Optical Fibre Clamping Device

This invention relates to an optical fibre clamping device in particular for preventing relative movement between an optical fibre and a protective tube within which the optical fibre is located.

There is frequently a need within optical fibre communications networks to splice optical fibres together. It is known to use so called organiser trays or plates which accommodate a large number of optical fibres which are spliced together within the tray. Each optical fibre is conventionally housed within a protective bend limiting tube and the present invention is an attempt to provide some means of preventing relative movement between the optical fibre and the tube.

According to the invention the device comprises a body part including a through passageway to receive the optical fibre, the body part including a first clamp to engage the tube and a second clamp to engage the optical fibre.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention prior to attachment to the tube;

FIG. 2 is the same view as FIG. 1, but showing the device in use; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an optical fibre organiser designed to be used with the devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 an optical fibre clamping device 1 is integrally formed as a one piece plastics material moulding. The device is of generally cylindrical shape and comprises two substantially identical halves 2, 3 connected by a hinge part 4 extending longitudinally along the device. The interior of the device is hollow and defines a through passageway 5. One end of the device 6, the lower most as shown, is dimensioned to receive an optical fibre protective tube 7 and to provide a means of clamping the device to that tube 7. As shown the tube 7 includes axially spaced grooves 8 and the device includes co-operating ridges 9 to prevent the device being pulled away from the tube.

A pair of jaws 10 are provided at the other end of the device 1. In addition each body half 2, 3 includes a pair of lugs 11, the reasons for which will be described later on.

In use the device 1 is opened up to the condition shown in FIG. 1 clamped around the tube and optical fibre arrangement such that the internal ridges 9 engage in grooves 8 on the tube and the jaws 10 engage the optical fibres 12, as is shown in FIG. 2. The lugs 10 are then inserted into corresponding recesses 13 in an optical fibre organiser 14 which holds the device 1 together. Because of the engagement of the lugs 11 in the recesses 13 and the clamps 6 and 10 to the tube 7 and optical fibre 12 respectively any relative movement between the optical fibre 12 and tube 7 and the optical fibre organiser 14 is prevented.