US4704307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and arrangement for coating a fibre
Assignee: Plasma Optical Fibre BV
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Filing: 1986-04-17
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Granted: 1987-11-03
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Expires: 2006-04-17
Abstract
Abstract A method of and an apparatus for providing a bubble-free coating on a fibre, more particularly on an optical fibre. A fibre to be coated is fed into a pressure chamber (61) via an inlet duct (56) with a restricted inlet opening (57) and leaves the pressure chamber (61) through an outlet opening (41) of a nozzle (40). Liquid coating material is supplied to the pressure chamber (61) at such a pressure that the coating material rises in the inlet duct (56) up to a certain level to form a convex meniscus (D). By flushing the surroundings of the inlet opening (57) with a gas having a kinematic viscosity which is lower than that of air, the drawing speed at which the applied coating is still bubble-free can be considerably increased.
Inventors
- 👤 Cornelis M. G. Jochem
- 👤 Jacobus W. C. van der Ligt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:43
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B13/00; H01B13/06; H01B13/14; B; B05; B05C; B05C3/00; B05C3/02; B05C3/12; C; C03; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/12; C03C25/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of coating a fibre, in which a fibre to be coated is passed through an inlet duct with a restricted inlet opening, is guided through a pressure chamber filled with liquid coating material, is drawn through the outlet opening of a nozzle, the coating material being supplied under pressure to the pressure chamber, characterized in that the coating material is supplied at such a pressure and in such a quantity that the material rises in the inlet duct up to a certain level to form a convex meniscus.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of coating a fibre, in which a fibre to be coated is passed through an inlet duct with a restricted inlet opening, is guided through a pressure chamber filled with liquid coating material, is drawn through the outlet opening of a nozzle, the coating material being supplied under pressure to the pressure chamber, characterized in that the coating material is supplied at such a pressure and in such a quantity that the material rises in the inlet duct up to a certain level to form a convex meniscus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the fibre is guided from the restricted inlet opening to the pressure chamber via a guide duct.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the temperature of the coating material present in the pressure chamber is adjusted so that a coating layer of the desired thickness is obtained.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of coating a fibre in which the fiber to be coated is passed through a restricted inlet opening, is guided through a pressure chamber filled with liquid coating material, is drawn through the outlet opening of a nozzle, the coating material is supplied under pressure to the pressure chamber and the pressure chamber is filled with coating material, characterized in that above the inlet opening a gas atmosphere consisting of a gas having a kinematic viscosity lower than that of air is produced and maintained.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of coating a fibre in which the fiber to be coated is passed through a restricted inlet opening, is guided through a pressure chamber filled with liquid coating material, is drawn through the outlet opening of a nozzle, the coating material is supplied under pressure to the pressure chamber and the pressure chamber is filled with coating material, characterized in that above the inlet opening a gas atmosphere consisting of a gas having a kinematic viscosity lower than that of air is produced and maintained.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that xenon is used as the gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that dichlorodifluoromethane is used as the gas.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of coating a fiber, in which the fiber to be coated is passed through an inlet duct with a restricted inlet opening, is guided through a pressure chamber filled with liquid coating material, is drawn through the outlet opening of a nozzle, the coating material is supplied under pressure to the pressure chamber and the pressure chamber is filled with coating material, characterized in that above the inlet opening a gas atmosphere consisting of a gas having a kinematic viscosity lower than that of air is produced and maintained and the coating material is supplied at such a pressure and in such quantity that the coating material rises in the inlet duct to form a convex meniscus in that duct.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of coating a fiber, in which the fiber to be coated is passed through an inlet duct with a restricted inlet opening, is guided through a pressure chamber filled with liquid coating material, is drawn through the outlet opening of a nozzle, the coating material is supplied under pressure to the pressure chamber and the pressure chamber is filled with coating material, characterized in that above the inlet opening a gas atmosphere consisting of a gas having a kinematic viscosity lower than that of air is produced and maintained and the coating material is supplied at such a pressure and in such quantity that the coating material rises in the inlet duct to form a convex meniscus in that duct.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that xenon is used as the gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that dichlorodifluoromethane is used as the gas.
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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) | 1990-11-02 | 1991-05-04 | 1991-11-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-11-02 | 1995-05-04 | 1995-11-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-02 | 1999-05-04 | 1999-11-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |