Method for section reducing a steel tube to achieve excess fiber length of an elongate bundle of optical fibers contained within the tube
US6697556B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 17, 2002 |
| Grant date | Feb 24, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4488
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for section reducing an encasing tube to achieve excess length of fibers within the tube. At least one, and preferably two, platforms are arranged at a selected angular offset. Each platform includes a first plurality of rollers mounted in stationary, linear and spaced apart fashion. A second plurality of rollers are mounted in an adjustable, linear spaced apart and opposing fashion relative the associated first plurality of rollers. Upon the tube passing between the stationary and adjustable rollers associated with each platform, the rollers associated with each platform simultaneously contacting first and second cross sectional locations of the tube and in order to apply lateral compressing forces to the tube which decrease its gauge length, corresponding to increasing its gauge thickness. The additional increase in excess fiber length (EFL) is due to the fact that, even if the fiber length remains the same within a “gauge” length, the “gauge” length of the tube will decrease, after going through the system of straightening rollers, from an initial value, in front of the rollers, to a shorter “final” value, after the rollers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.