Abstract:
An optical fiber termination tool includes a tool base having a pocket to receive a mechanical splice optical fiber connector; a lever hingedly connected to the tool base, the lever including a wedge; and a slide mounted to the lever, the slide slidable relative to the lever, the slide movable from a first position to a second position to move the wedge from a disengaged position to an engaged position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/364,910, filed Jul. 21, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to termination tools for optical fiber, and more particularly, to an optical fiber termination tool for use with a mechanical splice connector. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    An optical fiber is often attached or terminated to a connector. One type of connector used in the field is known as a mechanical splice connector. The mechanical splice connector typically includes a v-groove with a fiber stub positioned at one end. To terminate an optical fiber to the connector, the v-groove is opened, the optical fiber positioned in the v-groove abutting the fiber stub and the v-groove closed. A tool to facilitate terminating an optical fiber to a mechanical splice connector would be well received in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the FIGURES: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an optical fiber termination tool in an embodiment; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of an optical fiber termination tool in an embodiment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a top view of an optical fiber termination tool in an embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an optical fiber termination tool in an embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an end view of an optical fiber termination tool in an embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a side view of an optical fiber termination tool in an embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an optical fiber termination tool in an embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a exploded view of a portion of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 9-15  depict a process to terminating an optical fiber to a mechanical splice connector in an embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an optical fiber termination tool in an embodiment; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of an optical fiber termination tool in an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an optical fiber termination tool  10  in an embodiment. The optical fiber termination tool  10  includes a tool base  12 , a lever  14  and a slide  16 . The optical fiber termination tool  10  is used with optical fiber connectors having a v-groove. As known in the art, the v-groove is preloaded with a polished fiber stub in one end. To terminate an optical fiber in the v-groove, with v-groove is opened and the optical fiber slid into contact with the fiber stub. The v-groove is then closed. The optical fiber termination tool  10  facilitates these operations. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of the optical fiber termination tool  10  in an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the tool base  12  includes two pockets  20  and  22  located at a front portion of the tool base  12 . The pockets  20  and  22  receive mechanical splice optical fiber connectors. Adjacent to each pocket  20 / 22  is a stop  24 / 26  which prevents movement of the mechanical splice optical fiber connector once in pocket  20 / 22 . The pockets  20 / 22  may be contoured and sized to fit different types of connectors. In one embodiment, pocket  20  accommodates an SC type connector and pocket  22  accommodates an LC type connector. It is understood that tool  10  may be used with other types of connectors. 
         [0018]    Pockets  20  and  22  may be formed in a removable cradle, such that an installer may use a cradle having the appropriate pocket with the tool base  12 . A cradle may also include multiple pockets (i.e., a reversible cradle) contoured and sized for use with different types of connectors. To cradle would be oriented (e.g., rotated) so that the correct pocket is accessible in the tool base  12 . 
         [0019]    Lever  14  is hingedly secured to tool base  12  through hinge pines  28 . Slide  16  includes a top and two side walls  17 . The inside surface of each side wall  17  includes a rib  30  and a finger  34 . Slide  16  slidably engages lever  14  through the ribs  30  that are received in grooves  32  on the lever  14 . The ribs  30  travel in grooves  32  and limit travel of the slide  17  relative to the lever  14 . Fingers  34  pass through notches  38  formed on edge side of the tool base  12 . Notches  38  may be defined by protrusions  40 . Fingers  34  are positioned at an angle relative to ribs  30 . As the ribs  30  move through grooves  32 , the slope of fingers  34  traveling through notch  38  causes the slide  16  and lever  14  to move downwards, towards the tool base  12 . As described in further detail herein, this action opens the v-groove in the mechanical splice optical fiber connector. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the optical fiber termination tool  10  in an embodiment. Evident in  FIG. 3  are wedges  46  and  48  on the underside surface of lever  14 . Two wedges  46  are provided for alignment with pocket  20  and two wedges  48  are provided for alignment with pocket  22 . Wedges  46  may be configured to work with a certain type of connector. For example, if pocket  20  is contoured and sized to accept an SC type connector, then wedges  46  are sized and spaced to engage and open the v-groove in the SC connector. Similarly, if pocket  22  is contoured and sized to accept an LC type connector, then wedges  48  are sized and spaced to engage and open the v-groove in the LC connector. Although two wedges  46  and two wedges  48  are shown, there may be embodiments where only one wedge is needed to open the v-groove. Embodiments are not limited to using two wedges  46 / 48 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the optical fiber termination tool  10  in an embodiment.  FIG. 5  is an end view of the optical fiber termination tool  10  in an embodiment.  FIG. 6  is a side view of the optical fiber termination tool  10  in an embodiment. 
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the optical fiber termination tool  10  with lever  14  partially closed.  FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a portion of  FIG. 7 . An SC connector  50  is positioned in pocket  20  and an LC connector  52  is positioned in pocket  22 . Evident in  FIG. 8  is the alignment of wedges  46  and  48  with the SC connector  50  positioned in pocket  20  and the LC connector  52  positioned in pocket  22 . Wedges  46  and wedges  48  have different shapes to work with the different connector types. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 9-15  depict a process of terminating an optical fiber to a mechanical splice connector  100  in an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the lever  14  is placed in an open positioned so that an SC connector  100  is loaded into pocket  20 . Windows 102 on the connector  100  provide access to the v-groove inside connector  100 . Windows 102 face upwards, towards the lever  14 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , lever  14  is closed to hold the connector  100  in place in pocket  20 . The slide  16  is then moved from a first position to a second position.  FIG. 11  shows the slide  16  in the first position and  FIG. 12  shows the slide  16  in the second position. The interaction between fingers  34  and notches  38  pulls the lever  14  downwards such that wedges  46  engage the v-groove in connector  100  and open the v-groove when the slide  16  is in the second position. When the slide  16  is in the first position as shown in  FIG. 11 , the wedges  46  are in a disengaged position, meaning the wedges  46  are not opening the v-groove in connector  100 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , an optical fiber  200  is then slid into the v-groove of the connector  100 . The optical fiber  200  may refer to a jacketed, fiber optical cable that has been prepared for termination with the connector  100 . The optical fiber  200  is inserted in the v-groove until it butts against the fiber stub located in the connector  100 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , a bow may be formed in the optical fiber  200  to ensure that the optical fiber  200  is pressing against the fiber stub in the connector  100 . A ramp  13  may be provided on tool base  12  to facilitate forming the bow in the optical fiber  200 . Once the optical fiber  200  is properly positioned, the slide  16  is moved from the second position ( FIG. 12 ) to the first position ( FIG. 11 ) and the lever  14  opened as shown in FIG.  15 . This removes wedges  48  from the v-groove in connector  100  which secures the optical fiber  200  to the connector  100 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 16  depicts a tool  300  in another embodiment. Tool  300  is similar to tool  10 , but includes a slidable fiber clamp  302  to aid in forming the bow in the optical fiber  200  shown in  FIG. 14 . This fiber clamp  302  is intended to hold the optical fiber and help create the bow. The optical fiber  200  is laid into a slot  304  in the fiber clamp  302 , then the fiber clamp  302  is moved with a thumb or finger. This closes the walls of slot  304  on the optical fiber  200  and advances the optical fiber  200  forward to a stopping position to create the bow the optical fiber  200 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 17  depicts a tool  400  in another embodiment. Tool  400  includes a slidable fiber clamp  402  to aid in forming the bow in the optical fiber  200  shown in  FIG. 14 . This fiber clamp  402  is intended to hold the optical fiber and help create the bow. The optical fiber  200  is laid into a base  403  in the fiber clamp  402 , then a cover  404  is closed to secure the optical fiber  200 . The fiber clamp  402  may then be moved with a thumb or finger to advance the optical fiber  200  forward to a stopping position to create the bow the optical fiber  200 . 
         [0027]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. While the description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, it is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications, variations, alterations, substitutions, or equivalent arrangement not hereto described will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Additionally, while the various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as being limited by the foregoing description.