Siecor Corporation

Corning Cable Systems

James R Merriken

Dennis Michael Knecht

David L Dean

John Wayne Beatty

Steven L Stallings

Otto I Szentesi

Alan J Malanowski

Andrew J O'Neill

Rainer M Zimmer

John D Harvey

A dust cap is provided that includes a translucent end member that permits optical communication while the dust cap remains mounted upon a ferrule. The dust cap includes a sleeve having an open first end and an opposed second end that is closed by the translucent end member. The end member can also include a lens to facilitate optical communication. A medial portion of the sleeve can also define an internal chamfer that extends radially inward for engaging the ferrule such that the front face of the ferrule is spaced from the second end of the sleeve, thereby preventing contaminants from being transferred from the second end of the sleeve to the polished front face of the ferrule. The dust cap can also define a groove extending lengthwise through only a portion of the sleeve, i.e., from the first end of the sleeve to a medial portion of the sleeve. The groove therefore permits air to vent from the bore while the dust cap is being mounted upon the ferrule, while isolating the front face of the ferrule from the external environment once the dust cap has been fully mounted, thereby protecting the polished front face of the ferrule from contaminants that may enter the groove. A method is also provided for testing the continuity of an optical fiber jumper that utilizes optical communications conducted through the translucent dust caps.

Translucent dust cap and associated method for testing the continuity of an optical fiber jumper

A device and method are provided to relieve strain in a plurality of optical ribbon fibers. In one embodiment, a tray has two sidewalls defining a passageway therebetween for receiving a grommet. The grommet defines a channel sized for receiving therethrough the plurality of optical ribbon fibers in a stacked arrangement. A compression clip fits over the grommet to compress the grommet proximal the channel the compress the optical ribbon fibers against each other in the stack.

Strain relief device for plurality of optical ribbon fibers

A connector block and method are provided wherein a plurality of optical fiber connectors can be removably loaded in the block for the simultaneous mating of such optical fiber connectors. Springs are disposed behind the connectors and the block defines a shoulder surface against which the spring is abutted. The block further defines connector channels to fix the connectors relative to each other in a lateral direction yet allow the connectors to slide backward in the longitudinal direction to compress the spring. Two such blocks can be connected to each other for simultaneously mating and spring loading the plurality of connectors.

Connector block and method for simultaneously mating a plurality of

A guide tool and associated method are provided for inserting guide pins in a plurality of stacked multi-fiber connectors and for mating two opposed stacks of multi-fiber connectors. The guide tool comprises a rail with a first and a second mount disposed thereon. At least one of the mounts is slidably disposed on the rail. The mounts receive a stack of multi-fiber connectors or a pin applicator body. In operation, a first stack of multi-fiber connectors are disposed in the first mount, a pin applicator is disposed in the second mount, the second mount is slid along the rail until the guide pins are operatively inserted into the first stack of connectors. The applicator is removed from the second mount and a second stack of connectors can be disposed therein for being slid into an operative mating relationship with the first stack of connectors.

Guide tool and method for accurately mating stacks of multi-fiber

An applicator for inserting guide pins in the corresponding apertures of a fiber optic connector includes a carrier body defining a number of bores and a number of guide pins disposed at least partially within respective ones of the bores, the guide pins extending outwardly from a first surface of the carrier body. The outwardly extending ends of the guide pins are then inserted into and captured by the fiber optic connector and remain therein after removal of the carrier body. In order to further increase the numbers of guide pins that are simultaneously inserted, a plurality of fiber optic connectors can be maintained in a predetermined aligned relationship by an alignment shell having a releasably connected sidewall for receiving the fiber optic connectors.

Applicator and associated method for inserting guide pins in a fiber

Disclosed is a light waveguide splice closure having lifting handles for removing the closure end cap. The closure contains an open top vessel for holding waterblocking material.

Splice closure with lifting handles

A watertight fiber optic splice closure has a passage in an end wall which is closed by a plug. A preconnectorized optical connector sleeve is mounted to be accessible from the passage, so that an outside optical fiber may be connected to a drop fiber without dismantling the closure.

Growing community of inventors

Hudson, NC, United States of America

James R Merriken