US 4,212,097 A · Method and apparatus for manufacturing optical cable elements

Abstract

A method of manufacturing elements for an optical cable, such elements including a tube of an elastic material, e.g. a synthetic resin or an elastomer, which loosely encloses one or more optical fibers. Preferably, the fiber or fibers are longer than the enclosing tube and the tube is filled with a material which prevents the migration of water, etc. The tube in mechanically stabilized form and the optical fiber or fibers are advanced toward a traction zone where the tube is pulled. Prior to the traction zone, the tube is slit or cut longitudinally through one thickness of the wall, the cut edges are spread apart and the optical fiber or fibers are inserted into the tube through the gap between the cut edges. Optionally, filling material is also inserted into the tube through such gap or a downstream gap subsequently formed. The tube-optical fiber assembly follows a straight line downstream of traction zone to a collecting point. The tube may be tensioned downstream of the traction zone either by a pulling wheel or the collecting means. Also, apparatus for performing the method including slitting or cutting means, rectilineal traction means, collecting means and optionally, separate pulling means following the traction means.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for producing a unitary element particularly adapted for use in telecommunication cables, said element comprising a tube of an elastic material having a longitudinally extending slit therein which extends from the outer periphery of the tube to the interior thereof, said tube loosely enclosing one or more optical fibers, said method comprising:

uniformly advancing a tube of said material which has been previously extruded and stabilized toward a traction zone, said tube having an inner diameter larger than the diameter of a circle circumscribing said one or more fibers;
applying a traction force to said tube in said zone to place the portion of the tube upstream of said zone under tension;
upstream of said zone, cutting said tube longitudinally, as the tube is advanced, through one thickness of the tube wall to provide a pair of cut edges extending longitudinally of the tube;
separating said edges upstream of said zone to provide a gap therebetween;
uniformly advancing said fiber or fibers while inserting them within said tube through said gap;
permitting said edges to come together, after the fiber or fibers have been inserted, by reason of the elasticity of the tube material;
and
collecting the tube with the fiber or fibers loosely enclosed therein, at a point downstream of said traction zone while causing said tube to follow a linear path from said traction zone to said point.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing optical cable elements

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for manufacturing optical cable elements

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18