CONNECTING METHOD FOR OPTICAL FIBER

摘要

PURPOSE:To suppress the generation of microcracks in a fusion spliced part and to execute fusion splicing with high strength. CONSTITUTION:The fusion splicing region of a fusing machine 7 is covered with a hood 6 and further, the outer side of this hood 6 is covered with a cover 11. Gaseous nitrogen is introduced from a gaseous nitrogen cylinder 14 into the cover 11 to fill the inside of the hood 6 with the gaseous nitrogen so that the oxygen concn. in the atmosphere for fusion splicing is reduced to <=3%. The oxygen concn. in the hood 6 is detected by an oxygen concn. meter 8. The optical fibers of coated optical fibers 5a, 5b are fusion spliced to each other by utilizing electric discharge energy in the atmosphere of <=3% oxygen concn. The generation of the microcracks occurring in the thermal strains at the time of the fusion splicing is suppressed by fusion splicing the fibers in the atmosphere of the oxygen concn. as low as <=3%.