# US 2024/0201461 A1 · Optical cable for blown installation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0201461 A1 - Document ID: US20240201461A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/389,622 - Filed: 2023-12-19 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-20 - Applicants: PRYSMIAN S.p.A. - Inventors: Ralph SUTEHALL; Susanna SANTAMARIA; George Stephen LUCAS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201461A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/4438: {for facilitating insertion by fluid drag in ducts or capillaries} - G02B 6/441: {built up from sub-bundles (G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence)} - G02B 6/4434: {Central member to take up tensile loads} - G02B 6/44384: {the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials (G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence)} - G02B 6/4479: {Manufacturing methods of optical cables} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract It is disclosed an optical cable for blown installations including a central strength member including at least one optical fibre and a resin layer encasing the at least one optical fibre; at least one tube arranged about the central strength member and loosely housing at least one further optical fibre; and an outer jacket surrounding the least one tube. Also disclosed are an apparatus and a method for manufacturing such optical cable. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical cable for blown installation comprising: a central strength member comprising at least one optical fibre and a resin layer encasing the at least one first optical fibre; at least one tube arranged about the central strength member and loosely housing at least one second optical fibre; and an outer sheath surrounding the least one tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical cable according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tube is in direct contact with an outer surface of the resin layer of the central strength member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical cable according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tube is wounded or oscillated about the central strength member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical cable according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tube is laid in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the optical cable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical cable according to claim 1, further comprising a water blocking material within the outer sheath, the water blocking material at least partially embedding the at least one tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical cable according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first optical fibre includes N first optical fibres, N in a range from 8 to 12, inclusive. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The optical cable according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tube arranged about the central strength member includes M tubes, M being 6 or smaller than 6. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The optical cable according to claim 7, wherein each tube of the at least one tube loosely houses at most 24 second optical fibres. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The optical cable according to claim 1, wherein the central strength member and the at least one tube each have diameters between 0.9 mm and 1.5 mm, inclusive. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The optical cable according to claim 1, wherein the central strength member and the at least one tube have substantially a same diameter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The optical cable according to claim 1, wherein the resin layer comprises at least one acrylate material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The optical cable according to claim 1, wherein the resin layer comprises a first layer of a first resin material and a second layer of a second resin material radially outer to the first layer, wherein the second resin material has a secant modulus higher than a secant modulus of the first resin material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The optical cable according to claim 12, wherein the secant modulus of the first resin material is between 0.5 MPa and 25 MPa, inclusive. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The optical cable according to claim 12, wherein the secant modulus of the second resin material is between 500 MPa and 1000 MPa, inclusive. ### Claim 15 A method for manufacturing an optical cable for blown installation, the method comprising: encasing at least one first optical fibre in a resin layer to obtain a central strength member; arranging about the resin layer at least one tube loosely housing at least one second optical fibre; and extruding an outer sheath in a radially outer position with respect to the at least one tube. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for manufacturing an optical cable for blown installation, the apparatus comprising: at least one resin applicator for applying at least one resin material on at least one first optical fibre; at least one curing device for curing the at least one resin material; a guide for providing at least one tube loosely housing at least one second optical fibre about the resin material; and an extruder for forming an outer sheath around the at least one tube.