US 6,546,175 B1 · Self-supporting fiber optic cable

Abstract

A self-supporting fiber optic cable includes a messenger section having at least one strength and anti-buckling member enclosed within a jacket and a carrier section enclosed within a jacket that is joined to the jacket of the messenger section by a web. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, carrier section does not include strength members and the optical fibers are set with a high EFL. The greater EFL accommodates elongation of carrier section without transmission of stress to optical fibers. In addition, the preferably generally cylindrical internal surface of a tube or jacket curves the optical fibers creating EFL, for example, the fibers are guided by the internal surface in a helical path. Resistance to carrier section elongation and contraction can be controlled by varying the length of the web connecting the carrier and messenger sections.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A fiber optic cable comprising:

a messenger section, said messenger section comprising at least one strength member and a jacket surrounding said at least one strength member;
a carrier section, said carrier section comprising a jacket and being free of strength members;
and a web connecting said respective jackets of said messenger and said carrier sections, said web comprises a plurality of web portions spaced apart lengthwise along the cable such that windows are defined in said web, wherein a length L of said web portions is greater than a length W of said windows.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self-supporting fiber optic cable

Life of this patent

Self-supporting fiber optic cable

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17