Fitel USA Corporation

Lucent Technologies Inc.

Richard D Small

Peter A Weimann

Phillip Maurice Thomas

Richard Norris

Lisa A Dixon

Kenneth Wade Jackson

Vidyananda Bangalore Chandraiah

Priya L Tabaddor

Neil Wilbur Sollenberger

Raymond P DeFabritis

Carlos F Solis

An optical cable ( ) includes one or more tubes ( ), each containing a number of optical fibers ( ), and a plastic jacket ( ) that encloses the tube(s). A pair of diametrically opposed rods ( - - ) are at least partially embedded in the polyethylene jacket and are made from continuous-filament glass fibers that are embedded in epoxy. Each rod has a compressive stiffness that is effective to inhibit substantial contraction of the cable, and a tensile stiffness that is effective to receive tensile loads without substantial transfer of such loads to the glass fibers. Each dielectric rod includes a thin layer ( ) of a frictional adhesion coating that provides a controlled adhesion between the rod and the jacket of between 50 and 300 lb./in . Whereas dual-rod cable designs have a preferred bending plane that passes through the rods, controlled adhesion between the rods and the jacket enables the cable to be easily bent in other planes and to be blown through ducts having multiple corners.

Dielectric optical fiber cable having reduced preferential bending

A hybrid strength member ( ) for an optical cable ( ) is made from dielectric materials, and provides excellent compressive and tensile properties within a single structure. The strength member includes two concentric layers of filamentary strands that are embedded in a thermoset material such as epoxy. The filamentary strands of the inner layer ( ) primarily comprise aramid fibers, while the filamentary strands of the outer layer ( ) primarily comprise glass fibers. A pair of strength members ( - - ) is embedded in a plastic jacket of the optical cable at diametrically opposite sides of a central core tube that contains a number of optical fibers. Each strength member includes a thin coating ( ) of a relatively soft material (i.e., a hardness of less than 80D on the Shore durometer scale) to enhance its coupling to the plastic jacket. Moreover, each strength member has a compressive stiffness that is effective to inhibit substantial contraction of the cable, and a tensile stiffness that is effective to receive tensile loads without substantial transfer of such loads to the glass fibers.

Hybrid strength member for an optical cable

A jacket for an outside plant communication cable is made from a resin of an impact-modified polypropylene copolymer compounded with UV stabilizers. The resin has the characteristics of low cost, low post-extrusion shrinkage, high melting temperature and increased crush and abrasion resistance. The UV light stabilizers may include UV absorbers, quenchers, and/or hindered amine light stabilizers.

Communication cable having polypropylene copolymer jacketing material

A jacket for a communication cable is made from a resin that has high aspect ratio filler materials, and possibly coupling agents, dispersed therein. The fillers and the coupling agents reduce the post-extrusion shrinkage of the jacketing compound such that the strength members used in the communication cable need have only negligible compressive stiffness. The communication cable may further include a skin coating surrounding the outer jacket.

Communication cable having reduced jacket shrinkage

A communications cable is disclosed herein that includes an outer jacket, and either a core tube or at least one buffer tube. The core tube or at least one buffer tube includes a resin and high aspect ratio fillers that occupy a predetermined volume of the core tube or buffer tubes so as to impart crush resistance to the cable. Further, the core tube or buffer tube may include two layers, an outer layer and an inner layer, in which the outer layer includes both a resin and high aspect ratio fillers, and the inner layer includes the resin without the high aspect ratio fillers.

Communication cable having enhanced crush resistance

A jacket for a communication cable is made from a resin that has high aspect ratio filler materials, and possibly coupling agents, dispersed therein. The fillers and the coupling agents reduce the post-extrusion shrinkage of the jacketing compound such that the strength members used in the communication cable need have only negligible compressive stiffness.

A method for splicing an improved strength tape having longitudinally extended strands comprises the trimming or patterning of the strands of the respective ends that are to be joined so that the ends can be mated together in a meshing arrangement. The two ends are placed in a splicing tray. An adhesive film is interposed between the two ends and the splice tray is closed. The splice tray is placed in a compression molding press which applies a predetermined time-temperature-pressure treatment profile which cures the adhesive film. The resulting splice has essentially the same physical dimensions of the strength tape, and similar stiffness characteristics to that of the strength tape. Further, the strength of the splice is more than sufficient for use in a communication cable. Because the complete splice process can be completed in less than 4 to 5 minutes, the splice can be performed on-line with the use of a strength tape accumulator.

Methods for splicing dielectric strength tapes utilized in communication cables

A method for performing fiber break-out in an optical fiber ribbon, which does not require shutting down the fibers in the ribbon while break-out is being performed, includes the step of placing the ribbon on a smooth surface that is either flat or curved with a radius much greater than the critical bend radius after the matrix material of the ribbon has been softened and swollen. The ribbon is temporarily affixed to the surface, and the softened matrix is then pulled away therefrom. The ribbon is then turned over and temporarily affixed to the surface and the remaining matrix is removed. The fibers that remain are then cleaned with an alcohol solution. In a variation of the method, the matrix is removed by rubbing or abrading it with a textured cloth or pad.

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Lilburn, GA, United States of America

Richard D Small