Patent · US Expired

Optical fiber manufacture

US6220060A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
1References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 8, 1999
Grant dateApr 24, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 8, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P40/57
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The specification describes a process and apparatus for collapsing preform tubes in Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition processes. The problem of bubble formation during tube collapse was found to be attributable to excess dopant vapor pressure emitted from the hot zone during the final stage of tube collapse. This excess pressure is controlled by cooling the tube in advance of the torch, thereby decreasing the viscosity of the dopant vapor and increasing its transport rate. This is found to reduce internal tube pressure and eliminate bubble formation in the collapsed preform.

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