CA1174088A
Expired / Lapsed
CA
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector for splicing optical fibres
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1979-07-24
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Granted: 1984-09-11
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Expires: 1999-07-24
Abstract
Abstract ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A connector splicing optical fibers wherein a glass sleeve, having a precision cut axial bore formed therein, is provided with funnel-shaped access openings at each end thereof for receiving the ends of the glass fibers to be spliced. The diameter of the prescision cut bore has a minimum value within fabricating tolerances equivalent to the dia-metrical upper tolerance of the fibers to be spliced. Preferably, the present connector has a glass sleeve with a precision cut axial bore, which both are formed with a slight axial curvature to promote even greater alignment of the fibers being spliced together. In one embodiment a per-manent splice is made by applying a bonding agent and sealant to the funnel-shaped openings, and in another embodiment, a retainer ring is employed to thereby provide a disconnectible splice.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard Wichansky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
CA
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:46
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3801; G02B6/3803; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3847; G02B6/3849; G02B6/3855; G02B6/389; G02B6/3887; G02B6/38875
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A connector for splicing optical fibers comprising a sleeve, at least one axial bore provided in said sleeve, funnel-shaped openings provided at each end of said sleeve communicating with said bore, said bore openings facilitating the insertion of the ends of the optical fibers to be spliced into said sleeve, the diameter of said bore providing a close fit for said fibers and having a minimum value within fabrication tolerance equivalent to the diametrical upper tolerance of the fibers to be spliced, a pair of optical fibers positioned within each sleeve end so that said fiber ends abut and means at the ends of said sleeve for securing said fibers therein said means including means with-in at least one of said funnel-shaped openings for holding an end of a respective fiber in said sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A connector for splicing optical fibers comprising a sleeve, at least one axial bore provided in said sleeve, funnel-shaped openings provided at each end of said sleeve communicating with said bore, said bore openings facilitating the insertion of the ends of the optical fibers to be spliced into said sleeve, the diameter of said bore providing a close fit for said fibers and having a minimum value within fabrication tolerance equivalent to the diametrical upper tolerance of the fibers to be spliced, a pair of optical fibers positioned within each sleeve end so that said fiber ends abut and means at the ends of said sleeve for securing said fibers therein said means including means with-in at least one of said funnel-shaped openings for holding an end of a respective fiber in said sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
155 words
A connector for effecting a detachable splice between optical fibers comprising a sleeve, at least one precision cut axial bore provided in said sleeve, funnel-shaped openings pro-vided at each end of said sleeve communicating with said bore, said openings facilitating the insertion of the ends of the optical fibers to be spliced into said sleeve, the diameter of said bore providing a close fit for said fibers and having a minimum value within fabrication tolerance equivalent to the diametrical upper tolerance of the fibers to be spliced, a pair of optical fibers positioned within each sleeve end so that said fiber ends abut, a spherical member positioned within said funnel-shaped openings, and a pair of caps mounted on opposite ends of said sleeve having openings for said fibers and holding said spherical members against the other ends of said fibers to secure the other ends of said fibers in said sleeve within said funnel-shaped openings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
155 words
A connector for effecting a detachable splice between optical fibers comprising a sleeve, at least one precision cut axial bore provided in said sleeve, funnel-shaped openings pro-vided at each end of said sleeve communicating with said bore, said openings facilitating the insertion of the ends of the optical fibers to be spliced into said sleeve, the diameter of said bore providing a close fit for said fibers and having a minimum value within fabrication tolerance equivalent to the diametrical upper tolerance of the fibers to be spliced, a pair of optical fibers positioned within each sleeve end so that said fiber ends abut, a spherical member positioned within said funnel-shaped openings, and a pair of caps mounted on opposite ends of said sleeve having openings for said fibers and holding said spherical members against the other ends of said fibers to secure the other ends of said fibers in said sleeve within said funnel-shaped openings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
148 words
A connector for effecting a permanent splice between optical fibers comprising a longitudinal sleeve having a given curvature, a narrow axial bore having a like curvature extending through said sleeve, funnel-shaped openings at each end of said sleeve communicating with said bore to facilitate the insertion of the ends of optical fibers to be spliced within said sleeve, the diameter of said bore providing a close fit for said fibers and having a minimum value within fabrication tolerance equivalent to the diametrical upper tolerance of the fibers to be spliced, a pair of optical fibers positioned within each sleeve end so that said fiber ends abut, said bore curvature causing said fibers to engage the outer wall of the bore to accurately align said ends, and means at the ends of said sleeve within said funnel-shaped openings for securing the other ends of said fibers in said sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
148 words
A connector for effecting a permanent splice between optical fibers comprising a longitudinal sleeve having a given curvature, a narrow axial bore having a like curvature extending through said sleeve, funnel-shaped openings at each end of said sleeve communicating with said bore to facilitate the insertion of the ends of optical fibers to be spliced within said sleeve, the diameter of said bore providing a close fit for said fibers and having a minimum value within fabrication tolerance equivalent to the diametrical upper tolerance of the fibers to be spliced, a pair of optical fibers positioned within each sleeve end so that said fiber ends abut, said bore curvature causing said fibers to engage the outer wall of the bore to accurately align said ends, and means at the ends of said sleeve within said funnel-shaped openings for securing the other ends of said fibers in said sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The connector for splicing optical fibers according to claim 1, including a bonding agent applied to the throat of at least one of the funnel-shaped openings for securing the respec-tive fiber to said sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The connector for splicing optical fibers according to claim 4, wherein a flexible protective jacket is provided around the funnel-shaped opening and the end of the sleeve enclosing the respective fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector for splicing optical fibers according to claim 3, wherein the sleeve is fabricated from glass.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The connector for splicing optical fibers according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of sleeves are arranged in a bundle, including a retainer ring holding the sleeves in said bundle to receive and splice a plurality of fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The connector for splicing optical fibers according to claim 3, wherein the sleeve is provided with a plurality of bores, to receive and splice a plurality of fibers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
130 words
The connector for splicing optical fibers according to claim 4, including a shell, an axial bore in said shell extending the entire length of said shell, wherein one of said fibers to be spliced is permanently secured in the axial bore of said sleeve by said bonding agent and the other of said fibers to be spliced is removably secured in the axial bore of said shell, one end of said sleeve abutting an end of said shell in face-to-face relationship such that the axial bore of said sleeve is aligned with the axial bore of said shell, wherein said other of said fibers extends into said sleeve so that the fiber ends abut, and a retaining clip for detachably securing said sleeve and shell together in said face-to-face relationship.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The connector for splicing optical fibers according to claim 2, including a retainer ring mounted on said sleeve for holding said caps on said opposite ends and holding said fibers in spliced relationship.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The connector for splicing optical fibers according to claim 10, wherein the retainer ring comprises a split cylindrical housing, the walls of said housing being hingedly connected, and a fastener for securing said housing around said sleeve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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