Fiber splice tray for use in optical fiber hydrophone array

A fiber splice tray for use in an optical fiber hydrophone module, the module comprising an optical fiber hydrophone assembly and terminating with an intermodule mechanical coupling, the hydrophone assembly comprising a plurality of mandrels helically wrapped with optical fiber and connected in linear relation, the fiber splice tray comprising:

• a housing having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a longitudinal axis;
• the bottom portion having at least one opening at each end through which the optical fiber passes, the bottom portion further comprising an internal groove for housing the fiber;
• the internal groove comprising first and section opposing parallel sections that are parallel to the longitudinal axis and the opposing parallel sections adapted to receive a splinted fiber splice, each parallel section having a first end and a second end, the first ends of each section proximate to each other and the second ends of each section proximate to each other, and proximate to both ends of the parallel sections a first arc and a second arc connecting the first end of one parallel section to the first end of the other parallel section, wherein the second arc is closer to the center of the fiber splice tray than the first arc, whereby the perimeter defined by the parallel sections and the first arcs is greater than the perimeter defined by the parallel sections and the second arcs;
• the top portion for mounting to the bottom portion for encapsulating the fiber;
• and
• means for retaining the fiber splice tray in fixed position relative to the intermodule mechanical coupling.

An optical fiber hydrophone module comprising:

• an optical hydrophone assembly comprising a plurality of mandrels helically wrapped with optical fiber and connected in linear relation;
• an intermodule mechanical coupling proximate to an end of the hydrophone assembly;
• a fiber splice tray comprising a housing having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a longitudinal axis, and disposed at least in part within the intermodule mechanical coupling;
• the fiber splice tray bottom portion having at least one opening at each end through which the optical fiber passes, the bottom portion further comprising an internal groove for housing the fiber;
• the bottom portion internal groove comprising first and section opposing parallel sections that are parallel to the longitudinal axis and the opposing parallel sections each having a first end and a second end, the first ends of each section proximate to each other and the second ends of each section proximate to each other, and proximate to both ends of the parallel sections a first arc and a second arc connecting the first end of one parallel section to the first end of the other parallel section, whereby there are two continuous looped alternative fiber paths of differing perimeters;
• the fiber splice tray top portion for mounting to the bottom portion for encapsulating the fiber;
• and
• means for retaining the fiber splice tray in fixed position relative to the intermodule mechanical coupling.

A method for storing spliced fibers, splice sleeves, and excess fiber service length in a fiber splice tray for use in an optical fiber hydrophone module, the module comprising an optical fiber hydrophone assembly and terminating with an intermodule mechanical coupling, the hydrophone assembly comprising a plurality of mandrels helically wrapped with optical fiber and connected in linear relation, the steps comprising:

• inserting the fiber into a housing, the housing having a longitudinal axis, a top portion, and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having at least one opening at each end through which the optical fiber passes and further comprising an internal groove;
• wrapping fiber in the internal groove, the internal groove comprising first and section opposing parallel sections that are parallel to the longitudinal axis and the opposing parallel sections each having a first end and a second end, the first ends of each section proximate to each other and the second ends of each section proximate to each other, and proximate to both ends of the parallel sections a first arc and a second arc connecting the first end of one parallel section to the first end of the other parallel section, whereby there are two continuous looped alternative fiber paths of differing perimeters;
• choosing paths in the internal groove along which to wrap the fiber;
• aligning a splice or splice sleeve, if any, along one of the parallel sections;
• and inserting the fiber through an opening in the housing to exit the fiber splice tray.