US4437870A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical waveguide fiber cooler
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
•
Filing: 1981-11-05
•
Granted: 1984-03-20
•
Expires: 2001-11-05
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an optical waveguide fiber coating system having means for cooling the hot fiber prior to the time that the fiber enters the coating apparatus. The cooling means comprises an elongated tube through which the fiber passes. Cool dry helium is flowed from a porous member or an annular slot surrounding said fiber so that it has a flow component directed radially inwardly toward said fiber and a flow component which is directed longitudinally toward the opposite end of the tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger A. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:09
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/104; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/02; C03B37/025; C03B37/027; C03B37/02718; C03B2205/00; C03B2205/50; C03B2205/51; C03B2205/57
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for drawing a single optical fiber comprising, in order of relative location: a solid glass preform having at one end thereof a softened root portion wherein the preform cross-sectional area tapers to the cross-sectional area of said single fiber, means situated along said fiber below said root portion for measuring the diameter of said fiber, means for cooling said fiber, means for applying protective coating material to said fiber, and means for drawing said fiber, characterized in that said means for cooling said fiber comprises an elongated, vertically oriented tube through which said fiber is drawn, the top of said tube being below said diameter measuring means, a cylindrically-shaped porous member surrounding said fiber at the bottom end of said tube, a chamber surrounding said porous member, means supplying coolant gas to said chamber, whereby said coolant gas flows inwardly through said porous member and upwardly along said fiber, and means situated at the top of said tube for exhausting said coolant gas.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for drawing a single optical fiber comprising, in order of relative location: a solid glass preform having at one end thereof a softened root portion wherein the preform cross-sectional area tapers to the cross-sectional area of said single fiber, means situated along said fiber below said root portion for measuring the diameter of said fiber, means for cooling said fiber, means for applying protective coating material to said fiber, and means for drawing said fiber, characterized in that said means for cooling said fiber comprises an elongated, vertically oriented tube through which said fiber is drawn, the top of said tube being below said diameter measuring means, a cylindrically-shaped porous member surrounding said fiber at the bottom end of said tube, a chamber surrounding said porous member, means supplying coolant gas to said chamber, whereby said coolant gas flows inwardly through said porous member and upwardly along said fiber, and means situated at the top of said tube for exhausting said coolant gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said porous member is a screen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2225667A
Cited
US3248192A
Cited
US3540870A
Cited
US4101300A
Cited
US4030901A
Cited
US4126436A
Cited
US4154592A
Cited
US4208200A
Cited
GB2044751B
Cited
US4373943A
Cited
US4400190A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-03-20 | 1987-09-19 | 1988-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-20 | 1991-09-19 | 1992-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-20 | 1995-09-19 | 1996-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |