Apparatus for controlling lightguide fiber tension during drawing
US4578098A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 15, 1984 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 15, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC03B2205/91
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A lightguide furnace (10) includes a tube (32) at its base. The tube (32) has at least one opening (34) therethrough, in communication with, but substantially misaligned relative to, a corresponding opening (40) through a sleeve (36) coaxially aligned with, and rotatable about the tube (32). The substantial misalignment between each sleeve opening (40) and each tube opening (34) causes the cooling gas entering the furnace to be directed at least partially around the lightguide fiber (14). The cooling gas passes upwardly along the walls of the furnace away from the lightguide fiber (14) to reduce the likelihood of contamination thereof by particulates in the cooling gas. By rotating the sleeve (36) relative to the tube (32), the degree of misalignment of the sleeve openings (40) relative to the tube openings (34) can be adjusted to control the lightguide fiber cooling to regulate the tension.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.