CONNECTING DEVICE

Abstract: A connecting device is provided for connecting a first plurality of tubes (10a) to a second plurality of tubes (10b). This comprises a housing (30) in which is mounted a plate (20, 20a, 20b) having a plurality of parallel slots (21). The first and second pluralities of tubes are connected by a plurality of tube connectors (1, 1a, 1b) which are held in clips (23, 25) each slidably received in a respective one of the slots (21). The device is particularly intended for use with tubes in which optical fibres are to be installed by blowing.

Description: This invention relates to a connecting device for connecting tubes together. The device of the present invention is particularly intended for connecting together tubes which are to contain optical fibres. In particular, it may be used for connecting tubes in which optical fibres are to be installed by blowing. The term "blowing" as used herein is intended to encompass a method in which blowing is replaced or supplemented by sucking to produce the necessary current of air or other gas. The ensuing description concentrates on tubes for blown fibre installation, but it is to be understood that the connecting device for the present invention can be used in other contexts. It is known to connect together tubes in which optical fibres are to be installed by blowing, using proprietary push-fit connectors. Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings show diagrammatically the way in which such a connector is used to attach two tubes together, and Figures 1 to 3 show successive stages. Figure 1 shows the left hand portion of a connector 1, the right hand portion being a mirror image thereof. The connector 1 has an axially extending passage 2 having a central portion 2a of small diameter, an adjacent portion 2b which is of larger diameter, and an end portion 2c which is of still larger diameter. An O-ring seal 3 is located in the passage portion 2c. Also in the portion 2c is a collet 4 having resiliently mounted teeth 5. Figure 2 shows a tube 6 which is to be connected to a similar tube. The tube 6 is inserted into the passage 2 until the leading end abuts the step at the junction between the passage portions 2a and 2b. The internal diameter of the portion 2a is selected to be identical to the internal diameter of the tube 6, and the internal diameter of the portion 2b is chosen to be identical to the external diameter of the tube 6. The teeth 5 of the collet 4 grip the tube 6 and the O-ring seal 3 helps to ensure that air pressure within the tube, which exists when a fibre is blown along it, is not lost in the connector. The leading end of a second tube (not shown) identical to the tube 6, to which the connection is to be made is inserted into the right hand portion of the connector 1. If it is desired to release the tube 6 from the connector this can be done by pushing in the collet 4, as indicated by the representation of a finger 7 in Figure 3. The method of tube connection just described is satisfactory when all that is required at a particular junction is to join one single tube to another single tube. However, situations arise where it is necessary to join one plurality of tubes to another plurality of tubes, and problems arise, particularly as the number of tubes to be joined at a particular junction increases. Figure 4 shows the situation which arises. As illustrated, a first plurality of tubes 6a is housed in a duct 10a which is normally in the form of a tightly fitting sheath and the tubes 6a are to be connected to a second plurality of tubes 6b housed in a similar duct 10b. A plurality of connectors 1 are provided for this purpose. The problems which arise in attempting to perform this connection are as follows: 1. The outer tubes of each bundle of tubes need to be cut longer than those in the centre, and tubes in the same radial layer need to be cut to exactly the same length as one another. Accurate cutting is essential to ensure that the tubes meet neatly together. This is often difficult and if a mistake is made all the tubes have to be re-cut. 2. It is difficult to gain access to connectors in the centre of a connected multi-tube bundle. Access may be necessary if problems occur such as, for example, an incorrectly fitted or leaky connector. 3. The bend radius of individual tubes is difficult to control, an important consideration when blowing fibres. 4. Individual tubes tend to become disorganised and the joint becomes untidy. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connecting device which eliminates or at least mitigates the problems described above. DE-A-1932875 describes a connecting device for connecting a first plurality of tubes to a second plurality of tubes, which comprises means defining a first location for the first plurality of tubes to enter the device, means defining a second location for the second plurality of tubes to enter the device, and means for receiving a plurality of tube connectors in such a manner that they are individually adjustable to alter their distances from the first and second locations. The connecting device of DE-A-1932875 is designed to connect together two mutually perpendicular rows of tubes for the purpose of conveying bulk materials, and uses ball joints to achieve the desired adjustability. DE-B-2041291 shows a connecting device designed to connect together two rows of pneumatic tubes. According to the present invention there is provided a device of the type defined in the preamble of claim 1, and characterized in that it comprises one or two plates having a plurality of parallel slots, and the said receiving means are each slidably received in a respective one of the slots. Attention is directed to FR-A-2336049 which describes a device for holding tubes, the device comprising a bar having a row of apertures therein, each aperture being intended to receive a clip for holding a tube. The invention is further described below with reference to Figures 5 to 11 of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 5 is a plan view of a slotted plate forming part of the connecting device of the present invention; Figure 6 is an elevational view of one of the plurality of connector retaining clips which are used in the device; Figure 7 is a plan view of the connecting device showing a first plurality of tubes entering the device; Figure 8 is a plan view showing the connecting device of the invention in use connecting tubes together; Figures 9 to 11 show alternative configurations to the one shown in Figure 8. As shown in Figure 5, the connecting device uses a plate 20 having a plurality of parallel slots 21 each having an enlarged portion 22 at one end thereof. Each slot 21 receives a respective connector retaining clip, and one such clip is shown in Figure 6 on a scale larger than that used in Figure 5. Figure 6 shows a clip 23 having a pair of resilient, connector-engaging arms 24 and a base 25 which comprises two flanges 25a and 25b which are circular in plan view. The flanges define between them an annular groove 26, which permits the clip to rotate, or a pair of parallel grooves, which will prevent the clip rotating. The diameter of at least the flange 25b is slightly less than the diameter of the enlarged portion 22 of the groove 21 so that the flange 25b can be inserted into a respective enlarged portion 21. The provision of groove or grooves 26 enables the base then to slide along the remainder of the slot 22. Preferably the flange 25a is larger in diameter than the diameter of the slot portion 22, so that the clip cannot go too far into slot portion 22 and thus possibly fall accidentally through the plate 20. Figure 7 shows a plate 20 mounted in a connecting device denoted generally by reference numeral 30. The device 30 is in the form of a box with a removable or openable cover, and the cover is shown removed so that the interior can be seen. A first plurality of tubes 6a enters the device 30 through an opening 31 in an end wall 32. A sufficient portion of the surrounding duct 10a is trimmed off to allow the leading end of the remaining duct to be secured to the end wall by an anchoring device 40, as illustrated in Figure 8. The individual tubes 6a are cut roughly to equal lengths, though precision is not required. A protective sheath 42 surrounds the end of the duct 10a and the anchoring device 40. A push-fit connector, for example a connector of the type shown in Figures 1 to 3 is then secured to the leading end of each of the tubes 6a. These connectors are denoted in Figures 8 to 11 by reference numeral 1, like the connector in Figures 1 to 3. A second plurality of tubes 6b is introduced through an opening 31 in an end wall 32 opposite the end wall 32 through which the first plurality of tubes entered. In the configuration illustrated in Figure 8 there are seven tubes 6a and six tubes 6b. One of the tubes 6a is not connected. The six tubes 6b are provided, two each, from three ducts 10b. The ducts 10b are shown differently to one another purely so that different aspects of their construction can be seen, but are in reality identical to one another. The six tubes 6b enter six of the connectors 1 and are connected thereby to respective ones of the tubes 6a. Each of the connectors 1 has a central portion 11, which is shown as being of lesser diameter than its end portions, though it might not be, and this central portion is gripped by the arms 24 of a respective clip 23. As the clips 23 are free to slide in the slots 21 compensation is provided for variations in the tube lengths and for the fact that the geometry of the arrangement necessitates the ends of the tubes reaching the connector plate at locations which are longitudinally shifted with respect to one another. The sliding clips allow the tubes to follow paths which extend in three dimensions in a relatively gently curved fashion, but with both the tubes and their connectors remaining in an organised array. In the configuration shown in Figure 9, the connecting device is used to connect together seven tubes 6a originating from a duct 10a and seven tubes 6b originating from a duct 10b. Figure 10 shows a variation in which two slotted plates are used, denoted here by numerals 20a and 20b, with one set of connectors 1a being mounted in the plate 20a and another set of connectors 1b being mounted in the plate 20b. The tubes 6a terminate in the connectors 1a and the tubes 6b terminate in the connectors 1b. The connectors 1a and 1b are then connected by additional tubes 33. This arrangement reduces the degree of distortion in the tubes and may under some circumstances be quicker and easier to use than the arrangements shown in Figures 8 and 9. Figure 11 shows a variation on the arrangement of Figure 10. Here, in addition to the seven-tube ducts 10a and 10b there are three two-tube ducts 10c the tubes of which can enter the connecting device through one of the longitudinal walls 34, as opposed to the end walls 32. This enables a "T" connector arrangement to be provided. It will be apparent that the configurations shown in Figures 8 to 11 are examples only of many configurations which could be used embodying the present invention. Although the above description refers to the plate 20 or plates 20a and 20b being mounted in a box-type housing, they need not be, and they could, for example be mounted in a rack.

Claims: A connecting device for connecting a first plurality of tubes (6a) to a second plurality of tubes (6b) which comprises means (31) defining a first location for the first plurality of tubes (6a) to enter the device, means (31) defining a second location for the second plurality of tubes (6b) to enter the device, and means (23, 25) for receiving a plurality of tube connectors (1) in such a manner that they are individually adjustable to alter their distances from the first and second locations, characterized in that it comprises one or two plates (20; 20a, 20b) having a plurality of parallel slots (21), and the said receiving means (23, 25) are each slidably received in a respective one of the slots (21). A device according to claim 1, which comprises a first plate (20a) having a first plurality of said parallel slots; a first plurality of said receiving means each slidably received in a respective one of the first plurality of slots, each of the first plurality of tubes (10a) terminating, in use, in a tube connector (1a) received in one of the first plurality of receiving means; a second plate (20b) having a second plurality of said slots; a second plurality of said receiving means each slidably received in a respective one of the second plurality of slots, each of the second plurality of tubes (6b) terminating, in use, in a tube connector (1b) received in one of the second plurality of receiving means; and at least one connecting tube (33), the or each connecting tube (33) interconnecting a tube connector (1a) received in one of the first plurality of receiving means with a tube connector (1b) received in the second plurality of receiving means. A device according to claim 2, wherein each of the said receiving means comprises means (23) for holding a tube connector (1, 1a, 1b); and a base (25) which carries the said holding means (23) and which has a groove (26) or grooves in which the edges of the said slot (21) are received. A device according to claim 3, wherein the said groove (26) is an annular groove. A device according to claim 4, wherein there are a pair of parallel grooves, each for receiving one slot edge. A device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein each slot (21) is a keyhole slot having an enlarged portion (22) into which the said base (25) is at least partly insertable. A device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the said holding means (23) of each receiving means comprises a clip (23) which can releasably retain a tube connector (1, 1a, 1b). A device according to any preceding claim, comprising a housing (30), the said first and second locations being at opposite ends thereof. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a housing (30), the said first and second locations being in housing walls (32, 34) running transversely to one another. A device according to claim 8, wherein a third plurality of tubes (10c) enter the device transversely to the direction in which the first and second plurality of tubes (10a, 10b) enter. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the said receiving means (23, 25) is mounted in a rack which defines the said first and second locations.

Inventors: HANDLEY, GRAHAM ROBERT,, PILKINGTON, IAN,
Applicants: BICC PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY, CORNING LIMITED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F16L39
IPC codes: G02B6, F16L37