Splice revolver, splice module and method of organizing fiber strands in the splice module

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] Example embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a splice revolver, splice module and method of organizing fiber strands in the module.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Splice modules are employed for organizing glass fibers from a fiber optic cable as they are spliced to jumpers, such as “connecterized” fibers that are mated to connectors for snap-fit engagement to adaptors. FIG. 1 is a top view of a conventional splice module 10. The cover of module 10 has been removed to illustrate components therein.

[0005] Module 10 includes a housing 15 having a plurality of adaptors 20 therein that receive connectors 60. FIG. 1 shows one arrangement for cable installation into the module 10. The fiber optic cable 30 is pulled through a strain relief grommet 35 and secured at a cable tie 37. The cable jacket is removed, leaving exposed fiber strands 40 for splicing. The splices sleeves 42 are stored in a splice organizer 45. The spliced fibers, or connecterized fibers 50, are attached to connectors 60 and then typically collectively routed as one around a fiber guide 25. The connectors 60 are then mated with the adaptors. 20.

[0006] Even with such fiber organizing arrangements, great care must be taken to ensure that in routing the fibers 50 around the guide 25, there are no sharp bends or twists. Bends or twists can cause potential damage to the fibers 50 and/or signal attenuation due to micro-bends. This must be done by the on-site installer and there is little margin for error.

[0007] An example embodiment is directed to a device for securing splices in a splice module. The device includes a rotatable body having a plurality of channels there through for receiving splice sleeves. The channels are sized to secure the splice sleeves therein.

[0008] Another example embodiment is directed to a device for facilitating the routing of fibers to fiber connectors. The device includes a generally cylindrical body having a plurality of spaced channels located around a circumference thereof and extending along a length of the cylindrical body for receiving splice sleeves. The cylindrical body is rotatable.

[0009] Another example embodiment is directed to a splice module. The splice module includes a housing and a plurality of adaptors affixed to the housing and adapted to receive a plurality of fiber connectors. The splice module includes a splice revolver adapted to rotate around an axis passing there through and including a plurality of channels sized to accommodate a splice sleeve.

[0010] Another example embodiment is directed to a splice revolver of a splice module. The slice revolver comprises a revolver body adapted to rotate so as to sequentially receive individual splice sleeves formed from splicing fiber strands of a cable.

[0011] Another example embodiment is directed to a method of organizing fiber strands in a splice module for routing to connectors in the module. In the method, at least one cable is fed into the splice module, and fiber strands of the cable are spliced into a plurality of splice sleeves. The splice sleeves are placed into a rotatable splice revolver of the module.

[0019] The example embodiments in general relate to a splice revolver, splice module incorporating the revolver and a method of organizing fiber strands in the splice module with the splice revolver. The example splice revolver construction secures sleeves in a dense volume as these fibers are routed to connectors of a plurality of adaptors in the splice module. The example splice revolver uses less space within the splice module and thus may densely secure a plurality of splice sleeves therein.

[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a splice module 100 in accordance with an example embodiment. The splice module 100 includes a cover 105 and a module housing 115. A plurality of adaptors 120 are affixed to one end of the module housing 115. The plurality of adaptors 120 is configured to receive a plurality of connectors 160 in a snap-fit relation thereto. Module housing 115 further supports a fiber management spool 125 and one or more splice revolvers 145. The housing 115 includes slots 117 at either side along an end opposite that of the adaptors 120 for accommodating a pair of strain relief boots 135. Each strain relief boot 135 is adapted to receive a cable there through that is to be separated into fiber splices for routing to connectors 160 via the splice revolvers 145 and spool 125. Each strain relief boot 135 includes a pair of opposed recesses 137 that engage sides of the slots 117 in order to secure the boot 135 to the housing 115. It would be evident to one of skill in the art to include fewer or greater than two strain relief boots 135 and splice revolvers 145 in the splice module 100.

[0021] The splice revolver 145 has a generally cylindrical revolver body that is secured to the housing 115 via a splice mount 147. The splice mount 147 can be attached on any surface of the housing 115 via a fastener 142 such as a mounting screw. In one embodiment, the splice revolver 145 includes a minimum of six slots or channels designed to accept and hold splice sleeves 150. The splice sleeve 150 is configured to house or enclose one or more glass fiber strands therein. The splice sleeves 150 can be inserted into the channels one at a time as the splice revolver 145 rotates until all channels have a splice sleeve 150 therein. The splice revolver 145 revolves freely (clockwise and counter-clockwise) within the splice mount 147 proximate an axis thereof to avoid fiber twisting.

[0022] As can be seen in FIG. 7, the splice mount 147 has detent features 141 to restrict the splice revolver 145 to an open or closed position. Upon the completion of inserting each of the splice sleeves 150, the splice revolver 145 is rotated to a closed position.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the splice revolver 145 to illustrate its mount 147 in more detail; FIG. 4 is an end-on view of the splice revolver 145. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the splice revolver 145 has a generally cylindrical revolver body 146. The body 146 includes a plurality of channels 148 formed along the length of the revolver body 146 in spaced relation to one another around a circumference of the body 146. The splice mount 147 includes a clamp portion 143 that partially encircles the revolver body 146 proximate a mid-point thereof, allowing the body 146 to revolve about a central axis thereof. The clamp portion 143 has an opening 149 to permit a channel 148 to be loaded with a splice sleeve 150 when the channel 148 is aligned with the opening 149, each splice sleeve 150 containing one or more glass fibers 155.

[0024] The mount 147 additionally includes a pair of slots 144, and the revolver body 146 includes a plurality of bosses 151. The bosses 151 are arranged in spaced relation to one another around a circumference of the body 146. As the revolver body 146 rotates within the clamp portion 143 of the mount 147, the bosses 151 travel within the slots 144 of the clamp portion 143 to hold the revolver 145 in the mount 147. Referring additionally to FIG. 7, a boss 151 is configured to engage the detents 141 to lock the revolver 145 in a closed position.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the revolver 145 includes six channels 148 to accommodate and hold splice sleeves 150 therein. However, fewer or greater than six splice sleeves 150 may be included in splice revolver 145.

[0026] FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the splice revolver 145 illustrating loading of the splice sleeves 150 into the splice revolver 145. Once a cable (not shown) has had its jacket removed, each fiber 155 is spliced to a short fiber having a connector 160 at an opposite end using a splice sleeve 150. The sleeves 150 are loaded into the splice revolver 145. Excess lengths of the short fibers, with the connectors 160 at their ends, may be stored about the spool 125. Finally, the connectors 160 are snap-fit into the plurality of adaptors 120.

[0027] Accordingly, in order to organize the fiber strands in the splice module 100, the cable (or multiple cables) is inserted through the strain relief boot(s) 135, the jacket is stripped, and then the glass fibers 155 are spliced to terminated fibers in the splice sleeves 150. Each splice sleeve 150 is sequentially loaded into an open channel 148 of the revolver body 146 as the revolver 145 is rotated. As noted previously, the body 146 rotates within the clamp portion 143 of the splice mount 147 so that each channel 148 may align with the opening 149 for dropping a splice sleeve 150 therein. As the splice sleeves 150 are sequentially dropped into the splice revolver 145, the fiber strands, represented by reference numerals 40 and 50 in FIG. 1, could twist as the splice revolver 145 rotates about its axis. To avoid fiber twisting, the installer merely needs to rotate the splice revolver 145 back to its original position after the splice sleeve 150 is installed. The terminated, spliced end with connectors 160 may then be wound around the spool 125 so as to route the plurality of connectors 160 to the plurality of adaptors 120.

[0028] The example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as departure from the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. All such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.