Optical fiber breaker and method, and combination breaker and optical connector

A method of quickly and cleanly breaking a cylindrical optical fiber so as to achieve mirror-like ends which lie in planes substantially perpendicular to the axes of the broken fiber sections, said method comprising:

• (a) bending an optical fiber about a curved support means which has a predetermined curvature radius,
• (b) applying a predetermined tension to the bent fiber,
• said predetermined radius and said predetermined tension being adapted to effect said clean break of said fiber when it is scored, and
• (c) scoring said fiber by initially moving the edge of a scoring blade along a path which is not parallel to or coincident with the longitudinal diametral plane of said bent fiber, the initial engagement of said blade edge with said bent fiber being instead effected by moving said blade along a path which is (1) generally at a large acute angle to the part of said longitudinal diametral plane which is above said fiber, and (2) is such that said bent fiber is first engaged at a region remote from said support means.

Apparatus for quickly and cleanly breaking an optical fiber so as to achieve mirror-like ends which lie in planes substantially perpendicular to the axes of the broken fiber sections, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a fiber support means having a predetermined curvature radius,
• (b) means to clamp an optical fiber with sufficient force and friction to prevent slipping of the fiber in the clamp means when said fiber is under a predetermined tension,
• said predetermined radius and tension being such as to effect a clean break when said fiber is scored,
• (c) manually-operable means to move said clamp means to achieve said predetermined tension,
• said means being a spring means,
• said spring means comprising two springs, one of said springs being adapted to achieve both proper clamping pressure relative to the optical fiber and also to achieve a portion of the requisite tensioning force, the second of said springs being adjustable to achieve the remainder of the tensioning force whereby said springs combine to create said predetermined tension in said fiber,
• (d) means to prevent said manually-operable means from being operated in such manner that said predetermined tension will be exceeded, and
• (e) means to score said fiber.

A method of making an optical fiber connection, which comprises:

• (a) mounting fixedly on a single optical fiber one component of a fiber connector,
• the mounting being such that there is a protruding fiber end of random length,
• (b) removably mounting said connector component on a fiber dividing tool at a predetermined known position and at a location such that said protruding fiber end is located to be divided by said tool,
• (c) correlating said fiber dividing tool with said predetermined position of said connector component in such manner that when the fiber is divided the end protruding from said connector component will no longer be of random length but instead will have a precise length such as to achieve an optimum fiber connection when said connector component is demounted from said tool and is mated with another connector component located remote from said dividing tool,
• (d) effecting said dividing of said fiber by said dividing tool,
• (e) retracting the broken-off portion into said component of said fiber connector in response to the disengaging of said connector component from said dividing tool, so that there is no danger of injury to or contamination of the broken-off end during transport to the other connector component, and
• (f) demounting said connector component from said dividing tool and engaging said connector component with said other connector component,
• thus achieving said optimum connection.

A tool for quickly and cleanly breaking optical fibers so as to achieve mirror-like ends which lie in planes substantially perpendicular to the axes of the broken fiber sections, said tool comprising:

• (a) a fiber support having a predetermined curvature radius,
• (b) means to clamp an optical fiber with sufficient force and friction to prevent slipping of the fiber in the clamp means when said fiber is under a predetermined tension,
• said predetermined radius and tension being such as to effect a clean break when said fiber is scored after being tensioned about said fiber support so as to have said predetermined curvature radius,
• (c) means to move said clamp means to achieve said predetermined tension,
• said means including at least one spring adapted to apply only a predetermined limited tension to said clamped fiber,
• said means further including cam means to prevent said spring from thus tensioning said fiber until said cam means is in a predetermined position,
• (d) means to move said cam means to said predetermined position, and
• (e) means to score said clamped, bent and tensioned fiber to achieve the desired break.

A hand-held optical fiber breaker, comprising:

• (a) first and second handle means,
• (b) means responsive to an initial increment of movement of said handle means relative to each other, to effect clamping of an optical fiber at a single location,
• (c) means responsive to an additional increment of movement of said handle means to effect predetermined, correct tensioning of said fiber and also bending thereof to a predetermined extent,
• said fiber tensioning means including a cam means, there being a lost-motion connection between said cam means and said handle means, said tensioning and bending being such as to result in a clean break in the fiber when it is scored, and
• (d) means responsive to an additional increment of movement of said handle means to effect scoring of said clamped, tensioned and bent fiber to thus cause said clean break having the requisite optical characteristics.

A hand-held optical fiber breaker, comprising:

• (a) first and second handle means,
• (b) means responsive to an initial increment of movement of said handle means relative to each other, to effect clamping of an optical fiber at a single location,
• (c) means responsive to an additional increment of movement of said handle means to effect predetermined, correct tensioning of said fiber and also bending thereof to a predetermined extent,
• said fiber tensioning means including a cam means, said cam means being adapted to release a spring-biased tensioning table for tensioning movement only after completion of proper clamping of the fiber, said tensioning and bending being such as to result in a clean break in the fiber when it is scored, and
• (d) means responsive to an additional increment of movement of said handle means to effect scoring of said clamped, tensioned and bent fiber to thus cause said clean break having the requisite optical characteristics.

A method of making a perfect break in an optical fiber in a single operation, and without reference to excessive scorer pressure, which method comprises:

• (a) bending an optical fiber about a support which is gradually curved in a manner adapted to result in a perfect break,
• (b) effecting tensioning of said fiber in a tension range adapted to result in said perfect break, and
• (c) initially contacting with said bent, tensioned fiber, and in a scoring direction, the sharp edge of a scoring blade which is formed of a cemented carbide sufficiently rough to effect scoring substantially immediately and sufficiently smooth to permit creation of said sharp edge,
• said initial contact being effected by moving a hard-mounted support for said blade, which support is immune to the effects of gravity and is not adapted to limit the maximum pressure exerted by said blade.

A method of preparing and then connecting two optical fibers to achieve an optical connection therebetween, the fibers then being in substantial axial alignment with each other, said method comprising:

• (a) mounting one optical fiber in clamped relationship in one element of an optical connector,
• (b) mounting said one element on a fiber breaking tool in a predetermined position,
• (c) employing said tool to curve said fiber about a predetermined radius, tension said fiber to a tension in a predetermined range, and score said fiber in a predetermined location to thus achieve a break,
• (d) demounting said one element from said fiber breaking tool,
• (e) mounting a second optical fiber in clamped relationship in a second element of said optical connector,
• (f) mounting said second element on said fiber breaking tool in a predetermined position,
• (g) employing said tool to curve said second fiber about a predetermined radius, tension said second fiber to a tension in a predetermined range, and score said second fiber in a predetermined location to thus achieve a break,
• (h) demounting said second element from said tool,
• (i) connecting said one element and said second element of said optical connector to each other in a predetermined relationship causing a low-loss optical connection to be achieved between the thus-broken ends of said optical fibers,
• said one element and said second element of said connector being identical to each other, and
• (j) mounting said elements at predetermined positions on opposite sides of a third element of said connector, and with said thus-broken fiber ends extending into said third element,
• said predetermined positions of clauses (b) and (f) being coincident.

A fiber breaker, which comprises:

• (a) means to define a groove adapted to seat an optical fiber therein in fixed relationship.
• said groove curving longitudinally to form an arc which said fiber follows when seated in said groove, the arc being such that when the fiber is tensioned within a predetermined tension range and is scored, it will break perpendicularly and form mirror ends,
• (b) means to tension said fiber to a tension within said range, and
• (c) means to score said tensioned fiber by moving the edge of a scoring blade laterally thereacross,
• said fiber being prevented, by the sides of said groove, from rolling in response to said scoring movement, said means (c) effecting movement of said blade both downwardly and laterally at the instant of initial contact with said fiber.

A hand-held breaker for optical fibers, comprising:

• (a) support means,
• (b) handle means associated with said support means,
• (c) means responsive to a first increment of movement of said handle means to clamp an optical fiber,
• (d) means responsive to additional increments of movement of said handle means to tension said fiber and bend the same about a predetermined radius,
• (e) means responsive to a further movement of said handle means to heat said clamped, tensioned and bent optical fiber in a region where scoring is to occur,
• said heating effecting burning-off of a synthetic resin coating on said fiber in said region, and
• (f) means responsive to yet another increment of movement of said handle means to score said coating-free region of said fiber to thus achieve clean, broken ends the end faces of which are mirror smooth and perpendicular to the fiber axes.

In a hand-held breaker for optical fibers:

• (a) a support element,
• (b) scoring means movably mounted on said support element,
• (c) first and second handle means mounted on said support element,
• at least said first handle means being movable relative to said support element, and
• (d) means to associate said first handle means with said scoring means in such manner that said scoring means does not move during shifting of said first handle means toward said second handle means to a position relatively adjacent said second handle means, but does move to a fiber-scoring position in response to shifting of said first handle means from said relatively-adjacent position to a position relatively remote from said second handle means.

A hand-held breaker for optical fibers, comprising:

• (a) handle means,
• (b) movably-mounted tension table means,
• (c) a clamp element movably mounted relative to said tension table means,
• (d) means to connect said handle means to said clamp element to shift the latter to a clamping position, at which an optical fiber is clamped between said clamp element and said tension table means, in response to movement of said handle means,
• said means (d) being a cam means which effects a predetermined amount of movement of said clamp element in response to a certain amount of shifting of said handle means, but does not cause substantial additional movement of said clamp element in response to additional shifting of said handle means, and
• (e) spring means cooperating with said means (d) to create a predetermined fiber clamping force on said fiber.

A fiber-breaking tool for optical fibers, comprising:

• (a) support means,
• (b) a tension table movably mounted on said support means,
• (c) means to clamp a fiber on said tension table,
• (d) means to bias said table in a predetermined direction which effects tensioning of the fiber,
• (e) means to hold said table in a predetermined position, despite said bias exerted by said means (d), and
• (f) means responsive to movement of an actuating element to shift said means (e) to a table-releasing position whereby to permit said bias means to effect predetermined tensioning of the fiber.

A breaker for optical fibers, comprising:

• (a) a body,
• (b) a fiber-scoring assembly movably mounted on said body,
• said assembly including a scoring edge movable generally in a predetermined plane,
• (c) a plug-holder arm pivotally mounted on said body for limited pivotal movement about an axis disposed generally in said plane,
• (d) a plug receiver mounted on said arm and adapted to mate with a plug portion of an optical connector,
• (e) means to pivotally adjust said arm to thus vary the location of said plug receiver relative to said scoring assembly, and
• (f) means to clamp, bend and tension a fiber end which extends outwardly from said plug portion, so that operation of said scoring assembly will make a perpendicular break at a predetermined point.

A breaker for optical fibers, comprising:

• (a) a body,
• (b) a fiber-scoring assembly movably mounted on said body for fiber-scoring movement in response to shifting of an actuating portion of the fiber breaker,
• (c) a tension table pivotally mounted on said body,
• (d) a clamp element disposed above said table,
• (e) a tension rod connected to said clamp and extended slidably through said table,
• (f) a compression spring mounted around said rod below said table,
• (g) means responsive to a predetermined movement of said actuating portion to act on said spring in such manner as to shift said clamp toward said table and thus clamp an optical fiber, and
• (h) means responsive to a predetermined additional movement of said actuating portion to effect pivoting of said table for tensioning of said clamped fiber to a tension within a predetermined range.

A hand-held breaker for optical fibers, which comprises:

• (a) a back plate,
• (b) first and second handles mounted on said back plate,
• said first handle being pivoted to said back plate for pivotal movement relative thereto,
• (c) a scoring assembly pivotally mounted on said back plate,
• said scoring assembly being a parallelogram linkage two arms of which are pivoted to said back plate and a third arm of which is generally horizontal,
• said scoring assembly further comprising a blade-holder arm mounted on said third arm of said parallelogram linkage in adjustable relationship relative thereto, there being a fiber-scoring blade at the end of said blade-holder arm,
• said blade having a scoring edge which is generally parallel to said third arm of said linkage,
• said linkage being provided with precision link connectors which cause said scoring edge to move in the same plane upon each shifting of said linkage,
• means to bias said linkage to such a predetermined position that said scoring edge is located at a certain point,
• (d) a plug holder arm pivotally mounted to said back plate at a location beneath said scoring edge,
• said plug holder arm including a plug receiver adapted to mate with an element of an optical connector in a predetermined relationship,
• said plug receiver being offset relative to the predetermined normal position of said blade edge whereby an optical fiber may be easily inserted through said plug receiver,
• (e) means to pivot said plug holder arm toward and away from said blade to thus determine the location of the scoring point relative to an optical fiber extended from the connector element through said plug receiver,
• (f) a fiber support table mounted on said plug holder arm beneath said plug receiver for support of said fiber,
• said support table being curved about a predetermined radius adapted to achieve a correct break in the optical fiber,
• (g) a tension table pivotally mounted to said back plate at the same pivot axis as that for said plug holder arm,
• (h) a clamp element disposed above said tension table,
• (i) a tension rod extended from said clamp element through said tension table to a position therebeneath,
• (j) a helical compression spring mounted about said rod beneath said tension table and being preloaded to a predetermined extent adapted to achieve correct clamping of said fiber between said tension table and said clamp element,
• (k) cam means associated with said tension table and normally adapted to maintain said table in a predetermined position,
• (l) bias means to shift said table in a fiber-tensioning direction when said cam means is shifted to a releasing position,
• (m) cam means associated with said first handle to move said helical compression spring downwardly and thus shift said clamp element toward said table and effect achievement of said correct clamping pressure in response to a predetermined initial movement of said first handle,
• (n) means on said first handle to shift said cam means (k) to a table releasing position in response to a predetermined additional movement of said handle, whereby said tension table then is pivoted to tension said fiber a predetermined amount,
• (o) means pivotally mounted on said back plate to effect shifting of said scoring assembly to such position that said blade scores said fiber,
• the direction of movement of said blade upon contacting said fiber being generally parallel to said scoring edge, and
• (p) means on said first handle to engage said shifting means (o) when said first handle is pivoting toward said second handle, but without shifting said scoring assembly at that time,
• said means being adapted to effect shifting of said scoring assembly to effect said scoring of said fiber when said first handle moves away from said second handle.

Apparatus for quickly and cleanly breaking an optical fiber so as to achieve mirror-like ends which lie in planes substantially perpendicular to the axes of the broken fiber sections, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a fiber support means having a predetermined curvature radius,
• (b) means to clamp an optical fiber with sufficient force and friction to prevent slipping of the fiber in the clamp means when said fiber is under a predetermined tension,
• said predetermined radius and tension being such as to effect a clean break when said fiber is scored,
• (c) manually-operable means to move said clamp means to achieve said predetermined tension,
• said means being a spring means,
• (d) means to prevent said manually-operable means from being operated in such manner that said predetermined tension will be exceeded,
• said means (d) comprising means to isolate said clamp means from the operator, in such manner that the only fiber-tensioning force acting on said clamp means is said spring means, and also in such manner that the force of said spring means is not affected by excess force exerted by the operator, and
• (e) means to score said fiber.

Apparatus for quickly and cleanly breaking an optical fiber so as to achieve mirror-like ends which lie in planes substantially perpendicular to the axes of the broken fiber sections, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a fiber support means having a predetermined curvature radius,
• (b) means to clamp an optical fiber with sufficient force and friction to prevent slipping of the fiber in the clamp means when said fiber is under a predetermined tension,
• said predetermined radius and tension being such as to effect a clean break when said fiber is scored,
• (c) manually-operable means to move said clamp means to achieve said predetermined tension,
• said means being a spring means,
• (d) means to prevent said manually-operable means from being operated in such manner that said predetermined tension will be exceeded,
• said means (d) comprising means to prevent said spring means from exerting fiber-tensioning force on said claim means until a predetermined movement is made by the operator, and further comprising means to prevent the force of said spring means on said clamp means from increasing substantially in response to an operator movement additional to said predetermined movement, and
• (e) means to score said fiber.

A hand-held optical fiber breaker, comprising:

• (a) first and second handle means,
• (b) means responsive to an initial increment of movement of said handle means relative to each other, to effect clamping of an optical fiber at a single location,
• (c) means responsive to an additional increment of movement of said handle means to effect predetermined, correct tensioning of said fiber and also bending thereof to a predetermined extent,
• said tensioning and bending being such as to result in a clean break in the fiber when it is scored, and
• (d) means responsive to an additional increment of movement of said handle means to effect scoring of said clamped, tensioned and bent fiber to thus cause said clean break having the requisite optical characteristics,
• said scoring means including a cam means adapted to isolate a scoring blade from any improper or excessive actions of the operator on the handle means.

A hand-held optical fiber breaker, comprising:

• (a) first and second handle means,
• (b) means responsive to an initial increment of movement of said handle means relative to each other, to effect clamping of an optical fiber at a single location,
• (c) means responsive to an additional increment of movement of said handle means to effect predetermined, correct tensioning of said fiber and also bending thereof to a predetermied extent, said tensioning and bending being such as to result in a clean break in the fiber when it is scored, and
• (d) means responsive to an additional increment of movement of said handle means to effect scoring of said clamped, tensioned and bent fiber to thus cause said clean break having the requisite optical characteristics,
• said scoring means including a parallelogram linkage which causes a scoring blade to move along a predetermined path.

A method of preparing and then connecting two optical fibers to achieve an optical connection therebetween, the fibers then being in substantial axial alignment with each other, said method comprising:

• (a) mounting one optical fiber in clamped relationship in one element of an optical connector,
• (b) mounting said one element on a fiber breaking tool in a predetermined position,
• (c) employing said tool to curve said fiber about a predetermined radius, tension said fiber to a tension in a predetermined range, and score said fiber in a predetermined location to thus achieve a break,
• (d) demounting said one element from said fiber breaking tool,
• (e) mounting a second optical fiber in clamped relationship in a second element of said optical connector,
• (f) mounting said second element on said fiber breaking tool in a predetermined position,
• (g) employing said tool to curve said second fiber about a predetermined radius, tension said second fiber to a tension in a predetermined range, and score said second fiber in a predetermined location to thus achieve a break,
• (h) demounting said second element from said tool,
• (i) retracting each thus-broken end of said one fiber and second fiber into its associated optical connector element,
• whereby to minimize the possibility of damage or contamination of the broken end,
• (j) connecting said one element and said second element of said optical connector to each other in a predetermined relationship causing a low-loss optical connection to be achieved between the thus-broken ends of said optical fibers, and
• (k) re-extending each thus-broken end when said connector elements are connected to each other.

A breaker for optical fibers, comprising:

• (a) means to removably mount, in a predetermined position, a connector element wherein is secured an optical fiber,
• there being a portion of said fiber protruding out of said connector element,
• said mounting means being mounted on a movable element,
• (b) means to clamp, tension and bend said protruding portion of said fiber,
• said means being such that the amount of tensioning and bending will result in perfect breaking of a scored fiber,
• (c) means to score said fiber,
• said scoring means being mounted on a stationary element, and
• (d) means to adjust the location of said mounting means (a) relative to said scoring means (c), thus permitting accurate location of the broken-end face of said fiber relative to said connector element,
• said adjustment means comprising a threaded connector means to shift said movable element incrementally relative to said stationary element.

A breaker for optical fibers, comprising:

• (a) means to removably mount, in a predetermined position, a connector element wherein is secured an optical fiber,
• there being a portion of said fiber protruding out of said connector element,
• said mounting means being a threaded element adapted to mate with a threaded portion of said connector element,
• (b) means to clamp, tension and bend said protruding portion of said fiber,
• said means being such that the amount of tensioning and bending will result in perfect breaking of a scored fiber,
• (c) means to score said fiber, and
• (d) means to adjust the location of said scoring means (c) relative to said mounting means (a), thus permitting accurate location of the broken-end face of said fiber relative to said connector element.

A hand-held breaker for optical fibers, comprising:

• (a) handle means,
• (b) movably-mounted tension table means,
• (c) a clamp element movably mounted relative to said tension table means,
• (d) means to connect said handle means to said clamp element to shift the latter to a clamping position, at which an optical fiber is clamped between said clamp element and said tension table means, in response to movement of said handle means,
• (e) spring means cooperating with said means (d) to create a predetermined fiber clamping force on said fiber,
• (f) a scoring blade to score said clamped fiber,
• said blade having a slightly inclined scoring edge, and
• (g) means to move said edge transversely across the fiber with the upper region of said inclined edge leading the lower region thereof.

An optical fiber breaker, which comprises:

• (a) a fiber support table having a curved surface which is adapted to support the optical fiber to be broken,
• (b) a scoring edge adapted to score said fiber while it rests on said table,
• (c) means to move said scoring edge along a curved path and into engagement with said fiber to score the same,
• said means including first cam means,
• (d) movable means to clamp said fiber,
• said means including a second cam means, and
• (e) means to tension said fiber to a predetermined tension,
• said predetermined tension and the curvature of said surface being such that a clean break at said fiber will result in response to said scoring by said scoring edge.