Submarine optical fiber cable with central tension member and filled with incompressible fluid

Claim 1

A submarine, telecommunication cable comprising: a core comprising an axially disposed and extending armor formed by a strand of wires and a layer of plastic material around and adhering to said strand, said plastic layer having a plurality of spaced-apart, helical grooves therein extending longitudinally of said core and opening radially outwardly and said strand of wires having, by itself, a tensile strength sufficient to withstand the tensile stresses to which the cable is subjected during laying and recovery thereof; a substantially incompressible fluid disposed in and filling-up any otherwise empty spaces within said layer of plastic material including any spaces between said wires; at least one optical fiber loosely received in each of said grooves; a substantially incompressible fluid disposed in and filling-up any otherwise empty spaces in said grooves; a sheath of plastic material around said core, said sheath, by itself, having a resistance to compression which is insufficient to withstand the compression forces to which the cable is subjected during use; and said cable being without armor externally of said layer of plastic material which, by itself, can withstand the mechanical stresses to which the cable is subjected in use; whereby said cable is able to withstand hydrostatic pressures to which it is subjected when submerged without any armor outwardly of the optical fiber or fibers which by itself can withstand such pressures.