Patent US4504112A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4504112A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hermetically sealed optical fiber
Assignee: Optelecom Inc
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Filing: 1982-08-17
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Granted: 1985-03-12
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Expires: 2002-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A hermetically sealed optical fiber tube and process of fabrication. The hermetically sealed tube is fabricated from rolled wires into shaped sectors such that when the sections are joined a cylindrical tube is formed having a sufficient inside diameter to accept one or a plurality of buffered optical fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon Gould
- 👤 Charles I. Soodak
- 👤 Robert E. Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:45
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4415; G02B6/4427; G02B6/4429; G02B6/4436
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A hermetically sealed optical fiber working tube for use in environments requiring resistance to buckling under pressure and inelastic stretching thereof when subjected to longitudinal elongation, relaxation and bending forces, said tube comprising: an inner core having one or a plurality of buffered optical fibers; and at least two metal sections fitting together around said inner core and forming a cylindrical tube, said metal sections hermetically joined into said tube, wherein said metal sections were preshaped by rolling from an annealed wire and said metal sections are selected to have a yield strain greater than about 0.85.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A hermetically sealed optical fiber working tube for use in environments requiring resistance to buckling under pressure and inelastic stretching thereof when subjected to longitudinal elongation, relaxation and bending forces, said tube comprising: an inner core having one or a plurality of buffered optical fibers; and at least two metal sections fitting together around said inner core and forming a cylindrical tube, said metal sections hermetically joined into said tube, wherein said metal sections were preshaped by rolling from an annealed wire and said metal sections are selected to have a yield strain greater than about 0.85.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tube according to claim 1 wherein said sections are capable of undergoing precipitation hardening after being rolled forming into cylindrical sections and prior to being joined by laser welding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tube according to claim 1 wherein said sections are fabricated from 17-7 PH stainless steel or MP-35 nonferrous alloy wires.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tube according to claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said metal sections are hermetically joined at longitudinal seams.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The tube according to claim 3 wherein the sections are fabricated such that the rolled shaped wires form a tube having an outer diameter of from about 0.110 to about 0.120 inches with a wall thickness of about 0.027 inches and an inside diameter of about 0.06 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tube according to claim 4 wherein the tube is formed from two sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tube according to claim 5 wherein the tube is further coated with a corrosion resistant metal layer or high temperature plastic to an outer diameter of about 0.120±0.002 inches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tube according to claim 4 wherein the tube containing the fibers is heated to between about 300° F. to about 500° F. during the joining of the sections by laser welding.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The tube according to claim 4 wherein the sections are pressed together and an outer coating of a roll formed metal tube is fabricated around the inner sections and said outer metal tube is welded to a depth greater than the thickness of said outer metal tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tube according to claim 5 wherein the optical fibers are single mode optical fibers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tube according to claim 1 wherein said tube exhibits a yield stress greater than about 100,000 psi.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tube according to claim 2 wherein said tube exhibits a yield stress greater than about 150,000 psi.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tube according to claim 4 wherein said tube exhibits a yield stress greater than about 100,000 psi.
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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) | 1988-03-11 | 1988-09-10 | 1989-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-03-11 | 1992-09-10 | 1993-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-03-11 | 1996-09-10 | 1997-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |