Dry core optical fiber cables for premises applications and methods of manufacture

A dry core optical cable comprising:

• an elongated organizer having a first breaking strength;
• at least one water-blocking yarn member arranged about said organizer;
• a plurality of sub-units arranged in reverse-oscillated lay about said organizer such that said water-blocking yarn member is disposed between said organizer and said plurality of sub-units, each of said sub-units arranged adjacent another of said sub-units, each of said sub-units comprising:
• a plurality of optical fibers, a water-blocking aramid yarn layer and a sub-unit jacket, each of said optical fibers having a second breaking strength and being arranged adjacent another of said optical fibers, said sub-unit jacket surrounding said optical fibers, said water-blocking aramid yarn layer disposed between said optical fibers and said sub-unit jacket, said first breaking strength being greater than said second breaking strength;
• an outer jacket surrounding said plurality of sub-units;
• and
• water-blocking tape surrounding and in contact with said outer periphery of said plurality of sub-units and disposed between said outer jacket and said outer periphery of said plurality of sub-units.

A method of manufacturing dry core optical fiber cable comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one water-blocking yarn;
• providing an elongated organizer;
• wrapping said water-blocking yarn about said organizer;
• wrapping a plurality of sub-units about said water-blocking yarn in a reverse-oscillated lay, each of said sub-units comprising:
• a plurality of optical fibers, a yarn layer and a sub-unit jacket, each of said optical fibers arranged adjacent another of said optical fibers, said sub-unit jacket surrounding said optical fibers, said yarn layer disposed between said optical fibers and said sub-unit jacket;
• wrapping said plurality of sub-units with water-blocking tape;
• and
• forming an outer jacket about said plurality of sub-units and said water-blocking tape such that said water-blocking tape is disposed between said plurality of sub-units and said outer jacket.