Patent EP0397299B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4583485A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4583485A
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Apparatus for coating a lightguide fiber
Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Inc
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Filing: 1985-01-29
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Granted: 1986-04-22
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Expires: 2005-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A lightguide fiber (21) which has been drawn from a preform in a furnace (26) and which has a relatively high temperature is cooled prior to its movement through an apparatus (41) which applies a coating to its outer surface. The fiber is cooled by moving it through a liquid material (42) in a reservoir (40) which is interposed between the furnace and the coating apparatus. The liquid material in the reservoir (40) is the same as the coating material contained in the apparatus that is used subsequently to coat the fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 James V. Smith, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:48
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/17; B29C45/18; B29C45/1816; C; C03; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/12; C03C25/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus for uniformly coating a lightguide fiber, said apparatus including: means for providing a lightguide fiber which has a relatively high temperature; means for moving the fiber along a path of travel; coating means disposed along the path of travel for applying a liquid coating material to the lightguide fiber; and cooling means interposed between said means for providing a fiber and said coating means for reducing substantially the temperature of the lightguide fiber, said cooling means comprising; a housing having a depending portion, said depending portion including a die and a passageway which terminates in said die; an inner vessel which is mounted in said housing and which includes an upper portion and a lower portion which terminates in an orifice of a die and which extends into said passageway of said depending portion of said housing, said inner vessel including an elongated passageway which extends from said die of said inner vessel to a cavity formed in said upper portion, and said inner vessel cooperating with said housing to form a chamber which is capable of being filled with a cooling medium; means for supplying a cooling medium to said chamber; and means for providing to said cavity of said inner vessel a liquid material which is the same as the coating material that is applied by said coating means and which has a temperature that does not exceed a predetermined value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus for uniformly coating a lightguide fiber, said apparatus including: means for providing a lightguide fiber which has a relatively high temperature; means for moving the fiber along a path of travel; coating means disposed along the path of travel for applying a liquid coating material to the lightguide fiber; and cooling means interposed between said means for providing a fiber and said coating means for reducing substantially the temperature of the lightguide fiber, said cooling means comprising; a housing having a depending portion, said depending portion including a die and a passageway which terminates in said die; an inner vessel which is mounted in said housing and which includes an upper portion and a lower portion which terminates in an orifice of a die and which extends into said passageway of said depending portion of said housing, said inner vessel including an elongated passageway which extends from said die of said inner vessel to a cavity formed in said upper portion, and said inner vessel cooperating with said housing to form a chamber which is capable of being filled with a cooling medium; means for supplying a cooling medium to said chamber; and means for providing to said cavity of said inner vessel a liquid material which is the same as the coating material that is applied by said coating means and which has a temperature that does not exceed a predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said elongated passageway of said inner vessel has a diameter which is larger than that of said die of said inner vessel and which communicates with said die orifice through a tapered portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said die of said housing communicates with said die orifice of said inner vessel through a tapered portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coating means includes means for applying two concentric coatings to the lightguide fiber, the two concentric coatings comprising an inner layer of a first polymeric material and an outer layer of a second polymeric material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said coating means also comprises an entry die into which extends the first coating material, said entry die being maintained at a temperature which is effective to cool the fiber being advanced through the first coating material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said coating means also includes an entry die and means for causing the first coating material to be maintained at a pressure which is in a predetermined range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means for causing the first coating material to have a pressure in a predetermined range causes the first coating material to have a free surface which is maintained at a predetermined level in said entry die.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
313 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said means for applying two concentric coatings to the lightguide fiber includes: an upper housing which includes a stepped cavity having an elongated portion and an enlarged portion; a core tube which is disposed within said upper housing, said core tube having an elongated portion which is disposed in said elongated portion of said stepped cavity and a base which is disposed in said enlarged portion of said stepped cavity, said core tube including a passageway which extends through said elongated portion thereof and through a portion of said base and which terminates in a cavity of said base; an entry die which is disposed in said cavity of said base of said core tube, said entry die having a passageway formed therethrough; a cap which is attached to an upper end of said upper housing, said cap having an opening which is aligned with said passageway of said entry die; a lower housing which is attached to a lower end of said upper housing and which includes a first exit die having a passageway which is aligned with said passageway through said core tube, said first exit die including a depending portion which includes a die orifice; a lower cap which is attached to a lower end of said lower housing and including a second exit die which is aligned with said first exit die, said lower cap including a cavity in which is disposed said depending portion of said first exit die; means for causing a first liquid coating material to be flowed into a lower end of said core tube, upwardly along said passageway of said core tube and to a predetermined level in said entry die; and means for causing a second liquid coating material to be flowed into the cavity in which is disposed said depending portion of said first exit die.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein an inner surface of said upper housing and an outer surface of said core tube define a flow passage for the first coating material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a portion of the outer surface of said core tube is fluted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said passageway of said first exit die includes a truncated conically shaped portion which communicates with the orifice of said first exit die through a land.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said passageway through said elongated portion of said core tube has a constant diameter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said passageway of said entry die includes an exit orifice which communicates through a land to a portion which converges toward said land, said exit orifice having a diameter which is smaller than that of said passageway of said core tube.
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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) | 1989-04-21 | 1989-10-21 | 1990-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-21 | 1993-10-21 | 1994-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-21 | 1997-10-21 | 1998-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |