Back to results
US 5,395,557 AGranted
Method and apparatus for applying gel to a plurality of optical fibers
AssigneeAlcatel NA Cable Systems, Inc.
InventorsAnthony A. Griser, Jeffrey S. Barker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for applying gel to a plurality of optical fibers (18) includes a housing (12) having a cavity (14) through which a plurality of separated optical fibers (18) are fed. The gel is provided to the cavity (14) from a gel reservoir (76) via a pump (74) that maintains the pressure and gel level to ensure that the optical fibers (18) are coated with gel to eliminate air gaps and thus prevent sticking among the optical fibers (18).
Claims26
An apparatus for applying gel to a plurality of optical fibers, comprising:
- a housing, said housing having a cavity therein, said cavity having a first end terminating proximate a first end wall of said housing and a second end terminating within said housing;
- means, disposed at said first end of said cavity, for separating a plurality of optical fibers entering into said cavity;
- means, disposed at said second end of said cavity, for guiding said optical fibers out of said cavity, said means for guiding said optical fibers out of said cavity includes a spline member having an opening therethrough, said spline member being disposed at said second end of said cavity, said opening in said spline member being sized to accept said plurality of optical fibers such that a close bundle is formed, said spline member further including a plurality of slots extending about a peripheral edge thereof;
- and
- means for injecting a gel into said cavity such that each said optical fiber is coated with said gel.
2 more elements
An apparatus for applying gel to a plurality of optical fibers, comprising:
- a housing, said housing having a cavity therein, said cavity having a first end terminating proximate a first end wall of said housing and a second end terminating within said housing wherein said housing includes a passageway extending from a side wall thereof to said cavity;
- means, disposed at said first end of said cavity, for separating a plurality of optical fibers entering into said cavity;
- means, disposed at said second end of said cavity, for guiding said optical fibers out of said cavity, said means for guiding said optical fibers out of said cavity includes a spline member having an opening therethrough, said spline member being disposed at said second end of said cavity, said opening in said spline member being sized to accept said plurality of optical fibers such that a close bundle is formed, said spline member further including a plurality of slots extending about a peripheral edge thereof;
- means for injecting a gel into said cavity such that each said optical fiber is coated with said gel, said means for injecting gel into said cavity includes a gel pump, said gel pump communicating with a gel reservoir on the inlet side thereof and said passageway on the outlet side thereof;
- means for aligning said housing with an extrusion cross head;
- and
- means for injecting said plurality of optical fibers into said extrusion cross head.
4 more elements
A system for forming a close bundle of optical fibers, said system comprising:
- a housing, said housing having a cavity therein, said cavity having a first end terminating proximate a first end wall of said housing and a second end terminating within said housing wherein said housing includes a passageway extending from a side wall thereof to said cavity;
- means, disposed at said first end of said cavity, for separating a plurality of optical fibers entering into said cavity;
- means, disposed at said second end of said cavity, for guiding said optical fibers out of said cavity, said means for guiding said optical fibers out of said cavity includes a spline member having an opening therethrough, said spline member being disposed at said second end of said cavity, said opening in said spline member being sized to accept said plurality of optical fibers such that a close bundle is formed, said spline member further including a plurality of slots extending about a peripheral edge thereof;
- means for injecting a gel into said cavity such that each said optical fiber is coated with said gel, said means for injecting gel into said cavity includes a gel pump, said gel pump communicating with a gel reservoir on the inlet side thereof and said passageway on the outlet side thereof;
- means for aligning said housing with an extrusion cross head;
- means for injecting said plurality of optical fibers into said extrusion cross head, said extrusion cross head applying a tube about said plurality of optical fibers;
- and
- means for drawing said tube and said plurality of optical fibers through said extrusion cross head.
5 more elements
A method for applying gel to a plurality of optical fibers, said method comprising the steps of:
- separating a plurality of optical fibers entering into a first end of a cavity in a housing;
- guiding said optical fibers out of a second end of said cavity, said guiding step including guiding said fibers through a spline member having an opening therethrough, said spline member being disposed at said second end of said cavity, said opening in said spline member being sized to accept said plurality of optical fibers such that a close bundle is formed, said spline member further including a plurality of slots extending about a peripheral edge thereof;
- and
- injecting a gel into said cavity such that each said optical fiber is coated with said gel.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.