US4155733A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fibre manufacture
Assignee: International Standard Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1977-05-25
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Granted: 1979-05-22
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Expires: 1997-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A continuous flow process is disclosed in which optical fibre is made by a method involving the chemical vapor deposition of material upon the bore of a tube. The tube is fabricated from an annular crucible around a vertical gas feed and is lowered through a hot zone where it is softened and drawn into fibre. The gas deposits one or more layers on the inside of the tube prior to drawing so as to provide the drawn fibre with optical waveguide properties.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl P. Sandbank
- 👤 John Irven
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:06
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/012; C03B37/014; C03B37/018; C03B17/00; C03B17/02; C03B17/025; C03B17/04; C03B37/01265; C03B37/01274; C03B37/01861; C03B37/02; C03B37/025; C03B37/027; C03B37/02736; C03B37/02754; C03B2205/00; C03B2205/12; C03B2205/13; C03B2205/16; C03B2205/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of optical fibre manufacture, comprising the steps of: fabricating a glass tube around a vertical gas feed; lowering the glass tube through a hot zone where it is softened and its bore collapsed; drawing the collapsed tube into an optical fibre; and discharging vapor deposition reagents into the glass tube through the vertical gas feed in a zone above the region where the tube is collapsed, thereby depositing upon the bore one or more layers of reagents, the composition of which is chosen to provide the drawn fibre with optical waveguiding properties.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of optical fibre manufacture, comprising the steps of: fabricating a glass tube around a vertical gas feed; lowering the glass tube through a hot zone where it is softened and its bore collapsed; drawing the collapsed tube into an optical fibre; and discharging vapor deposition reagents into the glass tube through the vertical gas feed in a zone above the region where the tube is collapsed, thereby depositing upon the bore one or more layers of reagents, the composition of which is chosen to provide the drawn fibre with optical waveguiding properties.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material deposited on the tubing bore is deposited as a glass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gas feed is rotatable about its axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas feed is water cooled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas feed is provided with a plurality of ducts supplying a plurality of outlet jets with different vapour mixtures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the layer or layers are deposited by a hydrolysis reaction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the layer or layers are deposited by an oxidation reaction from which hydrogen and hydrogen containing compounds are excluded.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tubing is made of fused silica.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the deposit includes at least one layer of doped silica.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the deposit includes at least one doped silica layer whose dopant includes germania.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the deposit includes at least one doped silica layer whose dopant includes boric oxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the deposit includes at least one doped silica layer whose dopant includes phosphorus pentoxide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the glass tubing is fabricated around the gas feed from glass billets that are not themselves tubes but which pack together in groups to form tubes, which billets are heated in extrusion apparatus to cause them to fuse together.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-05-21 | 1982-11-20 | 1983-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-05-21 | 1986-11-20 | 1987-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-05-21 | 1990-11-20 | 1991-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |