Mcvd apparatus having two opposing motors to eliminate backlash in burner motion
AssigneeFitel USA Corp.
InventorsIVAN PAWLENKO, PETER MICHAEL MUELLER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In accordance with the invention, a preform from which fiber optics are drawn is fabricated by supplying reactants and gas vapors to the preform and by using two opposing forces to control the movement of a heat source supplying heat to the preform. The two forces function to reduce any hesitation or backlash in the movement of the heat source along predetermined portions of the preform to enable uniform layers to be formed within the preform.
Claims17
Apparatus for forming optic fiber layers within a preform tube extending between first and second points, comprising:
- means for supplying reactants and gas vapors to the preform tube at the first point with exhaust gases escaping from the preform tube at the second point;
- a high intensity heat source for selectively supplying a high intensity heat along the length of the preform tube;
- and
- first and second motorized assemblies coupled to the high intensity heat source for controlling the movement of the high intensity heat source so it travels with substantially no backlash as the high intensity heat source is moved back and forth between the first and second points, along the preform tube.
Apparatus for forming optic fiber layers within a starter tube extending between first and second points, comprising:
- means for supplying reactants and gas vapors to the starter tube at the first point with exhaust gases escaping from the starter tube at the second point;
- and
- means for causing a high intensity heat source to be moved back and forth along the length of the starter tube for controlling the heat applied to the starter tube in order to control the thickness of the optic fiber layers formed within the starter tube, said means for causing the high intensity heat source to be moved back and forth along the length of the starter tube including first and second motorized assemblies powered such that each motorized assembly opposes the movement of the other motorized assembly.
Apparatus for forming optic fiber layers within a starter tube extending between first and second points, comprising:
- means for supplying reactants and gas vapors to the starter tube at the first point with exhaust gases escaping from the starter tube at the second point;
- a high intensity heat source for selectively supplying a high intensity heat along the length of the starter tube;
- and
- first and second motorized assemblies coupled to the high intensity heat source for controlling the movement of the heat source, said first and second motorized assemblies being powered such that each one opposes the motion of the other for causing the high intensity heat source to travel with substantially no backlash as the high intensity source is moved back and forth between the first and second points, along the starter tube.
Apparatus for forming optic fiber layers within a preform tube extending between first and second points, comprising:
- means for supplying reactants and gas vapors to the preform tube at the first point with exhaust gases escaping from the preform tube at the second point;
- a high intensity heat source for selectively supplying a high intensity heat along the length of the preform tube;
- first and second motorized assemblies coupled to the high intensity heat source for controlling the movement of the high intensity heat source so it travels with substantially no backlash as the high intensity heat source is moved back and forth between the first and second points, along the preform tube;
- and
- a controller for controlling the means for supplying reactants and gas vapors to the preform tube and the movement of the first and second motorized assemblies.
Apparatus for forming layers of optic fibers in a starter tube having an input end and an exhaust end, said apparatus including:
- means for supplying reactants and gas vapors to the input end of said starter tube;
- a high intensity heat source for selectively supplying a high intensity heat along the length of the starter tube;
- and
- first and second motorized assemblies coupled to the high intensity heat source for moving said high intensity heat source along the starter tube;
- and
- motor control circuitry coupled to said first and second motorized assemblies for causing the high intensity heat source to travel at a constant speed from a first point to a second point along the starter tube, decelerating the travel of the high intensity heat source at the second point and then bringing it to a stop, and then reversing the direction of travel of the high intensity heat source with little if any hesitation and accelerating the rate of travel until a predetermined constant speed is reached and causing it to travel at a constant speed between the second and the first point, and then decelerating the rate of travel and then bringing it to a stop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.