Amp LLC

Tore R Johnson

Edgar W Forney

Keith Johnson, Jr

Jerry H Bogar

Emerson M Reyner, Ii

Michael F O'Keefe

Roman S Slysh

A field appliable connector for splicing a pair of optical waveguides is disclosed. Three stepped profiled, parallel rods are adapted having larger diametered end portions, with smaller diametered segments extending therebetween. Radially compressive means is disclosed for preliminarily biasing the smaller diametered segments inwardly, whereby an interstitial passageway defined between the rods is made to assume a biconical profile for accommodating guided entry of two waveguides therein. Subsequently, further radial crimping of the smaller diameter rod segments proximate the abutment of the waveguide ends establishes a peripheral clamp upon the waveguides and effectuates their colinear axial alignment.

Biconical optical waveguide splice

Apparatus 50 for splicing a pair of optical waveguides 32,34 in a splice 5 having three cylindrical rods 2 in a tubular plastic body 12 having a profiled surface 20 which is radially compressed by crimping collars 26. Apparatus 50 has holders 96,96' which hold body 12 stationary and clamping pins 106,106' activated by clamping levers 102,102' to hold waveguides 32,34 stationary while crimpers 90,90' are moved together by rotating handle 65'. Clamping slide 114 and clamp 116 travel on rods 115,117 a limited distance useful in placing the waveguide ends in the center of the splice 5 prior to moving the crimping collars 26.

Apparatus for splicing fiber optic waveguides

An optical waveguide connector is disclosed for coupling optical waveguides in colinear coincident axial alignment. The connector comprises two intermateable connector bodies, with each connector body having first and second alignment surfaces which cooperate to define an interstitial space therebetween for receiving a corresponding waveguide. Each first alignment surface extends beyond the end of the corresponding waveguide to engage and laterally urge a corresponding waveguide of the other connector body into lateral engagement with the corresponding first and second cooperating surfaces of the other connector body when the connector bodies are matingly engaged.

Optical waveguide connector

An optical waveguide connector is disclosed for coupling optical waveguides in coincident axial alignment. The connector comprises two intermateable connector bodies each provided with three rods in radial cooperation to define an elongate passageway therebetween. Two of the three rods are provided with diameters larger than the diameter of the third rod to make the sectional dimension of the passageway oversized with respect to the diameter of the waveguide inserted therein. Two of the three rods are further adapted to project forward from a connector body in a specified staggered arrangement with the rod projections of one connector body interfitting with the rod projections of a complimentary connector body to optically couple waveguides extending through the connector bodies.

Optical three rod waveguide connector

A mass of dimensionally unstable material in cylindrical form is radially shrunk and confined within an outer sleeve of dimensionally stable material. Two ends of optic waveguides are inserted into a bore provided axially through the unstable material. Upon causing the unstable material to expand radially, the presence of the outer sleeve forces the unstable material to compress and grip radially upon the waveguides, thereby urging them into colinear alignment.

Splicing optic waveguides by shrinkable means

A means for terminating a bundle of glass optical fibers comprising a single plastic element and a single metal ferrule. The plastic element has four main, generally concentric, sections beginning with a nut on one end, an externally threaded portion adjacent the nut, a cylindrically-shaped portion adjacent the threaded portion but with a smaller diameter and employed to align the plastic element in a coaxial coupling means, and a small tubular portion adjacent the cylindrical portion and concentric therewith. The metal ferrule fits around the small tubular portion. An aperture having portions of decreasing diameters extends concentrically through the plastic element with the largest diameter portion being at the nut end and the smallest diameter portion being within the small tubular portion. The bundle of glass fibers with the sheath thereon extends into a first portion of the aperture, and an unsheathed portion of the bundle of glass fibers extends through a second portion of the aperture and then into the tubular portion of the plastic element which is the smallest diameter portion of the aperture. The metal ferrule is crimped over the plastic tubular element which in turn is crimped around the glass fibers to retain them in the plastic element. The end of the tubular element and the retained fibers are ground off to a predetermined distance from a reference point in the termination means so that said fibers can properly abut against a similarly terminated bundle of fibers or some other type of mating optical device.

Termination means for fiber optic bundle

A connector assembly is disclosed for detachably connecting fiber optic cables with the fibers making a one-on-one engagement. The subject connector assembly includes means for spreading the fibers from the tightly packed bundle of the cable to a substantially circular array which allows the individual fibers to be mated on a one-to-one basis with like spread fibers of a second cable fixed in a mating connector half. Thus the subject connector obviates the previous problems of potting the fibers in a connector and the inefficiency of utilizing bundles of fibers mated together.

Growing community of inventors

Harrisburg, PA, United States of America

Tore R Johnson