Installing an optical fiber
AssigneeCommScope Technologies LLC
InventorsLevi T. Merrick, Yu Lu, Steven Conrad Zimmel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To install a connectorized cable assembly, a cable terminated at a connector core is pushed through a duct. The connector core has a maximum outer diameter of no more than 5 mm to facilitate passage of the connector core through the duct. A plug body is mounted over the connector core after the connector core exits the duct. No intermediate assembly steps are performed on the connector core between being pushed through the duct and being inserted into the plug body.
Claims18
An optical cable assembly, comprising:
- an optical cable including a jacket surrounding an optical fiber;
- and
- an elongate connector core terminating the optical cable, the elongate connector core having a maximum transverse cross-dimension of no more than 5 millimeters, the elongate connector core including:
- a ferrule assembly including an optical ferrule that receives the optical fiber, the ferrule assembly also including a hub supporting the optical ferrule;
- a spring mounted over the optical fiber;
- and
- a protective arrangement including a core housing that surrounds the spring and at least a portion of the ferrule assembly, the protective arrangement extending between a first axial end and a second axial end that are opposite each other, the jacket of the optical cable being anchored at the second axial end, wherein the ferrule extends beyond the core housing.
An optical connector kit, comprising:
- a ferrule assembly including a ferrule hub supporting an optical ferrule defining an end face;
- a spring sized to fit over a portion of the ferrule hub;
- a core housing configured to surround the spring and the ferrule assembly, the core housing having a maximum transverse cross-dimension of no more than 5 millimeters;
- and
- a plug body defining a passage extending between opposite first and second ends, the passage sized to accommodate the core housing therein,
- wherein the plug body is configured to latch to the core housing;
- wherein the core housing defines radially flexible latch arms;
- and
- wherein the kit further includes a core sleeve that can be mounted over the core housing such that the core sleeve is movable relative to the core housing between a traveling position in which the core sleeve inhibits radial deflection of the latch arms and an assembled position in which the core sleeve allows radial deflection of the latch arms.
An optical connector kit, comprising:
- a ferrule assembly including a ferrule hub supporting an optical ferrule defining an end face;
- a spring sized to fit over a portion of the ferrule hub;
- and
- a core housing configured to surround the spring and the ferrule assembly, the core housing having a maximum transverse cross-dimension of no more than 5 millimeters,
- wherein the core housing includes a rear housing and a front housing that can cooperate to enclose the ferrule hub and the spring;
- wherein the core housing also includes an intermediate housing that can couple the rear housing to the front housing;
- and
- wherein the kit further includes a pushing cap configured to mount over the ferrule of the ferrule assembly.
A protective arrangement to be assembled over a ferrule assembly terminating an optical fiber, the protective arrangement extending between a first axial end and a second axial end, the protective arrangement comprising:
- a core housing defining the second axial end of the protective arrangement, the core housing surrounding at least a portion of the ferrule assembly, and an exterior of the core housing having a maximum transverse cross-dimension of no more than 5 millimeters;
- a pushing cap extending between a closed end and an open end, the closed end defining the first axial end of the protective arrangement, the pushing cap defining an interior sized to receive an end face of the ferrule assembly through the open end;
- and
- a latching arrangement including engagement members disposed at the exterior of the core housing at an intermediate location between the first axial end and the second axial end,
- wherein the pushing cap abuts the core housing, but does not attach to the core housing.
An optical connector kit, comprising:
- a ferrule assembly including a ferrule hub supporting an optical ferrule defining an end face;
- a spring sized to fit over a portion of the ferrule hub;
- and
- a core housing configured to surround the spring and the ferrule assembly, the core housing having a maximum transverse cross-dimension of no more than 5 millimeters,
- wherein the core housing includes a rear housing and a front housing assembly that can cooperate to enclose the ferrule hub and the spring, the front housing assembly having a closed front end and an open rear end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.