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US 5,545,246 AGranted
Method and device for manufacturing an optical fiber
AssigneeKabel Rheydt Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsHans-J urgen Lysson, Frank Lisse, Manuela Hahn, Hans-Detlef Leppert, Philippe Darbon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for manufacturing an optical fiber (11), wherein the fiber (11) is drawn from one end of a preform (9) which is heated to above the glass softening temperature. The preform (9) is surronded by a protective gas (14) whose flow direction corresponds to the fiber drawing direction. The flow of the gas surrounding the preform (9) in the drawing area (10) is stabilized by an additional flushing gas (16).
Claims21
A method for manufacturing an optical fiber comprising the steps of:
- providing a preform;
- heating an end of said preform to above a glass softening temperature;
- drawing an optical fiber in a fiber drawing direction from said heated end of said preform, wherein a cross-section of said preform decreases in a drawing area where said optical fiber is drawn from said heated end of said preform;
- providing a protective gas flow around said preform, said protective gas flow having a laminar flow around said preform in a protective gas flow direction corresponding to said fiber drawing direction;
- and
- stabilizing said laminar flow of said protective gas flow in said drawing area with an additional flushing gas flow, wherein said additional flushing gas flow is introduced in said drawing area.
3 more elements
A device for manufacturing an optical fiber from a preform, comprising:
- a vertically oriented drawing oven having a cylindrical heating tube for surrounding the preform and heating an end of the preform to above a glass softening temperature for drawing an optical fiber in a fiber drawing direction from the heated end of the preform, said drawing oven having a drawing area where said optical fiber is drawn from the heated end of the preform, and wherein a cross-section of the preform decreases in said drawing area;
- means for providing a protective gas flow around the preform, said protective gas flow having a laminar flow around the preform in a protective gas flow direction corresponding to said fiber drawing direction;
- and
- means for providing an additional flushing gas flow in said drawing area for stabilizing said laminar flow of said protective gas flow in said drawing area.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.