Method and apparatus for assembling an optical fiber communication cable
AssigneeOlin Corporation
InventorsJoseph Winter, Michael J. Pryor
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for fabricating an optical fiber communication cable having a metal containment tube and at least one optical fiber in static compression therein. The containment tube is preferably formed by applying a tensile load to a strip of metal and drawing the strip of metal through at least one forming die. Each fiber is inserted into the forming tube without the application of any significant tension. As a result, each fiber is in a substantially no-load condition at the same time that the strip is undergoing maximum plastic extension and said tube is undergoing elastic tension from the applied tensile load. Upon release of the tensile load, the tube will shrink and each fiber is placed into static compression.
Claims24
A process for making an optical fiber communication cable, said process comprising:
- forming a metal containment tube having at least one optical fiber therein, said tube forming step comprising die forming a strip of metal into said tube and inserting each said fiber into said tube without applying any significant tension to said fiber;
- and
- the improvement wherein the process includes the step of:
- placing each said fiber into static compression during said tube forming,
- whereby a tensile force substantially equal to said static compression may be imposed on said tube without damaging said at least one fiber.
An apparatus for making an optical fiber communication cable, said apparatus comprising:
- means for forming a metal containment tube having at least one optical fiber therein;
- said forming means comprising at least one die for forming a strip of metal into said tube and means for drawing said metal strip through said at least one die and for exerting a tensile load on said tube;
- and
- the improvement wherein the apparatus includes:
- said forming means having means for placing each said fiber into static compression so that a tensile force substantially equal to said static compression may be imposed on said tube without damaging said at least one fiber, said placing means including means for inserting each said fiber into said tube without applying any significant tension to each said fiber,
- whereby said strip undergoes its maximum plastic extension and said tube undergoes elastic tension while each said fiber is in a substantially no-load condition so that upon relaxation of said tensile load each said fiber is placed into static compression.
An optical fiber communication cable comprising:
- a metal containment tube having an inner periphery;
- said tube containig at least one optical fiber, said at least one optical fiber being spaced from said inner periphery;
- and
- each said fiber being in static compression,
- whereby said tube may undergo a tensile force substantially equal to said static compression without damaging said at least one fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.