A Fibre Splicer and Method For Splicing Fibres

Abstract

A fibre splicer ( 1 ) is disclosed that includes a splicing chamber ( 2 ) for receiving fibres to be spliced having an opening of in a side thereof, a chamber pad ( 3 ) for selectively sealing the opening of the splicing chamber ( 2 ) and a valve ( 9 ). The valve ( 9 ) has an unobstructed fluid pathway there-through, the valve ( 9 ) extending from the chamber ( 2 ) and being reconfigurable between a first configuration prohibiting fluid flow along the pathway and a second configuration permitting fluid flow along the pathway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fibre splicer including:
 a splicing chamber for receiving fibres to be spliced having an opening of in a side thereof;   a chamber pad for selectively sealing the opening of the splicing chamber; and   a valve having an unobstructed fluid pathway there-through, the valve extending from the chamber and being reconfigurable between a first configuration prohibiting fluid flow along the pathway and a second configuration permitting fluid flow along the pathway.   
     
     
         2 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1 , wherein the pathway extends from an air supply to the interior of the splicing chamber. 
     
     
         3 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1 , wherein the pathway extends along the longitudinal axis of the valve. 
     
     
         4 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve is moveable. 
     
     
         5 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1 , wherein the pathway extends from a valve inlet to a valve outlet which is spaced apart from the valve inlet along the longitudinal axis of the valve. 
     
     
         6 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is moveable. 
     
     
         7 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1 , wherein the chamber and the valve are an integral unit. 
     
     
         8 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve extends from a side of the chamber opposing the chamber opening. 
     
     
         9 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1 , wherein the relative movement between the chamber and the pad is linear. 
     
     
         10 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad has two independent motions, the first motion being pivotable about a first axis and the second motion being pivotable about a second axis offset from the first axis. 
     
     
         11 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad is arrangeable to seal the side opening of the splicing chamber. 
     
     
         12 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1  wherein the valve is slideable between the first configuration and second configuration and vice versa. 
     
     
         13 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is moveable with respect to a fixed pad. 
     
     
         14 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 13 , wherein movement of the chamber relative to an air supply within a main valve body creates corresponding movement of the valve relative to the air supply within the main valve body. 
     
     
         15 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one cutter is positioned adjacent a first external side edge of the chamber and at least one cutter is positioned adjacent a second external side edge of the chamber which opposes the first side edge. 
     
     
         16 . A fibre splicer according to  claim 1 , wherein there are included at least a first and second splicing chamber arranged side-by-side so as to provide at least two splices side by side. 
     
     
         17 . A fibre splicer assembly having at least two fibre splicers according to  claim 1  arranged side by side so as to provide at least two splices side by side. 
     
     
         18 . A fibre splicer assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least two splicers are spaced apart and/or wherein at least one cutter is positioned at the respective remote ends of the fibre splicer assembly. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of splicing fibres in a splicer having a valve having an unobstructed pathway there-through and extending from the chamber, including inserting fibres to be spliced within a chamber via an opening;
 making contact between a chamber pad with a chamber side so as to seal the opening of the chamber;   configuring the valve from a first configuration wherein fluid is prohibited from passing along the pathway to a second configuration permitting fluid flow along the pathway so as to provide fluid to the interior of the chamber.   
     
     
         21 . A method of splicing fibres according to  claim 20 , wherein the valve is configured between the first and second states by sliding the valve with respect to an air port located in a main valve block and/or wherein the chamber is moved linearly to effect linear movement on the valve to which it is connected. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of splicing fibres according to  claim 20 , including permitting air to enter the chamber on motion of the chamber relative to a main valve block. 
     
     
         24 - 25 . (canceled)