US 11,899,243 B2
System and method for joining fiber optic cables
Zhanke Liu, Sugar Land, TX (US); Mark Oettli, Richmond, TX (US); and Shrividya Sridharan, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Assigned to SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed by Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/660,464.
Prior Publication US 2023/0341626 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 6/255 (2006.01); G02B 6/38 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/2558 (2013.01) [G02B 6/2551 (2013.01); G02B 6/38 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for joining fiber optic cables, comprising:
sliding a sleeve over a first fiber optic cable, wherein the sleeve has an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of a first exterior casing of the first fiber optic cable that extends about a first set of optical fibers over a length of a first tubular body of the first fiber optic cable, wherein the first set of optical fibers is disposed within the first tubular body;
joining the first set of optical fibers of the first fiber optic cable to a second set of optical fibers disposed within a second tubular body of a second fiber optic cable;
sliding the sleeve over the first and second fiber optic cables, wherein the sleeve has an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of a second exterior casing of the second fiber optic cable that extends about the second set of optical fibers over a length of the second tubular body; and
joining the sleeve to the first exterior casing of the first fiber optic cable and to the second exterior casing of the second fiber optic cable, wherein the sleeve comprises a same material as the first exterior casing and the second exterior casing, and wherein joining the sleeve to the first exterior casing of the first fiber optic cable and to the second exterior casing of the second fiber optic cable comprises metallurgically joining the sleeve to the first exterior casing of the first fiber optic cable and to the second exterior casing of the second fiber optic cable by:
utilizing welds between at least one of: the sleeve, the first exterior casing, or the second exterior casing;
utilizing friction seizures between at least one of: the sleeve, the first exterior casing, or the second exterior casing; or
a combination thereof.