Optical fiber connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9678285-B2
Application number	US-201615049274-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2016
Priority date	Nov 14, 2012
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

An optical fiber connector and method for assembly and use are disclosed. The optical fiber connector is configured to have a small footprint so that the connector may be pushable or pullable through a conduit if use of a conduit may be needed. The connector may include a first number of connector components configured to fit through a conduit, and a second number of connector components that are configured to be installed to the first components, for example, after the connector is pushed or pulled through a conduit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A terminal end assembly for an optical fiber cable, the assembly comprising:
at least one ferrule for receiving and terminating an optical fiber of the optical fiber cable;
a protective tube arranged around the at least one ferrule, the protective tube having a first end and a second end, the first end being retained on a pre-terminated end of the optical fiber cable; and
a pulling eye having a first end and a second end, the first end being retained on the pre-terminated end of the optical fiber cable, at least a portion of the second end of the pulling eye being positioned external to the second end of the protective tube.

2. The terminal end assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the pulling eye is configured to be coupled to a pull string.

3. The terminal end assembly of claim 1 , wherein the terminal end assembly has a maximum cross-sectional dimension of about 5 mm.

4. The terminal end assembly of claim 1 , wherein the terminal end assembly is configured for passage through a conduit having an internal diameter of about 6 mm.

5. The terminal end assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pull string coupled to the second end of the pulling eye.

6. The terminal end assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protective tube is formed from a low friction material.

7. The terminal end assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protective tube is formed from polytetrafluoroethylene.

8. The terminal end assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protective tube is retained on the pre-terminated end of the optical cable fiber via a friction fit.

9. The terminal end assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ferrule comprises two ferrules.

10. The terminal end assembly of claim 1 , further comprising two biasing members, each of the two biasing members being arranged one of the two ferrules.

11. The terminal end assembly of claim 1 , wherein the terminal end assembly is configured for an LC-type connection assembly.

12. The terminal end assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a protective cap arranged around an end of the at least one ferrule.

13. A method of manufacturing a terminal end assembly for an optical fiber cable, the method comprising:
providing at least one ferrule for receiving and terminating an optical fiber of the optical fiber cable;
arranging a protective tube around the at least one ferrule, the protective tube having a first end and a second end;
retaining the first end of the protective tube on a pre-terminated end of the optical fiber cable; and
providing a pulling eye having a first end and a second end, the first end being retained on the pre-terminated end of the optical fiber cable and the second end being configured to receive a pull string, at least a portion of the second end of the pulling eye being positioned external to the second end of the protective tube.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the terminal end assembly has a maximum cross-sectional dimension of about 5 mm.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the terminal end assembly is configured for passage through a conduit having an internal diameter of about 6 mm.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising coupling a pull string to the second end of the pulling eye.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the protective tube is formed from a low friction material.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the protective tube is formed from polytetrafluoroethylene.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the protective tube is retained on the pre-terminated end of the optical cable fiber via a friction fit.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one ferrule comprises two ferrules.

21. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing two biasing members, each of the two biasing members being arranged around one of the two ferrules.

22. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing a protective cap arranged around an end of the at least one ferrule.

23. A method for installation of an optical fiber, the method comprising:
progressing a pre-terminated terminal end assembly through a conduit via at least one of pushing and pulling, the pre-terminated terminal end assembly comprising:
at least one ferrule for receiving and terminating an optical fiber of the optical fiber cable,
a protective tube arranged around the at least one ferrule, the protective tube having a first end and a second end, the first end being retained on a pre-terminated end of the optical fiber cable, and
a pulling eye having a first end and a second end, the first end being retained on the pre-terminated end of the optical fiber cable, at least a portion of the second end of the pulling eye being positioned external to the second end of the protective tube removing the protective tube to expose the at least one ferrule;
removing the pulling eye;
installing the at least one ferrule within a connector body.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the second end of the pulling eye is configured to receive a pull string.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein progressing the pre-terminated terminal end assembly through a conduit comprises pulling the pre-terminated terminal end assembly using a pull string coupled to the second end of the pulling eye.

26. A terminal end assembly for an optical fiber cable configured to connect with an LC-type duplex adapter, the assembly comprising:
two ferrules for receiving and terminating optical fibers of the optical fiber cable;
two biasing members, each of the two biasing members being arranged around one of the two ferrules;
a protective cap configured to retain ends of the two ferrules to hold the ferrules together;
a protective tube arranged around the two ferrules, the protective tube having a first end and a second end, the first end being retained on a pre-terminated end of the optical fiber cable via a friction fit and the second end being open and arranged opposite the first end; and
a pulling eye having a first end and a second end, the first end being retained on the pre-terminated end of the optical fiber cable and the second end being configured to receive a pull string, at least a portion of the second end of the pulling eye being positioned external to the second end of the protective tube,
wherein the terminal end assembly has a maximum cross-sectional dimension of about 5 mm.

Assignees

• Clearfield Inc

Inventors

• Hill John P
• Power Ii Walter E
• Nishiguchi Yuki

Classifications

• G02B6/3897

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

• G02B6/44515

  Fibre drop terminals with surplus length (without surplus length G02B6/4472) · CPC title

• G02B6/46

  Processes or apparatus adapted for installing {or repairing} optical fibres or optical cables (installation of cables containing electric conductors and optical fibres H02G) · CPC title

• G02B6/3874 Primary

  using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules · CPC title

• G02B6/4442 Primary

  Cap coupling boxes · CPC title