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US 12,638,638 B2Granted
Fiber optic splice transitions and methods of assembly
AssigneeCommScope Technologies LLC
InventorsJonathan R. Kaml, Scott L. Carlson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic cable breakout assembly that includes a transition body made from a moldable material having an inlet end and an opposite outlet end. The moldable transition body includes a centering element positioned therein and an internal splice positioned within the centering element to splice a plurality of breakout fibers to at least one cable. The centering element is configured to center the splice, the at least one cable and the plurality of breakout fibers prior to molding the transition body. The transition body is adapted to protect the splice and fibers such that no other external protection is needed.
Claims7
A fiber optic cable breakout assembly comprising:
- a cylindrical transition body made from a one-piece moldable material forming an exterior surface of the fiber optic cable breakout assembly, the transition body having an inlet end and an opposite outlet end;
- at least one cable at the inlet end of the transition body, the at least one cable having a plurality of fibers;
- a plurality of breakout fibers at the outlet end of the transition body, wherein the plurality of breakout fibers pass through a plurality of breakout tubings, each breakout tubing of the plurality of breakout tubings including a fiber optic connector at a distal of each breakout tubing;
- a centering element positioned within the transition body, the centering element holding the at least one cable and the plurality of breakout fibers relative to the transition body, wherein the at least one cable and the plurality of breakout fibers are centered cylindrically in a longitudinal direction by the centering element;
- and
- an internal splice positioned inside the centering element to splice the plurality of breakout fibers to the plurality of fibers of the at least one cable;
- wherein the internal splice is positioned in a channel of the centering element;
- wherein the internal splice is centered cylindrically by the centering element;
- wherein the centering element, the internal splice positioned inside the channel of the centering element, the plurality of breakout fibers held by the centering element, and the at least one cable held by the centering element, are encapsulated by the moldable material of the transition body;
- an endcap positioned at the outlet end of the transition body, the endcap defining a plurality of openings for receiving the plurality of breakout tubings a boot positioned at the inlet end of the transition body.
7 more elements
A method of making a transition body for protecting optical fibers and a splice comprising:
- providing a multi-fiber jacketed cable with a splice to broken out fibers of the cable, one or more of the broken out fibers positioned in each one of a plurality of breakout tubings, each breakout tubing of the plurality of breakout tubings including a fiber optic connector at a distal of each breakout tubing;
- positioning a centering device within a first mold portion;
- positioning the splice into a channel of the centering device by routing an end of a jacket of the multi-fiber jacketed cable into the centering device at a first end and positioning the broken out fibers from the cable into the centering device through a second end;
- passing the breakout tubings through openings in a cap positioned in the first mold portion;
- positioning a boot in the first mold portion at an opposite end of the first mold portion from the cap;
- mounting a second mold portion to the first mold portion to form an enclosed molding area;
- applying moldable material into the molding area over the centering device, the end of the jacket, the splice, and the broken out fibers;
- curing the moldable material to form a cured transition body;
- and
- removing the first mold portion and the second mold portion from the cured transition body.
7 more elements
A method of making a transition body for protecting optical fibers and a splice comprising:
- providing a multi-fiber jacketed cable with a splice to broken out fibers of the cable, one or more of the broken out fibers positioned in each one of a plurality of breakout tubings, each breakout tubing of the plurality of breakout tubings including a fiber optic connector at a distal of each breakout tubing;
- positioning a centering device within a first mold portion, the first mold portion defining a boot molding portion at a first end;
- positioning the splice into a channel of the centering device by routing an end of a jacket of the multi-fiber jacketed cable into the centering device at a first end and positioning the broken out fibers from the cable into the centering device through a second end;
- passing the breakout tubings through openings in a cap positioned in the first mold portion at a second end opposite the first end;
- mounting a second mold portion to the first mold portion to form an enclosed molding area, the second mold portion defining a boot molding portion at a first end;
- applying moldable material into the molding area over the centering device, the end of the jacket, the splice, and the broken out fibers;
- curing the moldable material to form a cured transition body including an integral boot;
- and
- removing the first mold portion and the second mold portion from the cured transition body.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.