Fiber optic splice housing and integral dry mate connector system

Abstract

A fiber optic splice housing and integral dry mate connector system. In a described embodiment, a fiber optic connection system includes optical fiber sections in respective conduit sections. Each of the conduit sections is received in the housing assembly. An optical connection between the optical fiber sections is positioned within the housing assembly.

1 - 118 . (canceled) 
   
   
       119 . A fiber optic connection, comprising:
 a first fiber optic connector having a first optical fiber section therein; and   the first fiber optic connector being sealed so that fluid flow through the first fiber optic connector is prevented.   
   
   
       120 . The connection of  claim 119 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is sealed internally. 
   
   
       121 . The connection of  claim 119 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is sealed by a seal, the first optical fiber section extending through the seal. 
   
   
       122 . The connection of  claim 121 , wherein the seal is formed by a hardenable fluid flowed about the first optical fiber section. 
   
   
       123 . The connection of  claim 119 , further comprising a second fiber optic connector having a second optical fiber section therein, the first and second fiber optic connectors being configured to cooperatively engage and permit optical transmission between the first and second optical fiber sections. 
   
   
       124 . The connection of  claim 123 , wherein the first optical fiber section is positioned in a first ferrule in the first fiber optic connector, the second optical fiber section is positioned in a second ferrule in the second fiber optic connector, and a first alignment sleeve aligns the first and second ferrules, thereby aligning the first and second optical fiber sections and permitting optical transmission therebetween. 
   
   
       125 . The connection of  claim 124 , wherein the first alignment sleeve is recessed into the first fiber optic connector. 
   
   
       126 . The connection of  claim 125 , wherein the first alignment sleeve does not extend outwardly from the first fiber optic connector. 
   
   
       127 . The connection of  claim 124 , further comprising:
 a third optical fiber section positioned in a third ferrule in the first fiber optic connector;   a fourth optical fiber section positioned in a fourth ferrule in the second fiber optic connector; and   a second alignment sleeve aligning the third and fourth ferrules, thereby aligning the third and fourth optical fiber sections and permitting optical transmission therebetween.   
   
   
       128 . The connection of  claim 127 , wherein the first alignment sleeve is positioned in the first fiber optic connector, and the second alignment sleeve is positioned in the second fiber optic connector. 
   
   
       129 . The connection of  claim 127 , wherein the second ferrule is received in the first alignment sleeve in the first fiber optic connector, and the third ferrule is received in the second alignment sleeve in the second fiber optic connector, when the first and second fiber optic connectors are operatively connected to each other. 
   
   
       130 . The connection of  claim 119 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is attached to a first conduit, the first optical fiber section extending through the first conduit. 
   
   
       131 . The connection of  claim 130 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is sealed by a seal positioned in the first conduit. 
   
   
       132 . The connection according to  claim 130 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is welded to the first conduit. 
   
   
       133 . The connection according to  claim 130 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is molded onto the first conduit. 
   
   
       134 . The connection according to  claim 130 , wherein an attachment between the first fiber optic connector and the first conduit prevents fluid from flowing between the first fiber optic connector and the first conduit. 
   
   
       135 . The connection according to  claim 130 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is sealed by a seal which prevents fluid from flowing from the first fiber optic connector into the first conduit. 
   
   
       136 . The connection of  claim 130 , further comprising a second fiber optic connector attached to a second conduit, the second fiber optic connector having a second optical fiber section therein, and the first and second fiber optic connectors being configured to cooperatively engage and permit optical transmission between the first and second optical fiber sections. 
   
   
       137 . The connection of  claim 136 , wherein the second fiber optic connector is sealed so that fluid flow through the second fiber optic connector is prevented. 
   
   
       138 . The connection of  claim 136 , wherein the second fiber optic connector is sealed so that fluid is prevented from flowing from the second fiber optic connector into the second conduit. 
   
   
       139 . The connection of  claim 136 , further comprising a housing assembly, the first and second fiber optic connectors being positioned within the housing assembly, and the housing assembly gripping the first and second conduits. 
   
   
       140 . The connection of  claim 139 , wherein the housing assembly prevents relative displacement between the first and second fiber optic connectors. 
   
   
       141 . The connection of  claim 139 , wherein the housing assembly is reciprocably displaceable over the first and second conduits prior to gripping the first and second conduits. 
   
   
       142 . The connection of  claim 139 , wherein the housing assembly isolates the first and second fiber optic connectors from fluid external to the housing assembly. 
   
   
       143 . The connection of  claim 136 , wherein the first optical fiber section is positioned in a first ferrule in the first fiber optic connector, the second optical fiber section is positioned in a second ferrule in the second fiber optic connector, and a first alignment sleeve aligns the first and second ferrules, thereby aligning the first and second optical fiber sections and permitting optical transmission therebetween. 
   
   
       144 . The connection of  claim 143 , wherein the first alignment sleeve is recessed into the first fiber optic connector. 
   
   
       145 . The connection of  claim 144 , wherein the first alignment sleeve does not extend outwardly from the first fiber optic connector. 
   
   
       146 . The connection of  claim 143 , further comprising:
 a third optical fiber section positioned in a third ferrule in the first fiber optic connector;   a fourth optical fiber section positioned in a fourth ferrule in the second fiber optic connector; and   a second alignment sleeve aligning the third and fourth ferrules, thereby aligning the third and fourth optical fiber sections and permitting optical transmission therebetween.   
   
   
       147 . The connection of  claim 146 , wherein the first alignment sleeve is positioned in the first fiber optic connector, and the second alignment sleeve is positioned in the second fiber optic connector. 
   
   
       148 . The connection of  claim 146 , wherein the second ferrule is received in the first alignment sleeve in the first fiber optic connector, and the third ferrule is received in the second alignment sleeve in the second fiber optic connector, when the first and second fiber optic connectors are operatively connected to each other. 
   
   
       149 . A fiber optic connection, comprising:
 a first fiber optic connector having a first optical fiber section therein; and   a first conduit attached to the first fiber optic connector, the first optical fiber section extending through the first conduit.   
   
   
       150 . The connection of  claim 149 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is sealed by a seal positioned in the first conduit. 
   
   
       151 . The connection according to  claim 149 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is welded to the first conduit. 
   
   
       152 . The connection according to  claim 149 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is molded onto the first conduit. 
   
   
       153 . The connection according to  claim 149 , wherein an attachment between the first fiber optic connector and the first conduit prevents fluid from flowing between the first fiber optic connector and the first conduit. 
   
   
       154 . The connection according to  claim 149 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is sealed by a seal which prevents fluid from flowing from the first fiber optic connector into the first conduit. 
   
   
       155 . The connection of  claim 149 , further comprising a second fiber optic connector attached to a second conduit, the second fiber optic connector having a second optical fiber section therein, and the first and second fiber optic connectors being configured to cooperatively engage and permit optical transmission between the first and second optical fiber sections. 
   
   
       156 . The connection of  claim 155 , wherein the second fiber optic connector is sealed so that fluid flow through the second fiber optic connector is prevented. 
   
   
       157 . The connection of  claim 155 , wherein the second fiber optic connector is sealed so that fluid is prevented from flowing from the second fiber optic connector into the second conduit. 
   
   
       158 . The connection of  claim 155 , further comprising a housing assembly, the first and second fiber optic connectors being positioned within the housing assembly, and the housing assembly gripping the first and second conduits. 
   
   
       159 . The connection of  claim 158 , wherein the housing assembly prevents relative displacement between the first and second fiber optic connectors. 
   
   
       160 . The connection of  claim 158 , wherein the housing assembly is reciprocably displaceable over the first and second conduits prior to gripping the first and second conduits. 
   
   
       161 . The connection of  claim 158 , wherein the housing assembly isolates the first and second fiber optic connectors from fluid external to the housing assembly. 
   
   
       162 . The connection of  claim 155 , wherein the first optical fiber section is positioned in a first ferrule in the first fiber optic connector, the second optical fiber section is positioned in a second ferrule in the second fiber optic connector, and a first alignment sleeve aligns the first and second ferrules, thereby aligning the first and second optical fiber sections and permitting optical transmission therebetween. 
   
   
       163 . The connection of  claim 162 , wherein the first alignment sleeve is recessed into the first fiber optic connector. 
   
   
       164 . The connection of  claim 163 , wherein the first alignment sleeve does not extend outwardly from the first fiber optic connector. 
   
   
       165 . The connection of  claim 162 , further comprising:
 a third optical fiber section positioned in a third ferrule in the first fiber optic connector;   a fourth optical fiber section positioned in a fourth ferrule in the second fiber optic connector; and   a second alignment sleeve aligning the third and fourth ferrules, thereby aligning the third and fourth optical fiber sections and permitting optical transmission therebetween.   
   
   
       166 . The connection of  claim 165 , wherein the first alignment sleeve is positioned in the first fiber optic connector, and the second alignment sleeve is positioned in the second fiber optic connector. 
   
   
       167 . The connection of  claim 165 , wherein the second ferrule is received in the first alignment sleeve in the first fiber optic connector, and the third ferrule is received in the second alignment sleeve in the second fiber optic connector, when the first and second fiber optic connectors are operatively connected to each other. 
   
   
       168 . The connection of  claim 149 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is sealed so that fluid flow through the first fiber optic connector is prevented. 
   
   
       169 . The connection of  claim 149 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is sealed internally. 
   
   
       170 . The connection of  claim 149 , wherein the first fiber optic connector is sealed by a seal, the first optical fiber section extending through the seal. 
   
   
       171 . The connection of  claim 170 , wherein the seal is formed by a hardenable fluid flowed about the first optical fiber section. 
   
   
       172 - 183 . (canceled)