Corning Cable Systems

Corning Optical Communications LLC

John Arthur Rowe

Anne Germaine Bringuier

Catharina Lemckert Tedder

Brian S Witz

Rodney Maurice Burns

Warren Welborn McAlpine

Christopher Mark Quinn

Dave A Seddon

Gilbert D Tugman

George Ndayizeye

Catharina L Tedder

David Alan Seddon

Warren W Mcalpine

A fiber optic cable includes one or more optical fibers, a jacket, strength members, and water-swellable powder. The jacket is formed from a polymer and has a cavity defined therein. The one or more optical fibers extend through the cavity. Further, the jacket is non-round in cross-section and the strength members are encapsulated in the jacket on opposite sides of the cavity. The water-swellable powder is at least partially mechanically attached to an inner surface of the cavity, where the mechanical attachment of the water-swellable powder allows a portion of particles of the water-swellable powder to protrude beyond the surface and not be completely embedded therein.

Optical fiber assemblies having a powder or powder blend at least partially mechanically attached

A fiber optic cable includes a tube formed from a flame-retardant material, an optical fiber disposed in a cavity of the tube, and powder comprising flame-retardant particles. At least a portion of the powder is mechanically attached to a surface of the cavity, where the mechanical attachment of the powder allows a portion of flame-retardant particles of the powder to protrude beyond the surface and not be completely embedded therein.

Disclosed are fiber optic assemblies having at least one optical fiber disposed within a tube and/or cavity along with a powder or powder blend that is at least partially mechanically attached thereto. In one embodiment, the powder or powder blend includes a water-swellable component that is mechanically attached to about 30 percent or less of the surface area of the tube wall while still effectively blocking the migration of water along the tube. Other embodiments may have the powder or power blend mechanically attached to the tube, cavity, or the like at relatively high percentage levels of the total powder or powder blend within the assembly, thereby inhibiting unintentional migration along the tube, cavity, or the like. Other embodiments may use powder or powder blends that may or may not include a water-swellable powder to provide other desired characteristics.

Disclosed are fiber optic assemblies having at least one optical fiber and a water-swellable powder within a tube and/or cavity and methods for making the same. Fiber optic assemblies of the present invention use relatively low-levels of water-swellable powder while still effectively blocking the migration of tap water and/or saline solutions of 3% by weight along the tube and/or cavity. Furthermore, cleaning of the optical fibers is not necessary before connectorization like with conventional fiber optic cables that use a gel or grease. Generally speaking, at least some of the water-swellable powder is transferred to the inside surface of the tube, cavity, optical fiber or the like; rather, than being a loose powder that is able to migrate within the tube or cavity. Moreover, the existence of water-swellable powder within the fiber optic assembly or cable is nearly transparent to the craft since relatively low-levels are possible.

Methods of making optical fiber assemblies having relatively low-levels of water-swellable powder

Optical fiber assemblies having relatively low-levels of water-swellable powder and methods therefor

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Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

John Arthur Rowe