| 摘要 |
A bend-limiting apparatus 20 for attachment to an optical connector 10 has a generally cylindrical shape and includes an axial bore 28 along its central axis for holding an optical cable 30. The front end 22 of the bend-limiting apparatus attaches to the optical connector and has an outside diameter which is comparable in size to the connector. The back end of the bend-limiting apparatus has an outside diameter which is comparable in size to the optical cable. The bend-limiting apparatus is made from a flexible material which is sufficiently stiff to accommodate heavy side loads, but includes a number of grooves 23 that are exclusively positioned on its back half to accommodate light side loads. These grooves preferably extend from an outside surface 29 of the apparatus into the axial bore, and also extend in a circumferential direction at least part way around the apparatus. Such a design effectively limits the minimum bend radius of an optical cable over a wide range of side loads.
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