Method and apparatus for stripping an optical fiber
US6402856B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 12, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jun 11, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 12, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/566
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for stripping an optical fiber includes a source air, and means for generating very short bursts of air. A heater heats the bursts of air to a temperature sufficient to remove the outer coating from an optical fiber, while maintaining the air isolated from the heat source. The heater includes a heater core that includes a heat generating element such as a conductive filament, and a heat chamber enclosed within the heater core. A spiral-shaped air conduit surrounds the outer surface of the heater core, and communicates with the heat chamber. Upon injection of air into the conduit, heat is transferred to the air from the heat generating element while the air flows through the air conduit and into and out of the chamber. A single burst of heated air removes the outer coating of an optical fiber, within less than one second.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.