Fitel USA Corporation

Lucent Technologies Inc.

At&t Bell Laboratories

Western Electric Company, Inc.

Wayne McCall Newton

Carla Green Wilson

Mark I Shmukler

Jim Jenqtsong Sheu

Terry D Mathis

Montri Viriyayuthakorn

Kelly L Johnson

Eugene R Rusiecki

Candido J Arroyo

Charles W Jackson

David S Hancock

Parry A Moss

Jennifer R Meeks

Priya L Tabaddor

Matthew R Dembiak

Artis Cornell Jenkins

Lionell Graham

Cecil G Montgomery

Donald D Vargasreyes

Slobodan F Fenjac

An indoor/outdoor dry core fiber optic cable or sub-unit that incorporates a plurality of optical fibers surrounded by a buffer material wound helically or in reverse-oscillated lay about a water blocking central strength member at a first tension and a first lay length and a water blocking strength member layer wound helically or in reverse-oscillated lay about the optical fibers at a second tension and a second lay length such that the combination of the buffer material, first tension, first lay length, second tension and second lay length result in an indoor/outdoor dry core optical cable capable of meeting ICEA-696 standards.

Dry core indoor/outdoor fiber optic cable

A torque capstan is provided for use in an optical fiber cable manufacturing process which enables reverse oscillating lay (ROL) length to be maintained. The torque capstan comprises a first portion having at least two pulleys rotationally mounted thereon, a second portion having at least two pulleys rotationally mounted thereon, and first and second drive belts mounted on the pulleys of the first and second capstan portions, respectively. Rotational motion is imparted to the first and/or second drive belts through a drive system that is coupled to a drive pulley of at least one of the first and second capstan portions. Rotation of at least one of the drive pulley(s) causes the respective drive belt to rotate in a direction parallel to, or substantially parallel to, a direction in which an optical fiber cable being manufactured in the optical fiber cable manufacturing process is being pulled. Contact between the drive belts causes the drive belts to rotate in the same direction. At least one of the first and second drive belts has a longitudinal groove formed therein that is parallel to, or substantially parallel to, the direction in which the optical fiber cable is being pulled. The belts grip and pull/push the cable in such a way that the ROL length is maintained over a length of the optical fiber cable, thus improving the quality of the manufactured optical fiber cables.

Torque capstan that improves reverse oscillating lay (ROL) consistency during an optical fiber cable manufacturing process

A method, apparatus and system for improving reverse oscillating lay (ROL) consistency during an optical cable manufacturing process. A torque capstan receives an optical fiber cable from an ROL machine that places reverse-oscillating lay on the core of an optical cable, but also generates some undesirable fluctuating back-tension in a direction opposite a direction in which the optical fiber cable is being pulled during manufacturing of the optical cable. The optical cable comprises a plurality of subunit cables. A drive system coupled to the torque capstan is controlled by a control system in such a way that the torque capstan applies a certain amount of force to the optical cable in a direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the optical cable is being pulled during manufacturing. The certain amount of force applied to the optical fiber cable reduces undesirable fluctuating back-tension placed on the optical cable during the manufacturing process, thereby improving reverse oscillating lay (ROL) consistency, which improves the quality of the manufactured optical cables.

System for the reverse oscillating lay (ROL) consistency during the optical fiber cable manufacturing process

Embodiments of the invention include an optical fiber minicord cable and a communication system employing the minicord cable. The optical fiber minicord cable includes a buffered optical fiber having a first strength layer formed around the buffered optical fiber, a first fire resistant jacket formed around the first strength layer, a second strength layer formed around the first fire resistant jacket, and a second fire resistant jacket formed around the second strength layer. The first and/or second fire resistant jackets are made of a fluoropolymer such as poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) or poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), including PVDF Solef&reg; 32008 and low smoke poly(vinyl chloride) (LSPVC) Apex&reg; 910. The first and/or second strength layers are made of, e.g., polyaramid yarns such as Kevlar&reg; and Nomex&reg;. The buffered optical fibers typically have conventional structure, with the buffer region made of a suitable material such as nylon (e.g., Huls 1670 Nylon), polyolefin, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), or polyester. The optical fiber minicord cable is a plenum-rated, high modulus apparatus that also provides sufficient optical transmission properties. Alternatively, embodiments of the invention include a method of making a plenum-rated, high modulus optical fiber minicord cable. The method includes the steps of providing a buffered optical fiber, forming a first strength layer around the buffered optical fiber, forming a first fire resistant jacket around the first strength layer, forming a second strength layer around the first fire resistant jacket, and forming a second fire resistant jacket around the second strength layer.

Minicord cable apparatus having high modulus buffered optical fiber and method for making

A preferred embodiment of the dry core optical fiber cable of the present invention incorporates a plurality of sub-units with each of said sub-units being arranged adjacent another of the sub-units so that the plurality of sub-units define an outer periphery. Preferably, each of the sub-units includes a plurality of optical fibers, a yarn layer and a sub-unit jacket, with each of the optical fibers being arranged adjacent another of the optical fibers. The sub-unit jacket surrounds the optical fibers, with the yarn layer being disposed between the optical fibers and the sub-unit jacket. An outer jacket surrounds the plurality of sub-units, with water-blocking tape being disposed between the outer jacket and the outer periphery of the sub-units. A method of manufacture of the cable also is provided.

Dry core optical fiber cables for premises applications and methods of manufacture

A preferred embodiment of the cable of the present invention incorporates a core, an outer jacket surrounding the core, and a tape disposed between the core and the outer jacket. The tape includes a first layer and superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) which are applied to the first layer. Preferably, the first layer is formed of spun bonded non-woven polyester material, nylon spun bonded fabric, non-woven glass, polypropylene melt blown non-woven fabric, polyurethane spun bonded fabric, or TCF cellulose fabric, among others. Additionally, the SAPs preferably are provided with a moisture content of greater than approximately 2 percent, by weight, thereby improving the flame-retarding characteristics of the tape.

Cables with water-blocking and flame-retarding tapes

An optical fiber cable includes one or more component cables. In one embodiment, the component cable has an elongated central aramid yarn member surrounded by at least one, and preferably six, optical fibers. An aramid yarn layer surrounds and contacts the optical fibers, and a plastic jacket envelopes and contacts the aramid yarn layer. In a second embodiment, the component cable includes optical fibers, preferably twelve in number, embedded in aramid fibers. A plastic jacket in contact with the aramid fibers, encloses the aramid fibers with its embedded optical fibers. In the cable of this invention, component cables of the first and/or second embodiments are wound about an elongated, central strength member with a reverse-oscillated lay. An outer jacket encloses and holds the reverse-oscillated lay of the component cables. The invention also includes a system for manufacturing the cables of this invention.

Wound optical fiber cable including robust component cable(s) and a

A communication cable (20) includes a core (22) comprising a plurality of transmission media having a relatively supple layer (26) of a plastic material wrapped thereabout. Disposed about the layer of plastic material and in engagement therewith is a relatively rigid inner plastic jacket (28). Disposed about the inner jacket are additional components of a sheath system such as metallic shields and one or more additional plastic jackets. Interposed between the relatively supple layer of plastic material and the jacket is a water-blocking system which comprises two elongated strand materials (42, 44) such as yarns. The two elongated strand materials are wrapped helically about the layer of plastic material in opposite helical directions. The elongated strand materials are characterized by being yarn blends which comprise a portion of water-blocking filaments and a portion of relatively high strength filaments. The elongated strand materials are effective to intercept water which may travel along the cable between the relatively supple layer of plastic material and the jacket which is contiguous hereto. In addition, the relatively high tensile strength of the strand materials provides additional physical support to maintain the supple plastic material tightly around the transmission media.

Communication cable having a core wrap binder which provides

A plastic jacketed cable; having a corrugated metallic shield which encloses a core comprising a plurality of insulated conductors, for use in underground ducts exposed to elevated temperatures includes an inner jacket which is capable of providing and maintaining adequate strength properties notwithstanding imprinting thereof by the corrugations of the shield contiguous thereto, and an outer jacket superimposed over the inner jacket and suitable for resisting degradation while being exposed to the elevated temperatures for sustained periods of time.

Growing community of inventors

Lilburn, GA, United States of America

Wayne McCall Newton