Abstract:
A splice revolver is provided for securing a plurality of splices in a splice module. The revolver has a revolver body with a plurality of channels there through for receiving splice sleeves. The revolver body is configured to be rotated by a user so that splice sleeves may be loaded into empty channels of the splice revolver to provide compact storage of, and easy access to, splice sleeves.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    Example embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a splice revolver, splice module and method of organizing fiber strands in the module. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Splice modules are employed for organizing glass fibers from a fiber optic cable as they are spliced to jumpers, such as “connecterized” fibers that are mated to connectors for snap-fit engagement to adaptors.  FIG. 1  is a top view of a conventional splice module  10 . The cover of module  10  has been removed to illustrate components therein. 
         [0005]    Module  10  includes a housing  15  having a plurality of adaptors  20  therein that receive connectors  60 .  FIG. 1  shows one arrangement for cable installation into the module  10 . The fiber optic cable  30  is pulled through a strain relief grommet  35  and secured at a cable tie  37 . The cable jacket is removed, leaving exposed fiber strands  40  for splicing. The splices sleeves  42  are stored in a splice organizer  45 . The spliced fibers, or connecterized fibers  50 , are attached to connectors  60  and then typically collectively routed as one around a fiber guide  25 . The connectors  60  are then mated with the adaptors.  20 . 
         [0006]    Even with such fiber organizing arrangements, great care must be taken to ensure that in routing the fibers  50  around the guide  25 , there are no sharp bends or twists. Bends or twists can cause potential damage to the fiber  50  and/or signal attenuation due to micro-bends. This must be done by the on-site installer and there is little margin for error. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An example embodiment is directed to a device for securing splices in a splice module. The device includes a rotatable body having a plurality of channels there through for receiving splice sleeves. The channels are sized to secure the splice sleeves therein. 
         [0008]    Another example embodiment is directed to a device for facilitating the routing of fibers to fiber connectors. The device includes a generally cylindrical body having a plurality of spaced channels located around a circumference thereof and extending along a length of the cylindrical body for receiving splice sleeves. The cylindrical body is rotatable. 
         [0009]    Another example embodiment is directed to a splice module. The splice module includes a housing and a plurality of adaptors affixed to the housing and adapted to receive a plurality of fiber connectors. The splice module includes a splice revolver adapted to rotate around an axis passing there through and including a plurality of channels sized to accommodate a splice sleeve. 
         [0010]    Another example embodiment is directed to a splice revolver of a splice module. The slice revolver comprises a revolver body adapted to rotate so as to sequentially receive individual splice sleeves formed from splicing fiber strands of a cable. 
         [0011]    Another example embodiment is directed to a method of organizing fiber strands in a splice module for routing to connectors in the module. In the method, at least one cable is fed into the splice module, and fiber strands of the cable are spliced into a plurality of splice sleeves. The splice sleeves are placed into a rotatable splice revolver of the module. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Example embodiments of the present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus do not limit the example embodiments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a conventional splice module. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a splice module in accordance with an example embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective side view of the splice revolver to illustrate its mount. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an end-on view of the splice revolver. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are perspective views of the splice revolver to illustrate loading of the splice sleeves into the splice revolver. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a splice mount. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The example embodiments in general relate to a splice revolver, splice module incorporating the revolver and a method of organizing fiber strands in the splice module with the splice revolver. The example splice revolver construction secures sleeves in a dense volume as these fibers are routed to connectors of a plurality of adaptors in the splice module. The example splice revolver uses less space within the splice module and thus may densely secure a plurality of splice sleeves therein. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a splice module  100  in accordance with an example embodiment. The splice module  100  includes a cover  105  and a module housing  115 . A plurality of adaptors  120  are affixed to one end of the housing  120 . The plurality of adaptors  120  is configured to receive a plurality of connectors  160  in a snap-fit relation thereto. Module housing  115  further supports a fiber management spool  125  and one or more splice revolvers  145 . The housing  115  includes slots  117  at either side along an end opposite that of the adaptors  120  for accommodating a pair of strain relief boots  135 . Each strain relief boot  135  is adapted to receive a cable there through that is to be separated into fiber splices for routing to connectors  160  via the splice revolvers  145  and spool  125 . Each strain relief boot  135  includes a pair of opposed recesses  137  that engage sides of the slots  117  in order to secure the boot  135  to the housing  115 . It would be evident to one of skill in the art to include fewer or greater than two strain relief boots  135  and splice revolvers  145  in the splice module  100 . 
         [0021]    The splice revolver  145  has a generally cylindrical revolver body that is secured to the housing  115  via a splice mount  147 . The splice mount  147  can be attached on any surface of the housing  115  via a fastener  142  such as a mounting screw. In one embodiment, the splice revolver  145  includes a minimum of six slots or channels designed to accept and hold splice sleeves  150 . The splice sleeve  150  is configured to house or enclose one or more glass fiber strands therein. The splice sleeves  150  can be inserted into the channels one at a time as the splice revolver  145  rotates until all channels have a splice sleeve  150  therein. The splice revolver  145  revolves freely (clockwise and counter-clockwise) within the splice mount  147  proximate an axis thereof to avoid fiber twisting. 
         [0022]    As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , the splice mount  147  has detent features  141  to restrict the splice revolver  145  to an open or closed position. Upon the completion of inserting each of the splice sleeves  150 , the splice revolver  145  is rotated to a closed position. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective side view of the splice revolver  145  to illustrate its mount  147  in more detail;  FIG. 4  is an end-on view of the splice revolver  145 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the splice revolver  145  has a generally cylindrical body  146 . The body  146  includes a plurality of channels  148  formed along the length of the revolver body  146  in spaced relation to one another around a circumference of the body  146 . The splice mount  147  includes a clamp portion  143  that partially encircles the revolver body  146  proximate a mid-point thereof, allowing the body  146  to revolve about a central axis thereof. The clamp portion  143  has an opening  149  to permit a channel  148  to be loaded with a splice sleeve  150  when the channel  148  is aligned with the opening  149 , each splice sleeve  150  containing one or more glass fibers  155 . 
         [0024]    The mount  147  additionally includes a pair of slots  144 , and the revolver body  146  includes a plurality of bosses  151 . The bosses  151  are arranged in spaced relation to one another around a circumference of the body  146 . As the revolver body  146  rotates within the clamp portion  143  of the mount  147 , the bosses  151  travel within the slots  144  of the clamp portion  143  to hold the revolver  145  in the mount  147 . Referring additionally to  FIG. 7 , a boss  151  is configured to engage the detents  141  to lock the revolver  145  in a closed position. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the revolver  145  includes six channels  148  to accommodate and hold splice sleeves  150  therein. However, fewer or greater than six splice sleeves  150  may be included in splice revolver  145 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are perspective views of the splice revolver  145  illustrating loading of the splice sleeves  150  into the splice revolver  145 . Once a cable (not shown) has had its jacket removed, each fiber  155  is spliced to a short fiber having a connector  160  at an opposite end using a splice sleeve  150 . The sleeves  150  are loaded into the splice revolver  145 . Excess lengths of the short fibers, with the connectors  160  at their ends, may be stored about the spool  125 . Finally, the connectors  160  are snap-fit into the plurality of adaptors  120 . 
         [0027]    Accordingly, in order to organize the fiber strands in the splice module  100 , the cable (or multiple cables) is inserted through the strain relief boot(s)  135 , the jacket is stripped, and then the glass fibers  155  are spliced to terminated fibers in the splice sleeves  150 . Each splice sleeve  150  is sequentially loaded into an open channel  148  of the revolver body  146  as the revolver  145  is rotated. As noted previously, the body  146  rotates within the clamp portion  143  of the splice mount  147  so that each channel  148  may align with the opening  149  for dropping a splice sleeve  150  therein. As the splice sleeves  150  are sequentially dropped into the splice revolver  145 , the fiber strands, represented by reference numerals  40  and  50  in  FIG. 1 , could twist as the splice revolver  145  rotates about its axis. To avoid fiber twisting, the installer merely needs to rotate the splice revolver  145  back to its original position after the splice sleeve  150  is installed. The terminated, spliced end with connectors  160  may then be wound around the spool  125  so as to route the plurality of connectors  160  to the plurality of adaptors  120 . 
         [0028]    The example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as departure from the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. All such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.