JP3380690B2 - Optical fiber storage structure and storage method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber storage structure and storage method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an optical amplifying apparatus, which is an example of an optical communication device used when constructing an optical fiber communication system, has an optical fiber cable (as shown in FIG. It is generally equipped with a cylindrical tube 11 which is a flexible tensile strength tube having an outer diameter similar to that of (not shown), and along the axial direction in the cylindrical tube 11,
A plurality of block bodies 12 to which optical amplification components (not shown) such as a DC-DC converter and an optical isolator are mounted are spaced from each other.

The optical fiber 13 connecting these optical amplification components is arranged along the axial direction of the cylindrical tube 11 and arranged with an extra length secured. This optical fiber 13 is provided in each block body 12
It is stored in and is held in a movable state. In addition, these block bodies 12 are connected using a connecting tool (not shown), and these connecting tools have a structure which can be deformed following the deformation of the flexible cylindrical tube 11. Have

By the way, when the optical fiber 13 is held by each block body 12, a storage structure as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is adopted, and the first optical fiber storage structure shown in FIG. Opening grooves 14 formed along the axial direction of each block body 12 are provided in advance on the outer surface of each block body 12 along the radial direction.
As a result of executing the storing method in which the optical fiber 13 is drawn along the axial direction in the cylindrical tube 11 while inserting each of them, and the drawn optical fiber 12 is stored and held in each opening groove 14. Is shown.

On the other hand, in the second optical fiber housing structure shown in FIG. 5, the outer surface side end portion along the radial direction of each block body 12 is penetrated in a shape along the axial center direction of each block body 12. The holes 15 are formed in advance, the optical fibers 13 are routed along the axial direction in the cylindrical tube 11 while inserting the respective through holes 15, and the routed optical fibers 13 are passed through the respective through holes 15. It is a structure obtained by executing the storing method of storing the inside and holding it.

[0006]

When the first optical fiber storage structure in the conventional form is adopted, the optical fiber 13 is not shown because it is necessary to prevent the optical fiber 13 from coming out of the opening groove 14. However, some filling is inserted into the opening groove 14 that accommodates the optical fiber 13, or the opening groove 14
The opening is closed with an adhesive tape or the like. However, if these measures were taken,
It is said that the outer diameter of the cylindrical tube 11 becomes large, the optical fiber 13 is pressed by the padding inserted in the opening groove 14, or the optical fiber 13 itself is fixed by an adhesive tape or the like, so that the optical fiber 13 becomes immovable. Such inconvenience occurs.

When the second optical fiber storage structure is adopted, the optical fiber 13 is inserted into the through holes 15 formed in each of the block bodies 12 and the optical fiber 13 is axially oriented in the cylindrical tube 11. Since it is necessary to route the optical fiber 13 along the optical fiber 13, not only is it troublesome to route the optical fiber 13, but also when the required parts are already arranged at both ends of the optical fiber 13, the through holes 15 can be inserted. No
It becomes impossible to store and hold the optical fiber 13 by each block body 12. Furthermore, in any of the storage structures, the surface state of the inner surface of the opening groove 14 or the through hole 15 with which the side surface of the optical fiber 13 is in contact is important, and it is necessary to secure a surface state that does not damage the optical fiber 13. Therefore, there is also an inconvenience that these processes require a great deal of labor and cost.

The present invention was devised in view of such inconveniences, and the optical fiber is not fixed, and it does not require labor to draw it around, and the optical fiber can be stored without considering the surface condition. It is intended to provide a structure and a storage method.

[0009]

According to the optical fiber storage structure of the present invention, the optical fiber is arranged along the axial direction in the cylindrical tube, and is separated from the optical fiber in the axial direction in the cylindrical tube. In the structure consisting of a plurality of block bodies in which the optical fibers are housed, an opening through which the optical fibers are inserted is formed on the outer surface along the radial direction of each block body, and each block is The outer surface side end portion along the radial direction of the body has a through hole that is wider than the opening and communicates with the opening and accommodates an optical fiber. A thin plate member that closes the opening and contacts the inner surface of the through hole is arranged around the outer circumference of the optical fiber housed in the inside in the radial direction.

The optical fiber storage method according to the present invention is
A method of housing an optical fiber routed along the axial direction in a cylindrical tube in a plurality of block bodies that are spaced apart along the axial direction in the cylindrical tube, along the radial direction of each block body. An optical fiber inserted through an opening formed on the outer surface is housed in a through hole formed at the outer surface side end portion along the radial direction of each block body, and the outside along the axial direction of the through hole. After the outer circumference along the radial direction of the exposed optical fiber is surrounded by a thin plate-shaped member, the thin plate-shaped member is inserted into the through hole and abutted against the inner surface of the through hole while closing the opening. It is characterized by that.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a simplified structure of an optical fiber accommodating structure according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a simplified accommodating method of an optical fiber according to this embodiment, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing which simplifies and shows the whole structure of an optical amplifier, and the code | symbol 1 in the figure has shown the block body. Since the overall configuration of the optical amplifying device is the same as that of the conventional configuration, FIG. 3 is used, and the basic configuration of the optical fiber is not different from that of the conventional configuration. In FIG. 2, parts and portions that are the same as those in FIGS. 4 and 5 are given the same reference numerals.

An optical amplifier, which is an example of an optical communication device,
A cylindrical tube which is used when constructing an optical fiber communication system and is a flexible tensile tube having an outer diameter similar to that of an optical fiber cable (not shown) as shown in FIG. 11, the optical fiber 13 routed along the axial direction in the cylindrical tube 11, and the optical fiber 13 which is spaced apart along the axial direction in the cylindrical tube 11 and accommodated and held. And a plurality of block bodies 1
At this time, each of the block bodies 1 is equipped with an optical amplification component (not shown) such as a DC-DC converter or an optical isolator. Note that these block bodies 1 are connected to each other by using a connecting tool (not shown), which is the same as the conventional form.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical fiber housing structure at this time is made up of the block bodies 1 and the optical fibers 13, and on the outer surface of each block body 1 along the radial direction. An opening 2 is formed in which the optical fiber 13 routed in the cylindrical tube 11 is inserted. Further, at the outer surface side end portion along the radial direction of each block body 1, an optical fiber 13 which is wider than the opening portion 2 and communicates with the opening portion 2 and which is inserted through the opening portion 2 is provided. Each through-hole 3 to be stored has a block body 1
Is formed along the axial direction of.

On the other hand, the outer periphery along the radial direction of the optical fiber 13 housed in the through hole 3 of each block 1 is a thin plate member 4 having elasticity such as a resin film such as a Teflon sheet or a piece of paper. Therefore, the thin plate member 4 is surrounded by the loose state while being separated from each other, and the thin plate member 4 closes the opening 2 of each block body 1 from the inside and contacts the inner surface of the through hole 3. The thin plate member 4 here is preferably excellent in adhesiveness to the inner surface of the through hole 3 formed for each block body 1, and on the surface of the thin plate member 4 in contact with the optical fiber 13. Has been surface treated using Teflon spray. Further, the thin plate member 4 in this case may be arranged so as to project to the outside of the through hole 3, and in this case, the optical fiber 3 is damaged by the opening edge portion 3a of the through hole 3. This has the advantage that it can be prevented.

That is, in this housing structure, since the opening 2 of each block 1 is closed by the thin plate member 4, the optical fiber 13 housed and held in the through hole 3 is opened. 2 It does not happen to get out, and
Since the thin plate member 4 is in contact with the inner surface of the through hole 3, the optical fiber 13 housed and held in the through hole 3 is not fixed but kept in a floating state.
Further, since the outer periphery of the optical fiber 13 housed and held in the through hole 3 of each block body 1 is surrounded by the thin plate member 4, the optical fiber 13 is protected by the thin plate member 4. The side surface of the optical fiber 13 is not damaged regardless of the surface condition of the inner surface of the through hole 3.

By the way, the optical fiber storage structure described above is to be realized by a storage method according to the following procedure. That is, in this case, the optical fiber is stored by a plurality of blocks in which the optical fiber 13 routed along the axial direction in the cylindrical tube 11 is separated from each other along the axial direction in the cylindrical tube 11. This is a method of holding the body 1 after holding it. First, the openings 2 formed on the outer surface of each block body 1 along the radial direction.
The optical fiber 13 is drawn along the axial direction in the cylindrical tube 11 while inserting the optical fiber. Then, the routed optical fiber 13 is housed after the opening 2 is inserted into the through hole 3 formed at the outer surface side end portion along the radial direction of each block body 1.

Subsequently, the outer periphery along the radial direction of the optical fiber 13 exposed to the outside along the axial direction of the through hole 3 is gently surrounded by the thin plate member 4, and then the thin plate member 4 is removed. The block body 1 is inserted into the through hole 3. Then, the thin plate member 4 inserted into the through hole 3 comes into contact with the inner surface of the through hole 3 while closing the opening 2 formed in each block body 1, and the thin plate member 4 and the light The optical fiber 13 is arranged between the fiber 13 and the fiber 13 in a freely movable state. In the above description, the optical fiber storage structure and storage method are applied to the optical amplification device, but the optical fiber communication system is not limited to the optical amplification device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to other optical communication devices used for the case.

[0019]

As described above, according to the optical fiber storage structure of the present invention, since the opening and the through hole are formed in each block, it is easy to route the optical fiber in the cylindrical tube. Therefore, even if the optical fiber has the required parts already arranged at both ends, it can be stored and held without any problem. Then, since the opening of each block is closed by the thin plate member, the optical fiber does not slip out of the opening, and since the thin plate member is in contact with the inner surface of the through hole, The effect that the optical fiber can be kept in a floating state without being pressed or fixed is obtained.

Furthermore, since the outer periphery of the optical fiber housed and held in the through hole of each block is surrounded by the thin plate member, the side surface of the optical fiber is damaged by the opening and the inner surface of the through hole. This does not occur, and not only the labor and cost required for these processings can be reduced, but also an effect that the inconvenience that the outer diameter of the cylindrical tube becomes large can be prevented can be obtained. Furthermore, according to the optical fiber storage method of the present invention, the storage structure can be easily realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a simplified optical fiber housing structure according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a simplified method of accommodating an optical fiber according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a simplified overall structure of an optical amplification device according to an embodiment and a conventional form.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a simplified structure of a first optical fiber according to a conventional form.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a simplified housing structure for a second optical fiber according to a conventional form.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 block 2 openings 3 through holes 4 Thin plate member 11 Cylindrical tube 13 optical fiber

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takeyuki Imai 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (56) Reference JP-A-8-340305 (JP, A) JP-A-9-101419 (JP, A) Actual development 61-126201 (JP, U) Actual development 57-63306 (JP, U) Actual development 60-173903 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 6/00 H04B 10/00-10/28

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optical fiber which is laid out along an axial direction in a cylindrical tube, and a plurality of block bodies which are arranged along the axial direction in the cylindrical tube and are separated from each other to accommodate the optical fibers. An optical fiber storage structure, in which an opening through which the optical fiber is inserted is formed on the outer surface along the radial direction of each block body, and the outer surface side end portion along the radial direction of each block body is formed. Has a through hole that is wider than the opening and communicates with the opening to accommodate the optical fiber, and extends along the radial direction of the optical fiber accommodated in the through hole of each block body. A structure for storing an optical fiber, characterized in that a thin plate-like member that is in contact with the inner surface of the through-hole is arranged around the outer periphery after closing the opening. 2. A method of storing an optical fiber, wherein an optical fiber routed along an axial direction in a cylindrical tube is accommodated in a plurality of block bodies spaced apart along the axial direction in the cylindrical tube. The optical fiber inserted through the opening formed on the outer surface along the radial direction of each block body is housed in the through hole formed on the outer surface side end portion along the radial direction of each block body, and After the outer circumference along the radial direction of the optical fiber exposed to the outside along the axial direction of the through hole is surrounded by a thin plate-like member, the thin plate-like member is inserted into the through hole and penetrates while closing the opening. A method of storing an optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is brought into contact with the inner surface of the hole.