Apparatus to improve degree of cure for ultraviolet curable optical fiber coating by actively removing heat from the coating during irradiation
US6370920B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 28, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 16, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/02395
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for curing a coating applied to an optical fiber. A water-jacketed UV lamp is provided adjacent a first reflector. An optical fiber is drawn between a second reflector opposite the first reflector and at least one quartz plate, while a cross flow of a cooling gas is passed around the optical fiber. Apertures may be formed in the second reflector for passing the cooling gas while the optical fiber is passed between the second reflector and the at least one quartz plate. Alternatively, two or more quartz plates may be provided and the cooling gas and the optical fiber passed between the quartz plates. The cooling gas experiences laminar flow.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.