Optical cable composite-material bobbin with grooved base layer
AssigneeHughes Aircraft Company
InventorsJohn F. Christian, Daniel Schotter, Gregory LoStracco
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite bobbin (10) for use in an optical fiber canister has a surface with a spirally groove base layer (38) in which the first layer of an optical cable (42) is wound. The base layer (38) is prepared by coating the external surface of a central portion (12) of the bobbin (10) with an adhesive layer (16) of a curable two-stage epoxy, winding a tensioned wire (22) in a spiral pattern along the length of the central portion (12), and heating the bobbin (10) to cure the epoxy. The proper combination of tension and curing cycle permits the grooves of the base layer (38) to be formed to a depth of about 1/3 of the diameter of the optical cable (42).
Claims9
A process for preparing a nonmetallic composite bobbin having a spirally grooved outer surface upon which an optical cable having a cable diameter can be wound, comprising the steps of:
- providing a bobbin having a body made of a nonmetallic composite material;
- applying a layer of a curable adhesive on the external surface of the body of the bobbin;
- partially curing the adhesive;
- winding a wire under tension spirally around the body of the bobbin over the layer of curable adhesive, the wire having a diameter larger than the cable diameter;
- heating the bobbin to soften and then fully cure the adhesive and thereafter cooling the bobbin;
- and
- removing the spirally wound wire to leave a spiral grooved pattern on the external surface of the bobbin, the combination of the curing cycle of the adhesive and the applied tension being sufficient to form a groove whose depth is about 1/3 of the diameter of the optical cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.