CA2210051A1 - Light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacket - Google Patents
Light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacketInfo
- Publication number
- CA2210051A1 CA2210051A1 CA002210051A CA2210051A CA2210051A1 CA 2210051 A1 CA2210051 A1 CA 2210051A1 CA 002210051 A CA002210051 A CA 002210051A CA 2210051 A CA2210051 A CA 2210051A CA 2210051 A1 CA2210051 A1 CA 2210051A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- optical fiber
- cable
- jacket
- fibers
- fiber cable
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 74
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 31
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 16
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 15
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 claims description 15
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 229920001903 high density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000004700 high-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000007654 immersion Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000003139 buffering effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000005188 flotation Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000005470 impregnation Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 231100000331 toxic Toxicity 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000002588 toxic effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims 2
- 238000011900 installation process Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 claims 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000035882 stress Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000000499 gel Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 235000015110 jellies Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000008274 jelly Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000004040 coloring Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920001577 copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013508 migration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005012 migration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- SMZOUWXMTYCWNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-(2-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)ethanamine Chemical compound COC1=CC=C(C)C=C1CCN SMZOUWXMTYCWNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-Propenoic acid Natural products OC(=O)C=C NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chromium Chemical compound [Cr] VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethene Chemical compound C=C VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000005977 Ethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 244000228957 Ferula foetida Species 0.000 description 1
- UFWIBTONFRDIAS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Naphthalene Chemical compound C1=CC=CC2=CC=CC=C21 UFWIBTONFRDIAS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000283984 Rodentia Species 0.000 description 1
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical class O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- PPBRXRYQALVLMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Styrene Natural products C=CC1=CC=CC=C1 PPBRXRYQALVLMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000032683 aging Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002981 blocking agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052804 chromium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011651 chromium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008602 contraction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007812 deficiency Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006731 degradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- -1 extrusion system Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000013100 final test Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002209 hydrophobic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011344 liquid material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012188 paraffin wax Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920001083 polybutene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000004904 shortening Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008961 swelling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
- G02B6/4401—Optical cables
- G02B6/4429—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
- G02B6/443—Protective covering
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Insulated Conductors (AREA)
Abstract
This invention relates to light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacket, resisting the penetration of water and humidity from the environment, said cable is characterized because it consists centrally of a first jacket integrated by a loose tube of circular cross section with respect to its longitudinal axis which confines a plurality of loose or grouped optical fibers which are, in turn, immersed in a viscous and inert medium resistant to moisture penetration; then it is concentrically formed by a second jacket made of a layer of a second inert viscous element which totally prevents moisture penetration, impregnates the first jacket all around and is also optionally protected around its periphery by a dielectrical o metal reinforcement jacket, which is, in turn, impregnated by a third layer of filling material consisting of viscous fluid (gel). The jackets are integrated within an external concentric sheath with self-reinforced thermoplastic properties by two or more reinforcement members symmetrically and longitudinally located in order to form the reinforced optical fiber cable.
Description
CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 LIGHT REINFORCED OPTICAL FIBER CABLE WITH REDUCED DIAMETER
JACKET
BACKROUND OF THE INVENTION
Differents structures of optical fiber cable are known. All of them are made of resistance or reinforcement elements in their inner core or externally in their cross section and are located mainly in a loose tube system or in a loose system of fiber strands. In the first system, the largest number of optical fibers is overfilled in only one tube and several tubes are stranded together in an helicoidal shape on a bearing element in order to form one single core. Other types of structures of optical fiber cables incorporate the resistance members (usually dielectric ducts or steel rods) in the central part of the cross section of the cable. However, since in these systems an excess of optical fiber is included in order to compensate for any unbalance, the resulting cables are exceedingly heavy.
Among other known systems, we can mention groups of loose fibers, which include a plurality of groups of fibers without helicoidal lay integrated in only one tube of the core of the cable. It is characterized because it does not include a resistance core bearing member in the cross section and has only two resistance members external to the core and within the jacket structure. This system includes a structural metal layer, but it has the disadvantage to include only one group with a lower content of optical fibers, and it also presents the disadvantage of moisture penetration in the optical fiber.
Other known disadvantages include the inadequate use of lengths of fibers superior to the external jacket of the core since it provokes the unwanted bending of the fibers CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 with the resulting increased attenuation.
According to the statistics regarding cable consumption, the market has been inclined to use economical light weight cables with a low content of fewer than 24 fibers useful for underground installations and especially for air installations. According to these new needs, new systems of structures for cables have been developed that overcome these disadvantages, such as described in the U.S. patent No. 5,125,063, in which a cable is described with a relatively light and relatively cheap limited structure of optical fibers. However even though this structure includes in its core a water blocking material, some moisture penetration can be observed along the peripheral contactedges of the cable since one of the properties of the water blocking material is to provoke the swelling of the cross section area of contact when it absorbs the first traces of water, avoiding in this way a major moisture rnigration within the cable core, which also provokes ullwanted losses in the tr~n~mi~sion of the optical fibers during the aging process of the cable.
Independently of the low costs that make an optical fiber cable commercially attractive, and meets the tensile strength requirements, there are other factors that are to be taken into account when analyzing the optical fiber cable market and these factors are related to the environment, above all when the cable is to be used in difficult ellvironlllents or when it is expose~l to temperatures below 40 degrees C. and after a long working life, the constant stress causes static fatigue in the cable while moisture provokes a major damage to the tr~n~mi~ion of the comrnunication which results in an accelerated degradation of the working life of the cable.
The applicant has developed a new system of reinforced structure for optical fiber cable which does not permit moisture migration, shows a great retention of optical CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 .. 3 realization, with a plastic jacket protecting the optical fibers against stress,compression and elongation, which prevents damage to the optical fibers and thusincreases the working life of said optical fibers because it does not dimini~h the capacity of cornmunication of said fibers even in difficult environmental conditions, which is useful for air or underground installations.
CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 . 4 DET~Tl.l ~n DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinbelow the invention will be described according to the drawings of the figures 1 to 3 in order to explain said invention but, of course, without limiting its scope, wherein:
Fig. 1. is a longitudinal cross section of a perspective view of the optic fiber cable.
Fig. 2. is a cross section of the cable of fig. 1.
Fig. 3. is to a longitll(lin~l cross section of an optical fiber cable.
The invention relates to an optical fiber cable 9 characterized by two jackets 14 which prevent moisture penetration in the packing zone 20 of the optical fiber 10.
The design of the optical fiber cable 9 of the invention is conventionally structured by -means of a loose arrangement of a group of fibers 10 immersed in a longitudinalflotation and buffering core 12. It can consist of loose fibers or of groups of strands 20 from a strand of twelve fibers to more than two strands 20 of 12, 24 or up to 96 optical fibers. The fiber strands 20 can be simply standed for their operation or can be helicoidally reinforced by means of a thread 11. The flotation core 12 is a conventional viscous fluid which can be a composition of paraffin, naphthene or polybutene oil and hydrophobic or hydropllilic silica compounds and ~ixtures with other styrene copolymers, if said material fulfills the rheological properties required in the operation temperature range: from minus 40~C to 70~C, i.e. that it permits the easy movement of fibers within the core 12.
The viscous fluid which constitutes the core 12 must not be volatile, must not be toxic and must be physically and chemically compatible with the optical fibers as well as with the rest of the elements of the cable without undergoing composition changes during the working life of the cable, i.e. that it must not cause collateral reactions that might degrade the optical fiber. One of the functions of the viscous fluid is to work as a water blocking agent which totally opposes water penetration and migration through the packing sheaths of cable 9. This is because even a minimllm moisture contentaffects the optical fiber tr~n~mi~ion capacity, shortening its working life. In order to overcome this deficiency, the applicant has developed an optical fiber cable, inwhich the core 12 is located within a tubular member 13 conventionally made of especially high density polyethylene that resists both the geometrical deformation provoked by the applied load as well as the deformation provoked by the temperature conditions.
The tubular member 13 is, in turn, protected by a sheath of flexible reinforcement fibers 15 and the first viscous fluid jacket 14, forming one unique substract water tightly adhered to the tubular member. Through this first part of the wrapping system of the cable, the optical fiber is protected against moisture penetration. In its second phase, the cable protects the optical fibers against the stress generated by the process, the installation and wiring and, above all, against the excessive stress and compression deformation. For this purpose the cable includes, concentrically to the first wla~)hlg system a second jacket formed by a metal ribbon 16, covered both on its inner as well as on its outer area by a viscous fluid 14 in which the inner part forms a waterproof seal with the first wrapping system, and the outer part forms another seal 14 with the outer sheath 19 in order to form a cable of only one structure in such a way that in case of an installation problem, a fracture or tear of the cable 9 would not affect the tr~n~mi~ion capacity of the optical fiber because moisture would not penetrate, unless this damage reached the core 12. In case that the structure of the cable does not include the reinforcement ribbon 16, this can be substituted by two or more collinear resistance members 17 made of steel wires symmetrically arranged or they CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 . 6 can also be made of dielectrical materials, which are lineally located in the inner periphery of the sheath or outer jacket 19. In the same way a rupture string 18 is located for tearing the jacket. Lf a fiber cable of major reirLforcement is necessary, above all in underground installations and for protection against rodents, it can include simultaneously the metal ribbon 16 and the reinforcement members 17.
Another characteristic of the cable 9 of the present invention is that a viscous fluid (Gel) 14 of the same characteritics is applied both in the core as well as in the two jackets 15 and 16. The viscous fluid is a collo;dal gel which has the following main caracteristics:
Density: 7.4 lbs/gal (.867 g/cc) Viscosity: 12700 - 17300 cp.
The external gel is applied at temperatures above the 95 degree C melting point.Another characteristic of the cable is that both the outer sheath 19 as well as the tubular member 13 are m~nllf~ctured of the same plastic material, a 0.96 g/cc high density polyethylene, and the outer sheath 19 is resistant to the weather conditions and the tubular member is transparent. The metal ribbon 16 is a commercially available ribbon covered on both sides by a layer of plastic material of an adhesive copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid and he metal is low carbon content steel and it is electrolytically chromium plated (ASTM A 623-77 type Mr).
Another characteristic of the cable 9 of the present invention is that a metal ribbon can be used without the need to be covered on both sides, and this is due to the fact that the metal ribbon 16 is arranged in its setting with the outer sheath 19 and the reirLforcement fiber jacket 15 with a layer of viscous fluid which acquires the same adherence caracteristics as the cornmercially available ribbon, with the advantage that it acquires a higher resistance to moisture penetration.
CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 -. 8 GENERAL MANUFACTUR~NG METHOD
Hereinbelow, the m~nl1f~ct~lring steps for the fabrication of the cable of the present invention will be described and they consist of: inking, tubing, jacket application and final tests.
INKING - -It refers to the coloring of the optical fibers in various colors for their identification during the process of field connection, the coloring or inking process can be carried out by any of the following two systems:
1) Inking by means of the immersion of the fibers in ink of different colors and drying of the colored fiber by means of heat through a system of hot air in contact with the optical fiber after the immersion in the ink.
JACKET
BACKROUND OF THE INVENTION
Differents structures of optical fiber cable are known. All of them are made of resistance or reinforcement elements in their inner core or externally in their cross section and are located mainly in a loose tube system or in a loose system of fiber strands. In the first system, the largest number of optical fibers is overfilled in only one tube and several tubes are stranded together in an helicoidal shape on a bearing element in order to form one single core. Other types of structures of optical fiber cables incorporate the resistance members (usually dielectric ducts or steel rods) in the central part of the cross section of the cable. However, since in these systems an excess of optical fiber is included in order to compensate for any unbalance, the resulting cables are exceedingly heavy.
Among other known systems, we can mention groups of loose fibers, which include a plurality of groups of fibers without helicoidal lay integrated in only one tube of the core of the cable. It is characterized because it does not include a resistance core bearing member in the cross section and has only two resistance members external to the core and within the jacket structure. This system includes a structural metal layer, but it has the disadvantage to include only one group with a lower content of optical fibers, and it also presents the disadvantage of moisture penetration in the optical fiber.
Other known disadvantages include the inadequate use of lengths of fibers superior to the external jacket of the core since it provokes the unwanted bending of the fibers CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 with the resulting increased attenuation.
According to the statistics regarding cable consumption, the market has been inclined to use economical light weight cables with a low content of fewer than 24 fibers useful for underground installations and especially for air installations. According to these new needs, new systems of structures for cables have been developed that overcome these disadvantages, such as described in the U.S. patent No. 5,125,063, in which a cable is described with a relatively light and relatively cheap limited structure of optical fibers. However even though this structure includes in its core a water blocking material, some moisture penetration can be observed along the peripheral contactedges of the cable since one of the properties of the water blocking material is to provoke the swelling of the cross section area of contact when it absorbs the first traces of water, avoiding in this way a major moisture rnigration within the cable core, which also provokes ullwanted losses in the tr~n~mi~sion of the optical fibers during the aging process of the cable.
Independently of the low costs that make an optical fiber cable commercially attractive, and meets the tensile strength requirements, there are other factors that are to be taken into account when analyzing the optical fiber cable market and these factors are related to the environment, above all when the cable is to be used in difficult ellvironlllents or when it is expose~l to temperatures below 40 degrees C. and after a long working life, the constant stress causes static fatigue in the cable while moisture provokes a major damage to the tr~n~mi~ion of the comrnunication which results in an accelerated degradation of the working life of the cable.
The applicant has developed a new system of reinforced structure for optical fiber cable which does not permit moisture migration, shows a great retention of optical CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 .. 3 realization, with a plastic jacket protecting the optical fibers against stress,compression and elongation, which prevents damage to the optical fibers and thusincreases the working life of said optical fibers because it does not dimini~h the capacity of cornmunication of said fibers even in difficult environmental conditions, which is useful for air or underground installations.
CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 . 4 DET~Tl.l ~n DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinbelow the invention will be described according to the drawings of the figures 1 to 3 in order to explain said invention but, of course, without limiting its scope, wherein:
Fig. 1. is a longitudinal cross section of a perspective view of the optic fiber cable.
Fig. 2. is a cross section of the cable of fig. 1.
Fig. 3. is to a longitll(lin~l cross section of an optical fiber cable.
The invention relates to an optical fiber cable 9 characterized by two jackets 14 which prevent moisture penetration in the packing zone 20 of the optical fiber 10.
The design of the optical fiber cable 9 of the invention is conventionally structured by -means of a loose arrangement of a group of fibers 10 immersed in a longitudinalflotation and buffering core 12. It can consist of loose fibers or of groups of strands 20 from a strand of twelve fibers to more than two strands 20 of 12, 24 or up to 96 optical fibers. The fiber strands 20 can be simply standed for their operation or can be helicoidally reinforced by means of a thread 11. The flotation core 12 is a conventional viscous fluid which can be a composition of paraffin, naphthene or polybutene oil and hydrophobic or hydropllilic silica compounds and ~ixtures with other styrene copolymers, if said material fulfills the rheological properties required in the operation temperature range: from minus 40~C to 70~C, i.e. that it permits the easy movement of fibers within the core 12.
The viscous fluid which constitutes the core 12 must not be volatile, must not be toxic and must be physically and chemically compatible with the optical fibers as well as with the rest of the elements of the cable without undergoing composition changes during the working life of the cable, i.e. that it must not cause collateral reactions that might degrade the optical fiber. One of the functions of the viscous fluid is to work as a water blocking agent which totally opposes water penetration and migration through the packing sheaths of cable 9. This is because even a minimllm moisture contentaffects the optical fiber tr~n~mi~ion capacity, shortening its working life. In order to overcome this deficiency, the applicant has developed an optical fiber cable, inwhich the core 12 is located within a tubular member 13 conventionally made of especially high density polyethylene that resists both the geometrical deformation provoked by the applied load as well as the deformation provoked by the temperature conditions.
The tubular member 13 is, in turn, protected by a sheath of flexible reinforcement fibers 15 and the first viscous fluid jacket 14, forming one unique substract water tightly adhered to the tubular member. Through this first part of the wrapping system of the cable, the optical fiber is protected against moisture penetration. In its second phase, the cable protects the optical fibers against the stress generated by the process, the installation and wiring and, above all, against the excessive stress and compression deformation. For this purpose the cable includes, concentrically to the first wla~)hlg system a second jacket formed by a metal ribbon 16, covered both on its inner as well as on its outer area by a viscous fluid 14 in which the inner part forms a waterproof seal with the first wrapping system, and the outer part forms another seal 14 with the outer sheath 19 in order to form a cable of only one structure in such a way that in case of an installation problem, a fracture or tear of the cable 9 would not affect the tr~n~mi~ion capacity of the optical fiber because moisture would not penetrate, unless this damage reached the core 12. In case that the structure of the cable does not include the reinforcement ribbon 16, this can be substituted by two or more collinear resistance members 17 made of steel wires symmetrically arranged or they CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 . 6 can also be made of dielectrical materials, which are lineally located in the inner periphery of the sheath or outer jacket 19. In the same way a rupture string 18 is located for tearing the jacket. Lf a fiber cable of major reirLforcement is necessary, above all in underground installations and for protection against rodents, it can include simultaneously the metal ribbon 16 and the reinforcement members 17.
Another characteristic of the cable 9 of the present invention is that a viscous fluid (Gel) 14 of the same characteritics is applied both in the core as well as in the two jackets 15 and 16. The viscous fluid is a collo;dal gel which has the following main caracteristics:
Density: 7.4 lbs/gal (.867 g/cc) Viscosity: 12700 - 17300 cp.
The external gel is applied at temperatures above the 95 degree C melting point.Another characteristic of the cable is that both the outer sheath 19 as well as the tubular member 13 are m~nllf~ctured of the same plastic material, a 0.96 g/cc high density polyethylene, and the outer sheath 19 is resistant to the weather conditions and the tubular member is transparent. The metal ribbon 16 is a commercially available ribbon covered on both sides by a layer of plastic material of an adhesive copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid and he metal is low carbon content steel and it is electrolytically chromium plated (ASTM A 623-77 type Mr).
Another characteristic of the cable 9 of the present invention is that a metal ribbon can be used without the need to be covered on both sides, and this is due to the fact that the metal ribbon 16 is arranged in its setting with the outer sheath 19 and the reirLforcement fiber jacket 15 with a layer of viscous fluid which acquires the same adherence caracteristics as the cornmercially available ribbon, with the advantage that it acquires a higher resistance to moisture penetration.
CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 -. 8 GENERAL MANUFACTUR~NG METHOD
Hereinbelow, the m~nl1f~ct~lring steps for the fabrication of the cable of the present invention will be described and they consist of: inking, tubing, jacket application and final tests.
INKING - -It refers to the coloring of the optical fibers in various colors for their identification during the process of field connection, the coloring or inking process can be carried out by any of the following two systems:
1) Inking by means of the immersion of the fibers in ink of different colors and drying of the colored fiber by means of heat through a system of hot air in contact with the optical fiber after the immersion in the ink.
2) Inking by ultraviolet reticulation or curing: in this system, the optical fibers are inked by means of passing the fibers through a device or die which is full of special ink for optical fibers and prepared to cover the fibers. The ink is "cured" or reticulated in a section that uses an ultraviolet lamp which dries the ink on the fibers.
For this application, any of the two method can be used.
TUBING
The process of tubing consists in the application of a pipe of plastic material which shall protect the optical fibers against possible stress, compression, elongation and moisture penetration, which may damage the optical fibers lowering their capacity of communication.
CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 The tube of plastic material is applied on the optical fibers in an extrusion line especially prepared for the h~n~lling of-optical fibers. This line shall have adequate unreeling devices for the number of optical fibers to be protected by the tube of plastic material, and thus shall have unreeling devices for optical fibers, extrusion system, water cooling trough in order to cool the tube of plastic material once it has been extruded, reeling device to receive the tube that contains the optical fibers and a system for the monitoring of excess of optical fibers as well as the controls necessary in order to m~int~in the temperatures and pressures required by the plastic material.
The plastic material is applied together with a serni-liquid material or jelly which fills the free space between the optical fibers and tube of plastic material. This jelly shall prevent the water from rea~hing the optical fibers in case of a damage to the tube of plastic material or during the installationwhen the ends of optical cable are prepared for splicing.
The control of excess of optical fiber in this process is essential in order to obtain a cable which is resistant to traction or stress during the installation of the cable, said control can be obtained through different temperatures in a water cooling trough by means of progr~mming the contraction difference that the plastic material tube shall have in relation to the length of the optical fibers contained in the tube.
After the step of cooling the tube, said tube shall be received on a reel mounted on a reeling device which rotates according to the speed of the line which is controlled by the relation between the extruder and the fiber reeling speeds.
Once the tubing process is over, the tube which contains the optical fibers is lowered from the reeling device and is sent to a test area in which the characteristics of attenuation and length of the optical fibers are checked before passing to the next CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 step.
JACKET APPUCATION
For this process, it is necessary to have an extrusion line for the optical cable jacket application, as well as a system for unreeling the steel ribbon, a corr--g~ting system, dies for the formation of the corrugated steel ribbon, an unreeling device for the plastic material tube which contains the optical fibers, two or more reeling devices for the reinforcement of dielectric or steel wire, an extrusion line for plastic material, a cooling trough, a gel application system, guides and dies in order to give the extruder and reeling device profiles.
The process begins with the mounting of the reel which contains the optical fiber tube, the preparation of the wires on the unreeling devices, the steel ribbon and the mounting of the guide and dies on the extruder headstock.
The steel ribbon passes through the corrugating device and is introduced in the tool of the extruder headstock as a preparation for the starting of the line. The ends of the reinforcement wires are also taken and introduced in the tool of the extruder headstock, the end of the optical fiber containing tube is prepared, the rotation of the screw on the estruder is started at a temperature adequate for the melting of the plastic material of the jacket in order that it flows bet reen the guide and the die, the tip of the "jelly" application device is located under and above the steel ribbon.
Once the abovementioned steps are carried out, the process starts through the pulling of the tip of the cable through the cooling trough and up to the final reeling device tying thus the end of the cable to the reception spool on which the cable shall be reeled.
Once the line is started, the conditions of operation are stabilized. Finally, the optical CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 ' 11 fibers are tested in relation with the attenuation as well as the geometric dimensions of the cable m~king sure that they are uniform.
According to the technique described, an optical fiber cable is obtained which presents the following characteristics:
Design of the cable with HDPE tube with 12 FD UM of 250 microns, Internal diameter of the tube : 4.7 rnm Thickness of the tube : 0.7 rnm External diameter of the tube: 6.1 rnm Thread for metal ribbon rupture Application of longitudinal steel ribbon Splicing: 5 mm Corrugation depth: 0.6 mm Ribbon width: 30 mm * * Complete impregnation of the cable below the ribbon Application of HDPE jacket of a thickness of 2.5 mm Application of two flat longitudinal wires on steel.
Steel thread diameter: 1.47 mm diametrically opposed.
Diameter on wires: 10.54 mm.
Threads for jacket rupture.
* * Complete gel impregnation between the ribbon and the jacket.
Final cable diarneter: 12.6 mm Numerous modifications andvariations of the present invention may be made, in light of the above te~çhing~, without departing from the basic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, within the scope of the claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
For this application, any of the two method can be used.
TUBING
The process of tubing consists in the application of a pipe of plastic material which shall protect the optical fibers against possible stress, compression, elongation and moisture penetration, which may damage the optical fibers lowering their capacity of communication.
CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 The tube of plastic material is applied on the optical fibers in an extrusion line especially prepared for the h~n~lling of-optical fibers. This line shall have adequate unreeling devices for the number of optical fibers to be protected by the tube of plastic material, and thus shall have unreeling devices for optical fibers, extrusion system, water cooling trough in order to cool the tube of plastic material once it has been extruded, reeling device to receive the tube that contains the optical fibers and a system for the monitoring of excess of optical fibers as well as the controls necessary in order to m~int~in the temperatures and pressures required by the plastic material.
The plastic material is applied together with a serni-liquid material or jelly which fills the free space between the optical fibers and tube of plastic material. This jelly shall prevent the water from rea~hing the optical fibers in case of a damage to the tube of plastic material or during the installationwhen the ends of optical cable are prepared for splicing.
The control of excess of optical fiber in this process is essential in order to obtain a cable which is resistant to traction or stress during the installation of the cable, said control can be obtained through different temperatures in a water cooling trough by means of progr~mming the contraction difference that the plastic material tube shall have in relation to the length of the optical fibers contained in the tube.
After the step of cooling the tube, said tube shall be received on a reel mounted on a reeling device which rotates according to the speed of the line which is controlled by the relation between the extruder and the fiber reeling speeds.
Once the tubing process is over, the tube which contains the optical fibers is lowered from the reeling device and is sent to a test area in which the characteristics of attenuation and length of the optical fibers are checked before passing to the next CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 step.
JACKET APPUCATION
For this process, it is necessary to have an extrusion line for the optical cable jacket application, as well as a system for unreeling the steel ribbon, a corr--g~ting system, dies for the formation of the corrugated steel ribbon, an unreeling device for the plastic material tube which contains the optical fibers, two or more reeling devices for the reinforcement of dielectric or steel wire, an extrusion line for plastic material, a cooling trough, a gel application system, guides and dies in order to give the extruder and reeling device profiles.
The process begins with the mounting of the reel which contains the optical fiber tube, the preparation of the wires on the unreeling devices, the steel ribbon and the mounting of the guide and dies on the extruder headstock.
The steel ribbon passes through the corrugating device and is introduced in the tool of the extruder headstock as a preparation for the starting of the line. The ends of the reinforcement wires are also taken and introduced in the tool of the extruder headstock, the end of the optical fiber containing tube is prepared, the rotation of the screw on the estruder is started at a temperature adequate for the melting of the plastic material of the jacket in order that it flows bet reen the guide and the die, the tip of the "jelly" application device is located under and above the steel ribbon.
Once the abovementioned steps are carried out, the process starts through the pulling of the tip of the cable through the cooling trough and up to the final reeling device tying thus the end of the cable to the reception spool on which the cable shall be reeled.
Once the line is started, the conditions of operation are stabilized. Finally, the optical CA 022100~1 1997-07-09 ' 11 fibers are tested in relation with the attenuation as well as the geometric dimensions of the cable m~king sure that they are uniform.
According to the technique described, an optical fiber cable is obtained which presents the following characteristics:
Design of the cable with HDPE tube with 12 FD UM of 250 microns, Internal diameter of the tube : 4.7 rnm Thickness of the tube : 0.7 rnm External diameter of the tube: 6.1 rnm Thread for metal ribbon rupture Application of longitudinal steel ribbon Splicing: 5 mm Corrugation depth: 0.6 mm Ribbon width: 30 mm * * Complete impregnation of the cable below the ribbon Application of HDPE jacket of a thickness of 2.5 mm Application of two flat longitudinal wires on steel.
Steel thread diameter: 1.47 mm diametrically opposed.
Diameter on wires: 10.54 mm.
Threads for jacket rupture.
* * Complete gel impregnation between the ribbon and the jacket.
Final cable diarneter: 12.6 mm Numerous modifications andvariations of the present invention may be made, in light of the above te~çhing~, without departing from the basic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, within the scope of the claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
Claims (8)
1. A light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacket of loose arrangement of fiber strand, which comprises: a two-step covering system, the first step being integrated by a longitudinal flotation and buffering core of viscous fluid which confines a plurality of optical fibers within a sole tubular member, characterized because it includes a sheath of flexible reinforcement fibers and a layer of gel type viscous fluid in order to form the substrate of the first jacket waterproofly adhered to the tubular member in order to block moisture penetration in the fist step of the wrapping; a second covering step in order to protect the optical fibers both against the stresses generated by the process as well as against the stresses generated by the installation or cabling and to offer resistance against moisture penetration, based on a metal ribbon impregnated on its inner side with a layer of viscous fluid which forms a seal of a second protection jacket adhered both to the first jacket substrate as well as to the outer sheath of the cable forming thus an optical fiber cable of one sole structure; two or more collinear resistance members made of steel wire symmetrically arranged among themselves and within the outer sheath of the cable, said wires can substitute the steel ribbon if it is preferred; and a rupture string in order to tear the jacket.
2. A light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacket according to claim 1, characterized because the metal ribbon that protects the second phase of the optical fiber jacket against the stresses generated by the cabling or installation process or against the excessive deformations generated by stress and compression forces, does not need any special lining of polymer lays nor inking of the same because the impregnation of the viscous fluid offers the same adherence and sealing featuresagainst water penetration.
3. A light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacket according to claim 1, characterized because the optical fiber arrangement may be loose or in groups of fibers from a group of twelve fibers to more than two groups of 12, 24 or up to 96 optical fibers.
4. A light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacket according to claim 1, characterized because both the flotation and buffering core of the optical fibers as well as the wrappings of the first and second cable jackets are filled with a viscous fluid i.e. a conventional colloidal gel with a density of .867 g/cc and a viscosity of 12700-17300 cp, which shall meet the rheological properties required in its operation from a temperature of -40 degrees C up to 70 degrees C, besides said viscous fluid shall not be toxic nor volatile and must be compatible with the optical fiber.
5. A light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacket according to claim 1, characterized because the tubular member and the outer sheath of the cable are loose ducts of high density polyethylene.
6. A light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacket according to claim 1, characterized because the collinear resistance steel members can be substituted by dielectric reinforcements.
7. A light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacket according to claim 1, characterized because the structure of the cable can be integrated both by the metal ribbon structure and the collinear resistance metal members or, preferably, dielectric members when the cable is intended for underground installations.
8. Process for the production of a light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacket, characterized because it consists of the inking, piping and covering steps, in which the inking can be performed in two ways:
1) inking by immersion of the fibers in the ink of different colors and heat drying of the colored fiber through a hot air system in contact with the optical fiber after the immersion in the ink, 2) inking by ultraviolet reticulation or curing: the optical fibers are colored by passing through a die which is full of special ink for optical fibers and prepared to cover the fibers, the ink is "cured" or reticulated in one section that uses an ultraviolet lamp which dries the ink on the fibers; the plastic material tube is applied onto the optical fibers in an extrusion line especially prepared for the handling of the optical fibers, this line having adequate unreeling devices.
1) inking by immersion of the fibers in the ink of different colors and heat drying of the colored fiber through a hot air system in contact with the optical fiber after the immersion in the ink, 2) inking by ultraviolet reticulation or curing: the optical fibers are colored by passing through a die which is full of special ink for optical fibers and prepared to cover the fibers, the ink is "cured" or reticulated in one section that uses an ultraviolet lamp which dries the ink on the fibers; the plastic material tube is applied onto the optical fibers in an extrusion line especially prepared for the handling of the optical fibers, this line having adequate unreeling devices.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRPI9703712-5A BR9703712B1 (en) | 1997-06-13 | 1997-06-13 | Heavy-duty, lightweight, reduced-diameter fiber optic cable and process for production. |
| CA002210051A CA2210051A1 (en) | 1997-06-13 | 1997-07-09 | Light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacket |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRPI9703712-5A BR9703712B1 (en) | 1997-06-13 | 1997-06-13 | Heavy-duty, lightweight, reduced-diameter fiber optic cable and process for production. |
| CA002210051A CA2210051A1 (en) | 1997-06-13 | 1997-07-09 | Light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacket |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2210051A1 true CA2210051A1 (en) | 1999-01-09 |
Family
ID=25664868
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002210051A Abandoned CA2210051A1 (en) | 1997-06-13 | 1997-07-09 | Light reinforced optical fiber cable with reduced diameter jacket |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| BR (1) | BR9703712B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2210051A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN114967015A (en) * | 2022-06-28 | 2022-08-30 | 杭州富通通信技术股份有限公司 | with cable |
-
1997
- 1997-06-13 BR BRPI9703712-5A patent/BR9703712B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1997-07-09 CA CA002210051A patent/CA2210051A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN114967015A (en) * | 2022-06-28 | 2022-08-30 | 杭州富通通信技术股份有限公司 | with cable |
| CN114967015B (en) * | 2022-06-28 | 2024-01-12 | 杭州富通通信技术股份有限公司 | Belt cable |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| BR9703712A (en) | 1999-01-05 |
| BR9703712B1 (en) | 2009-01-13 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |