At&t Bell Laboratories

Bell Telephone Laboratories

Western Electric Company, Inc.

American Telephone & Telegraph Co., At&t Bell Laboratories

Robert R Ross

Robert H Gladden, Jr

John F Malluck

William H Bensel, Iii

Andrew H Williamson, Jr

Mills L Fleming

George L Fuchs

Ilona Vedejs

An optical fiber cable closure (20) includes a cable termination assembly (22) and a cover (23) into which the termination assembly is inserted. The cable termination assembly includes two spaced end plates (34,36) through which cables (28,29) to be spliced extend. One of the end plates supports a frame (101) which supports a plurality of optical fiber splicing trays (120--120). Adjacent end portions of the trays are staggered and hinged so that some trays may be moved pivotally to expose others. Optical fibers from each incoming cable are routed in individual tubes (115--115) from an optical fiber breakout (110) mounted in the framework to selected ones of the trays. Hinge lock plates (130--130) which complete a hinge for each tray also serve to clamp the tubes incoming to each tray to prevent unintended movement.

Optical fiber cable closure

A closure (20) for optical fiber cables each including at least one optical fiber (38) and a metallic shield (47) enclosed in a jacket (48) includes a splice tray (22), a bonding and gripping assembly (26) and mating cover portions (27, 29). The splice tray includes provisions (24) on one side thereof for holding an optical fiber splice such as one which may be made by a rotary splice and a raceway (51) for routing the optical fiber to the splice. Metallic conductors (45--45), if included in the cables, may be spliced on an opposite side of the splice tray. The bonding and gripping assembly is attached to the splice tray and includes opposed projecting portions (78--78) and ferrules (71--71). Each cable to be spliced is routed to the bonding and gripping assembly to cause each projecting portion to be inserted into a cable end between the shield and core thereof to establish an electrical connection with the shield and to cooperate with the associated ferrule to grip the cable end portion. The mating cover portions have an oval shape in transverse cross section and are moved over the splice tray and secured together.

Cable closure and methods of assembling

A connecting device for providing electrical continuity of a metallic shield of a jacketed distribution cable across a splice location and for electrically and mechanically connecting at least one service wire that is electrically connected to the cable at the splice location and to a customer's premise includes a first clamp which comprises an inner plate that is inserted under the shield until a stud upstanding therefrom abuts the cable jacket and shield. An outer plate of the first clamp and an arcuately formed bonding plate of a second clamp, said bonding plate having a relatively short length in a direction along the length of the cable, are positioned over the cable jacket until the stud extends through an opening in each after which a nut is turned onto the stud to secure the first clamp to the cable and the bonding plate to the first clamp. A stepped clamp plate having a midsection connected to two end sections through offsets and an opening in its midsection is positioned over the stud and cooperates with the bonding plate to form a tortuous path of controlled dimensions through the device for service wires to insure sufficient electrical contact of the second clamp with exposed metallic shields of the service wires while preventing inadvertent movement and undue compression of the service wires.

Cable shield connecting device

Growing community of inventors

Gainsville, GA, United States of America

Robert R Ross