# US 10,871,621 B2 · Rollable ribbon fibers with water-swellable coatings

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- Number: US 10,871,621 B2
- Document ID: US10871621B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/936,852
- Filed: 2018-03-27
- Published: 2020-04-30
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-27
- Assignees: OFS Fitel, LLC
- Applicants: OFS Fitel, LLC
- Inventors: Harold P Debban; Peter A Weimann; Heng Ly
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871621B2

## CPC

- G02B 6/448: {Ribbon cables}
- G02B 6/4403: {with ribbon structure (G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence)}
- G02B 6/44384: {the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials (G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A fiber-optic cable having optical fibers that are arranged as a rollable ribbon. Water-swellable material (e.g., superabsorbent liquid, superabsorbent powder, superabsorbent adhesive, etc.) is applied directly to the rollable ribbon, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate conventional water-absorbing yarns, tapes, or other such similar materials. The rollable ribbon is surrounded by a tube, with a dielectric strength member positioned external to the tube and substantially parallel to the tube. A jacket, with a ripcord along a substantial length of the jacket, surrounds the tube. Also taught is a process for manufacturing a rollable-ribbon fiber-optic cable, in which a water-swellable material is applied directly to the rollable ribbon, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate conventional water-absorbing yarns, tapes, or other such similar materials.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fiber-optic cable, comprising:
optical fibers arranged as a rollable ribbon;
a water-swellable material applied directly to the rollable ribbon;
a tube surrounding the rollable ribbon;
a dielectric strength member positioned external to the tube, the dielectric strength member aligned substantially parallel to the tube;
a jacket surrounding the tube; and
a ripcord located in the jacket and positioned along a substantial length of the jacket.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cable of claim 1, wherein the water-swellable material comprises a superabsorbent liquid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The cable of claim 2, wherein the superabsorbent liquid comprises a water-based acrylic polymer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The cable of claim 1, wherein the water-swellable material comprises a superabsorbent powder.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The cable of claim 4, wherein the superabsorbent powder comprises one selected from the group consisting of:
sodium polyacrylate;
potassium acrylate;
potassium acrylamide; and
a combination of sodium polyacrylate, potassium acrylate, and potassium acrylamide.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The cable of claim 1, wherein the water-swellable material comprises a hot-melt material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The cable of claim 6, wherein the hot-melt material comprises a superabsorbent power selected from the group consisting of:
sodium polyacrylate;
potassium acrylate;
potassium acrylamide; and
a combination of sodium polyacrylate, potassium acrylate, and potassium acrylamide.