Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G15/00—Cable fittings
  • H02G15/08—Cable junctions
  • H02G15/10—Cable junctions protected by boxes, e.g. by distribution, connection or junction boxes
  • H02G15/117—Cable junctions protected by boxes, e.g. by distribution, connection or junction boxes for multiconductor cables
• • 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
  • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
  • G02B6/4401—Optical cables
  • G02B6/4415—Cables for special applications
  • G02B6/4416—Heterogeneous cables
• • 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
  • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
  • G02B6/4401—Optical cables
  • G02B6/4415—Cables for special applications
  • G02B6/4416—Heterogeneous cables
  • G02B6/44265—Fibre-to-antenna cables; Auxiliary devices thereof
• • 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
  • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
  • G02B6/4401—Optical cables
  • G02B6/4429—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
  • G02B6/44384—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials
• • 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
  • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
  • G02B6/4401—Optical cables
  • G02B6/4429—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
  • G02B6/44386—Freeze-prevention means
• • 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
  • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
  • G02B6/4439—Auxiliary devices
  • G02B6/4471—Terminating devices ; Cable clamps
  • G02B6/4472—Manifolds
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
  • H02G3/02—Details
  • H02G3/04—Protective tubing or conduits, e.g. cable ladders or cable troughs
  • H02G3/0462—Tubings, i.e. having a closed section
  • H02G3/0481—Tubings, i.e. having a closed section with a circular cross-section

Definitions

• the present invention is directed generally to communications cable and equipment, and more particularly to distribution from hybrid cables.
• hybrid cable is intended to mean a cable that includes both power conductors and one or more fiber optic cords or cables.
• An exemplary hybrid cable is the HFF cable, available from CommScope, Inc. (Joliet, Illinois).
• a single hybrid trunk cable can be used to power multiple sectors, thereby eliminating multiple runs of RF cable.
• the trunk cable in order to use a single hybrid trunk cable, at some point the trunk cable must transition to jumper cables. Typically, these are distributed inside an enclosure that transitions the trunk conductor gauge to the jumper conductor gauge and connects the optical fibers in the trunk to the optical fibers in the jumper cables.
• embodiments of the invention are directed to a transition assembly for a hybrid trunk cable, comprising: a hybrid trunk cable comprising a plurality of power conductors and a plurality of optical fibers surrounded by a jacket; a transition cup having a cavity, the hybrid trunk cable entering a first end of the transition cup; a plurality of power cords exiting a second end of the transition cup, each of the power cords electrically connected to a respective power conductor; a plurality of fiber optic cords exiting the second end of the transition cup, each of the fiber optic cords optically connected to a respective optical fiber; and a weather-resistant material residing in the cavity of the transition cup to protect the power cords and the fiber optic cords within the cavity.
• embodiments of the invention are directed to a transition assembly for a hybrid trunk cable, comprising: a hybrid trunk cable comprising a plurality of power conductors and a plurality of optical fibers surrounded by a jacket; a transition cup having a cavity, the hybrid trunk cable entering a first end of the transition cup; a plurality of power cords exiting a second end of the transition cup, each of the power cords electrically connected to a respective power conductor; a plurality of fiber optic cords exiting the second end of the transition cup, each of the fiber optic cords optically connected to a respective optical fiber; and a weather-resistant gasket residing in the cavity of the transition cup to protect the power cords and the fiber optic cords within the cavity.
• embodiments of the invention are directed to a transition assembly for a hybrid trunk cable, comprising: a hybrid trunk cable comprising a plurality of power conductors and a plurality of optical fibers surrounded by a jacket; a transition cup having a cavity, the hybrid trunk cable entering a first end of the transition cup; a plurality of power cords exiting a second end of the transition cup, each of the power cords spliced to a respective power conductor; a plurality of fiber optic cords exiting the second end of the transition cup, each of the fiber optic cords spliced to a respective optical fiber; and a weather-resistant material residing in the cavity of the transition cup to protect the power cords and the fiber optic cords within the cavity.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a transition assembly according to embodiments of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a section view of the cup of the transition assembly of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective cutaway view of a cup for a transition assembly according to embodiments of the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a gasket of the transition assembly of FIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cap of the transition assembly of FIG. 3.
• FIG. 6 is a perspective cutaway view of the transition assembly of FIG. 3 with fiber optic and power cables in place.
• the assembly 10 includes a hybrid trunk cable 12, a transition cup 40, power cords 28, and fiber optic cords 22.
• the transition cup 40 is generally cylindrical and may be formed of any suitable material, including metals and polymers.
• the transition cup 40 includes a main body 42 that defines a central cavity 44. At one end, the transition cup has a collar 46. The transition cup 40 is open at the opposite end.
• the hybrid trunk cable 12 which has a plurality of power conductors 13 and a plurality of optical fibers 14 encased in a jacket 15, enters the transition cup 40 through the collar 46.
• a heat shrink sleeve 50 seals the interface between the jacket 15 and the collar 46.
• the power conductors 13 of the hybrid trunk cable 12 are spliced into the power cords 28 that exit the opposite, open end of the transition cup 40.
• the optical fibers of the hybrid trunk cable 12 are spliced into the fiber optic cords 22 that exit the opposite end of the transition cup 40; these are protected with furcation tubes 24.
• the power cords 28 and the fiber optic cords 22 are terminated with appropriate connectors 30, 26.
• the power cords 28 and fiber optic cords 22 extend between about 0.5 and 50 meters from the transition cup 40, with a length of 0.75 meters being more typical. Also, those of skill in this art will appreciate that different numbers of power conductors 13 and optical fibers 14 may be included, as may different numbers of power cords 28 and fiber optic cords 22
• the cavity 44 of the transition cup 40 is filled (typically from the open end) with a weather-resistant material 48 such as an adhesive or potting compound.
• Typical weather-resistant materials include epoxy, polyurethane, and mixtures thereof, that can be added in liquid form to the transition cup 40 and allowed to harden/freeze in place. Weather-resistant properties may. include water, chemical, and UV resistance.
• the level of weather-resistant material 48 should be sufficient to engulf the splices of the power conductors/cords 13/28 and the optical fibers/fiber optic cords 14/22. This material 48 maintains the conductors 13, optical fibers 14, power cords 28 and fiber optic cords 22 in place while protecting the spliced areas from weather and other external factors.
• the hybrid trunk cable 12 is routed from the base of an antenna tower or similar structure to a location adjacent a piece of equipment (such as an RRU) mounted on the structure.
• the power cords 28 are then connected to the equipment via the connectors 30 and the optical fibers 24 are connected to the equipment via the fiber optic connectors 26.
• transition device 10 may take other forms.
• the transition cup 40 may take a different shape.
• the cavity 44 of the transition cup 40 may be partially filled with a filler (such as a liquid foam) to reduce the amount of epoxy required to protect the spliced areas. Transitions from (a) power conductor 13 to power cord 28 and/or (b) optical fiber 14 to fiber optic cord 22 may be achieved by means other than splicing. Other configurations will also be apparent to those of skill in this art.
• the transition cup 140 includes a gasket 150 (see FIG. 4) and a cap 160 (see FIG. 5) within the cavity 144.
• the gasket 150 includes holes 154 for receiving fiber optic cords 122 and holes 156 for receiving power cords 122 (see FIGS. 4 and 6).
• the cap 160 includes holes 164 for receiving fiber optic cords 122 and holes 166 for receiving power cords 122 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).
• the gasket 150 and cap 160 are maintained in place in shoulders 145, 147 on the inner surface of the main body 142 of the transition cup 140 (the gasket 150 may be an interference fit, and the cap 160 may be held in place via an adhesive).
• the gasket 150 should be positioned such that the transition areas (i.e., the splices) of the power and fiber optic interconnections are between the collar end of the transition cup 140 and the gasket 150.
• the gasket 150 and cap 160 can help to maintain the power cords 128 and fiber optic cords 122 in an organized arrangement as they exit the transition cup 140, and can provide a weather-resistant seal.
• the cavity 144 of the transition cup 140 may be filled with a weather-resistant material as described above.
• either the gasket 150 or the cap 160 may be omitted.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Cable Accessories (AREA)
• Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
• Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=58189042

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2016
  • 2016-08-30 EP EP16842791.2A patent/EP3345196A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2016-08-30 WO PCT/US2016/049406 patent/WO2017040476A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2016-08-30 AU AU2016317828A patent/AU2016317828B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2016-08-30 CN CN201680046076.5A patent/CN107924740B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

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