U.S. Philips Corporation

Jacobus W Van Der Ligt

Cornelis M Jochem

Cornelius M Jochem

A method of and a device for manufacturing an optical fiber with a protective coating. A cooling device cools the fiber after drawing from a preform. The cooling device comprises a forced-cooled double-walled tube. In the space enclosed by the inner tube through which the fiber to be cooled is passed, a gas is present which has good heat-transporting properties. The gas may be, for example, helium. Cooling of the fiber takes place by heat dissipation via the helium to the forced-cooled tube wall.

Method of manufacturing an optical fiber having a protective coating

A method of and an apparatus for providing a bubble-free coating on a fibre, more particularly on an optical fibre. A fibre to be coated is fed into a pressure chamber (61) via an inlet duct (56) with a restricted inlet opening (57) and leaves the pressure chamber (61) through an outlet opening (41) of a nozzle (40). Liquid coating material is supplied to the pressure chamber (61) at such a pressure that the coating material rises in the inlet duct (56) up to a certain level to form a convex meniscus (D). By flushing the surroundings of the inlet opening (57) with a gas having a kinematic viscosity which is lower than that of air, the drawing speed at which the applied coating is still bubble-free can be considerably increased.

Method of arrangement for coating a fibre

Method of and arrangement for coating a fibre

An arrangement for coating a fibre, more particularly an optical fibre, comprising a housing (31) with a pressure chamber (61) which is in communication with a connection (63) for the supply of liquid coating material. A fibre to be coated is supplied via a guide duct (59) in a tubular guide member (55), traverses the pressure chamber (61) and leaves the device (11) via an outlet opening (41) in a nozzle (40). The tubular guide member (55) is made of an elastically deformable material. By means of two spindles (79), the end of the tubular guide member (55) can be adjusted so that the coating is centered with respect to the fibre and a coaxial location of fibre and coating is obtained.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Jacobus W Van Der Ligt