Cutter tool and a method of making a branch connection with at least one optical fiber of a telecommunications cable
AssigneeDraka Comteq B.V.
InventorsOlivier Tatat, Alain Lavenne, Jean-Pierre Bonicel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cutter tool for cutting at least one optical fiber arranged freely in a cavity of a telecommunications cable, the tool including a cutting element and a tube, the cutting element being adapted to form a snare around at least one optical fiber to be cut, the snare providing two strands of filament adapted to be introduced in the tube, and the tool enabling an optical fiber branch connection to be made over a long distance through an existing tapping window.
Claims14
A cutter tool for cutting at least one optical fiber arranged freely in a cavity of a telecommunications cable, the tool comprising a cutting element and a tube, the cutting element being adapted to form a snare around at least one optical fiber to be cut, the snare providing two strands of filament adapted to be introduced in the tube.
A method of making a branch connection with at least one optical fiber of a telecommunications cable, the cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers arranged freely in a cavity that is surrounded by a sheath, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming an opening in a sheath of a cable;
- forming a snare with a sharp filament around at least one optical fiber to be cut, the sharp filament providing a loop forming the snare and two filament strands providing free ends;
- inserting the strands of filament into a tube, one end of the tube having the snare projecting therefrom and the other end of the tube having the free ends of the sharp filament projecting therefrom;
- inserting the tube into the cavity of the cable through an opening formed in the sheath of the cable;
- causing the snare to slide along the at least one optical fiber to be cut;
- pulling on the free ends of the sharp filament so as to section the at least one optical fiber;
- and
- making a branch connection with the at least one sectioned optical fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.