Methods of controlling jacket bonding with cable armor and water blocking at strength members

An armored cable having a polymer covering where the bond between the armor and the covering is controlled by introducing particulate matter at the interface of the armor and covering. A filler material is applied to the exterior surfaces of the cable strength elements in order to inhibit the formation of voids in the polymer covering that would otherwise promote water migration along the cable.

Ultrasonic fluid densitometry and densitometer

The present invention is an ultrasonic fluid densitometer that uses a material wedge having an acoustic impedance that is near the acoustic impedance of the fluid, specifically less than a factor of 11 greater than the acoustic impedance of the fluid. The invention also includes a wedge having at least two transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals internally reflected within the material wedge. Density of a fluid is determined by immersing the wedge into the fluid and measuring reflection of ultrasound at the wedge-fluid interface.

Fiber optic cable with profiled group of optical fibers

A fiber optic cable (10) having a tube assembly (20) therein. Tube assembly (20) includes an optical fiber group (22) in a tube (21). Optical fiber group (22) comprises a medial optical fiber subgroup (23) and lateral optical fiber subgroups (24a,24b;25a,25b;26a,26b) adjacent thereto. Subgroups (24a,24b;25a,25b;26a,26b) define a step-like profile for maximizing optical fiber packing density of tube assembly (20) and/or defining a high fiber count cable (10). In an exemplary embodiment, fiber optic cable (10) can include strength assemblies (30) on opposing sides of tube assembly (20) for defining a preferential bend plane in fiber optic cable (10).

Optical tube assembly having a dry insert and methods of making the same

An optical tube assembly having at least one optical waveguide, at least one dry insert, and a tube. The at least one optical waveguide is disposed within the tube and generally surrounds the at least one optical waveguide. In one embodiment, the dry insert has a first layer comprising a felt having at least one type of non-continuous filament. The dry insert may also include a plurality of water-swellable filaments. In another embodiment, a dry insert has a first layer, a second layer, and a plurality of water-swellable filaments. The first and second layers are attached together at least along the longitudinal edges thereof, thereby forming at least one compartment between the first and second layers and the plurality of water-swellable filaments are generally disposed in the at least one compartment. The dry insert also is advantageous in tubeless cable designs.

Optical tube assembly having a dry insert and methods of making the same

An optical tube assembly and methods of manufacturing the same include a tube, at least one optical waveguide, and a dry insert. In one embodiment, the dry insert generally surrounds the at least one optical waveguide and forms a core that is disposed within the tube. In one embodiment, the dry insert is compressed at least about 10 percent for coupling the at least optical waveguide to the interior surface of the tube.

Cable jacket with variable perimeter bond

The bond between an armor (120) and a cable covering jacket (130) is controlled by introducing intervening material at the interface of the layers along selected bond regions. The intervening material can comprise particulate matter or a strip of material introduced at selected locations of the armor perimeter to allow ease of access at the selected regions.

Fiber optic cable with water blocking features

A fiber optic cable ( 10 ) having a cable core ( 20 ) includes fiber optic cable components in the form of buffer tubes ( 23 ), a binder ( 26 ), and strength members ( 31 ). Cable core ( 20 ) includes a series of stripes ( 38 ) that comprise a mixture of adhesive and water absorbent substances. The water absorbent substance of stripes ( 38 ) is operative to swell and thereby block the flow of water in cable ( 10 ). Stripes ( 38 ) are made by the sequential coating of the adhesive and the water absorbent substances onto the cable whereby the water absorbent substance is propelled into interstices between the cable components. FIGS. 2 and 4.

Optical tube assembly having a dry insert and methods of making the same

An optical tube assembly having at least one optical waveguide, at least one dry insert, and a tube. The at least one optical waveguide is disposed within the tube and generally surrounds the at least one optical waveguide. In one embodiment, the dry insert has a first layer comprising a felt having at least one type of non-continuous filament. The dry insert may also include a plurality of water-swellable filaments. In another embodiment, a dry insert has a first layer, a second layer, and a plurality of water-swellable filaments. The first and second layers are attached together at least along the longitudinal edges thereof, thereby forming at least one compartment between the first and second layers and the plurality of water-swellable filaments are generally disposed in the at least one compartment. The dry insert also is advantageous in tubeless cable designs.

Optical fiber cable and bonding of sheath

An armored fiber optic cable (100) comprising a fiber optic cable core (110), the fiber optic cable core including at least one optical fiber capable of conveying optical signals; an armor (120) surrounding the fiber optic cable core; a sheath (130) surrounding and abutting the armor (120); and particulate matter (150) disposed at an interface of the sheath and the armor. The fiber optic cable may also contain a buffer tube (160) and strength elements (140).

Fiber optic cable with profiled group of optical fibers

A fiber optic cable (10) having a tube assembly (20) therein. Tube assembly (20) includes an optical fiber group (22) in a tube (21). Optical fiber group (22) comprises a medial optical fiber subgroup (23) and lateral optical fiber subgroups (24a, 24b; 25a, 25b; 26a, 26b) adjacent thereto. Subgroups (24a, 24b; 25a, 25b; 26a, 26b) define a step-like profile for maximizing optical fiber packing density of tube assembly (20) and/or defining a high fiber count cable (10). In exemplary embodiments, a diagonal free space is defined as the tube inner diameter minus the diagonal length of the cross-section of the profile of the optical fiber ribbon stack, the diagonal free space being about 2 mn to about 5 mm. In a multi-tube embodiment, diagonal free space can be about o.5 mm to about 2 mm. In other embodiments, corner fibers can have a delta optical attenuation of less than about 0.05dB/Km for a wavelength of @1550nm over a 100 meter length 40" to 70" drum at room temperature.

Strengthened fiber optic cable

A fiber optic cable having strength assemblies (30) adjacent a tube for imparting crush resistance to the cable, at least one of the strength assemblies including a strength member in contact with a tube having at least one optical fiber therein. The strength member is coupled to a first jacket, and may be surrounded a single jacket, or by an armor tape and a second jacket. The strength member may be disposed in a recess of the tube. When crush loads are applied to the fiber optic cable, the stresses created in the cable are advantageously distributed by strength assemblies (30) whereby stress concentrations and undue deflection of the cable in response to the crush loads are avoided. Tight coupling and minimized gaps between the cable components in strength assemblies (30) inhibits slippage and/or warping of the components under stress, and thereby evenly distribute the stress for preventing crush induced attenuation in the optical fibers. Figures 1 and 2.

Optical tube assembly having a dry insert and methods of making the same

An optical tube assembly and methods of manufacturing the same include a tube, at least one optical waveguide, and a dry insert. In one embodiment, the dry insert generally surrounds the at least one optical waveguide and forms a core that is disposed within the tube. In one embodiment, the dry insert is compressed at least about 10 percent for coupling the at least optical waveguide to the interior surface of the tube.

Fiber optic cable and sheath connection

Un método para fabricar un cable de fibra óptica apantallado, que comprende: proporcionar un núcleo (110) de cable de fibra óptica, el núcleo de cable de fibra óptica que incluye al menos una fibra (112) óptica capaz de transportar señales ópticas; encerrando al menos parcialmente al núcleo de cable de fibra óptica en una armadura metálica, deformando una lámina de armadura alrededor del núcleo de cable de fibra óptica; aplicar un material (150) de partículas a una superficie exterior de la armadura (120) insuflando el material de partículas sobre una superficie exterior de la armadura; y después aplicando el material de partículas, extruyendo un recubrimiento (130) de polímero sobre la armadura, en donde el material de partículas llega a ser, al menos parcialmente, embebido en el recubrimiento durante la formación del recubrimiento sobre la armadura. A method of manufacturing a shielded fiber optic cable, comprising: providing a fiber optic cable core (110), the fiber optic cable core that includes at least one optical fiber (112) capable of carrying optical signals; at least partially enclosing the fiber optic cable core in a metal armor, deforming a sheet of armature around the fiber optic cable core; applying a particle material (150) to an outer surface of the frame (120) by blowing the particle material onto an outside surface of the frame; and then applying the particle material, extruding a polymer coating (130) onto the reinforcement, where the particulate material becomes, at least partially, embedded in the coating during the formation of the coating on the reinforcement.

Optical tube assembly having a dry insert and methods of making the same

An optical tube assembly (10) having at least one optical waveguide (13), at least one dry insert (14), and a tube (18). In one embodiment, the dry insert (14) has a first layer (14a) and a second layer (14b). The first layer (14a) is a polyurethane foam and the second layer (14b) is a water-swellable layer, wherein the dry insert (14) is disposed within the tube (18) and generally surrounds the at least one optical waveguide (13).

Fiber optic cable with profiled group of optical fibers

A fiber optic cable including at least one tube assembly (21) therein. The tube assembly (21) includes an optical fiber ribbon stack (22) in a tube. The optical fiber ribbon stack (22) comprises optical fiber ribbons arranged at least partially in a gradually decreasing optical fiber count profile. A diagonal free space of the tube assembly being about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm. The diagonal free space is defined as the tube inner diameter minus the maximum diagonal length of the ribbon stack. The maximum diagonal length of the ribbon stack being the reater of either a diagonal measurement across lateral subgroups of the ribbon stack or a diagonal measurement across a major dimension of a medial subgroup of the ribbon stack.

Optical tube assembly having a dry insert and methods of making the same

An optical tube assembly having at least one optical waveguide, at least one dry insert (14), and a tube. In one embodiment, the dry insert has a first layer and a second layer attached together with an adhesive. The dry insert also includes a plurality of particles having an average particle size of about 600 microns or less for inhibiting microbending. The first layer may be a polyurethane foam having an average cell size of about 1000 microns or less and the second layer is a water-swellable layer. The dry insert is disposed within the tube and generally surrounds the at least one optical waveguide and the tube asembly can be a portion of a fiber optic cable.

Fiber optic cables having grease layers with reduced agglomerate sizes

A fiber optic cable includes a buffer tube, a plurality of ribbons of optical fibers (24) extending through the buffer tube and a grease layer (38) disposed between at least one pair of adjacent ribbons. The grease layer (38) includes a base component (30) and a plurality of agglomerates (32) formed filler particles, such as silica particles. The major dimension of the majority of the agglomerates is advantageously less than 100 microns in order to reduce microbending of the optical fibers and the resulting attenuation of the signals propagating along the optical fibers. The fiber optic cable can also include a filling compound that is disposed within the buffer tube and surrounds the optical fibers and that is also formed of a base component and a plurality of agglomerates, the majority of which similarly have a major dimension of less than 100 microns.

Fiber optic cable with profiled group of optical fibers

Methods and apparatus for heat treating glass sheets

Methods and apparatus for heat treating glass shee

Methods and apparatus for heat treating glass sheets

Methods for heat treating glass sheets (13) are disclosed in which the sheets (13) are held in a vertical orientation in a treatment container (15) during the heat treatment. The container (15) includes a support system for the glass sheets (13) that comprises a bottom support (17), two side supports (19a, 19b), and a top support (21). The sheets (13) are slid into the container (15) without contact between their side edges (23a, 23b) and the side supports (19a, 19b). The top support (21) is then slid onto the tops of the sheets (13) without contacting the sheets' top edges (25). In certain embodiments, flushing air which has been HEPA filtered and pre-heated is passed through the container (15) during the heat treatment. Apparatus for practicing the methods of the invention are also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for heat treating glass sheets

Methods for heat treating glass sheets (13) are disclosed in which the sheets (13) are held in a vertical orientation in a treatment container (15) during the heat treatment. The container (15) includes a support system for the glass sheets (13) that comprises a bottom support (17), two side supports (19a, 19b), and a top support (21). The sheets (13) are slid into the container (15) without contact between their side edges (23a, 23b) and the side supports (19a, 19b). The top support (21) is then slid onto the tops of the sheets (13) without contacting the sheets' top edges (25). In certain embodiments, flushing air which has been HEPA filtered and pre-heated is passed through the container (15) during the heat treatment. Apparatus for practicing the methods of the invention are also disclosed.

Fiber optic cable with strength member

Fiber optic cable with profiled group of optical fibers

Fiber optic cable with strength member

A fiber optic cable (10) having a tube assembly (20) therein. Tube assembly (20) includes an optical fiber group (22) in a tube (21). A strength member (40) is aligned with and disposed between optical fiber ribbon sub-groups of group (22).