Fiber optic connector installation tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9618707-B2
Application number	US-201414445716-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2014
Priority date	Aug 29, 2013
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

An installation tool for terminating one or more field optical fibers with a fiber optic connector includes a guide member and camming member. The guide member has a slot extending in an axial direction and is configured to receive a portion of the fiber optic connector. The camming member is positioned next to the guide member and is movable between a first position spaced from the slot and a second position axially aligned with the slot. Additionally, the camming member is configured to engage and actuate a cam member of the fiber optic connector by moving from the first position to the second position when the fiber optic connector is received in the slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An installation tool for terminating one or more field optical fibers with a fiber optic connector, wherein the fiber optic connector includes one or more stub optical fibers extending from a ferrule into one or more splice components that are surrounded by a cam member, the installation tool comprising:
a guide member having a slot extending in an axial direction and configured to receive a portion of the fiber optic connector; and
a camming member positioned next to the guide member, wherein the camming member is movable in a horizontal direction between a first position spaced from the slot and a second position axially aligned with the slot, and further wherein the camming member is configured to engage the cam member of the fiber optic connector by moving in the horizontal direction from the first position to the second position when the fiber optic connector is received in the slot and actuate the cam member by rotating after moving in the horizontal direction.

2. The installation tool of claim 1 , wherein the guide member includes a guide surface confronting the camming member and a channel formed on the guide surface, and further wherein at least a portion of the camming member is received in the channel on the guide surface, the channel being configured to guide movement of the camming member between the first and second positions.

3. The installation tool of claim 2 , wherein the camming member includes first and second projections received in the channel at spaced apart locations.

4. The installation tool of claim 1 , wherein the camming member includes a connector slot configured to receive the cam member of the fiber optic connector, wherein the connector slot has a horizontal orientation when the camming member is in the first position and a vertical orientation when the camming member is in the second position.

5. The installation tool of claim 1 , wherein the camming member comprises a spur gear wrench, the installation tool further comprising:
a rack gear engaged with the spur gear wrench, wherein the camming member is configured to move between the first and second positions as a result of being driven by the rack gear and interacting with the guide member.

6. The installation tool of claim 5 , further comprising:
a pinion gear engaged with the rack gear on an opposite side from the spur gear wrench.

7. The installation tool of claim 1 , wherein the guide member has opposed first and second walls and an interior space defined between the first and second walls, the camming member being positioned in the interior space of the guide member.

8. The installation tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a body containing the camming member and guide member.

9. The installation tool of claim 8 , further comprising:
an actuator configured to be pressed inwardly or rotated relative to the body, the actuator being operably coupled to the camming member to move the camming member between the first and second positions.

10. An installation tool for terminating one or more field optical fibers with a fiber optic connector, wherein the fiber optic connector includes a stub optical fiber extending from a ferrule into one or more splice components surrounded by a cam member, the installation tool comprising:
a body configured to support the fiber optic connector with the stub optical fiber extending along a termination axis; and
a camming member having a connector slot configured to be received over the cam member of the fiber optic connector, wherein the camming member has a first position relative to the body in which the connector slot is spaced from the termination axis, the camming member being configured to translate relative to the body to move the connector slot over the termination axis such that the termination axis extends through the connector slot, the camming member also being configured to rotate relative to the body to change the orientation of the connector slot.

11. The installation tool of claim 10 , further comprising:
a guide member coupled to the body and interfacing with the camming member, wherein the guide member is configured to guide the translation and rotation of the camming member relative to the body.

12. The installation tool of claim 11 , wherein the guide member includes a guide surface confronting the camming member and a channel formed on the guide surface, and further wherein at least a portion of the camming member is received in the channel on the guide surface, the channel being configured to guide the translation and rotation of the camming member relative to the body.

13. The installation tool of claim 12 , wherein the channel includes first and second straight portions that are parallel and a semi-circular portion intersecting the first and second straight portions, and further wherein the camming member includes first and second projections received in the first and second straight portions, respectively, when the camming member is in the first position.

14. The installation tool of claim 10 , wherein the camming member is configured to rotate so as to change the orientation of the connector slot by about 90 degrees.

15. The installation tool of claim 14 , wherein the connector slot has a horizontal orientation when the camming member is in the first position and a vertical orientation when the camming member is in a second position.

16. A system for terminating one or more field optical fibers, comprising:
a fiber optic connector having a ferrule, two or more splice components proximate a rear end of the ferrule, a camming member surrounding the two or more splice components, and a stub optical fiber extending from the ferrule into the two or more splice components, the cam member being configured to bias the two or more splice components together upon actuation; and
an installation tool comprising:
a body configured to support the fiber optic connector with the stub optical fiber extending along a termination axis; and
an actuation assembly configured to receive a portion of the fiber optic connector, the actuation assembly including a camming member movable relative to the body so as to be configured to actuate the cam member of the fiber optic connector when the fiber optic connector is supported by the body, the camming member having a connector slot configured to be received over the cam member of the fiber optic connector;

wherein the camming member has a first position relative to the body in which the connector slot is spaced from the termination axis, the camming member being configured to translate in a horizontal direction relative to the body to move the connector slot over the termination axis such that the termination axis extends through the connector slot, the camming member also being configured to rotate relative to the body to change the orientation of the connector slot.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises:
a guide member having a slot extending in an axial direction and configured to receive a portion of the fiber optic connector;
wherein the guide member is positioned next to the camming member and configured to guide movement of the camming member.

18. An installation tool for terminating one or more field optical fibers with a fiber optic connector, wherein the fiber optic connector includes one or more stub optical fibers extending from a ferrule into one or more splice components that are surrounded by a cam member, the installation tool comprising:
a guide member having a slot extending in an axial direction and config

Assignees

• Corning Optical Communications LLC

Inventors

• Leyva Jr Daniel
• Raker Joshua Douglas

Classifications

• G02B6/3806

  Semi-permanent connections, i.e. wherein the mechanical means keeping the fibres aligned allow for removal of the fibres (dismountable connectors G02B6/3807) · CPC title

• G02B6/3802 Primary

  Assembly tools, e.g. crimping tool or pressing bench (splicing machines G02B6/2553) · CPC title

• G01M11/30

  Testing of optical devices, constituted by fibre optics or optical waveguides · CPC title

• G02B6/3843

  with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, e.g. measuring position or eccentricity (testing the alignment of axes, including eccentricity, G01B11/27) · CPC title

• G02B6/3833

  Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture · CPC title