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
  • G02B6/4439—Auxiliary devices
  • G02B6/444—Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
  • G02B6/4441—Boxes
  • G02B6/4446—Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables
  • G02B6/4447—Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables with divided shells
• • 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
  • G02B6/444—Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
  • G02B6/44528—Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box

Definitions

• the invention relates to a connection /branching sleeve for telecommunications cables.
• One known solution comprises placing half-shells in the form of cast plastics parts around specially prepared cable splices, the plastics half-shells serving as a protection for the additionally formed sleeve actually lying inside as is described, for example, in US-4 135 587.
• a solution comprising only one surrounding pipe, on the one hand, and tubes that can be shrunk around the incoming and outgoing cables, on the other hand, is disclosed in DE-19 08 996-C
• a sleeve enclosure that is to be clamped over cable entries by means of hose clamps is disclosed in US-36 24 594.
• a metallic supporting body and plastics cable entries which are fastened to each other by means of shrinkable tubing are disclosed in DE-25 42 508-A.
• a disadvantage common to all of the solutions is that they cannot be used for different applications or different cable networks with their essential constructional elements, that is to say, for example, they are not suitable for being used in the same manner for conventional cables in communications technology and for coaxial cable technology, let alone for glass fibre technology. Subsequent opening of the sleeves in order, for example, to be able to connect a further consumer is not possible with the known solutions.
• connection and branching sleeve can be used in a variety of ways, is adapted in an optimum manner to each desired application and, especially, in its design, can subsequently be opened, without being, destroyed, and manipulated and closed again.
• the present invention therefore provides a connection and branching sleeve for cables such as telecommunications cables, coaxial cables or glass fibre cables, comprising a sleeve body having cable entry and outlet pipes, characterised in that at least part of the sleeve body is provided with locating elements, preferably factory-mounted locating elements, and an exchangeable mounting device carrying the optical or electrical connector or branching means is provided between the locating elements according to the type of cable being used.
• the sleeve preferably also comprises strain relief devices and sealing devices at the cable entries.
• the term "cable entries" is used sometimes in this specification to describe cable entry and outlet ports.
• the branching and connection sleeve is constructed according to the invention in a variety of ways, some of the constructions provided here being known per se but being used here in an especially advantageous manner to achieve the desired objective.
• the sleeve may be provided with the locating elements for the mounting devices in its base body, in which case it is necessary merely to close the base body in a moisture proof manner.
• the parts of the sleeve that is to say the sleeve base body and the sleeve cover body, may be constructed as mirror images of each other.
• a multi part sleeve may be provided, in which one part, the sleeve cover body, is designed as a lid, that can preferably be pivoted and closed in a sealing manner against a sleeve base body.
• These constructions incorporating lids can advantageously be arranged so that the cable entries into the sleeve do not need to be opened again after final mounting of the cable entries, which is beneficial especially to their impermeability, and, similarly, the strain relief provided does not need to be opened again or altered.
• the invention provides a sleeve having cable entries each of which is provided with a strain relief device (preferably supported on the cable jacket) and a sealing device associated with that strain relief device, the sleeve body being provided with devices that can, for example, be brought together as a close fit around corresponding cable entry elements, or which can be acted on by a force member, such as a screw activated plate, to urge against the cable entry elements.
• a force member such as a screw activated plate
• the cable entry elements can be connected to the sleeve body by a form-fit or other suitable method creates the possibility of adapting those cable entries to the incoming and outgoing cables not only in type but in number also.
• the invention makes provision for the sealing chamber to be in the form of an integral component of the cable entries of the sleeve elements and for the strain relief device to be in the form of separate elements that can be fastened to the sleeve or, conversely, for the strain relief device to be in the form of an integral component of the cable entries of the sleeve elements and for the sealing chamber to be in the form of a separate element that can be fastened to the sleeve.
• Both the sealing region and the clamping region can be constructed in different ways, it being possible to use for the seal sealing gel provided in chambers or other types of seal, and, for strain relief, clamping ramps or the like.
• the cable entries may be in the form of chambers which are arranged side by side, optionally divided in the plane of partition of the sleeve, and which are pressed against each other in the closed position by means of clips; the cable entries may also be arranged according to the invention, for example, about an imaginary central axis.
• EP-0216 073 of the Applicant As prior art relating to mounting devices, for example for optical wave guides, reference is made to EP-0216 073 of the Applicant or EP-0 101 970-A, DE-3405309-A or FR-2559 277-A.
• a sleeve to be capable of being opened subsequently in order to connect further consumers.
• a further construction of the invention which comprises providing a row of rapid-action clamp connectors for the incoming cable conductors and a row of rapid-action clamp connectors for the outgoing cable conductors and connecting the rapid-action clamp connectors to each other by connection elements, such as a board, a ribbon cable or the like, it being possible to make provision in construction for a device for testing and/or cutting the electrical connections between the corresponding incoming and outgoing conductors to be provided between the rapid-action clamp connectors.
• connection elements such as a board, a ribbon cable or the like
• the rapid-action damp connectors may, for example, be in the form of connector strips having a plurality of connection sites arranged side by side or alternatively in the form of a single connector; they may be arranged, for example, on a board which is either in the form of a flat component of alternatively, as is also provided by the invention, in the form of a cylindrical element.
• rapid-action damp connectors whether they are in the form of individual elements of in the form of a strip, in such a manner that they can be telescoped or plugged on corresponding mounting device carrier elements in order to facilitate the exchanging procedure and/or the handling during contacting or testing operations.
• a single type of mounting device may be provided that can carry optical connectors, or coaxial cables or copper cables (e.g. telecommunications cables). Alternativdy different mounting devices can be provided for each type of cable. Where different mounting devices are provided these preferably can be retained by common locating elements in the sleeve body.
• the invention also makes provision for a snap-in element that is able to move the rapid-action damp connector(s) from a non-contacting into a contacting position to be provided.
• Rapid-action clamp connectors are known per se in other contexts, individual connectors being known, for example, from DE-37 08 782-C of the Applicant or from DE-23 14 330-C.
• Connector strips are known from DE-1640 108, DE-1765 271, DE-23 30 150 or DE 2725 551, to mention only a few examples here.
• the sleeve may be also provided with a shield continuity system.
• This may take the form of a conductive plate in the sleeve body which conductively contacts the shields on incoming and outgoing shield cables.
• Fig. 1 is a simplified three-dimensional view of a sleeve in the opened state
• Fig. 2 shows a section approximately along the line II-II in Fig. 1 with the
• Fig. 3 shows a modification embodiment in the sectional view according to Fig. 2
• Fig. 4 is a schematic three-dimensional view of the clamp connector
• Fig. 5 is a simplified plan view of one element of a sleeve with damp connectors indicated
• Fig. 6 shows a portion of a contact strip according to one illustrative embodiment
• Fig. 6a is a side view of two assembled contact strips with operable contacting damps
• Figs. 7 and 8 are three-dimensional views of different embodiments of rapid-action damp connectors
• Fig 9 shows a section through two asso ated rapid-action damp connectors in a further illustrative embodiment
• Fig. 10 is a plan view of Fig. 9 in the direction of the arrow X in Fig. 9
• Fig. 11 is a side view of a further embodiment of the arrangement of rapid-action damp connedors
• Fig. 12 is a plan view of the cable entry and outlet region in one form of the sleeve according to the invention.
• Figs. 13 and 13a are simplified side views of strain relief elements
• Fig. 14 is a three-dimensional view of a combined strain relief and sealing element
• Fig. 15 is a side view, partly in section, of a further embodiment of a sleeve body according to the invention.
• Fig. 16 is a side view approximately along the line XVI-XVI in Fig. 15,
• Fig. 17 is a plan view approximately in the direction of the arrow XVTI in Fig. 15, on an enlarged scale,
• Fig. 18 shows a partial section through a cable entry region in a further construction of the invention
• Fig. 19 is a plan view of that region in the direction of the arrow XIX in Fig. 18,
• Fig. 20 is a side view of that cable entry region in the direction of the arrow XX in Fig. 19,
• Fig. 21 shows a modified embodiment of the cable entry region approximately in the view shown in Fig. 20,
• Fig. 22(a), (b) and (c) are side sectional views showing body bases incorporating various mounting devices
• Fig. 23 is a cross-section through a connector suitable for use in the sleeve of the invention.
• Fig. 24 (a) and (b) show an array of connedors of the type of Figure 23;
• Fig. 25 is another design of sleeve body incorporating sealing devices and strain devices and strain relief elements.
• a connection and branching sleeve generally designated 1 in Fig. 1 has a sleeve body 2 comprising a sleeve base body 2a and a sleeve cover body 2a with cable entries, generally designated 3 in Fig. 1, which in this case are shown divided approximately centrally in the form of cable inlet and outlet pipes 3a.
• a mounting device 4 shown greatly simplified in Fig. 1, is provided carrying connectors depending upon the type of incoming cable, for example an dectrical or optical splice cassette.
• These mounting devices which are, in themselves, of very different design are fixed in or on locating elements 5 which, in the example shown in Fig. 1, are arranged on the sleeve body 2a.
• locating dements may be snap-in dements, cylindrical damping and screwing elements and the like, and their approximate position and arrangement can also be seen in Figs. 2 and 3.
• part of the sleeve body 2 in this case the sleeve cover body 2b, may be equipped, for example, with a lid 6 that is pivoted but can be dosed in a sealed manner such that, when the lid is open, work can still be carried out on the mounting device 4 when cables 7a and 7b, indicated merely by broken lines in Fig. 1, have been installed, without having to perform any manipulations on the cable entries 3 or the cable inlet pipes 3a with the remainder of the sleeve dosed.
• the lid 6 is as a rule of a size such that, with the remainder of the sleeve dosed, the mounting device or cassette 4, for example, can be exchanged.
• Figs.2 and 3 each show sleeve bodies 2' of which the basic body 2a and the cover body 2b can be pivoted with resped to each other by means of a hinge 9; with the interposition of a seal 8, the two open elements can then be fastened to each other, for example, by means of a damping rail 9a.
• FIG. 2 show that there are arranged on the locating elements 5 in the case of Fig. 2, for example, several optical connection cassettes 4a, whereas in the case of Fig. 3 splice cassettes 4b for multi- condudor cables are arranged.
• a highly simplified three-dimensional view of such a splice cassette 4b is shown, for example, in Fig. 4 and a plan view thereof is shown in Fig. 5. It should be mentioned at this point that the reproduction of the mounting devices 4a and 4b in the drawings is highly simplified since various possible designs are intended to be embraced here simultaneously.
• Figs. 4 and 5 in conjunction with the further Figs. 6 to 11 show different possible designs of the mounting device 4 for multi-conductor communications cables.
• Fig. 4 shows a possibility of providing, for example on a board 10, a row 11 a, for example for incoming cable conductors, and a row lib, for outgoing cable conductors, of rapid-action damp connedors generally designated 12.
• a device 13 for testing, switching over and /or cutting the electrical connections between incoming cable conductors designated 14a and the outgoing cable conductors designated 14b.
• This can be accomplished by inserting into slots 15 a testing device or, alternatively, a non-conductive cutoff jack 16 (Fig. 9), which is possible without any problem when the sleeve is open.
• the slots 15 may also be provided with their own connections 17 leading to a common testing or diagnostic plug 18.
• Figs. 6 to 8 show differently designed rows of rapid-action clamp connedors, these rows being designated for the sake of simplicity merely 11' (Fig. 6), 11" (Fig. 7) and 11'" (Fig. 8).
• the row 11' of rapid-action damp connectors shown in Fig. 6 is designed in such a manner that it cooperates with a corresponding row, likewise designated 11' in Fig. 6a.
• the wires are inserted through circular openings (unnumbered) at the top, and contad made by depressing push button contads 19 which can be operated from the outside.
• snap-in element 20 can be depressed, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 6a, to provide connection of each cable condudor 14 to be contaded.
• Figs. 7 and 8 respe ivdy show rapid-action damp connedors arranged upright and rapid-action damp connedors arranged lying down, which enable contacting to be carried out in a simple manner.
• These dements may, for example, be plugged onto a board or firmly soldered thereto or they may also, for example, be conneded via a ribbon cable to a corresponding row of rapid-action damp connections.
• Figs. 9 and 10 show in section and in plan view, respectively, the possibility of making an electrical connection between incoming and outgoing cable conductors 14 by means of conductive tongues 22 which rest against each other in contacting manner. If, for example, the contad is merely to be tested, then the test tips 16 of a testing element can be inserted through the openings 15 as is indicated in Fig. 9. Instead of a testing dement 16, it is also possible, for example, to insert an dectrically non- conductive plastics blade between the condudor tongues 22 in such a manner that the connection is cut. In Fig 10 the incoming cables enter from right to left, and wires from that cable then pass at right angles into the connedors.
• Fig. 11 shows the possibility of providing rapid-action damp connedors either in the form of strips 11 or in the form of individual dements 12 on a cylindrical carrier 23 or a cylindrical board 10a in order to be able to contad as great a number of conductors as possible in the smallest space. It is possible, as indicated in Fig. 11, to arrange the rapid- action damp connedors, whether they are in the form of strips 11 or individual dements 12, at or on a corresponding dement in such a manner that they can be tdescoped in order to enable a better working position of those dements to be achieved for contacting purposes. Once the cable conductors, not shown here, have been contacted, the element or the entire strip can be pushed back into the locking connection.
• Figs. 12 to 21 show different designs of the cable entries 3, in some cases in an extremely simplified manner.
• the sleeve 1 shown in Fig. 12 has on its sleeve body 2 a strain relief device, generally designated 24, and a sealing device, generally designated 25, for the incoming and outgoing cables 7.
• Figs. 13 and 13a show strain relief devices 24a and 24b, there being provided on one element clamping ramps whidi are wedge-shaped and are therefore able to accept cables of different diameters, as is indicated in Fig. 13a, and the damping action of which is effeded by screwing on or snapping on a counter-dement 27a and 27b, respectively .
• Fig. 14 shows the possibility of structurally combining the two elements 24 and 25 into one element comprising a forward damping region 24 and a rearward sealing chamber 25, there being shown by continuous lines a dovetailed guide 28 with which the overall cable entry, generally designated 3' here, can be fastened to the sleeve body 2 as a separate element.
• this cable entry 3' may also be construded as an integral component of a sleeve body.
• the broken lines in Fig. 14 are intended to indicate this.
• the clamping and covering element of this cable entry 3' is designated 27 in Fig. 14.
• the sealing chamber 25 may, for example, be filled with a known sealing gel, but it is also possible to provide other seals, for example mechanical seals.
• Fig. 15 shows the possibility of designing the cable entries 3 in such a manner that the sealing device 25 is integrally formed on the sleeve base body 2a and on the cover body 2b and divided in the plane of partition 30, whilst the strain relief device 24 can be fastened individually to each part by means of a dovetail guide 28a.
• a further sealing chamber may be provided, which is filled with sealing gel 31.
• Fig. 18 shows a modified embodiment, namely a design in which both a sealing device 25 and a strain relief device 24 are provided on a mounting extension 32 forming an integral component of the sleeve body 2, it being possible in this case to open and dose these two elements individually without having to open the entire sleeve.
• This solution is suitable espedally for the subsequent connection of cables of further consumers who were not connected originally.
• FIG. 19 A similar solution for several incoming cables is shown in Figs. 19 to 21, Fig. 19 showing a simplified plan view of a sealing chamber 25 for three cables and a strain relief device 24 likewise for three cables, although only two cables 7 are shown.
• a predetermined breaking point 33 indicated by broken lines in Fig.20, is provided for the cable that has not yet entered. I order to be able to exert an appropriate damping force it is possible to provide dips 35, also shown by way of suggestion here, in addition to a dosure rail 34.
• a corresponding device is provided, but the cable entries are shown in an approximatdy circular arrangement rather than side by side. I this case also, the cable entry dement 3'" can be conneded to the sleeve body 2 in a manner similar to that in the case of the embodiment shown in Figs. 18 and 19.
• Figures 22 (a), (b) and (c) show a series of cross-sectional views through a sleeve body base.
• the sleeve body base 40 is provided with locating dements 42 in the form of projections jutting inwardly of the sleeve body.
• a universal mounting device 44 is provided which is retained in the sleeve body by ridges or projections 46 which cooperate with the locating dements 42.
• the cooperating ridges and projections 42 and 44 are resilient so that the mounting device can be inserted and removed by the user from the sleeve body 40. This resiliency is a general feature of the invention not restrided to this specific embodiment.
• the mounting device 44 is "universal" in the sense that it can carry 'connectors of different types, or branching means. These may sit on trays on ledges 48 of the mounting device, or be conneded in some other way.
• Figure 22 (b) shows a similar arrangement with locating elements 42 on the sleeve base 40 cooperating with projections 46 on the mounting device 44.
• the mounting device 44 carries plates 50 provided with connedors 52 for copper wire telecommunications cables.
• the mounting device 44 is not universal, but is specifically adapted to carry connedors for copper wires.
• Figure 22 (c) shows another arrangement.
• the mounting device 44 carries plates 54 for optical fibre cassettes 56, i.e. it is specifically adapted to carry connedors for optical fibres.
• Other parts in Figure 22 (c) corresponding to those in Figures 22 (a) and 22 (b) carry like reference numerals.
• the plates 50 and 54 can be pivotally arranged on the mounting device 44.
• FIG 23 shows in more detail a suitable connector 59 for copper wire type telecommunication cables.
• the connedor 59 comprises a base 60 and upper part 62 pivoted about 64.
• Contact blades 66 press into wires 68 arranged in a channel in upper part 62, as the upper part 62 is moved towards the base.
• the blades 66 are shown from the side. They comprise a blade which comprises three prongs in its upper part thereby providing two cutting channds into whidi two respective wires are pressed.
• the second wire 68 is hidden in the Figure, since it is directly behind the first.
• Two blades 65 are provided. One has prongs differently spaced from the other so that contact to wires of different sizes can be ensured.
• FIGS. 24a and 24b show two different arrangements of connectors 59, (as shown in Figure 23) on a carrier plate carried by a mounting device of the type shown in Figures 22.
• the dotted line 61 above each set of connedors indicates the pivoting line for half shells of a sleeve in which the mounting devices are carried. Excess wire and cable, to allow flexible connection is stored in the channds 70 between the connectors, or behind or above the plane of the paper, within the sleeve.
• Guiding means 71 for the reserve lengths of the bundles of wires 73 are also indicated in Figure 24a. They would also be present in the embodiment of Figure 24b, but are not shown for darity in the drawings.
• Figure 25 shows another sleeve design comprising a base body part 72 and a cover body part in the form of a lid 74, that is pivoted to base 72.
• the lid can be retained against base 72 by screw 76.
• Cable entries 78 are provided at either end of base 72 and a sealing device 80 secured on dther side of the entry pipes to the base 72.
• This sealing device comprises two mating half shells secured to each other an to the base 72 by screws 82.
• a strain relief device 84 Also secured thereto by the same screws 82 is a strain relief device 84.
• This comprises a base part 86 and cable holding pieces 88 that can be tightened with the base 86 around the cables by screws 90.
• Strain relief devices are preferably provided on both sides of the base, but they are only shown on one side in the drawing for simpli ⁇ ty.
• the locating dements in sleeve base 72 for the mounting devices comprise channds 92 and resilient retaining plugs 94.
• the mounting device can be provided with downwardly extending ridges that engage channds 92 to guide the entry of the device. The device is then retained in place by plug 94 which can be depressed to allow entry of the mounting device.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
• Cable Accessories (AREA)
• Installation Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)
• Processing Of Terminals (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=6447898

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (4)

Families Citing this family (13)

Citations (5)

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• 1991
  • 1991-12-21 DE DE4142586A patent/DE4142586C2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1992
  • 1992-12-18 AU AU31664/93A patent/AU3166493A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1992-12-18 WO PCT/GB1992/002350 patent/WO1993013580A1/en active Application Filing
  • 1992-12-21 MX MX9207480A patent/MX9207480A/es not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1992-12-21 ZA ZA929927A patent/ZA929927B/xx unknown
  • 1992-12-21 CN CN92115362A patent/CN1075233A/zh active Pending
• 1993
  • 1993-05-21 GB GB939310638A patent/GB9310638D0/en active Pending

Patent Citations (5)

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