System and method for protecting optical fibre splice

Abstract

The present invention relates to a low-profile splice protection system for protecting multi-fibre fusion splice sites. The splice protection system comprises coating material to package the splice site and may comprise a protective housing.

1 . A splice protection system, for protecting fusion splice sites delimited between multiple first optical fibres and multiple second optical fibres  424  said splice protection system comprising:
 a splice protector, said splice protector comprising a sleeve said sleeve comprising mutually perpendicular length, width, and thickness, said sleeve comprising a first main side and a second main side, which are opposite each other and are delimited by the sleeve length and width, the first main side and the second main side comprising separated main side walls separated from each other by a separating space extending along the thickness of the sleeve said sleeve further comprising a first longitudinal secondary side and a second longitudinal secondary side positioned opposite each other and delimited by sleeve length and thickness, said sleeve further comprising first and second lateral secondary sides positioned opposite each other and delimited by width and thickness of the sleeve the first and second lateral secondary sides being open lateral secondary sides; 
 wherein said width is at least twice said thickness, wherein the fusion splice site is disposed inside the sleeve of the splice protector, wherein said multiple first optical fibres and second multiple second optical fibres extend outward from the first lateral secondary side and the second lateral secondary side of the splice protector sleeve; and 
 wherein the splice protection system further comprises adhesive cement, the adhesive cement being disposed within the splice protector sleeve in order to fill the gaps within the splice protector sleeve. 
 
     
     
         2 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 1 , wherein
 the second longitudinal secondary side is an open longitudinal side.   
     
     
         3 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 2 , wherein
 the fusion splice site is loaded into the sleeve through the open longitudinal side, and wherein the fusion splice site is positioned in said intervening space between the main side walls, and said optical fibres, after being mounted in the sleeve at the fusion splice site, extend through the open lateral secondary sides of the sleeve.   
     
     
         4 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 1 , wherein
 said length is at least twice as large as said width.   
     
     
         5 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 1 , wherein
 the opposing first main side and second main side of the sleeve are roughly rectangular.   
     
     
         6 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 1 , wherein
 at least two optical fibres among said optical fibres are laid through the sleeve.   
     
     
         7 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 1 , wherein
 said optical fibres are arranged in a row structure, said row structure having the width extending along the width of the sleeve.   
     
     
         8 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 1 , wherein
 the splice protection system is installed using a mould, said mould having a base and a cover, said cover being constructed such that it seals an open longitudinal secondary side and comprises an injection port.   
     
     
         9 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one of said main side walls or a smaller wall bridging the gap between said main side walls delimits the boundaries for an adhesive cement injection port.   
     
     
         10 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 1 , wherein
 said adhesive cement is UV-curable.   
     
     
         11 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 1 , wherein
 the width of said optical fibre row structure is less than the width of the splice protector.   
     
     
         12 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 1 , wherein
 the sleeve of the splice protector has a U-shaped cross-section perpendicular to the plane of the length of the sleeve.   
     
     
         13 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 1 , wherein said multiple first optical fibres are secured to a ferrule and said multiple second optical fibres extend from an end of an optical cable  404  and wherein the splice protector sleeve is separated by a gap from the ferrule. 
     
     
         14 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 13 ,
 wherein said ferrule is supported within a connector body, and the sleeve is contained within the connector body.   
     
     
         15 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 14 , wherein the sleeve is laterally installed into the connector body through the longitudinal slot delimited by the open side of the connector body. 
     
     
         16 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 14 , wherein the connector body is a firm, durable part of the connector, the connector comprising a twist-lock external fastener and at least one sealing part. 
     
     
         17 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 1 , wherein
 a first longitudinal secondary side comprises a longitudinal wall bridging the separating space between said main side walls and connecting said main side walls to each other, the first longitudinal secondary side being a closed longitudinal side.   
     
     
         18 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 1 , wherein
 the sleeve is formed from two matching shell parts.   
     
     
         19 . The splice protection system as described in  claim 18 ,
 wherein said shell parts are halves, wherein at least one of said shell parts delimits an injection port.   
     
     
         20 . A method for using a splice protector sleeve to protect a splice site, said splice site being delimited between multiple first optical fibres and multiple second optical fibres, the splice protector sleeve having a length, a width, and a thickness, the splice protector sleeve comprising a first side wall, a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a third wall connecting said first side wall and second side wall, and open ends, said method comprising the steps described below:
 positioning the splice site within the splice protector sleeve;   injecting adhesive cement into the splice protector sleeve and filling the gaps between said optical fibres and the splice protector sleeve; and   curing the adhesive cement.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled)