At&t Technologies, Inc.

At&t Bell Laboratories

Alfred S Hamilton

William D Bohannon, Jr

Michael D Kinard

Herbert E Brent

Terry D Mathis

James Robert Holman

Danny E West

An optical fiber cable (20) which is suitable for service from a distribution closure to a customer's premises includes a transmission media core (21) enclosed in a relatively rigid tubular member (40). The relatively rigid tubular member is enclosed in a jacket (44) comprising a plastic material which has a cut-through resistance which is substantially less than that of the tubular member. Interposed between the tubular member and an outer surface of the jacket is a strength member system comprising two yarn-like longitudinally extending strength member groups (52--52). The strength member grops are diametrically opposed to each other and are disposed in engagement with the tubular member.

Optical fiber service cable

A bonded ASP cable includes a multiconductor core which is filled with a waterproofing material. The core is enclosed by a plastic layer (28) which is flooded with a waterproofing material. Wrapped longitudinally about the plastic layer is a corrugated inner shield (31) having a longitudinal seam (35) and having an outer surface covered with a waterproofing material. The inner shield is enclosed by a corrugated outer shield (36) which has an overlapped longitudinal seam (38) and which has an outer surface coated with a layer of an adhesive material. As the outer shield is being formed, a sealant material is introduced into engagement with the inner shield in the vicinity of the longitudinal edge portions of the outer shield. Then as the longitudinal edge portions of the outer shield are overlapped and engaged with each other, the sealant material is caused to flow into cavities between the two shields adjacent to the seam of the outer shield to form a gasket (66). The gasket prevents the ingress of moisture, fills any cavities along which water otherwise could travel, and prevents the egress of waterproofing material through the seam of the outer shield. A plastic jacket (41) is bonded to the outer shield by the layer of adhesive material on its outer surface.

Apparatus for making a bonded sheath cable

Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling the quantity and distribution of a waterproofing material (26) on an advancing strip (76) of plastic material which is wrapped subsequently about an advancing cable core (22) to form a core wrap. When the plastic strip is wrapped about the core, which has been filled with the same waterproofing material, the waterproofing material on the strip fills any spaces between the strip and the core, between the strip and an inner metallic shield (31) and a longitudinal overlapped seam of the core wrap. In another cable structure, a controlled amount of waterproofing material is disposed along a longitudinal edge portion of the advancing strip of plastic material to insure a sealed seam when the strip is wrapped about the core.

Methods of and apparatus for applying a waterproofing material to a

Methods of making a bonded sheath cable

Bonded sheath cable

A strip (56) of non-metallic material and one (59) of a metallic material are wrapped simultaneously about an advancing cable core (32) to enclose partially the core. Then longitudinal edge portions (71, 72) of the strip of non-metallic material are separated by a shoe (150) which permits movement of the edge portions in a direction circumferentially of the core. One longitudinal edge portion (72) of the non-metallic strip becomes confined in a guideway (118) of a tool (99) and longitudinal edge portions (73, 74) of the metallic strip (59) are guided along guideways (117, 118) of the tool as the strips are moved through a converging passageway (103). This controls the relative circumferential movement between the edge portions as the strips are moved through the passageway to form a core wrap (33) and a shield (34). As a result, the longitudinal edge portions of the non-metallic and metallic strips are caused to form seams which are aligned radially of the core and which are overlapped in opposite circumferential directions. This arrangement obviates the necessity for binding the core wrap prior to the forming of the shield.

Growing community of inventors

Norcross, GA, United States of America

Alfred S Hamilton