US 5,121,458 A · Preterminated fiber optic cable

Abstract

A predetermined optical fiber cable has a main trunk cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers disposed therein and multiple drop cables spliced to the trunk cable at various branch points, the preterminated fiber optic cable being completely assembled at the time of manufacture and is easily installed thereafter. At each branch point an optical fiber cable splice closure is utilized for protecting the optical fibers and splices from moisture and mechanical damage, providing a strong anchoring point for the optical fiber drop cable, and insuring that the minimum fiber bend radius is not violated. The splice closure is cylindrical in shape and has a cavity providing room for the splices and for excess optical fiber storage. Because the splice closure is relatively small (an outer diameter of no greater than 4 inches and a length of no greater than 7 inches), the preterminated fiber optic cable, after manufacture, may be wound in reels for installment without incurring cable or fiber damage and, further, may be depolyed within standard PVC piping having a 4 inch inner diameter. The preterminated fiber optic cable may also be preconnectorized.

Claims66

Dependent claims

A preterminated fiber optic cable assembly, comprising:

a trunk cable having a predetermined length and having first and second ends, said trunk cable further having an access point being positioned along the length of said trunk cable, said trunk cable including;
optical fiber buffering means having a length substantially equal to said predetermined length and having first and second ends, at least one optical fiber of substantially said predetermined length disposed within and enclosed by said buffering means, said fiber having first and second ends substantially coincident with the first and second ends of said trunk cable, and at least one splicing optical fiber having first and second ends and a first portion extending between its first end being coincident with said trunk cable first end and said access point, said first portion being disposed within and enclosed by said buffering means and a second portion extending from said access point to its second end, said second portion being disposed outside of said buffering means;
at least one drop cable having first and second ends, said drop cable including;
jacketing means having first and second ends, said jacketing means first end being substantially coincident with said drop cable first end, and at least one optical fiber having first and second ends substantially coincident with said drop cable first and second ends, said fiber having a first fiber portion extending between its first end and said second end of said jacketing means, said first fiber portion being disposed within and enclosed by said jacketing means, and a second fiber portion extending between said jacketing means second end and the fiber's second end, said second fiber portion being disposed outside of said jacketing means, the fiber's second end being spliced to said splicing optical fiber second end;
and
a splice closure including;
a splice closure body having a cavity dimensioned for encompassing an uncoiled, substantially linear length of said trunk cable extending therethrough, said trunk cable length including at least said access point, and for further encompassing said splicing optical fiber second portion and said splice, and opening means extending into said cavity for receiving said drop cable second fiber portion.

4 more elements

A splice closure for use with a preterminated fiber optic cable assembly comprising a trunk cable having a predetermined length and first and second ends, said trunk cable further having an access point being positioned along the length of said trunk cable, said trunk cable comprising optical fiber buffering means of said predetermined length and having first and second ends, at least one optical fiber of said predetermined length disposed within and enclosed by said buffering means, said optical fiber having first and second ends coincident with the first and second ends of said trunk cable, and at least one splicing optical fiber having first and second ends and having a first portion extending between the splicing optical fiber's first end being coincident with said trunk cable first end and said access point, said first portion being disposed within and enclosed by said buffering means, and a second portion extending between said access point and the splicing optical fiber's second end, said second portion being disposed outside of said buffering means, and at least one drop cable having first and second ends, said drop cable comprising jacketing means having first and second ends, said jacketing means first end being coincident with said drop cable first end, and at least one optical fiber having first and second ends coincident with said drop cable first and second ends, the drop cable optical fiber further having a first fiber portion extending between its first end and said jacketing means second end, said first fiber portion being disposed within and enclosed by said jacketing means, and a second fiber portion extending between said jacketing means second end and the second end of the drop cable optical fiber, said second fiber portion being disposed outside of said jacketing means, second end being spliced to said splicing optical fiber second end, said splice closure comprising:

a splice closure body having a cavity dimensioned for encompassing an uncoiled, substantially linear length of said trunk cable extending therethrough, said trunk cable length including at least said access point, and for further encompassing said splicing optical fiber second portion and said splice;
and
means extending into said cavity for receiving said drop cable second fiber portion.

A method of making a preterminated fiber optic cable assembly utilizing a trunk cable having a predetermined length and having first and second ends, said trunk cable further having an access point and a disconnect point each being positioned along the length of said trunk cable, said trunk cable comprising optical fiber buffering means of said predetermined length and having first and second ends, at least one optical fiber of said predetermined length disposed within and enclosed by said buffering means, said optical fiber having first and second ends coincident with the first and second ends of said trunk cable, and at least one splicing optical fiber having first and second ends and having a first portion extending between the fiber's first end being coincident with said trunk cable first end and said access point and a second portion extending between said access point and the fiber's second end being coincident with said disconnect point, said splicing optical fiber being disposed within and enclosed by said buffering means, at least one drop cable having first and second ends, said drop cable comprising jacketing means having first and second ends, said jacketing means first end being coincident with said drop cable first end, and at least one optical fiber having first and second ends coincident with said drop cable first and second ends and having a first fiber portion extending between said first end of the drop cable optical fiber and said jacketing means second end, said first fiber portion being disposed within and enclosed by said jacketing means, and a second fiber portion extending between said jacketing means second end and said second end of the drop cable optical fiber, said second fiber portion being disposed outside of said jacketing means, and a splice closure, comprising a splice closure body having a cavity dimensioned for encompassing an uncoiled, substantially linear length of said trunk cable extending therethrough, and means extending into said cavity for receiving said drop cable second fiber portion, said method comprising the steps of:

removing a portion of said buffering means at said access point of said trunk cable so that said splicing optical fiber is accessible;
removing said splicing optical fiber second portion from within said buffering means so that said splicing optical fiber second portion is disposed outside of said buffering means;
splicing said splicing optical fiber second end to said drop cable optical fiber second end;
and
enclosing said splice, said splicing optical fiber second portion, and said uncoiled, substantially linear length of said trunk cable with said splice closure, said trunk cable disconnect point being disposed outside of said splice closure.

2 more elements

A method of making a preterminated fiber optic cable assembly utilizing a trunk cable having a predetermined length and having first and second ends, said trunk cable further having an access point and a disconnect point each being positioned along the length of said trunk cable, said trunk cable comprising optical fiber buffering means of said predetermined length and having first and second ends and a plurality of optical fibers of said predetermined length disposed within and enclosed by said buffering means, said optical fibers having first and second ends coincident with the first and second ends of said trunk cable, at least one drop cable having first and second ends, said drop cable comprising jacketing means having first and second ends, said jacketing means first end being coincident with said drop cable first end, and at least one optical fiber having first and ends coincident with said drop cable first and second ends and having a first fiber portion extending between said drop cable optical fiber's first end and said jacketing means second end, said first fiber portion being disposed within and enclosed by said jacketing means, and a second fiber portion extending between said jacketing means second end and said drop cable optical fiber's second end, said second fiber portion being disposed outside of said jacketing means, and a splice closure comprising a splice closure body having a cavity dimensioned for encompassing an uncoiled, substantially linear length of said trunk cable extending therethrough, and means extending into said cavity for receiving said drop cable second fiber portion, said method comprising the steps of:

removing a portion of said buffering means at said disconnect point of said trunk cable so that at least one optical fiber is accessible;
cutting said at least one optical fiber at said disconnect point;
encapsulating said disconnect point with a heat-recoverable patch;
removing a portion of said buffering means at said access point of said trunk cable so that said at least one optical fiber is accessible;
removing from within said buffering means the portion of said at least one optical fiber extending between said access point and said disconnect point so that said portion is disposed outside of said buffering means and has an end disposed outside of said buffering means;
splicing said end of said portion of said at least one optical fiber to said drop cable optical fiber second end;
and
enclosing said splice, said portion of said at least one optical fiber, and said uncoiled, substantially linear length with said splice closure, said trunk cable disconnect point being disposed outside of said splice closure.

5 more elements

A preterminated fiber optic cable assembly comprising:

a slotted core trunk cable having a predetermined length and having first and second ends, said trunk cable further having an access point being positioned along the length of said trunk cable, said trunk cable including;
a longitudinally extending central strength member having at least one groove extending therealong and having a length substantially equal to said predetermined length and having first and second ends, at least one optical fiber of substantially said predetermined length disposed within said groove, said fiber having first and second ends substantially coincident with the first and second ends of said trunk cable, and at least one splicing optical fiber having first and second ends in a first portion extending between its first end being coincident with said trunk cable first end and said access point, said first portion being disposed within said groove and a second portion extending from said access point to its second end, said second portion being disposed outside of said groove;
at least one drop cable having first and second ends, said drop cable including;
jacketing means having first and second ends, said jacketing means first end being substantially coincident with said drop cable first end, and at least one optical fiber having first and second ends substantially coincident with said drop cable first and second ends, said fiber having a first fiber portion extending between its first end and said second end of said jacketing means, said first fiber portion being disposed within and enclosed by said jacketing means, and a second fiber portion extending between said jacketing means second end and the fiber's second end, said second fiber portion being disposed outside of said jacketing means, the fiber's second end being spliced to said splicing optical fiber second end;
and
a splice closure including;
a splice closure body having a cavity dimensioned for encompassing an uncoiled, substantially linear length of said trunk cable extending therethrough, said trunk cable length including at least said access point and for further encompassing said splicing optical fiber second portion and said splice, and opening means extending into said cavity for receiving said drop cable second fiber portion.

4 more elements

A method of making a preterminated fiber optic cable assembly utilizing a slotted core trunk cable having a predetermined length and having first and second ends, said trunk cable further having an access point and a disconnect point each being positioned along the length of said trunk cable, said trunk cable comprising outer jacketing means of said predetermined length and having first and second ends and a plurality of optical fibers of said predetermined length disposed within and enclosed by said outer jacketing means, said optical fibers having first and second ends coincident with the first and second ends of said trunk cable, at least one drop cable having first and second ends, said drop cable comprising jacketing means having first and second ends, said jacketing means first end being coincident with said drop cable first end, and at least one optical fiber having first and ends coincident with said drop cable first and second ends and having a first fiber portion extending between said drop cable optical fiber's first end and said jacketing means second end, said first fiber portion being disposed within and enclosed by said jacketing means, and a second fiber portion extending between said jacketing means second end and said drop cable optical fiber's second end, said second fiber portion being disposed outside of said jacketing means, and a splice closure comprising a splice closure body having a cavity dimensioned for encompassing an uncoiled, substantially linear length of said trunk cable extending therethrough, and means extending into said cavity for receiving said drop cable second fiber portion, said method comprising the steps of:

removing a portion of said outer jacketing means at said disconnect point of said trunk cable so that at least one optical fiber is accessible;
cutting said at least one optical fiber at said disconnect point;
encapsulating said disconnect point with a heat-recoverable patch;
removing a portion of said outer jacketing means at said access point of said trunk cable so that said at least one optical fiber is accessible;
removing from within said outer jacketing means the portion of said at least one optical fiber extending between said access point and said disconnect point so that said portion is disposed outside of said outer jacketing means and has an end disposed outside of said outer jacketing means;
splicing said end of said portion of said at least one optical fiber to said drop cable optical fiber second end;
and
enclosing said splice, said portion of said at least one optical fiber, and said uncoiled, substantially linear length with said splice closure, said trunk cable disconnect point being disposed outside of said splice closure.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Preterminated fiber optic cable

Life of this patent

Preterminated fiber optic cable

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims66