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US 7,937,971 B2Granted
Methods for drawing optical fibers using a fluid bearing
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsJohn Joseph Costello, III, James Henry Faler, Andrey V Filippov, Steven Joseph Gregorski, Bruce Warren Reding, John Christopher Thomas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for producing optical fibers along nonlinear paths include incorporating fluid bearings. An optical fiber is drawn from a preform along a first pathway, contacted with a region of fluid cushion of a fluid bearing, and redirected along a second pathway as the fiber is drawn across said region of fluid cushion.
Claims21
A method for producing an optical fiber, said method comprising:
- drawing a bare optical fiber from a preform along a first pathway;
- contacting said bare optical fiber with a region of fluid in a fluid bearing, said fluid bearing comprising a channel, said channel defined by at least two sidewalls, the fiber being retained between said two sidewalls during said drawing step, said two sidewalls defining an inlet below said fiber, said fiber positioned more than a fiber diameter from said inlet, causing said fiber to be levitated within the channel substantially as a result of a pressure differential which is present below the fiber within the channel, said pressure differential caused by a higher pressure caused by said fluid being supplied below the fiber within the channel compared to the pressure which is present above the fiber, and
- redirecting said bare optical fiber along a second pathway as said bare optical fiber is drawn across said region of fluid cushion.
A method for producing an optical fiber, said method comprising:
- drawing an optical fiber along a first pathway and simultaneous with said drawing;
- contacting said optical fiber with a region of a fluid bearing, wherein said fluid bearing comprises a first plate and a second plate, the first and second plates each having an arcuate outer surface, the plates combining to form a channel region, wherein said channel is tapered at an angle, and wherein each of the plates having a notched portion associated with the arcuate outer surfaces and fluid flows into said channel through a fluid inlet and out of the channel through a fluid outlet, to thereby support said fiber within said channel region during said drawing step, the narrower portion of the channel configured to receive fluid to be transported through said channel, thereby creating high pressure on the fluid inlet side of the channel with respect to the pressure on the fluid outlet side of the channel and thereby cushion and deliver said fiber in an arcuate path through said fluid bearing;
- and
- redirecting said optical fiber through said arcuate path and along a second pathway as said optical fiber is drawn through said fluid bearing.
1 more element
A method for producing an optical fiber, said method comprising:
- drawing a bare optical fiber from a preform along a first pathway and simultaneous with said drawing;
- contacting said bare optical fiber with a fluid within a channel, said channel defined by two sidewalls, wherein at least one of the walls which forms said channel is angled greater than 0 and less than or equal to 10 degrees with respect to the other wall which forms said channel, the fluid pressure for said fluid being selected and the fiber being retained within a region of said channel between said two sidewalls having a width, the pressure and the width sufficient to cause said fiber to be centered within the channel at least substantially as a result of the Bernoulli effect.
A method for producing an optical fiber, said method comprising:
- drawing an optical fiber along a first pathway and simultaneous with said drawing;
- contacting said optical fiber with a region of a fluid bearing, wherein said fluid bearing comprises a first and second sidewall which combine to form a channel, wherein at least one of the sidewalls which forms said channel is angled greater than 0 and less than or equal to 10 degrees from being parallel with the other wall which forms said channel, and fluid flows into said channel through a fluid inlet region and out through a fluid outlet region, to thereby support said fiber within said channel region during said drawing step, the fluid inlet region of said channel, being narrower than the fluid outlet region of said channel, thereby creating high pressure on the fluid inlet region of the channel with respect to the pressure on the fluid outlet region of the channel and thereby cushion and deliver said fiber in an arcuate path through said fluid bearing;
- and
- redirecting said optical fiber through said arcuate path and along a second pathway as said optical fiber is drawn through said fluid bearing.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.