GB2136349A - Optical fibre splicing - Google Patents

Optical fibre splicing Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2136349A
GB2136349A GB08334105A GB8334105A GB2136349A GB 2136349 A GB2136349 A GB 2136349A GB 08334105 A GB08334105 A GB 08334105A GB 8334105 A GB8334105 A GB 8334105A GB 2136349 A GB2136349 A GB 2136349A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
resin
tape
plastics material
optical fibres
mould cavity
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08334105A
Other versions
GB8334105D0 (en
GB2136349B (en
Inventor
Simon John Stannard-Powell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Balfour Beatty PLC
Original Assignee
BICC PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BICC PLC filed Critical BICC PLC
Priority to GB08334105A priority Critical patent/GB2136349B/en
Publication of GB8334105D0 publication Critical patent/GB8334105D0/en
Publication of GB2136349A publication Critical patent/GB2136349A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2136349B publication Critical patent/GB2136349B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • G02B6/255—Splicing of light guides, e.g. by fusion or bonding
    • G02B6/2558—Reinforcement of splice joint
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/70—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by moulding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/69—General aspects of joining filaments 
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
    • B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
    • B29D11/00663—Production of light guides
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/71—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined

Abstract

In a method of covering a fusion splice 1 between optical fibres 2 having a cladding 3 of hardened resin, semi-fluid resin 5 is applied to one surface of a length of tape 6 and the tape is folded around the optical fibre splice so as to form a mould cavity 8. The volume of the mold cavity 8 is reduced by continuously squeezing the overlying end parts 7 of the tape 6 together e.g. by drawing through a die 9 to ensure that the mould cavity 8 is filled with resin 5. The resin 5 is caused or permitted to set and bond to the exposed parts of the fibres 2 and to the cutback ends of the claddings 3. After the resin 5 has set, the tape 6 is peeled away. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Optical fibre splicing This invention relates to end-to-end fusion splicing of optical fibres and is particularly concerned with end-to-end fusion splicing of optical fibres having a cladding or protective covering.or'Jrnsin or other hardened plastics material.
When effecting an end-to-end fusion splice between two. optical fibres each having a cladding or protectiVe covering or resin or other hardened plastics material, it is the general practice to remove the cladding or protective covering from an end part of each optical fibre before effecting the fusion splice. After the fusion splace has been effected, it is desirable that the exposed fusionspliced end parts of the optical fibres are re-clad or re-covered with resin or other hardened plastics material.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple method of providing a cladding or protective covering to an end-to-end fusion space between optical fibres having a cladding or protective covering of resin or other hardened plastics material, which method can be readily and swiftly effected by semi-skilled or unskilled personnel.
According to the invention the method comprises applying resin or other hardenable plasics material in a semi-fluid state to one surface of a length of flexible tape of a width greater than the distance between cut-back ends of the claddings or protective coverings of the optical fibres; folding the tape with the surface carrying the resin or other plastics material innermost around the optical fibre splice so that marginal portions of the tape overlie the cut-back ends of the claddings or protective coverings of the optical fibres and the radially inner surfaces of end parts of the tape are in interfacial engagement to form a mould cavity; reducing the volume of the mould cavity so formed by smoothly and continuously squeezing said overlying end parts of the tape together in a direction towards the longitudinal axis of the spliced optical fibres to ensure that the mould cavity is substantially filled with resin or other plastics material; permitting or causing the resin or other plastics material in the mould cavity to set and bond to the exposed parts of the optical fibres and to the cut-back ends of the claddings or protective coverings of the optical fibres; and, after the resin or other plastics material has set, peeling away the tape.
The resultant moulded body of hardened resin or other plastics material in which the optical fibre splice is encapsulated will be of substantially circular cross-section with a radially outwardly extending fin running lengthwise along the moulded body. Where desired, this longitudinally extending fin may be removed.
Squeezing of the overlying end parts of the tape together in a direction towards the longitudinal axis of the spliced optical fibres to force excess resin outwardly between the tape and the underlying claddings or protective coverings is preferably effected by drawing the overlying end parts of the tape through a gap between a pair of substantially rigid plates, or through a slot in a substantially rigid plate, which gap or slot is of such a width that the plates or side walls of the slot effectively tighten the tape around the optical fibre splice to reduce the volume of the mould cavity.
For encapsulating the optical fibre splice it is preferred to employ a resin cured by ultra-violet radiation. Where each optical fibre has a cladding of silicone resin, for encapsulating the optical fibre splice it is preferred to employ silicones that can be cured by ultra-violet radiation.
For the tape, it is preferred to employ a tape of polyethylene or other plastics material which can be so thin that the tape, when folded around the optical fibre splice, can form a mould cavity having a transverse shape and dimension approximating to those of the cladding or protective covering of each optical fibre.
The invention also includes an optical fibre splice made by the method as hereinbefore described.
The invention is further illustrated by a description, by way of example, of the preferred method of providing a protective covering to an optical fibre splice with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 shows a preliminary stage in the manufacture of the protected optical fibre splice, and Figure 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the mould formed around the optical fibre splice, drawn on a greatly enlarged scale.
Referring to the drawings, the fusion splice 1 to which a protective covering of resin is to be applied is effected between two optical fibres 2 of diameter 0.125 mm, each of which has a protective coating 3 of resin of overall diameter 0.25 mm.
In forming the protective covering, resin 5 in a semi-fluid state is applied to one surface of a length 6 of flexible polyethylene tape of a width greater than the distance between cut-back ends of the protective coverings 3 of the optical fibres 2. The tape 6 with the surface carrying the resin 5 innermost is folded around the optical fibre splice 1 so that marginal portions of the tape overlie the cut-back ends of the protective coverings 3 of the optical fibres 2 and the radially inner surfaces of end parts 7 of the tape are in interfacial engagement to form a mould cavity 8.The volume of the mould cavity 8 is reduced by smoothly and continuously drawing the overlying end parts 7 of the tape 6 through a slot 10 in a substantially rigid plate 9, the slot being of such a width that the side walls of the slot effectively tighten the tape around the optical fibre splice 1 to reduce the volume of the mould cavity, thereby ensuring that the mould cavity is substantially filled with resin 5. The resin 5 is then permitted or caused to set the bond to the exposed parts of the optical fibres 2 and to the cut-back ends of the protective coverings 3 and, after the resin has set, the tape 6 is peeled away.
The resultant moulded body of hardened resin 5 in which the optical fibre splice 1 is encapsulated will be of substantially circular cross-section with a radially outwardly extending fin 12 running lengthwise along the moulded body. This fin may or may not be removed, as required.

Claims (8)

1. A method of providing a cladding or protective covering to an end-to-end fusion splice between optical fibres having a cladding or protective covering of resin or other hardened plastics material, which method comprises applying resin or other hardenable plastics material in a semi-fluid state to one surface of a length of flexible tape of a width greater than the distance between cut-back ends of the claddings or protective coverings of the optical fibres; folding the tape with the surface carrying the resin or other plastics material innermost around the optical fibre splice so that marginal portions of the tape overlie the cut-back ends of the claddings or protective coverings of the optical fibres and the radially inner surfaces of end parts of the tape are in interfacial engagement to form a mould cavity; reducing the volume of the mould cavity so formed by smoothly and continuously squeezing said overlying end parts of the tape together in a direction towards the longitudinal axis of the spliced optical fibres to ensure that the mould cavity is substantially filled with resin or other plastics material; permitting or causing the resin or other plastics material in the mould cavity to set and bond to the exposed parts of the optical fibres and to the cut-back ends of the claddings or protective coverings of the optical fibres; and, after the resin or other plastics material has set, peeling away the tape.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein squeezing of the overlying end parts of the tape together in a direction towards the longitudinal axis of the spliced optical fibres to force excess resin outwardly between the tape and the underlying claddings or protective coverings is effected by drawing the overlying end parts of the tape through a gap between a pair of substantially rigid plates, or through a slot in a substantially rigid plate, which gap or slot is of such a width that the plates or side walls of the slot effectively tighten the tape around the optical fibre splice to reduce the volume of the mould cavity.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the tape is of polyethylene or other plastics material.
4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the resultant moulded body of hardened resin or other plastics material is of substantially circular cross-section with a radially outwardly extending fin running lengthwise along the moulded body and the longitudinally extending fin is removed.
5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the resin applied in a semi-fluid state to one surface of the flexible tape is a resin that can be cured by ultra-violet radiation.
6. A method as claimed in Claim 5, wherein each optical fibre has a cladding of silicone resin and the resin applied to one surface of the flexible tape is a silicone.
7. A method of providing a protective covering to an end-to-end fusion splice between optical fibres having a protective covering of resin or other hardened plastics material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
8. An optical fibre fusion splice made by the method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.
GB08334105A 1982-12-23 1983-12-21 Optical fibre splicing Expired GB2136349B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08334105A GB2136349B (en) 1982-12-23 1983-12-21 Optical fibre splicing

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8236682 1982-12-23
GB08334105A GB2136349B (en) 1982-12-23 1983-12-21 Optical fibre splicing

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8334105D0 GB8334105D0 (en) 1984-02-01
GB2136349A true GB2136349A (en) 1984-09-19
GB2136349B GB2136349B (en) 1985-12-04

Family

ID=26284774

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08334105A Expired GB2136349B (en) 1982-12-23 1983-12-21 Optical fibre splicing

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2136349B (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2226978A (en) * 1989-01-13 1990-07-18 Telephone Cables Ltd Splicing plastics-clad optical fibres
US5277730A (en) * 1987-12-16 1994-01-11 At&T Bell Laboratories Methods of recoating spliced lengths of optical fibers
GB2290047A (en) * 1994-06-08 1995-12-13 Allseas Group Sa Method and installation for laying a pipe-line
US6485199B1 (en) 2000-04-13 2002-11-26 Amherst Holding Co. Disposable optical fiber splice sleeve and method for applying same

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5277730A (en) * 1987-12-16 1994-01-11 At&T Bell Laboratories Methods of recoating spliced lengths of optical fibers
GB2226978A (en) * 1989-01-13 1990-07-18 Telephone Cables Ltd Splicing plastics-clad optical fibres
US5000538A (en) * 1989-01-13 1991-03-19 Telephone Cables Limited Splicing optical fibres
AU624469B2 (en) * 1989-01-13 1992-06-11 Telephone Cables Limited Splicing optical fibres
GB2226978B (en) * 1989-01-13 1993-01-27 Telephone Cables Ltd Splicing optical fibres
GB2290047A (en) * 1994-06-08 1995-12-13 Allseas Group Sa Method and installation for laying a pipe-line
GB2290047B (en) * 1994-06-08 1998-03-11 Allseas Group Sa Method and installation for laying a pipe-line
US6485199B1 (en) 2000-04-13 2002-11-26 Amherst Holding Co. Disposable optical fiber splice sleeve and method for applying same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8334105D0 (en) 1984-02-01
GB2136349B (en) 1985-12-04

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee