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US 5,212,750 AGranted
Fiber optic harness having reduced weight and bulk, and method
AssigneeSimmonds Precision Engine System, Inc.
InventorJames R. Wright
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSimmonds Precision Engine System, Inc.
InventorJames R. Wright
Estimating the term…
A fiber optic harness assembly having reduced weight and bulk comprises a plurality of optical fibers and loose tube protective buffers therefor. At least two of the optical fibers and corresponding buffers are routed commonly along a first branch of the harness and respectively along the second and third branches of the harness. Similarly, strength elements extending parallel to corresponding optical fibers are routed commonly along the first branch to the intersection whereat the strength elements are divided into separate portions for extension respectively along the second and third branches. The strength elements and buffered optical fibers coextending along the harness branches are surrounded and held bundled together in contiguous relationship by respective branch portions of an outer jacket or sheath. The ends of the branches are terminated by connectors which have provision for terminating the strength elements to a connector body independently of optical contacts at the ends of the optical fibers, thereby to isolate the optical contacts from mechanical loads applied to the harness. The harness assembly can be repaired by detaching the optical contact from the end of the optical fiber to be repaired, withdrawing the optical fiber from the protective buffer, inserting a new optical fiber into the protective buffer, and connecting an optical contact to one or both ends of the new optical fiber.
A fiber optic harness assembly having at least first, second and third branches meeting at an intersection and comprising a plurality of optical fibers at least two of which are routed commonly along said first branch and respectively along said second and third branches;
A fiber optic harness assembly comprising a fiber optic harness and a multiple channel connector at one end of said harness for optically and mechanically connecting said end of said harness to an external member;
A fiber optic harness assembly comprising a fiber optic harness and a multiple channel connector at least at one end of said harness for optically and mechanically connecting said end of said harness to an external member;
A method of repairing a fiber optic harness assembly that includes a fiber optic harness and a connector at least at one end of the harness for optically and mechanically connecting the end of the harness to an external member, the harness including a tubular protective buffer, an optical fiber extending through the protective buffer and loosely slip-fitted within the protective buffer such that the optical fiber can be inserted into and withdrawn from the protective buffer, and an outer protective sheath surrounding the protective buffer, and the connector including an optical contact connected to an end of the optical fiber, and a connector body supporting the optical contact and having associated therewith means for coupling the connector body to the external member, said method comprising the steps of (a) detaching the optical contact from the end of the optical fiber, (b) withdrawing the optical fiber from the protective buffer, (c) inserting a new optical fiber into the protective buffer, and (d) connecting an optical contact to at least one end of the new optical fiber.
A harness assembly comprising a harness and a connector for terminating an end of said harness, said harness including at least one conductive element and a tensile strength member extending along the length thereof, and said connector including a housing having a rearward opening through which said one conductive element and tensile strength member extend into said connector housing, and a strain relief ring positioned interiorly of said housing and cooperative therewith to anchor said tensile strength member to said connector housing, said tensile strength member extending between an outer surface of said strain relief ring and an inner surface of said housing and around an axially inner edge of said strain relief ring, and said inner surface of said housing being tapered relative to the axis of said strain relief ring such that an axial load on the tensile strength member will urge the strain relief ring rearwardly to tightly clamp the tensile strength member between said strain relief ring and the tapered inner surface of said housing.
A method of assembling a fiber optic harness assembly, the method comprising the steps of (a) laying out a plurality of tube buffers and strength elements in a configuration corresponding to a predetermined interconnection schematic for the routing of optical circuits, (b) then applying a jacket around the coextending tube buffers and strength elements to hold them bundled together, (c) then inserting optical fibers into respective tube buffers, (d) connecting to the ends of the optical fibers respective optical contacts, and (e) supporting the optical contacts in a predetermined arrangement in a connector body having associated therewith means for coupling the connector body to an external member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.