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EP-3245544-B1 - FIBER OPTIC TERMINAL ENCLOSURE

EP3245544B1EP 3245544 B1EP3245544 B1EP 3245544B1EP-3245544-B1

Inventors

  • VAUGHN, ROGER
  • LICHOULAS, TED
  • COURCHAINE, WILFRED

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20160112

Claims (8)

  1. A terminal enclosure (100) comprising: a terminal base (102) having a hole (103C) formed through a bottom (102A) of said terminal base (102) and a pocket (103A) extending from the hole (103C); a terminal lid (101) with an adapter mounting face (101A) and a mounting hole (104) in said adapter mounting face (101A); a right angle transition body (103) positioned in said terminal base pocket (103A), wherein a first end (103B) of the right angle transition body (103) extends through the hole (103C) at the terminal base pocket (103A) and a second end (103D) is positioned within the pocket (103A) such that the right angle transition body (103) does not extend beyond a plane formed at the bottom (102A) of said terminal base (102), the first end (103B) and the second end (103D) being in right angle arrangement to one another; a furcation tube organizer block (109C), wherein said right angle transition body (103) is configured to hold the furcation tube organizer block (109) at the second end (103D) of the right angle transition body (103); an adapter (105) which passes through said mounting hole (104) and is mounted to said adapter mounting face (101A); and a fiber optic cable (109C) attached to said second end (103D) of said right angle transition body (103), and an optical fiber (109A) of the fiber optic cable (109) extending through the furcation tube organizer block (109C) and through the first end (103B) of the right angle transition body (103) and the hole (103C), the optical fiber (109A) having a connector (109B) at one end; wherein said adapter mounting face (101A) is formed at an angle α, between 0 and 180 degrees, from a plane formed where said terminal lid (101) and said terminal base (102) meet; wherein said optical fiber connector (109B) is connected to said adapter (105); wherein said terminal base (102) and terminal lid (101) are configured to be attached together.
  2. The terminal enclosure (100) of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of mounting faces on said terminal lid, each of said mounting faces comprises a plurality of mounting holes; and a plurality of adapters passing through said mounting holes and mounted to said adapter mounting faces.
  3. The terminal enclosure (100) of claim 1 wherein said right angle transition body (303) comprises two body halves (303-1, 303-2).
  4. The terminal enclosure (100) of claim 3 wherein said right angle transition body (303) has a wedge-like shape.
  5. The terminal enclosure (100) of claim 1 wherein said adapter (105) is a hardened fiber optic adapter.
  6. The terminal enclosure (100) of claim 1 wherein said angle α is 45 degrees.
  7. The terminal enclosure (100) of claim 1 wherein said angle α is in a range between 30 and 60 degrees.
  8. The terminal enclosure (100) of claim 1 wherein the first end (103B) of the right angle transition body (103) is threaded, and further comprising a nut threaded on the first end (103B) for connection of the right angle transition body (103) to the terminal base (102).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from United States Provisional Application No. 62/102,407, filed January 12, 2015, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. BACKGROUND 1. Field The invention is related to a fiber optic terminal enclosure and more particularly to a terminal enclosure that can be used for hardened fiber optic adapters. 2. Related Art Fiber to the home is a desirable broadband deployment method that holds the promise of providing the greatest amount of bandwidth for future applications. One method of deployment utilizes a hardened fiber optic connector design. These connectors terminate at a enclosure on one end and to the home on the other. At the enclosure termination, the input cable must be sealed and transitioned into the enclosure so as to minimize space and provide a secure water tight connection. Current methods utilize bulky heat shrinks and grommets to accomplish this mating. US2009/074369A1 discloses a connection terminal, wherein a fibre optic cable enters a terminal enclosure. US6695486B1 discloses a fibre optic connector module with one male end and one female end. SUMMARY Exemplary implementations of the present invention address the problems and/or disadvantages of the current technology/methodology described above. Although the present invention is not required to overcome all of the disadvantages described above, an exemplary implementation of the present invention may address the above disadvantages, and further disadvantages not described above, or may not overcome any of the problems listed above while still providing improved methodology and enhancement to the present art. In order to design a method of entry in to the enclosure, a unique transition has been conceived to terminate the cable and fan-out the fibers for connectorization and termination within the enclosure. An integrated chip holder allows for easy fan-out from the cable the 900 µm tubing used within the enclosure. Epoxy is used to fill the transition providing water blocking and cable retention. A threaded insert is used to secure the transition in the enclosure. The unique wedge shape of the transition provides additional retention and strain relieves the transition fitting. An O-ring around the threaded fitting seals the transition to the enclosure once secured with internal nut. Advantages and benefits disclosed herein include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Integrated fan-out chip allows for easy fiber transition from 250 µm to protected 900 µm furcation. 2. Inherent wedge shape provides additional strain relief. 3. Two piece construction facilitates ease of manufacturing. 4. Transition piece allows for assembly separate from the enclosure also adding in manufacturing process. The present invention provides a terminal enclosure as set out in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Figure 1A shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 1B shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 2 shows a perspective bottom view of a first exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 4 shows a perspective bottom view of a first exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 6 shows a perspective bottom view of a first exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 7 shows a perspective end view of a first exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 8 shows a perspective side view of a second exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 10 shows a perspective bottom view of a third exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figures 13A and 13B show perspective views of the terminal base and right angle transition body of a third exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figures 14A and 14B show cross-sectional and perspectives views of the right angle transition body of a third exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figures 15A and 15B show internal views of the right angle transition body of a third exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 16 shows a perspective bottom view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a fiber optic terminal enclosure.Figure 17A shows a perspective top view of a fourth exemplary embodimen