Corning Incorporated

David Andrew Tucker

Bruce Warren Reding

Bradley Kent Shepard

Andrey V Filippov

Robert Clark Moore

Kirk Patton Bumgarner

Kenneth William Roberts

James Henry Faler

John Christopher Thomas

Steven Joseph Gregorski

Douglas Gregg Neilson

Paul Andrew Chludzinski

Daniel Carmine Fuccella

Hazel Benton Matthews, Iii

Johnnie Edward Watson

Michael Terry Murphy

Richard Alan Quinn

Kenneth Spencer Morgan

John E Watson

Kenneth James Kelmer

John G Williams

Derrick Baxter Biddix

Jennifer Nicole Subler

Donald Justin Sonnett

Hazel B Matthews

Hazel B Iii Matthews

Kirk P Bumgarner

Provided herein is a method of and system for processing an optical fiber. The method includes the steps of drawing an optical fiber in a drawing direction along a process pathway through a coating chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet, and a coating liquid volume to coat the optical fiber; supplying the coating liquid through the inlet, the coating liquid exiting the coating chamber through the outlet; and recirculating to coating liquid exiting the coating chamber to the inlet.

Method of applying coating liquid to an optical fiber

A method of manufacturing an optical fiber, the method including drawing a bare optical fiber from an optical fiber preform along a draw pathway. The method further includes during the drawing step, moving a first fluid bearing from a first position to a second position, the first position being removed from the draw pathway and the second position being disposed in the draw pathway such that the movement of the first fluid bearing to the second position causes at least a first portion of the draw pathway to change direction.

Translating fluid bearings during an optical fiber draw process

An optical fiber production system and method are provided for producing optical fiber. An optical fiber is drawn from a preform in a furnace and passes through a treatment device under a controlled reduced pressure or partial vacuum in the range of 0.01 to 0.8 atm. The treatment device cools the bare optical fiber as it cools to a temperature range of at least 1,600&#xb0; C. to 1,300&#xb0; C. A non-contact fiber centering device is located near an exit of the treatment device to provide linear centering of the optical fiber as it exits the treatment device.

Method for producing optical fiber using linear non-contact fiber centering

A method for producing a coated optical fiber may include drawing an optical fiber from a draw furnace along a first vertical pathway. The optical fiber may then be routed through at least one fluid bearing thereby redirecting the optical fiber along a second vertical pathway. Thereafter, a thermoplastic coating may be applied to the optical fiber with a thermoplastic coating system. The optical fiber may then be wound onto a fiber storage spool with a fiber take-up system. The fiber take-up system may be space apart from the thermoplastic coating system such that the thermoplastic coating may be cooled before the optical fiber is wound onto the fiber storage spool.

Methods and systems for producing thermoplastic coated optical fibers

Methods for producing a coated optical fiber may include drawing an optical fiber from a draw furnace along a first pathway and redirecting the optical fiber along a second, different pathway which is non-parallel with the first pathway. The optical fiber may be coated as it travels along the second pathway.

Methods and systems for producing a coated optical fibers

A method for forming an optical fiber includes drawing the optical fiber from a glass supply and treating the fiber by maintaining the optical fiber in a treatment zone wherein the fiber is cooled at a specified cooling rate. The optical fiber treatment reduces the tendency of the optical fiber to increase in attenuation due to Rayleigh scattering, and/or over time following formation of the optical fiber due to heat aging. Methods for producing optical fibers along nonlinear paths incorporating fluid bearings are also provided thereby allowing for increased vertical space for the fiber treatment zone.

Fiber air turn for low attenuation fiber

A method for producing an optical fiber that includes a method for producing an optical fiber, said method comprising: (i) drawing a bare optical fiber from a preform along a first pathway at a rate of at least 10 m/sec; (ii) contacting said bare optical fiber with a region of fluid in a fluid bearing and redirecting said bare optical fiber along a second pathway as said bare optical fiber is drawn across said region of fluid cushion; (iii) coating the bare optical fiber; and (iv) irradiating said coated fiber in at least one irradiation zone to at least partially cure said coating, while subjecting the optical fiber to UV light.

Fiber cure with extended irradiators

A method and apparatus for automatic threading and winding of optical fiber onto various components in a fiber draw system, as well as methods and apparatus for conducting online tensile screening of optical fiber at high speeds. In a preferred embodiment, the fiber is tensile tested during fiber draw and wound directly onto a shipping spool to be shipped to a customer. The tensile stress can be imparted to the fiber during the draw process by feeding the fiber through a screener capstan, which works in conjunction with another capstan to impart the desired tensile stress to the fiber during the draw process. Another aspect is a method and apparatus for threading or rethreading of a moving length of fiber through a fiber draw or fiber testing process, in which fiber is wound onto a spool, comprising activating an aspirator to obtain the fiber at a first location and moving said aspirator in at least two dimensions to thereby move the fiber to a second location and thread the fiber through or onto at least one component in the fiber draw or testing process.

Method and apparatus for tensile testing and rethreading optical fiber during fiber draw

An optical fiber shipping spool, winding system and method for allowing automated winding of an accessible lead meter portion of optical fiber onto the spool. The spool comprises primary and lead meter barrels separated by an outboard flange. The outboard flange has a slot extending to its periphery, the slot providing a path for fiber between the lead meter and primary barrels, the slot having an inlet facing the lead meter barrel and an outlet facing the primary barrel. The slot is angled such that when fiber being wound onto the lead meter barrel comes into contact with the slot inlet, the fiber is automatically drawn into the slot and then guided by the slot onto the primary barrel. According to another aspect, a high-strength rib configuration is disclosed including a plurality of curved, intersecting ribs formed on a flange of the spool.

System and methods for providing under-wrap access to optical fiber wound onto spools

An apparatus is provided for applying a tensile force along the longitudinal axis of a cane assembly during the deposition of soot thereon to produce an optical fiber preform. Fiber drawn from such a preform exhibits improved core/clad concentricity. The tensile force may be applied at one or both ends of the cane assembly, with application at both ends being preferred. The tensile force may be varied during the deposition of soot. The cane assembly may be annealed prior to beginning the deposition of soot thereon.

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Wilmington, NC, United States of America

David Andrew Tucker