US 2003/0115908 A1 · Method for offline collapsing a preform

Abstract

A method and apparatus for making optical fiber preforms using modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) A starting tubular member is installed on a chemical vapor deposition apparatus and, using MCVD, a predetermined amount of selectively doped silica is deposited and consolidated on the inner surface to form an intermediate uncollapsed preform tube. At least a portion of the intermediate uncollapsed preform tube is removed from the chemical vapor deposition apparatus, installed in a collapsing apparatus and collapsed. The collapsing uses an oxy-hydrogen burner or a plasma torch. Optionally, additional deposition is performed during the collapsing operation. A stretching may be performed concurrent with the collapsing.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A method for making an optical fiber preform, comprising steps of:

(a) providing a tubular member having a cylindrical outer surface, a cylindrical bore having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and a deposition section extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis,;
(b) installing said tubular member in a first lathe;
(c) chemical vapor depositing a sintered silica on said cylindrical bore along the deposition section until a predetermined thickness of silica is deposited;
(d) rotating said deposition section having the predetermined thickness of silica on a second lathe;
(e) collapsing said rotating deposition section by heating with a torch to form a preform.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for offline collapsing a preform

Life of this patent

Method for offline collapsing a preform

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38