Fiber optic cable assembly
AssigneePriority Electronics Inc.
InventorsBlaine Henderson, Kenton Frith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A furcation kit and method of manufacturing a furcated fiber optic cable are described. The furcation kit includes a molded furcation body and a molded furcation plug that is received in a hollow end of the furcation body. A stop prevents the plug from being inserted too far into the furcation body. A crimp ring is used to attach the furcation body to the furcated fiber optic cable. The advantages include a simple furcation kit that is easy to assemble, inhibits the formation of bends in furcated fiber optic strands, and occupies very little space.
Claims23
A furcation kit for a fiber optic cable, comprising:
- a) a furcation body having a first hollow end for receiving an end of the fiber optic cable and a second hollow end for receiving a furcation plug;
- b) the furcation plug having a first end received in the furcation body and a second end having at least one passage that extends through the furcation plug, the at least one passage being adapted to receive and retain a furcation tube;
- and
- c) means for attaching the fiber optic cable to the first hollow end of the furcation body.
A method of manufacturing a fiber optic cable having a furcated end, comprising steps of:
- a) placing a crimp ring over an end of the fiber optic cable and moving the crimp ring away from the end of the fiber optic cable;
- b) stripping a cable sheath from the end of the fiber optic cable to expose a predetermined length of a strength member and a buffer tube that surrounds at least one fiber optic strand;
- c) cutting off the strength member and the buffer tube a predetermined distance from an end of the cable sheath to expose a predetermined length of the at least one fiber optic strand;
- d) fanning out the cut end of the strength member;
- e) sliding a backbone of a furcation body over the cut end of the buffer tube and compressing the fanned-out end of the strength member over an outer surface of the backbone;
- f) sliding the crimp ring over the backbone and crimping the crimp ring to trap the fanned-out end of the strength member between the crimp ring and the backbone;
- g) inserting free ends of the at least one fiber optic strand into furcation tubes of a furcation plug;
- and
- h) inserting the furcation plug into a second end of the furcation body.
A furcation kit for a two-strand fiber optic cable in which both strands are enclosed by a single buffer tube, comprising:
- a) a furcation body having a first hollow end for receiving an end of the single buffer tube and a second hollow end for receiving a furcation plug;
- b) the furcation plug having a First end received in the furcation body and a second end having two passages that extend through the furcation plug, each of the two passages being adapted to receive and retain a furcation tube through which the respective fiber optic strands are threaded before the furcation plug is inserted in the furcation body;
- and
- c) a crimp ring for attaching the fiber optic cable to the second hollow end of the furcation body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.