Patent US4239335A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4239335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber reinforced optical fiber cable
Assignee: Sea Log Corp
•
Filing: 1978-08-28
•
Granted: 1980-12-16
•
Expires: 1998-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A room temperature vulcanizable silicone rubber having a high coefficient of thermal expansion is provided at the interface between an optical fiber and a surrounding fiber reinforced resin shell in a cable construction. The surrounding rubber because of high coefficient thermal expansion shrinks more than the optical fiber or the resin shell during the manufacture operation. This relieves radial compressive loads on the optical fiber and prevents the distortion of the optical fiber by the surrounding fiber reinforced shell in manufacture and use. As a consequence, light transmission qualities are not impaired.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth M. Stiles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:43
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4429; G02B6/443; G02B6/4432; G02B6/4402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An optical cable comprising: (a) an elongate optical fiber surrounded by a coating of an elastomer having a high coefficient of thermal expansion; and (b) an outer shell comprising a set resin surrounding the elastomer coating, the resin of the outer shell being set when said elastomer coating is in a thermally expanded state, said outer shell having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of said elastomer coating and wherein the ratio of coefficients of thermal expansion of the elastomer coating to said outer shell is from about 3:1 to about 30:1, said outer shell being substantially constrained by said elastomer coating when in its thermally non-expanded state from imparting radial compressive forces on said optical fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
An optical cable comprising: (a) an elongate optical fiber surrounded by a coating of an elastomer having a high coefficient of thermal expansion; and (b) an outer shell comprising a set resin surrounding the elastomer coating, the resin of the outer shell being set when said elastomer coating is in a thermally expanded state, said outer shell having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of said elastomer coating and wherein the ratio of coefficients of thermal expansion of the elastomer coating to said outer shell is from about 3:1 to about 30:1, said outer shell being substantially constrained by said elastomer coating when in its thermally non-expanded state from imparting radial compressive forces on said optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical cable as claimed in claim 1 in which the elastomer coating is bonded to said optical fiber and said outer shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical cable as claimed in claim 1 in which the elastomer coating has a coefficient of thermal expansion of from about 20×10 -5 to about 30×10 -5 in/in/°C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical cable as claimed in claim 1 in which the elastomer coating has a thickness of at least about 3 mils.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optical cable as claimed in claim 1 in which the elastomer coating has a thickness of from about 5 to about 10 mils.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical cable as claimed in claim 1 in which the resin is thermoplastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical fiber as claimed in claim 1 in which the resin is thermoset.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A coated optical as claimed in claim 1 in which the elastomer coating has a coefficient of thermal expansion of from about 20×10 -5 to about 30×10 -5 in/in/°C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
136 words
An optical fiber cable assembly comprising a plurality of optical fiber cable units bound by a resin, each cable unit formed of: (a) an elongate optical fiber surrounded by a coating of elastomer having a high coefficient of thermal expansion; and (b) an outer shell comprising a set resin surrounding the elastomer coating, the resin being set when said elastomer coating is in a thermally expanded state, said outer shell having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of said elastomer coating and wherein the ratio of coefficients of thermal expansion of the elastomer coating to said outer shell is from about 3:1 to about 30:1, said outer shell being substantially constrained by said elastomer coating when in its thermally non-expanded state from imparting radial compressive forces on said optical fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
136 words
An optical fiber cable assembly comprising a plurality of optical fiber cable units bound by a resin, each cable unit formed of: (a) an elongate optical fiber surrounded by a coating of elastomer having a high coefficient of thermal expansion; and (b) an outer shell comprising a set resin surrounding the elastomer coating, the resin being set when said elastomer coating is in a thermally expanded state, said outer shell having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of said elastomer coating and wherein the ratio of coefficients of thermal expansion of the elastomer coating to said outer shell is from about 3:1 to about 30:1, said outer shell being substantially constrained by said elastomer coating when in its thermally non-expanded state from imparting radial compressive forces on said optical fiber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical cable as claimed in claim 9 in which the elastomer coating is bonded to said optical fiber and said outer shell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical cable as claimed in claim 9 in which the elastomer coating has a coefficient of thermal expansion of from about 20×10 -5 to about 30×10 -5 in/in/°C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical cable as claimed in claim 9 in which the elastomer coating has a thickness of at least about 3 mils.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optical cable as claimed in claim 9 in which the elastomer coating has a thickness of from about 5 to about 10 mils.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical cable as claimed in claim 9 in which the resin is thermoplastic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical fiber as claimed in claim 9 in which the resin is thermoset.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
143 words
An optical cable comprising: (a) a core consisting of a plurality of elongate optical fibers wherein each optical fiber in the core is surrounded by a coating of elastomer having a high coefficient of thermal expansion, and wherein the exposed surface of the core is a portion of the provided elastomer; and (b) an outer shell comprising a set resin having a low coefficient of thermal expansion surrounding the core, the resin being of the outer shell set when said elastomer coating is in a thermally expanded state, said outer shell being substantially constrained by said elastomer coating at the surface of the core when in its thermally non-expanded state from imparting radial compressive forces on any contained optical fibers, the ratio of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the elastomer coating to the outer shell being from about 3:1 to about 30:1.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
143 words
An optical cable comprising: (a) a core consisting of a plurality of elongate optical fibers wherein each optical fiber in the core is surrounded by a coating of elastomer having a high coefficient of thermal expansion, and wherein the exposed surface of the core is a portion of the provided elastomer; and (b) an outer shell comprising a set resin having a low coefficient of thermal expansion surrounding the core, the resin being of the outer shell set when said elastomer coating is in a thermally expanded state, said outer shell being substantially constrained by said elastomer coating at the surface of the core when in its thermally non-expanded state from imparting radial compressive forces on any contained optical fibers, the ratio of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the elastomer coating to the outer shell being from about 3:1 to about 30:1.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
158 words
An optical fiber cable assembly comprising a plurality of optical fiber cable units bound by a resin, each cable unit formed of: (a) a core consisting of a plurality of elongate optical fibers wherein each optical fiber in the core is surrounded by a coating of an elastomer having a high coefficient of thermal expansion, and wherein the exposed surface of the core is a portion of the provided elastomer coating; and (b) an outer shell comprising a set resin having a low coefficient of thermal expansion surrounding the core, the resin being set when said elastomer coating is in a thermally expanded state, said outer shell being substantially constrained by said elastomer coating at the surface of the core when in its thermally non-expanded state from imparting radial compressive forces on any contained optical fiber, the ratio of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the elastomer to the outer shell being from about 3:1 to about 30:1.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
158 words
An optical fiber cable assembly comprising a plurality of optical fiber cable units bound by a resin, each cable unit formed of: (a) a core consisting of a plurality of elongate optical fibers wherein each optical fiber in the core is surrounded by a coating of an elastomer having a high coefficient of thermal expansion, and wherein the exposed surface of the core is a portion of the provided elastomer coating; and (b) an outer shell comprising a set resin having a low coefficient of thermal expansion surrounding the core, the resin being set when said elastomer coating is in a thermally expanded state, said outer shell being substantially constrained by said elastomer coating at the surface of the core when in its thermally non-expanded state from imparting radial compressive forces on any contained optical fiber, the ratio of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the elastomer to the outer shell being from about 3:1 to about 30:1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3455625A
Cited
US3691001A
Cited
US3865466A
Cited
US3887265A
Cited
US3980390A
Cited
US4000936A
Cited
US4072400A
Cited
US4105284A
Cited
US4114981A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-16 | 1984-06-16 | 1984-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-16 | 1988-06-16 | 1988-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-16 | 1992-06-16 | 1992-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |