An apparatus for fixing light waveguide cables in a plug housing

A plug housing for receiving an optical fiber cable having independent arrangements for gripping the jacket of the cable, wrapping and gripping the reinforcement elements of the cable, and for gripping the optical fibers of the cable, each of these arrangements is independently mounted within the housing so that each can be separately manipulated. In addition, these arrangements are each received in the housing without deforming a portion of the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for securing a light 
waveguide cable in a plug housing, which housing has a through-opening for 
passing at least one light waveguide cable therethrough. 
Numerous methods are known for fixing individual components of light 
waveguide cables which are composed, namely, of an actual light waveguide, 
reinforcing element in the form of Kevlar strands and a cable cladding or 
jacket. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,979 discloses a method for fixing the reinforcing 
strands, which are Kevlar strands, and for fixing the cladding at a plug 
housing. The disadvantage of this known solution is that it is essentially 
irreversible. It has been shown in practice that it can become necessary, 
under certain conditions, to be able to release the connection between the 
light waveguide cable and the plug housing itself. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the present invention is to create an apparatus for fixing 
light waveguide cables in a plug housing, which has a through-opening for 
conducting at least one light waveguide cable through the housing, which 
improved apparatus makes it possible, first, to design the fixings or 
mountings to be releasable and, secondly, to be able to separately 
manipulate the individual elements of the light waveguide cable until 
these individual elements are fixed in the desired position. 
To accomplish these goals, the present invention is directed to an 
improvement in an apparatus for fixing a light waveguide cable in a plug 
housing. These improvements include the plug housing being formed of two 
housing parts having a parting plane that extends parallel to an entry 
axis for the light waveguide, first means for supporting a light waveguide 
cable jacket, second means for supporting a reinforcing element, third 
means for supporting the at least one fiber-like light waveguide with the 
first, second and third means being formed of individual elements which 
are separably manipulatable parts and are releasably connected to the 
cable elements, such as the cladding, reinforcing elements and fiber-like 
waveguides. The elements forming the first, second and third parts are 
received in various recesses, which are formed in the housing parts and 
extend transversely through the parting plane to be held in both parts. 
The second means for receiving the reinforcing elements, which are 
preferably strands of Kevlar, includes a plate on which the Kevlar 
reinforcement elements can be wrapped and a pinch element which is crimped 
on the wrapped plate. The first means for supporting the light waveguide 
cable jacket preferably includes a hollow, cylindrical sleeve with a 
flange at one end that can be pushed under the jacket with the end of the 
jacket or cladding engaging the flange. The outside surface of the sleeve 
is preferably formed with means to prevent slipping, such as teeth or 
grooves or some structure that will prevent sliding of the jacket off of 
the sleeve. In addition, the parts of the housing have recesses for 
receiving the sleeve and the region of the recess surrounding the sleeve 
is provided with a surface structure similar to that of the sleeve. 
The third means for supporting the waveguide is preferably composed of two 
identical halves or members, with each half having a bore at one end and a 
pin at the opposite end and a pinch means including at least one groove 
interposed therebetween. The two halves are joined together with the pin 
inserted in the socket and the grooves coacting to form a grip of a 
waveguide. The pin and bore of each of the halves is constructed so that 
when the pin of one half is inserted in the bore of the other a press fit 
is formed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The principles of the present invention are particularly useful when 
incorporated in an apparatus generally indicated at 100 in FIGS. 8 and 9 
for fixing a light waveguide cable 103 in a plug housing. 
As illustrated, the apparatus 100 has a housing 12 which receives a 
waveguide clamping arrangement 101, a reinforcing element clamping 
arrangement or means 102 and an arrangement including a sleeve 7 for 
gripping a cladding or jacket 13 of the cable 103. 
The waveguide clamping arrangement 101 is best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 
includes two members 1 which are identical clamp parts. Each part 1 has a 
pinch beam 2 extending between two grooves 2a. At one end of the member or 
part 1, a bore 3 is provided, which extends transverse to the member and 
to the grooves 2a. At the other end, a pin 4, which extends parallel to 
the bore 3 is provided. Two of the members 1 are joined together with the 
pin 4 of one member inserted in the bore 3 of the other member, as 
illustrated in FIG. 2. In so doing, fiber-like waveguides 5 are received 
in the coacting grooves 2a and are compressed or pinched, as best 
illustrated in FIG. 3. The bores 3 are illustrated as having 
axially-extending projections or ribs 3a so that a press fit will occur 
when the pin 4 is inserted into the bore. 
The waveguide cable 103 of FIG. 9 is provided with reinforcing elements 11, 
which are preferably strands of Kevlar. In order to provide means 102 for 
releasably holding, supporting and winding the strands 11, a plate 9 and a 
pinch plate 10 are provided. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the plate 9 
has recesses 9a on opposite sides, with one of the recesses 9a also having 
a larger adjacent recess 9c. In addition, the plate has projection or tabs 
9b. An end portion of the Kevlar reinforcement strands, such as 11, are 
stripped from the cable cladding and are combined to form a skein and are 
placed around the winding panel or plate 9. As illustrated, they are wound 
in the area of the recesses 9a, which will prevent lateral sliding of the 
elements 11 along the plate. 
The pinch element 10 (FIG. 5), along one side, has a pair of upstanding 
projections or tabs 10b, which form a recess 10a. Opposite the side with 
the recess 10a is a T-shaped tab 10c. The recess 10a is approximately the 
same size as the recess 9a of the plate 9. The width of the plate 10 is 
such that the two tabs 10b can be received in the recess 9c when the plate 
9 is inserted on the pinch plate 10. Thus, with the transverse dimensions 
of the recess 10a roughly coinciding with the recess 9a, the plate is 
inserted with the recess 9a overlapping the recess 10a. 
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the winding panel 9, which is wrapped with the 
skeins 11, is placed on the part 10 so that the angled pinch tabs 10b are 
in the recess 9c and the skeins are directed toward the cable and are in 
the recess 10a. Subsequent thereto, the tabs 10b and 10c are pressed 
against the winding panel 9, in the way indicated in broken lines, so that 
the reinforcement elements are pinched between the panel 9 and the part 
10, and also between the tab 10c and the panel 9. 
As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the means for supporting the cable cladding 
13 includes a hollow, cylindrical sleeve 6, which is inserted between the 
cable cladding or sheath 13 and the reinforcement elements 11. The outside 
surface of the sleeve 6 has a plurality of teeth 7 serving as barbs. The 
diameter of the sleeve is dimensioned so that the cable cladding 13 is 
elastically widened or spread and, thus, the teeth will engage the inner 
surface of the spread-apart cladding or jacket 13. This gripping will 
advantageously prevent the sliding of the cladding 13. As also illustrated 
in FIG. 7, the sleeve has an annular flange 8. The sleeve 6 is inserted in 
a housing recess 12a, which extends transverse to the direction of the 
cable. As illustrated, the recess 12a has a tooth surface portion 12b for 
gripping an outer surface of the cladding 13. The recess 12a is 
dimensioned so that, after insertion, the cable cladding 13 is clamped 
between the recess 12a and the sleeve 6. In order to prevent the cable 
cladding 13 together with the sleeve from being pulled out, the recess 12a 
has a portion with a seating surface 17 which receives the flange with the 
flange supported against the surface 17 of the housing 12. 
The housing 12 has two parts which meet on a parting plane which extends 
basically on the axis of the cable 103. Each of the parts is provided with 
recesses, such as the recesses having the seating surface 17, as mentioned 
hereinabove. In addition, each part has a recess with a seating surface 16 
for receiving the clamping mechanism 101 of FIG. 2 and a recess have a 
seating surface 15 for receiving the winding and pinch mechanism 102. As 
illustrated in FIG. 9, the winding and pinch mechanism 102 will lie under 
retaining noses 14 in the housing part with the panel 9 and pinching 
member having one side lying against the seating surface 15. In this way, 
any tensile stresses applied to the reinforcement elements 11 will be 
transferred directly to the housing. 
Although various minor modifications may be suggested by those versed in 
the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of 
the patent granted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and 
properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.