Fiber retaining system
US6438300B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4471
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for retaining and protecting spliced optical fibers that are part of cables that have ultra-high strength steel wires, in which the optical fibers are free to move within a sleeve inside of the wires. The apparatus includes ajoint box having opposing longitudinal cable termination ends. The high-strength steel wires of each cable are attached to a respective cable termination end. At least one optical fiber from each cable extends through its respective cable termination end and is spliced together to form a continuous optical fiber. The fiber or fibers are splinted and potted at locations longitudinally spaced from the splice to form ferrules. A central portion or shelf of the joint box includes fiber retaining devices which take the form of ferrule retainer assemblies. The ferrule retainer assemblies have a trough that contains and restrains a respective ferrule.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.