MXPA97001027A - Fusing element by fus - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical fiber splice element is provided which includes a base member having a fusion element for aligning optical fibers for fusion within. A cover member is provided to cover and form a confinement with the base member in a closed position. A cover member that may be a separate member or alternatively may be in the form of a hinge hinged lid. At least one of the cover member and base member including a locking mechanism for holding the closure in a closed position. The fiber optic splice element in an open position has an opening at either end to accommodate one or more fibers optic

Description

FUSION SPLICE ELEMENT Field of the invention This invention relates generally to a melting element and more particularly to an element for use in splicing optical fibers.

Cross references to the referred requests This request refers to, and is a continuation request in part of, the co-pending application Serial No. filed on August 11, 1994. Entitled: FUSION JOINT BLOCK which was a continuation request in part of Co-pending application Serial No. 08 / 266,205, filed on June 27, 1994, and also refers to a request for continuation in part of the co-pending application Serial No.

Not filed on August 11, 1994 entitled TOOL FOR FUSING OPTICAL FIBERS, which was a request for continuation in part of co-pending application Serial No. 08 / 266,205, filed on June 27, 1994. REF: 23980 Background of the invention Fusion splicing devices have been well known for some time and many of these devices are commercially available. Such a device is described by the applicant in U.S. Patent No. 5,002,351 issued March 26, 1991 entitled Fiber Optic Splice. Another such device is described in US Patent No. 5,146,527 in the name of Mallinson issued on September 8, 1992. The Mallison fusion splice is designed to receive a consumable cap, which has a hole through a longitudinal, central axis. , • to accommodate two ends of fiber for fusion inside. A slot is formed in the bushing on which permanent electrodes are temporarily inserted to fuse optical fibers placed within the hole. U.S. Patent 4,598,974, issued July 8, 1986 in the name of Munn et al, describes an optical fiber connector having integral electrodes. Although the Munn device refers specifically to a connector having a fiber optic adapter, pre-inserted, it is possible to adapt this design to a fusion sleeve to fuse two exposed fiber optic ends. Another more recently issued US Patent, No. 5,222,171 issued June 22, 1993 in the name of Straus, describes a sleeve similar to Munn's which has integral electrodes and an axial alignment means. Although the devices described in the aforementioned patent appear to adequately perform their proposed functions, it is an object of this invention to provide a fusion splice element which forms in confinement on the fused optical fibers that are housed therein. This fusion element will provide a relatively clean fusion cavity in which fusion can take place. In sum, the fibers do not need to be inserted into a guide hole where the waste particles could come into contact with the end of the fiber, thereby causing degradation in the fusion joint. The fibers can instead be placed in the alignment notch and can remain clean. After fusion, the splicing element is closed over the fused optical fibers and remains with the fused, spliced fibers providing a rigid support and stress relief for the fusion joint within. The fibers fused within the splice element remain in a clean protective environment. Alternatively, as will be described in more detail, the melting can take place within a closed melting element after a base portion and the lid are sealed together. According to the invention, an optical fiber splicing member is provided comprising a base member having a fusion element for housing optical fibers for fusion within; and, a cover member for covering and forming a confinement with the base member in a closed portion, at least one of the cover member and the base member having a means for preserving the closure in a closed position, the enclosure of optical fiber in an open position having a channel at either end to accommodate one or more optical fibers.

Brief description of the drawings.

The exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an oblique view of a splice sleeve having a built-in ceramic melting block construction.

Fig. 2 is a view of the upper part of the splice sleeve in Fig. 1 including an optical fiber inserted at one end; Fig. 3 is an oblique view of the * "base portion of an alternative mode of a splice sleeve; Fig. 4 is an oblique view of a splice sleeve having a separate base and a lid; Y Figs. 5a and 5b are oblique views of splice sleeves, each having articulated hinged covers with multiple sections.

Detailed description Referring now to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the fiber optic splice element is shown in the form of a butterfly splice sleeve 10. A base portion 12 of the sleeve 10 hingedly connects to a cover member. in the form of a cover 14. A fusing member shown as a ceramic block 20 is centrally positioned within the base portion 12 of the sleeve 10. Two conductive copper channels 24 each are electrically connected by a copper-plated barrel to through a passage hole 26 to a conduction pad (not shown) on the lower surface of the ceramic block 20. The copper channels 24 can be attached to the ceramic block 20 when printed, glued or plated thereon. The ends 25 of each copper channel 24 form an electrode. A V-groove is provided in the splice element for guiding the optical fiber in an alignment slot 28 in the ceramic block 20. When the lid 14 is closed in the base portion 12, a retaining means shown as protrusions 16 in the cap abuts and retains the fibers securely within the groove 22. The projections 16 are somewhat docile and preferably resilient, so that they can be formed around the fibers and tightly tighten the fibers without damaging them, even at the same time, providing support in the fibers that serve as a relief of the stress for a fusion joint inside the sleeve 10. An outer cover 30 in the lid 14 provides a means for securing the lid in a closed position when engaging the underside of the lid 32 of the base portion 12 of the sleeve 10. In the operation, two optical fibers (not shown) are placed in the base portion, so that their ends hang over the opening 33 in the ceramic block. 20. In Figure 2 an optical fiber 37 is shown inserted. After the fibers are placed in place they are ready to be fused, a sufficiently large voltage is applied across the conductive pads (not shown) to generate a electric arc through the tips of the electrodes 25, to melt and fuse the ends of the fibers together. The lid 14 is then closed to secure and retain the fused fibers within the splice 10. Alternatively, the fibers could be placed in the base portion 12, ready for melting by the lid 14 which closes to retain the fibers. Then an electric arc could be generated through the tips of the electrodes to cause the ends of the fibers to fuse together. In this embodiment, it may be preferable to provide a transparent window over the cavity defined by the region above the ceramic block. In any case, a removable piece or tape that normally covers the slot 22 and the ceramic block 20 may be provided before the optical fibers are placed inside. The removable tape is provided to ensure cleaning of the groove and ceramic block during storage and handling. Turning now to Figure 3, an alternative embodiment of the melting sleeve is shown. A base member 40 includes a fiber optic channel guide on each side of a line of passage 44 indicated by a dashed line. The line of passage 44 defines an access path for the external electrodes to fuse the optical fibers supported by the base member 40. A ceramic alignment block 46 is provided to support uncovered portions of the ends of the optical fibers to be fused . In Figure 4 there is shown a splice sleeve having a base member 50 and a separate cover 54. The base member 50 contains a ceramic block 54 for supporting the optical fibers to be fused. After the merger takes place, the cover 54 is secured to the base member 50 covering and protecting the fibers fused therein. Figures 5a and 5b show alternate hinged lid arrangements. In Figure 5a, a hole 60 is shown sealed in the central melting portion of the sleeve to see the melting cavity inside. Figure 5b shows a sleeve having a base 70 including two hinged covers 72 hinged at the ends of the base 70. Of course, numerous different embodiments can be contemplated, without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention .

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the present invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers. Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property:

Claims (15)

1. An optical fiber splice element, characterized in that it comprises: a base member having a fusion element for aligning optical fibers for fusion within; a cover member for covering and forming a confinement with the base member in a closed position, at least one of the cover member and base member having a means for maintaining the closure in a closed position, the fiber optic splice element in an open position having a channel at either end to accommodate one or more optical fibers.

2. An optical fiber splice element according to claim 1, characterized in that the fusion element includes electrodes.

3. A fiber optic splice element according to claim 1, characterized in that the base member and the cover member are joined with a hinge.

4. An optical fiber splicing element according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for maintaining the closure in the closed position is at least one adhesive means, and a fixing means.

5. A fiber optic splice element according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes the retention means for securing the optical fibers contained therein.

6. An optical fiber splice element according to claim 5, characterized in that the base member includes a slot for accommodating and supporting the optical fibers and wherein the retaining means is in the form of projections extending from the optical fiber member. cover and at least partially extending in the groove defined in the base member when the enclosure is in the closed position.

7. An optical fiber splice element according to claim 6, characterized in that the projections are at least partially resilient.

8. An optical fiber splice element according to claim 5, characterized in that the cover member includes a viewing hole for viewing the ends of the optical fibers contained therein.

9. A fiber optic splice element according to claim 1, characterized in that the fusion element is made of a ceramic material.

10. An optical fiber splicing element according to claim 1, characterized in that the fusion element is comprised of a non-conductive substrate and includes: a pair of electrodes, each electrode having an electrode tip end having another end to make contact with a voltage source, a portion of each electrode that is located on a surface of the non-conductive substrate, and separated and spaced from each other by the line of passage made to the tip end of electrodes is adjacent to the line of passage, the electrode tips that define an arc region between them.

11. A fiber optic splice element according to claim 10, characterized in that the surface of the non-conductive substrate is substantially planar.

12. A fiber optic splice element according to claim 11, characterized in that a portion of the electrode which is located on the surface of the non-conductive substrate is joined to the substrate.

13. A fiber optic splice element according to claim 12, characterized in that the electrodes are printed, glued with rubber, or encased in it.

14. A splice element of optical fibers according to claim 12, further comprising a layer of non-conductive material substantially covering the electrodes attached to the non-conductive substrate.

15. A fiber optic splice element, characterized in that it comprises: a base member having a fusion element for receiving optical fibers for fusion inside; and a hinge-hinged cover member for covering and forming a confinement with the base member in a closed position, at least the cover member and the base member having a means for holding the closure in a closed position, the splice element in optical fibers in an open position having an opening at either end to accommodate one or more optical fibers, the fusing element being comprised of a non-conductive substrate, the electrodes having defining ends that separate to define a cavity of fusion.