ROLLABLE RIBBON FIBERS WITH WATER-SWELLABLE COATINGS

• US 20200132952A1
• Filed: 03/27/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OFS Fitel LLC (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: OFS Fitel LLC (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Inventors: Debban, Harold P., Weimann, Peter A., Ly, Heng
• Granted Patent: US 10,871,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4403 with ribbon structure G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44384 the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/448 Ribbon cables

Abstract

A fiber-optic cable having optical fibers that are arranged as a rollable ribbon. Water-swellable material (e.g., superabsorbent liquid, superabsorbent powder, superabsorbent adhesive, etc.) is applied directly to the rollable ribbon, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate conventional water-absorbing yarns, tapes, or other such similar materials. The rollable ribbon is surrounded by a tube, with a dielectric strength member positioned external to the tube and substantially parallel to the tube. A jacket, with a ripcord along a substantial length of the jacket, surrounds the tube. Also taught is a process for manufacturing a rollable-ribbon fiber-optic cable, in which a water-swellable material is applied directly to the rollable ribbon, thereby eliminating the need to incorporate conventional water-absorbing yarns, tapes, or other such similar materials.

Claims

1. A fiber-optic cable, comprising:

optical fibers arranged as a rollable ribbon;

a water-swellable material applied directly to rollable ribbon;

a tube surrounding the rollable ribbon;

a dielectric strength member positioned external to the tube, the dielectric strength member aligned substantially parallel to the tube;

a jacket surrounding the tube; and

a ripcord located in the jacket and positioned along a substantial length of the jacket.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein the water-swellable material comprises a superabsorbent liquid.

3. The cable of claim 2, wherein the superabsorbent liquid comprises a water-based acrylic polymer.

4. The cable of claim 1, wherein the water-swellable material comprises a superabsorbent powder.

5. The cable of claim 4, wherein the superabsorbent powder comprises a sodium polyacrylate.

6. The cable of claim 4, wherein the superabsorbent powder comprises a potassium acrylate.

7. The cable of claim 4, wherein the superabsorbent powder comprises a potassium acrylamide.

8. The cable of claim 4, wherein the superabsorbent powder comprises a combination of sodium polyacrylate, potassium acrylate, and potassium acrylamide.

9. A process comprising:

applying a water-swellable material directly to rollable ribbon fibers;

cabling the rollable ribbon fibers without incorporating a water-blocking yarn.

10. The process of claim 9, further comprising:

ribbonizing optical fibers using a ribbon-manufacturing process to produce the rollable ribbon fibers.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of applying the water-swellable material directly to the rollable ribbon fibers comprises:

applying the water-swellable material directly to the rollable ribbon fibers as part of the ribbon-manufacturing process.

12. The process of claim 9, further comprising:

rewinding the rollable ribbon fibers onto a spool prior to cabling the rollable ribbon fibers.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein the step of applying the water-swellable material directly to the rollable ribbon fibers comprises:

applying the water-swellable material directly to the rollable ribbon fibers during the rewinding of the rollable ribbon fibers onto the spool.

14. The process of claim 9, wherein the step of applying the water-swellable material directly to the rollable ribbon fibers comprises:

applying the water-swellable material directly to the rollable ribbon fibers during the cabling of the rollable ribbon fibers.

15. The process of claim 9, wherein the step of applying the water-swellable material directly to the rollable ribbon fibers comprises:

applying a superabsorbent liquid directly to the rollable ribbon fibers.

16. The process of claim 9, wherein the step of applying the water-swellable material directly to the rollable ribbon fibers comprises:

applying a superabsorbent water-based acrylic polymer directly to the rollable ribbon fibers.

17. The process of claim 9, wherein the step of applying the water-swellable material directly to the rollable ribbon fibers comprises:

dipping the rollable ribbon fibers in a superabsorbent liquid.

18. The process of claim 9, wherein the step of applying the water-swellable material directly to the rollable ribbon fibers comprises:

applying a superabsorbent powder directly to the rollable ribbon fibers.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein the step of applying the superabsorbent powder directly to the rollable ribbon fibers comprises:

suspending the superabsorbent powder in a water-based solution; and

applying the water-based solution with the suspended superabsorbent powder to the rollable ribbon fibers.

20. The process of claim 19, wherein the step suspending the superabsorbent powder in the water-based solution is one selected from the group consisting of:

suspending a sodium polyacrylate in the water-based solution;

suspending a potassium acrylate in the water-based solution;

suspending a potassium acrylamide in the water-based solution; and

suspending a combination of sodium polyacrylate, potassium acrylate, and potassium acrylamide in the water-based solution.