Cable strain relief clamping devices and methods for using the same
View Patent ↗A clamping device for connecting a cable to a strain relief member includes a housing having a retention member extending therefrom. The retention member is configured to be inserted in a mating opening in the strain relief member and to be secured thereto. A connector is configured to connect the cable to the housing.
1. A clamping device for connecting a cable to a strain relief member, comprising:
a housing having a retention member extending therefrom, the retention member being configured to be inserted in a mating opening in the strain relief member and to be secured thereto; and
a connector configured to connect the cable to the housing,
wherein the retention member comprises a first retention member at a first longitudinal end of the housing and a second retention member at an opposite second longitudinal end of the housing, each of which is configured to be inserted in a corresponding mating opening in the strain relief member and wherein the retention members comprise “T” shaped legs extending from a bottom surface of the housing and wherein the mating openings in the strain relief member comprise a wide portion configured to receive the “T” shaped legs and a narrow portion extending longitudinally from the wide portion configured to limit movement of the “T” shaped legs from the mating openings when the “T” shaped legs are slid therein.
2. A clamping device for connecting a cable to a strain relief member, comprising:
a housing having a retention member extending therefrom, the retention member being configured to be inserted in a mating opening in the strain relief member and to be secured thereto; and
a connector configured to connect the cable to the housing,
wherein the housing includes a forward section, a rear section and a gripper receiving section therebetween and wherein the connector comprises a cable gripper including:
a frame configured to be received in the gripper receiving section; and
a pair of gripper arms extending from respective sides of the frame and defining a cable receiving slot therebetween configured to receive the cable through an open upper end of the slot and secure the cable in the slot.
3. The clamping device of claim 2 , wherein the cable comprises a flat drop cable and wherein the housing includes a channel extending longitudinally therethrough having a width substantially similar to a width of the drop cable and wherein the frame includes a curved segment or teeth on the sidewalls thereof that provide a retention force to retain the cable gripper in the gripper receiving section when inserted therein.
4. The clamping device of claim 3 , wherein the channel includes a first section in the rear section of the housing having an open end configured to allow optical fibers from the cable to pass therethrough and a second section in the rear of the housing including a rear wall configured to limit contact of a strength member from the cable contacting the optical fibers.
5. The clamping device of claim 4 , further comprising a wrap around connector that couples the cable to the forward section of the housing and wherein the forward section of the housing includes a receiving groove configured to receive the wrap around connector.
6. A clamping device for connecting a cable to a strain relief member, comprising:
a housing having a retention member extending therefrom, the retention member being configured to be inserted in a mating opening in the strain relief member and to be secured thereto; and
a connector configured to connect the cable to the housing,
wherein the cable comprises a round cable and wherein the housing includes a longitudinally extending channel therein, wherein the channel is a curved channel sized to correspond to an outer diameter of the cable and wherein the connector comprises a clamping plate configured to connect a strength member in the cable to the housing at a segment of the cable with an outer jacket of the cable removed to expose the strength member and an attachment member that attaches the clamping plate to a clamping section of the housing.
7. An enclosure including the clamping device of claim 1 and further comprising:
a splice closure housing; and
the strain relief member in the splice closure.
8. An enclosure for enclosing splices between optical fibers of optical fiber cables, comprising:
a housing defining a splice chamber;
a main cable strain relief module in the housing that is configured to receive a main cable passing into the splice chamber and to secure the main cable to the housing;
a strain relief member in the closure including a plurality of openings arranged on a surface thereof; and
a clamping device mounted on the surface of the strain relief member, the clamping device including:
a clamp housing having a retention member extending therefrom, the retention member being configured to be inserted in one of the openings in the strain relief member and to be secured thereto; and
a connector configured to connect the cable to the housing,
wherein the retention member comprises a first retention member at a first longitudinal end of the housing and a second retention member at an opposite second longitudinal end of the housing, each of which is configured to be inserted in a corresponding pair of the openings in the strain relief member and wherein the retention members comprise “T” shaped legs extending from a bottom surface of the clamp housing and wherein each of the openings in the strain relief member comprises a wide portion configured to receive the “T” shaped legs and a narrow portion extending longitudinally from the wide portion configured to limit movement of the “T” shaped legs from the openings when the “T” shaped legs are slid therein.
9. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein the strain relief member further comprises a retention finger associated with the corresponding pair of the openings that limits movement of the clamping device relative to the strain relief member when the “T” shaped legs are slid into the narrow portions of the corresponding pair of openings.
10. The enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the strain relief member includes an access opening that provides access to the retention finger to allow movement of the clamping device relative to the strain relief member.
11. The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein the clamping device comprises a first clamping device, the clamp housing comprises a first clamp housing and the connector comprises a first connector, the enclosure comprises a second clamping device having a second clamp housing and a second connector and wherein the strain relief member includes a second corresponding pair of the openings having a substantially same size and spacing therebetween as the first corresponding pair of the openings and wherein the first clamping device is configured to secure a flat drop cable and the second clamping device is configured to secure a round cable.
12. The enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the first clamp housing includes a forward section, a rear section and a gripper receiving section therebetween and wherein the first connector comprises a cable gripper including:
a frame configured to be received in the gripper receiving section; and
a pair of gripper arms extending from respective sides of the frame and defining a cable receiving slot therebetween configured to receive the cable through an open upper end of the slot and secure the cable in the slot,
and wherein the first clamp housing includes a channel extending longitudinally therethrough having a width selected to provide an interference fit with the flat drop cable when the cable is received therein and wherein the frame includes a curved segment or teeth on the sidewalls thereof that provide a retention force to retain the cable gripper in the gripper receiving section when inserted therein.
13. The enclosure of claim 12 , wherein the second housing includes a longitudinally extending channel therein and wherein the channel is a curved channel sized to correspond to an outer diameter of the round cable and wherein the second connector comprises a clamping plate configured to connect a strength member in the flat drop cable to the second housing at a segment of the cable with an outer jacket of the cable removed to expose the strength member and an attachment member that attaches the clamping plate to a clamping section of the housing.
14. The enclosure of claim 13 , wherein the first and second clamping device each further comprise a wrap around connector that couple cables therein to their respective housings and corresponding receiving grooves in their respective housings.
15. A kit for securing cables to an enclosure, comprising:
a strain relief plate including a plurality of openings arranged on a surface thereof;
a first clamping device including a first housing having a retention member extending therefrom, the retention member being configured to be inserted in one of the openings in the strain relief plate and to be secured thereto and a first connector configured to connect the cable to the first housing; and
a second clamping device including a second housing having a retention member extending therefrom, the retention member being configured to be inserted in one of the openings in the strain relief plate and to be secured thereto and a second connector configured to connect the cable to the first housing, wherein the first clamping device is configured to clamp a flat drop cable and the second clamping device is configured to clamp a round cable.
16. The kit of claim 15 , wherein the first housing includes a forward section, a rear section and a gripper receiving section therebetween and wherein the first connector comprises a cable gripper including:
a frame configured to be received in the gripper receiving section; and
a pair of gripper arms extending from respective sides of the frame and defining a cable receiving slot therebetween configured to receive the cable through an open upper end of the slot and secure the cable in the slot.
17. The kit of claim 15 , wherein the strain relief plate is configured to be removably mounted in an enclosure for enclosing splices between optical fibers of optical fiber cables.