Optical fiber cable with dual layer buffer tube for microduct application

• US 10,261,278 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2018
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sterlite Technologies Limited (Volcan Investments Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sterlite Technologies Limited (Volcan Investments Ltd.)
• Inventors: Murthy, Venkatesh, Sahoo, Kishore, Mishra, Atul, Chintada, Kavya
• Primary Examiner(s): Stahl, Michael
• Application Number:
  US16/158,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20190113701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 186 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4413 Helical structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4415 Cables for special applications G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4431 with provision in the protective covering, e.g. weak line, for gaining access to one or more fibres, e.g. for branching or tapping break-out terminations G02B6/4471
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4434 Central member to take up tensile loads
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4438 for facilitating insertion by fluid drag in ducts or capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44384 the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4482 Code or colour marking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/52 using fluid, e.g. air

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable includes a central strength member. The central strength member lies substantially along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable. In addition, the optical fiber cable includes a first layer. The first layer includes a plurality of water swellable yarns. Further, the optical fiber cable includes a plurality buffer tubes. Each of the plurality of buffer tubes includes a plurality of optical fiber. Moreover, the optical fiber cable includes a second layer of a pair of binder yarns. Further, the optical fiber cable includes a third layer. The third layer is formed of a plurality of water swellable yarns. The optical fiber cable includes a fourth layer. The fourth layer is a sheath layer.

Claims

1. An optical fiber cable comprising:

a central strength member lying substantially along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable, wherein the central strength member is formed of fiber reinforced plastic, wherein the central strength member has a diameter of about 3.0 mm;

a first layer wrapped helically around the central strength member, wherein the first layer is formed of a plurality of water swellable yarns;

a plurality of buffer tubes stranded helically around the first layer, wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes encloses a plurality of optical fibers,

wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes is formed of a combination of two sub layers having different material, wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes has a first sub layer and a second sub layer;

wherein the first sub layer is formed of polycarbonate, wherein the second sub layer is formed of polybutylene terephthalate;

a second layer, wherein the second layer cross helically surrounds a core of the optical fiber cable, wherein the second layer is formed of a pair of binder yarns, wherein the pair of binder yarn comprising;

a first binder yarn, wherein the first binder yarn is wrapped helically in clockwise direction;

and

a second binder yarn, wherein the second binder yarn is wrapped helically in anti-clockwise direction;

a third layer, wherein the third layer is wrapped helically around the core of the optical fiber cable, wherein the third layer is formed of a plurality of water swellable yarns; and

a fourth layer surrounding the third layer, wherein the fourth layer is formed of high density polyethylene,

wherein the optical fiber cable has a diameter of about 7.7 mm±

0.2 mm.

2. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes has a first diameter of about 1.55 mm±

0.05 mm, wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes has a second diameter of about 1.85 mm±

0.05 mm.

3. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 1, wherein the first sub layer has a thickness of about 75 microns±

10 microns, wherein the first sub layer has a density of about 1.2 gm/cm³.

4. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 1, wherein the second sub layer has a thickness of about 75 microns±

10 microns, wherein the second sub layer has a density of about 1.31 gm/cm³.

5. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of buffer tubes is eight, wherein the plurality of optical fibers in each of the plurality of buffer tubes is twenty four, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers has a diameter of about 250 microns.

6. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 1, wherein the fourth layer has a thickness in a range of about 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm, wherein the fourth layer has a density in a range of about 0.90 gm/cm³ to 0.96 gm/cm³.

7. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 1, wherein the central strength member is a solid pultrusion type fiber reinforced plastic, wherein the central strength member is coated with a polyethylene layer, wherein the central strength member is coated to accommodate plurality of buffer tubes.

8. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 1, wherein the first binder yarn is aramid binder yarn, wherein the second binder yarn is aramid binder yarn.

9. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ripcords, wherein the plurality of ripcords are positioned below the fourth layer.

10. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 1, wherein the optical fiber cable is blown into a duct, wherein the duct is having an inner diameter of about 10 mm and outer diameter of about 14 mm, wherein the optical fiber cable has a fill factor in a range of about 54% to 64% in the duct.

11. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes has a packing factor in a range of about 75% to 92%, wherein the packing factor is defined as ratio of equivalent cross sectional area of fiber bunch to inner cross sectional area of a buffer tube of the plurality of buffer tubes, wherein the equivalent cross sectional area is area formed by equivalent diameter of fiber bunch which is calculated by formula, 1.155*Square root of number fibers per tube*Diameter of the fiber.

12. An optical fiber cable comprising:

a central strength member lying substantially along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable, wherein the central strength member is formed of fiber reinforced plastic, wherein the central strength member has a diameter of about 3.0 mm;

a first layer wrapped helically around the central strength member, wherein the first layer is formed of a plurality of water swellable yarns;

a plurality of buffer tubes stranded helically around the first layer, wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes encloses a plurality of optical fibers,

wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes has a first diameter of about 1.55 mm±

0.05 mm, wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes has a second diameter of about 1.85 mm±

0.05 mm,

wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes is formed of a combination of two sub layers having different material, wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes has a first sub layer and a second sub layer;

wherein the first sub layer is formed of polycarbonate, wherein the second sub layer is formed of polybutylene terephthalate;

a second layer, wherein the second layer cross helically surrounds a core of the optical fiber cable, wherein the second layer is formed of a pair of binder yarns, wherein the pair of binder yarns comprising;

a first binder yarn, wherein the first binder yarn is wrapped helically in clockwise direction;

and

a second binder yarn, wherein the second binder yarn is wrapped helically in anti-clockwise direction;

a third layer wrapped helically around the core of the optical fiber cable, wherein the third layer is formed of a plurality of water swellable yarns; and

a fourth layer surrounding the third layer, wherein the fourth layer is formed of high density polyethylene, wherein the fourth layer has a thickness in a range of about 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm, wherein the fourth layer has a density in a range of about 0.90 gm/cm³ to 0.96 gm/cm³,

wherein the optical fiber cable has a diameter of about 7.7 mm±

0.2 mm.

13. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 12, wherein the first sub layer has a thickness of about 75 microns±

10 microns, wherein the first sub layer has a density of about 1.2 gm/cm³.

14. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 12, wherein the second sub layer has a thickness of about 75 microns±

10 microns, wherein the second sub layer has a density of about 1.31 gm/cm³.

15. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 12, wherein the plurality of buffer tubes is eight, wherein the plurality of optical fibers in each of the plurality of buffer tubes is twenty four, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers has a diameter of about 250 microns.

16. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 12, wherein the central strength member is a solid pultrusion type fiber reinforced plastic, wherein the central strength member is coated with a polyethylene layer, wherein the central strength member is coated to accommodate the plurality of buffer tubes.

17. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 12, wherein the first binder yarn is aramid binder yarn, wherein the second binder yarn is aramid binder yarn.

18. The optical fiber cable as recited in claim 12, further comprises a plurality of ripcords, wherein the plurality of ripcords is positioned below the fourth layer and along with the third layer in a linear manner.

19. An optical fiber cable comprising:

a central strength member lying substantially along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable, wherein the central strength member is formed of fiber reinforced plastic, wherein the central strength member has a diameter of about 3.0 mm;

a first layer wrapped helically around the central strength member, wherein the first layer is formed of a plurality of water swellable yarns;

a plurality of buffer tubes stranded helically around the first layer,

wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes has a first diameter of about 1.55 mm±

0.05 mm, wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes has a second diameter of about 1.85 mm±

0.05 mm,

wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes is formed of a combination of two sub layers having different material, wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes has a first sub layer and a second sub layer;

wherein the first sub layer is formed of polycarbonate,

wherein the first sub layer has a thickness of about 75 microns±

10 microns, wherein the first sub layer has a density of about 1.2 gm/cm³,

wherein the second sub layer is formed of polybutylene terephthalate, wherein the second sub layer has a thickness of about 75 microns±

10 microns, wherein the second sub layer has a density of about 1.31 gm/cm³,

wherein each of the plurality of buffer tubes encloses a plurality of optical fibers, wherein the plurality of buffer tubes is eight, wherein the plurality of optical fibers in each of the plurality of buffer tubes is twenty four, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers has a diameter of about 250 microns;

a second layer, wherein the second layer cross helically surrounds a core of the optical fiber cable, wherein the second layer is formed of a pair of binder yarns, wherein the pair of binder yarn comprising;

a first binder yarn, wherein the first binder yarn is wrapped helically in clockwise direction;

and

a second binder yarn, wherein the second binder yarn is wrapped helically in anti-clockwise direction;

a third layer wrapped helically around the core of the optical fiber cable, wherein the third layer is formed of a plurality of water swellable yarns; and

a fourth layer surrounding the third layer, wherein the fourth layer is formed of high density polyethylene, wherein the fourth layer has a thickness in a range of about 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm, wherein the fourth layer has a density in a range of about 0.90 gm/cm³ to 0.96 gm/cm³,

wherein the optical fiber cable has a diameter of about 7.7 mm±

0.2 mm.