Bicc Plc

David Joseph Martin

A continuous coating of hardenable material, e.g. a thermosetting enamel, is applied to an advancing optical fibre by causing the fibre to pass between two continuously moving endless surfaces, e.g. two rollers, which are positioned on opposite sides of the advancing fibre and each of which carries a layer of liquefied hardenable material in such a way that the advancing fibre is at least partially immersed in each of said layers, the distance that each endless surface is spaced from the advancing optical fibre and the thickness of the layer of hardenable material on each endless surface being such that opposite parts of the advancing fibre pass through said layers of hardenable material with substantially no physical contact taking place between the fibre and the endless sufaces themselves. The endless surfaces are driven in such a direction and at such a speed having regard to the direction and speed of the advancing fibre that liquefied hardenable material is transferred from the moving endless surfaces to the advancing fibre to form on the fibre a continuous coating of substantially uniform thickness.

Optical fibres

An optical fibre connector comprises separately formed bodies of substantially elongate form, each having an axial bore in which an optical fibre can be fitted and, associated with the two bodies or with each pair of adjacent bodies, means for connecting said bodies together in substantially axial alignment. One of said bodies has an end, e.g. a flared socket, of such a configuration having regard to the configuration of an end, e.g. a conical plug, of the other of said bodies that as said bodies are moved axially towards one another to connect said bodies together, an optical fibre carried by one of said bodies is constrained to lie in substantially axial alignment with and to enter the bore of the other of said bodies and that when said bodies each carrying an optical fibre are connected together the neighbouring end faces of the optical fibres abut or are closely spaced apart. The connecting means for adjacent bodies preferably comprises a sleeve freely rotatably mounted on one body that is in screw-threaded engagement with, or makes a bayonet-type connection with, the other body.

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Leicester Forest East, United Kingdom

David Joseph Martin