Patent · US Expired

Optical fiber distribution arrangement and method of storing splices using same

US5138689A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
15References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 4, 1991
Grant dateAug 11, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 4, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/44528
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A distribution arrangement for optical fibre comprising a branched coupling array (1) and a plurality of splice organizers (2) for storing splices associated with connections to the coupling array. Each fibre connected to the array passses through a manifold block (8) that is provided with a plurality of capillaries extending to the splice organizers. Fibres from other parts of the network also pass through the manifold and into the capillaries for conduction to the splice organizers where they are connected to a respective fibre from the coupling array. Preferably the array (1) has alternative winding routes for fibre tails extending from individual couplers within the array to facilitate multiple splice attempts. A preferred splice organizer comprises an enclosure into which coiled fibre loops are introduced and permitted to expand so that they are retained by the resilience of the fibre itself.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.