Sealed connection terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10942318-B2
Application number	US-201816482751-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2018
Priority date	Feb 1, 2017
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

An optical connection terminal includes a first connection module and a second connection module that each terminate multi-fiber cables. The second connection module operatively couples to the first connection module so that at least one of the optical connectors of the first connection module directly optically couples with one of the optical connectors of the second connection module. A connection between the at least one optical connector of the first connection module and the optical connector of the second connection module is sealed from an exterior of the terminal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical connection terminal comprising:
a first connection module terminating a first cable having multiple fibers, the first connection module including at least one row of optical connectors that each terminate at least one of the fibers of the first cable; and
a second connection module terminating a second cable having multiple fibers, the second connection module including at least one row of connectors that each terminate at least one of the fibers of the second cable;
the second connection module operatively coupling to the first connection module so that at least one of the optical connectors of the first connection module directly optically couples with one of the optical connectors of the second connection module, the first connection module being offset relative to the second connection module when the first and second connection modules are operatively coupled; wherein a connection between the at least one optical connector of the first connection module and the optical connector of the second connection module is sealed from an exterior of the terminal.

2. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure defining a sealed interior, the enclosure defining a first sealed port and a second sealed port leading to the sealed interior, wherein the first connection module and the second connection module are disposed within the sealed interior, wherein the first cable extends into the sealed interior of the enclosure through the first sealed port, and wherein the second cable extends into the sealed interior of the enclosure through the second sealed port.

3. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the enclosure defines a sealed tap-off port through which a tap-off cable enters the sealed interior of the enclosure.

4. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each connection module is configured to anchor to the enclosure to hold the respective connection module in a fixed position relative to the enclosure.

5. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second connection modules cooperate to define the terminal when operatively coupled together to seal the connection.

6. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the second connection module includes a shroud extending over the row of connectors, the shroud defining an opening leading to a sealing surface recessed within the opening, the opening also leading to the respective row of connectors, the shroud being configured to extend over a portion of the first connection module when the first and second connection modules are operatively coupled.

7. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a tap-off port remains accessible from an exterior of the terminal when the connection is sealed.

8. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the optical connectors of the first connection module are male; and wherein the optical connectors of the second connection module are female and configured to receive the male connectors of the first connection module.

9. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a coupler arrangement that aligns and optically couples the connectors of the first connection module to the connectors of the second connection module, the coupler arrangement defining a first row of coupler ports and a second row of coupler ports, the second row of coupler ports facing in an opposite direction from the first row of coupler ports, each coupler port of the first row being aligned with one of the coupler ports of the second row.

10. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first row of coupler ports of the coupler arrangement is one of a plurality of rows of coupler ports; and wherein the second row of coupler ports of the coupler arrangement is one of a plurality of rows of coupler ports.

11. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the coupler arrangement is formed of a one-piece construction.

12. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the coupler arrangement includes multiple separate couplers.

13. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each connection module includes a fanout body, the at least one row of connectors accessible from a first end of the fanout body, and the cable attached to a second end of the fanout body, the second end of the fanout body defining a tapered neck.

14. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first and second ends of each fanout body face in opposite directions.

15. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first and second ends of each fanout body face in orthogonal directions.

16. The optical connection terminal as claimed in 13 , wherein the row of connectors of at least one of the connection module is slideable relative to the fanout body.

17. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the tapered neck of each connection module carries a sealing arrangement including a radial flange that abuts an exterior surface of the enclosure at the respective sealed port.

18. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the radial flange is a first radial flange, and wherein the sealing arrangement includes a sealing surface extending between the first radial flange and a second radial flange.

19. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the sealing surface has a lens shape.

20. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the row of connectors of at least one of the connection modules is one of a plurality of rows of connectors.

21. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first connection module is offset from the second connection module by one connector position.

22. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first connection module is offset from the second connection module by a plurality of connector positions.

23. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first cable is secured to the first connection module using a twist-to-lock fastener.

24. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an optical splitter module having an input and a plurality of outputs, the input of the optical splitter module being optically coupled to one of the connectors of one of the first and second connection modules while the first connection module is operatively coupled to the second connection module.

25. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 24 , further comprising an enclosure defining a sealed interior in which the first connection module, the second connection module, and the splitter module are disposed.

26. The optical connection terminal as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the enclosure includes a divider wall, wherein the optical splitter is disposed at an opposite side of the divider wall from the first and second connection modules, and wherein the enclosure is partially openable to provide access to the outputs of the optical splitter without providing access to the first and second connection modules.

27. An optical connection terminal comprising:
a first connection module terminating a first cable having multiple fibers, the first

Assignees

• CommScope Connectivity Belgium BVBA

Inventors

• Radelet Christiaan
• Van Baelen David Jan Irma
• Rietveld Jan Willem
• Rousseaux Olivier Hubert Daniel Yves

Classifications

• G02B6/44715

  Fan-out devices · CPC title

• G02B6/44465

  Seals · CPC title

• G02B6/44528

  Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box (routing arrangements H04Q1/00) · CPC title

• G02B6/3897

  Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/3829 Primary

  Bent or angled connectors (G02B6/3827 takes precedence) · CPC title