GB2051399A - Improvements in or relating to optical cables - Google Patents
Improvements in or relating to optical cables Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2051399A GB2051399A GB8015628A GB8015628A GB2051399A GB 2051399 A GB2051399 A GB 2051399A GB 8015628 A GB8015628 A GB 8015628A GB 8015628 A GB8015628 A GB 8015628A GB 2051399 A GB2051399 A GB 2051399A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- optical
- reinforcing member
- preformed
- sleeve
- optical 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 74
- 230000003014 reinforcing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 33
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 29
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 21
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910001294 Reinforcing steel Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 6
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019271 petrolatum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920000136 polysorbate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001702 transmitter Effects 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
- G02B6/4439—Auxiliary devices
-
- 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
- G02B6/4415—Cables for special applications
- G02B6/4427—Pressure resistant cables, e.g. undersea cables
-
- 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
- G02B6/4439—Auxiliary devices
- G02B6/4471—Terminating devices ; Cable clamps
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G7/00—Overhead installations of electric lines or cables
- H02G7/05—Suspension arrangements or devices for electric cables or lines
- H02G7/053—Suspension clamps and clips for electric overhead lines not suspended to a supporting wire
- H02G7/056—Dead-end clamps
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
Abstract
An optical cable including a central reinforcing steel rope 1 and surrounding tubes 2 loosely housing optical fibres can be freely suspended in long lengths between poles by removing the sheath 6 of the cable at an end or intermediate portion to expose the central rope and tubes. The exposed lengths of central rope 1 and tubes 2 are enclosed in a housing 21 sealed to the cable, the rope being connected to a protruding eye bolt 28 for mechanically securing the rope to a pole. The tubes 2 protrude from the housing 21 so that optical fibres can be connected to a transmitter or receiver or to optical fibres of another optical cable. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Improvements in or relating to optical cables
This invention relates to optical cables for transmission of the ultraviolet, visible and infra-red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, which regions, for convenience, will hereinafter all be included in the generic term "light", and especially, but not exclusively, to optical cables for use in the communication field adapted for transmission of light having a wavelength within the range 0.8 to 1.3 micrometres.
More particularly, the invention is concerned with optical cables of the kind comprising at least one optical bundle and/or separate optical fibre and at least one elongate reinforcing member which are assembled together and the assembly surrounded by an outer protective sheath, the reinforcing member being of such a material and of such a cross-sectional area having regard to the material or materials and cross-sectional area of the bundle or bundles and/or of the separate optical fibre or fibres that the strain otherwise imparted to the or each optical fibre when the cable is stressed in such a way as to tend to subject the or any optical fibre to a tensile force is eliminated or reduced at least to a substantial extent by the reinforcing member.
All optical cables of this kind will hereinafter be referred to as "of the kind specified".
By the expression "optical bundle" is meant a group of optical fibres or a group of fibres including at least one optical fibre and at least one non-optical reinforcing fibre or other reinforcing elongate member.
One example of an optical cable of the kind specified is described and claimed in the
Complete Specification of our Patent No.
1479427 and comprises a central elongate reinforcing member; a plurality of tubes of rubber or plastics material arranged helically in one or more than one layer around the reinforcing member, each of some or all of which tubes loosely housing at least one optical bundle and/or at least one separate optical fibre; and an outer protective sheath surrounding the plurality of tubes.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of freely suspending an optical cable of the kind specified in a long length between longitudinally spaced upstanding supports.
According to the invention the method comprises removing the outer protective sheath of the optical cable at at least one end portion or at at least one intermediate portion of the optical cable to expose a length of elongate reinforcing member and of the or each optical bundle and/or optical fibre; separating the exposed length of elongate reinforcing member and the exposed lengths of optical bundle
and/or optical fibre; directly or indirectly me
chanically securing the exposed length of
elongate reinforcing member to an upper part
of an upstanding support; and enclosing the exposed lengths of optical bundle and/or opti
cal fibre in a housing which is sealed to the or
each cut back end of the outer protective
sheath.
Where the outer protective sheath is re
moved from an end portion of the optical
cable, preferably the exposed separate lengths
of elongate reinforcing member and of optical
bundle and/or optical fibre are enclosed in a
housing built up of a preformed sleeve which
is sealed at one end to the cut back end of
the outer protective sheath and which is
closed at the other end by a preformed end
wall having at least one aperture through
which the elongate reinforcing member pro
trudes for mechanical connection to the up
standing support.The lengths of optical bun
dle and/or optical fibre may protrude through
another aperture or other apertures in the
preformed end wall for connection to a trans
mitter or receiver or to optical bundles and/or
optical fibres of another optical cable, or the
lengths of optical bundle and/or optical fibre
may be connected to a transmitter, receiver or
other equipment housed in the preformed
sleeve. In the case where the outer protective
sheath is of a plastics material, preferably the
preformed sleeve and preformed end wall are
each of plastics material and the preformed
sleeve is sealed to the cut back end of the sheath and the preformed end wall is sealed
to the sleeve by the injection welding tech
nique.Preferably, a substantially rigid elon
gate element, e.g. an eye bolt, is secured in
one of the apertures in the preformed end
wall and protrudes into the housing, the elon
gate reinforcing member being mechanically
connected to the eye bolt or other rigid elon
gate element within the housing in any conve
nient manner and the eye bolt or other rigid
elongate element serving as the means for
effecting direct or indirect mechanical secur
ing of the elongate reinforcing member to the
upstanding support.
Where the outer protective sheath is re
moved from an intermediate portion of the
optical cable, the housing may comprise a
preformed sleeve which is sealed at its ends
to the cut back ends of the outer protective
sheath. This preformed sleeve may have be
tween its ends a transversely extending sub
stantially rigid barrier wall with at least two
apertures, at least one of which is slotted, for
passage of the elongate reinforcing member
and the exposed lengths of optical bundle
and/or optical fibre. In this case, the elongate
reinforcing member will be mechanically con
nected to the barrier wall and the barrier wall
is provided with a transversely extending por
tion which protrudes through the wall of the
sleeve and serves as the means for effecting direct or indirect mechanical securing of the elongate reinforcing member to the upstanding support.If desired, the elongate reinforcing member may be cut at the intermediate portion of the optical cable and the cut ends of the elongate reinforcing member secured in any convenient manner to the opposite ends of a substandially rigid element secured in one of the apertures in the barrier wall.
Preferably the exposed lengths of optical bundle and/or optical fibre are assembled together and passed into a flexible sleeve which, in the case of an end portion of the optical cable, protrudes through one of the apertures in the end wall of the housing and serves as a sheath for the optical bundles and/or optical fibres between the housing and the transmitter, receiver or other optical cable to which the optical bundles and/or optical fibres are to be connected. The elongate reinforcing member of the optical cable may have an outer covering layer of plastics material and, where the reinforcing member passes through an aperture in a preformed end wall of the housing which is also of plastics material, preferably the plastics covered reinforcing member is sealed to the preformed end wall bathe injection welding technique.In all cases the housing may be substantially filled with a water-impermeable medium of a grease-like nature, e.g. petroleum jelly, to reduce the risk of damage to the optical cable by ingress of moisture.
The invention also includes an overhead communication system incorporating at least one optical cable of the kind specified freely suspended in a long length between longitudinally spaced upstanding supports by the method hereinbefore described.
The invention is further illustrated by a description, by way of example, of two methods of freely suspending an optical cable from an upstanding pole with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of one preferred optical cable of the kind specified for use in the method of the present invention, and
Figures 2 and 3 are sectional side views of an end portion of the optical cable shown in
Fig. 1 illustrating the two methods.
Referring to Fig. 1, the optical cable comprises a stranded wire rope 1 around which are helically laid six tubes 2 of polyethylene, the tubes being bound so tightly to the central rope by a helically wound binding tape 3 that relative movement in a lengthwise direction between the tubes and the central rope is substantially prevented. In each tube 2 are loosely housed optical fibres 5. An outer protection sheath 6 of polyethylene surrounds the assembly of tubes 2 and central rope 1.
In the first method shown in Fig. 2 of freely suspending the optical cable shown in Fig. 1 from an upstanding pole, the outer protective sheath 6 is removed from an end portion of the optical cable to expose lengths of the central rope 1 and tubes 2 and the tape 3 wound around these exposed lengths is removed.A preformed sleeve 11 of polyethylene having at one end an end wall 1 2 in which there is an aperture 1 3 is applied over the exposed lengths of central rope 1 and tubes 2 with the sheath 6 a tight fit in the aperture 1 3. The preformed sleeve 11 has, at its other end, an end wall 1 4 having an aperture 1 5 through which the central rope 1 protrudes and an aperture 1 6 through which protrudes a flexible sleeve 1 7 of polyethylene.
The preformed sleeve 11 is sealed to the end walls 1 2 and 14, the end wall 1 2 is sealed to the sheath 6, and the end wall 14 is sealed to the flexible sleeve 1 7 by the injection welding technique. The exposed lengths of tubes 2 are assembled together and pass through the flexible sleeve 1 7 in order that optical fibres 5 can be connected to a transmitter or receiver or to optical fibres of another optical cable.
The central rope 1 is directly mechanically secured to an upstanding pole.
In the second method shown in Fig. 3 of freely suspending the optical cable shown in
Fig. 1 from an upstanding pole, the outer protective sheath 6 is removed from an end portion of the optical cable to expose lengths of the central rope 1 and tubes 2 and the tape 3 wound around these exposed lengths is removed. As in the method described with reference to Fig. 2, a preformed sleeve 21 of polyethylene having at one end an end wall 22 in which there is an aperture is applied over the exposed lengths of central rope 1 and tubes 2 with the sheath 6 a tight fit in the aperture in the end wall 22. The preformed sleeve 21 has, at its other end, an end wall 24 having an aperture 25 in which is secured an eye bolt 28 and an aperture 26 through which protrudes a flexible sleeve 27 of polyethylene. The preformed sleeve 21 is sealed to the end walls 22 and 24, the end wall 22 is sealed to the sheath 6, and the end wall 24 is sealed to the flexible sleeve 27 by the injection welding technique. The exposed length of the central rope 1 is mechanically secured directly to the eye bolt 28 within the sleeve 21. The exposed lengths of the tubes 2 are assembled together and pass through the flexible sleeve 27 in order that optical fibres 5 can be connected to a transmitter or receiver or to optical fibres of another optical cable.
The central rope 1 is indirectly mechanically secured to an upstanding pole via the eye bolt 28-which also serves to support the flexible sleeve 27 by means of a bracket 29.
Claims (12)
1. A method of freely suspending an optical cable of the kind specified in a long length between longitudinally spaced positions of support, which method comprises removing the outer protective sheath of the optical cable at at least one end portion or at at least one intermediate portion of the optical cable to expose a length of elongate reinforcing member and of the or each optical bundle and/or optical fibre; separating the exposed length of elongate reinforcing member and the exposed lengths of optical bundle and/or optical fibre; directly or indirectly securing the exposed length of elongate reinforcing member to a support; and enclosing the exposed length of elongate reinforcing member and the exposed lengths of optical bundle and/or optical fibre in a housing which is sealed to the or each cut back end of the outer protective sheath.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 in which the outer protective sheath is removed from an end portion of the optical cable, wherein the housing is built up of a preformed sleeve which is sealed at one end to the cut back end of the protective sheath and which is closed at the other end by a preformed end wall having at least one aperture through which the elongate reinforcing member, or a substantially rigid elongate element secured thereto, protrudes.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the lengths of optical bundle and/or optical fibre protrude through another aperture or other apertures in the preformed end wall.
4. A method as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the lengths of optical bundle and/or optical fibre are connected to equipment housed in the preformed sleeve.
5. A method as claimed in any one of
Claims 2 to 4 in which the protective sheath of the optical cable is of a plastics material, wherein the preformed sleeve and the preformed end wall are each of plastics material and the preformed sleeve is sealed to the cut back end of the sheath and the preformed end wall is sealed to the sleeve by the injection welding technique.
6. A method as claimed in any one of
Claims 2 to 5, wherein the substantially rigid elongate element is secured in one of the apertures in the preformed end wall so that it protrudes into the housing and is mechanically connected to the elongate reinforcing member to serve as the means for mechanically securing the elongate reinforcing member to the support.
7. A method as claimed in Claim 1 in which the outer protective sheath is removed from an intermediate portion of the optical cable, wherein the housing comprises a preformed sleeve which is sealed at its end to the cut back ends of the outer protective sheath.
8. A method as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the preformed sleeve has between its ends a transversely extending, substantially rigid barrier wall which has at least two apertures, at least one of which is slotted, for the passage of the elongate reinforcing member and the exposed lengths of optical bundle and/or optical fibre, which is mechanically connected to the elongate reinforcing member and which protrudes through the wall of the sleeve to serve as the means for effecting mechanical securing of the elongate reinforcing member to the support.
9. A method as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the elongate reforcing member is cut at the intermediate portion of the optical cable and the cut ends of the elongate reinforcing member are secured to the opposite ends of a substantially rigid element secured in one of the apertures in the barrier wall.
10. A method as claimed in any one of
Claims 1 to 3, wherein the exposed lengths of optical bundle and/or optical fibre are assembled together and pass through a flexible sleeve.
11. A method as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the flexible sleeve protrudes through one of the apertures in the end wall of the housing.
1 2. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the housing is substantially filled with a water-impermeable medium of a grease-like nature.
1 3. An overhead communication system incorporating at least one optical cable of the kind specified freely suspended in a long length between longitudinally spaced positions of support by the method claimed in any one of Claims 1 to
12.
1 4. A method of freely suspending an optical cable of the kind specified in a long length between longitudinally spaced upstanding supports substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8015628A GB2051399B (en) | 1979-05-10 | 1980-05-12 | Optical cables |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7916241 | 1979-05-10 | ||
| GB8015628A GB2051399B (en) | 1979-05-10 | 1980-05-12 | Optical cables |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2051399A true GB2051399A (en) | 1981-01-14 |
| GB2051399B GB2051399B (en) | 1983-10-12 |
Family
ID=26271467
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8015628A Expired GB2051399B (en) | 1979-05-10 | 1980-05-12 | Optical cables |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2051399B (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2166563A (en) * | 1984-11-05 | 1986-05-08 | Telephone Cables Ltd | Distributor for optical cable connections |
| US4717237A (en) * | 1984-09-28 | 1988-01-05 | Austin Kenneth A | Overhead electric and optical transmission systems |
| EP0184323B1 (en) * | 1984-11-05 | 1990-02-28 | Telephone Cables Limited | Distributor for optical cable connections |
| DE9105245U1 (en) * | 1991-04-29 | 1991-06-13 | Felten & Guilleaume Energietechnik AG, 5000 Köln | Hood sleeve for connecting the optical fibers (FO) of fiber optic earth wires and fiber optic cables |
| GB2242994A (en) * | 1990-04-12 | 1991-10-16 | Dulmison Pty Ltd | Support for optical cable |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103885145B (en) * | 2014-02-24 | 2016-06-29 | 江苏铭阳线缆有限公司 | A kind of implant of high resistance pressure outdoor optical cable and use thereof |
-
1980
- 1980-05-12 GB GB8015628A patent/GB2051399B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4717237A (en) * | 1984-09-28 | 1988-01-05 | Austin Kenneth A | Overhead electric and optical transmission systems |
| GB2166563A (en) * | 1984-11-05 | 1986-05-08 | Telephone Cables Ltd | Distributor for optical cable connections |
| EP0184323B1 (en) * | 1984-11-05 | 1990-02-28 | Telephone Cables Limited | Distributor for optical cable connections |
| GB2242994A (en) * | 1990-04-12 | 1991-10-16 | Dulmison Pty Ltd | Support for optical cable |
| DE9105245U1 (en) * | 1991-04-29 | 1991-06-13 | Felten & Guilleaume Energietechnik AG, 5000 Köln | Hood sleeve for connecting the optical fibers (FO) of fiber optic earth wires and fiber optic cables |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2051399B (en) | 1983-10-12 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |