Rejacketing a spliced fiber optic cable
AssigneeGrumman Aerospace Corporation
InventorGamliel A. Kagan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
After fusion splicing of optical fibers, the splice area is positioned within a two-part transparent mold. Light-curable epoxy is injected into the mold and surrounds the splice area. A visible light source shines through the mold, which is preferably made of transparent plexiglass, thus allowing the epoxy to harden. The mold is opened and the rejacketed cable is removed. In order to ensure that the original jacket material at the cable ends does not separate from the epoxy rejacketing material, a heat-shrinkable tube may be installed over the rejacketed splice area.
Claims4
A method for rejacketing a spliced fiber optic cable having sections of jacket removed from a splice area, the method includes the steps:
- positioning the splice area of the cable within a transparent mold central chamber;
- clamping jacketed portions of the cable between two mating mold members;
- injecting a light-curable bonding material in to the chamber for surrounding the splice area;
- venting the chamber of air as the bonding material is injected;
- exposing the mold to a light source for curing the material contained therein and forming a new flexible jacket over the splice area which is continuous with the original jacket;
- and
- removing the rejacketed cable from the mold.
A method for rejacketing a fiber optic cable having sections of jacket removed from a splice area, the method including the steps:
- positioning the splice area of the cable within a transparent mold central chamber;
- clamping jacketed portions of the cable between two mating mold members;
- injecting a light-curable epoxy bonding material into the chamber for surrounding the splice area;
- venting the chamber of air as the epoxy material is injected;
- exposing the mold to a source of visible light for curing the material and forming a new flexible jacket over the splice area which is continuous with the original jacket;
- and
- removing the rejacketed cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.