CA2160470A1 - Bonding assembly for fiber optic cable and associated method - Google Patents
Bonding assembly for fiber optic cable and associated methodInfo
- Publication number
- CA2160470A1 CA2160470A1 CA002160470A CA2160470A CA2160470A1 CA 2160470 A1 CA2160470 A1 CA 2160470A1 CA 002160470 A CA002160470 A CA 002160470A CA 2160470 A CA2160470 A CA 2160470A CA 2160470 A1 CA2160470 A1 CA 2160470A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- shield
- strength
- clamping
- clamping member
- strength member
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
- G02B6/4401—Optical cables
- G02B6/4415—Cables for special applications
- G02B6/4416—Heterogeneous cables
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
- G02B6/4439—Auxiliary devices
- G02B6/444—Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
- G02B6/4441—Boxes
- G02B6/4446—Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
- G02B6/4439—Auxiliary devices
- G02B6/4471—Terminating devices ; Cable clamps
Abstract
A fiber optic cable bonding assembly includes a base member, a shield clamping member, and a strength member clamping member assembled in stacked relation. The fiber optic cable has a core, a metallic shield, at least one lenghtwise extending strength member, and an overall jacket. A portion of the jacket is removed leaving exposed a portion of the metallic shield and the strength members. The base member has a tongue portion inserted between the shield and an underlying portion of the cable core. The shield clamping member over overlies the shield to clamp the shield with the base member. A strength member clamping member overlies the strength members and the shield clamping member to clamp the strength members in a longitudinal extending direction. A threaded stud carried by the base member connects the base member, shield clamping member, and strength member clamping member together, as well as secures an end portion of bonding strap to stud.
Description
~WO 91/24598 2 1 6 0 4 7 0 PCT/US9~tO~19X
BONDING ASSEMBLY FOR FIBER OPTIC CABLE
AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
Field of the Invention 5This invention relates to fiber optic cables and, re particularly, to an assembly and ~c~ ed metht~ for electrically bontling mt~.t~llic ColllpOlle-lL~ of fiber optic cables.
Background of the Invention 0Fiber optic cables are widely used in a variety of ~ leco.. i- ~tions applic~tinn~, such as for long tli~t~nee l-,l~hol-t nctwvlks ~.~-nil-g large geographic areas. A typical loose-bur~.ed fiber optic cable for such an applit ~tion inclutlt~s a plurality of optical fibers conls~intA within a cable core, in turn, ~ ,t~t~l by an overall jacket. The fibers may be ... ;..I;~ in i~ le groups by l~;,~cli.re binder yarns within a centrally located single plastic buffer tube, or groups of fibers may be calried by a series of buffer tubes :,ull.,.. l;.. g a central ~u~ illg .. - -.. ~I. Fiber optic cables may also ih.cludc a plurality of tight-burr~,.cd fibers also collectively ~r~t~,ctcd by an overall protective jacket.
One type of fiber optic cable incl~ltlt~s a met~llit, shield surronntling the 20 cable core. The mt t~llit shield may be provided for rodent ~l~Jt~ ~I;ol- in a direct buried or und~ und cable in~t~ tion An outer plastic jacket surrounds the mt~t~llit shield.
It is also co.. on in such a cable to inco~ te lengthwise c~ g sL~ hc~ ~
within the cable jacket. For eY~mrle, one version of an LXE~ Lightguide Cable ,"~,..r; ~ d by AT&T in~hldes a central loose-buffer tube, a ~ullo~ tli~ corrugated 25 m~t~llic shield, and a pair of spaced apart met~llir wires e..t~ n-l;ng lengthwise along ol.~o~i~ sides of the mPt~llir shield.
The mP.t~llic colllpolle~ within a fiber optic cable are typically rle~tric~lly grounded at pledete ..,;,~1 points along the cable route, such as at spliring and ~ ....;n~1;on points. This protects from plr~ ull~lki ind~lced by power system 30 di~lulbances, that is, nearby faults or from lightning inrlllce~ surges.
The ends of fiber optic cables, and hence the electric~l bonding ~csc...hlies for the m.ot~llic cable cc,lll~on~ s, are typically housed within a pfot~;li~le wo 94/24598 216 0 4 7 0 PCT/US9~/04198 splice closure. The splice closure is typically sealed to prevent the ingress of water into the splice closure which could l~m~e the optical fibers and/or splices. Such splice closures are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,121,458 entitled Preterminated Fiber Optic Cable to Nilsson, et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,961,623 entitled Pr~t~", inated Optical Cable to Midkiff, et al., and U.S. Patent No. 4,805,979 ellti Fiber Opnc Cable Splice Closwe to Bossard, et al.
A conv~ntion~l bDnding clamp for a l~l~hone cable inclu-ling multiple pairs of in~ te~l copper conrlllctors surrounded by an overall aluminum shield is close~l in U.S. Patent No. 4,895,525 entitleA Cable Shield Grounding Clamp 0 Connector to Leonardo. The bonding clamp includes a shoe plate or base mPmber inserted bGl-. ~n the core of copper pairs and the :~u~ unding n~t~ shield. The shoe plate has a threaded stud ext~nr1ing u~ ly thcl~L~,I, and scraping ~lojc~l;on~, eYt~nflin~ upwardly along the op~osile lengthwise edges of the shoe. A bonding plate having an opening therein receives the stud of the shoe and the bonding plate is;m-~l to overlie the outer protective jacket of the cable. The shoe and the bonding plate of the clamp have di~ t radii of curvature so that they are biased apart. This ccm~ copper t~ h.-~e cable bonrlin~ clamp, ho~ _" is unde~ ble for fiber optic ~pli~l;nQ~ where the cable i~rlvdGs Sl~
U.S. Patent No. 4,927,227 entitle~l Optical Fiber Cable Closure to Bensel, III, et al., and ~cci~eA to AT&T ~ o~s a fiber optic splice closure ;~cl-~(l;"~
an cl~c~ 1 bonding clamp (the "AT&T clamp") for the m~ot~ c co.~ one within a fiber optic cable. The AT&T clamp inrl~ es a shoe plate having a threaded stud -"l;i-g radially oul~.udly Lh.,.~i~. The shoe is inserted bcl-._cn the cable core and the n~-t~llic shield of the cable. A first L,shaped ..~ -- is secured with a portion 25 ~.~lying the shoe and on the o~osile side of the m~t~llic shield to IL~ y clamp the shield l~t~. ~n the shoe and the i~rst ~shaped .. .~ I f . A second L-shaped ~ -- is s~ul~,d to the vertically e - t~.n~l;n~ portion of the first ~shaped .~.. I~.. A bonding block is s~;ur~l to the vertically ~ h~g portions of the first and second ~shaped --- -..1 f -~ so that the lengthwise ~ g SLI~l~Lh -.~ may be bent to extend in a 30 radially Oulwal~l dil~L on from the cable and, thus, el~m~ ~t~.oen the bo~ g block and the second L-shaped ~ . The bon~ling block ine~lu~les a pair of cp~ning~c and ~Cco~ set screws to secure a ground wire to the clamp to est~lich an el~.ctri~l c~l-n~ n thereto.
Convçnti- n~l fiber optic bonding cl~mps, such as dle AT&T clamp, 35 may u-lÇullul-alely permit relative mov~,,.l~,n~ ~L~ I the stlength -~ b~ and the cable jacket so that water may migrate from the end of the cable and into the splice closure. Accordingly, such a bonding clamp is desirably partitioned off into a se~ le col~ within the splice closure to prevent water from ent~ring into the splice area 2 3 ~ s7 ~ PCT/US91/04198 as shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,927,227. The co.~ t is also filled with a water blocking cc,lll~und.
When more than one conventional bonding clamp such as the AT&T
clamp is used in a partitioned splice closure, all of the clamps are connected to a 5 common ground surrounded by the water blocking compound. Accol~ingly, the cc.llll~lol~ electrical connection inhibitc locating individual fiber optic cables in an undc.~uulld inctsllstion, since signals cannot be sep .i1lely introdueed to the metAllic shields of individual fiber optie eables.
The c~l;ent~liorl of the strength mrmhers exten-1ing radially outward o from the AT&T elamp preel~ldes secllring the strength ...- ..b., ~ within the elosure for s~ itic!nsl support of the eable. The AT&T elamp is also relatively large eoll~ ,d to the eable and may prohibit inctsll~ti~ n of the elamp prior to insertion of the eable end into an opening in the end eap of the spliee elosure.
~u~ a~ of tlle ~nvention It is lLc..,r~ , an objeet of the present invention to provide a bon-ling ....hly and sccoeist,ç~ mlotho~l for both the metsllir, shield and the strength ... ..~ ~
20 of a fiber optic eable that provides good e]ectriçsl bon~ling and also .nr~l~Anir~lly seeures the strength mpmhers to reduee the lik~.lihood of water migration from the eable.
It is a~ objeet of the il,~_nlion to provide a relatively CO~ )?l'l and readily inctAlls~'- bon~lin~ ~c~...l~ly for a fiber optie eable.
These and other objeets, rea~ s and advantages of the invention are provided by a bon~ling ~c~..~hly for a fiber optie eable i~ l;ng a staeked AC~ ~hly of a base ... ..~, a shield cl~...p;~-g ..~ , and a strength .~ çl~",l,;"~ .... ..bf- .
~n nP~ g means co~ ~t~ the .... ~ ..he, ~ C~ to clrrl ~ lly co~ c~l to the shield and to ..~ ;r~lly t~ le and ~,1~:1. ;~.Ally C4~ ~1 to at least one strength --~ u~bf in the cable. In other words, the shield cl~mring .. hGl and the strength ~
clAmring --~ provide cl&~ ing means, CO~ GCI~ to the base ...~ ..hf. and ov~,llying the CA~)OSed shield portion, for cl~mring to the el-~JosGd shield portion and for çlAmring e~osed portions of the strength mP.mhers and g~ ling the strength ~ .... ............................. ...bf . ~ to extend in a ~nerAlly l-~np.;l".~ l dilG~,IiOII.
As would be readily und~ od by those skilled in the art, the bonding A~semhly accordhlg to the invention is used with a fiber optic cable of the typei"cl"~ g an elon~te core, a mPtAllic shield ~ .-l;i-g the core, at least one strength .I.. he. eytpn~ling longihl~linAlly adjacent the shield, and a jacket su~ Aing the wo 9`1/24598 2 1 6 0 ~ 7 0 PCT/US9~1n~l9X
shield and the at least one strength mPmh~.r. The bonding A~sembly is znAr.h~l to the fiber optic cable at a portion thereof, such as at an end to be le~ ztr~l, where a por~on of the jacket has been removed thereby exposing the underlying shield and the at least one strength ~ . As would be readily nn-lPr~$tQod by those skilled in the art, such 5 cables typically include a pair of spaced apart wires serving as strength members.
Accordingly, to simplify the following desclil,lion, the plural term "strength nu~.mbe.rs"
is soll~ es used herein, it being und~.~lood that a single strength m.o.mber may also be readily Arcol...-~l.~t~ cl by the bonding as~c.-lbly acco~ g to the invention.
More particularly, the base ...e-.-k.,l preferably has an end adapted to be 0 inserted be~.e~n an exposed shield portion and a cull~,s~nding underlying coreportion of the fiber optic cable. The base ...- ~.-~ - also preferably in~h.(les a plurality of ploje~l ;on.s e.Y t~ .g o~ lw~udly from the end to scrape zrlja~e.nt portions of the shield thereby enhancing electrical contact and IllechAnir~lly securing the base ~I-.,.nb~,r in pOSition.
The shield clAmring ~-~c~ is adapted to overlie the exposed shield portion and co~ le with the base ...- .~.h~:., for clzmping the r~l-ose~l shield portion ..~n. Similarly, the strength ...~ clAmring ...~....h~.~ is zAal~t~;l to overlieeA~/osed ~.,llions of the ~ ,nglh ..-~ hc~s and coc,~,~te with the shield clzmring ...f....he~ for clz..,l-;~.g the strength m~mbers the..,l~l~.ce.l. Mc,l~,vv~., the strength 20 m.o.mht~.r c!z---~;--g .~ nd the shield cla~ g ..~ ,. coo~,lale so that the ~Yl ose~ portion of ~e strength ..~ , eytf,n~l~ in a g~on-orally longih~lin~l direction ~AjA~f nt the cable core. c~nf~!;~g means, yl~_f.,~bly a ~hre~AeA~ stud caTTied by the base ...~....k~,., connecl~ together the base ..~....1~, shield clamping ..- ...-~ , and strength ...~ -..1,--- cl~mrin~ .nf...~h~ ~. Thus, a con~r~rt or low-profile, ~rr~n~nf.nt for 25 the bon~ling ~ hly is achieved.
An electri~l bonfling strap is also preferably provided having an end secured to the threaded stud. The b~nrling strap may, in turn, be con~f~t~A. to a ground within a splice closure, for çY~mrle In ~ ition~ each of the base ,..~ hf", shield cl~lQ~)i,-g ..~ U~ , and strength ~ ,r C1~mr;n~ f ~h~ preferably have an arcuate30 ~lan~ ~ cross-se~;ol~l shape roughly cull~*~ûndin~, to the radius of curvature of the fiber optic cable.
The shield rl~mring n.~ .. preferably has a firstportion ~ rtfA to be posilioned ~Ai~r~ent where the ~l oseA portions of the strength ~ emerge from the cable jacket. The first portion of the shield cl~mrin~ ...~....I~,l has at least one guide 35 opening that is ~rt~l for receiving th~ell~lough the exposed portion of the at least one strength ..~ k~. In one emboAim~nt of the invention, the shield cl~mring ...~...~h~,r also preferably has a second portion downstrearn from the first portion including at least one radially oulwal~lly e~l~n~ -g guide hook that is ~ i~rteA. for ~WO 9 1/24S98 2 1 6 0 ~ 7 0 PCT/US9 110~198 receiving th-,le~LIuugh the longinlAin~lly eYtsrlAing exposed portions of the strength In one emhoAim~nt of the invention, the shield clamping m~mber rests upon only the exposed portion of the cable. In other words, in this emboAiment a5 relatively short shield clamping Illc~ is provided Whclc;ill the f~t portion is an end portion. In al~u~ ..llho~ t of the invention, the shield rl~mping llh ..~11'; ~ iS longer and e~ctf nA~ u~ alll over a J,~ rte-A portion of the cable. Thus, in this emboAimPnt ~e shield c!~ g ll-f ~-bf ~ also ;Il~ ldes a third portion u~ al~l from the first portion adapted to overlie a portion of the cable jacket. A f~cten~ r is preferably positioneA
0 sullu~ lin~ the third po~ion of the shield c~ g ~ A- and the undcllying portion of the cable jacket to provide greater ...~"I.~ l stability for the bonAing ~...lhly.
The strength -~e-~lk~ cl~mrin~ m~.mh~.r also preferable carries at least one pair of spaced apart ~luje~,lions e~cte~Aing radially inwardly.thel~,rru-ll. These projectio~ further corfine the strength m~.mbers ~l~.e~n the strength Ill~ x 16 C1~ g .~ obf~andtheshieldC1~ g-~
Another aspect ûf the pr~sent invention is that sealing means is~Jlef~kly applied ~ u~ Ain~ the ~-l~se1 portion of the fiber optic cable and the other portions of the bonAin~ ~c~bly to ~ ,nt ,...~ic~ , migration from the fiber optic cable. As would be readily und~luod by those skilled in the art, the sealing means 20 preferably ;-.cl.lAes a heat recoverable tube and a water blocL ing co~.ll)o~ A for filling voids underlying said tube. A suit~ble sealing means is described in a copendingap~lir~*~n en*tleA Fiber Op~ic Cable System Including Main and Drop Cables an~
Associated Fabricanon Method, ~ci~ed to the pl~,scnt ~si~nee~ the Aicclosllre ofwhich is hereby incc,l~ulat~i herein by l~f~ ,nce.
The cable strength ll~.. llh~ are well s~ul~d relative to the other cable cc,m~o.l~,.lts and are, ll.e.~,f~ , less likely to move relative to the other cable col l -l-onf~ rAingly, Ill~ u~, mi~r~*on from the end of the cable is less likely to occur. In rlAition~ h-ec~l~ce the bonding assc.llbly ~ er b the migration of water from the cable end, it does require a par~itioneA splice closure, as does, for example, the AT&T bonding clamp Ai~close~ in U.S. Patent No. 4,927,227 and Ai~cll~sed above.
When a plurality of cables are t.'.l..i~AI'~ in a cc..l...on splice closure, the bonding straps a~col~ing to the inven*on may be individually ;~;sse~l The hnnAing ~cP.mhly of the ~ sent invention also ~1~,Sel.~ a relatively CO~ ~ I profile and may thus be if ln-~A onto a cable end prior to its ins~ L.on into a splice closure.
A method according to the present invention for bonding a fiber optic cable ;.~cl~ldes the steps of establishing both an Plec~ l and mP~h~ni~ .f~!;on to an e~o~d shield portion of the fiber optic cable; ~liding an e~.~osed portion of the strength .. ~ to extend in a lo~ginlr1in~1 direction adjacent the elec~ric~l and wo g~/2459X 21 6 0 4 7 0 PCT/US94/0~19X
~echanical collne~;on; and securing the longit~ in~lly e~cten-lin~ exposed portion of thestrength..,~....l~..~tothec~ land...~ h~lic~lcc~ e.,~
The step of establishing both the cle~LIical and l.lrrl~ l connection preferably i~el~-(les the steps of providing a base momh~r and inserting an end portion 5 thereof ~I~.een the exposed shield portion and a co"~ )onding underlying core portion of the fiber optic cable, and providing a shield cl~mring m~.mb.or and clamping the shield cl~-nl-;,.g ...~ be~ overlying the G~,osed shield portion. In ~ lition~ the step of securing the longihlclin~lly exten-ling exposed portions of the strength members includes providing the strength ~ ..~r cl~mping member and clamping same 0 o~ _llying the cAyosed portions of the s~e~
The steps of cl~-..pi..g both the shield cl~ ,;..g ...- ..~hf . and the strength".~ cl~mring memb~r incl~ldes po~;l;o~;ng a threaded stud carried by the base ...---..~h - through ,~ e openings in both the shield and strength 1.~ c-~ g mf-mberS and seC!lring an end of the threaded stud. The methorl also preferably 1~ incl~ldes the step of sealing the fiber optic cable and the dectrical and m.och~ni~l CQ~ cl;o~ forp,~ ~ e~"i"g ~;~ migratinn ~om the fiber optic cable.
Brief Descri~tion of the Draw;ng~
~IG. 1 is a ~ e~ . view of a first cmbc"l;--.- ~ of a fiber optic cable 20 hon-1ing ~es~ 1 .ly acCol~]ing to the ill~r el~tion w~ith a portion of heat recoverable tubing and water blocl~in~ l~t~ removed for clarity.
FIG. 2 is an eYplodeA ~c~ e view of the fiher optic cable bonding hly as shown in ~IG. 1.
~ ;IG. 3 is an enlarged transverse cross-se~ti~n~l view of the fiber optic 25 . cable bonding ~c ....hly taken along lines 3-3 of ~IG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a ~c.~cc~i~ view of a second e~.~ho~ t of a fiber optic cable bonding assembly according to the invention with a portion of heat l~ cov~ble tubing and water hl~ ing m~to.n~ o.cd for clarity.
FIG. 5 is an eYrlo~leA p~ pec~ e view of the fiber optic cable bonding 30 ~cse.~.hly as shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse cross-se~tiQn~l view of the fiber optic cable bonAing ~ese .hly taken along lines ~6 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged lon~ Ain~l cross-secti~n~l side view of the fiber optic cable h ~ ;on ~seml)ly taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6.
I)et~iled Descliption of the Preferred Embodilllellls The present invention now will be de~libed more fully h~ ~f~l with reference to the accoul~,anying drawings in which p~r~l~ d emboAin.~ of the ~WO 94/24598 2 1 6 0 4 7 ~ PCT/US9~/0~198 invention are shown. This invention may, hu..~ ~cr, be embodied in many dirr~ t forms and should not be construed as limited to the emb~imf nt~ set forth herein.
Rather, these embo~ are provided so that this ~ closllre will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
5 Like llul~ refer to like elemf,ntc in ~ltf rn~t~ e-mho,l;,.-f .,l~.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a first emb~imf nt of a fiber optic cable bonding ~cc~...hly 10 accc,lding to the present invention is illu~lldted. The bonding assembly 10 is attached to an end portion of a fiber optic cable 11. As would bereadily ~ f'-~ by those sl~lled in the art, the fiher optic cable bonding ~...hly 10 0 is typically used at a cable or K,,.;l~tion point, such as a splice point, or at any point where it is desired to est~bli~h electric~l contact to the m.ot~llic fiber optic cable Cr~ )OI~f ~1~ and secure any strength .~. ---h r col~l ~;nfA therein.
In the illustrated embo~limlont~ the fiber optic cable end 11 may be con-~eclf~ to a breakout funnel 13 having a first smaller end 13a a(lj~ent the fiber optic cable end and a second larger end 13b dowrl~ ,Lvl~. A funnel cap 14 having a plurality of opfeningS therein may be sf~;ul~d to the second larger end 13b of the funnel 13. A plurality of pl~dt ~ ;nr~ groups of optical fibers 24 extend through the ~ ul~s in the funnel cap 14. Each group of optical fibers is carried in a breakout tube 15 for further ~r~t~il;on and routing within a splice closure, not shown, for srli~in~
As would be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the fiber optic cable bon~lin~ ~semh]y 10 of the present invention may be readily used in conj~n~l;on with other types of fiber optic cable int`luAin~ loose-l,urÇ~.ed cable of the sl.t.n~ed type, as well as tight-burf~ ,d cables.
The end portion of the fiberoptic cable 11 ;n~ es an el,~ng~te core 20, a met~ shield 21 ~ullu~n ~3ing the core 20, a pair of lengthwise e~ ~end;~lg strength ....... 1~,. ~7 22, and a ~l~t~ e jacket 23 ~ n~ g the m~ot~ shield and the strength ....,...k~ s. The core 20 of the fiber optic cable ;n~ eS a plurality of optical fibers 24 disposed within one or more lJlut~ e buffer tubes 25. A fabric water bloel~ing tape 26 sulluunds a single buffer tube 25 in the illl.~ .. ho.];.. nt The mf t~ shield 21 ~7ull~ g the core 20 is preferably cornugated to provide strength and to retain flexibility of the cable 11. The longit~l(lin~lly e~ l;ng strength ~ 7 22 are metal wires Ai~roseA ~I-.~n the met~ shield 21 and the jacket 23. The strength ..,~ 22 are preferably mlot~llic7 but may also 35 be other ...~t. - ;~lc as well, such as fi~l~;lass l~;nrc~l~;ed plastic or a ~ly~id yarn, such as KEVLAR(~. While a pair of oppositely positiQnf~l strength ...- .,.hf .~7 22 are illu~7llat~,d, any ~------~ . of strength .. f .,.h~ 7 may also be ~CCO~ A In addition, WO 9~/2~598 2 1 6 0 4 7 0 PCT/US9 1/0~19X
each strength ll,elll~. 22 may be provided by a stranded bundle of wires, for eY~mple, as would be readily u~d~ ~od by those skilled in the ar~
The ~lo~ e jacket 23 ~ull~ullding the m~t~llir shield 21 is preferably formed of a durable plastic m~t~ri~l, such as polyethylene. In prl~lition, the cable 11 is 5 preferably plcp~cd by stripping away a portion of the jacket 23 to expose an end t portion of the mPt~llic shield 21 and end portions of the strength members 22, as shown.
The bonding assembly 10 includes a base mPmh~r 30 having an end 30a, or tongue portion, ills~t,d ~,.~n the exposed end portion of the mPt~llic shield 0 21 and a co,~ ol-~ling underlying portion of the core 20. In ~ litiol, the base ...~ .-bf 30 may preferably include nrst~n~ling proje~hc-n~ 29 for scraping through a coating on the mrt~llic shield 21 and thereby est~bli~hing good ehPc!ric~l contact lL~ ll. In the illustrated P-..k~ , the proje~tion~ 29 are generally cylinAric~l in shape and rnay be integrally formed with the base ~ 30 by a ~ p;~ peration,15 as would be readily ....A.. ~lood by those skilled in the ar~
The shoe 30 preferably has an arcuate cross-se~tion~l shape as shown in l;IG. 3. The radius of curvah~re of the shoe 30 also preferably cc~ Ac roughly to the radius of Cu~/alule, of the fiber optic cable core 20, although a single arcuate shape may readily ac~..~ e a wide range of cable sizes.
The bon~in~ ~CC~ .. bl~ 10 also inrl.~les a shield cl~mping n~ l~r 31 o.ellyih~g the eYposP~ end pordon of the mPt~llic shield 21 and coopc.,~l;n~ with the base .. I~,r 30 to clamp the shield portion ~ ~e~ n. The shield cl~mring mPmhPr 31 may also include two rows of radially inwardly eYte-n~le~1 pointed ~l~,je~,lions 45, or tangs, integrally formed in the shield cl~mping mPml~er by a 25 ~ g opçr~tirJn as would be readily lm~tprst~ by those slcilled in the art~ The pointed ~ )jc~l;o~c 45 serve to dig into the met~llic shield 21 to ensure good çlectrir~l and ,~r.l~ l C41~U'~ thereto.
The shield clamping l-lelllb~ 31 includes a first, or end, portion ent the fiber opdc cable portion where the strength ~f `~ i 22 emerge from the 30 cable jacket 23~ As shown p~,lha~)S best by the eYplo~ 2 view of FIG. 2, the shield çl~mring .~ 31 preferably incln~es at least one guide opening 32 in the first portion thereof, through which the strength l-~.-...~.S 22 extend in a radially ou~w~-l direction~ In the illusllat,d ~..n~bo-l;...ei~, a pair of spaced apart openings 32 are provided to receive 1~ re ones of the pair of strength ~ 22. In addidon, 35 the guide opPning~ 32 are closely sized to the ~i~mt~.tF.r of the strength --- ...h~ i 22 so that the strength l..~--..l~l.~ are bent at ~lu~ ly a right angle as ~ey pass through the op~ning~ and extend along the shield clamping .~.~....l3e. 31 in a longi~ in~lly .n~ ~;lion.
~WO 9~/24598 2 1 ~ 0 4 7 0 PCT/US9~/01198 The bonding assembly 10 also preferably inr!udss a strength m~.mber clamping n~ kcr 43 overlying the shield cl~mring member 31 and the exposed end portions of the strength members 22. The strength member clamping member 43 cooperates with the shield clamping member 31 to guide and secure the strength s members 22 in a longihl~lin~lly exten~3ing direction, as illustrated. The strength UlC.llb~ 22 eyten~ling oulw~dly from the end of the strength member clamping mP.mher 43 may be ~..".;~ tt.d and covered with prl)tcc~ e caps 34 as shown in the illustrated embodimsnt of FIGS. 1 and 2. Alle.,.ali.~ely, the strength .. bf.. ~ 22 may conlillllc to extend lengthwise, such as within a splice closure, and be secul~l within 10 the splice closure to thereby provide a more secure cable t~ .. ",;,,~I;m~
The bonding ~se.mbly 10 also includes connecting means for con~-ec!;ng the base .. ~ .. h~. 30, shield rl~ ;-.g .. ~ 31, and the strength .. h~, el~mring ~ ....he, 43 together so as to clamp the ~,~posed end portion of the met~
shield 21 and the c -l ose~ portion of the sll~,nglll .. ~ 22. The col~lu~l;ng means preferably is provided by a threaded stud 36 carried by the base ...~....k~f,r 30 and e..~ g radially oulw~dly ~ ~Sulll. In ~ ition~ the col)necl;ng means preferably n~ des an ûpening 37 in the shield cl~mring mP.mh~.r 31 and an opening 44 in thestrength ~Ih....h,.~ Çl3n~l~;11g Inf n~kf,~ 43 for l~ce;~,illg II,~r~ll,r~ugh the ~ ~f~d stud 36.
A bonding strap 40 also inclurlf s an openin~ 41 for receiving II,c f Ihlc.ugh the 11~ d stud 36, and a nut 38 is secured on the end of the stud 36.
The ~ ;Ih ..~....1,~.~ c~ .;..g ...~ 43 also preferably i-~r-l~les one or more pairs of radially inwardly çYtr.n~1ing ~lujecLions 45, or tangs, for further co.~r..~ g the strength m~.mh~.rs 22 and also for establishing good electric~l contact with the unde~lying shield clamping .. 1~.l 31. The strength .~P.u.hel cl~mrin~
25 m~mho.r 43 also preferably has an arcuate cross-sectional shape with a radius of curvature coll~ ol--l;ng roughly to the radius of curvature of the cable 11.
The bon~ing strap 40 se~ul~l ~I..e~,n the strength ...~-...~l cl~...pi~
-~- -..~ and the nut 38 seculccl to the Ihl.,zd~:l stud 36 is preferably an electrically conducli~ brai-led fl.oYihle strap, as illu~ ~d. As would be readily lm~l~ .. sl~od by 30 those skilled in the art, the hrai-led strap preferably includes a soldered medial portion for ~ e.,ling water migration through the strap. An ~ osi~ end of the bonding strap 40 may be removably se~ d to a sllitahle- elec~ri~l ground within a splice closure.
Accordingly, a radio Lc4u~ y (RF) signal may be introduced by conneclion to the bonding strap 40 when l~.lloved from ground, such as for locating an unde~ und 35 cable. As would be readily lm~ ood by those skilled in the art, a stranrl~A or solid wire may also be used in place of the braided strap 40 illu~lld~d.
The fiber optic cable bonding a~emhly 10 also preferably inclu~les sealing means ~ g both an end portion 11 of the fiber optic cable and the other WO 9~/24598 2 1 6 0 4 7 ~ PCT/US9 ~/0~198 -1~
colll~nen~s for ~ ell~ ng lllOi~ul~ migration from the end portion of the fiber optic cable. The sealing means preferably includes a tube 46 surrounding an end por~ion 11 of the fiber optic cable and the undcll~ing co.-.l.on~ and a water ~l~cL ing collll)oul-d 47 filling any voids ~Iweell the interior of the tube 46 and the underlying 5 cc.lll~)on.,nl~. The tube 46 is preferably a heat recoverable plastic tube as would be readily known to those skilled in the art.
A second embo-liment of the bonding ~csemhly 50 accol~ling to the invention is shown in FIGS. 4^7. To facilitate undcl~ ;ng of this e,llbodi.l~"t, like l~,Ç~nce ~ are used to ~ igr~te like cle-~ as in the emlx~ 1 shown in lo FIGS. 1-3 and ~es~ibeA above. Accordingly, only r-ldihon~l elc - .-f ~ or dirLl~ nces in the second e .~.1~1;...~ f l need be ~lescribed below.
As shown best in FIG. 5, the bon~ling assembly 50 inclulles a base ...- ...k~" 30 having a series of sawlwll.-like p,~,je~ ns 62 on opposing side edges of its tongue por~on. These ~ jecl;o~-~ 62 scrape the shield 21 to ensure better cle~l~ ;c~l 5 contact and also serve to anchor the base .l~r....l-~.. ~h.~ the shield and the core 20.
The saw~ h-like plOje~!;ons 62 may be c~ eA farther back along the sides of --- ...hcr 30, as desired, for pardcular applicadons. Also, projections (not show), such as the p~je~!;ol~ 29 shown in PIG. 2, may be ;~rlud~tl for enh~nce~ current carrying C~ ily.
The bonding ~csc~bly 60 also includes a shield cl~mping .. - -.. ~r 31 with a greater lon~hlrlin~l extent as shown in FIG. 2. In other words, the shield cl~ g n.f....l~ 31 ;n~lvdes a portion c~ g u~ ea~ from the guide openin~c 32 and o.~,lyil,g a portion of the cable 11 where the cable jacket 23 has not been l~,mo.~,d. A f~c~.ner, such as a tie -wrap 64, sulluunds the shield cl~ .;ng ...f....~,l 31 25 and the cable to provide even greater .~h~ ~;r~l stability for the b~n~linE ~cs~ hly 60.
As shown, the 1Q( ~;ng portion of the tie wrap 64 is desirably positi~ne~l tû be in line with the ~lu~,&ded stud 36.
The shield cl~mring memher 31 alsû incl~ldes a pair of radially oulwa-~ly e~ l;ng hooks 33 calTied by an end portion of ~e ...r...l~ dO~ Sl~
30 from the portion of the m~mber through which the guide opcnings 32 extend. The guide hooks 33 also preferably face inward to one ~UIllel as shown in the illusllated e~ f--t Thus, the longihlrlin~lly t;Y~ rli~g strength l.-f...}~l~ 22 are guided through the guide openings 32 in the medial portion of the shield clamping m-o.mber 31, are bent, and ~ ed in a longih-rlin~i direction and pass through guide hooks35 33.
A mpthod according to the present invention for bonding a fiber optic cable 11 il~clu<les the steps of r.st~hli~hing bo~ an ele~ir ~l and . . .~hAnir.Al co. ..~r~ ;on to an CA~Osed shield por~on 21 of the fiber optic cable; guiding an eA~osed portion of WO 9~/24S98 21 6 0 4 7 ~ PCTtUS94tO1198 the strength ...~....1;~..~ 22 to extend in a lon~ ion ~ cent the elecsric~l and mechanical conne.,~;~n; and securing the lon~ituAin~lly e~ctto-n-ling exposed portion of the~ h...~.nbf..~tothe~ ,;c~landl...~ lcmn~ ;0~ Ancle~ icalbonding strap 40 is preferably connected to the electrical connection to the exposed shield 5 portion.
The step of establishing both the electrical and mech~ni~l co..,-ccl;on preferably in~hldes the steps of providing a base ~ l~r 30 and inserting an end portion thereof ~l-. ~n the e~osed shield portion 21 and a c~ ,~onding underlying core portion 20 of the fiber optic cable, and providing a shield çl~mping ...~ .. 31 o and c~ g the shield cl~mping .n ..~xl o~ellyillg the c~l,osed shield portion. In addition, the step of seCuring the lorgitudin~lly eYten-ling e~osed portions of the strength .~-e .~ s 22 inclu~1es providing the strength m~mb~r cl~mring member 43and cl~rnring same o~_llyillg the e~l~s~d po~tions of the strength ~h ."1_ . j.
The steps of cl~mring both the shield cl~mring m~mber 31 and the strength 1.. l~. cl~ g .. ,~1~.1 43 in~lu~3es positioning a II.leaded stud 36 carried by the basc l~ 'h 30 1 uu~ ,s~ecl e op~ning~ in both the shield and strength --c -k, cl~ s and se~llrin~ an end of the II-leaded stud. The mP.thod also preferably ;nclu(les the step of sealing the fiber optic cable 11 and dle el~ 1 and ..~r~ n ~Al CQI~ tothee~l~ose~l shieldportionforp~ ti..g~i~lUI~,mi~tinn 20 ~m the fiber optic cable.
The shield clamping m~mher 31 also preferably in~llldes at least one guide openin~ 32 in a first portion thereof ~djPce-nt where the e~l.ose~ ions of the strength -~ J i 22 cmerge from the cable jacket 23. Accordingly, the m~th~ alsopreferably in~lnrles the step of gllirling the ~ ose~ portions of the strength . . .~- . .be-25 22 through the guidc openings 32.
The m~.thod also preferably in~ des the step of ~ ing the c,A~os~dportions of the s~,~,nglL l..~....l~.. i 22 through guide hooks 33 for the emb~im~,nt of the shield c~ pi"g ..., ..k~, 31 having at radially oul~dly ~ ~.n-l;..g guide hooks 33 at a second portion dowll~ ~ from the first portion. The shield c~ -ing .nf.nhc~30 31 also preferably includes a third portion u~ e~ from the first portion and ov~,.lyi-lg a CC)11~S1JOj~d;~g portion of the cable jacket 23. Acco~lu~gly, the mt-,thod pl~r~.~bly further il~h~des the s~ep of se~llring the third p~tion to the fiber optic cable, such as using a tie wrap 64 or other suitable r~ * .....
In the drawings and spe~ific~tionJ there have been ~3i~closeA typical 35 l~lcL,~l~d embod;....nls of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descli~ e sense only and not for l,Ull,oses of limit5lt the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.
BONDING ASSEMBLY FOR FIBER OPTIC CABLE
AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
Field of the Invention 5This invention relates to fiber optic cables and, re particularly, to an assembly and ~c~ ed metht~ for electrically bontling mt~.t~llic ColllpOlle-lL~ of fiber optic cables.
Background of the Invention 0Fiber optic cables are widely used in a variety of ~ leco.. i- ~tions applic~tinn~, such as for long tli~t~nee l-,l~hol-t nctwvlks ~.~-nil-g large geographic areas. A typical loose-bur~.ed fiber optic cable for such an applit ~tion inclutlt~s a plurality of optical fibers conls~intA within a cable core, in turn, ~ ,t~t~l by an overall jacket. The fibers may be ... ;..I;~ in i~ le groups by l~;,~cli.re binder yarns within a centrally located single plastic buffer tube, or groups of fibers may be calried by a series of buffer tubes :,ull.,.. l;.. g a central ~u~ illg .. - -.. ~I. Fiber optic cables may also ih.cludc a plurality of tight-burr~,.cd fibers also collectively ~r~t~,ctcd by an overall protective jacket.
One type of fiber optic cable incl~ltlt~s a met~llit, shield surronntling the 20 cable core. The mt t~llit shield may be provided for rodent ~l~Jt~ ~I;ol- in a direct buried or und~ und cable in~t~ tion An outer plastic jacket surrounds the mt~t~llit shield.
It is also co.. on in such a cable to inco~ te lengthwise c~ g sL~ hc~ ~
within the cable jacket. For eY~mrle, one version of an LXE~ Lightguide Cable ,"~,..r; ~ d by AT&T in~hldes a central loose-buffer tube, a ~ullo~ tli~ corrugated 25 m~t~llic shield, and a pair of spaced apart met~llir wires e..t~ n-l;ng lengthwise along ol.~o~i~ sides of the mPt~llir shield.
The mP.t~llic colllpolle~ within a fiber optic cable are typically rle~tric~lly grounded at pledete ..,;,~1 points along the cable route, such as at spliring and ~ ....;n~1;on points. This protects from plr~ ull~lki ind~lced by power system 30 di~lulbances, that is, nearby faults or from lightning inrlllce~ surges.
The ends of fiber optic cables, and hence the electric~l bonding ~csc...hlies for the m.ot~llic cable cc,lll~on~ s, are typically housed within a pfot~;li~le wo 94/24598 216 0 4 7 0 PCT/US9~/04198 splice closure. The splice closure is typically sealed to prevent the ingress of water into the splice closure which could l~m~e the optical fibers and/or splices. Such splice closures are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,121,458 entitled Preterminated Fiber Optic Cable to Nilsson, et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,961,623 entitled Pr~t~", inated Optical Cable to Midkiff, et al., and U.S. Patent No. 4,805,979 ellti Fiber Opnc Cable Splice Closwe to Bossard, et al.
A conv~ntion~l bDnding clamp for a l~l~hone cable inclu-ling multiple pairs of in~ te~l copper conrlllctors surrounded by an overall aluminum shield is close~l in U.S. Patent No. 4,895,525 entitleA Cable Shield Grounding Clamp 0 Connector to Leonardo. The bonding clamp includes a shoe plate or base mPmber inserted bGl-. ~n the core of copper pairs and the :~u~ unding n~t~ shield. The shoe plate has a threaded stud ext~nr1ing u~ ly thcl~L~,I, and scraping ~lojc~l;on~, eYt~nflin~ upwardly along the op~osile lengthwise edges of the shoe. A bonding plate having an opening therein receives the stud of the shoe and the bonding plate is;m-~l to overlie the outer protective jacket of the cable. The shoe and the bonding plate of the clamp have di~ t radii of curvature so that they are biased apart. This ccm~ copper t~ h.-~e cable bonrlin~ clamp, ho~ _" is unde~ ble for fiber optic ~pli~l;nQ~ where the cable i~rlvdGs Sl~
U.S. Patent No. 4,927,227 entitle~l Optical Fiber Cable Closure to Bensel, III, et al., and ~cci~eA to AT&T ~ o~s a fiber optic splice closure ;~cl-~(l;"~
an cl~c~ 1 bonding clamp (the "AT&T clamp") for the m~ot~ c co.~ one within a fiber optic cable. The AT&T clamp inrl~ es a shoe plate having a threaded stud -"l;i-g radially oul~.udly Lh.,.~i~. The shoe is inserted bcl-._cn the cable core and the n~-t~llic shield of the cable. A first L,shaped ..~ -- is secured with a portion 25 ~.~lying the shoe and on the o~osile side of the m~t~llic shield to IL~ y clamp the shield l~t~. ~n the shoe and the i~rst ~shaped .. .~ I f . A second L-shaped ~ -- is s~ul~,d to the vertically e - t~.n~l;n~ portion of the first ~shaped .~.. I~.. A bonding block is s~;ur~l to the vertically ~ h~g portions of the first and second ~shaped --- -..1 f -~ so that the lengthwise ~ g SLI~l~Lh -.~ may be bent to extend in a 30 radially Oulwal~l dil~L on from the cable and, thus, el~m~ ~t~.oen the bo~ g block and the second L-shaped ~ . The bon~ling block ine~lu~les a pair of cp~ning~c and ~Cco~ set screws to secure a ground wire to the clamp to est~lich an el~.ctri~l c~l-n~ n thereto.
Convçnti- n~l fiber optic bonding cl~mps, such as dle AT&T clamp, 35 may u-lÇullul-alely permit relative mov~,,.l~,n~ ~L~ I the stlength -~ b~ and the cable jacket so that water may migrate from the end of the cable and into the splice closure. Accordingly, such a bonding clamp is desirably partitioned off into a se~ le col~ within the splice closure to prevent water from ent~ring into the splice area 2 3 ~ s7 ~ PCT/US91/04198 as shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,927,227. The co.~ t is also filled with a water blocking cc,lll~und.
When more than one conventional bonding clamp such as the AT&T
clamp is used in a partitioned splice closure, all of the clamps are connected to a 5 common ground surrounded by the water blocking compound. Accol~ingly, the cc.llll~lol~ electrical connection inhibitc locating individual fiber optic cables in an undc.~uulld inctsllstion, since signals cannot be sep .i1lely introdueed to the metAllic shields of individual fiber optie eables.
The c~l;ent~liorl of the strength mrmhers exten-1ing radially outward o from the AT&T elamp preel~ldes secllring the strength ...- ..b., ~ within the elosure for s~ itic!nsl support of the eable. The AT&T elamp is also relatively large eoll~ ,d to the eable and may prohibit inctsll~ti~ n of the elamp prior to insertion of the eable end into an opening in the end eap of the spliee elosure.
~u~ a~ of tlle ~nvention It is lLc..,r~ , an objeet of the present invention to provide a bon-ling ....hly and sccoeist,ç~ mlotho~l for both the metsllir, shield and the strength ... ..~ ~
20 of a fiber optic eable that provides good e]ectriçsl bon~ling and also .nr~l~Anir~lly seeures the strength mpmhers to reduee the lik~.lihood of water migration from the eable.
It is a~ objeet of the il,~_nlion to provide a relatively CO~ )?l'l and readily inctAlls~'- bon~lin~ ~c~...l~ly for a fiber optie eable.
These and other objeets, rea~ s and advantages of the invention are provided by a bon~ling ~c~..~hly for a fiber optie eable i~ l;ng a staeked AC~ ~hly of a base ... ..~, a shield cl~...p;~-g ..~ , and a strength .~ çl~",l,;"~ .... ..bf- .
~n nP~ g means co~ ~t~ the .... ~ ..he, ~ C~ to clrrl ~ lly co~ c~l to the shield and to ..~ ;r~lly t~ le and ~,1~:1. ;~.Ally C4~ ~1 to at least one strength --~ u~bf in the cable. In other words, the shield cl~mring .. hGl and the strength ~
clAmring --~ provide cl&~ ing means, CO~ GCI~ to the base ...~ ..hf. and ov~,llying the CA~)OSed shield portion, for cl~mring to the el-~JosGd shield portion and for çlAmring e~osed portions of the strength mP.mhers and g~ ling the strength ~ .... ............................. ...bf . ~ to extend in a ~nerAlly l-~np.;l".~ l dilG~,IiOII.
As would be readily und~ od by those skilled in the art, the bonding A~semhly accordhlg to the invention is used with a fiber optic cable of the typei"cl"~ g an elon~te core, a mPtAllic shield ~ .-l;i-g the core, at least one strength .I.. he. eytpn~ling longihl~linAlly adjacent the shield, and a jacket su~ Aing the wo 9`1/24598 2 1 6 0 ~ 7 0 PCT/US9~1n~l9X
shield and the at least one strength mPmh~.r. The bonding A~sembly is znAr.h~l to the fiber optic cable at a portion thereof, such as at an end to be le~ ztr~l, where a por~on of the jacket has been removed thereby exposing the underlying shield and the at least one strength ~ . As would be readily nn-lPr~$tQod by those skilled in the art, such 5 cables typically include a pair of spaced apart wires serving as strength members.
Accordingly, to simplify the following desclil,lion, the plural term "strength nu~.mbe.rs"
is soll~ es used herein, it being und~.~lood that a single strength m.o.mber may also be readily Arcol...-~l.~t~ cl by the bonding as~c.-lbly acco~ g to the invention.
More particularly, the base ...e-.-k.,l preferably has an end adapted to be 0 inserted be~.e~n an exposed shield portion and a cull~,s~nding underlying coreportion of the fiber optic cable. The base ...- ~.-~ - also preferably in~h.(les a plurality of ploje~l ;on.s e.Y t~ .g o~ lw~udly from the end to scrape zrlja~e.nt portions of the shield thereby enhancing electrical contact and IllechAnir~lly securing the base ~I-.,.nb~,r in pOSition.
The shield clAmring ~-~c~ is adapted to overlie the exposed shield portion and co~ le with the base ...- .~.h~:., for clzmping the r~l-ose~l shield portion ..~n. Similarly, the strength ...~ clAmring ...~....h~.~ is zAal~t~;l to overlieeA~/osed ~.,llions of the ~ ,nglh ..-~ hc~s and coc,~,~te with the shield clzmring ...f....he~ for clz..,l-;~.g the strength m~mbers the..,l~l~.ce.l. Mc,l~,vv~., the strength 20 m.o.mht~.r c!z---~;--g .~ nd the shield cla~ g ..~ ,. coo~,lale so that the ~Yl ose~ portion of ~e strength ..~ , eytf,n~l~ in a g~on-orally longih~lin~l direction ~AjA~f nt the cable core. c~nf~!;~g means, yl~_f.,~bly a ~hre~AeA~ stud caTTied by the base ...~....k~,., connecl~ together the base ..~....1~, shield clamping ..- ...-~ , and strength ...~ -..1,--- cl~mrin~ .nf...~h~ ~. Thus, a con~r~rt or low-profile, ~rr~n~nf.nt for 25 the bon~ling ~ hly is achieved.
An electri~l bonfling strap is also preferably provided having an end secured to the threaded stud. The b~nrling strap may, in turn, be con~f~t~A. to a ground within a splice closure, for çY~mrle In ~ ition~ each of the base ,..~ hf", shield cl~lQ~)i,-g ..~ U~ , and strength ~ ,r C1~mr;n~ f ~h~ preferably have an arcuate30 ~lan~ ~ cross-se~;ol~l shape roughly cull~*~ûndin~, to the radius of curvature of the fiber optic cable.
The shield rl~mring n.~ .. preferably has a firstportion ~ rtfA to be posilioned ~Ai~r~ent where the ~l oseA portions of the strength ~ emerge from the cable jacket. The first portion of the shield cl~mrin~ ...~....I~,l has at least one guide 35 opening that is ~rt~l for receiving th~ell~lough the exposed portion of the at least one strength ..~ k~. In one emboAim~nt of the invention, the shield cl~mring ...~...~h~,r also preferably has a second portion downstrearn from the first portion including at least one radially oulwal~lly e~l~n~ -g guide hook that is ~ i~rteA. for ~WO 9 1/24S98 2 1 6 0 ~ 7 0 PCT/US9 110~198 receiving th-,le~LIuugh the longinlAin~lly eYtsrlAing exposed portions of the strength In one emhoAim~nt of the invention, the shield clamping m~mber rests upon only the exposed portion of the cable. In other words, in this emboAiment a5 relatively short shield clamping Illc~ is provided Whclc;ill the f~t portion is an end portion. In al~u~ ..llho~ t of the invention, the shield rl~mping llh ..~11'; ~ iS longer and e~ctf nA~ u~ alll over a J,~ rte-A portion of the cable. Thus, in this emboAimPnt ~e shield c!~ g ll-f ~-bf ~ also ;Il~ ldes a third portion u~ al~l from the first portion adapted to overlie a portion of the cable jacket. A f~cten~ r is preferably positioneA
0 sullu~ lin~ the third po~ion of the shield c~ g ~ A- and the undcllying portion of the cable jacket to provide greater ...~"I.~ l stability for the bonAing ~...lhly.
The strength -~e-~lk~ cl~mrin~ m~.mh~.r also preferable carries at least one pair of spaced apart ~luje~,lions e~cte~Aing radially inwardly.thel~,rru-ll. These projectio~ further corfine the strength m~.mbers ~l~.e~n the strength Ill~ x 16 C1~ g .~ obf~andtheshieldC1~ g-~
Another aspect ûf the pr~sent invention is that sealing means is~Jlef~kly applied ~ u~ Ain~ the ~-l~se1 portion of the fiber optic cable and the other portions of the bonAin~ ~c~bly to ~ ,nt ,...~ic~ , migration from the fiber optic cable. As would be readily und~luod by those skilled in the art, the sealing means 20 preferably ;-.cl.lAes a heat recoverable tube and a water blocL ing co~.ll)o~ A for filling voids underlying said tube. A suit~ble sealing means is described in a copendingap~lir~*~n en*tleA Fiber Op~ic Cable System Including Main and Drop Cables an~
Associated Fabricanon Method, ~ci~ed to the pl~,scnt ~si~nee~ the Aicclosllre ofwhich is hereby incc,l~ulat~i herein by l~f~ ,nce.
The cable strength ll~.. llh~ are well s~ul~d relative to the other cable cc,m~o.l~,.lts and are, ll.e.~,f~ , less likely to move relative to the other cable col l -l-onf~ rAingly, Ill~ u~, mi~r~*on from the end of the cable is less likely to occur. In rlAition~ h-ec~l~ce the bonding assc.llbly ~ er b the migration of water from the cable end, it does require a par~itioneA splice closure, as does, for example, the AT&T bonding clamp Ai~close~ in U.S. Patent No. 4,927,227 and Ai~cll~sed above.
When a plurality of cables are t.'.l..i~AI'~ in a cc..l...on splice closure, the bonding straps a~col~ing to the inven*on may be individually ;~;sse~l The hnnAing ~cP.mhly of the ~ sent invention also ~1~,Sel.~ a relatively CO~ ~ I profile and may thus be if ln-~A onto a cable end prior to its ins~ L.on into a splice closure.
A method according to the present invention for bonding a fiber optic cable ;.~cl~ldes the steps of establishing both an Plec~ l and mP~h~ni~ .f~!;on to an e~o~d shield portion of the fiber optic cable; ~liding an e~.~osed portion of the strength .. ~ to extend in a lo~ginlr1in~1 direction adjacent the elec~ric~l and wo g~/2459X 21 6 0 4 7 0 PCT/US94/0~19X
~echanical collne~;on; and securing the longit~ in~lly e~cten-lin~ exposed portion of thestrength..,~....l~..~tothec~ land...~ h~lic~lcc~ e.,~
The step of establishing both the cle~LIical and l.lrrl~ l connection preferably i~el~-(les the steps of providing a base momh~r and inserting an end portion 5 thereof ~I~.een the exposed shield portion and a co"~ )onding underlying core portion of the fiber optic cable, and providing a shield cl~mring m~.mb.or and clamping the shield cl~-nl-;,.g ...~ be~ overlying the G~,osed shield portion. In ~ lition~ the step of securing the longihlclin~lly exten-ling exposed portions of the strength members includes providing the strength ~ ..~r cl~mping member and clamping same 0 o~ _llying the cAyosed portions of the s~e~
The steps of cl~-..pi..g both the shield cl~ ,;..g ...- ..~hf . and the strength".~ cl~mring memb~r incl~ldes po~;l;o~;ng a threaded stud carried by the base ...---..~h - through ,~ e openings in both the shield and strength 1.~ c-~ g mf-mberS and seC!lring an end of the threaded stud. The methorl also preferably 1~ incl~ldes the step of sealing the fiber optic cable and the dectrical and m.och~ni~l CQ~ cl;o~ forp,~ ~ e~"i"g ~;~ migratinn ~om the fiber optic cable.
Brief Descri~tion of the Draw;ng~
~IG. 1 is a ~ e~ . view of a first cmbc"l;--.- ~ of a fiber optic cable 20 hon-1ing ~es~ 1 .ly acCol~]ing to the ill~r el~tion w~ith a portion of heat recoverable tubing and water blocl~in~ l~t~ removed for clarity.
FIG. 2 is an eYplodeA ~c~ e view of the fiher optic cable bonding hly as shown in ~IG. 1.
~ ;IG. 3 is an enlarged transverse cross-se~ti~n~l view of the fiber optic 25 . cable bonding ~c ....hly taken along lines 3-3 of ~IG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a ~c.~cc~i~ view of a second e~.~ho~ t of a fiber optic cable bonding assembly according to the invention with a portion of heat l~ cov~ble tubing and water hl~ ing m~to.n~ o.cd for clarity.
FIG. 5 is an eYrlo~leA p~ pec~ e view of the fiber optic cable bonding 30 ~cse.~.hly as shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse cross-se~tiQn~l view of the fiber optic cable bonAing ~ese .hly taken along lines ~6 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged lon~ Ain~l cross-secti~n~l side view of the fiber optic cable h ~ ;on ~seml)ly taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6.
I)et~iled Descliption of the Preferred Embodilllellls The present invention now will be de~libed more fully h~ ~f~l with reference to the accoul~,anying drawings in which p~r~l~ d emboAin.~ of the ~WO 94/24598 2 1 6 0 4 7 ~ PCT/US9~/0~198 invention are shown. This invention may, hu..~ ~cr, be embodied in many dirr~ t forms and should not be construed as limited to the emb~imf nt~ set forth herein.
Rather, these embo~ are provided so that this ~ closllre will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
5 Like llul~ refer to like elemf,ntc in ~ltf rn~t~ e-mho,l;,.-f .,l~.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a first emb~imf nt of a fiber optic cable bonding ~cc~...hly 10 accc,lding to the present invention is illu~lldted. The bonding assembly 10 is attached to an end portion of a fiber optic cable 11. As would bereadily ~ f'-~ by those sl~lled in the art, the fiher optic cable bonding ~...hly 10 0 is typically used at a cable or K,,.;l~tion point, such as a splice point, or at any point where it is desired to est~bli~h electric~l contact to the m.ot~llic fiber optic cable Cr~ )OI~f ~1~ and secure any strength .~. ---h r col~l ~;nfA therein.
In the illustrated embo~limlont~ the fiber optic cable end 11 may be con-~eclf~ to a breakout funnel 13 having a first smaller end 13a a(lj~ent the fiber optic cable end and a second larger end 13b dowrl~ ,Lvl~. A funnel cap 14 having a plurality of opfeningS therein may be sf~;ul~d to the second larger end 13b of the funnel 13. A plurality of pl~dt ~ ;nr~ groups of optical fibers 24 extend through the ~ ul~s in the funnel cap 14. Each group of optical fibers is carried in a breakout tube 15 for further ~r~t~il;on and routing within a splice closure, not shown, for srli~in~
As would be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the fiber optic cable bon~lin~ ~semh]y 10 of the present invention may be readily used in conj~n~l;on with other types of fiber optic cable int`luAin~ loose-l,urÇ~.ed cable of the sl.t.n~ed type, as well as tight-burf~ ,d cables.
The end portion of the fiberoptic cable 11 ;n~ es an el,~ng~te core 20, a met~ shield 21 ~ullu~n ~3ing the core 20, a pair of lengthwise e~ ~end;~lg strength ....... 1~,. ~7 22, and a ~l~t~ e jacket 23 ~ n~ g the m~ot~ shield and the strength ....,...k~ s. The core 20 of the fiber optic cable ;n~ eS a plurality of optical fibers 24 disposed within one or more lJlut~ e buffer tubes 25. A fabric water bloel~ing tape 26 sulluunds a single buffer tube 25 in the illl.~ .. ho.];.. nt The mf t~ shield 21 ~7ull~ g the core 20 is preferably cornugated to provide strength and to retain flexibility of the cable 11. The longit~l(lin~lly e~ l;ng strength ~ 7 22 are metal wires Ai~roseA ~I-.~n the met~ shield 21 and the jacket 23. The strength ..,~ 22 are preferably mlot~llic7 but may also 35 be other ...~t. - ;~lc as well, such as fi~l~;lass l~;nrc~l~;ed plastic or a ~ly~id yarn, such as KEVLAR(~. While a pair of oppositely positiQnf~l strength ...- .,.hf .~7 22 are illu~7llat~,d, any ~------~ . of strength .. f .,.h~ 7 may also be ~CCO~ A In addition, WO 9~/2~598 2 1 6 0 4 7 0 PCT/US9 1/0~19X
each strength ll,elll~. 22 may be provided by a stranded bundle of wires, for eY~mple, as would be readily u~d~ ~od by those skilled in the ar~
The ~lo~ e jacket 23 ~ull~ullding the m~t~llir shield 21 is preferably formed of a durable plastic m~t~ri~l, such as polyethylene. In prl~lition, the cable 11 is 5 preferably plcp~cd by stripping away a portion of the jacket 23 to expose an end t portion of the mPt~llic shield 21 and end portions of the strength members 22, as shown.
The bonding assembly 10 includes a base mPmh~r 30 having an end 30a, or tongue portion, ills~t,d ~,.~n the exposed end portion of the mPt~llic shield 0 21 and a co,~ ol-~ling underlying portion of the core 20. In ~ litiol, the base ...~ .-bf 30 may preferably include nrst~n~ling proje~hc-n~ 29 for scraping through a coating on the mrt~llic shield 21 and thereby est~bli~hing good ehPc!ric~l contact lL~ ll. In the illustrated P-..k~ , the proje~tion~ 29 are generally cylinAric~l in shape and rnay be integrally formed with the base ~ 30 by a ~ p;~ peration,15 as would be readily ....A.. ~lood by those skilled in the ar~
The shoe 30 preferably has an arcuate cross-se~tion~l shape as shown in l;IG. 3. The radius of curvah~re of the shoe 30 also preferably cc~ Ac roughly to the radius of Cu~/alule, of the fiber optic cable core 20, although a single arcuate shape may readily ac~..~ e a wide range of cable sizes.
The bon~in~ ~CC~ .. bl~ 10 also inrl.~les a shield cl~mping n~ l~r 31 o.ellyih~g the eYposP~ end pordon of the mPt~llic shield 21 and coopc.,~l;n~ with the base .. I~,r 30 to clamp the shield portion ~ ~e~ n. The shield cl~mring mPmhPr 31 may also include two rows of radially inwardly eYte-n~le~1 pointed ~l~,je~,lions 45, or tangs, integrally formed in the shield cl~mping mPml~er by a 25 ~ g opçr~tirJn as would be readily lm~tprst~ by those slcilled in the art~ The pointed ~ )jc~l;o~c 45 serve to dig into the met~llic shield 21 to ensure good çlectrir~l and ,~r.l~ l C41~U'~ thereto.
The shield clamping l-lelllb~ 31 includes a first, or end, portion ent the fiber opdc cable portion where the strength ~f `~ i 22 emerge from the 30 cable jacket 23~ As shown p~,lha~)S best by the eYplo~ 2 view of FIG. 2, the shield çl~mring .~ 31 preferably incln~es at least one guide opening 32 in the first portion thereof, through which the strength l-~.-...~.S 22 extend in a radially ou~w~-l direction~ In the illusllat,d ~..n~bo-l;...ei~, a pair of spaced apart openings 32 are provided to receive 1~ re ones of the pair of strength ~ 22. In addidon, 35 the guide opPning~ 32 are closely sized to the ~i~mt~.tF.r of the strength --- ...h~ i 22 so that the strength l..~--..l~l.~ are bent at ~lu~ ly a right angle as ~ey pass through the op~ning~ and extend along the shield clamping .~.~....l3e. 31 in a longi~ in~lly .n~ ~;lion.
~WO 9~/24598 2 1 ~ 0 4 7 0 PCT/US9~/01198 The bonding assembly 10 also preferably inr!udss a strength m~.mber clamping n~ kcr 43 overlying the shield cl~mring member 31 and the exposed end portions of the strength members 22. The strength member clamping member 43 cooperates with the shield clamping member 31 to guide and secure the strength s members 22 in a longihl~lin~lly exten~3ing direction, as illustrated. The strength UlC.llb~ 22 eyten~ling oulw~dly from the end of the strength member clamping mP.mher 43 may be ~..".;~ tt.d and covered with prl)tcc~ e caps 34 as shown in the illustrated embodimsnt of FIGS. 1 and 2. Alle.,.ali.~ely, the strength .. bf.. ~ 22 may conlillllc to extend lengthwise, such as within a splice closure, and be secul~l within 10 the splice closure to thereby provide a more secure cable t~ .. ",;,,~I;m~
The bonding ~se.mbly 10 also includes connecting means for con~-ec!;ng the base .. ~ .. h~. 30, shield rl~ ;-.g .. ~ 31, and the strength .. h~, el~mring ~ ....he, 43 together so as to clamp the ~,~posed end portion of the met~
shield 21 and the c -l ose~ portion of the sll~,nglll .. ~ 22. The col~lu~l;ng means preferably is provided by a threaded stud 36 carried by the base ...~....k~f,r 30 and e..~ g radially oulw~dly ~ ~Sulll. In ~ ition~ the col)necl;ng means preferably n~ des an ûpening 37 in the shield cl~mring mP.mh~.r 31 and an opening 44 in thestrength ~Ih....h,.~ Çl3n~l~;11g Inf n~kf,~ 43 for l~ce;~,illg II,~r~ll,r~ugh the ~ ~f~d stud 36.
A bonding strap 40 also inclurlf s an openin~ 41 for receiving II,c f Ihlc.ugh the 11~ d stud 36, and a nut 38 is secured on the end of the stud 36.
The ~ ;Ih ..~....1,~.~ c~ .;..g ...~ 43 also preferably i-~r-l~les one or more pairs of radially inwardly çYtr.n~1ing ~lujecLions 45, or tangs, for further co.~r..~ g the strength m~.mh~.rs 22 and also for establishing good electric~l contact with the unde~lying shield clamping .. 1~.l 31. The strength .~P.u.hel cl~mrin~
25 m~mho.r 43 also preferably has an arcuate cross-sectional shape with a radius of curvature coll~ ol--l;ng roughly to the radius of curvature of the cable 11.
The bon~ing strap 40 se~ul~l ~I..e~,n the strength ...~-...~l cl~...pi~
-~- -..~ and the nut 38 seculccl to the Ihl.,zd~:l stud 36 is preferably an electrically conducli~ brai-led fl.oYihle strap, as illu~ ~d. As would be readily lm~l~ .. sl~od by 30 those skilled in the art, the hrai-led strap preferably includes a soldered medial portion for ~ e.,ling water migration through the strap. An ~ osi~ end of the bonding strap 40 may be removably se~ d to a sllitahle- elec~ri~l ground within a splice closure.
Accordingly, a radio Lc4u~ y (RF) signal may be introduced by conneclion to the bonding strap 40 when l~.lloved from ground, such as for locating an unde~ und 35 cable. As would be readily lm~ ood by those skilled in the art, a stranrl~A or solid wire may also be used in place of the braided strap 40 illu~lld~d.
The fiber optic cable bonding a~emhly 10 also preferably inclu~les sealing means ~ g both an end portion 11 of the fiber optic cable and the other WO 9~/24598 2 1 6 0 4 7 ~ PCT/US9 ~/0~198 -1~
colll~nen~s for ~ ell~ ng lllOi~ul~ migration from the end portion of the fiber optic cable. The sealing means preferably includes a tube 46 surrounding an end por~ion 11 of the fiber optic cable and the undcll~ing co.-.l.on~ and a water ~l~cL ing collll)oul-d 47 filling any voids ~Iweell the interior of the tube 46 and the underlying 5 cc.lll~)on.,nl~. The tube 46 is preferably a heat recoverable plastic tube as would be readily known to those skilled in the art.
A second embo-liment of the bonding ~csemhly 50 accol~ling to the invention is shown in FIGS. 4^7. To facilitate undcl~ ;ng of this e,llbodi.l~"t, like l~,Ç~nce ~ are used to ~ igr~te like cle-~ as in the emlx~ 1 shown in lo FIGS. 1-3 and ~es~ibeA above. Accordingly, only r-ldihon~l elc - .-f ~ or dirLl~ nces in the second e .~.1~1;...~ f l need be ~lescribed below.
As shown best in FIG. 5, the bon~ling assembly 50 inclulles a base ...- ...k~" 30 having a series of sawlwll.-like p,~,je~ ns 62 on opposing side edges of its tongue por~on. These ~ jecl;o~-~ 62 scrape the shield 21 to ensure better cle~l~ ;c~l 5 contact and also serve to anchor the base .l~r....l-~.. ~h.~ the shield and the core 20.
The saw~ h-like plOje~!;ons 62 may be c~ eA farther back along the sides of --- ...hcr 30, as desired, for pardcular applicadons. Also, projections (not show), such as the p~je~!;ol~ 29 shown in PIG. 2, may be ;~rlud~tl for enh~nce~ current carrying C~ ily.
The bonding ~csc~bly 60 also includes a shield cl~mping .. - -.. ~r 31 with a greater lon~hlrlin~l extent as shown in FIG. 2. In other words, the shield cl~ g n.f....l~ 31 ;n~lvdes a portion c~ g u~ ea~ from the guide openin~c 32 and o.~,lyil,g a portion of the cable 11 where the cable jacket 23 has not been l~,mo.~,d. A f~c~.ner, such as a tie -wrap 64, sulluunds the shield cl~ .;ng ...f....~,l 31 25 and the cable to provide even greater .~h~ ~;r~l stability for the b~n~linE ~cs~ hly 60.
As shown, the 1Q( ~;ng portion of the tie wrap 64 is desirably positi~ne~l tû be in line with the ~lu~,&ded stud 36.
The shield cl~mring memher 31 alsû incl~ldes a pair of radially oulwa-~ly e~ l;ng hooks 33 calTied by an end portion of ~e ...r...l~ dO~ Sl~
30 from the portion of the m~mber through which the guide opcnings 32 extend. The guide hooks 33 also preferably face inward to one ~UIllel as shown in the illusllated e~ f--t Thus, the longihlrlin~lly t;Y~ rli~g strength l.-f...}~l~ 22 are guided through the guide openings 32 in the medial portion of the shield clamping m-o.mber 31, are bent, and ~ ed in a longih-rlin~i direction and pass through guide hooks35 33.
A mpthod according to the present invention for bonding a fiber optic cable 11 il~clu<les the steps of r.st~hli~hing bo~ an ele~ir ~l and . . .~hAnir.Al co. ..~r~ ;on to an CA~Osed shield por~on 21 of the fiber optic cable; guiding an eA~osed portion of WO 9~/24S98 21 6 0 4 7 ~ PCTtUS94tO1198 the strength ...~....1;~..~ 22 to extend in a lon~ ion ~ cent the elecsric~l and mechanical conne.,~;~n; and securing the lon~ituAin~lly e~ctto-n-ling exposed portion of the~ h...~.nbf..~tothe~ ,;c~landl...~ lcmn~ ;0~ Ancle~ icalbonding strap 40 is preferably connected to the electrical connection to the exposed shield 5 portion.
The step of establishing both the electrical and mech~ni~l co..,-ccl;on preferably in~hldes the steps of providing a base ~ l~r 30 and inserting an end portion thereof ~l-. ~n the e~osed shield portion 21 and a c~ ,~onding underlying core portion 20 of the fiber optic cable, and providing a shield çl~mping ...~ .. 31 o and c~ g the shield cl~mping .n ..~xl o~ellyillg the c~l,osed shield portion. In addition, the step of seCuring the lorgitudin~lly eYten-ling e~osed portions of the strength .~-e .~ s 22 inclu~1es providing the strength m~mb~r cl~mring member 43and cl~rnring same o~_llyillg the e~l~s~d po~tions of the strength ~h ."1_ . j.
The steps of cl~mring both the shield cl~mring m~mber 31 and the strength 1.. l~. cl~ g .. ,~1~.1 43 in~lu~3es positioning a II.leaded stud 36 carried by the basc l~ 'h 30 1 uu~ ,s~ecl e op~ning~ in both the shield and strength --c -k, cl~ s and se~llrin~ an end of the II-leaded stud. The mP.thod also preferably ;nclu(les the step of sealing the fiber optic cable 11 and dle el~ 1 and ..~r~ n ~Al CQI~ tothee~l~ose~l shieldportionforp~ ti..g~i~lUI~,mi~tinn 20 ~m the fiber optic cable.
The shield clamping m~mher 31 also preferably in~llldes at least one guide openin~ 32 in a first portion thereof ~djPce-nt where the e~l.ose~ ions of the strength -~ J i 22 cmerge from the cable jacket 23. Accordingly, the m~th~ alsopreferably in~lnrles the step of gllirling the ~ ose~ portions of the strength . . .~- . .be-25 22 through the guidc openings 32.
The m~.thod also preferably in~ des the step of ~ ing the c,A~os~dportions of the s~,~,nglL l..~....l~.. i 22 through guide hooks 33 for the emb~im~,nt of the shield c~ pi"g ..., ..k~, 31 having at radially oul~dly ~ ~.n-l;..g guide hooks 33 at a second portion dowll~ ~ from the first portion. The shield c~ -ing .nf.nhc~30 31 also preferably includes a third portion u~ e~ from the first portion and ov~,.lyi-lg a CC)11~S1JOj~d;~g portion of the cable jacket 23. Acco~lu~gly, the mt-,thod pl~r~.~bly further il~h~des the s~ep of se~llring the third p~tion to the fiber optic cable, such as using a tie wrap 64 or other suitable r~ * .....
In the drawings and spe~ific~tionJ there have been ~3i~closeA typical 35 l~lcL,~l~d embod;....nls of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descli~ e sense only and not for l,Ull,oses of limit5lt the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.
Claims (36)
1. A bonding assembly for a fiber optic cable of the type including an elongate core, a metallic shield surrounding the core, at least one strength member extending longitudinally adjacent the shield, and a jacket surrounding the shield and the at least one strength member, the fiber optic cable having a portion of the jacket removed thereby exposing the underlying shield and the at least one strength member, said bonding assembly comprising:
a base member having an end adapted to be inserted between an exposed shield portion and a corresponding underlying core portion of the fiber optic cable;
a shield clamping member adapted to overlie the exposed shield portion and cooperate with said base member for clamping the exposed shield portion therebetween;
a strength member clamping member adapted to overlie an exposed portion of the at least one strength member and cooperate with said shield clamping member for clamping the exposed portion of the at least one strength member therebetween so that the exposed portion of the at least one strength member extends in a generally longitudinal direction; and connecting means adapted for connecting together said base member, said shield clamping member, and said strength member clamping member.
a base member having an end adapted to be inserted between an exposed shield portion and a corresponding underlying core portion of the fiber optic cable;
a shield clamping member adapted to overlie the exposed shield portion and cooperate with said base member for clamping the exposed shield portion therebetween;
a strength member clamping member adapted to overlie an exposed portion of the at least one strength member and cooperate with said shield clamping member for clamping the exposed portion of the at least one strength member therebetween so that the exposed portion of the at least one strength member extends in a generally longitudinal direction; and connecting means adapted for connecting together said base member, said shield clamping member, and said strength member clamping member.
2. A bonding assembly according to Claim 1 further comprising an electrical bonding strap having an end adapted to be secured to said connecting means.
3 . A bonding assembly according to Claim 1 further comprising a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the end of said base member and adapted for enhancing contact with adjacent portions of the shield.
4. A bonding assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said shield clamping member has a first portion adapted to be positioned adjacent where the exposed portion of the at least one strength member emerges from the cable jacket, and wherein the first portion of said shield clamping member has at least one guide opening therein adapted for receiving therethrough the exposed portion of the at least one strength member.
5. A bonding assembly according to Claim 4 wherein said shield clamping member has a second portion downstream from said first portion, and wherein said shield clamping member further comprises at least one radially outwardly extending guide hook carried by the second portion thereof and adapted for receiving therethrough the longitudinally extending exposed portion of the at least one strength member.
6. A bonding assembly according to Claim 4 wherein said shield clamping member includes a third portion upstream from said first portion adapted for overlying a portion of the cable jacket, and further comprising a fastener adapted for surrounding the third portion of the shield clamping member and the underlying portion of the cable jacket.
7. A bonding assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said strength member clamping member includes at least one pair of spaced apart projections extending radially inwardly therefrom and adapted for further confining the at least one strength member between said strength member clamping member and said shield clamping member.
8. A bonding assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a threaded stud carried by said base member and extending radially outwardly therefrom, and wherein said shield clamping member and said strength member clamping member both include correspondingly positioned openings adapted for receiving therethrough said threaded stud.
9. A bonding assembly according to Claim 8 further comprising a bonding strap having an end portion adapted to overlie said strength member clamping member, and wherein the end portion of said bonding strap includes an opening therein adapted for receiving therethrough said threaded stud.
10. A bonding assembly according to Claim 1 further comprising sealing means adapted for surrounding the exposed portion of the fiber optic cable, said base member, said shield clamping member, and said strength member clamping member for preventing moisture migration from the fiber optic cable.
11. A bonding assembly according to Claim 10 wherein said sealing means comprises a heat recoverable tube and a water blocking compound for filling voids underlying said tube.
12. A bonding assembly according to Claim 1 wherein each of said base member, said shield clamping member, and said strength member clamping member have an arcuate transverse cross-sectional shape.
13. A bonding assembly for a fiber optic cable of the type including an elongate core, a metallic shield surrounding the core, at least one strength member extending longitudinally adjacent the shield, and a jacket surrounding the shield and the at least one strength member, the fiber optic cable having a portion of the jacket removed thereby exposing the underlying metallic shield and the at least one strength member, said bonding assembly comprising:
a base member having an end adapted to be inserted between an exposed shield portion and a corresponding underlying core portion of the fiber optic cable;
a shield clamping member adapted to overlie the exposed shield portion and cooperate with said base member for clamping the exposed shield portion therebetween, said shield clamping member having a first portion adjacent where the exposed portion of the at least one strength member emerges from the cable jacket, the first portion of said shield clamping member having at least one guide opening therein adapted for receiving therethrough the exposed portion of the at least one strength member;
a strength member clamping member adapted to overlie the exposed portion of the at least one strength member and cooperate with said shield clamping member for clamping an exposed portion of the at least one strength member therebetween so that the exposed portion of the least one strength member is guided in a generally longitudinal direction after passing through the at least one guide opening of said shield clamping member; and connecting means adapted for connecting together said base member, said shield clamping member, and said strength member clamping member.
a base member having an end adapted to be inserted between an exposed shield portion and a corresponding underlying core portion of the fiber optic cable;
a shield clamping member adapted to overlie the exposed shield portion and cooperate with said base member for clamping the exposed shield portion therebetween, said shield clamping member having a first portion adjacent where the exposed portion of the at least one strength member emerges from the cable jacket, the first portion of said shield clamping member having at least one guide opening therein adapted for receiving therethrough the exposed portion of the at least one strength member;
a strength member clamping member adapted to overlie the exposed portion of the at least one strength member and cooperate with said shield clamping member for clamping an exposed portion of the at least one strength member therebetween so that the exposed portion of the least one strength member is guided in a generally longitudinal direction after passing through the at least one guide opening of said shield clamping member; and connecting means adapted for connecting together said base member, said shield clamping member, and said strength member clamping member.
14. A bonding assembly according to Claim 13 further comprising an electrical bonding strap having an end adapted to be secured to said connecting means.
15. A bonding assembly according to Claim 13 further comprising a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the end of said base member and adapted for enhancing contact with adjacent portions of the shield.
16. A bonding assembly according to Claim 13 wherein said shield clamping member has a second portion downstream from said first portion, and wherein said shield clamping member further comprises at least one radially outwardly extending guide hook carried by the second portion thereof and adapted for receiving therethrough the longitudinally extending exposed portion of the at least one strength member.
17. A bonding assembly according to Claim 13 wherein said shield clamping member includes a third portion upstream from said first portion adapted for overlying a portion of the cable jacket, and further comprising a fastener adapted for surrounding the third portion of the shield clamping member and the underlying portion of the cable jacket.
18. A bonding assembly according to Claim 13 wherein said strength member clamping member includes at least one pair of spaced apart projections extending radially inwardly therefrom and adapted for further confining the at least one strength member between said strength member clamping member and said shield clamping member.
19. A bonding assembly according to Claim 13 wherein said connecting means comprises a threaded stud carried by said base member and extending radially outwardly therefrom, and wherein said shield clamping member and said strength member clamping member both include correspondingly positioned opening adapted for receiving therethrough said threaded stud.
20. A bonding assembly according to Claim 19 further comprising a bonding strap having an end portion adapted to overlie said strength member clamping member and wherein the end portion of said bonding strap includes an opening therein adapted for receiving therethrough said threaded stud.
21. A bonding assembly according to Claim 13 further comprising sealing means adapted for surrounding the exposed portion of the fiber optic cable, said base member, said shield clamping member, and said strength member clamping member for preventing moisture migration from the fiber optic cable.
22. A bonding assembly according to Claim 21 wherein said sealing means comprises a heat recoverable tube and a water blocking compound for filling voids underlying said tube.
23. A bonding assembly according to Claim 13 wherein each of said base member, said shield clamping member, and said strength member clamping member have an arcuate transverse cross-sectional shape.
24. A bonding assembly for a fiber optic cable of the type including an elongate core, a metallic shield surrounding the core, at least one strength member extending longitudinally adjacent the shield, and a jacket surrounding the shield and the at least one strength member, the fiber optic cable having a portion of the jacket removed thereby exposing the underlying shield and the at least one strength member, said bonding assembly comprising:
a base member having an end adapted to be inserted between an exposed shield portion and a corresponding underlying core portion of the fiber optic cable; and clamping means adapted to be connected to said base member and overlie the exposed shield portion for clamping to the exposed shield portion and for clamping to an exposed portion of the at least one strength member and guiding the exposed portion of the least one strength member to extend in a generally longitudinal direction.
a base member having an end adapted to be inserted between an exposed shield portion and a corresponding underlying core portion of the fiber optic cable; and clamping means adapted to be connected to said base member and overlie the exposed shield portion for clamping to the exposed shield portion and for clamping to an exposed portion of the at least one strength member and guiding the exposed portion of the least one strength member to extend in a generally longitudinal direction.
25. A bonding assembly according to Claim 24 further comprising a bonding strap having an end adapted to be connected to said clamping means.
26. A bonding assembly according to Claim 24 wherein said base member further comprises a plurality of projections extending outwardly therefrom and adapted for enhancing contact with adjacent portions of the shield.
27. A bonding assembly according to Claim 24 further comprising a threaded stud carried by said base member and extending radially outwardly therefrom, and wherein said clamping means is secured to said base member by said threaded stud.
28. A method for bonding a fiber optic cable of the type having a core, a metallic shield surrounding the core, at least one longitudinally extending strength member extending longitudinally adjacent the shield, and a jacket surrounding the metallic shield and the at least one strength member, the fiber optic cable having a portion of the jacket removed thereby exposing the underlying shield and the at least one strength member, and method comprising the steps of:
establishing both an electrical and mechanical connection to an exposed shield portion of the fiber optic cable;
guiding an exposed portion of the at least one strength member to extend in a longitudinal direction adjacent the electrical and mechanical connection to the exposed shield portion; and securing the longitudinally extending exposed portion of the at least one strength member to the electrical and mechanical connection to the exposed shield portion.
establishing both an electrical and mechanical connection to an exposed shield portion of the fiber optic cable;
guiding an exposed portion of the at least one strength member to extend in a longitudinal direction adjacent the electrical and mechanical connection to the exposed shield portion; and securing the longitudinally extending exposed portion of the at least one strength member to the electrical and mechanical connection to the exposed shield portion.
29. A method according to Claim 28 wherein the step of establishing both the electrical and mechanical connection comprises the steps of:
providing a base member and inserting an end portion thereof between the exposed shield portion and a corresponding underlying core portion of the fiber optic cable; and providing a shield clamping member and clamping the shield clamping member overlying the exposed shield portion.
providing a base member and inserting an end portion thereof between the exposed shield portion and a corresponding underlying core portion of the fiber optic cable; and providing a shield clamping member and clamping the shield clamping member overlying the exposed shield portion.
30. A method according to Claim 28 wherein the step of securing the longitudinally extending exposed portion of the at least one member comprises the steps of providing a strength member clamping member and clamping same overlying the exposed portion of the at least one strength member.
31. A method according to Claim 30 wherein the base member includes a threaded stud extending radially outwardly therefrom, and wherein the shield clamping member and the strength member clamping member include openings therein, and wherein the steps of clamping both the shield clamping member and the strength member clamping member comprise positioning the threaded stud through respectiveopenings in both and securing an end of the threaded stud.
32. A method according to Claim 29 wherein the shield clamping member includes at least one guide opening in a first portion thereof adjacent where the exposed portion of the at least one strength member emerges from the cable jacket, and wherein the step of guiding the exposed portion of the at least one strength member comprises positioning same through the at least guide opening.
33. A method according to Claim 29 wherein the shield clamping member includes at least one radially outwardly extending guide hook at a second portion downstream from the first portion, and wherein the step of guiding the exposed portion of the at least one strength member further comprises positioning same through the at least guide hook.
34. A method according to Claim 32 wherein the shield clamping member includes a third portion upstream from the first portion and overlying a corresponding portion of the cable jacket, and further comprising the step of securing the third portion to the fiber optic cable.
35. A method according to Claim 28 further comprising the step of securing an electrical bonding strap to the electrical connection to the exposed shield portion.
36. A method according to Claim 28 further comprising the step of sealing the fiber optic cable and electrical and mechanical connection to the exposed shield portion for preventing moisture migration from the fiber optic cable.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US4872193A | 1993-04-16 | 1993-04-16 | |
| US08/048,721 | 1993-04-16 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2160470A1 true CA2160470A1 (en) | 1994-10-27 |
Family
ID=21956101
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002160470A Abandoned CA2160470A1 (en) | 1993-04-16 | 1994-04-15 | Bonding assembly for fiber optic cable and associated method |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5491766A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2160470A1 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX9402776A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994024598A1 (en) |
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- 1994-04-15 WO PCT/US1994/004198 patent/WO1994024598A1/en active Application Filing
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- 1994-04-18 MX MX9402776A patent/MX9402776A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1994-08-30 US US08/298,234 patent/US5491766A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO1994024598A1 (en) | 1994-10-27 |
| US5491766A (en) | 1996-02-13 |
| MX9402776A (en) | 1995-01-31 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |