EP0278648A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of manufacturing an optical fibre cable
Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
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Filing: 1988-02-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-02-01
Abstract
Abstract An aerial optical fibre cable for installation alongside a power distribution system is made with a surface-slotted core (2) acting as strength member and armouring and housing a ribbon optical element (3). The slot is filled with a soft thixotropic water blocking gel (28). The slot is closed and sealed with a close-fitting cap (5) which is bound in position with a yarn and the core then driven several times around a capstan with the cap facing outward to induce an excess length of ribbon element in the core when it leaves the capstan. Plastics material (27) is then extruded over the core to provide a tight-fitting sheath.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie Charles Chicken
- 👤 Ian Houghton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:17
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4407; G02B6/4403; G02B6/4415; G02B6/4416; G02B6/4422; G02B6/4479; G02B6/449; G02B6/4491
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
An optical fibre cable comprising an elongate core member defining a surfacial longitudinally-extending slot, one or more optical fibres located in said slot, a closure cap which closes the slot, said slot containing a water blocking medium, and a sheath surrounding the outer surface of the core and the outer surface of said cap, characterised in that there is an excess length of fibre uniformly distributed throughout the length of the cable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
An optical fibre cable comprising an elongate core member defining a surfacial longitudinally-extending slot, one or more optical fibres located in said slot, a closure cap which closes the slot, said slot containing a water blocking medium, and a sheath surrounding the outer surface of the core and the outer surface of said cap, characterised in that there is an excess length of fibre uniformly distributed throughout the length of the cable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A cable as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the cap comprises an extruded plastics strip having a segment-shaped cross section with concavely-radiussed ends which fit precisely over complimentary convexly radiussed upper edges of the slot in the core member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cable as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the cap is bound with a binder lying beneath the sheath.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cable as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the slot has a substantially rectangular cross section and said at least one optical fibre is contained in a ribbon like element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical fibre cable as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the core member is non-electrically-conductive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical fibre cable as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that said slot, in cross section of the cable, lies wholly to one side of the geometric centre of the core member.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of making a fibre optic cable comprising providing an elongate core member defining at least one longitudinally-extending slot, feeding at least one optical fibre into the slot, feeding a water blocking medium into the slot, closing the slot with a strip like cap, and applying a sheath over the core and cap, characterised by inducing an excess length of fibre in the cable.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of making a fibre optic cable comprising providing an elongate core member defining at least one longitudinally-extending slot, feeding at least one optical fibre into the slot, feeding a water blocking medium into the slot, closing the slot with a strip like cap, and applying a sheath over the core and cap, characterised by inducing an excess length of fibre in the cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, characterised by driving the core member around a capstan so that when the core member leaves the capstan an excess length of optical fibre has been induced into the core.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, characterised by applying a binder to hold the cap securely to the core member prior to driving the core member around the capstan.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, characterised by wiping the surface of the core and cap clean of any excess water blocking medium, prior to applying said sheath.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the core is moved through an injection head containing water blocking material at above ambient pressure to fill the slot with the material.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the core is moved through a station in which filling compound is injected via a tube directly into the slot with a slight excess which is removed by wipers.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 7 to 12, characterised in that the core member is non-electrically-conductive and forms a main strength member of the cable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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