Foamed fiber optic cable

US7873249B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ADC Telecommunications, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Wayne M. Kachmar · North Bennington, US
• Kenneth Christopher Nardone · North Bennington, US
• Ronald J. Kleckowski · Manchester Center, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 27, 2009
• Grant date: Jan 18, 2011
• Expiry date: May 27, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/4438
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A fiber optic cable includes an optical fiber, a strength layer surrounding the optical fiber, and a jacket assembly surrounding the strength layer. The jacket assembly includes a foam. A method for manufacturing a fiber optic cable includes mixing a base material, a chemical foaming agent and a shrinkage reduction material into a mixture in an extruder. The mixture is heated so that the base material and the chemical foaming agent form a foam with shrinkage reduction material embedded into the foam. An optical fiber and strength layer are fed into a crosshead. The mixture is extruded around the optical fiber and the strength layer to form a jacket assembly.