Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
  • G02B6/3801—Permanent connections, i.e. wherein fibres are kept aligned by mechanical means
  • G02B6/3806—Semi-permanent connections, i.e. wherein the mechanical means keeping the fibres aligned allow for removal of the fibres

Definitions

• the invention relates to a mechanical splice for the connection of two conventional or multicore unit fibers.
• a main object of the present invention therefore relates to a mechanical crimp splice for optical fiber which consists of two half-cylinders produced symmetrically with respect to their median transverse plane, half-cylinders which are clamped against each other by a crimping cylinder. At least one of the half-cylinders is provided over at least part of its length with a longitudinal groove intended to receive the stripped fiber, and the half-cylinders carry raised or hollow elements placed symmetrically on either side of their longitudinal axis, elements which are intended to maintain a small spacing of the half-cylinders relative to each other, in the areas where these elements are located.
• one of the half-cylinders forming a support block has on each side of the median plane, a zone for introducing the fiber having a flared opening outwards, which extends into a neighboring area by a tunnel on either side of which are placed the raised elements forming heels, and a central zone carrying a V-shaped groove hollowed out in the upper face of the half-cylinder.
• the other of the half-cylinders forming a presser block has in the same zone an opening flared towards the outside, and in the same other zones corresponding to that of the support block, the underside of the presser block is flat and carries the elements in relief forming stops.
• the two half-cylinders are identical, each having a zone for introducing the sheathed fiber, an intermediate zone and a central zone , the flat face of which carries a V-shaped groove, the half-cylinders being kept at a distance from each other by a raised element in the shape of a heel of triangular section which is inserted at least partially into an element recessed in the shape of a groove in the opposite part.
• one of the half-cylinders forming a support block has on each side of the median plane, a zone for introducing the sheathed fiber having an outwardly flared opening which extends into a neighboring area by a V-shaped groove, and a central area carrying a U-shaped groove which extends the V-shaped groove
• the other of the half-cylinders forming a wedging and bursting cover has in the same end zone an inclined face, in the same intermediate zone a V-shaped groove and in the same central zone, an element in relief. forming a longitudinal allowance.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 cross-section views of the splice mechanical respectively before and after crimping.
• Figures 3 and 4 views respectively in plan and in elevation of a half-cylinder forming the support block of a first alternative embodiment.
• Figure 5 an enlarged sectional view along V-V of Figure 4.
• Figures 6 and 7 respectively plan and elevation views of a half-cylinder forming the pressure block of the first embodiment.
• Figure 8 an enlarged sectional view along VIII-
• Figure 9 an elevational view of a half-cylinder of a second alternative embodiment.
• Figure 11 a schematic sectional view of a multicore fiber before crimping.
• Figures 12 and 13 views respectively in plan and in elevation of a half-cylinder forming the support block of yet another alternative embodiment.
• Figures 14 and 15 enlarged sectional views respectively along XIV-XIV and XV-XV of Figure 12.
• Figures 16 and 17 respectively plan and elevation views of a half-cylinder forming the wedging and bursting cover of the other alternative embodiment according to Figures 12 and 13, for the self stripping of the fiber.
• Figure 18 an enlarged sectional view along XVIII- XVIII of Figure 17.
• Figure 19 a schematic sectional view of an optical fiber in the insulation displacement crimping phase.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows a mechanical splice for a conventional unitary fiber 4.
• This splice essentially consists of a support block of semi-cylindrical section generally designated by the reference 1, of a pressure block also of half section cylinder designated as a whole by the reference 2 and of a crimping cylinder 3.
• the stripped fiber 4 is placed in a V-shaped groove 11 provided at the center of the diametrical face of the support block 1.
• the support block On either side of this groove, that is to say on either side of the longitudinal axis of the half-cylinder, the support block is equipped with heels 10 forming an additional thickness above this upper face.
• the presser block 2 is placed above the support block 1, its lower face 21 being opposite the upper face 14 of the support block.
• the pressure block also has stops 20 forming an additional thickness, which are opposite the heels 10.
• the underside of the pressure block is flat. Note that all of the two blocks are housed inside the crimping cylinder 3.
• the crimping is carried out by deformation of the crimping cylinder 3 in a hexagonal matrix.
• the two half-cylinders 1 and 2 are tight against each other and in the central area where the two fibers are in contact, the deformation of the support block and the pressure block will cause the tightening optical fiber between the flat part of the pressure block and the V-groove in the support block.
• the support block 1 illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 shows a particular embodiment of this half cylinder in the case of a crimp splice for conventional fiber. It is produced symmetrically with respect to its median transverse plane M. On each side there is a first zone A for introducing the fiber, which has an opening 12 flared towards the outside. This opening communicates with a tunnel 13 which extends over a length B, which tunnel is centered on the axis of the half-cylinder. The tunnel extends throughout the central zone C of the support block by the V-shaped groove 11, hollowed axially in the upper side 1.
• zone B on either side of the tunnel 13, the two heels 10 are placed.
• the pressing block 2 is illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. It is also produced symmetrically with respect to its median transverse plane M. There are found the zones A, B, C, corresponding to the same zones of the support block 1.
• the pressure block also has in the zone A an opening 22 open towards the outside. But in zones B and C, the lower face 21 is flat and not hollowed out with a tunnel or a groove. In zone B, the two stops 20 are arranged, symmetrically on either side of the longitudinal axis of the pressure block.
• FIGS. 9 and 10 show an alternative embodiment of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, in which the half-cylinders are suitable for crimping multicore fibers as illustrated in FIG. 11.
• the two half-cylinders that is to say the support block 1 and the pressure block 2 are identical and assembled "head to tail" in the mechanical splice.
• the part also comprises the three zones A, B and C symmetrical with respect to the plane M. These zones have the same function as in the previous case.
• the flat faces of the half-cylinders have a V-shaped groove 11 for the stripped fiber.
• the half-cylinders are • kept at a distance from each other by a heel 15 of triangular section which is inserted at least partially into a groove 16 of the opposite part, arranged symmetrically with respect to the central groove 11, as seen in Figure 10. When the two half cylinders are pressed one on the other, the triangular shape of the heel 15 and the groove 16 participates in the relative centering of the two parts.
• the multicore fiber 5 with its sheath 6, visible in FIG. 11 is thus housed between the V-shaped grooves 11, between the support block 1 and the pressure block 2.
• Figures 12 to 19 illustrate a particular embodiment of the half-cylinders of a crimp splice which is self-stripping.
• FIGS. 12 and 13 a support block 1 in which the zones A, B and C of the preceding cases are found.
• Zones A and B are provided with the V-shaped groove 11, but in the central zone C the V-shaped groove is extended by a U-shaped groove 17 whose edges 18 receive a fiber 4 with its sheath 6, as we can see more clearly in Figures 14 and 15.
• Figures 16 and 17 is shown a cover 23 of jamming and bursting with its zones A, B and C corresponding to those of the support block.
• zone A an inclined face 24 promotes the introduction of the sheathed fiber.
• Zone B has a V-shaped groove 11, but the central zone of the cover (zone C) is provided with a longitudinal allowance 25. We can see more clearly in FIG. 18, the particular shape of this allowance 25.
• the inclined face 24 of zone A forms with the support block 1 a entry for the introduction of optical fiber.
• zone B when assembled, form the part in which the coating of the optical fiber rests.
• the non-stripped fibers When the non-stripped fibers are introduced into the splice, they are placed in zone C, between the U-shaped groove 17 of the support block 1, and the extra thickness 25.
• the coating of the fiber is "split" by the edges 18 of the groove 17 as illustrated in FIG. 19.
• the stripped part of the fiber is then positioned between these two edges, while the split sheath 6 is pushed back onto the sides.
• the stripped fiber is then held in position by the extra thickness 25.

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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• 1997
  • 1997-01-30 FR FR9701003A patent/FR2758891B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1998
  • 1998-01-29 US US09/355,523 patent/US6343879B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-01-29 CA CA002279880A patent/CA2279880C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-01-29 WO PCT/FR1998/000164 patent/WO1998034137A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-01-29 EP EP98904245A patent/EP1019761A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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