Water-resistant optical fiber cables
AssigneeSuperior Essex Communications LP
InventorsJeffrey Scott Laws, Christopher W McNutt
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Abstract
Water-resistant optical fiber cables and associated methods for forming water-resistant optical fiber cables are provided. A cable may include an outer jacket that defines a cable core. At least one optical fiber may be positioned within the cable core and encapsulated within a suitable sheath, such as a buffer tube. Additionally, a plurality of discrete water swellable fibers may be loosely positioned within the cable to provide water-resistance for the at least one optical fiber.
Claims20
A cable, comprising:
- an outer jacket defining a cable core;
- a buffer tube situated within the cable core;
- at least one optical fiber positioned within the buffer tube;
- and
- a plurality of discrete elongated water swellable fibers loosely positioned within the buffer tube, each of the water swellable fibers having a longest dimension between approximately two millimeters and approximately two hundred millimeters, wherein the plurality of water swellable fibers are not adhered to a longitudinally extending substrate layer.
A cable, comprising:
- at least one optical fiber;
- a buffer tube formed around the at least one optical fiber along a longitudinal length of the cable;
- a plurality of discrete and discontinuous elongated water swellable fibers loosely positioned within the buffer tube to provide water penetration resistance for the at least one optical fiber, each of the water swellable fibers having a longest dimension between approximately two millimeters and approximately two hundred millimeters;
- and
- an outer jacket formed around the buffer tube.
A cable comprising:
- a cable core;
- one or more transmission media positioned in the cable core;
- a sheath surrounding the cable core;
- and
- discrete and discontinuous elongated water swellable particles loosely positioned within the sheath to provide water penetration resistance for the cable core, each of the water swellable particles having a longest dimension between approximately two millimeters and approximately two hundred millimeters, wherein none of the water swellable particles are adhered to a substrate layer.
A method for forming a cable, the method comprising:
- providing at least one optical fiber;
- forming a buffer tube around the at least one optical fiber;
- loosely positioning discrete and discontinuous elongated water swellable fibers within the buffer tube, each of the water swellable fibers having a longest dimension between approximately two millimeters and approximately two hundred millimeters;
- and
- forming an outer jacket over the buffer tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.