System and deployment method for a fiber optic connector assembly having a blowable section and a non-blowable section
AssigneeCommScope Technologies LLC
InventorsGeoffrey BUDDINGTON, Jose-Luis GONZALEZ BLAZQUEZ, Patrick Jacques Ann DIEPSTRATEN, Neil Stewart BIRD
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Abstract
Systems, assemblies and methods for deploying an optical fiber through a duct to a customer premises. A blowable section of the optical fiber is blown through the duct. A non-blowable section of the optical fiber is coupled to a trail end of the duct. The non-blowable section can be terminated with a hardened or ruggedized connector. The optical fiber, including both the blowable and non-blowable sections, can be wound around a spool for easy payout of the blowable section.
Claims21
1-47. (canceled)
A method of assembling a fiber optic connector system for deploying at least one optical fiber through a duct, the duct defining a longitudinal duct axis and having a largest duct interior dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
- providing an optical fiber, the optical fiber defining a longitudinal fiber axis extending between a trail end of the optical fiber and a lead end of the optical fiber, the optical fiber including:
- a first axial section having a longitudinal length of at least 1.0 meters and extending axially from the lead end of the optical fiber towards the trail end of the optical fiber, the first axial section being surrounded by a first outermost protective layer at a trail end of the first axial section, the first outermost protective layer having a first largest dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal fiber axis that is less than the largest duct interior dimension;
- and
- a second axial section extending from the trail end of the optical fiber towards the lead end of the optical fiber, the second axial section being surrounded by a sheath defining a second outermost protective layer extending axially from the trail end of the optic optical fiber to a lead end of the second axial section, the second outermost protective layer having a second largest dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal fiber axis that is greater than the first largest dimension;
- terminating the trail end of the optical fiber with a complete, ruggedized fiber optic connector;
- terminating the lead end of the optical fiber with a partial fiber optic connector;
- and
- winding the optical fiber around a spool, beginning from the trail end of the optical fiber.
A method of assembling a fiber optic connector system for deploying at least one optical fiber through a duct, the duct defining a longitudinal duct axis and having a largest duct interior dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
- providing an optical fiber, the optical fiber defining a longitudinal fiber axis extending between a trail end of the optical fiber and a lead end of the optical fiber, the optical fiber including:
- a first axial section having a longitudinal length of at least 1.0 meters and extending axially from the lead end of the optical fiber towards the trail end of the optical fiber, the first axial section being surrounded by a first outermost protective layer at a trail end of the first axial section, the first outermost protective layer having a first largest dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal fiber axis that is less than the largest duct interior dimension;
- and
- a second axial section extending from the trail end of the optical fiber towards the lead end of the optical fiber, the second axial section being pre-terminated at a fiber optic connector positioned at the trail end of the optical fiber, the second axial section being surrounded by a sheath defining a second outermost protective layer extending axially from the fiber optic connector to a lead end of the second axial section, the second outermost protective layer having a second largest dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal fiber axis that is greater than the first largest dimension;
- installing a lead end of a coupler on a trail end of the duct;
- and
- installing the lead end of the second axial section in a trail end of the coupler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.