WO2014094291A1

WO2014094291A1 - Device and method for protecting optical fiber splice closure

Info

Publication number: WO2014094291A1
Application number: PCT/CN2012/087132
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peiyou Xiong; Yifeng Cui; Hong Lu
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
Priority date: 2012-12-21
Filing date: 2012-12-21
Publication date: 2014-06-26
Also published as: CN104871053A

Abstract

A device (10) comprises: a base (11) defining a recess (111) configured to at least partially receive an optical fiber splice closure (90); a cover (12) configured to be assembled to the base (11); a first interlocking portion (13) and a second interlocking portion (14) respectively formed on the cover (12) and the base (11) and configured to be interlocked with each other when the cover (12) is assembled to the base (11) such that the cover (12) is secured to the base (11) tightly in the absence of a seal; and at least a pair of passageway portions (15,16) formed on the cover (12) and/or the base (11), each passageway portion (15,16) being configured to allow a cable that extends from the optical fiber splice closure (90) to pass therethrough out of the device (10).

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING OPTICAL FIBER SPLICE

CLOSURE

Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates generally to a device and method for protecting an optical fiber splice closure.

Background of the Invention

The use of communication cables which include a plurality of optical fibers as the transmission media is rapidly expanding. Due to the constraint of the length of optical fiber cable, two optical fiber cables are typically spliced with each other to achieve long-distance communication. It is conventional to use an optical fiber splice closure to contain splices between optical fibers contained in optical fiber cables, and the optical fiber splice closure is then sealed by a sealing tape to protect the splices and other optical fiber components within the closure from environment condition.

However, optical fiber splice closures installed outdoors are frequently attacked by termites especially in tropical regions of the world. The termites chew on the sealing tape and intrude into the interior of the closure, which damages the sealing integrity of the closure. As a result, the optical fibers within the closure may be broken or damaged by water and dirt going into the closure or the loss of the transmitted optical signals may increase leading to network degradation.

In the conventional approach, chemical treatment, for example wrapping the optical fiber splice closure with chemical tapes or spraying chemical oil around the closure, can be used to prevent the intrusion of termites into the closure. However, such a chemical treatment is not environment-friendly.

Summary of the Invention

Therefore, it would be desirable to develop a device which could provide physical protection for the optical fiber splice closure and meanwhile have simple arrangements and low cost. It would also be advantageous to develop a method of physical protection for N2012/087132 the optical fiber splice closure.

In one aspect, an embodiment of the disclosure provides a device, comprising: a base defining a recess configured to at least partially receive an optical fiber splice closure; a cover configured to be assembled to the base; a first interlocking portion and a second interlocking portion respectively formed on the cover and the base and configured to be interlocked with each other when the cover is assembled to the base such that the cover is secured to the base tightly in the absence of a seal; and at least a pair of passageway portions formed on the cover and/or the base, each passageway portion being configured to allow a cable that extends from the optical fiber splice closure to pass therethrough out of the device.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the disclosure provides a method of protecting optical fiber components by a closure and a protection device, the method comprising the steps of: disposing the optical fiber components in a base of the closure; securing air-tightly a cover of the closure to the base of the closure using a fastening configuration of the closure and a seal, wherein a cable extending from the optical fiber components passes through a passageway portion of the closure out of the closure; disposing the closure in a base of the protection device; and securing tightly a cover of the protection device to the base of the protection device using an interlocking configuration of the protection device without a seal, wherein a cable extending from the closure passes through a passageway portion of the protection device out of the protection device.

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The Figures and detailed description that follow below more particularly exemplify illustrative embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the disclosure are better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other.

FIG. 1 a illustrates a perspective view of a conventional optical fiber splice closure; FIG. lb illustrates an enlarged partial view of the conventional optical fiber splice closure of FIG la.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a device for protecting the 2012/087132 optical fiber splice closure according to the disclosure;

FIG. 3 a illustrates an exploded view of the device of FIG 2;

FIG 3b illustrates an exploded view of the device of FIG. 2, in which the optical fiber splice closure is contained;

FIG. 4a illustrates a perspective view of a base of the device in FIGS. 2-3;

FIG. 4b illustrates a perspective view of a cover of the device in FIGS. 2-3;

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged partial view of a passageway portion of the device in FIGS. 2-3;

FIG. 6a illustrates a perceptive view of an embodiment of a device for protecting the optical fiber splice closure, in which the optical fiber splice closure with two cables is contained; and

FIG. 6b illustrates a perceptive view of another embodiment of a device for protecting the optical fiber splice closure, in which the optical fiber splice closure with one cable is contained.

Throughout the above drawings, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like, similar or corresponding features or functions.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof. The accompanying drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. The illustrated embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive of all embodiments according to the disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

In the following Detailed Description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "front", '¾ack", "leading", "forward", "trailing", etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components of embodiments of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

FIGS, la and lb illustrate a conventional optical fiber splice closure. The optical fiber splice closure 90 typically includes a base 91, a cover 92 to be assembled to the base 91, and a chamber accordingly formed between the based 91 and the cover 92, and in the chamber an optical fiber splice tray for managing redundant optical fibers, splices and other optical fiber components are disposed. The optical fiber splice closure 90 can further include one or more cable ports to allow cables to enter the splice closure. In an exemplary aspect, the optical fiber splice closure 90 has a pair of ports 93, 94 disposed at each end of the splice closure to allow spliced cables 990 to pass therethrough out of the closure 90.

When the optical fiber components are disposed in the base 91, the cover 92 is secured to the base 91 using a fastening configuration 95. Further, as shown in FIG. lb, a rubber grommet 97 is typically provided between halves of the base 91 and the cover 92 and a grommet 96 is typically wrapped around the cables through the ports 93, 94 so as to protect the optical fiber components in the closure 90 from environment conditions like water and dirt. However, due to the softness of the grommet 96, it is more likely for the insects like termites to chew on the grommet 96 and thus destroy the sealing integrity of the optical fiber splice closure 90.

Therefore, there is a need of a device which could provide improved anti-termite performance.

FIGS. 2, 3a and 3b illustrate an exemplary device for protecting the optical fiber splice closure according to one embodiment. Referring to FIGS 2, 3 a and 3b, the device 10 includes a base 11 and a cover 12 to be assembled to the base 11. The base 11 defines a recess 111 for at least partially receiving the optical fiber splice closure 90, and the cover 12 is assembled to the base Π when the optical fiber splice closure 90 is received within the recess 111 , as shown in FIG. 3b.

To prevent the insects like termites from chewing through the base 11 and the cover 12, advantageously, the base 11 and the cover 12 are made of a material with a Shore A hardness of greater than 70 degree. Furthermore, the base 11 and the cover 12 may be made of a corrosion-resistant and pressure-resistant material since they can be buried under the ground. For example, the base 11 and the cover 12 may be made of plastic.

The base 11 and the cover 12 may be of any suitable shape and size to enclose the splice closure 90 to be held therein. In an exemplary aspect, the device 10 can have a hermaphroditic structure. In an exemplary aspect, the device 10 can be shaped and sized to be close fitting with the optical fiber splice closure 90 (i.e. the device 10 can be slightly larger and have the same general shape as splice closure 90) to hold the optical fiber splice closure 90 steadily and save the material needed to make the device. In this exemplary embodiment, the base 11 and the cover 12 can have the same shape with one of the base or cover rotated with respect to the other so the base and cover can be secured to one another to enclose the splice closure to simplify the manufacturing process, as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, such that they can be formed by the same mould.

In the exemplary aspect shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 a, the device 10 further includes at least a pair of passageway portions 15, 16 formed on the base 11 and/or cover 12. For example, the passageway portion 15 is formed on one end of the base 11 and/or cover 12, and the passageway portion 16 is formed on the other end of the base 11 and/or cover 12. When the optical fiber splice closure 90 is held in the base 11 and the cover 12, each passageway portion 15 or 16 allows the cable extending from the optical fiber splice closure 90 to pass therethrough out of the device 10.

To facilitate the installation of optical fiber splice closure 90 into the device 10, advantageously, half 151 , 161 of the passageway portions 15, 16 are formed on the base 11 and the other half 152, 162 of the passageway portions 15, 16 are formed on the cover 12. In alternative examples, the entire passageway portions 15, 16 may also be formed on the base 11 or be formed on the cover 12.

The passageway portions 15, 16 can take on various configurations. Using the passageway portion 15 as an example, referring to FIG. 5, in one example, the passageway portion 15 defines a passageway 153 extending outwardly from the device 10, and the passageway 153 is composed of a plurality of coaxial passageway segments 153a, 153b, 153c and 153d. To enable cables with different diameters to pass through the passageway

153 out of the device 10, advantageously, the diameters of the plurality of coaxial passageway segments 153a, 153b, 153c and 153d are designed to be descending outwardly. Depending on the diameter of the cable that extends from the optical fiber splice closure 90, one or more passageway segments with diameters being less than the diameter of the cable are cut off. With this configuration, the passageway portion 15 can be fit for different types of cables with different diameters. For example, as shown in FIG. 6a, for the cable with a larger diameter, the passageway segments 153 a and 153b are cut off, and for the cable with a smaller diameter, the passageway segment 153a is cut off.

It shall be appreciated that two pairs of passageway portions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3a are only an illustrative example, and any suitable number of pairs of passageway portions is possible. Advantageously, the number of pairs of passageway portions is determined based on the number of cables that extend from the optical fiber splice closure 90.

It is to be noted that as the optical fiber splice closure 90 has two cables extending out of it, there are a pair of cables passing through the passageway portions 15, 16 of the device 10, as shown in FIG. 6a. In other embodiments, the optical fiber splice closure 90 may only have one cable extending out of it, and in this regard there is only one cable passing through the passageway portions 15, 16 of the device 10, as shown in FIG. 6b.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3a, the device 10 further includes a first interlocking portion 13 formed on the base 11 and a second interlocking portion 14 formed on the cover 12. In one example, the first interlocking portion 13 may include a first flange 131 extending radially outwardly from the edge of the opening of the base 11 and the edge of the half 151, 161 of the passageway portions 15, 16 and include a plurality of first engaging members 132, 134 formed on the first flange 131 as shown in FIG. 4a, and the second interlocking portion 14 may include a second flange 141 extending radially outwardly from the edge of the opening of the cover 12 and the edge of the half 152, 162 of the passageway portions 15, 16 and include a plurality of complementary-shaped second engaging members 142, 144 formed on the second flange 141 as shown in FIG. 4b. When the cover 12 is assembled to the base 11, the plurality of complementary-shaped second engaging members 142 are matably engaged with the plurality of first engaging members 132 such that the cover 12 is secured to the base 11 tightly in the absence of a seal. As such, the insects like termites have no access to the interior of the device 10 and thus the interior of the optical fiber splice closure 90; therefore the optical fibers components within the optical fiber splice closure 90 could be well protected.

The plurality of first engaging members 132, 134 and the plurality of complementary-shaped second engaging members 142, 144 can be achieved by various ways. In an example, as shown in FIGS. 4a, with the virtual line that links the midpoint of two passageway portions 151 and the midpoint of two passageway portions 161 as a central axis xx', the base 11 is divided into two sections, i.e., section A and section B. The first engaging members 132 in the section A are grooves and the first engaging members 134 in the section B are protrusions. Correspondingly, as shown in FIG. 4b, with the virtual line that links the midpoint of two passageway portions 152 and the midpoint of two passageway portions 162 as a central axis yy\ the cover 12 is divided into two sections, i.e., section A and section B. The second engaging members 142 in the section B are protrusions and the second engaging members 144 in the section A are grooves. With such arrangements, the base 11 with the first interlocking portion 13 and the passageway portions 151, 161 as well as the cover 12 with the second interlocking portion 14 and the passageway portions 152, 162 can be formed by the same mould. When the cover 12 is assembled to the base 11, the protrusions in the section B of the cover 12 matably engage with the grooves in the section A of the base 11 and the protrusions in the section B of the base 11 matably engage with the grooves in the section A of the cover 12, such that the cover 12 is secured to the base 11 tightly.

In this example, as the first engaging members 132 in the section A of the base 11 are grooves and the first engaging members 134 in the section B of the base 11 are protrusions, the half 151a, 161a of the passageway portions 15, 16 in the section A of the base 11 are slightly different from the half 151b, 161b of the passageway portions 15, 16 in the section B of the base 11. Likewise, as the second engaging members 142 in the section B of the cover 12 are protrusions and the second engaging members 144 in the section A of the cover 12 are grooves, half 152b, 162b of the passageway portions 15, 16 in the section B of the cover 12 are slightly different from the half 152a, 162a of the passageway portions 15, 16 in the section B of the cover 12.

In alternative examples, all the first engaging members are protrusions and all the complementary-shaped second engaging members are grooves, or all the first engaging members are grooves and all the complementary-shaped second engaging members 142 are protrusions.

It shall be appreciated that FIGS 2-6 show a representative configuration of device 10, but those skilled in the art could understand that the configuration of device 10 may be changed in accordance with the splice closure 90 to be contained therein.

The configuration and function of each portion of the device 10 is described above in great detail, and hereinafter the method of protecting the optical fiber components within the optical fiber splice closure 90 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 1-3.

First, the optical fiber components, for example the optical fiber splice tray, splices, etc., are disposed in the base 91 of the optical fiber splice closure 90.

Then, the cover 92 of the optical fiber splice closure 90 is secured air-tightly to the base 91 of the optical fiber splice closure 90 using a fastening configuration and a grommet.

The spliced cables 990 pass through ports 93, 94 of the optical fiber splice closure 90.

Next, the optical fiber splice closure 90 is disposed in the base 11 of the device 10, and then the cover 12 of the device 10 is assembled to the base 11. Depending on the diameter of the cables that extend from the fiber splice closure 90, one or more passageway segments of the passageway portions 15, 16 are cut off to enable the cables pass through the passageway portion 15, 16 out of the device 10.

Then, the first interlocking portion 13 of the device 10 is interlocked with the second interlocking portion 14 of the device 10 such that the cover 12 of the device 10 is secured to the base 11 of the device 10 tightly without a seal.

In this disclosure, the optical fiber splice closure 90 is provided to be responsible for the environmental protection of the optical fiber components contained therein and the device 10 is provided to be responsible for the mechanical performance of the system. Having the additional shell (i.e., device 10) may allow the separation of the environmental protection performance and the mechanical performance so as to enhance the overall performance of the system.

In the disclosure herein, operations of device embodiment(s) may be described with reference to method embodiment(s) for illustrative purposes. However, it should be appreciated that the operations of the devices and the implementations of the methods in the disclosure may be independent of one another. That is, the disclosed device embodiments may operate according to other methods and the disclosed method embodiments may be implemented through other devices.

It should be noted that the above described embodiments are given for describing rather than limiting the invention, and it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as those skilled in the art readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of the invention and the appended claims. The protection scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims. In addition, any of the reference numerals in the claims should not be interpreted as a limitation to the claims. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The indefinite article "a" or "an" preceding an element or step does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements or steps.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: . A device (10), comprising:

a base (11) defining a recess (111) configured to at least partially receive an optical fiber splice closure (90);

a cover (12) configured to be assembled to the base (11);

a first interlocking portion (13) and a second interlocking portion (14) respectively formed on the cover (12) and the base (11) and configured to be interlocked with each other when the cover (12) is assembled to the base (11) such that the cover (12) is secured to the base (11) tightly in the absence of a seal;

at least a pair of passageway portions (15, 16) formed on the cover (12) and/or the base (11), each passageway portion being configured to allow a cable that extends from the optical fiber splice closure (90) to pass therethrough out of the device (10).

2. The device (10) of claim 1 , wherein the first interlocking portion (13) comprises: a first flange (131) extending radially outwardly from an edge of an opening of the base (11);

a plurality of first engaging members (132) formed on the first flange (131);

and the second interlocking portion (14) comprises:

a second flange (141) extending radially outwardly from an edge of an opening of the cover (12);

a plurality of complementary- shaped second engaging members (142) formed on the second flange (141) and configured to be matably engaged with the plurality of first engaging members (132) when the cover (12) is assembled to the base (11).

3. The device (10) of claim 2, wherein the plurality of first engaging members (132) are protrusions and/or grooves; the plurality of complementary-shaped second engaging members (142) are grooves and/or protrusions.

4. The device (10) of claim 1, wherein each passageway portion defines a passageway extending outwardly from the device, wherein the passageway is comprised of a plurality of coaxial passageway segments, the diameters of which are descending outwardly.

5. The device (10) of claim 1, wherein the base (11) and/or the cover (12) are made of a material with a Shore A hardness of greater than 70 degree.

6. The device (10) of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber splice closure (90) comprises: a base (91) configured to at least partially receive optical fiber components;

a cover (92) configured to be assembled to the base (91);

at least a pair of ports (93, 94) formed on the cover (92) and/or the base (91), each port being configured to allow a cable that extends from the optical fiber components to pass therethrough out of the optical fiber splice closure (90);

a fastening configuration (95) and a seal (96) configured to fasten and seal the base (91) of the optical fiber splice closure (90) and the cover (92) of the optical fiber splice closure (90).

7. A method of protecting optical fiber components by a closure and a protection device, the method comprising the steps of:

- disposing the optical fiber components in a base of the closure;

- securing air-tightly a cover of the closure to the base of the closure using a fastening configuration of the closure and a seal, wherein a cable extending from the optical fiber components passes through a port of the closure out of the closure;

- disposing the closure in a base of the protection device;

- securing tightly a cover of the protection device to the base of the protection device using an interlocking configuration of the protection device without a seal, wherein a cable extending from the closure passes through a passageway portion of the protection device out of the protection device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the interlocking configuration of the protection device comprises a first interlocking portion formed on the cover of the protection device and a second interlocking portion formed on the base of the protection device, the step of securing tightly the cover of the protection device to the base of the protection device comprising the steps of:

- covering the cover of the protection device on the base of the protection device;

- interlocking the first interlocking portion of the protection device with the second interlocking portion of the protection device such that the cover of the protection device is secured to the base of the protection device tightly without a seal.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the passageway portion of the protection device defines a passageway extending outwardly from the protection device and the passageway is comprised of a plurality of coaxial passageway segments with diameters descending outwardly, the method further comprising the step of:

- cutting one or more coaxial passageway segments based on the diameter of the cable that extends from the closure.