Field installable optical fiber connector and an associated method of fabrication

An optical fiber connector comprising:

• a longitudinally extending ferrule having first and second opposed ends and a bore defined longitudinally therethrough, said ferrule also defining at least one cylindrical fusion access port extending transversely through said ferrule such that the fusion access port is in communication with the longitudinal bore to thereby define a splice cavity, wherein the fusion access port has a predetermined diameter, and wherein the predetermined diameter of the fusion access port is less than a predetermined maximum diameter such that said ferrule remains structurally intact during use;
• and
• an optical fiber stub disposed within the bore of said ferrule and extending from a first end adjacent the first end of said ferrule to a second end disposed within the splice cavity defined within said ferrule;
• wherein said ferrule is also adapted for receiving a second optical fiber which extends through the bore of said ferrule from the second end of said ferrule to the splice cavity such that said ferrule maintains the second optical fiber and said optical fiber stub in general alignment so that the second optical fiber and said optical fiber stub can be fused within the splice cavity.

An optical fiber connector comprising:

• a longitudinally extending ferrule having first and second opposed ends and a bore defined longitudinally therethrough, wherein said ferrule is adapted to receive the end portion of an optical fiber of a single fiber cable such that the optical fiber extends through said ferrule, and wherein the single fiber cable comprises an optical fiber, at least one strength member radially outward of the optical fiber and a protective jacket;
• a crimp body defining a bore therethrough through which the single fiber cable is adapted to extend, wherein said crimp body is adapted to be radially compressed about the end portion of the single fiber cable in which a tube has been inserted between the at least one strength member and the optical fiber at the end portion of the single fiber cable, and wherein said crimp body is adapted to be mounted to the second end of said ferrule such that the single fiber cable is thereby secured to the optical fiber connector;
• a crimp tube assembly disposed within said crimp body and mounted to the second end of said ferrule, wherein said crimp tube assembly defines a lengthwise extending aperture therethrough, and wherein said crimp tube assembly is mounted to the second end of said ferrule such that the aperture defined therethrough is aligned with the bore defined by said ferrule such that the optical fiber connector is adapted to receive the end portion of the optical fiber of the single fiber cable through both the aperture defined by said crimp tube assembly and the bore defined by said ferrule;
• said crimp body including a lengthwise extending tubular housing adapted to mount over said crimp tube assembly to the second end of said ferrule, wherein said tubular crimp body also includes a first ring extending radially inward into the longitudinal bore, and wherein the first ring of said tubular crimp body is longitudinally inward of said crimp tube assembly and is sized smaller than said crimp tube assembly such that said tubular crimp body is securely mounted thereto.

A method of mounting an optical fiber connector to a single fiber cable having a protective jacket surrounding an optical fiber and at least one strength member, the method comprising the steps of:

• removing the protective jacket and the at least one strength member from the end portion of the single fiber cable to thereby expose the optical fiber;
• inserting a tube between the at least one strength member and the optical fiber;
• inserting the exposed end portion of the optical fiber into a bore defined longitudinally through a ferrule of the optical fiber connector;
• attaching a crimp body to the second end of the ferrule;
• radially compressing the crimp body about the portion of the single fiber cable in which the tube is inserted such that the protective jacket and the at least one strength member are secured to the optical fiber connector;
• mounting a crimp tube assembly to the second end of the ferrule such that the lengthwise extending aperture defined by the crimp tube assembly is aligned with the bore defined by the ferrule;
• and
• wherein the crimp body includes a tubular housing defining a longitudinally extending bore, and wherein the crimp body includes a first ring extending radially inward into the longitudinal bore, and wherein said step of attaching the crimp body to the second end of the ferrule includes the step of snapping the first ring over the crimp tube assembly to the second end of the ferrule such that the tubular crimp body is securely mounted thereto.