Alcatel

J Boyet Stevens

Brian G Risch

Stefan Richter

Vincent Bourget

Pierre Gaillard

George J Dallas

Geoff Witt

Rick Robinson

Steve Shen

An optical fiber cable includes ripcords that are oriented in particular locations with reference to radial strength members and any armor overlap included in a housing for optical fibers. The ripcords are spaced 180&deg; from each other and preferably 90&deg; from the armor overlap region. Color coded or marked ripcords are also placed adjacent to RSMs, with color coding or other marking on external surfaces of the housing to indicate a pull direction for respective ripcords. The ripcords may be extruded with the RSM into a jacket housing or disposed in a grooved section formed into the RSM. Pairs of RSMs may also be disposed on opposite sides of a ripcord to protect the ripcord from being accidentally severed by cutting instruments during servicing of the cable.

Optical fiber cable for easy access to ripcords and having ripcord reliability

An optical-fiber cable includes an assembly of buffer tubes including at least two flexible buffer tubes that are held together compactly by adhesion to one another. The cable further includes a plurality of optical fibers, which are housed within the buffer tubes, a jacket surrounding the assembly of buffer tubes, and at least one longitudinal strength member that is provided at the periphery of the assembly of buffer tubes. According to one aspect, the jacket is formed of polyethylene, the buffer tubes are formed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a thermoplastic elastomer possessing flexible diol segments, and the buffer tubes are contained within the jacket in a helical or SZ stranding configuration. According to a second aspect, a fiber optic buffer tube includes low and high melting point materials forming domains and a matrix, respectively, and preferably further includes a filler. The domains are embedded in the matrix. The latter buffer tubes are bonded together by thermal activation of the domains.

Optical-fiber cable containing thermally bonded fiber optic buffer tubes and fabrication process

A cable or duct having high compression resistance to external pressure while maximizing the space available for the optical fibers or wires therein. The optical fiber cable or duct includes an outer jacket having a substantially tubular shape, a compression resistant core member disposed longitudinally in the outer shell and a central strength member extending through the compression resistant core member. The core member includes a plurality of Y-shaped rib members extending radially therefrom to the outer shell. A plurality of cavities are defined between the rib members for receiving the optical fibers. The Y-like shape of the reinforcement ribs maximizes the compressive strength of the cable while minimizing the amount of material used for the reinforcement member. Thus, there is more space for the optical fibers in the cable or more cables in the duct.

Reinforced structure for a cable or duct with high compression resistance

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Maineville, OH, United States of America

J Boyet Stevens