Process and apparatus for making fiber optic cable
US4757675A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 18, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4489
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and a process for simultaneously twisting a channeled core rod, inserting optical fibers into the channels and capturing the twist of the rod while minimizing the insertion stresses imposed on the optical fibers. The apparatus comprises a shape capture die, an insertion die and a core capture means which are located proximate one another to provide a short region of twisting. The insertion die is rotationally fixed to the shape capture die so that as the core passes through the center of the insertion die the fibers are automatically inserted into the channels of the core. The core and inserted fibers are then passed to a core capture means which controls rotation of the core but permits its axial translation. The rotating elements of the machine are driven from a line shaft or other suitable means providing them with identical rotation rates. In this way the core is twisted to form helical channels with inserted fibers without requiring elaborate synchronization of the core translation drive and the fiber insertion die.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.