WO2003104873A1

WO2003104873A1 - Optical fiber splice plate

Info

Publication number: WO2003104873A1
Application number: PCT/SE2003/000814
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lennart LIDÈN
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2002-06-05
Filing date: 2003-05-21
Publication date: 2003-12-18
Also published as: SE0201743L; SE0201743D0; AU2003243067A1

Abstract

A splice plate for jointing optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons from different optical fiber cables has two planes (1, 2) that connect directly onto each other and that are pivotally connected to each other. Thereby, several optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons from different optical fiber systems may be handled for jointing, without any need for the individual optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons to cross each other. The optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons may be inserted onto the splice plate without being wound or being roughly cut to the correct length. Optical fiber ends may then be fused together without removing the optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons from the splice plate.

Description

TITLE: OPTICAL FIBER SPLICE PLATE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a splice plate for optical fibers. On said splice plate single optical fibers from a first optical fiber system may spliced/jointed to single optical fibers from a second optical fiber system with the shortest possible optical fiber length in the jointing area and with access to a space for storing associated optical fibers.

BACKGROUND It may be difficult to splice or join single optical fibers and optical fiber ribbons in optical fiber systems when connecting optical fiber cables having in excess of 200 optical fibers. Up to the present, multiple splicing cassettes have been used where the respective excessive optical fiber is wound in loops into the splicing cassette and is cut to the correct length. By the continued handling of the optical fibers, individual optical fibers or fiber ribbons are lifted out from the splicing cassette and are brought to an adjacent optical fiber fusion machine. When the optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons have been fused together and a protective sleeve has been shrunk-on the optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons are wound back into the splicing cassettes. Since the trend is towards an increasing number of optical fibers per optical fiber ribbon and towards an increasing number of optical fiber ribbons per optical fiber cable, there will be a great demand for appropriate equipment and suitable methods of handling the optical fibers in a structured manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By providing a splice plate having two planes connecting directly on to each other, several optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons from different optical fiber systems may be handled for splicing or jointing, without any need for the individual optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons to cross each other. With the splice plate according to the invention, optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons may be inserted onto the splice plate without being looped or roughly cut to the correct length. Optical fiber ends may then be fused together without removing the optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons from the splice plate. This is made possible by the excess length that is already provided and that enables extension of the optical fiber ends directly out to a fusion machine to be fused together and jointed. Finally, protective sleeves for the optical fiber ends may be secured to the splice plate, on its sleeve holders. Using the splice plate designed in accordance with the invention, optical multiple fiber ribbons may be handled rationally by the fusion splicing and termination thereof.

The invention will now be described more closely by means of a preferred embodiment and with reference to the enclosed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a side view illustrating a splice plate in accordance with the invention; and.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the splice plate in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figs. 1 and 2 are side and top views, respectively, of a splice plate arranged in accordance with the invention. Here, the splice plate consists of a lower rectangular bottom plate 1 and an upper tray 2 that is pivotally connected to the bottom plate. The bottom plate has fixed inner radius limiters 3 and outer holders 4 for optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons. A pivot mechanism 5 for the tray is provided at one end of the bottom plate and a support 6 for the tray is provided at the other end. The tray may be angled out from the bottom plate by means of the pivot mechanism, so that in the angled-out position it permits access to existing optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons that have been placed there. The tray may be fixed at the correct distance from the bottom plate by means of the support on the bottom plate. On the tray there is a centrally positioned rod-shaped sleeve holder 7, attached to the tray, for positioning the sleeves with the joints of the optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons, radius limiters 8 and several outer support brackets 10 arranged by the side walls 9. In order to provide access to the lower bottom plate the tray is provided with several inspection openings 11. At the end thereof that is opposite to that of the pivot the tray is provided with a lock 12 for connecting the tray to the support 6 of the bottom plate.

When the tray is in a raised position, single optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons from a first optical fiber cable connected to the splice plate may be placed on the bottom plate 1 between the outer brackets 4 and the radius limiters 3. Then, the respective optical fiber ends and/or optical fiber ribbon ends may be brought up on the tray. In the same manner, single optical fibers/optical fiber ribbons from another optical fiber cable that is connected to splice plate, may be placed on the bottom plate and the respective optical fiber ends and/or optical fiber ribbon ends may be brought up on the tray. After fusing together, splicing and jointing the respective optical fiber ends and/or optical fiber ribbon ends, the optical fiber splices or joints and/or optical fiber ribbon splices have been provided with protective sleeves and the sleeves with the splices have been positioned in the rod-like sleeve holder on the tray that is then lowered.

Naturally, the invention is not restricted to the embodiment that has been described above and that is illustrated on the drawing, but may be modified within the scope of the attached patent claims.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A splice plate for arranging joints of optical fibers and/or optical fiber ribbons from different optical fiber systems, characterized in that the splice plate consists of a bottom plate (1) and a tray (2) where the bottom plate has means (3, 4) for guiding the optical fibers and/or optical fiber ribbons, in that the tray is pivotally connected to the bottom plate in order to be able to provide access to the space between the tray and the bottom plate by the handling of the optical fibers and/or optical fiber ribbons, in that the tray has means (8, 10) for guiding the optical fibers and/or optical fiber ribbons and a sleeve holder (7) for arranging sleeves with optical fiber joints and/or optical fiber ribbon joints.

2. A splice plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for guiding the optical fibers and/or optical fiber ribbons on the bottom plate (1) are provided as outer holders (4) and inner radius limiters (3).

3. A splice plate according to claim 1, characterized in that means for guiding the optical fibers and or optical fiber ribbons on the tray (2) are provided as support brackets (10) and radius limiters (8).

4. A splice plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the tray (2) is pivotally connected to the bottom plate (1) by means of a pivot mechanism (5).

5 A splice plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom plate (1) has a support (6) for the tray (2) in its lowered position.

6. A splice plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the tray has a lock (12) for connecting the tray with the support (6) of the bottom plate.