US 6,215,939 B1 · Optical fiber splice case with integral cable clamp, buffer cable storage area and metered air valve

Abstract

A water proof and air tight fiber cable splice enclosure assembly includes a pair of housing members that are selectively releasably and sealingly clamped to each other to define a first storage volume and at least one keyhole slot connection area cooperative with an associated tie-down strap for connecting an optical fiber bundle to one of the first or second housing members. A set of arcuate wall members are formed on one of the housing members for defining an oval-shaped buffer cable storage space within the housing and an annular auxiliary cable storage space for storing an auxiliary length of the optical fiber bundle. An air valve is provided on one of the housing members for directing a flow of air into the storage space of the optical fiber splice case. The air valve is adapted to meter the flow of air into the space to below a predetermined threshold air flow rate. A pressure relief vent is provided on the enclosure to regulate air pressure accumulated within the storage volume to a pressure less than a predetermined maximum pressure threshold.

Claims31

Dependent claims

An optical fiber splice case comprising:

a first set of intermateable housing members being selectively sealingly clamped to each other to define a first sealed storage space;
and,
an air valve for directing a flow of air into the sealed storage space of the optical fiber splice case, the air valve being adapted to meter the flow of air into the sealed storage space to below a predetermined threshold air flow rate.

An optical fiber splice case comprising:

at least one end plate member having a passageway adapted to receive an optical fiber bundle therethrough;
a first set of housing members contoured to enclose the at least one end plate member and being releasably and sealingly clamped to each other and to the at least one end plate member to define a first storage volume;
a pair of spaced apart rods carried by a first one of said housing members;
at least one splice tray extending between the pair of rods, the at least one splice tray having end slots which receive and are guided on the rods;
a set of wall portions extending from said first one of the housing members toward said at least one splice tray, the set of wall members defining a buffer cable storage space within the set of wall portions for storage of buffer cable portions of the optical fiber bundle within the optical fiber splice case between the at least one splice tray and the first one of the housing members, and defining an auxiliary cable storage space around the buffer cable storage space for storage of an auxiliary length of said optical fiber bundle within the optical fiber splice case.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical fiber splice case with integral cable clamp, buffer cable storage area and metered air valve

Life of this patent

Optical fiber splice case with integral cable clamp, buffer cable storage area and metered air valve

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31