the optical fiber forms a loop within the box.
5. The optical fiber cable of claim 2, wherein the intermediate portion of the hollow tubing defines a greater inner diameter than the remainder of the tubing.
6. The optical fiber cable of claim 1, wherein the first end of the fiber and the first end of the tubing are terminated at an optical fiber connector.
7. The optical fiber cable of claim 6, wherein both the first and second ends of the fiber and the tubing are terminated by an optical fiber connector.
8. The optical fiber cable of claim 6, wherein the second end of the fiber and the second end of the tubing are terminated at an optical signal splitter.
9. An optical fiber cable assembly comprising:
- an optical fiber slidably enclosed within a hollow tubing, both the fiber and the tubing having corresponding first and second ends;
- the second ends of the fiber and the tubing terminated together and constrained with respect to each other;
- the first end of the fiber constrained beyond where the first end of the tubing is constrained;
- wherein the cable is assembled at a first temperature and at a second lower temperature the tubing shrinks in length relative to the fiber and any excess fiber length accumulates beyond the first end of the tube.
10. The optical fiber cable assembly of claim 9, wherein the first end of the tubing is constrained at an outer wall of a housing of a module and the first end of the fiber is constrained within an interior of the module at one end of an optical component.
11. The optical fiber cable assembly of claim 10, wherein the optical component within the module is a splitter.
12. The optical fiber cable assembly of claim 11, wherein a plurality of optical fibers extend from the splitter.
13. The optical fiber cable assembly of claim 9, wherein the second ends of the fiber and the tubing are constrained at an optical fiber connector.
14. The optical fiber cable assembly of claim 10, wherein the module further includes a an input optical fiber cable, the input optical fiber with an optical fiber slidably received within a hollow tubing, the fiber and the tubing having corresponding first and second ends, the first ends of the tubing and the fiber constrained with respect to each other, the second end of the input cable tubing constrained at a front of the module and the second end of the input cable fiber constrained within the interior of the module at a second end of the optical component, the fiber of the input cable forming a loop within the interior which accumulates any excess length of fiber formed by a contraction of the tubing of the input cable.
15. The optical fiber cable assembly of claim 14, wherein the contraction of the tubing of the input cable is due to a decrease in temperature.
16. An optical fiber cable assembly comprising:
- an optical fiber slidably enclosed within a hollow tube, both the fiber and the tube having corresponding first and second ends;
- the first ends of the fiber and the tube terminated and constrained with respect to each other;
- the second end of the tube constrained at a cable loop box with the second end of the fiber extending into an interior of the cable loop box;
- the second end of the fiber constrained at an optical device mounted within the fiber loop box;
- the fiber formed into a loop within the fiber loop box between the second end of the tubing and the second end of the fiber;
- wherein the cable is assembled at a first temperature and at a second lower temperature the tubing shrinks in length relative to the fiber to form an excess length of fiber and any excess fiber length accumulates in the loop of fiber within the fiber loop box.
17. The optical fiber cable assembly of claim 16, wherein the optical device is a splitter.
18. The optical fiber cable assembly of claim 16, wherein the first ends of the fiber and the tuber are terminated at a connector.
19. The optical fiber cable assembly of claim 16, further comprising a second fiber extending from the optical device and out of the box into a second hollow tube, the second fiber and the second tube having corresponding first and second ends, the first end of the fiber constrained at the optical device, the first end of the tube constrained at a wall of the box, the second ends of the second fiber and the second tube terminated and constrained with respect to each other, the second fiber forming a loop within the box between the first end of the fiber and the first end of the tube for receiving excess fiber length formed by the contraction of the tube.
20. The optical fiber cable assembly of claim 19, wherein the second ends of the second fiber and the second tube are terminated at an optical fiber connector.
21. The optical fiber cable assembly of claim 19, wherein the optical device is a splitter and a plurality of second fibers extend from the splitter out of the box into a plurality of second tubes.
22. A method of assembling an optical fiber cable comprising:
- providing an optical fiber and a hollow tubing, the tubing is made of a material which contracts more than the optical fiber when the cable is exposed to temperatures below the first temperature both the fiber and the tubing having first and second ends;
- sliding the fiber within the tubing;
- providing a fiber receiving device between the first ends of the fiber and the tubing and the second ends of the fiber and the tubing;
- terminating the cable with the first ends of the tubing and the fiber constrained with respect to each other and the second ends of the tubing and the fiber constrained with respect to each other, such that fiber and the tubing are approximately the same length when at a first temperature;
- exposing the cable to a second temperature lower than the first temperature and forming excess fiber length as the tubing contracts more than the fiber;
- accumulating the excess fiber within the fiber receiving device without bending in a radius smaller than a minimum bend radius.
23. A method of assembling a fiber optic splitter module comprising:
- providing a splitter with at least one optical fiber extending from opposing ends of the splitter, each of the optical fibers having a first end constrained at the splitter and an opposing second end;
- placing the splitter within an interior of a housing;
- forming each optical fiber into a loop within the housing and extending the second end outside of the housing;
- sliding a hollow tube over the second end of each optical fiber such that a first end of each tube is constrained at an outer wall of the housing and a second end of each tube is adjacent the second end of the fiber within the tube;
- terminating constraining with respect to each other the second ends of the tubes and the fibers within the tube;
- accumulating any excess length of fiber creating by contraction of the tube within the loop inside the housing.
24. An optical fiber cable assembly comprising:
- an optical fiber slidably enclosed within a hollow tube, both the fiber and the tube having corresponding first and second ends;
- the first ends of the fiber and the tube terminated and constrained with respect to each other;
- the second end of the tube constrained at a cable loop box with the second end of the fiber extending into an interior of the cable loop box;
- the second end of the fiber constrained at an optical device mounted within the fiber loop box;
- the fiber formed into a loop within the fiber loop box between the second end of the tubing and the second end of the fiber;
- wherein the cable assembly is assembled at a first temperature, and at a second lower temperature, the tubing shrinks in length relative to the fiber to form an excess length of fiber, the second lower temperature being lower than the first temperature, and any excess fiber length accumulates in the loop of fiber within the fiber loop box;
- wherein the cable assembly further comprises a strength member having first and second ends;
- wherein the first ends of the fiber, the tube, and the strength member are located outside the cable loop box, and terminated at a fiber optic connector and constrained with respect to each other;
- wherein the second end of the strength member is terminated and constrained with the second end of the tube at the cable loop box;
- wherein the optical device is a splitter;
- further comprising a second fiber extending from the optical device and out of the cable loop box into a second hollow tube including a second strength member;
- the second fiber, the second strength member, and the second tube having corresponding first and second ends, the first end of the second fiber constrained at the optical device, the first ends of the second tube and the strength member constrained at the cable loop box, the second ends of the second fiber, the second strength member, and the second tube terminated and constrained with respect to each other, the second fiber forming a loop within the cable loop box between the first end of the second fiber and the first end of the second tube for receiving excess fiber length formed by the contraction of the second tube;
- wherein the second ends of the second fiber, the second strength member, and the second tube are terminated at an optical fiber connector;
- wherein a plurality of the second fibers extends from the splitter out of the cable loop box into a plurality of the second tubes including a plurality of the second strength members, each of the plurality of second fibers, the plurality of second strength members, and the plurality of second tubes terminated at an optical fiber connector.
25. The optical fiber cable assembly of claim 24, further comprising an optical fiber holder for holding the plurality of second strength members and the plurality of second tubes in an organized array at the cable loop box.
26. The optical fiber cable assembly of claim 25, wherein the optical fiber holder includes a plurality of crimp sleeves which crimps the first ends of the plurality of second tubes to the first ends of the plurality of second strength members.
27. A method of assembling a fiber optic splitter module comprising:
- providing a splitter with at least one optical fiber extending from opposing ends of the splitter, each of the optical fibers having a first end constrained at the splitter and an opposing second end;
- placing the splitter within an interior of a housing;
- forming each optical fiber into a loop within the housing and extending the second end outside of the housing;
- sliding a hollow tube over the second end of each optical fiber such that a first end of each tube is constrained at an outer wall of the housing and a second end of each tube is adjacent the second end of the fiber within the tube;
- terminating and constraining, with respect to each other, the second ends of the tubes and the fibers within the tube;
- accumulating any excess length of fiber created by contraction of the tube within the loop inside the housing.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 1, 2018
Date of Patent: Jan 17, 2023
Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC (Hickory, NC)
Inventor: Steven C. Zimmel (Minneapolis, MN)
Primary Examiner: Deandra M Hughes
Application Number: 16/148,724
International Classification: G02B 6/00 (20060101); B65H 59/00 (20060101); B65H 18/08 (20060101); G02B 6/44 (20060101);