EP0407076A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fibre cable
Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
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Filing: 1990-06-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-06-25
Abstract
Abstract An optical fibre cable has a channel (2) loosely housing an optical ribbon element (3) and a non-optical ribbon element (3A) which both have an evenly distributed excess length of between 0.5% and 1% and adopt a regular undulating configuration in a thixotropic water blocking gel (28) in the channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph Sutehall
- 👤 Andrew Summers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:09
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4403; G02B6/4407; G02B6/4408; G02B6/4415; G02B6/4416; G02B6/4422
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
An optical fibre cable having a self-supporting ribbon optical fibre element within a longitudinal channel within the cable, and a non-optical ribbon element extending alongside the optical element, characterised in that both elements (3, 3A, 53, 53A) adopt an undulating configuration within the channel along the length of the cable so that an excess length of optical ribbon element is evenly distributed along the cable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
An optical fibre cable having a self-supporting ribbon optical fibre element within a longitudinal channel within the cable, and a non-optical ribbon element extending alongside the optical element, characterised in that both elements (3, 3A, 53, 53A) adopt an undulating configuration within the channel along the length of the cable so that an excess length of optical ribbon element is evenly distributed along the cable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cable as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said channel (2) is filled with a grease, jelly or similarly viscous water blocking liquid (28, 28A).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cable as claimed in claim 2, characterised by a core (1) made of high strength dielectric material forming the tensile strength member of the cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cable as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the optical ribbon element (3, 53) and the non-optical ribbon element (3A 53A) have substantially the same modulus of rigidity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cable as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the excess length of the optical ribbon element is in the range of 0.5% to 1% when the cable is straight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cable as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the optical element (3, 53) is narrower than the channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cable as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the non-optical element (53A) lies above the optical element (53) in the channel.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of making an optical fibre cable comprising providing a cable part with a longitudinal channel therein, introducing a self-supporting optical fibre ribbon element and a non-optical ribbon element covering each other, characterised by inducing an evenly distributed excess length of the ribbon elements (33A, 53, 53A) within the channel (2), so that the elements adopt an undulating configuration along the length of cable.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of making an optical fibre cable comprising providing a cable part with a longitudinal channel therein, introducing a self-supporting optical fibre ribbon element and a non-optical ribbon element covering each other, characterised by inducing an evenly distributed excess length of the ribbon elements (33A, 53, 53A) within the channel (2), so that the elements adopt an undulating configuration along the length of cable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 characterised in that channel (2) is filled with a water blocking thixotropic gel or grease (28) and in that the regular undulating configuration is induced after the channel (2) has been filled.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the excess length is induced by bending the cable part (1) in a curved path (9) so that the channel (2) is stretched as long as the cable part (1) is in the curved path (9).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0278648A2
Cited
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