Patent ID: 11906805
Assignee: CORNING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 17:
18. A fiber optic cable assembly, comprising:
a cable jacket;
distinct groups of optical fibers carried within the cable jacket and extending beyond a first end of the cable jacket;
a furcation body positioned on the first end of the cable jacket such that the distinct groups of optical fibers have respective fiber end sections extending beyond the furcation body, wherein the furcation body includes a shell and a polymer material occupying space within the shell around the distinct groups of optical fibers, the shell having a first portion that is received over the first end of the cable jacket and a second portion that defines an end of the shell not received over the cable jacket, the second portion having a reduced outer diameter compared to the first portion;
a pulling grip assembly having a proximal end selectively secured to the furcation body, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and an interior between the proximal end and the distal end that contains the fiber end sections, wherein the pulling grip assembly comprises:
a coupler defining the proximal end of the pulling grip assembly, wherein the coupler is received over the second portion of the shell but not the first portion of the shell when the coupler is secured to the furcation body, and wherein a first seal is maintained between the coupler and the furcation body when the coupler is secured to the furcation body;
a tube extending from the coupler and over the pre-terminated ends of the distinct groups of optical fibers; and
an end cap secured to the tube to form a closed end of the pulling grip assembly, wherein the end cap includes a pulling eye that defines the distal end of the pulling grip assembly;

wherein:
the interior of the pulling grip assembly is sealed off from an exterior of the cable assembly to provide sealed protection for the fiber end sections; and
the pulling grip assembly is configured to maintain the sealed protection over an ambient temperate range of at least between −20 to 50° C. while applying a tensile load of at least 300 lbs to the distal end of the pulling grip assembly.