United Technologies Corporation

Ronald J Caron

Christopher W DeWitt

Gerald W Parkinson

Gerard G Walles

James A Bleakney

A connecting assembly interconnects one fiber optic cable harness to another fiber optic cable harness, or to an electronic unit containing an optical transmitter or receiver. The backshell includes a coupling ring that prevents loosening of the connection without first relaxing tension on the individual fiber optic cables in the cable harness. The inability to rotate the connector end coupling ring before relaxing tension on the fiber optic cables prevents damage to the individual fiber optic cables from occurring when the backshell is rotated with respect to the connector.

Strain relief backshell for fiber optic transmission lines

A fiber optic cable harness break-out fitting (10) is provided with a pair of support legs (12, 14) for supporting contact with a fiber optic cable harness (42) having a plurality of fiber optic cables (45). A take-off tube (20) is positioned between the support legs (12, 14), and the fitting is positioned on the harness such that fiber optic cables (47) which break-out from the fiber optic cable harness are received through a throat (22) of the take-off tube (20). Support surfaces (37,39) are provided between each of the legs (12,14) and the take-off tube (20), the surfaces having a controlled radius to control the degree of bend in the break-out fibers (47). The legs (12,14) are mounted on the harness (42) using tie down material (53), and the end of the take-off tube is slotted (24) such that the break-out fibers exiting the tube are secured within the tube with tie down material (53), the slots providing the necessary flexibility to allow the take-off tube end to securely grip the break-out fibers. The fitting may be provided in two halves (60,62) for installation in pre-existing fiber optic cable systems and for easy installation in new fiber optic cable systems.

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Newtown, CT, United States of America

Ronald J Caron