CA1124561A
Expired / Lapsed
CA
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fibre cable
Assignee: Balfour Beatty PLC
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Filing: 1981-04-07
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Granted: 1982-06-01
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Expires: 2001-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A B S T R A C T An optical communication cable for the transmission of light comprises one or more than one optical cable element housed in a flexible tube of insulating material, the bore of the tube having regard to the cross-section of the or each element being such that at least one elongate space is formed between the element or elements and the tube. The or each optical cable element comprises an extruded elongate body of insulating material having a bore in which is loosely housed at least one optical fibre having a diameter less than that of the bore. The bore has a smooth continuous boundary wall and is of uniform transverse cross-section throughout its length. To provide reinforcement for the element, two separate elongate reinforcing members are embedded in the extruded body throughout its length and are arranged on opposite sides of and parallel to the bore. The or each optical cable element may be loosely housed in the tube or it may be bonded to or integral with the wall of the tube. As compared with optical communication cables hitherto proposed, the optical cable is simple and inexpensive and because limited movement of the optical fibre can take place within the optical cable element, there is substantially less risk of fracture of or damage to the optical fibre during manufacture and installation of the cable.
Inventors
- 👤 Noel S. Dean
- 👤 Frank Lea
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
CA
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:27
CPC Classifications
—
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
1) An optical communication cable for transmission of light, which cable comprises at least one optical cable element comprising an extruded elongate body of insulating material having extending throughout its length at least one bore which is defined by a substantially smooth continuous boundary wall and which is of substantially uniform transverse cross-section throughout the length of the bore, at least one optical fibre which is housed loosely in and throughout the length of the bore and which is of a diameter substantially less than the diameter of the bore so that at any transverse cross-section of the cable throughout the whole of its length, limited relative movement between the optical fibre and the extruded elongate body can take place when the cable is flexed, and, embedded in the extruded elongate body throughout the whole of the length of the body and arranged on opposite sides of and substantially parallel to the bore, at least two separate elongate reinforcing members; and, surrounding the optical cable element or elements, a flexible tube of: insulating material, the bore of the tube being of such a transverse cross-section having regard to the transverse cross-section of the optical cable element or to the trans-verse cross-sections of the optical cable elements that there is at least one elongate space formed between the element or elements and the internal surface of the tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
1) An optical communication cable for transmission of light, which cable comprises at least one optical cable element comprising an extruded elongate body of insulating material having extending throughout its length at least one bore which is defined by a substantially smooth continuous boundary wall and which is of substantially uniform transverse cross-section throughout the length of the bore, at least one optical fibre which is housed loosely in and throughout the length of the bore and which is of a diameter substantially less than the diameter of the bore so that at any transverse cross-section of the cable throughout the whole of its length, limited relative movement between the optical fibre and the extruded elongate body can take place when the cable is flexed, and, embedded in the extruded elongate body throughout the whole of the length of the body and arranged on opposite sides of and substantially parallel to the bore, at least two separate elongate reinforcing members; and, surrounding the optical cable element or elements, a flexible tube of: insulating material, the bore of the tube being of such a transverse cross-section having regard to the transverse cross-section of the optical cable element or to the trans-verse cross-sections of the optical cable elements that there is at least one elongate space formed between the element or elements and the internal surface of the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
216 words
2) An optical communication cable for transmission of light, which cable comprises an optical cable element comprising an extruded elongate body of insulating material having extending throughout its length at least one bore which is defined by a substantially smooth continuous boundary wall and which is of substantially uniform transverse cross-section throughout the length of the bore, at least one optical fibre which is housed loosely in and throughout the length of the bore and which is of a diameter substantially less than the diameter of the bore so that at any transverse cross-section of the cable throughout the whole of its length, limited relative movement between the optical fibre and the extruded elongate body can take place when the cable is flexed, and, embedded in the extruded elongate body throughout the whole of the length of the body and arranged on opposite sides of and substantially parallel to the bore, at least two separate elongate reinforcing members; and, surrounding the optical cable element, a flexible tube of insulating material, the optical cable element having a transverse cross-section of elongate form and the opposite minor surfaces of the elongate body of the element being bonded to or integral with the internal surface of the tube to form two elongate spaces on opposite sides of the element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
216 words
2) An optical communication cable for transmission of light, which cable comprises an optical cable element comprising an extruded elongate body of insulating material having extending throughout its length at least one bore which is defined by a substantially smooth continuous boundary wall and which is of substantially uniform transverse cross-section throughout the length of the bore, at least one optical fibre which is housed loosely in and throughout the length of the bore and which is of a diameter substantially less than the diameter of the bore so that at any transverse cross-section of the cable throughout the whole of its length, limited relative movement between the optical fibre and the extruded elongate body can take place when the cable is flexed, and, embedded in the extruded elongate body throughout the whole of the length of the body and arranged on opposite sides of and substantially parallel to the bore, at least two separate elongate reinforcing members; and, surrounding the optical cable element, a flexible tube of insulating material, the optical cable element having a transverse cross-section of elongate form and the opposite minor surfaces of the elongate body of the element being bonded to or integral with the internal surface of the tube to form two elongate spaces on opposite sides of the element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
3) An optical communication cable as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the opposite major surfaces of the or each optical cable element lie in substantially parallel planes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
4) An optical communication cable as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the or each optical cable element is housed loosely in the flexible tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
5) An optical communication cable as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 4, wherein the bore of the flexible tube is of substantially circular cross-section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
6) An optical communication cable as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 4, wherein at least one elongate electric conductor is contained in the elongate space or in at least one of the elongate spaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
7) An optical communication cable as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 4, wherein the elongate space or spaces within the flexible tube is or are substantially filled throughout the length of the cable with a greasy, water impermeable medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
8) An optical communication cable as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 4, wherein the internal surface of the flexible tube is lined with a continuous layer of tape of metal or metal alloy, at least the outwardly facing surface of the tape carrying a layer of plastics material which is bonded to the flexible tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
9) An optical communication cable as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the flexible tube is surrounded by an oversheath of extruded rubber or plastics material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
10) An optical communication cable as claimed in Claim 9, wherein a plurality of elongate elements of reinforcing material are embedded at spaced positions around and extend substantially lengthwise of the oversheath, each elongate element having undulations that serve to improve the mechanical bonding of the element within the oversheath and the flexibility of the assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
11) An optical communication cable as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, wherein the flexible tube and oversheath are separated by a continuous layer of tape of metal or metal alloy, each surface of the tape carrying a layer of plastics material which is bonded to the flexible tube or oversheath, as the case may be.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
12) An optical communication cable as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a reinforcing wall comprising at least one layer comprising a plurality of elongate elements of reinforcing material is wholly or partially embedded in the flexible tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
13) An optical communication cable as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the elongate elements of reinforcing material extend helically about the axis of the flexible tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
14) An optical communication cable as claimed in Claim 13 in which the reinforcing wall comprises at least two layers of elongate elements of reinforcing material extending helically about the axis of the tube, wherein the directions of lay of adjacent layers are of opposite hand.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
15) An optical communication cable as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the helically extending elongate elements of adjacent layers are interwoven to form a braided sleeve of reinforcing material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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