Fiber optic splice means and method

Abstract

A fiber optic cable splice means for splicing a fiber optic cable having a pair of fiber retaining elements with an opening for receiving the buffer casing at an end of a fiber optic cable with its bare optic fiber extending therefrom. A cavity within each element provides a fiber deflection chamber for protecting therein the bare optic fiber. The retaining elements are crimped for securing therewith the buffer casing and its optic fiber. A housing or tubular unit has end sections which receive therein a respective one of the retaining elements, and are crimped for securing the retaining elements therewith. An optical fiber alignment means is contained within the unit for aligning and optically joining together the ends of the optic fibers which extend from the retaining elements. The retaining elements may have an insert through which the optic fiber extends for securing the fiber by the crimping of the retaining elements. A retaining sleeve for each element also engages the strength member of the cable for being secured with the tubular unit by the crimping. The method of the invention for splicing fiber optic cables includes preparing the ends of cables to be spliced, inserting them into respective retaining elements, and crimping the retaining elements to secure the fiber optic cable therewith. The retaining elements are placed in the end sections of a housing and the end sections are crimped to secure the retaining elements in a fixed relationship to each other therewithin with their extending optic fibers aligned and engaged for providing signal transmission.