Jacketed cable with controlled jacket coupling
AssigneeSuperior Essex Communications LP
InventorChristopher W. McNutt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A communication cable can comprise optical fibers protected by an armor, such as a corrugated metallic tube. An outer jacket can cover the armor to provide environmental protection. A tape located between the outer jacket and the armor can comprise holes, with the outer jacket extending into the holes, towards the armor. The tape can be wrapped around the armor to form a tube, for example. The holes can control coupling between the outer jacket and the armor, for example providing a desired level of friction, bonding, adhesion, adherence, fusion, and/or contact between the outer jacket and the armor.
Claims20
A fiber optic cable comprising:
- an armor, comprising metal, extending lengthwise;
- an optical fiber disposed in a tubular volume defined by the armor;
- a jacket, comprising a polymeric material, circumferentially covering the armor;
- and
- a tape disposed between the armor and the jacket, the tape comprising super absorbent material and holes, a plurality of the holes having a respective shape,
- wherein a plurality of pieces of tape material, each substantially matching the shape of a corresponding hole and comprising super absorbent material, are disposed in the tubular volume.
A fiber optic cable comprising:
- a buffer tube circumscribing a plurality of optical fibers;
- a metallic armor comprising a polymeric coating and circumscribing the buffer tube;
- a water-swellable tape circumscribing the metallic armor;
- and
- an outer jacket comprising a thermoplastic material and circumscribing the metallic armor,
- wherein the thermoplastic material adheres to the polymeric coating through holes in the water-swellable tape, and
- wherein water-swellable powder is disposed in the holes of the water-swellable tape between the metallic armor and the outer jacket.
A fiber optic cable comprising:
- a plurality of buffer tubes extending along the fiber optic cable;
- a plurality of bundles of optical fibers respectively disposed in the plurality of buffer tubes;
- an armor, comprising metal, covering the plurality of buffer tubes and extending lengthwise;
- a tape formed around the armor and extending lengthwise, the tape comprising water-swellable material and a pattern of cutout areas, the cutout areas comprising between approximately ten and approximately seventy-five percent of the surface area of the tape;
- water-swellable material disposed in at least one cutout area;
- and
- a jacket comprising a thermoplastic material, the jacket disposed over the tape and protruding substantially through the cutout areas to adhere with the armor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.