Optical fiber splice interconnection and usage method

An optical fiber splice arrangement where optical fibers are brought together in an abutting central axis mutually--aligned orientation internal to an alignment means which has:

• a square, triangular or other polygonal inside configuration continuing lengthwise therethrough thus forming alignment grooves in which optical fibers may be aligned in mutual abutment,
• a round, smooth outside diameter configuration of the alignment means which will allow alignment means rotation as necessary when internal forces induced by optical fibers bent in a misalignment orientation to the central axis of the alignment means outside diameter are applied within the alignment means,
• a smooth entry of generous oversized generally flared opening to accept fibers as they are urged slidingly therein, and guided at an angle to the entry axis,
• an arrangement whereby the axes of two optical fibers are mutually aligned but are simultaneously misaligned with respect to the axis of the alignment means thereby causing fibers to be forced to one side of the alignment means upon entry,
• an arrangement whereby optical fibers entering the alignment means will force the alignment means to rotate as required so that optical fibers will thus self-align with mutually coincidental axes in any one of the grooves thus formed by intersecting planes of the polygonal interior configuration, said groove providing for fiber-to-fiber abutment and alignment, the groove used being that closest to the fibers as they enter the alignment means,
• an arrangement whereby the optical fiber endfaces will meet in precise axial alignment and abutment by mutual orientation in one of said offset grooves,
• an arrangement whereby the end-to-end relative mutually abutting position of optical fibers is controlled by built-in stopping features of splice elements affixed with bias force to the fibers or buffer portion of said fibers within the splice assembly.