US4725123A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hydrogen absorbing mixture for optical fiber cables and cables containing such mixture
Assignee: Pirelli and C SpA
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Filing: 1986-10-06
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Granted: 1988-02-16
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Expires: 2006-10-06
Abstract
Abstract Hydrogen absorbing mixtures for protecting optical fibers from damage by hydrogen and optical fiber telecommunication cables containing such a mixture or mixtures. The mixture includes at least one oxide selected from oxides of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cerium, tin, lead and wolfram, at least one catalyst selected from among the transition metals, the inorganic and organic compounds of the transition metals and the complexes of the said transition metals, both by themselves as well as supported by inert materials, and an anhydrous salt which, on chemically reacting with water, forms crystalline hydrated compounds which are stable at temperatures up to at least 90 DEG C. The anhydrous salt may be one or more of anhydrous calcium sulfate, anhydrous calcium chloride, anhydrous sodium sulfate and anhydrous copper sulfate. In a cable, the mixture is between the cable sheath and the optical fibers or is incorporated in the sheath if it is made of polymeric material. The mixture may be used alone or dispersed in a filler and may be coated on or incorporated in a component of the cable.
Inventors
- 👤 Pietro Anelli
- 👤 Gianfranco Colombo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:21
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4429; G02B6/44382
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An optical fiber telecommunication cable comprising a sheath enclosing at least one optical fiber and comprising a hydrogen absorbing mixture, said mixture comprising at least one oxide selected from the group of oxides consisting of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cerium, tin, lead and wolfram, at least one catalyst selected from the group consisting of the transition metals, the inorganic and the organic compounds of the transition metals and the complexes of the said transition metals and at least one anhydrous salt which, on chemically reacting with water, forms crystalline hydrated compounds which are stable at least up to a temperature of 90° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An optical fiber telecommunication cable comprising a sheath enclosing at least one optical fiber and comprising a hydrogen absorbing mixture, said mixture comprising at least one oxide selected from the group of oxides consisting of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cerium, tin, lead and wolfram, at least one catalyst selected from the group consisting of the transition metals, the inorganic and the organic compounds of the transition metals and the complexes of the said transition metals and at least one anhydrous salt which, on chemically reacting with water, forms crystalline hydrated compounds which are stable at least up to a temperature of 90° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one anhydrous salt is selected from the group consisting of anhydrous calcium sulfate, anhydrous calcium chloride, anhydrous sodium sulfate and anhydrous copper sulfate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one catalyst is selected from the group consisting of powders of palladium, palladium supported by barium sulfate, copper chromite, palladium acetate, palladium acetylacetonate, palladium hydroxide, palladium chloride and chloroplatinic acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mixture is intermediate said sheath and said optical fiber or fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 4 wherein said mixture further comprises a filling material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mixture fills all otherwise empty spaces intermediate said sheath and said optical fiber or fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mixture forms a layer on the inner surface of said sheath which is bonded to said inner surface by an adhesive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheath is made of a polymeric material having said mixture therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an elongate member within said sheath having a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves at its outer surface and wherein at least one optical fiber is loosely disposed in each groove.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 9, wherein said mixture is in said grooves.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 9, wherein said elongate member is made of polymeric material having said mixture therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 1 wherein said optical fiber or fibers are surrounded by a tape including said mixture and within said sheath.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 12 wherein said tape has a layer of said mixture on at least one surface thereof, said layer being bonded to said tape by an adhesive.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 12 wherein said tape is made of a polymeric having said mixture therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 12 wherein said tape is made of a fibrous material impregnated with said mixture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an elongate member extending alongside said optical fiber or fibers and longitudinally within said sheath, said elongate member containing said mixture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 16 wherein said elongate member is a tube of polymeric material and wherein said tube has said mixture therewithin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 1 wherein the amount of the catalyst is in the range from 1×10 -3 to 3 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said oxide in the mixture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 18 wherein the amount of anhydrous salt is in the range from 10 to 200 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said oxide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 19 wherein the amount of said mixture per linear meter of cable is at least 0.0025 gm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 18 wherein the amount of said mixture per linear meter of cable is not greater than 20 gm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
An optical fiber cable as set forth in claim 1 wherein said oxide, said catalyst and said anhydrous salt are in powder form and have a particle size in the range from 1 to 120 microns.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A hydrogen mixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one catalyst is supported on at least one inert material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
95 words
A hydrogen absorbing mixture for optical fiber telecommunication cables comprising at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of the oxides of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cerium, tin, lead and wolfram, at least one catalyst selected from the group consisting of the transition metals, the inorganic and the organic compounds of the transition metals and the complexes of said transition metals and at least one anhydrous salt which, on chemically reacting with water, forms crystalline hydrated compounds which are stable at least up to a temperature of 90° C.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
95 words
A hydrogen absorbing mixture for optical fiber telecommunication cables comprising at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of the oxides of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cerium, tin, lead and wolfram, at least one catalyst selected from the group consisting of the transition metals, the inorganic and the organic compounds of the transition metals and the complexes of said transition metals and at least one anhydrous salt which, on chemically reacting with water, forms crystalline hydrated compounds which are stable at least up to a temperature of 90° C.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
A hydrogen absorbing mixture as set forth in claim 23 wherein said at least one anhydrous salt is selected from the group consisting of anhydrous calcium sulfate, anhydrous calcium chloride, anhydrous sodium sulfate and anhydrous copper sulfate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
A hydrogen absorbing mixture as set forth in claim 24 wherein said at least one catalyst is selected from the group consisting of palladium powder, palladium supported by barium sulfate, copper chromite, palladium acetate, palladium acetylacetonate, palladium hydroxide, palladium chloride, and chloroplatanic acid.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A hydrogen absorbing mixture as set forth in claim 24 wherein said at least one catalyst is supported on at least one inert material.
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