Patent · US Expired

Butt welding optical fiber preforms with a plasma torch

US6178779A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
8References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 30, 1999
Grant dateJan 30, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 30, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC03B37/01205
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of assembling two optical fiber preforms together end-to-end, the method comprising the following operations: PA1 the two cylindrical preforms are placed in alignment along a common longitudinal axis; PA1 the preforms are rotated about the common longitudinal axis; PA1 the facing ends of said preforms are heated by a heater; and PA1 the preforms are moved towards each other parallel to the common axis to press them against each other so as to form intimate contact between the ends after cooling. According to the invention, the heating is performed by causing the preforms or heater to move in a radial direction orthogonal to the common longitudinal axis in such a manner as to heat the peripheries and then the cores of said preforms.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.