High pressure full cable strength midspan access splice housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10247894-B2
Application number	US-201615552735-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2016
Priority date	Feb 23, 2015
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

A pressure housing assembly according to exemplary aspects includes: a saddle assembly configured to encase a midpoint access section of a cable; and a pressure housing configured to be mounted on the saddle assembly. The saddle assembly has a first cable SSTL tube opening where a first seal member is provided; and a second cable SSTL tube opening where a second seal member is provided. The pressure housing has a corresponding first cable SSTL tube opening where a third seal member is provided; a second cable SSTL tube opening where a fourth seal member is provided; and a port configured to allow at least one penetrator to be inserted therethrough. The saddle assembly comprises a seal block configured to at least partially surround the midpoint access section of the cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pressure housing assembly comprising:
a saddle assembly configured to encase a midpoint access section of a cable; and
a pressure housing configured to be mounted on the saddle assembly,
wherein:
the saddle assembly comprises a first cable component opening configured to allow a first cable component to be inserted therethrough, a first seal member provided at the first cable component opening;
the saddle assembly comprises a second cable component opening configured to allow a second cable component to be inserted therethrough, a second seal member provided at the second cable component opening;
the pressure housing comprises a first opening configured to allow the first cable component to be inserted therethrough, a third seal member provided at the first opening;
the pressure housing comprises a second opening configured to allow the second cable component to be inserted therethrough, a fourth seal member provided at the second opening;
the pressure housing comprises a third opening configured to allow at least one conductor to be inserted therethrough;
the saddle assembly comprises an upper saddle and a lower saddle; and
the saddle assembly comprises a seal block, the seal block comprises a lower saddle seal block and an upper saddle seal block configured to wrap around the midpoint access section of the cable and portions of a cable core outer jacket of the cable.

2. The pressure housing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the saddle assembly comprises a seal washer provided adjacent to the seal block.

3. The pressure housing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pressure housing and saddle are configured such that the cable retains full break strength and is not separated and rejoined during installation.

4. The pressure housing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first seal member is an elastomeric interference seal.

5. The pressure housing assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second seal member is an elastomeric interference seal.

6. The pressure housing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pressure housing further comprises a fifth seal member provided at the first opening, the fifth seal member being a swage.

7. The pressure housing assembly of claim 6 , wherein the pressure housing further comprises a sixth seal member provided at the first opening, the sixth seal member being a swage.

8. The pressure housing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first split wedge provided at a first end of the pressure housing assembly; and
a second split wedge provided at a second end of the pressure housing assembly opposite the first end.

9. The pressure housing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the saddle assembly at the second end has an interior shape complementary to the second split wedge.

10. The pressure housing assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
an adjustable cable termination assembly provided at the first end,
wherein the adjustable cable termination assembly has an interior shape complementary to the first split wedge.

11. The pressure housing assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first cable clamp provided at the first end; and
a second cable clamp provided at the second end.

12. The pressure housing assembly of claim 8 , wherein:
the first split wedge is accommodated in a first pocket such that first end armor wires of the cable are fixed to the first split wedge; and
the second split wedge is accommodated in a second pocket such that second end armor wires of the cable are fixed to the second split wedge.

13. The pressure housing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a seal washer provided adjacent to the seal block;
a first cable clamp provided at a first end of the pressure housing assembly; and
a second cable clamp provided at the second end of the pressure housing assembly opposite to the first end,
wherein:
the seal block comprises an upper saddle first termination end seal block and an upper saddle second termination end seal block;
the upper saddle seal block is installed between the first cable clamp and the second cable clamp;
the upper saddle second termination end seal block is installed between the second cable clamp and the seal block washer; and
the upper saddle first termination end seal block is installed between the first cable clamp and a saddle assembly wall.

14. The pressure housing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one splice tray provided in the pressure housing.

15. The pressure housing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising mounting flanges configured to attach at least one interconnect cable thereto.

16. The pressure housing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the saddle assembly comprises an upper-saddle-to-pressure-housing support bracket.

17. A communications system comprising:
the pressure housing assembly of claim 1 ;
a riser optically connected to the cable at a riser entry terminal; and
at least one node, the at least one node connected to the pressure housing assembly via the at least one conductor.

18. The communications system of claim 17 , further comprising a loop back splice housing connected to the cable.

19. A pressure housing assembly comprising:
a saddle assembly configured to encase a midpoint access section of a cable;
a pressure housing configured to be mounted on the saddle assembly;
a first split wedge provided at a first end of the pressure housing assembly, the first split wedge accommodated in a first pocket such that first end armor wires of the cable are fixed to the first split wedge; and
a second split wedge provided at a second end of the pressure housing assembly opposite the first end, the second split wedge accommodated in a second pocket such that second end armor wires of the cable are fixed to the second split wedge;
wherein:
the saddle assembly comprises a first cable component opening configured to allow a first cable component to be inserted therethrough, a first seal member provided at the first cable component opening;
the saddle assembly comprises a second cable component opening configured to allow a second cable component to be inserted therethrough, a second seal member provided at the second cable component opening;
the pressure housing comprises a first opening configured to allow the first cable component to be inserted therethrough, a third seal member provided at the first opening;
the pressure housing comprises a second opening configured to allow the second cable component to be inserted therethrough, a fourth seal member provided at the second opening;
the pressure housing comprises a third opening configured to allow at least one conductor to be inserted therethrough;
the saddle assembly comprises a seal block configured to at least partially surround the midpoint access section of the cable.

20. A communications system comprising:
the pressure housing assembly of claim 19 ;
a riser optically connected to the cable at a riser entry terminal; and
at least one node, the at least one node connected to the pressure housing assembly via the at least one conductor.

Assignees

• Afl Telecommunications Llc

Inventors

• Kimbrell Eddie
• Toth John
• Guzzo Lou
• Lichoulas Ted
• Knowlton Alan
• Austin Ed

Classifications

• G02B6/4475

  with provision for lateral branching (G02B6/4431 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/506

  Underwater installation · CPC title

• H02G9/02

  laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile · CPC title

• G02B6/4428 Primary

  Penetrator systems in pressure-resistant devices · CPC title

• G02B6/4441

  Boxes · CPC title