Gel-swellable layers on fibers, fiber ribbons and buffer tubes
US6947648B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 2004 |
| Grant date | Sep 20, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 29, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4411
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention adds a gel-swellable layer in fiber optic cables to aid in protecting the fibers within the cable. The gel-swellable layer can be placed on the fibers, individual ribbons, stacks of ribbons and on the inner surface of tubes by various methods, such as co-extrusion, and can be cured by either heat curing or UV curing. The gel-swellable layers of this invention can be either smooth or textured. When the fibers are placed into the tubes and the tubes are filled with the water resistant gel, the gel-swellable layer absorbs some of the gel causing it to “swell”. As a result of the “swelling” a certain volume of gel is absorbed by the layer, thus reducing the capability of the gel to flow at elevated temperatures.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.