Armored optical fiber cable

• US 10,578,820 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2019
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Aguilar, Mario Sergio Sandate, Gimblet, Michael John, Greenwood, III, Julian Latelle, McAlpine, Warren Welborn
• Primary Examiner(s): Stahl, Michael
• Application Number:
  US16/292,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20190196124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/441 built up from sub-bundles G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4413 Helical structure
• 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 6/4432 with fibre reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4433 Double reinforcement laying in straight line with optical transmission element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4434 Central member to take up tensile loads
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4435 Corrugated mantle
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44384 the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4488 using metallic tubes

Abstract

An optical communication cable subassembly includes a cable core having optical fibers each comprising a core surrounded by a cladding, buffer tubes surrounding subsets of the optical fibers, and a binder film surrounding the buffer tubes. Armor surrounds the cable core, the binder film is bonded to an interior of the armor, and water-absorbing powder particles are provided on an interior surface of the binder film.

Claims

1. An optical communication cable, comprising:

a core of the cable, comprising;

optical fibers;

buffer tubes surrounding subsets of the optical fibers; and

a central strength member, wherein the buffer tubes are stranded around the central strength member in a pattern of stranding including reversals in lay direction of the buffer tubes; and

a binder film to hold the buffer tubes in position around the central strength member,

wherein using pull-through testing the binder film has a static friction force between the stranded buffer tubes and the central strength member of at least 10 N for a 100 millimeter length of the stranded buffer tubes.

2. The optical communication cable of claim 1, wherein the binder film comprises a polypropylene material.

3. The optical communication cable of claim 2, wherein the binder film has an average wall thickness of at least 0.02 millimeters but less than 0.04 millimeters.

4. The optical communication cable of claim 3, wherein the static friction force for a 200 millimeter section of stranded buffer tubes is at least 20 N.

5. The optical communication cable of claim 2, wherein the binder film has an average wall thickness of at least 0.08 millimeters but less than 0.15 millimeters.

6. The optical communication cable of claim 5, wherein the static friction force for the 100 millimeter length of the stranded buffer tubes is at least 20 N.

7. The optical communication cable of claim 6, wherein a static friction force for a 200 millimeter section of the stranded buffer tubes is at least 40 N.