At&t Bell Laboratories

American Telephone & Telegraph Co., At&t Bell Laboratories

At&t Technologies, Inc.

Mickey R Reynolds

John T Chapin

Thomas O Mensah

Charles W Jackson

Michael D Kinard

William D Bohannon, Jr

Manuel R Santana

Andrew J Panuska

George Harry Webster

An optical fiber package (20) is provided by winding a plurality of convolutions in a plurality of layers on a bobbin. To each layer is applied an adhesive material (45) which in a preferred embodiment is a mixture comprising a reactive silicone copolymer resin, a solvent system which includes an aromatic constituent, a catalyst and a wetting agent. The mixture has a modulus behavior which is relatively stable with respect to time throughout a relatively wide operating temperature. Inasmuch as the solvent system and the method of application of the mixture are effective to control the rate of precipitation and the rate of cure of the silicone constituent, the surface roughness of the convolutions is controlled. After the desired number of convolutions have been wound, the package is subjected to a heat treatment which relieves stresses in the wound fiber and which completes the cure of the adhesive material. The adhesive material is effective to hold the convolutions together sufficiently to allow transport and deployment and to allow the convolutions constantly to be payed off over a relatively wide temperature range and over a relatively wide range of payout speeds without the use of excessive force and without breakage.

Methods of providing an optical fiber package

An optical fiber package (20) is provided by winding a plurality of convolutions in a plurality of layers on a bobbin. To each layer is applied an adhesive material (45) which in a preferred embodiment is a mixture comprising a relative silicone copolymer resin, a solvent system which includes an aromatic constituent, a catalyst and a wetting agent. The mixture has a modulus behavior which is relatively stable with respect to time throughout a relatively wide operating temperature. Inasmuch as the solvent system and the method of application of the mixture are effective to control the rate of precipitation and the rate of cure of the silicone constituent, the surface roughness of the convolutions is controlled. After the desired number of convolutions have been wound, the package is subjected to a heat treatment which relieves stresses in the wound fiber and which completes the cure of the adhesive material. The adhesive material is effective to hold the convolutions together sufficiently to allow transport and deployment and to allow the convolutions constantly to be payed off over a relatively wide temperature range and over a relatively wide range of payout speeds without the use of excessive force and without breakage.

Guided vehicle system

Optical fiber package and methods of making

An optical fiber cable (20) includes a core (21) comprising at least one optical fiber (24) which is enclosed in a tubular member (34) and which includes a sheath system (40). The sheath system includes two strength members 42--42 which extend linearly longitudinally along the cable parallel to a longitudinal axis (29) of the cable. The strength members are enclosed in a plastic jacket (46). The strength members have predetermined relative tensile and compressive stiffnesses. The stiffnesses are such that the strength members are capable of withstanding expected compressive as well as tensile loading and are coupled sufficiently to the jacket to provide a composite arrangement which is effective to inhibit contraction and which controls the position of the neutral axis during bending while providing suitable flexibility. The strength members in a preferred embodiment are made of a metallic material such as steel and have tensile and compressive stiffness which are substantially equal to cause the plane of bending to extend through the strength members. In other embodiments, the core is filled with a waterblocking material, the tubular member is enclosed by a water absorbent tape and/or a metallic shield and metallic conductors may extend colinearly with the strength members.

Optical fiber cable

An optical fiber cable includes a core (22) comprising optical fibers (24-24) in ribbon or single fiber form and a sheath system (50) which provides flexibility for ease of handling and installation, strength to resist tensile and torsional stresses and rodent and/or lightning protection. The core is enclosed by a tube (28) which is made of a plastic material, a shield system (52) and outer plastic jacket (54). The shield system provides rodent and/or lightning protection. Strength is provided by a plurality of longitudinally extending strength members (58-58) which are disposed in a single layer concentric with the core and which in a preferred embodiment are disposed adjacent to an outer surface of the shield and with substantial portions of their perpheries embedded in the plastic of the outer jacket.

Growing community of inventors

Lawrenceville, GA, United States of America

Mickey R Reynolds