EP0284667A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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A method of manufacturing reinforced optical fiber
Assignee: Boeing Co
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Filing: 1987-12-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A method of manufacturing reinforced optical fiber (10) including conveying optical fiber from a source (12); symmetrically, coaxially winding reinforcing fiber (18) to a selected density per unit length around the optical fiber; forming a resin matrix among the reinforcing fibers; and coating the resin matrix with an external coating. Reinforcing a predetermined length of an elongated optical fiber comprises gradually reducing the thickness of the external coating and then gradually reducing the density of reinforcing fiber and the thickness of the resin matrix to form a transition from a reinforced fiber and a non-reinforced fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 George T. Pinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:35
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4429; G02B6/443; G02B6/4432; G02B6/4479; G02B6/4486; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S118/00; Y10S118/18; Y10S118/19; Y10S118/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of manufacturing reinforced optical fiber comprising the steps of: conveying an elongated optical fiber from a source; symmetrically, coaxially winding reinforcing fiber to a selected density per unit length around said optical fiber; immersing said reinforcing-fiber covered optical fiber in a resin bath for a predetermined time to form a flexible resin matrix among said wound reinforcing fibers; passing said resin-coated fiber through a first sizing die to remove excess resin from and to shape the resin coating of said fiber; passing said fiber through an oven to cure said resin; coating said cured fiber with an external coating material; passing said fiber through a second sizing die to shape and to remove excess external coating; and storing said reinforced optical fiber on a reel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of manufacturing reinforced optical fiber comprising the steps of: conveying an elongated optical fiber from a source; symmetrically, coaxially winding reinforcing fiber to a selected density per unit length around said optical fiber; immersing said reinforcing-fiber covered optical fiber in a resin bath for a predetermined time to form a flexible resin matrix among said wound reinforcing fibers; passing said resin-coated fiber through a first sizing die to remove excess resin from and to shape the resin coating of said fiber; passing said fiber through an oven to cure said resin; coating said cured fiber with an external coating material; passing said fiber through a second sizing die to shape and to remove excess external coating; and storing said reinforced optical fiber on a reel.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of manufacturing optical fiber covered with a reinforcing coating for predetermined length thereof, the method comprising the steps of: conveying an elongated optical fiber from a source at a constant rate; symmetrically, coaxially wrapping reinforcing fiber around said optical fiber at a predetermined rate to achieve a predetermined reinforcing fiber density per unit length of optical fiber; passing said reinforcing fiber-covered optical fiber over rollers immersed in a bath of resin having a predetermined depth to form a flexible resin matrix among the reinforcing fibers covering said optical fiber; passing said resin-coated fiber through a first sizing die having a variable opening to remove excess resin from and to shape the resin coating of said fiber; passing said fiber through an oven to cure said resin; passing said cured fiber over rollers immersed in a bath of external coating material having a predetermined depth; passing said coated optical fiber through a second sizing die having a variable opening to remove excess external coating from and to shape the external coating of said fiber; placing said reinforced fiber on a take-up reel; gradually reducing the thickness of said reinforcing coating after said predetermined length is obtained by gradually reducing the thickness of said external coating applied to said fiber until no external coating is applied and then gradually reducing the reinforcing fiber density per unit length to zero while simultaneously reducing the amount of resin applied to said fiber to zero.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of manufacturing optical fiber covered with a reinforcing coating for predetermined length thereof, the method comprising the steps of: conveying an elongated optical fiber from a source at a constant rate; symmetrically, coaxially wrapping reinforcing fiber around said optical fiber at a predetermined rate to achieve a predetermined reinforcing fiber density per unit length of optical fiber; passing said reinforcing fiber-covered optical fiber over rollers immersed in a bath of resin having a predetermined depth to form a flexible resin matrix among the reinforcing fibers covering said optical fiber; passing said resin-coated fiber through a first sizing die having a variable opening to remove excess resin from and to shape the resin coating of said fiber; passing said fiber through an oven to cure said resin; passing said cured fiber over rollers immersed in a bath of external coating material having a predetermined depth; passing said coated optical fiber through a second sizing die having a variable opening to remove excess external coating from and to shape the external coating of said fiber; placing said reinforced fiber on a take-up reel; gradually reducing the thickness of said reinforcing coating after said predetermined length is obtained by gradually reducing the thickness of said external coating applied to said fiber until no external coating is applied and then gradually reducing the reinforcing fiber density per unit length to zero while simultaneously reducing the amount of resin applied to said fiber to zero.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of Claim 2 wherein the step of gradually reducing the thickness of said external coating comprises reducing the opening in said second sizing die at a predetermined rate and reducing the time during which the fiber is in said external coating bath.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of Claim 3 wherein the time reducing step comprises lowering the depth of said external coating bath at a predetermined rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of Claim 3 wherein the time reducing step comprises reducing the depth of immersion of said rollers in said external coating bath at a predetermined rate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of Claim 2 wherein the step of reducing the reinforcing fiber density per unit length comprises reducing the rate at which said reinforcing fibers are wound around said optical fiber at a predetermined rate until no reinforcing fibers are wound around the optical fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of Claim 2 wherein the step of reducing the amount of resin applied comprises reducing the opening in said first sizing die at a predetermined rate and reducing the time during which the fiber is in said resin bath.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of Claim 7 wherein the time reducing step comprises lowering the depth of said resin bath at a predetermined rate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of Claim 7 wherein the time reducing step comprises reducing the depth of immersion of said rollers in said resin bath at a predetermined rate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of reinforcing a predetermined length of an elongated optical fiber comprising the steps of; axially conveying said elongated fiber from a source; symmetrically weaving strands of a reinforcing fiber to a selected density per unit length around said optical fiber; forming a resin matrix among the strands of said woven reinforcing fiber; coating said resin matrix covered fiber with an external coating; and after said predetermined length, sequentially gradually reducing the thickness of said external coating and gradually reducing the thickness of said resin matrix and the density of said reinforcing fiber to form a transition from reinforced fiber to non-reinforced fiber.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of reinforcing a predetermined length of an elongated optical fiber comprising the steps of; axially conveying said elongated fiber from a source; symmetrically weaving strands of a reinforcing fiber to a selected density per unit length around said optical fiber; forming a resin matrix among the strands of said woven reinforcing fiber; coating said resin matrix covered fiber with an external coating; and after said predetermined length, sequentially gradually reducing the thickness of said external coating and gradually reducing the thickness of said resin matrix and the density of said reinforcing fiber to form a transition from reinforced fiber to non-reinforced fiber.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
16 words
The method of Claims 1, 2 or 10 wherein said reinforcing fiber is an aromatic polyamide.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
14 words
The method of Claims 1, 2 or 10 wherein said reinforcing fiber is fiberglass.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
15 words
The method of Claims 1, 2 or 10 wherein said external coating is an acrylate.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
16 words
The method of Claims 1, 2 or 10 wherein said external coating is an elastomeric polyurethane.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
15 words
The method of Claims 1, 2 or 10 wherein said resin is an elastomeric polyurethane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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