Alcatel

Draka Comteq B.v.

Alcatel Fibres Optiques

Jacques Goudeau

Pierre Ripoche

Patrick Humbert

Jo&euml;l Landi

Joël Landi

The invention relates to apparatus for supporting a preform manufactured in an installation for manufacturing or building up preforms having supporting cores, said installation including at least rotation means having a horizontal axis of rotation and two mounting points between which the supporting core of the preform to be manufactured or built up is mounted, plasma-torch and material-supply means disposed radially relative to said supporting core and being mounted to move in axial translation relative to and parallel to the supporting core so as to make said preform around said supporting core, said apparatus being wherein it includes controlled support means constituting additional localized abutment points between said mounting points for said preform being manufactured or built up.

Apparatus for supporting a preform having a supporting core

A method and associated apparatus for increasing the over cladding rate in perform production while maintaining the integrity of the glass quality of the cladding. The method and apparatus are designed to utilize the full capacity of the generator to thereby improve the overall deposition speed without sacrificing the glass quality. In particular, it is estimated that the process of the present invention will increase the deposition speed by approximately 50% and still obtain suitable glass quality. This object is achieved by utilizing two plasma torches, instead of just one, that are driven by the same power generator. The process of over-cladding a perform includes the steps of supporting the perform on a lathe; providing first and second plasma torches having nozzles angled toward the perform; powering the first and second plasma torches with a common generator such that the plasma torches create plasma flames directed toward a surface of the perform; introducing a quartz sand at a junction between the first plasma torch and the surface of the perform to fuse the quartz sand on the surface of the perform; and moving the perform with respect to the plasma torches. According on one aspect of the invention, the second plasma torch is provided upstream of the first plasma torch so as to preheat the surface before the fusing of the quartz sand by the first plasma torch. According to a second aspect of the invention, the second plasma torch is located downstream of the first plasma torch to post-heat the quartz sand after the initial fusing by the first plasma torch. According to a third aspect of the invention, the quartz sand is introduced at a junctions between the surface of the perform and both of the plasma torches to fuse the quartz sand with both the first and second plasma torches simultaneously.

Plasma overcladding process and apparatus having multiple plasma torches

Apparatus for controlling the sag of a preform in an installation

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Savigny sur Orge, France

Jacques Goudeau