Components for fiber optic cable installation on a powerline conductor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11353672-B1
Application number	US-202017102383-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 23, 2020
Priority date	Nov 27, 2019
Publication date	Jun 7, 2022
Grant date	Jun 7, 2022

Abstract

A fiber optic cable splice case may include (1) an outer enclosure with a plurality of cable funnels defining paths from an exterior to an interior of the outer enclosure, (2) a clamp connected to the exterior of the outer enclosure, where the clamp attaches the outer enclosure to a powerline conductor, and (3) an inner enclosure positioned at least partially within, and rotatably coupled to, the outer enclosure, where the inner enclosure defines (a) a splice cavity within the inner enclosure, where the cavity is configured to store an optical fiber splice tray for coupling corresponding optical fibers of each of a pair of fiber optic cable segments and (b) a cable channel about an exterior of the inner enclosure, where the cable channel carries a portion of each of the pair of segments between the funnels and the cavity. Various other components and methods are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fiber optic cable splice case comprising:
an outer enclosure comprising a plurality of cable funnels, wherein each cable funnel defines a corresponding path from an exterior to an interior of the outer enclosure;
a clamp connected to the exterior of the outer enclosure, wherein the clamp is configured to attach the outer enclosure to a powerline conductor; and
an inner enclosure positioned at least partially within, and rotatably coupled to, the outer enclosure, wherein the inner enclosure defines:
a splice cavity within the inner enclosure, wherein the splice cavity is configured to store an optical fiber splice tray for coupling corresponding optical fibers of each of a pair of fiber optic cable segments; and
a cable channel about an exterior of the inner enclosure, wherein the cable channel is configured to carry a portion of each of the pair of fiber optic cable segments between the cable funnels and the splice cavity.

2. The fiber optic cable splice case of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cable funnels comprises two cable funnels positioned at opposing ends of the outer enclosure.

3. The fiber optic cable splice case of claim 2 , wherein the opposing ends of the outer enclosure align with the powerline conductor when the clamp attaches the outer enclosure to the powerline conductor.

4. The fiber optic cable splice case of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cable funnels is shaped to resist bending of the pair of fiber optic cable segments beyond a minimum bend radius.

5. The fiber optic cable splice case of claim 1 , wherein:
the inner enclosure further comprises a cable gland for each of the pair of fiber optic cable segments; and
each cable gland retains a corresponding one of the pair of fiber optic cable segments at the inner enclosure.

6. The fiber optic cable splice case of claim 1 , wherein, when the inner enclosure is rotated in a first direction relative to the outer enclosure, the inner enclosure draws a portion of each of the pair of fiber optic cable segments into the outer enclosure through a corresponding one of the plurality of cable funnels and stores the portion of each of the pair of fiber optic cable segments in the cable channel.

7. The fiber optic cable splice case of claim 6 , wherein the outer enclosure further comprises at least one cable guide that retains the portion of each of the pair of fiber optic cable segments while the inner enclosure is rotated in the first direction relative to the outer enclosure.

8. The fiber optic cable splice case of claim 6 , further comprising a retention feature that releasably prevents rotation of the inner enclosure relative to the outer enclosure at least in a second direction opposite the first direction.

9. The fiber optic cable splice case of claim 6 , wherein the cable channel comprises a U-shaped channel that retains the portion of each of the pair of fiber optic cable segments within the cable channel.

10. The fiber optic cable splice case of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cable funnels is positioned completely within the outer enclosure.

11. The fiber optic cable splice case of claim 1 , further comprising an inner enclosure lid that engages the inner enclosure to cover the splice cavity.

12. The fiber optic cable splice case of claim 11 , wherein:
the inner enclosure lid defines at least one pair of engagement holes positioned opposite each other across a center of rotation of the inner enclosure lid; and
each of the at least one pair of engagement holes is configured to be engaged by a pair of engagement pins of a loading device to rotate the inner enclosure to reduce slack in the pair of fiber optic cable segments while the pair of fiber optic cable segments are coupled to the powerline conductor.

13. The fiber optic cable splice case of claim 1 , further comprising a clamp standoff connecting the clamp to the outer enclosure, wherein the clamp standoff comprises a tracking resistant material.

14. The fiber optic cable splice case of claim 1 , wherein the outer enclosure comprises a tracking resistant material.

15. A method comprising:
feeding a portion of a first fiber optic cable segment through a first cable funnel of an outer enclosure of a fiber optic cable splice case into an inner enclosure of the fiber optic cable splice case, wherein the inner enclosure is positioned at least partially within the outer enclosure;
feeding a portion of a second fiber optic cable segment into a second cable funnel of the outer enclosure into the inner enclosure;
joining an end of each of a plurality of optical fibers of the first fiber optic cable segment to an end of a corresponding one of a plurality of optical fibers of the second fiber optic cable segment;
securing the joined ends within a splice cavity of the inner enclosure;
moving the optical fiber cable splice case into a position proximate a powerline conductor to which the first fiber optic cable segment and the second fiber optic cable segment are coupled;
retracting an excess of the first fiber optic cable segment and an excess of the second fiber optic cable segment into the outer enclosure; and
securing the fiber optic cable splice case to the powerline conductor at the position.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the inner enclosure is rotatably coupled to the outer enclosure; and
the method further comprises rotating the inner enclosure relative to the outer enclosure to retract the excess of the first fiber optic cable segment and the excess of the second fiber optic cable segment by wrapping the excess of the first fiber optic cable segment and the excess of the second fiber optic cable segment onto a cable channel defined about an exterior of the inner enclosure.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising locking, after retracting the excess of the first fiber optic cable segment and the excess of the second fiber optic cable segment into the outer enclosure, a current rotational position of the inner enclosure relative to the outer enclosure.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first cable funnel and the second cable funnel are located at opposing ends of the outer enclosure.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the opposing ends of the outer enclosure align with the powerline conductor when the fiber optic cable splice case is secured to the powerline conductor at the position.

20. A fiber optic cable splice case comprising:
an outer enclosure comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening and the second opening each defines a path from an exterior to an interior of the outer enclosure;
a clamp configured to attach the outer enclosure to a powerline conductor; and
an inner enclosure positioned at least partially within, and rotatably coupled to, the outer enclosure, wherein the inner enclosure defines:
a splice cavity within the inner enclosure, wherein the splice cavity is configured to store coupled ends of corresponding optical fibers of a first fiber optic cable segment and a second fiber optic cable segment; and
a cable channel about an exterior of the inner enclosure, wherein the cable channel is configured to:
carry a portion of the first fiber optic cable segment between the first opening and the splice cavity; and
carry a portion of the second fiber optic cable segment between the second opening and the splice cavity.

Assignees

• Meta Platforms Inc

Inventors

• Mass James A
• Olding Robert
• Yogeeswaran Karthik

Classifications

• G02B6/483 Primary

  Installation of aerial type · CPC title

• G02B6/4446

  Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables · CPC title

• G02B6/4455 Primary

  characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding · CPC title

• H01B9/005

  including optical transmission elements · CPC title

• G02B6/4478

  Bending relief means · CPC title