Centerline protection using heavy inert gases
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsLisa N. Lemon, Stephen T. Wiggs
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method of minimizing re-wetting of a preform upon removal of the preform from the consolidation furnace and producing core cane and/or optical fiber therefrom. During removal, the consolidated preform and, in particular, the centerline aperture is exposed to a heavy inert gas, such as Argon, Krypton or Xenon. This reduces the amount of re-wetting thereby concomitantly improving attenuation of the optical fiber produced therefrom. This method produces beneficial attenuation reductions in the 1383 nm wavelength region.
Claims13
A method of manufacturing a consolidated preform comprising the step of:
- continuously exposing a centerline aperture of a consolidated preform to a heavy inert gas between removal from a consolidation furnace and transfer to a second vessel to minimize re-wetting of the centerline aperture.
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber preform comprising:
- providing a soot preform including a centerline aperture,
- consolidating the soot preform in a furnace to produce a consolidated preform,
- subjecting the consolidated preform to a heavy inert gas to purge any other gas present in the centerline aperture,
- removing the consolidated preform from the furnace whilst continuing to expose the centerline aperture to the heavy inert gas, and moving the consolidated preform towards a separate vessel for further processing wherein re-wetting of the centerline aperture is minimized, thereby forming the optical fiber preform.
A method of manufacturing a consolidated optical fiber preform comprising the step of:
- continuously exposing a centerline aperture of a consolidated preform to a heavy inert gas from the point at which the preform is consolidated, during removal from a consolidation furnace and during transit to a point where the aperture is closed wherein re-wetting of the centerline aperture is minimized.
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber comprising:
- providing a soot preform including a centerline aperture,
- inserting the soot preform in a furnace,
- consolidating the soot preform to form a consolidated preform,
- subjecting the consolidated preform to a heavy inert gas to purge any other gas contained in the centerline aperture,
- removing the consolidated preform from the furnace whilst continuing to subject the centerline aperture to a heavy inert gas thereby minimizing re-wetting of the aperture centerline, and
- producing an optical fiber from consolidated preform.
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber comprising:
- providing a soot preform including a centerline aperture,
- inserting the soot preform in a furnace,
- consolidating the soot preform to form a consolidated preform,
- cooling the consolidated preform to a temperature between about 900° C. and 1200° C.,
- subjecting the consolidated preform to a heavy inert gas to purge any other gas contained in the centerline aperture,
- removing the consolidated preform from the furnace whilst continuously exposing the centerline aperture to a heavy inert gas,
- placing the consolidated preform in a holding vessel comprising a heavy inert gas, and
- producing an optical fiber from the consolidated preform.
A method of manufacturing a core cane from a consolidated preform comprising the steps of:
- continuously exposing a centerline aperture of a consolidated preform to a heavy inert gas between removal from a consolidation furnace and transfer to a drawing furnace to minimize re-wetting of the centerline aperture, and
- placing the consolidated preform into the drawing furnace and drawing a core cane therefrom.
A method of manufacturing an overclad preform comprising the steps of:
- continuously exposing a centerline aperture of a consolidated preform to a heavy inert gas between removal from a consolidation furnace and transfer to a drawing furnace to minimize re-wetting of the centerline aperture,
- placing the consolidated preform into the drawing furnace and drawing a core cane therefrom, and
- overcladding the core cane.
A method of manufacturing a second consolidated preform comprising the steps of:
- continuously exposing a centerline aperture of a first consolidated preform to a heavy inert gas between removal from a consolidation furnace and transfer to a drawing furnace to minimize re-wetting of the centerline aperture,
- placing the first consolidated preform into the drawing furnace and drawing a core cane therefrom,
- overcladding the core cane to form an overclad preform, and
- consolidating the overclad preform to form the second consolidated preform.
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber comprising the steps of:
- continuously exposing a centerline aperture of a first consolidated preform to a heavy inert gas between removal from a consolidation furnace and transfer to a drawing furnace to minimize re-wetting of the centerline aperture,
- placing the first consolidated preform into the drawing furnace and drawing a core cane therefrom,
- overcladding the core cane to form an overclad preform, and
- consolidating the overclad preform to form a second consolidated preform,
- placing the second consolidated preform in a drawing apparatus and drawing an optical fiber therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.