Modified pre-ferrulized communication cable assembly and installation method

PREVIOUSLY VIOLATED CABLE ASSEMBLY, AND METHOD OF INSTALLING A PREVIOUSLY VIOLATED CABLE ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a pre-twisted communication cable assembly that can be readily passed through a cable guide from an initial position to an end position. The pre-twisted cable assembly includes a communication cable having the free front end, a semi-finished communication connector and a suction plug. The invention further relates to an efficient method of passing the pre-twisted cable assembly through narrow cable guides having sharp bends.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When fiber optic networks are installed, the network includes several connections to connect the various end users. Several techniques are used to connect the optical fiber from the main network to home users. s.

[003] Such a technique consists of leading the communication cable through the end-user location, after which a self-named communication connector is fitted to the free end in situ. However, this is not a convenient technique because it is necessary to expose the optical fiber by removing a cable sheath to mount the exposed end of the optical fiber to the connector, and to polish the end face of the optical fiber to allow good signal transmission.

In another technique, the cable assembly, which includes a communication cable with a

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2/38 communication is passed through the cable guide to the final position as a pre-prepared assembly. The connector, which is similarly passed through the cable guide, has considerable diameter dimensions compared to the communication cable, making it necessary to install guides comparatively wide cable trays on site. In addition, it is difficult to pass such a cable assembly (i.e., which has a complete connector mounted on the free front end of the communication cable) through the cable guide. More specifically, the cable assembly must be passed through the cable guide from the start position to its end position. This makes it necessary to perform end position operations (for example, at the end user's home), which is undesirable due to the length of planning and working hours involved.

In yet another improved technique filed in US patent application serial number 11 / 747,573 and its corresponding application NL 1,031,792, a semi-finished cable assembly (i.e., a prefabricated, semi-terminated connector attached to a communication cable) is able to pass through cable guides that have a small diameter (ie cable guides that are simply too small to allow the passage of finished cable assemblies). as previously described). This facilitates the routing of semi-finished cable assemblies from one central point to multiple end users so that the remaining connector can be easily assembled. This improved cable installation technique significantly reduces labor costs. Despite the installation efficiencies of the cable assemblies set forth in US patent application serial number 11 / 747,573, the passage of a partially complete cable assembly remains difficult,

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3/38 if not impossible, through sharp bends in the narrow cable guides.

Accordingly, it may be desirable to overcome the disadvantages of known installation techniques by providing an improved pre-twisted cable assembly that is capable of ready installation through the narrow cable guides, even those having sharp bends.

[007] Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a new pre-twisted cable assembly (e.g., a partially finished rigid cable assembly that additionally includes a suction plug) which can pass through narrow cable guides having sharp bends, such cable guides that run through the wall boxes. This can be achieved, for example, by flexibly affixing a suction plug to the semi-finished cable assembly disclosed in US Patent Application Serial No. 11 / 747,573 prior to passage through a cable guide.

Therefore, the present invention features a modified pre-twisted cable assembly that facilitates the installation of a fiber optic communication cable through a cable guide, the modified pre-twisted cable assembly comprising:

a communication cable having a free front end, said communication cable comprising at least one sheath of cable coaxially surrounding an optical fiber;

a semifinished connector in communicative contact with said optical fiber, the semifinished connector that includes a connecting element that securely surrounds said fiber

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Free front end of said communication cable; and a plug assembly that is attached to the communication cable and / or semi-finished connector, said plug assembly comprising a suction plug;

wherein, after said plug assembly is removed, said connecting element may be mechanically connected to a complementary connector to form a complete communication connector.

The pre-twisted cable assembly is characterized in that, to make it possible to pass the communication cable through the narrow cable guide, the optical fiber is exposed at the free front end of the communication cable. This free end and the cable is fixedly surrounded by a connecting element, which may be mechanically connected to one or more complementary sleeves to complete the communication connector after the communication cable has been passed through the cable guide from an initial position. to a final position.

In this way, the complete communication connector (ie a semi-finished connector and a complementary connector) can be connected in communicative contact with the optical fiber by simple mechanical operation after the cable assembly has been routed. to the final position. No complex and expensive finishing operations (eg polishing) need to be performed at the end-user location.

As an example, a semifinished connector suitable for use in accordance with the invention is a compact and firm Small Form Factor (SFF) ferrule (i.e. the semifinished connector) which can be blown or pressed

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5/38 through narrow cable guides (for example, cable guides that have an outer diameter of about four millimeters and an inner diameter of about three millimeters). This semi-finished connector can be connected to the remaining connector by a non-specialist in a few minutes as an LC compatible connector (1.25mm ferrule). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such a semi-finished connector is thus useful in all FttH installations.

[012] In testing the prerolled cable assemblies of the present invention, communication cables containing standard G652 D fibers and One Mode PC connectors were used.

The complete communication connectors installed by the method of the present invention (i.e. after installation of the end cable assembly) typically showed insertion loss of less than about 0.5 decibel (and typically about 0.25 decibel) and a per of the minimum return of about 45 decibels. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such results demonstrate an advanced communication connector and technical installation.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the cable assembly is capable of passing through a cable guide bending that defines a bending radius that is smaller than expected, preferably less than about 75 percent. more preferably less than about 50 percent of the predicted minimum bending radius Rb according to the following equation:

(|/)^! + (D-df ^{Rb =} 2 (DJ) where:

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6/38

D is the inner diameter of the cable guide;

I is the maximum length of the substantially rigid portion of said pre-twisted cable assembly; and d is the maximum diameter of the substantially rigid portion of said pre-twisted cable assembly.

[015] In another hand Thus, said communication cable comprises at least one cable sheath coaxially surrounding a plurality of optical fibers; and said semifinished connector is in communicative contact

<td colspan="2">with at least one of</td><td colspan="5" rowspan="2">said optical fibers. In another embodiment, said</td>

<td> [016]</td><td>In</td>

<td>finished stays in</td><td colspan="2">communicative contact with</td><td>each</td><td>an</td><td>of</td><td>said</td>

<td>optical fibers.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

<td> [017]</td><td>In</td><td>another mode,</td><td>fur</td><td colspan="2">one less</td><td>said</td>

<td>coating of</td><td>cable</td><td colspan="2">comprises an element</td><td>in</td><td colspan="2">relief from</td>

<td>effort.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

<td> [018]</td><td>In</td><td>another mode, the</td><td>said</td><td colspan="2">connector</td><td>semi-</td>

The finished element further comprises a spring member, said spring member said spring is positioned around said optical fiber between said connecting element and at least one of said cable sheath, said spring element being preferably retained by said connecting element and a retaining sleeve positioned around the said optical fiber.

In another embodiment, said connecting element comprises at least one recess in its circumferential surface, said recess being a circular recess formed in the circumferential surface of said connecting element.

[020] In another embodiment, the maximum diameter of the substantially rigid portion of said cable assembly

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The pre-virulated core is about 60 to 95, preferably about 70 to 85 percent of the inner diameter of said cable guide.

[021] In another embodiment, the maximum diameter of said pre-twisted cable assembly is less than about 200 µm. less than about 150, more preferably less than about 120 percent of the diameter of said communication cable.

In another embodiment, the diameter of the substantially rigid portion of said pre-twisted cable assembly is smaller than the diameter of said communication cable.

In another embodiment, the length of the substantially rigid portion of said pre-twisted cable assembly is less than about ten, preferably eight, more preferably six times its maximum diameter.

In accordance with the present invention, the pre-twisted cable assembly adopts a spring element which can be positioned around the optical fiber between the connecting element (s) and the sheath (s) of cable (s). The spring member may be retained by the connecting member and a retaining sleeve disposed around the optical fiber. Thus any load exerted on the end faces of an optical fiber and of the connecting element may be absorbed by compression of the spring element thereby preventing damage to the connecting element and / or the optical fiber.

[025] The complete communication connector of the present invention has two primary components, the semi-finished connector (i.e. the connecting element and optionally the spring element forming a part of the pre-twisted cable assembly) and a complementary / plug connector

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By pressure (i.e. one or more complementary sleeves that are mechanically connected to the semi-finished connector after the communication cable has been passed through the cable guide).

[026] The connecting element may be provided with at least one recess in its circumferential surface. This recess can be configured as a circular recess formed on the circumferential surface in a special embodiment.

[027] According to the invention, p In order to facilitate the passage of the pre-twisted cable assembly through the cable guide, the semi-finished connector portion of the pre-twisted cable assembly may be protected by a protective element that is removably positioned at the free end of the cable assembly. Communication. As described herein, this protective element may be incorporated into a plug assembly that includes a suction plug.

[028] In one embodiment, the plug assembly comprises a removable protective member that is positioned between said free front end of said communication cable and said suction plug to thereby protect said semi-finished connector.

[029] Semi-finished cable assemblies are sometimes unable to pass through a flex in a narrow cable guide. For example, when a semi-finished cable assembly passes through a bent section of a cable guide (for example, a micro-duct) with internal diameter In D (see Figure 1), the bending radius of the latter may not fall below a certain minimum value Rb depending on the length I and the diameter d of the substantially rigid portion of the semi-finished cable assembly (eg ferrule). . The value Rb is

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9/38 calculated using the following equation:

^{Ri =} 2 (Dd) [030] It turns out that a ferrule shown in the figure

1, which has a length of 22 mm and a diameter of

2.2mm (including its metal bracket) cannot pass the bends on a cable guide that has an outer diameter of about 4mm and an inner diameter of about 3mm (for example, which has a ratio of diameter in millimeters of about 4/3) with a bending radius of less than 75 millimeters. For cable guides which have diameter ratios in millimeters of 5 / 3.5 and 5/4, the minimum bending radii are 50 and 35 mm, respectively.

It should be noted that the illustrative ferrule shown in Figure 1 has a constant length and diameter. In general, and for the purposes of the value equation Rb, the maximum length and maximum diameter of the substantially rigid portion of a semi-finished cable assembly is used. Furthermore, for the purposes of the value equation Rb the cable itself is disregarded (ie the substantially rigid portion of a semi-finished cable assembly is considered not to include the cable itself). These simplified assumptions are not believed to distort the significant calculation of the predicted minimum bending radius Rb.

[032] During the test, it was observed that cable guides having an outer diameter of about 4mm and an inner diameter of about 3mm may have a bending radius as small as 35mm, the ferrule shown in figure 1 cannot pass through electrical boxes

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10/38 cas wall with bending radius less than 75 mm. This presents an installation problem. Previously, to overcome this problem, cable guides were allowed to hang from wall boxes during the cable installation process. This increased the minimum bending radius found by the ferrule shown in figure 1 thus facilitating cable installation (ie cable blowing). After installation, the cable guides were repositioned within limited wall boxes.

To facilitate cable installation through a cable guide having a compact bending radius, the pre-twisted cable assembly according to the present invention includes a suction plug attached to the semi-finished connector (and / or a protective element surrounding the semi-finished connector). This suction plug facilitates the passage of the pre-twisted cable assembly through sharp bends sharp bends (eg the guides cables running through the wall electrical enclosures) in the narrow cable guides. The substantially rigid portion of an exemplary pre-twisted cable assembly (i.e. basically the semi-finished connector and its protective cap) has a maximum length of 22 millimeters and a maximum diameter of 2.2 millimeters. This pre-twisted cable assembly (which includes an air suction plug) can pass through cable guides which have an outer diameter of about 4 millimeters and an inner diameter of about 3 millimeters with bending radius of at least about of 35 mm. Thus, the communication cables attached to the semi-finished connector, as in the present invention, have a similar installation capacity as that observed in the cables.

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11/38 uninsulated (ie cables not attached to communication connectors) with tapered short terminal.

[034] The Suction Cap of the present invention may be relatively airtight or permeable. For example, when employing a tensile plug with a leakage opening, the high velocity air flow continues partially around the tensile plug and partially provides a tensile force. Such leakage tensile plug is disclosed in US Patent No. 5,474,277. In general, while an airtight suction plug provides greater pulling force, a permeable suction plug provides better performance over longer installation distances.

According to the invention, the communication connector may include at least one sleeve which is positioned (e.g. provided around) on the connector for use in the final assembly of the cable assembly.

[036] To facilitate the final assembly in the end position, the sleeve may be made of two or more sleeve elements to be positioned (for example, provided around) on the connecting element.

[037] In a specific embodiment, the glove may be, for example, provided with first and second cams which are separate from each other and which extend towards the connecting member, with the first cam engaging the recess formed in the connecting element and the second cam engages the spring element.

[038] In this way a good mechanical connection of the glove connection element or glove elements is obtained. In addition, the compression of the connecting element (eg as a result of a force that is exerted on the face of

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12/38 end) can be absorbed by compression of the spring element.

[039] In another specific embodiment, the second cam fits into a cam present in the retaining sleeve.

[040] In order to absorb the forces that are exerted on the end face of the connecting element by compression of the spring element and movement of the sleeve, the recess length is typically greater than the length of the first cam as measured in the longitudinal direction of the cable.

[041] The communication connector includes a connector housing positioned on the sleeve (eg around the sleeve) to facilitate assembly operations.

According to the invention, in order to obtain adequate retention and to prevent the connector housing from becoming undesirably detached from the sleeve, the connector housing includes a cam extending towards the sleeve. The cam engages and a recess formed in the outer circumference of the sleeve.

As noted, the pre-twisted cable assembly according to the present invention is modified to include a suction plug which is flexibly connected to the substantially rigid semi-finished connector (and / or a protective element which surrounds the semi-finished connector). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the substantially rigid portion of the set of Previously twisted cable includes the semi-finished connector and its protective cap (ie the protective element).

In this regard, this rigid portion of the pre-twisted cable assembly typically has a maximum diameter of between about 60 and 95 percent of the diameter.

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13/38 of the cable guide and more typically between about 70 and 85 percent of the cable guide inner diameter.

In addition, this rigid portion of the pre-twisted cable assembly typically has a maximum diameter that is less than 200 percent of the communication cable diameter and typically less than 150 percent of the diameter of the communication cable. communication (for example, 120 percent or less).

[046] The maximum diameter of the communication cable provided with the connecting element is less than or equal to the diameter of the rigid portion of the pre-twisted cable assembly. For easy installation From the pre-twisted cable assembly, the diameter of the connecting element may be compatible or smaller than the diameter of the communication cable.

Also, in other embodiments, the length of the rigid portion of the pre-twisted cable assembly is about ten times (10x) less than its maximum diameter, typically eight times (8x) less than its maximum diameter, and more. typically six times (6x) smaller than its maximum diameter.

[048] With the above constructional dimensions, a suitable and facilitated arrangement of the pre-twisted cable assembly through the cable guide is possible even through sharp bends in the cable guide.

[049] To facilitate installation of the modified pre-coiled cable assembly according to the present invention (i.e. including a plug assembly), a device may be used to collect the front end of the pre-coiled cable assembly. Such a device includes a housing to be positioned in the final position of the cable guide, with the housing provided with one or more openings

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14/38 ventilation.

[050] This facilitates the collection of the free front end of the pre-twisted cable assembly when it is guided through the cable guide with the aid of a transfer medium (eg gas or liquid). More particularly, the housing is configured as a tube-shaped element having a first and second open end, with the first open end provided with a collar-shaped claw to engage the end position of the cable guide. This allows fast and secure coupling and decoupling of the device to the cable guide in end-user areas (ie where the pre-twisted cable assembly will be installed by connecting it to the complementary connector).

[051] In an additional embodiment, the second The open end is provided with a closure cap which acts as an end stop for the free front end of the pre-twisted cable assembly upon its emergence from the cable end.

In addition, the modified pre-coiled cable assembly according to the present invention (ie including a plug assembly) may be used with a transfer fluid or when water is present in the cable guide ( for example, as a result of a leak or diffusion). Thus, in a further improved embodiment, the device includes a collection chamber that accommodates the housing, the collection chamber serves to collect the transfer medium that is used to pass the previously terminated cable assembly through the cable guide.

[053] The invention further includes the

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15/38 Methods for Installing a Previous Cable Assembly ferrous, such as a communication cable having a free end and which is produced with at least one optical fiber, which is coaxially surrounded by at least one cable sheath. The exemplary method includes the steps of: (i) providing a cable guide that has a starting point and an ending point situated in end-user households; (ii) guiding the pre-twisted cable assembly with the optical fiber exposed at the free front end of the cable, the end of which is fixedly surrounded by a connecting element, from the starting point toward the endpoint using a transfer medium; (iii) collecting the free front end of the pre-twisted cable assembly at the end point; and (iv) mechanically connecting the free front end of the semifinished cable assembly to one or more complementary sleeves to thereby complete the communication connector. Optionally, step (iii) further includes the the step of collecting (at the end point) the transfer fluid employed (or the water that is simply present) during orientation (eg blowing) of the cable assembly through the cable guide as set out in step (ii).

[054] In one embodiment, the orientation step of the pre-twisted cable assembly modified through the cable guide comprises the plug assembly that causes deformation located on the cable guide to facilitate movement of the semi-finished cable assembly through the cable guide. cable guide.

[055] In another embodiment, the plug assembly comprises a suction plug to guide the cable assembly.

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16/38 previously twisted through the cable guide.

In yet another embodiment, the orientation step of the pre-twisted cable assembly modified through the cable guide comprises the suction plug which causes local deformation and m bending the cable guide to facilitate movement of the semi-finished cable assembly through the cable guide.

[057] In yet another embodiment, the plug assembly further comprises a protective element for protecting the semi-finished connector.

[058] In yet another embodiment, the step of orienting the modified pre-twisted cable assembly through the cable guide comprises blowing the modified pre-twisted cable assembly through the cable guide.

In yet another embodiment, the orientation step of the pre-twisted cable assembly modified through the cable guide comprises the plug assembly leading the pre-twisted cable assembly through a section of the cable guide having (i) a substantially constant internal diameter of 3 mm or less and (ii) a bending radius of less than 75 mm.

[060] In yet another embodiment, the cable assembly orientation step provided for Modified ferrule through the cable guide comprises the plug assembly leading the previously ferrule cable assembly through a section of the cable guide having (i) an inner diameter of about 3 millimeters or less and (ii) a radius of flexion between about 35mm and 55mm.

[061] In yet another embodiment, the orientation step of the modified pre-twisted cable assembly

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17/38 through the cable guide comprises the plug assembly leading the pre-twisted cable assembly through a section of the cable guide having (i) an inside diameter of about 3 millimeters or less and (ii) a radius bending less than about 35 mm.

[062] In yet another embodiment, the plug assembly conducts the previously twisted cable assembly through a section of the cable guide having an outside diameter of about 4 millimeters or more.

[ In still another embodiment, the orientation step of the pre-twisted cable assembly modified through the cable guide comprises the plug assembly leading the pre-twisted cable assembly through a section of the cable guide having (i) the substantially constant inner diameter of about 3 millimeters or less and a substantially constant outer diameter of about 4 millimeters or more and (ii) a bending radius of about 35 millimeters to 65 millimeters.

[064] In yet another embodiment, the orientation step of the prerolled cable assembly modified through the cable guide comprises the plug assembly leading the prerolled cable assembly through a section of the cable guide having (i) a substantially constant internal diameter of about 3.5 millimeters or less and (ii) a bending radius of less than 50 millimeters.

[065] In yet another embodiment, the cable assembly orientation step previously provided for Modified ferrule through the cable guide comprises the plug assembly leading the pre-ferrule cable assembly through a section of the cable guide having (i) the inside diameter

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Substantially constant of about 4 millimeters or less and (ii) a bending radius of less than 35 millimeters.

[066] In yet another embodiment the plug assembly conducts a previously twisted cable assembly through a section of the cable guide having an outside diameter of about 5 millimeters or more.

In yet another embodiment, the orientation step of the pre-twisted cable assembly modified through the cable guide comprises blowing the pre-twisted cable assembly through a cable guide flexion which defines a bending radius that is less than the predicted minimum bending radius Rb according to the following equation:

(|/)² + (D — d)²^{Rb &lt;} 2 (Dd) where,

D is the inner diameter of the cable guide;

I is the maximum length of the substantially rigid portion of the pre-twisted cable assembly; and d is the maximum diameter of the substantially rigid portion of the pre-twisted cable assembly.

According to the above, figures 2A-C illustrate the ease of attachment of the complementary connector to the semi-finished connector encompassed by the present invention. (These photographs, although taken during the test where installation of the cable assembly was not facilitated using a suction plug, are, however, illustrative of the finished communication connector end assembly in accordance with the present invention.) Semi-finished cable, similar to that shown, is blown until the end of the

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19/38 cable guide is reached (with vent and stop). At this point, the suction plug and the end cap (ie protective element) is removed. Next, the cable shield and a metal cylinder (ie gloves) are gloved along the ferrule (ie the semi-finished connector). The metal cylinder is then twisted around the ferrule and cable housing using a crimping tool tool for extra strength. See figure 2A. Subsequently, a ferrule is pressed into the connector housing, which is positioned in a bracket to simplify this connection. See figure 2B. Finally, the cable shield is pressed onto the metal cylinder thus completing the communication connector connection.

[069] The pre-twisted cable assemblies of the present invention not only reduce the time and effort required to install optical cables in an end-user home, but also reduce the need for subsequent home visits. The blowing of the pre-twisted cable assemblies of the present invention Using narrow cable guides (for example, a cable guide that has an outer diameter of about 4 millimeters and an inner diameter of about 3 millimeters) is possible even on cable guides longer than 1,000 meters.

The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, and the manner in which they are realized, are further specified in the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [071] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a ferrule connected to a cable in a cable guide section

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20/38 flexed.

[072] Figures 2A-C illustrate the mechanical connection of a complementary connector with a semi-finished connector thus completing a communication connector.

Figure 3A shows a pre-twisted cable assembly (with an airtight suction plug) according to om the present invention.

Figure 3B shows a pre-twisted cable assembly (with a permeable suction plug) according to the present invention.

Figure 3C shows the substantially rigid portion (AB) of a pre-twisted cable assembly in accordance with the present invention.

[076] Figure 4 shows a prototype pre-twisted cable assembly in accordance with the present invention.

[077] Figure 5A shows a successful installation of a semi-finished cable assembly without the use of a suction plug.

[078] Figure 5B shows a successful installation of a semi-finished cable assembly without the use of a suction plug.

[079] Figure 5C shows an installation of a pre-twisted cable assembly (including a suction plug) according to the invention. [080] Figure 6 shows one embodiment of a semi-finished cable assembly.

[081] Figure 7 shows the installation of the semi-finished cable assembly of figure 6.

[082] Figure 8 shows a first

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21/38 configuration of a cable assembly in the end position (ie placed for end use).

[083] Figure 9 shows a second configuration of a cable assembly in the end position.

[084] Figure 10 shows a third configuration of a cable assembly in the end position.

[085] Figure 11 shows another embodiment of a cable assembly in the end position.

Figure 12 shows yet another embodiment of a semi-finished cable assembly.

[087] Figure 13 shows a device for collecting the free front end of a communication cable assembly.

Figure 14 shows a device for collecting both the free front end of a communication cable assembly and the installation transfer fluid.

[089] Figure 15 illustrates a larger diameter cable guide section installed between the narrowest cable guide sections to facilitate the passage of a semi-finished cable assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, these drawings are schematic representations that are not necessarily drawn to scale. This invention may be incorporated in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The described embodiments are provided for conducting the

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Scope of the invention to those skilled in the relevant art. In this regard, similar parts will be indicated by the same numerals in the accompanying drawings and in the following description.

[091] The present invention encompasses a partially finished rigid cable assembly that is modified with a suction plug. The inclusion of a suction plug promotes the passage of the previously twisted cable assembly even through narrow cable guides that have sharp bends, thus facilitating the installation of a fiber optic communication cable. Exemplary modified pre-twisted cable assemblies are schematically shown in Figure 3A (having an airtight suction plug) and Figure 3B (having a permeable suction plug). Figure 3C schematically identifies (i.e. between line A and line B) the substantially rigid portion of a pre-twisted cable assembly in accordance with the present invention. A prototype pre-beaded cable assembly according to the present invention is shown in Figure 4.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the modified pre-twisted cable assembly includes a communication cable 6 including at least one cable sheath coaxially surrounding an optical fiber. The cable sheathing typically includes at least one stress relief member. A semi-finished connector 2 including a connector 16 is secured to the free front end of the communication cable 4. This semi-finished connector 2 is in communicative contact with the optical fiber.

The modified pre-coiled cable assembly additionally includes a plug assembly 19 which includes a suction plug 21 (e.g.

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Suction) and, optionally, a protective element 20 (i.e. a cap protecting the semi-finished connector 2). Otherwise, a plug assembly 19 includes suction plug 21 with or without protective element 20. Suction plug 21 is secured to communication cable 6 and / or semi-terminated connector 2 by a flexible wire 23 or other flexible fastening section and optionally the protective element 20. Where present, the protective member 20 and the suction plug 21 may be removably connected via the flexible wire 23 or, as shown in figures 3A and 3B, fixedly fixed by the flexible wire 23. The flexible wire 23 may be formed of any suitable material that is both strong and flexible.

[094] The previously twisted cable assembly is passed (eg blown) through cable guide 22 to its destination (eg an end-user meter cabinet). Thereafter, the plug assembly 19 is detached or otherwise removed from the modified pre-twisted cable assembly. The connecting element 16 may then be mechanically connected to a complementary connector (not shown) to form a complete communication connector.

[095] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the force required to remove the plug assembly 19 (i.e. suction plug 21, flexible wire 23 and optionally protective element 20) should be sufficient to prevent plug assembly 19 from emptying when air suction is applied (i.e. during installation of the pre-twisted cable assembly) but not so large that removal of the plug assembly 19 may break the semi-finished communication connector 2.

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24/38 [096] Without the use of a suction plug 21, installing a semi-finished cable assembly through a cable guide 22 works well over larger bending radii but becomes impractical if not impossible, at smaller bending radii. This is schematically shown in figures 5A and 5B respectively.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the inclusion of a plug assembly 19 promotes local deformation of a cable guide 22 (i.e. a micro-duct) during installation of the plug assembly. previously twisted cable through narrow micro-duct curves. In particular, it was observed that the suction plug 21 deforms the cable guide 22 at relatively narrow flexions, thus facilitating movement of the semi-finished communication connector 2 and communication cable 6 through cable guide 22. This unexpected result is schematically shown in figure 5C - the deformation of the cable guide 22 is indicated by the two arrows.

Practically, this means that it is now possible to pass semi-finished cable assemblies through cable guides 22 which have substantially lower diameters (and / or substantially lower bending radii). In fact, it has been found that the pre-twisted cable assembly passes through a bending radius that is significantly smaller than anticipated (e.g., less than 75 percent of the predicted minimum bending radius, Rb and, in some cases, less than 50 per cent of the expected minimum flexural radius, Rb).

Using the pre-twisted cable assembly according to the invention, a semi-finished communication connector 2 may be passed through a cable guide 22

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25/38 together with the communication cable 6, effectively using an air suction plug 21 and exerting a tensile force or thrust force, which may or may not be provided by a fluid medium (e.g. gas) under pressure. Thus, no complex set operation needs to be performed in the final position.

As noted, by way of example, the pre-twisted cable assembly according to the present invention can be obtained by attaching a suction plug 21 to a semi-finished cable assembly described in US patent application. serial number 11 / 747,573. Consequently, the following discussion of the various semi-finished cable assemblies described therein will allow It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art to modify these structures to obtain pre-twisted cable assemblies in accordance with the present invention.

In this regard, Figure 6 shows a semi-finished cable assembly 1 described in US patent application serial number 11 / 747,573. This cable assembly 1 is made of a communication cable 6 which has a free front end 4. The communication cable 6 can be passed through a cable guide (not shown) to an end position through its free end 4. Communication cable 6 stops when the final position of the cable guide is reached (ie due to the air stop).

Communication cable 6 includes at least one optical fiber 12, which is coaxially surrounded by at least one cable sheath 6a, as well as a stress relief wrap 10. In this embodiment, a buffer wrap 8 is provided to the cable. around the fiber optic 12.

[0103] Pair make cable routing easier

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26/38 6 through the cable guide (not shown), the optical fiber 12 is exposed at the free front end 4 of the cable 6. The free front end 4 is fixedly surrounded by a connecting element 16. The element The connecting cable 16 has a front end face 16a and a rear end face 16b which contact the optical fiber 12. Front end face 16a is centrally provided with a polished fiberglass surface which may be placed in communication with a similar polished surface of a counter connector (not shown). In this regard and by way of example, the front end face 16a may be polished at an angle (i.e. an Angle Polished Connector or APC).

The connecting element 16 is provided with at least one recess 18, which is typically configured as a circular recess. on the circumferential surface of the connecting element 16. (The function of the recess 18 will be further explained herein). As shown in Figure 6, a spring element 14 is disposed around the optical fiber 12 between the connecting element 16 and the cable sheaths 8, 10, 6a. When the connecting member 16 is fully assembled, the spring member 14 functions to press the polished fiberglass surfaces together hard enough — but not too hard, as mechanical stresses can lead to cracking of the glass material by connecting to a counter connector to make physical contact with minimal optical signal attenuation of the connector connection.

Connection element 16 and spring element 14 form part of a semi-finished communication connector

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27/38 (i.e. the semifinished component of a communication connector).

[0106] The semi-finished cable assembly 1 shown in figure 6 is passed through a cable guide (not shown) towards an end position from a central distribution point. In the end position, the final assembly of the semifinished communication connector 2 occurs so that the semifinished cable assembly 1 is attached to the complementary connector and thus used for communication applications. In other words, the communication connector is completed by securing the semifinished component including the connecting member 16, a complementary component including one or more sleeves (e.g. a connector sleeve 28).

As shown in Figure 7, the semi-finished cable assembly 1 is passed through an underground cable guide 22 (e.g. a cable duct). To protect the components of the semi-finished communication connector 2 (for example, the connecting element 16 and the spring element 14), a protective element 20 is used to pass a semi-finished cable assembly through cable guide 22. The protective element 20 protects the free end 4 of the semi-terminated cable assembly 1 as well as the connecting element 16 and the spring element 14. See Figure 7.

[0108] Protective element 20 is removable in this mode. After the semi-finished cable assembly has been passed through the cable guide 21 to the end position (for example, an end-user meter cabinet), the protective element 20 should be removed, and therefore the final connector assembly must be removed. semi-finished communication 2 (at this stage, consisting of connecting element 16 and spring element

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28/38

14) will occur.

[0109] After the semi-finished cable assembly has been passed through cable guide 22 to the end position (for example, an end-user meter cabinet), the plug assembly should be removed and therefore the final assembly of the co connector Semi-finished communication 2 (at this stage, formation of the connecting element 16 and spring element 14) will occur.

Through the final assembly and the mounting of the communication connector 2, a knot guard 24 is slid over the cable assembly 1. See figures 8-10. Then the shrink sleeve 26 is fitted around the outer cable sheath 6a, after which the connecting member 16 and spring element 14 are protected by a connector housing (e.g., a connector sleeve 28). In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the connector sleeve 28 is made of two sleeve elements 28a-28b, which may be fitted together on the connection element 16 and the spring element 14 by means of a fixed connection or a fixed connection.

Each glove member 28a-28b shown in Figure 8, like the glove housing elements, is provided with a first inwardly oriented cam 30a-30b which, by arrangement around the connecting member 16, extends into recess 18 of connection member 16. See figures 8-10. As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the length of the recess 18 is greater than the length of the first cam 30a-30b (as measured in the longitudinal direction of the cable 1).

In addition, the connector sleeve 28 (ie the two sleeve housing elements 28a-28b) is provided with a

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29/38 second inwardly oriented cam 32a-32b which is separate from the first inwardly oriented cam 30a-30b. The second inwardly oriented cam 32a-32b engages the spring element 14. The spring element 14 is thus retained between the second cam 32a-32b and the rear end face 16b of the connector 16. This retention mode of spring member 14 (in conjunction with the larger dimension of recess 18 compared to first cam 30a-30b extending into recess 18) allows a large a slight compression of the connecting element 16 as a result of the action of the spring element 14 when longitudinal forces are exerted on it. Thus, the optical fiber 12 is not subjected to loads that may adversely affect it.

As described in Figure 9, the wrap / tension release element 10, which for example may be made of aramid fibers formed around surfaces 34a-34b, is provided with a screw, a serrated edge or another friction increasing surface. The tension release wrap 10 is thus secured to the surfaces 34a-34b of the two glove housing elements 28a28b through the shrink sleeve 26. In this way a good voltage release connection between the communication connector 2 and the outer casing 6a is made. The knot guard 24 may be slid toward the communication connector 2 so that it protects the shrink sleeve 26 and borders a first cam oriented towards 42 provided on each glove housing member 28a-28b.

As shown in Figure 10, the free end of the connector 16 protruding from the connector sleeve 28 is further designed by

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30/38 means of a protective glove 36 which is provided with an inwardly oriented cam 36a. The inwardly oriented cam 36a fits precisely into the circular recess 28 'formed on the outer surface of the connector sleeve 28. The protective sleeve 36 thus borders the outwardly oriented cam 41 which forms the part of each carcass element of glove 28a-28b. The final communication connector assembly 2 is completed by providing a connector envelope 37 which may be slidable along the protective sleeve 36, the rising cams 41-42 and the knot guard 24.

[0115] Figure 11 shows a cable assembly including a glove housing element. and a piece 28 (but is otherwise similar to that shown in figure 10). After positioning the one piece sleeve housing member 28, the spring member 14 is loaded by the pull ring 38 (previously placed on the semi-finished assembly) into the sleeve housing member 28. The ring 38 fits into place. using recession 40.

In contrast, the embodiments show in FIGS. 6-11, FIG. 12 depicts yet another embodiment of a semi-finished cable assembly 1 in which the spring element 14 is not disposed around the optical fiber (not shown). . Preferably, spring element 14 is provided around element portion 43a between connecting member 16 and cable sheath 6a. As shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 12, intermediate member 43 has an outer hexagonal circumference around which sleeve elements 28a-28b (not shown) can be fixed. Due to this surface of this surface configuration , sliding or rotating motion is not possible, and there is no need to do so. 870190061733, 7/2/2019, p. 33/44

31/38 of a cam-recess configuration.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, the connecting element 16 is protected by a protective element 20, although the spring element 14 and the ring 38 are protected by a retaining protective sleeve 20a. The ring 38 is described between the spring element 14 and the wrappers 6a, 8, 10 and is provided with an internal screw thread to be fitted around the wrapper 6a. Ring 38 functions to hold the retaining protective sleeve 20a in place. This construction results in a semi-finished cable assembly having a small outer diameter, which makes it easier to pass the assembly through a cable guide 22.

In another embodiment, the retaining protective sleeve 20a and the protective member 20 may be configured as a unit, which may have an outside diameter of approximately wider entity. A ring 38 may be provided between the spring element 14 (i.e. its rising circular edge) and the wrappers 6a, 8, 10. See Figure 11. After the semi-finished cable assembly 1 is moved to the end position and knot guard 24 and shrink sleeve 26 have been provided, ring 38 is pressed down on connector sleeve 28. As a result, the spring member 14 is inclined. The ring 38 fits into a recess 28d formed in the circumference defined by the sleeve housing elements 28a-28b.

Figures 13 and 14 depict a device 46 for collecting the front end of the pre-twisted cable assembly in accordance with the present invention. The pre-twisted cable assembly is passed through a cable guide 54 which ends (e.g. ends), by

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For example, at the home of an end user. The cable assembly has previously come The flow is passed through the cable guide 54 which uses a transfer medium (e.g., air or pressurized liquid) from an initial position to an end position 54a, which is typically situated at the end user's home.

In this regard, the device 46 includes a housing 48 which will be provided (e.g. positioned around) at the end position 54a of the cable guide 54. The housing 48 is provided with one or more ventilation openings 50 which allow the transfer medium (e.g., air or pressurized liquid) to pass outside the housing when the previously twisted cable assembly passes through the cable guide 54.

The housing 48 is typically shaped like a tube having a first open end 48a and a second open end 48b, with the first open end 48a having a collar 56 to engage end position 54a of the guide. 54. As shown in figures 13 and 14, collar 56 is a A collar shaped clamp attached to the cable guide 54. The second open end 48b is provided with a closure cap 52.

As shown in Figure 14, the preceding device 46 may additionally include a collection chamber 58, where the housing 48 is disposed. The collection chamber 58 serves to collect the liquid transfer fluid 60 which is used to pass the previously terminated cable assembly through the cable guide 54.

[0123] The semi-finished cable assemblies described here are sized to facilitate proper displacement of a semi-finished cable assembly through the guide.

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33/38 of cable 54, even passing the sharp bends in cable guide 54.

Exemplary embodiments of the semi-finished cable assembly shown in Figures 6 to 10 may be provided with a connecting member 16 having a diameter of about of 1.25 mm. Cable 6 has a diameter of about 1.8 millimeters, while protective element 20 is about 13 millimeters long and has a maximum diameter of about 2.2 millimeters.

Still another embodiment includes a cable 6 having a diameter of about 1.8 mm with a connecting element and a protective element 20 having a length of about 20.5 mm and a maximum diameter of about 2 mm. , 85 mm. Such a semi-finished cable assembly may be blown through a cable guide 22 having a diameter ratio of about 5 / 3.5 (for example, having an outer diameter of about 5 millimeters and an inner diameter of about about 3.5mm).

[0126] The exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 12 has a reduced diameter as it uses two protective elements (i.e., element 20 positioned over the connecting element 16 and retaining protective sleeve 20a placed over the posterior assembly). r). The protective glove 20a may be made of soft material (e.g. a heat shrinkable plastic tube) which can then be easily cut or otherwise removed. Cable 6 has a diameter of 1.8 mm and protective element 20 has a length of 20.5 mm and a maximum diameter of 2.65 mm. The semi-finished cable assembly can be blown through a cable guide 22 having an outside diameter

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34/38 of about 4 millimeters and an inner diameter of about 3 millimeters.

[0127] This configuration, without the protective glove 20a, was blow tested on a 1030 meter trajectory with 180 ° bends with a radius of 15 cm every 100 meters. With a blowing pressure of 10 bar, the end speed was still 14 meters per minute, with a reduction to 13 meters per minute when the connecting element 16 emerged (ie exited) from the cable guide 22. This indicates In fact, no negative blow occurred when the semi-finished connector was installed.

Still another exemplary embodiment includes a cable 6 having a diameter of about 1.8 mm with a protective element 20 having a length of about 18.5 mm and a maximum diameter of about 3.25 mm. This semi-finished cable assembly may be blown through a cable guide 22 which has a diameter ratio of about 5 / 3.5 (for example, which has an outer diameter of about 5 millimeters and an inner diameter of about 3.5 mm). However, it is preferable to use a cable guide that has a larger diameter (for example, an outer diameter of about 7 millimeters and an inner diameter of about 5.5 millimeters).

[0129] Tests with other prototypes performed to determine the feasibility of installing a semi-finished cable assembly. For example, prototype testing of semi-finished cable assemblies (1.25-mm) were performed. It was observed that blowing was possible at 10 bar on a cable guide having an outer diameter of about 4 millimeters and an inner diameter of about 3 millimeters (for example, that

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35/38 has a diameter ratio of about 4/3 millimeters) in an IEC 60794-5-10 standard, 1000 meter trajectory that includes 180 ° bends with bending radius of 160 mm every 100 meters and a Y-branch duct connector near the termination box. There is no loss in performance compared to a communication cable without a semi-finished connector attached to it. At the end of the trajectory, a cable guide section of a defined length (terminated with an air stop) was placed and the cable cam on an automatically complete stop when the cable reached the stop. The set length has been chosen so that the cable fits into the control box. termination. The final communication cable assembly was performed without any problem.

[0130] The following examples describe the testing of various semi-finished cable assemblies.

Examples [0131] For testing the various cable assemblies, a micro-duct (ie cable guide) which has a length of 100 meters and an outer diameter of about 4 millimeters and an inner diameter of about 3 millimeters ( for example, which has a diameter ratio of about 4/3 millimeters) was placed on the ground in loops of 10 meters. Each loop includes a 180g bend with a bend radius of about 20 inches. About 50 meters (ie about half of the duct), a bend was made with the duct on a table lathe, in which the bending radius (twice the plate distance of the table lathe) ) can be varied. (In this regard, the two-point bending radius is slightly less than half the distance from the plate.) Each cable assembly has been

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36/38 blown using a MicroJET EM-25 with a 10 bar air pressure and magnetic clutch in position 4 (ie with a tensile force of 15 N).

[0132] First, a bare cable with a short tapered terminal was tested through the above mentioned micro-duct. The cable passed a minimum bending radius of 35 mm without slowing down, reaching the end of the duct with the speed unchanged at 46 m / min.

Second, a semi-finished cable assembly (i.e. semi-finished cable and connector but no suction plug) was tested through the above mentioned micro-duct. The rigid semi-finished connector had a length of 22mm and a diameter of 2.2mm. The semi-finished cable assembly could pass a bending radius of about 75 millimeters at the same unchanged speed. This result agrees with the equation used to calculate the previously noted Rb value. nte.

Third, a semi-finished cable assembly (ie semi-finished cable and connector, but no suction plug) was tested through flexed micro-duct which has an outside diameter of about 5 millimeters and a diameter about 3.5mm (for example, which has a diameter ratio of about 5 / 3.5mm). The rigid semi-finished connector had a length of 22mm and a diameter of 2.2mm. As shown in Figure 15, this section 5 / 3.5 was positioned between the cable guide sections which have an outer diameter of about 4 millimeters and an inner diameter of about 3 millimeters (for example, which has a ratio of diameter about 4/3 mm). Although the arrangement of a larger diameter cable guide section

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37/38 facilitate the passage of the semi-finished cable assembly through sharp bends, here the minimum bending radius reached was 55mm. This is slightly larger than predicted in theory (that is, the value equation Rb), perhaps due to the relatively high stiffness of the duct which has a diameter ratio of about 5 / 3.5 millimeters.

Fourth, a prototype pre-beaded cable assembly according to the present invention (i.e. a cable, semi-finished connector and a suction plug) was tested through the aforementioned micro-duct. See Figure 4. Because no suction cap of the correct size is available for the test, a makeshift foam cap was attached using aramid wire to an end cap that was positioned over the ferrule (ie, the connector). semi-finished). The substantially rigid portion of the pre-twisted cable assembly (i.e. essentially the semifinished connector and its protective cap) had a length of 22 millimeters and a diameter of 2.2 millimeters. See figure 3C. The foam cap, which was ca With the ability to pull as much as 7 N when an air pressure of 10 bar was used, it forced the pre-twisted cable assembly through a flexed duct while temporarily deforming the duct locally. The ability of the foam plug to cause significant deformation of the duct was unexpected. See figure 5. The shortest bending radius achieved without speed reduction was 40 millimeters. At a 35mm bending radius, the ferrule becomes stuck, but after a few seconds the pressure behind the foam plug increased. Subsequently, the ferrule once again began to move and reached the end of the micro-duct at speed

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38/38 total. It is believed that the pre-twisted cable assembly according to the present invention is capable of withstanding a tensile force of at least about 50 N.

[0136] The test mentioned above demonstrates that a cable assembly pre The virally virulated bend of the present invention can pass through micro-ducts having a diameter ratio of about 4/3 millimeters and a bending radius of 35 millimeters. This fits in with the installation performance (ie blowing performance) of a bare tapered short terminal cable and significantly exceeds the installation performance of other semi-finished cable assemblies. Thus, the prerolled cable assembly of the present invention provides the blowing efficiency of a bare cable while retaining the final assembly advantages of semi-finished cable assemblies.

In the specification and figures, typical embodiments of the invention have been described. The present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. Specific terms were used only in a generic and descriptive sense and not for limiting purposes. The scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims. The modalities described in the specification and claims Indications referring to the cable assembly also apply to the method and vice versa.