Fiber optic connector polishing fixture assembly
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsJohn R. Kolasinski, Joseph Roch Moszcziewski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fiber optic connector polishing fixture assembly for supporting a terminus of a fiber optic cable before a polishing surface. The assembly comprises: a fiber optic polishing fixture adapted to support the terminus before the polishing surface; a fixture support connected to the fixture for supporting the fixture before the polishing surface; and an adjustable connection between the fixture and the fixture support having user accessible adjustment controls for allowing a user to operate the controls to shift the fixture and fixture support relative to one another for substantially eliminating an apex offset of the terminus with respect to the polishing surface.
Claims28
A fiber optic connector polishing fixture assembly for supporting a terminus of a fiber optic cable before a polishing surface, the assembly comprising:
- a fiber optic polishing fixture adapted to support the terminus before the polishing surface wherein the fixture comprises a jaw movable between an open position and a closed position for securely clamping the terminus therein during a polishing thereof by the polishing surface;
- a fixture support connected to the fixture for supporting the fixture before the polishing surface;
- a top portion corresponding to a top portion of the jaw and a bottom portion slidably connected to the top portion, wherein the fixture has a terminus support profile including:
- a v-groove defined in the bottom portion of the fixture and adapted to receive the terminus therein;
- a first semicircular recess defined in the top portion;
- a second semicircular recess defined in the bottom portion such that, in a closed position of the jaw the first semicircular recess and the second semicircular recess are joined to define a counterbore framing the v-groove substantially at a center region thereof;
- and,
- an adjustable connection between the fixture and the fixture support having user accessible adjustment controls for allowing a user to operate the controls to shift the fixture and fixture support relative to one another for substantially eliminating an apex offset of the terminus with respect to the polishing surface.
A fiber optic connector polishing fixture assembly for supporting a terminus of a fiber optic cable before a polishing surface, the assembly comprising:
- a fiber optic polishing fixture adapted to support the terminus before the polishing surface;
- a fixture support connected to the fixture for supporting the fixture before the polishing surface;
- and,
- an adjustable connection between the fixture and the fixture support having user accessible adjustment controls for allowing a user to overate the controls to shift the fixture and fixture support relative to one another for substantially eliminating an apex offset of the terminus with respect to the polishing surface wherein the adjustable connection comprises a set of three elements including a first adjustment element, a second adjustment element and a third adjustment element, the adjustment elements being disposed with respect to one another such that, in a cross-sectional plane through the adjustment elements substantially parallel to the fixture support, points corresponding to respective centerlines of the three adjustment elements are not aligned;
- wherein:
- the first adjustment element is actuatable for effecting a change in the distance between the fixture support at a location of the first adjustment element;
- and
- the second adjustment element is actuatable for effecting a change in the distance between the fixture and the fixture support at a location of the second adjustment element, an actuation of at least one of the first adjustment element and the second adjustment element effecting a pivoting adjustment of the fixture support for substantially eliminating an apex offset of the terminus with respect to the polishing surface.
A fiber optic connector polishing fixture assembly for supporting a terminus of a fiber optic cable before a polishing surface, the assembly comprising:
- a fiber optic polishing fixture adapted to support the terminus before the polishing surface;
- a fixture support connected to the fixture for supporting the fixture before the polishing surface;
- an adjustable connection between the fixture and the fixture support having user accessible adjustment controls for allowing a user to operate the controls to shift the fixture and fixture support relative to one another for substantially eliminating an apex offset of the terminus with respect to the polishing surface;
- and,
- a compliant preload mechanism for connecting the fixture and the fixture support to one another, the compliant preload being effective for biasing the fixture and the fixture support toward one another during a shifting of the fixture and fixture support relative to one another, and further being effective for securely fastening the fixture and the fixture support to one another after the shifting of the fixture and fixture support relative to one another for substantially eliminating an apex offset of the terminus with respect to the polishing surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.