Bicc Public Limited Company

Bicc Plc

Richard Grigsby

Edward Z Kaczmarski

Philip C Longhurst

Ronald G Hawkins

In effecting an end-to-end fusion splice between two optical fibres, the optical fibres are introduced into opposite ends of two support members so that parts of the optical fibres protrude from the members. The fibres are secured in the members and the protruding parts are cut to form tails of predetermined lengths. The support members are then arranged in axial alignment and one is caused to move axially towards the other until the end faces of the protruding tails are spaced a predetermined distance apart. Fusion splicing is then effected, the support members are permanently secured together and mechanical protection for the fusion splice is provided.

Method of and apparatus for effecting an end-to-end fusion splice

When effecting a fusion splice between two optical fibres, end parts of the two fibres are introduced transversely into opposite ends of an open-ended channel in a surface of a rigid elongate support member having at a position intermediate of its ends and in the surface a transversely extending open-ended slot for temporarily accommodating the electrodes by which fusion splicing is to be effected. After fusion splicing of the fibres and withdrawal of the electrodes, any space in the channel not occupied by the fushion spliced fibres and the transversely extending slot are filled with a curable material which is permitted or caused to set. A preformed elongate lid is secured to the surface of the support member 1 and the support member and lid provide permanent protection for the fusion splice.

Method for making optical fibre fusion splice

A handtool for detecting whether or not an optical fibre is carrying a light signal includes a motor-driven operating mechanism mounted in the tool housing for causing a pressure member to move towards or away from an anvil so that when the pressure member is caused to move towards the anvil an optical fibre positioned between the pressure member and the anvil will be subjected to microbending of a gradually increasing extent. The motor-driven operating mechanism preferably comprises a screw-threaded shaft supported in the housing and rotatably driven about its axis by the motor in either rotational direction.

Optical fibre monitoring

To enable sequential fusion splicing of the optical fibers of two lengths of optical fiber ribbon, the fusion splicer has, on each side of the fusion station, means for arranging the exposed end portions of the optical fibers of each ribbon, over a limited length between the position at which they are lightly clamped and the cut back end of the ribbon, to follow a curved path whose centers of curvature lie on a line extending transversely of the ribbon. Preferably, one of these means is an externally screw threaded rod which extends under and transversely of the optical fibers of one of the ribbons and in the grooves of which the optical fibers are arranged to lie. By unscrewing the rod, each lightly clamped optical fiber in turn drops from the rod and straightens so that its end to be fusion spliced protrudes beyond the ends of the other optical fibers of the ribbon. Fusion splicing of the pair of aligned optical fibers is then effected. The risk that any other pair of optical fibers of the ribbons will be prematurely partially fused together during fusion splicing of a pair of optical fibers is substantially reduced.

Splicing optical fiber ribbon method and apparatus

A honing tool for sharpening an end of an electrode to be employed in the fusion splicing of optical fibres includes a rotatably mounted honing wheel of frusto-conical shape and a rotatably mounted bush whose axis is parallel to that of the honing wheel and is so coupled to the honing wheel that, when the honing wheel is rotated with respect to the body of the tool, the bush will be rotatably driven in the same rotational direction. An electrode is so mounted coaxially within the bush that an end of the electrode will bear against the frusto-conical surface of the honing wheel and that, when the honing wheel is rotated, rotation of the electrode with respect to the bush is prohibited and the abrasive frusto-conical surface of the honing wheel will form a sharp point at the end of the electrode.

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Chester, United Kingdom

Richard Grigsby