Method and apparatus for making, coating and cooling lightguide fiber
AssigneeAT&T Technologies, Inc.
InventorsUn-Chul Paek, Charles M. Schroeder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus (30) for cooling a lightguide fiber (21) drawn from a molten portion of a glass preform (22) located in a furnace (23). The apparatus (30) has an upper chamber (34) and a lower chamber (36) each having a small opening in the lower portions thereof. The upper chamber (34) has a heat transfer liquid (35) therein and the lower chamber (36) is pressurized to prevent liquid from passing through the opening. The hot fiber (21) is cooled by the liquid as it is drawn through liquid (35) without physical contact with the periphery of the openings.
Claims14
A method of fabricating a lightguide fiber, comprising the steps of:
- drawing the fiber from a heated lightguide preform;
- moving the fiber into a cooling liquid in an upper chamber having an aperture in the lower portion thereof;
- and
- further moving the fiber, cooled by the liquid, through in a non-contact manner the aperture into a lower chamber pressurized with a gas pressure sufficient to substantially prevent liquid from passing through the aperture.
An apparatus for cooling a lightguide fiber drawn from a heated preform, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing having an upper and lower chamber;
- the upper chamber, having a first aperture in the lower portion thereof, being adapted to contain a liquid for cooling the fiber drawn therethrough;
- and
- the lower chamber adapted to be pressurized to substantially prevent liquid from flowing through the first aperture as a fiber is drawn therethrough in a non-contact manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.