US4154049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for forming optical cables
Assignee: Corning Research and Development Corp
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Filing: 1978-06-08
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Granted: 1979-05-15
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Expires: 1998-06-08
Abstract
Abstract An optical cable is assembled by inserting dielectric optical waveguides into a filament having periodically reversing helical grooves. Dielectric optical waveguide is unwound from fixed reels by movement of the filament past the reels. A rotatable guide unit has flexible tubes through which dielectric optical waveguide is guided, the tube ends being disposed within the grooves so that respective dielectric optical waveguides and grooves are maintained circumferentially coincident.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick D. King
- 👤 Tomasz S. Swiecicki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4479; G02B6/4489
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for laying dielectric optical waveguide into a filament to produce an optical cable, said filament having a surface defining a plurality of grooves, the grooves each having the form of a helix, each said helix changing hand along the filament, the apparatus comprising a plurality of dielectric optical waveguide stores fixedly located around a feedpath for the filament, a reciprocally rotatable guide means located radially outwardly of said feedpath for guiding individual dielectric optical waveguides from respective stores to respective grooves and a locating device for positioning individual dielectric optical waveguides into said grooves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for laying dielectric optical waveguide into a filament to produce an optical cable, said filament having a surface defining a plurality of grooves, the grooves each having the form of a helix, each said helix changing hand along the filament, the apparatus comprising a plurality of dielectric optical waveguide stores fixedly located around a feedpath for the filament, a reciprocally rotatable guide means located radially outwardly of said feedpath for guiding individual dielectric optical waveguides from respective stores to respective grooves and a locating device for positioning individual dielectric optical waveguides into said grooves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stores are reels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locating device comprises a circular array of flexible tubes each tube having one end mounted at said guide means and its other end urged into and substantially parallel to a respective groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each tube at said one end is formed with a mouthpiece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, where the other end of each tube has a tapered end surface, each tapered surface facing radially outwardly of the feedpath.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the guide means has a plurality of longitudinally spaced, ralatively-rotatable guide units and a drive system producing differential rotation of the guide units.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the drive system comprises a geared system having gear ratios such as to distribute total angular movement of dielectric optical waveguides in passing through the guide means, evenly between the guide units.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of laying dielectric optical waveguides into a filament to produce an optical cable, said filament having a surface defining a plurality of grooves, the grooves each having the form of a helix, each said helix changing hand along the filament, the method comprising feeding filament along a path, paying out dielectric optical waveguides from fixed stores distributed around said path, leading paid out dielectric optical waveguides from respective stores into respective grooves through guide means located radially outwardly of the path, and rotating the guide means firstly in one direction and subsequently in the opposite direction so that individual dielectric optical waveguides circumferentially follow respective ones of the filament grooves where the dielectric optical waveguides exit from the guide means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of laying dielectric optical waveguides into a filament to produce an optical cable, said filament having a surface defining a plurality of grooves, the grooves each having the form of a helix, each said helix changing hand along the filament, the method comprising feeding filament along a path, paying out dielectric optical waveguides from fixed stores distributed around said path, leading paid out dielectric optical waveguides from respective stores into respective grooves through guide means located radially outwardly of the path, and rotating the guide means firstly in one direction and subsequently in the opposite direction so that individual dielectric optical waveguides circumferentially follow respective ones of the filament grooves where the dielectric optical waveguides exit from the guide means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2825260A
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US3187495A
Cited
US3905852A
Cited
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Cited
US4054365A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-05-14 | 1982-11-13 | 1983-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-05-14 | 1986-11-13 | 1987-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-05-14 | 1990-11-13 | 1991-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |