Abstract:
A cable sleeve for the structured storage and handling of optical waveguides guided in optical waveguide cables is disclosed. The cable sleeve comprises a covering body defining an interior. A sealing body comprising two dimensionally stable end pieces and a compressible gel element arranged between the end pieces is adapted to be insert into an opening of the covering body and operable for feeding optical waveguide cables into the interior and/or for feeding optical waveguide cables out of the interior. Spring elements are integrated into the interior of a covering body. When the sealing body is inserted into the opening of the covering body and compressed, the spring elements bear against one of the dimensionally stable end pieces of the sealing body and exert a compression force onto the gel element.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2007/004477, filed May 19, 2007, which claims priority to German Application No. DE202006008655.2, filed May 30, 2006, both applications being incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND 
   1. Technical Field 
   The invention relates to a cable sleeve for the structured storage and handling of optical waveguides guided in optical waveguide cables. 
   2. Technical Background 
   Cable sleeves for the structured storage and handling of optical waveguides guided in optical waveguide cables are used in optical waveguide cable networks for protecting spliced connections at connecting points of two optical waveguide cables and for protecting optical waveguides at branch-off points or at dividing points of optical waveguide cables. In doing so, the cable sleeves must guarantee the continuity of the optical waveguide cables as if the optical waveguide cables were not interrupted. Great importance is attached here to the structured storage and gentle handling of the optical waveguides so that the transmission characteristics of the optical waveguides are not negatively affected. 
   A cable sleeve is disclosed in EP 0 646 294 B1. The cable sleeve disclosed here comprises a covering body and a sealing body that can be fed into an opening of the covering body, the sealing body comprising a gel-like sealing material, which is arranged between two dimensionally stable plates. According to EP 0 646 294 B1, the sealing body can be slid in and out in a hollow cavity in the axial direction with respect to the covering body in order to compensate for pressure differences between an internal pressure and an external pressure of the cable sleeve. In doing so, the sealing body comes to bear against different stops depending on this pressure difference. 
   A further cable sleeve is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,391, which likewise comprises a sealing body, which comprises two dimensionally stable end pieces and a compressible gel element arranged between the two end pieces. According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,391, the gel element is pierced by clamping elements, which press the two dimensionally stable end pieces against one another. 
   SUMMARY 
   According to one aspect, a cable sleeve for the structured storage and handling of optical waveguides guided in optical waveguide cables is provided. Spring elements are integrated into the interior of the covering body and, when the sealing body is inserted into the opening of the covering body and compressed, bear against one of the dimensionally stable end pieces of the sealing body and exert a compression force onto the gel element. 
   The cable sleeve is distinguished by a simple structure. Optical waveguide cables to be fed into the cable sleeve or removed therefrom can be easily sealed. The sealing results from compressing the gel element and the spring elements. The spring elements integrated in the covering body provide a compression force for the gel element in order to guarantee a good sealing effect of the gel element even in the event of a change in the behavior thereof due to temperature. In doing so, the spring elements bear against a dimensionally stable end piece of the sealing body, namely without penetrating the gel element. The spring elements store the force applied when locking the cable sleeve and subject the gel element of the sealing body to the compression force. 
   The inserted position or fitted position of the sealing body relative to the covering body is determined by at least one projection associated with the sealing body and at least one recess associated with the covering body in such a way that when the cable sleeve is assembled the or each projection of the sealing body engages in a corresponding recess of the covering body. 
   At least one locking body holds the sealing body in its inserted position or fitted position in the covering body and presses said sealing body against the spring elements integrated in the covering body and against projections on an inner surface of the covering body in which the spring elements are accommodated. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention, without being restricted thereto, are described in more detail with reference to the drawing. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  shows a cable sleeve according to the invention for the structured storage and handling of optical waveguides guided in optical waveguide cables designed in the form of a hood sleeve according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention in perspective view, 
       FIG. 2  shows the cable sleeve according to the invention as shown in  FIG. 1  in perspective exploded view, 
       FIG. 3  shows a retaining bracket for the cable sleeve according to the invention as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , 
       FIG. 4  shows a covering hood of the cable sleeve according to the invention as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in perspective view, 
       FIG. 5  shows the covering hood of  FIG. 4  in front view, 
       FIG. 6  shows a sealing body of the cable sleeve according to the invention as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in perspective exploded view, and 
       FIG. 7  shows a cable sleeve according to the invention for the structured storage and handling of optical waveguides guided in optical waveguide cables designed in the form of a hood sleeve according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention in perspective view. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 to 7 , a cable sleeve for the structured storage and handling of optical waveguides guided in optical waveguide cables designed in the form of a hood sleeve is shown.  FIGS. 1 to 6  relate to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;  FIG. 7  shows a second exemplary embodiment of the cable sleeve according to the invention. The cable sleeve may be used with hood sleeves, and may also be used with any other types of sleeve, for example, without limitation, with so-called in-line sleeves. 
     FIG. 1  shows a cable sleeve  10  according to the invention according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention in the assembled state; an exploded view of the cable sleeve shown in  FIG. 1  can be seen in  FIG. 2 . The cable sleeve  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  according to the invention is designed in the form of a hood sleeve and has a covering body  11  designed in the form of a covering hood, which according to  FIG. 2  defines an interior  12  of the cable sleeve  10 . A sealing body  14  can be inserted in an opening  13  of the covering body  11 , wherein on the one hand optical waveguide cables can be fed into the interior  12  of the cable sleeve  10  and on the other hand said optical waveguide cables can be fed out of the interior  12  via the sealing body  14 . 
   The optical waveguide cables are fed into and out of the interior  12  of the cable sleeve  10  by means of openings  15  integrated in the sealing body  14 . The covering body  11  of the cable sleeve  10  according to the invention is shown by itself in  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  FIG. 6  shows the sealing body  14  likewise by itself, namely in an exploded view. 
   The sealing body  14  of the cable sleeve  10  according to the embodiment has two dimensionally stable end pieces  16  and  17 , between which is arranged a compressible gel element  18 . As can be seen from  FIG. 6 , the sealing body  14  is designed in two parts and is accordingly made up of two halves  19  and  20 . In the assembled state of the cable sleeve  10 , the separation plane of the sealing body  14  hereby runs in the longitudinal direction of the cable sleeve  10  or in the longitudinal direction of the covering body  11 . According to  FIG. 6 , the two halves  19  and  20  of the sealing body  14  have projections  21  and recesses  22  respectively, wherein, when the sealing body  14  is made up of the two halves  19  and  20 , the projections  21  of one half  19  or  20  respectively engage in a recess  22  of the corresponding other half  20  or  19  respectively. 
   Spring elements  23  are integrated into the covering body  11  or into the interior  12  thereof. In doing so, the spring elements  23  are accommodated in projections  24  formed on an inner side or inner surface of the covering body  11 . The projections  24  stand radially inwards around the inner surface of the covering body  11  and accordingly protrude into the interior  12 . In the assembled state of the cable sleeve  10  according to the invention, namely when the sealing body  14  is inserted in the opening  13  of the covering body  11 , a dimensionally stable end piece of the sealing body  14 , namely the inner end piece  17 , bears against the spring elements  23  and the projections  24 . The projections  24  form stops for the sealing body  14  and limit the insertion depth thereof into the covering body  11 . The spring elements  23  store the force applied when locking the cable sleeve  10  and hold the gel element  18  of the sealing body  14  under compression force. As a result of this, on the one hand, optical waveguide cables fed into or out of the cable sleeve  11  via the openings  15  of the sealing body  14  are sealed, and on the other the sealing body  14  is sealed with respect to the covering body  11  of the cable sleeve  10  according to the invention. 
   According to  FIG. 2 , the fitted position of the sealing body  14  in the covering body  11  is defined by projections  25 , which are associated with the sealing body  14  and which can be inserted into slot-like recesses  26  of the covering body  11 . At the same time, a projection  25  of this kind is associated with each half  19  and  20  of the sealing body  14 , wherein each of the two projections  25  can be inserted into a slot-like recess  26  of the covering body  11  in each case. According to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the projections  25  are associated with the outer dimensionally stable end piece  16  of the sealing body  14  in the assembled position of the cable sleeve  10 . 
   In the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the cable sleeve  10  according to the invention has a locking body  27  designed in the form of a locking cap, which locks the cable sleeve  10  and fixes the sealing body  14  to the covering body  11 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the locking body  27 , which is designed in the form of a locking cap, can be fixed by means of a bayonet-like locking mechanism  28  on the covering body  11 , wherein the bayonet-like locking mechanism  28  is formed from projections  29 , which are formed on an outer surface of the covering body  11 , together with slot-like recesses  30  in the vicinity of the locking body  27 . At the same time, the projections  29  of the covering body  11  can be inserted in the recesses  30  of the locking body  27 , wherein the locking body  27  can then be twisted with respect to the covering body  11 . After twisting the locking body  27  relative to the covering body  11 , the projections  29  engage in corresponding undercuts of the recesses  30  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   The slot-like recesses  30  of the locking body  27  run in a sloping manner, namely in such a way that, when it is twisted, the locking body  27  executes a screw-like relative movement with respect to the covering body  11  and thereby presses the sealing body  14  against the projections  24  and the spring elements  23 . This provides the compression force required to deform the gel element  18  of the sealing body  14 . 
   When the cable sleeve  10  is assembled or put together, the sealing body  14  is accordingly inserted into the opening  13  of the covering body  11 , wherein the projections  24 , which act as stops, limit the insertion depth of the sealing body  14  in the covering body  11 . When the sealing body  14  bears with the inner end piece  17  against the projections  24  in the uncompressed state, said sealing body then stands at least partially around the covering body  11  with the outer end piece  16 , or protrudes at least partially therefrom. The locking body  27  is screwed to the covering body  11  in the manner of a bayonet, wherein in this case the gel element  18  of the sealing body  14  is compressed due to the fact that the sealing body  14  bears with the inner end piece  17  against the projections  24 . At the same time, the spring elements  23 , which are accommodated in the projections  24  and which store the force applied to lock the cable sleeve  10 , are also compressed and hold the gel element  18  of the sealing body  14  under compression force. This enables a change in the behavior of the gel element  18  due to temperature to be balanced or compensated for and a good sealing action thereof to be guaranteed. 
   According to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the locking body  27 , which is designed in the form of a locking cap, is designed to be open on its face side in such a way that the openings  15  of the sealing body  14  are not covered. The outer dimensionally stable end piece  16  of the sealing body  14  in the assembled state of the cable sleeve  10  thereby comes to bear against a circumferential edge  31  of the locking body  27 . 
   The cable sleeve  10  of the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  can be fixed to a mast or wall by means of a retaining bracket  32  shown in  FIG. 3 , wherein bar-like projections  33  of the retaining bracket  32  can be inserted in recesses  34  of the locking body  27  for this purpose. Here, the recesses  34  are made in radial projections  35  on the outside of the locking body  27 . 
     FIG. 7  shows a second exemplary embodiment of a cable sleeve  40  according to the invention, which differs from the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 6  only in the design of the locking body. To avoid unnecessary repetition, the same reference numbers are therefore used for the same assemblies, and reference is made to the comments relating to the example of  FIGS. 1 to 6 . Only the details in which the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 7  differs from the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 6  are discussed below. 
   As already mentioned, the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 7  differs from the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 6  only in the design of the locking body, two locking bodies  36 , which are designed in the form of locking clips, being provided in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 7 . According to  FIG. 7 , hooks  37  of the locking clips  36  can be inserted in recesses  38  of the sealing body  14 , wherein, in the closed position of the locking clips  36  shown in  FIG. 7 , the hooks  37  press the sealing body  14  against the spring elements  23  and projections  24  integrated in the covering body  11 . 
   According to  FIG. 7 , the hooks  37  engage in openings  38 , which are formed on the outer dimensionally stable end piece  16  of the sealing body  14  in the assembled state. Accordingly, in the assembled state of the cable sleeve  40 , the sealing body  14  is fixed in the covering body  11  by means of the locking clips  36 , and furthermore the compression force, which is required to compress the gel element  18  of the sealing body  14  and which is stored by the spring elements  23  and exerted on the sealing body  14 , is provided by the locking clips  36 .