An optical fiber splice protection apparatus that allows optical fiber to be
spliced
and placed in position on a mandrel in cases of assembling a module or repairing
optical fiber that has been broken. The present invention comprises a splice protector
affixed to a mandrel and a rotation sleeve for winding excess fiber onto the mandrel.
The rotation sleeve is located between the splice protector and an adjacent mandrel.
The rotation sleeve facilitates winding excess fiber onto the mandrel, and has
a longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the hydrophone assembly
with a groove to receive the fiber and maintain the fiber's minimum bend radius.
The splice protector and the rotation sleeve are substantially semi-circular in
cross-section. A method is also provided for protecting spliced optical fibers
using a splice protector and rotation sleeve.
