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US 2003/0200768 A1Published application
Manufacture of optical fiber preforms using modified VAD
AssigneeFurukawa Electric North America, Inc.
InventorsDonald P. Jablonowski, Thomas E. McDonald, Fengqing Wu
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Abstract
The specification describes a VAD method for dynamically controlling the reaction temperature at the tip of a soot preform by controlling the flow of hydrogen gas to the core torch. This method provides a wide latitude of control over the temperature range necessary to produce uniform composition of the preform.
Claims11
Process for the manufacture of a preform of silica particles on a starting rod the soot preform having a core region and a cladding region comprising the steps of:
- (a) rotating the starting rod;
- (b) flowing together:
- a flow of glass precursor gases,
- a flow of hydrogen, and
- a flow of oxygen,
- to form a first gas mixture,
- (c) igniting the first gas mixture to form a flame and to produce soot,
- (d) directing the flame onto the starting rod to deposit soot to form the core region of the preform,
- (e) continuing to deposit soot to form the core region of the preform while continuously measuring the temperature of the core region to obtain temperature measurements, and
- (f) changing the flow of hydrogen in response to the temperature measurements.
7 more elements
Process for the manufacture of optical fibers comprising:
- (a) preparing a preform, the preform having a core region and a cladding region comprising the steps of:
- (i) rotating a starting rod;
- (ii) flowing together:
- a flow of glass precursor gases,
- a flow of hydrogen, and
- a flow of oxygen,
- to form a first gas mixture,
- (iii) igniting the first gas mixture to form a flame and to produce soot,
- (iv) directing the flame onto the starting rod to form the core region of the preform,
- (v) continuing to deposit soot to form the core region of the preform while continuously measuring the temperature of the core region to obtain temperature measurements,
- (vi) changing the flow of hydrogen in response to the temperature measurements,
- (vii) heating the preform to consolidate the preform into solid glass,
- (b) mounting the preform in an optical fiber drawing apparatus,
- (c) heating the preform to soften the glass, and
- (d) drawing an optical fiber from the preform.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.