DE4343944A1 - Flexible splice sleeve for optical fibre light conductor - Google Patents

Abstract

The splice sleeve (3) has a carrier foil provided with an adhesive layer (6) on its inside face for securing the splice sleeve after winding it around the splice point. The outside surface of the splice sleeve has a reinforcing mesh, pref. secured to the outside of the carrier foil. Pref. the adhesive layer is formed from a thermoplastics adhesive, activated by application of heat. The splice sleeve may be separated from an endless band and wound around the splice point so that its free ends overlap.

Description

The invention relates to a flexible splice protection for Optical fiber. Optical fibers can be replaced by thermal Splices to be joined together. These splices because of their sensitivity to mechanical Loads and environmental influences are usually protected the. Rigid metal protection devices are used for this det or tubular protective devices that a Steel wire support or a narrow metal plate exhibit. The splice provided with a splice protector is required because of its mass and its rigid, inflexible opening build the shelf in a suitable device, for example a cassette.

The object of the invention is an almost weightless and Specify elastic splice protection as part of the fiber can be treated.

This object is achieved by the specified in claim 1 Splice protection solved.

Advantageous developments of the invention are in the sub claims specified.

The particular advantage lies in the simple embodiment of splice protection. By gluing the splice these are completely shielded from environmental influences. Of the Splice protection increases the diameter of the fiber optic cable ter fiber only minimal. By reinforcing the carrier film Any desired bending stiffness can be achieved with support yarns be achieved. The support yarns can be dia gonal as well as in the axial direction of the optical waveguide fen. In the latter solution, the largest is rigid  achieved with a minimal amount of support yarn, d. H. of the Splice protection can be the thinnest. The splice is protected against buckling; the splice remains elastic. A deposit of the splice in special devices gene is no longer required.

It is particularly advantageous if the splice protection is already in place is prefabricated as a hollow cylinder. He then automatically presses himself table around the fiber optic cable and only needs can be glued to it by heating.

Repeated heating usually improves the train strength and elasticity of the thermal splice.

Due to the pressure exerted on the glass top by the splice protection area becomes the permissible tensile force of the splice and its Elasticity increased.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Show it:

Fig. 1 a splice protection when applying to the splice and

Fig. 2 ben the side view of the splice protection before Verkle.

In Fig. 1, a pre-formed splice protection 3 has been pushed laterally around the thermal splice point 2 of an optical waveguide 1 . The splice protector 3 has been prefabricated as a hollow cylinder, its overlapping surface in the longitudinal direction overlapping. Due to tension, the splice protection rolls tightly around the optical fiber 1 . By heating, the internally applied adhesive layer 6 is activated and glues both the splice protection with the Lichtwellenlei ter and the overlapping parts of the outer surface.

In Fig. 1, the optical waveguide 1 is shown enlarged with the splice protection 3 surrounding it. The reinforcements are clearly visible through support yarns 4 which are attached to the outside of a carrier film 5 . The splice protector can of course also be cut and glued directly from an endless belt. In this case, an adhesive layer active at normal temperatures can also be used.

The support yarns always ensure a kink-free splice, even if the optical waveguide starts to bend is placed.

Claims (5)

1. Flexible splice protection ( 3 ) for optical waveguide ( 1 ), characterized in that on its inside with an adhesive layer ( 6 ) ver see carrier film ( 5 ), which is reinforced by supporting yarns ( 4 ) to a splice ( 2 ) of the Optical fiber ( 1 ) is wound and glued to it. 2. Splice protection according to claim 1, characterized in that a thermoplastic adhesive is provided as the adhesive layer ( 6 ). 3. Splice protection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the supporting yarns are attached to the outside of the carrier film ( 5 ). 4. Splice protection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting yarns in the axial direction of the Lichtwellenlei age ( 1 ). 5. Splice protection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the splice protection ( 3 ) is preformed as a hollow cylinder with a lateral surface partially overlapping in the axial direction.