# US 2021/0278616 A1 · Optical fiber cable and method for manufacturing optical fiber cable

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- Number: US 2021/0278616 A1
- Document ID: US20210278616A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/340,626
- Filed: 2017-11-17
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-17
- Assignees: Fujikura Ltd.
- Applicants: Fujikura Ltd.
- Inventors: Masatoshi Ohno; Shinnosuke Sato; Mizuki Isaji; Kouji Tomikawa; Akira Namazue; Ken Osato
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278616A1

## CPC

- G02B 6/441: {built up from sub-bundles (G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence)}
- G02B 6/44: Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables (cables incorporating electric conductors and optical fibres {where features relating to the optical fibres are not of interest} H01B11/22)
- G02B 6/4431: {with provision in the protective covering, e.g. weak line, for gaining access to one or more fibres, e.g. for branching or tapping (break-out terminations G02B6/4471)}
- G02B 6/4433: {Double reinforcement laying in straight line with optical transmission element}
- G02B 6/4486: {Protective covering}
- G02B 6/566: {Devices for opening or removing the mantle}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

An optical fiber cable includes a core that includes an assembled plurality of optical fibers; an inner sheath that accommodates the core therein, a pair of tension members that are embedded in the inner sheath and that are disposed on opposite sides of the core, and an outer sheath that covers the inner sheath. The inner sheath is formed with a dividing portion that divides an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface of the inner sheath in a circumferential direction. The dividing portion extends along a longitudinal direction in which the optical fiber cable extends.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical fiber cable comprising:
a core comprising an assembled plurality of optical fibers;
an inner sheath that accommodates the core therein;
a pair of tension members that are embedded in the inner sheath and that are disposed on opposite sides of the core; and
an outer sheath that covers the inner sheath,
wherein the inner sheath comprises a dividing portion that divides an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface of the inner sheath in a circumferential direction, and
wherein the dividing portion extends along a longitudinal direction in which the optical fiber cable extends.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber cable according to claim 1, further comprising:
a wire body that is in contact with the core along the longitudinal direction,
wherein the wire body is adjacent to the dividing portion, and at least a part of the wire body is located radially outward of the outer peripheral surface of the inner sheath.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber cable according to claim 1,
wherein the dividing portion has a groove-shaped portion that is formed in a groove shape recessed radially inward from the outer peripheral surface of the inner sheath, and
wherein a fitting portion extending along the longitudinal direction is fitted into the groove-shaped portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The optical fiber cable according to claim 3, further comprising:
a wire body that is in contact with the core along the longitudinal direction,
wherein the dividing portion has the groove-shaped portion, and an inner portion positioned radially inward of the groove-shaped portion, and
wherein the inner portion is adjacent to the wire body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber cable according to claim 1,
wherein a pair of marked portions extending along the longitudinal direction is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the outer sheath, and
wherein the marked portions and the tension members are disposed at equal positions in the circumferential direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber cable according to claim 1,
wherein the core comprises a wrapping tube that wraps the plurality of optical fibers, and
wherein the wrapping tube is formed of a water-absorbing material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The optical fiber cable according to claim 6,
wherein a water-absorbing tape is disposed between the inner sheath and the outer sheath.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber cable according to claim 1,
wherein the inner sheath is formed in a elliptical shape in which a major axis passes through a pair of the tension members in cross-sectional view and a minor axis passes through the dividing portion, and
wherein an outer peripheral surface of the outer sheath is formed in a circular shape in cross-sectional view.

### Claim 9

A method for manufacturing an optical fiber cable, comprising:
obtaining an intermediate unit by forming an inner sheath that covers a core and a pair of tension members, and a fitting portion that covers a wire body in contact with the core along a longitudinal direction from outside in a radial direction and is fitted into a groove-shaped portion extending radially inward from an outer peripheral surface of the inner sheath; and
forming an outer sheath that covers the intermediate unit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber cable according to claim 1,
wherein the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the inner sheath are formed in a concentric shape.