Method for controlling excess fiber length in a loose tube optical fiber buffer tube
January 29, 2010. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 2027419 3538210 3668288 Plant for vulcanizing a continuous length of curable material articles of elastomeric materials Process for producing dielectric optical waveguides Continuous vulcanizer for producing elongated member Processing extruded elastomers Apparatus for and a method of curing a continuous length of curable material Apparatus for calibrating extruded material Apparatus and method of processing a light waveguide product InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 476808 filed on 01/29/1990US Classes:264/1.25, Forming connector or coupler (e.g., fiber link, etc.)264/171.26, Producing hollow composite264/171.28, Polyamide (e.g., nylon,, etc.) or addition polymer of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monomer (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, etc.) containing layer264/209.1, Hollow article264/348To coolExaminersPrimary: Lowe, JamesAttorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassesB29D 011/00B29C 047/78 AbstractA method for controlling excess fiber length (EFL) in a loose tube optical fiber buffer tube which includes traversing a just extruded plastic buffer tube, containing optical fibers and a filling compound, through a vertical cooling tower along a buffer tube path of travel in the cooling tower where the cooling tower contains a water blocking device disposed at a predetermined point along the buffer tube path of travel and the water blocking device has a body containing (a) a chamber with inlet and outlet ports, defining a buffer tube path of travel aligned with the cooling tower path of travel, a conical shaped portion circumscribing a part of the buffer tube path of travel and an annulus shaped portion circumscribing the buffer tube path of travel and a portion of the conical shaped portion; (b) a device disposed near the outlet port for providing a stream of gas directed at the buffer tube path of travel; and, (c) a drain port to remove accumulated water from the annulus-shaped portion. The loose tube optical fiber buffer tube is at a predetermined elevated temperature upon emerging from the water blocking device and without EFL. Subsequently, the fiber is coupled to the loose tube interior and then cooled to ambient temperature to form EFL. | |
