Coupling device for protectively jacketed fibers

摘要

A device for coupling a pair of optical fibers is disclosed comprising a resiliently compressible body for holding a pair of opposing protectively jacketed fibers in end-to-end abutment within an oversized bore. The body is symmetrically compressed about its central portion to reduce the bore cross-section to a fiber-engaging dimension around the bare fiber tips thereby securely aligning the fibers. Similarly, the body is compressed about its end portions to decrease the bore cross-section to a jacket-clamping dimension whereby stresses in the spliced region are distributed along the fiber jacket.