JPS5926927B2 - Submarine optical cable connection equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a manufacturing unit length or at least two units shorter than the manufacturing unit length.
The present invention relates to a submarine optical cable connecting device that is characterized by optically, electrically, and mechanically interconnecting more than one submarine optical cable.

Optical cable transmission systems using optical cables have various advantages, and their practical application is currently being promoted in various countries, and research is also progressing on submarine optical cables. Regarding the above-mentioned submarine cables, a connection device for the submarine section is indispensable because there is a limit to the manufacturing length and it is necessary to partially replace the cable for maintenance or repair. Many of these connection devices are still in the research stage, and there are few known devices. The present invention optically, electrically, and mechanically connects a manufacturing unit length or at least two or more submarine optical cables shorter than the manufacturing unit length, and also provides an airtight sealing portion for each fiber core connection portion in a submarine optical cable connecting device. If a failure occurs in the submarine optical cable at either end of the connecting device, for example, if seawater intrudes due to damage to the water pressure pipe of the submarine optical cable that connects the two connecting devices, this effect will not be affected. This system is designed to minimize the length of submarine optical cables that must be repaired and replaced between two adjacent cable connection devices, and the submarine This makes it possible to facilitate the maintenance of cables and connecting devices. In view of this objective, the configuration of the present invention is such that an engaging portion for airtightly engaging the end of a submarine optical fiber cable is formed at both ends of a pressure-resistant housing, and a space for storing an extra length of optical fiber is provided inside the pressure-resistant housing. It is characterized in that an intermediate plate is provided inside the pressure-resistant housing so as to face each other, and further equipped with an optical fiber fiber thread for airtightly connecting the optical fibers on both sides to each other. The present invention will be described in detail below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a connecting device in which one intermediate plate is provided, which is a premise of the present invention. The connection device 12 includes a pressure-resistant housing 7, both ends of which are tapered, and the both ends form engagement portions that engage the ends of the optical fiber cable 1. A bend protection part 2 for preventing the optical fiber cable 1 from bending is provided outside the tip of the engagement part. On the other hand, the inside of the engaging portion is filled with a polyethylene molded portion 4 having a dovetail groove-shaped recess. The Hikari 7-Ibar cable 1 is routed through the bend protection part 2, and the tip of the tensile strength body part forms a fan-shaped extension part 3, which is connected to the dovetail groove-shaped recess of the mold part. As a result, the connecting device 12 and the submarine optical fiber cable 1 are connected together in an airtight state.
Further, inside the connection device 12, a space for storing the remaining lengths of the optical fiber core wire 5 and the power supply line 6 wired to the cable 1 is provided. Furthermore, an optical fiber connection section 9 and a power supply line connection section 10 are provided approximately at the center inside the connection device to mutually connect the optical fiber 5 and the power supply line 6 of the optical fiber cable 1 that engage with both ends of the connection device, respectively. . The connecting portions 9 and 10 are provided with an optical feed through and a power feed through for airtightly connecting the optical fiber 5 or the power feed line 6 to each other. As an example of the feed through, the metal sleeve of the optical fiber introduction part of Utility Model Application No. 54-87668 can be used. These connections 9
, 10 are attached to a metal intermediate plate 11 and fixed to the pressure-resistant housing 7 via the intermediate plate 11. Incidentally, in order to facilitate the connection work, the pressure-resistant housing 7 may have a structure in which it can be divided into two from approximately the center, and both sides may be integrally connected by a joint ring 8 that tightly fits on the outer periphery. 1st
Since the connecting device shown in the figure has the above structure, the optical fiber core wire in the submarine optical cable connected to both ends of the device is connected by an optical fiber wire hermetically sealed with 11 metal intermediate plates. Connected. Therefore, when the submarine optical cable on one side of the connecting device is damaged and water pressure or water vapor propagates through the submarine optical cable, the feedthrough of the intermediate plate prevents it from propagating to the other side of the connecting device. can. Irrespective of the above connection structure, if optical fiber cables are simply mechanically connected as they are, the submarine optical cable will be damaged at any position, and if water pressure or water vapor enters the pressure-resistant pipe, it will simply be between the submarine optical cable connection equipment. Water pressure or water vapor may infiltrate not only the cable but also the entire submarine optical cable transmission line. If such an accident occurs, there is a risk that not only the transmission loss of the optical fiber will increase, but also the mechanical strength of the optical fiber will deteriorate. In addition, a situation may arise in which the entire submarine optical cable transmission line must be replaced, which would require enormous costs and time for new installation, resulting in significant damage. From this point of view, if the submarine optical cable connection device of the present invention is inserted at each manufacturing length of submarine optical cables or at shorter intervals, there will be practical advantages such as the ability to repair failures in submarine optical cables with less cost and time. is big.

Next, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a connecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The connecting device has two airtight sealing parts in one device, 5", D is a fiber core wire connecting between the two airtight sealing parts, 61 is a power supply line, and 9" is an airtight seal. Optical fiber pre-connection part, r is 91 airtight protective cover. With such a structure, the reliability of the airtightness and water pressure resistance of the connecting device is further improved. In addition, the optical fiber connection part is hermetically sealed and protected by an airtight protective cover 9'', so it will not deteriorate even under the seabed environment for a long time, and the spare part can be used immediately for replacement work. be able to.
As explained above, the connection device of the present invention has a connection structure in which at least one layer of hermetically sealed upper layer is provided at the fiber connection portion and the feeder connection portion of the submarine optical cable connection device.
Even if water pressure and water vapor intrude into the submarine optical cable due to a failure occurring at any position on the submarine optical cable transmission path, it is possible to block them within the submarine optical cable connection device of the present invention.

Due to this effect, even if it is necessary to replace or repair the submarine optical cable, it is possible to reduce the human, material, and time damage caused by the repair.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are longitudinal sectional views of a connecting device according to the present invention.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Engagement portions for airtightly engaging the ends of submarine optical fiber cables are formed at both ends of the pressure-resistant housing, while a space for storing the extra length of the optical fiber is formed inside the pressure-resistant housing, and furthermore, a space for storing the optical fiber on both sides is formed. What is claimed is: 1. A submarine optical cable connection device, characterized in that intermediate plates equipped with optical fibers for airtightly connecting the two are provided inside the pressure-resistant housing so as to face each other.