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US 2010/0142903 A1Published application
Fiber optic cable systems and methods to prevent hydrogen ingress
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsEDWARD M. DOWD, John J. Grunbeck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Purging interior regions of a cable reduces or prevents hydrogen darkening of an optical fiber located in the cable. While hydrogen may permeate through an outer surface of the cable, fluid circulating through the cable purges the hydrogen from within the cable. This circulation of the fluid occurs between an inner tube containing the fiber and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
An optic cable comprising:
- an outer tube;
- an inner tube disposed inside the outer tube, wherein a flow path is disposed between the inner and outer tubes, extends along a length of the cable, and includes an inlet and an outlet, the flow path for controlling flow of a fluid to remove hydrogen from the cable;
- and
- an optical fiber disposed inside the inner tube.
1 more element
An optic cable system, comprising:
- a cable comprising:
- an outer tube;
- at least one flow tube disposed inside the outer tube;
- an inner tube disposed inside the outer tube, wherein a flow path disposed between the inner and outer tubes extends across a length of the cable and includes an inlet, an outlet, and an interior of the flow tube;
- and
- an optical fiber disposed inside the inner tube;
- and
- a source of fluid coupled to the inlet of the flow path, wherein the inlet introduces the fluid from the source into the flow tube and the outlet receives the fluid introduced at the inlet and returned via a gap between an interior of the outer tube and exteriors of the inner and flow tubes.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.