Hardware for enabling interface with optical fibers in an overhead electrical cable
AssigneeCTC Global Corporation
InventorsWilliam Webb, Ian M. Pilling, Christopher Wong, Douglas A. Pilling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hardware components for the termination and/or splicing of overhead electrical cables that have optical fibers associated with the cable. The hardware components enable access to the optical fibers for connecting to interrogation devices or for connecting to telecommunications equipment. The hardware components also enable the optical fibers to pass through terminations and splices without damaging the optical fibers.
Claims40
A termination apparatus for use with an overhead electrical cable, comprising:
- a gripping assembly configured to grip a strength member of an overhead electrical cable, the gripping assembly comprising a gripping assembly channel disposed along an external surface of the gripping assembly that is configured to secure one or more optical fibers within the gripping assembly channel;
- and
- a connector integrally formed with or configured to be operatively attached to the gripping assembly and comprising a connector body and a connector body channel disposed along an external surface of the connector body that is configured to secure the one or more optical fibers within the connector body channel.
A termination apparatus securing an overhead electrical cable having a strength member, an electrical conductor surrounding the strength member and one or more optical fibers associated with the electrical cable, the apparatus comprising:
- a gripping assembly gripping the strength member, the gripping assembly comprising a gripping assembly channel disposed along an external surface of the gripping assembly;
- a connector integrally formed with or operatively attached to the gripping assembly and comprising a connector body and a connector body channel disposed along an external surface of the connector body;
- at least a first optical fiber disposed within the gripping assembly channel and within the connector body channel.
A termination apparatus securing an overhead electrical cable having a strength member, an electrical conductor surrounding the strength member and one or more optical fibers associated with the electrical cable, the apparatus comprising:
- a gripping assembly gripping the strength member;
- a connector integrally formed with or operatively attached to the gripping assembly and comprising a connector body and a connector body bore extending through the connector body;
- and
- at least a first optical fiber disposed through the connector body bore.
A termination apparatus for use with an overhead electrical cable having a central strength member and an electrical conductor disposed over the strength member, comprising:
- a gripping assembly configured to grip the strength member of the overhead electrical cable;
- a connector integrally formed with or configured to be operatively attached to the gripping assembly;
- an outer sleeve comprising a sleeve body defining a cavity therein, wherein the sleeve body comprises an aperture therethrough that is positioned to be disposed between the gripping assembly and an end of the electrical conductor when the outer sleeve is operatively crimped over the gripping assembly and the connector;
- and
- an optical fiber socket configured to be operatively placed within the aperture to provide an optical fiber connection through the outer sleeve.
A gripping assembly configured for use with a termination arrangement for an overhead electrical cable having a strength member, an electrical conductor surrounding the strength member and one or more optical fibers associated with the electrical cable, the gripping assembly comprising:
- a lumen disposed through the gripping assembly, the lumen being configured to operatively receive the strength member of the electrical cable therein;
- and
- a channel disposed on an outer surface of the gripping assembly and running from a first end of the gripping assembly to a second end of the gripping assembly, the channel being configured to receive the one or more optical fibers therein.
A splice assembly mechanically and electrically connecting two line segments of an overhead electrical line, the splice assembly comprising:
- a first gripping assembly operatively gripping a first line segment of the overhead electrical line and a second gripping assembly operatively gripping a second line segment of the overhead electrical line, each of the first and second gripping assemblies comprising a button on an end of the gripping assembly opposite the electrical cable segment;
- a spacer clip operatively joining the first gripping assembly to the second gripping assembly, the spacer clip comprising an access slot providing access to a working space within the spacer clip and comprising two button notches in a sidewall of the spacer clip, wherein the gripping assembly buttons are placed through the button notches and are secured by the spacer clip;
- and
- a conductive sleeve body disposed over the gripping assemblies and the spacer clip, the conductive sleeve body electrically connecting a conductor of the first cable segment to a conductor of the second cable segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.