# US 5,346,520 A · Apparatus for applying a carbon coating to optical fibers

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- Number: US 5,346,520 A
- Document ID: US5346520A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/950,072
- Filed: 1992-09-23
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1992-09-23
- Assignees: Corning Incorporated
- Inventors: Joseph C. Meabon; Michelle R. Tuzzolo; Eric H. Urruti
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346520A

## CPC

- C03C 25/223: by chemical vapour deposition or pyrolysis
- C03C 25/1062: {Carbon}
- C03C: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS

## Abstract

A reactor for applying a carbon coating to an optical waveguide fiber wherein the buildup of reaction by-products within the reactor is reduced by providing internal and external fiber exit ports with the diameter of the internal fiber exit port being greater than the diameter of the external fiber exit port, and gas shielding at the external fiber exit port.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A reactor vessel for applying an amorphous carbon coating to an optical waveguide fiber, comprising
means for supplying reactant gas to said reactor vessel,
an internal fiber exit port,
an angled surface extending from said internal fiber exit port to the inner perimeter of said reactor vessel,
an external fiber exit port, and
a means for providing an inert gas shield at said external fiber exit port,
wherein the inside diameter of said internal fiber exit port is chosen such that a boundary layer of gases and reaction by-products formed near the surface of said fiber is substantially undisrupted.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The reactor vessel of claim 1, wherein the inside diameter of said internal fiber exit port is greater than the inside diameter of said external fiber exit port.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The reactor vessel of claim 2, wherein the inside diameter of said internal fiber exit port is about 0.51 inches (13 mm).

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The reactor vessel of claim 2, wherein the inside diameter of said external fiber exit port is about 0.255 inches (6 mm).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The reactor vessel of claim 1, wherein the angle of said angled surface is about 4.5.degree. downwardly from the inner surface of the internal fiber exit port to the inner perimeter of the reactor vessel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The reactor vessel of claim 1, wherein said reactor vessel comprises aluminum.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The reactor vessel of claim 1, wherein said reactor vessel further comprises means for external cooling of said reactor vessel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The reactor vessel of claim 1, wherein said reactor vessel is machined to tolerances of 0,005 inches (0.1 mm).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The reactor vessel of claim 1, wherein the reactor vessel further comprises means for exhausting unreacted reactant gas from said reactor vessel.