DE8430063U1 - Device for making cable splice connections, especially for fiber optic cables - Google Patents

Description

660 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village , Ohio 44143 (USA)

Title: Device for the production of cable splice connections, especially for fiber optic cables

The invention relates to an apparatus for making cable splice connections and the like, especially with fiber optic cables. Primarily, the invention is directed to an apparatus to facilitate the compilation and subdivision of the light guides to be connected during the production of Cable splice connections directed.

Although the invention is preferably intended for the production of spliced connections of fiber optic cables and is described in this context is described in more detail below, it has broader application possibilities, insofar as as at least certain features of the invention in connection with other types of cables including metallic wires; Flexible waveguides or waveguides and the like. Can be used.

The extremely small diameter of the fiber optic light guide allows a very large number of individual Assemble light guides to form a light guide cable. When such fiber optic cables are spliced together are to be, the individual light guides must be separated from each other and with the appropriate light guides another cable. In contrast to metal wires, light guides do not remain in a

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given deflection or a certain deformation orientation. It is therefore more difficult to use the light guides for making the splice connections to break down and assemble. In practice it will be Various measures were taken to separate the individual light guides or light guide groups from the cable are to be kept in this separate state. When the splice is finished, the splice turns into a Splice case introduced to protect the cable splices ^ and to achieve stress relief. It is desirable that the individual light guides in the splice housing be held so firmly that movements and vibrations of the individual splice connections affect their transmission properties could be suppressed.

The main object of the invention is to provide a device for facilitating the splice connections in particular to create fiber optic cables that break down and assemble the individual fiber optic cables Establishing the cable splice connections facilitates and which is expediently also able to produce the completed cable splice reliably in its position. In addition, the invention aims at an expedient embodiment of the the aforementioned device with the cable splice receiving cable sleeve or the like., In particular economical Manufacturing and easy handling of the device are aimed at.

The aforesaid task is matched with those specified in the claims Features solved.

The device according to the invention essentially comprises one flat base surface, which carries a plurality or plurality of flexible lamellae, which are attached to the by means of a bracket Base surface are stored, so that the thin fla-

existing lamellas formed like the pages of a book can be bent or deflected upwards, in order to be able to arrange the splice connection between them. The individual slats are expediently made of a soft, compliant material, preferably a polymeric plastic material. In a preferred embodiment, the Slats cooperating flexible fastening strips made of fabric or the like. with a hook and loop fastener, Preferably a Velcro fastener or the like., Are provided and with the help of which the lamellae with the between them lying spliced optical light guides can be connected. It is also advisable to have a Provide hold-down device, which the slats, comparable to the pages of a closed book, in im hold essentially parallel position to each other and thus fix the conductor connections in their position. The end The device existing on the stack of lamellas forms a cushion-like device that encloses the various conductor connections Structure in which the conductor connections are held against movement and vibrations.

The invention further comprises the overall design of a cable sleeve or the like receiving the cable splice, consisting of a splice case, a main insert and a splice receiving part. The splice housing expediently has a Pair of end pieces or end plates, each of which can accommodate at least one cable to be spliced. Between the two end plates are rods or torsion bars or the like. turned on which the face plates keep them at a fixed distance from each other. The main insert part has a holder, with the help of which it is attached the torsion bars can be stored. It is also provided with / fine cable receptacle, which the ends of each other takes up the cable to be connected. The splice receiving part is mounted on the main insert part and closes the splice connections.

The main insert is preferably secured by means of retaining clips, Spring clips or the like. connected to the torsion bars. The arrangement is expediently made so that said retaining clips or the like. can be plugged into the main insert part by means of a plug connection.

The aforementioned splice receiving part is expediently formed by the component described above, which consists of the one Book composed of flexible slats. This component expediently has an essentially flat one Base surface on, from the opposite side edges C. a pair of side walls protrude. The flexible slats lie between the side walls on the base or floor surface. The slat bracket is preferably made of a number of pins or the like. Which are spaced from one another in the vicinity of one of the two side walls of the splice receiving part are arranged so that the slats stick on the pins and, comparable to the sides of a book to insert the fiber optic splices.

The one formed by the lamella pack, the receptacle of the cable splice Serving device can be produced in an economical manner and allows easy handling in the production of cable splices, especially for fiber optic cables. With the help of this device you can Assemble the individual conductors or groups of conductors in an expedient manner when making the splice connections and break down; at the same time, after the cable splice has been completed, the conductors connected to one another are against harmful movements set.

Further useful embodiments and advantages of the The invention emerges from the following description of the preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing. In the drawing show:

1 shows an exploded view of an inventive concept

Apparatus for making cable splices;

FIG. 2 shows the device according to FIG. 1 in the assembled state and in a section transverse to its longitudinal axis, in cross section along line 2-2 of FIG. 3;

Fig. 3 the main insert and the inventive

Splice receiving part of the aforementioned device in v / a section along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows, in an exploded view, the lamellae serving to accommodate the splice, which in the device according to FIG up to 3 are used.

As shown in FIG. 1 in particular, the device shown consists of a split housing A, which can be of conventional design and in which a device B is mounted as a built-in part, which is used as an assembly aid in the production of the cable splice, ie for the subdivision and assembly of the to be connected as well as to accommodate the cable *. ties serves. The ends of the cables to be spliced together are firmly clamped on the splice housing A, so that the cable splice is relieved of tensile forces on the cable. The airtight sealed splice housing A protects the cable splice located in it · The device B makes it easier to assemble and arrange the fiber-like light guides during the splicing process; After the splice connections have been completed, it fixes the cables spliced to one another in an essentially vibration and movement-free manner. In this way, a long-lasting splice connection is created which is essentially free from transmission interference.

The splice case A has a pair of end pieces or end pieces

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plates 10 and 12, supported by a pair of parallel rods or torsion bars 14 and 16 at a fixed distance from one another being held. The splice case A further comprises a pair of semi-cylindrical housing parts 18 and 20 which, as also FIG. 2 shows, with one another and with the two end plates 10 and 12 to form a hermetically sealed one cylindrical housing can be connected. The two end plates 10 and 12 each have at least one cable entry opening through which the cables to be connected are inserted into the splice housing A. The two end plates 10 and 12 of the one shown in FIG Splice housings of conventional design each consist of a pair of semicircular, resilient plate parts, which are braced against each other with an airtight seal and the associated cable between pinch themselves under the seal. The cables are clamped to the end plates 10 and 12 with such a force that that, with the expected cable tensile forces, they do not pass through the end plate out of the splice housing can be pulled out.

It goes without saying that there is a need for the tight enclosure and clamping of the cables and for the implementation of the seals the cables and the end plates different measures can be taken.

The device arranged in the splice housing A as a built-in part and splicing aid in the preferred exemplary embodiment B comprises a U-shaped or channel-shaped main insert part 30 which, as can be seen from FIG.

the
rule / torsion bars 14 and 16 is stored. The main insert has parallel side walls 32 and 34, the outer sides of which are arranged at a distance from one another which is approximately equal to the side distance between the two torsion bars 14 and 16, so that the main insert 30 fits flush between the torsion bars.

The side walls 32 and 34 have shoulder surfaces formed Bearing parts or offsets 36 and 38 for holding further built-in parts, as explained in more detail below will. The base or bottom surface 40 of the main insert 30 is on the inside with a resilient Covered upholstery 42, which extends over the entire length of the main insert part 30 and at its ends around the Front edges of the bottom 42 is laid around. This padding serves to protect the inserted cables.

There is also the possibility of 30 cable holders or the like at each of the two ends of the main insert part. to provide which are used to reliably secure the inserted cables. Such cable holders can, for example, be a bendable Adhesive tape or an adhesive tape or the like. have that or which is fastened to the floor 40 by screw fastening. The adhesive tape or the like. is wrapped tightly around the inserted cable (s).

On the side walls 32 and 34 of the channel-shaped main insert 30 insert strips 50 and 52 or the like are arranged on the outside, which extend over the entire length of the side walls extend. The main insert 30 preferably consists of a plastic part on which the plug-in strips 50 and 52 can be molded in one piece. The plug-in strips 50 and 52 each have a continuous one Groove with an at least approximately circular cross-section, which extends over a circumference of more than 180 ° (Fig. 2) is enclosed by the plastic material. The two Plug-in strips are also provided with a linear lower edge, which is located on the one here Torsion bar 14 or 16 of the splice housing A is supported.

To hold the main insert 30 in the splice housing A, several identically designed holding clips or holding-

clamps 54 used, each eii.e running along its length Have bar 56, which is dimensioned so that it can be inserted into the groove of the plug-in strips 50, 52, as this is shown in FIG. In addition, each retaining clip 54 has a flat recess 58 for receiving the flat rails formed torsion bars 14, 16. Finally, a projecting contact surface 60 is arranged on each clamp holder 54, which the assigned torsion bar 14 or

gripped under on its underside and lies against the relevant side wall 32 or 34 of the main insert part 30. The retaining clips 54 are attached to the side walls 32 and 34 of the main insert 30 as shown in FIG Main insert 30 and thus the entire installation device on the torsion bars 14 and 16 is fixed.

As FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show, the main insert 30 takes a splice receiving part between its side walls 32 and 34 70, which also has a U-shaped or channel-shaped cross-section and is located on the shoulder surfaces or deposits 36 and 38 of the main insert 30 is supported. It is between the bottom 40 of the Haupteinsatüteils 30 and the bottom of the splice receiving part 70 a cable receiving channel educated. The bottom 72 of the splice receiving part 70 is covered with a flexible support 74, to protect the inserted cables and their optical fiber conductors. The compliant pad 74 is on the two Ends of the splice receiving part 70 placed around the end edges of the base 72, specifically, as FIG. 3 shows, with a such a large radius of curvature that sharper bends in the light guide are avoided here. The two towering ones Side walls 76 and 78 of the splice receiving part 70 are perpendicular to the base or bottom surface 72; they run parallel to the side walls 32, 34 of the main insert 30 and also parallel to the torsion rails 14 and 16. The two side walls 76 and 78 each have a large number of inwardly pointing saws on their inside.

toothed projections 80, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the side walls 76 and 78 extend. A plurality of pins 82, 84 and 86 are supported on the floor 72 in a vertical array. the Pins 82, 84 and 86 are in series one behind the other on a line that is parallel and closely spaced to the adjacent one Side wall 76 runs. The number of pens can vary.

As particularly FIGS. 1 and 4 show, are in the splice receiving part 70 substantially parallel to the latter Floor 72 several flat structures or lamellas 90 arranged

- 'net, the possible rectangular outline of the shape and dimensions the inner opening of the splice receiving part 70 is adapted. The slats 90 are preferably put together in pairs, each pair of lamellae being formed from the lamellae 90a and 90b shown in FIG. The slats 90a and 90b are connected by eyes or eyes 92, 94, 96 in the vicinity of their one longitudinal edge. The eyelets 92, 94, 96 form eyes through which pins 82, 84 and 86 can reach. If the slats or the pairs of slats are attached to the pins 82, 84, 86, the lamellae lie flat like the pages of a book on each other. At the same time, the slats or the

Fold up the pairs of lamellas, like the pages of a book, so that the spaces between the lamellas or the pairs of lamellas become accessible. The slats consist of a soft, flexible material, in particular a felt material or another non-woven material. The felt material preferably consists of a plastic polymer or the like, which is resistant to aging and resistant to weathering and rotting.

With the surfaces of the lamellae lying on top of one another forming lamellae 90b and 90a are fastening strips connected by gluing or in some other way, which secures and fixes the light guides and their splice connections.

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bindings serve. The two pairs of fastening strips 98, 100 or 102, 104 are preferably made of a fabric or fabric or the like, e.g. VELCRO. They are hooked and Loop, in particular a so-called Velcro fastener or the like., Provided to the light guides and their connections to secure on and between the slats. It goes without saying, that on the pins 82, 34 and 86 a larger number such pairs of lamellae can be plugged into a package according to the number of splice connections to be made .

To the slats in their parallel position to the floor or To define the base surface 72, a hold-down device 110 (FIG. 1) is provided. In the preferred embodiment, hold-down device 110 consists of a plurality elastic hold-down elements 112, 114, which are dimensioned in their length so that they with their two opposite Ends can be inserted into the tooth gaps of the sawtooth rows 80. The sloping upper flanks of the saw teeth support the insertion of the hold-down elements 112, 114, which accordingly have their ends above the rows of teeth away so far down into the splice receiving part 70 until they are in a position in the Snap into the gaps between the teeth in which the package, the one on top of the other Lamellae relative to the base surface 72 is set. The undercut lower flanks of the saw teeth prevent the hold-down elements from sliding up unintentionally. The hold-down elements 112 and 114 can be inserted after the splice is completed and all of the slats 90 are in position. You can but can also be used between individual lamella groups or between the individual elements.

During the production of the cable splice, the ends of the cables to be connected to one another, as shown in FIG.

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borrowed, through the end plates 10 and 12 of the splice case A. passed through and in the cable entry openings of the End plates firmly clamped. The main insert 30 is then inserted between the torsion bars 14 and 16 and fixed to the rails with the aid of the clamp holders 54. A sufficient length of the cable housing with The distance between the housing end wall and the bottom surface 72 of the splice receiving part 70 is predetermined. The rest Housing is removed. The non-sheathed fibers or light guides are with the ends facing each other placed over the bottom of the main insert 30.

Then the splice receiving part 70 is in the main insert part 30 introduced and deposited on the shoulder surfaces 36, 38. A first pair of blades 90 are inserted into the splice receiving part 70 introduced and placed on the pins 82, 84 and 86. The upper lamella 90a of this pair of lamellas is folded up and placed over the side wall 32. Then one of the cables to be connected is created First fiber or conductor group cut to the correct length and over the cushion 74 at the ends of the Bottom 70 led around inward into the splice receiving part 70, whereupon the corresponding fibers of the splice ßenden cables are connected to one another at splices 120. After connecting the first group of fibers will be these fibers and their connections 120 through the Velcro connection of the fastening strips 98, 100 and 102, 104 secured with respect to the lower lamella 90b when the upper lamella 90a is placed over the splice points 120. Afterward further pairs of lamellas are inserted and the splicing process is repeated in an analogous manner for the white tere fiber groups. The hold-down elements 112 and 114 who introduced into the sawtooth rows to the lamellae and determine the splice connections.

With the help of the device arranged in the splice housing A

device B results in a considerable reduction in workload in the production of cable splices, especially in the case of fiber optic cables. The division of the conductor bundle and the assembly of the conductors to be connected can be done with Using the device described properly carry out without difficulty. The device is characterized by simple and economical construction from »The cable splice connection is integrated into the cushion formed by the stacked flexible lamellas, in which the interconnected individual conductors are held against movement.

Claims (20)

ι i j · · Claims 1. Device for making cable splice connections and the like., In particular in the case of fiber optic cables, characterized in that there are a plurality of flexible slats (90), which are arranged in the manner of the pages of a book approximately parallel to an essentially flat surface on a slat bracket O (82, 84, 86) are stored so that they can accommodate splice connections (120) to be arranged between them can be individually bent away from the base surface. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a hold-down device (110) is provided which keeps the lamellae (90) approximately parallel to the base surface (72) and keeps them flexible during the splicing process Deflecting the lamellae (90) is releasable. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that there is a pair approximately perpendicular? Ur flat base surface (72) standing side walls (76, 78) running approximately parallel to the lamella holder (82, 84, 86) in such a Has arrangement that the lamellae (90) can be deflected along a bending axis from the base surface (72) are approximately parallel to these side walls (76, 78), the lamellae (90) between the side walls which are essentially parallel to one another (76, 78), and that the hold-down device (110) has at least one hold-down element (112, 114) which can be connected to the side walls (76, 78) for holding the lamellae (90) in their parallel position is. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the side walls (76, 78) with inwardly directed recesses are provided, in which the elastic hold-down element (112, 114) engages. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the recesses are formed by a plurality of sawtooth rows (80) are whose teeth protrude approximately parallel to the base surface (72). 6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that the lamellae (90) are made of soft, resilient material. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that that the slats (90) made of a felt-like non-woven cloth made of a ^ synthetic polymer material exist. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that that the slats (90) are provided with eyes (92, 94, 96). 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the slats (90) are connected in pairs via the eyelets (92, 94, 96) are. 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that that to secure the light guide on the associated surfaces of the slats (90) fastening pieces (98, 100; 102, 104), in particular made of cloth or the like. With hook and loop fastener or a Velcro fastener or the like. Are arranged. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the fastening pieces (98, 100; 102, 104) from transversely to the bending axis over the lamellae (90) extending flexible strips of fabric or the like. exist, which form a hook-and-loop fastener or a Velcro fastener and between which the spliced Run through the light guide. 12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that that the lamella holder from pins (82, 84, 86) or the like. consists of that with the base surface (72) are connected and openings in the lamellae (90) extend through such that they look like the sides of a Book are stored hinged. 13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that that it has a channel-shaped profile, and that the between the side walls (75, 78) arranged, approximately rectangular lamellae (90) on their one longitudinal edge in the vicinity of the one side wall (76) are mounted on the holder (82, 84, 86). 14. Apparatus according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it is in a main insert (30) is stored, which is in a splice housing (A) (is arranged. 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the main insert part (30) with a bearing (36, 38) for Receiving the splice receiving part (70) in such a Way is provided that under the bottom (72) of the splice receiving part (70) a channel is formed in such a way that the cables to be connected from the end pieces (10, 12) of the splice housing (A) can be passed in opposite directions through this channel of the main insert part (30) and loopable around the opposite ends of the bottom of the splice receiving part (70) and can be brought together from here to form the splice point. 16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that that the splice housing (A) has a pair of end pieces (10, 12) provided with cable bushings, the torision rails (14, 16) or the like. be kept at a fixed mutual distance, and that the main insert (30) is mounted on the torsion bars (14, 16) by means of bearing elements. 17. Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the bearing elements consist of spring clips, retaining clips (54) or the like. exist, each having a recess (58) for receiving a torsion bar (14, 16) and which are provided with connection members for connection to the main insert part (30). 18. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the connecting members consist of interlocking projections and depressions, in particular ribs and grooves or the like., exist. 19. Device according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that that the splice housing (A) consists of two housing shells (18, 20), which at the ends through the end pieces (10, 12) designed as end plates are closed. 20. Apparatus according to one or more of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the channel-shaped splice receiving part (70) has a shorter length than the trough-shaped main insert part (30), and that the splice receiving part (70) can be inserted into the main insert part (30) and is at a distance from the main insert part from the ground supported on this.