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US 6,607,608 B1Granted
Translatable fiber stripper
Assignee3SAE Technologies, Inc.
InventorsCarmine J. Vetrano, Robert G. Wiley, Matthew W. Reed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for stripping an optical fiber includes a source of air and means for generating very short bursts of air. A heater heats the bursts of air to a temperature sufficient to remove the outer coating from an optical fiber, while maintaining the air isolated from the heat source. A single burst of heated air removes the outer coating of an optical fiber, within less than about one second. A series of closely spaced bursts or a prolonged burst of heated air may be used to remove an expanded length of fiber coating. Stripping may include translation of the fiber or the heater or portions thereof. The stripper may be configured to strip several loaded fibers or a single fiber.
Claims18
A system for stripping at least one optical fiber having an outer coating, the system including:
- a) an air source;
- b) means, in operative communication with said air source, for generating one or more air streams from said air source during a predetermined time interval;
- c) a heater for heating said one or more air streams to a predetermined temperature to remove the outer coating from the at least one optical fiber, the heater including:
- i) an isolated air stream transport path for receiving an air stream from said air source, said air stream transport path comprising a beat chamber and a first end coupled to said air source and at least one outlet port;
- ii) a heater core having a heat generating element, said heat chamber disposed within said heater core and said heater core configured to allow heat from said heat generating element to be transferred to said air stream within said air stream transport path, wherein said air stream is substantially heated to said predetermined temperature and remains isolated from said heater core;
- iii) at least one output nozzle coupled to said at least one outlet port and configured to direct said heated air stream onto said at least one optical fiber to remove the outer coating from said at least one optical fiber;
- and
- d) a translator in communication with and configured to selectively translate at least one of said at least one output nozzle and said at least one optical fiber, to direct said heated air stream from said at least one output nozzle onto a portion of said at least one optical fiber to be stripped.
5 more elements
A system for stripping at least one optical fiber having an outer coating, the system including:
- a) an air source;
- b) means, in operative communication with said air source, for generating one or more air streams from said air source during a predetermined time interval;
- c) a heater for heating said one or more air streams to a predetermined temperature to remove the outer coating from the at least one optical fiber, the heater including:
- i) an isolated air stream transport path for receiving an air stream from said air source, said air stream transport path comprising a heat chamber and a first end coupled to said air source and at least one outlet port;
- ii) a heater core having a heat generating element, said heat chamber disposed within said heater core and said heater core configured to allow heat from said heat generating element to be transferred to said air stream within said air stream transport path, wherein said air stream is substantially heated to said predetermined temperature and remains isolated from said heater core;
- iii) at least one output nozzle coupled to said at least one outlet port and configured to direct said heated air stream onto said at least one optical fiber to remove the outer coating from said at least one optical fiber;
- and
- d) a translator in communication with said heater and configured to translate said heater.
5 more elements
A method for stripping at least one optical fiber having an outer coating, the method comprising:
- A. generating air stream bursts from an air source;
- B. providing a heater comprising:
- i) an isolated air stream transport path comprising a heat chamber and having a first end coupled to said air source and at least one outlet port;
- and
- ii) a heater core having a heat generating element, said heat chamber being disposed within said heater core;
- C. heating said heat chamber by generating heat from said heat generating element of said heater core;
- D. transporting one or more of said air stream bursts from said air source to said heat chamber;
- E. heating one or more of said air stream bursts within said heat chamber to a predetermined temperature to remove said outer coating from said at least one optical fiber, while isolating said one or more air stream bursts from said heater core;
- F. providing at least one output nozzle for coupling to said heat chamber;
- G. directing one or more of said air stream bursts from said heat chamber to said at least one output nozzle;
- H. translating one or more of said at least one output nozzle and said at least one optical fiber, and aligning said at least one output nozzle with a portion of said at least one optical fiber to be stripped;
- and
- I. directing one or more of said air stream bursts from said output nozzle onto said at least one optical fiber, so as to thermally remove the outer coating from said at least one optical fiber.
10 more elements
A method for stripping at least one optical fiber having an outer coating, the method comprising:
- A. generating air stream bursts from an air source;
- B. providing a heater comprising:
- i) an isolated air stream transport path comprising a heat chamber and having a first end coupled to said air source and at least one outlet port;
- and
- ii) a heater core having a heat generating element, said heat chamber being disposed within said heater core;
- C. heating said heat chamber by generating heat from said heat generating element of said heater core;
- D. transporting one or more of said air stream bursts from said air source to said heat chamber;
- E. heating one or more of said air stream bursts within said heat chamber to a predetermined temperature to remove said outer coating from said at least one optical fiber, while isolating said one or more air stream bursts from said heater core;
- F. providing at least one output nozzle for coupling to said heat chamber;
- G. directing one or more of said air stream bursts from said heat chamber to said at least one output nozzle;
- and
- H. translating said heater to direct one or more of said air stream bursts from said output nozzle onto said at least one optical fiber, so as to thermally remove the outer coating from said at least one optical fiber.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.