Lucent Technologies Inc.

At&t Bell Laboratories

John James Blee

Nathan E Hardwick, Iii

Denis Edward Burek

Marc Duane Jones

Wesley W Jones

Krishnaswamy Kathiresan

Dan L Philen

Leon J Burcum

LaVerne C Hotchkiss

A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a base member with first and second base portions that are angled relative to each other for aligning a longitudinal axis of the base member in a parallel relationship with a longitudinal axis of a pole. Preferably, first and second side walls extend outwardly from the base member for engaging mounting ribs of the splice closure. Preferably, the mounting ribs of the splice closure engage the bracket in a straddled configuration.

Apparatus for pole-mounting an optical fiber splice closure

An underwater optical fiber cable is constructed from a terrestrial optical fiber cable by hermetically enclosing the terrestrial optical fiber cable with a hydrogen barrier such as a copper tube or by using a terrestrial optical fiber cable having a hydrogen barrier therein, and by wrapping at least one layer of galvanized armor wires outside of the hydrogen barrier. As so reinforced, the terrestrial optical fiber cable has the strength needed for an underwater optical fiber cable by using relatively inexpensive galvanized armor wires. Although the galvanized armor wires generate hydrogen by contact with water, this hydrogen is prevented from adversely affecting optical fibers in the terrestrial optical fiber cable by the presence of the hydrogen barrier. Advantageously, a standard terrestrial optical fiber cable can be chosen from the many types available including high fiber count designs. Therefore, the flexibility of the core terrestrial cable choices permits system optimization and compatibility of underwater cores with shore cables without a proliferation of limited underwater cable designs. Also, the terrestrial optical fiber cable can be selected to include no hydrogen-generating material inside of the hydrogen barrier. Thus, the optical fiber cable of this invention will inherently have greater long-term reliability and, in the event of a rupture or leak in the hydrogen barrier, will last longer than optical fiber cables using hydrogen-generating material inside of a hydrogen barrier.

Optical fiber cable for underwater use using terrestrial optical fiber

An underwater optical fiber cable (20) which is substantially free of hydrogen generation includes a core portion (22) which includes an optical transmission medium and which may comprise a terrestrial cable and a sheath system which may be an oversheath for the terrestrial cable. An outer portion of the sheath system includes a plurality of longitudinally extending strength members (42--42) each being made of a metal having a relatively low chemical or electrochemical reactivity. Covering individually each strength member is a plastic material (60) such as polyethylene.

Underwater optical fiber cable

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Lilburn, GA, United States of America

John James Blee