IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,204,160
Granted Patent B2
US 12,204,160 · App. 17/790,852 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Pulling terminal structure, pulling-end-equipped optical cable, and method for manufacturing pulling-end-equipped optical cable

Inventors: Ryoichi Mitobe (Chiba, JP); Kansei Shindo (Chiba, JP)
Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
G02B6/54G02B6/44G02B6/4471G02B6/4486G02B6/46H02G1/08H02G15/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,204,160
App. No.
17/790,852
Granted
Jan 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pulling terminal structure includes: a braided tube that includes a pulling part; a housing tube disposed inside the braided tube and that houses an optical connector; and a reinforcement member disposed inside the braided tube and that reinforces an end part of the housing tube.

Claims (43)

1. A pulling terminal structure comprising:

a braided tube that comprises a pulling part;

a housing tube disposed inside the braided tube and that houses an optical connector; and

a reinforcement member disposed inside the braided tube and that reinforces an end part of the housing tube, wherein

the pulling part is disposed at a first end part of the braided tube,

the pulling terminal structure further comprises a fixing part that fixes the braided tube to an optical cable at a second end part of the braided tube that is opposite to the first end part,

the fixing part comprises a tubular outer circumferential member,

the outer circumferential member and the optical cable sandwich the second end part of the braided tube,

the fixing part further comprises an intermediate member between the optical cable and the outer circumferential member,

the outer circumferential member and the intermediate member sandwich the second end part of the braided tube,

a first adhesive layer is disposed between the optical cable and the intermediate member,

a second adhesive layer is disposed between the intermediate member and the outer circumferential member, and

an adhesive force of the second adhesive layer is greater than an adhesive force of the first adhesive layer.

2. The pulling terminal structure according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member comprises a fitting part that fits the housing tube.

3. The pulling terminal structure according to claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement member comprises a step part that covers the end part of the housing tube from outside in a length direction.

4. The pulling terminal structure according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member comprises a tapered part that tapers away from the housing tube.

5. The pulling terminal structure according to claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the reinforcement member is larger than an outer diameter of the housing tube.

6. The pulling terminal structure according to claim 1 , wherein waterproofing sealing treatment is applied between the housing tube and the reinforcement member.

7. The pulling terminal structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a cord member between the optical cable and the intermediate member.

8. A pulling-end-equipped optical cable comprising:

an optical cable comprising an optical fiber;

an optical connector at an end part of the optical fiber;

a braided tube that comprises a pulling part disposed at a first end part of the braided tube;

a housing tube disposed inside the braided tube and that houses the optical connector;

a reinforcement member disposed inside the braided tube and that reinforces an end part of the housing tube; and

a fixing part that fixes the braided tube to the optical cable at a second end part of the braided tube that is opposite to the first end part, wherein

the fixing part comprises a tubular outer circumferential member,

the outer circumferential member and the optical cable sandwich the second end part of the braided tube,

the fixing part further comprises an intermediate member between the optical cable and the outer circumferential member,

the outer circumferential member and the intermediate member sandwich the second end part of the braided tube,

a first adhesive layer is disposed between the optical cable and the intermediate member,

a second adhesive layer is disposed between the intermediate member and the outer circumferential member, and

an adhesive force of the second adhesive layer is greater than an adhesive force of the first adhesive layer.

9. A method for manufacturing a pulling-end-equipped optical cable, the method comprising:

attaching an optical connector to an end part of an optical fiber led out from an optical cable;

housing the optical connector inside a housing tube;

attaching a reinforcement member to the housing tube;

arranging the housing tube and the reinforcement member inside a braided tube comprising a pulling part disposed at a first end part of the braided tube; and

fixing, to the optical cable, a second end part of the braided tube opposite to the first end part of the braided tube, wherein

the fixing of the braided tube to the optical cable comprises:

forming a first adhesive layer disposed between the optical cable and an intermediate member;

sandwiching the second end part of the braided tube between the intermediate member and a tubular outer circumferential member; and

forming a second adhesive layer disposed between the intermediate member and the outer circumferential member, wherein an adhesive force of the second adhesive layer is greater than an adhesive force of the first adhesive layer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2022
From: MITOBE, RYOICHI; SHINDO, KANSEI
To: FUJIKURA LTD.
Reel/Frame 060596/0788 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-058674 · Mar 27, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230063916A1 · Mar 2, 2023
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Cited By (1)
US 12,619,045