Buffer tube that results in easy access to and low attenuation of fibers disposed within buffer tube
AssigneeAlcatel
InventorsGeorge John Dallas, Jeff Barker, Goeff Witt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A buffer tube design that allows easy access to signal carrying fibers disposed within the buffer tube with risk of damaging the signal carrying fibers. The buffer tube can be made with a ripcord disposed within. Additionally, the buffer tube has the mechanical properties that allow the ripcord to be pulled through the tube wall with less energy than is required to bend the signal carrying fibers within. The buffer tube can also be designed without a ripcord in such a way that the mechanical properties allow the tube to be hand torn using a lower amount of energy than required to bend the signal carrying fibers within.
Claims46
A buffer tube having a fiber bundle comprising one or more optical fibers disposed therein, said buffer tube having an energy to break threshold which is less than an energy necessary to deform the fiber bundle.
A buffer tube having a fiber bundle comprising one or more optical fibers disposed therein, said buffer tube further comprising a ripcord disposed interior to said buffer tube having an energy to yield that is greater than an energy required to rip said ripcord through said buffer tube.
A buffer tube having a fiber bundle comprising one or more optical fibers disposed therein, said buffer tube further comprising stress risers formed in a wall of said buffer tube.
A telecommunications cable, comprising:
- an outer retaining member having stress risers formed therein;
- and
- at least one optical fiber disposed in said outer retaining member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.