US4883336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and leadthrough system for laying out optical fibres across an aperture of a container shell
Assignee: National Research Council Canada
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Filing: 1989-02-17
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Granted: 1989-11-28
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Expires: 2009-02-17
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a method and a system for laying out optical fibres across an aperture in a wall separating a high pressure zone from a low pressure zone. It involves a plug member sealingly mounted across the aperture and formed with an axial through fibre passage having a conical first portion and a second portion of constant cross-section. A conical wedge member is freely inserted into the first passage portion and is formed with a series of grooves on its outer surface leading into the second passage portion. A plurality of optical fibres are divided into fractions and each fraction is received into one of the grooves; all fibres being thereafter collected into the second passage portion. Plastics material is introduced in the grooves and in the second passage portion to completely embed the fibres while adhering to the walls of the grooves and of the second passage portion. In this manner, the frictional resistance of the plastics material is greatly increased, allowing an appreciably larger pressure differential between the two pressure zones.
Inventors
- 👤 Wojtek Bock
- 👤 Jacek Chrostowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:29
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4415; G02B6/4427; G02B6/4428; G02B6/4439; G02B6/4471; G02B6/44785; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/3628; G02B6/3632; G02B6/3636; G02B6/3664; G02B6/368
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of laying out a plurality of optical fibres across an aperture through a wall separating a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone from one another, said method comprising the steps of: providing a plug member and forming a fibre passage axially through said plug member; said passage having a conical first portion and a second portion opening into said conical portion, at the apex thereof; providing an essentially conical wedge member having a size suitable for fitting into said conical portion; forming a plurality of grooves on the outer surface of said wedge member to extend between the base and the apex thereof, and unattachedly inserting said wedge member in said conical portion so that said grooves open into said second passage portion; dividing said optical fibres into fractions of at least one fibre and feeding each fraction individually into one of said grooves and collectively into said second passage portion; introducing a plastics material in said grooves and in said second passage portion to embed said fibres completely and for said plastics material to adhere to the surfaces of said grooves and to the surfaces of said conical and second portions of said passage of said plug member, and sealingly mounting said plug member across said wall aperture with the base of said wedge member facing said high pressure zone.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of laying out a plurality of optical fibres across an aperture through a wall separating a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone from one another, said method comprising the steps of: providing a plug member and forming a fibre passage axially through said plug member; said passage having a conical first portion and a second portion opening into said conical portion, at the apex thereof; providing an essentially conical wedge member having a size suitable for fitting into said conical portion; forming a plurality of grooves on the outer surface of said wedge member to extend between the base and the apex thereof, and unattachedly inserting said wedge member in said conical portion so that said grooves open into said second passage portion; dividing said optical fibres into fractions of at least one fibre and feeding each fraction individually into one of said grooves and collectively into said second passage portion; introducing a plastics material in said grooves and in said second passage portion to embed said fibres completely and for said plastics material to adhere to the surfaces of said grooves and to the surfaces of said conical and second portions of said passage of said plug member, and sealingly mounting said plug member across said wall aperture with the base of said wedge member facing said high pressure zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including selecting, for said conical wedge member and for said conical passage, an apex angle of about 35°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, including selecting grooves having a cross-sectional area equal to at least twice that of all fibres passing through them.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, forming grooves having a square cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, including selecting the ratio of the cross-sections of all fibres in one groove over the cross-section of the said one groove to be between 50% and 60%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including removably securing said plug member to said wall with the base of said wedge member facing said high pressure zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including: slidably fitting said plug member into said wall aperture with the base of said wedge member facing said high pressure zone, and applying an axial force to said plug member from said low pressure zone to pressurize said high pressure zone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second passage portion has a constant cross-section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
160 words
A leadthrough system for optical fibres, said system comprising: a plug member formed with an axial through fibre passage having a conical first portion and a second portion opening into said conical portion at the apex thereof; an essentially conical wedge member having a size suitable for fitting into said conical portion, said wedge member being formed with a plurality of grooves on the outer surface thereof, said grooves extending between the base and the apex thereof; said wedge member being inserted into said conical first passage portion with said grooves opening into said second passage portion; a plurality of optical fibres divided into fractions of at least one fibre; each fraction being received individually into one of said grooves and said fractions being received collectively into said second passage portion, and plastics material in said grooves and in said straight passage portion completely embedding said fibres and adhering to the surfaces of said grooves and of said passage portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
160 words
A leadthrough system for optical fibres, said system comprising: a plug member formed with an axial through fibre passage having a conical first portion and a second portion opening into said conical portion at the apex thereof; an essentially conical wedge member having a size suitable for fitting into said conical portion, said wedge member being formed with a plurality of grooves on the outer surface thereof, said grooves extending between the base and the apex thereof; said wedge member being inserted into said conical first passage portion with said grooves opening into said second passage portion; a plurality of optical fibres divided into fractions of at least one fibre; each fraction being received individually into one of said grooves and said fractions being received collectively into said second passage portion, and plastics material in said grooves and in said straight passage portion completely embedding said fibres and adhering to the surfaces of said grooves and of said passage portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said conical passage and said wedge member have an apex angle of about 35°.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cross-sectional area of each groove is close to twice that of all fibres in that groove.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said grooves have preferably a square cross-section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ratio of the cross-sections of all fibres in one groove over the cross-section of the said one groove is between 50% and 60%.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system as claimed in claim 9, in combination with a pressure container having a shell defining an inner high pressure chamber and being formed with an aperture therethrough, said combination further comprising: means mounting and removably securing said plug member in said shell aperture with the base of said wedge member facing said high pressure chamber, and sealing means between said conical plug and said shell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
A system as claimed in claim 9, in combination with a pressure container having a shell defining an inner high pressure chamber and being formed with an aperture therethrough, said plug member being slidably mounted in said shell aperture with the base of said wedge member facing said high pressure chamber; said combination further comprising sealing means between said conical plug member and said shell.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second passage portion has a constant cross-section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said plastics material is an epoxy resin.
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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) | 1992-11-27 | 1993-05-29 | 1993-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-27 | 1997-05-29 | 1997-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-27 | 2001-05-29 | 2001-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |