Sea-log Corporation

Air Logistics Corporation

Kenneth M Stiles

Joseph F Schirtzinger

Charles H Smith

Robert J Considine

There is provided a cable construction which resists attack by mammals, fowl or fish. The cable construction consists of a core containing at least one optical fiber about which there is an organic cushion layer, preferably polymeric in nature. About the cushion layer there are a pair of counter-helically wound resin-impregnated inorganic fibers to provide tensile and hoop strength. About the pair of counter-helically wound inorganic fibers there is provided one or more layer(s) of resin-impregnated inorganic fibers helically-wound to an angle greater than 60.degree., and preferably approaching 90.degree.. These fibers when bitten provide needle-like projections which irritate the mammal, e.g., rodent, fowl or fish and discourage any attempt to continue to attack the cable. The cable is normally provided with an outer casing of a thermoplastic polymer for handling purposes. It may also include a layer containing abrasive materials which also deters attack by mammal, fowl or fish.

Rodent-resistant non-conductive optical fiber cable

There is provided a hybrid cable comprised of a plurality of optical fibers and metal conductors wound at a common lay angle. At least the metal conductors are sheathed by a fiber-reinforced resin and are prevented thereby from hockling.

Hybrid cable construction

A resin reinforced fiber structure is formed by coating and curing the resin of resin coated fibers in air form a hard gel surface is passed in contact with a mass of particles maintained at a temperature from about 95.degree. C. to the thermal degradation temperature of the resin to complete internal cure of the resin.

Fabrication of fiber reinforced resin structures

A resin reinforced fiber structure is formed by coating and curing the resin of resin coated fibers in air form a hard gel surface is passed through a bath containing a molten metal at a temperature from about 95.degree. C. to the anaerobic degradation temperature of the resin to complete internal cure of the resin under non-oxidizing conditions.

A connector for interconnecting the ends of two optical fiber cables to provide accurate alignment of the optical fibers free of stress from the mechanical linkage of the respective cables. The sheath at the adjoining end of each cable is split in two and separated to expose the optical fiber. The split ends of the sheath are inserted in separate diverging holes in a mounting ferrule while the exposed optical fiber is inserted in a central bore between the diverging holes. The sheath ends are anchored by cementing the ends in the holes. Only the very outer end of the exposed optical fiber is anchored by cement in the ferrule to fix the alignment of the fiber. The rest of the exposed fiber between the anchored outer end and the point at which the sheath is split is bowed slightly to relieve any tension on the fiber. The ends of the cables are joined by mounting the ferrules in a common connector body with the outer ends of the fibers held in abutting axial alignment.

Method and apparatus for joining the ends of two fiber optic cables

A room temperature vulcanizable silicone rubber having a high coefficient of thermal expansion is provided at the interface between an optical fiber and a surrounding fiber reinforced resin shell in a cable construction. The surrounding rubber because of high coefficient thermal expansion shrinks more than the optical fiber or the resin shell during the manufacture operation. This relieves radial compressive loads on the optical fiber and prevents the distortion of the optical fiber by the surrounding fiber reinforced shell in manufacture and use. As a consequence, light transmission qualities are not impaired.

Fiber reinforced optical fiber cable

Production of optical fiber cables

A resin reinforced fiber structure is formed by drawing fibers under tension, in spaced relation to each other through a bath containing a molten heat curable resin, combining the fibers in mutual contact for removal of excess resin, spreading the fibers for passage through a preheating zone and then in a recombined state through a plurality of radiant heating zones and relatively narrow cold shaping dies in series. The preheating and heating zones provide heated surfaces in spaced relation to the resin coated fibers, effect a viscosity break to enable the resin to more completely wet the fibers and advance polymerization towards a gel point. The narrow cold shaping dies provide the desired shape to the final article and remove excess resin as cure is advanced. The fiber reinforced resin structure at about the resin gel point is passed through a final cold shaping die, and then to a final curing zone.

Method for production of fiber reinforced resin structures

A room temperature vulcanizable silicone rubber having a high coefficient of thermal expansion is provided at the interface between an optical fiber and a surrounding fiber reinforced resin shell in a cable construction. The surrounding rubber because of high coefficient thermal expansion shrinks more than the optical fiber or the resin shell during the manufcture operation. This relieves radial compressive loads on the optical fiber and prevents the distortion of the optical fiber by the surrounding fiber reinforced shell in manufacture and use. As a consequence, light transmission qualities are not impaired.

There is provided a reusable flexible fairing for securing to anchoring cables to reduce cable drag which consists of two wedge shaped interlocking body members interconnected by a flexible web providing a contoured inner surface which in combination with contoured end walls of the body members embrace the cable to be faired and provide a streamline cross-sectional profile for minimizing drag. There is also provided a system for adding and removing the fairing from a cable.

Growing community of inventors

San Dimas, CA, United States of America

Kenneth M Stiles