Pressure resistant submarine optical fiber cable
First Claim
1. A submarine, telecommunication cable comprising:
- a core comprising an axially disposed and extending armor formed by a strand of wires and a layer of plastic material around and adhering to said strand, said plastic layer having a plurality of spaced-apart, helical grooves therein extending longitudinally of said core and opening radially outwardly and said strand of wires having, by itself, a tensile strength sufficient to withstand the tensile stresses to which the cable is subjected during laying and recovery thereof;
a substantially incompressible fluid disposed in and filling-up otherwise empty spaced within said layer of plastic material including any spaces between said wires;
at least one optical fiber loosely received in each of said grooves;
a substantially incompressible fluid disposed in and filling-up any othwise empty spaces in said grooves; and
a water-tight metal sheath around said core, said sheath, by itself, having a resistance to compression which is insufficient to withstand the compression forces to which the cable is subjected during use;
said cable being without armor externally of said layer of plastic material which, by itself, can withstand the mechanical stresses to which the cable is subjected in use;
whereby said cable is able to withstand hydrostatic pressures to which it is subjected when submerged without any armor outwardly of the optical fiber or fibers which by itself can withstand such pressures.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A submarine cable with optical fibers which prevents damage to the fibers due to water pressure without the use of an external armor. The cable has a central core with a strand which provides the cable tensile strength and which is surrounded and contacted by a layer of plastic material having helical grooves which receive the optical fibers which may have a protective covering. The layer of plastic material is surrounded by a thin metal sheath which, in turn, is closely surrounded by a layer of plastic material. The grooves and any spaces radially inwardly of the sheath, such as the spaces between the wires of the strands, are filled with a practically incompressible fluid, such as a grease or jelly. If the optical fiber protective layer is a tube loosely receiving the optical fiber, or optical fibers, the space within the tube not filled by optical fibers is filled with a substantially incompressible fluid. A further layer of plastic material may be interposed between the metal sheath and the plastic material layer of the core and may at least partially extend into the grooves.
37 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A submarine, telecommunication cable comprising:
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a core comprising an axially disposed and extending armor formed by a strand of wires and a layer of plastic material around and adhering to said strand, said plastic layer having a plurality of spaced-apart, helical grooves therein extending longitudinally of said core and opening radially outwardly and said strand of wires having, by itself, a tensile strength sufficient to withstand the tensile stresses to which the cable is subjected during laying and recovery thereof; a substantially incompressible fluid disposed in and filling-up otherwise empty spaced within said layer of plastic material including any spaces between said wires; at least one optical fiber loosely received in each of said grooves; a substantially incompressible fluid disposed in and filling-up any othwise empty spaces in said grooves; and a water-tight metal sheath around said core, said sheath, by itself, having a resistance to compression which is insufficient to withstand the compression forces to which the cable is subjected during use; said cable being without armor externally of said layer of plastic material which, by itself, can withstand the mechanical stresses to which the cable is subjected in use; whereby said cable is able to withstand hydrostatic pressures to which it is subjected when submerged without any armor outwardly of the optical fiber or fibers which by itself can withstand such pressures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A submarine, telecommunication cable comprising:
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a core comprising an axially disposed and extending armor formed by a strand of wires and a layer of plastic material around and adhering to said strand, said plastic layer having a pluraity of spaced-apart, helical grooves therein extending longitudinally of said core and opening radially outwardly; a substantially incompressible fluid filling any otherwise empty spaced within said layer of plastic material including any spaces between said wires; at least one optical fiber loosely received in each of said grooves; a further layer of plastic material around and in contact with said first-mentioned layer of plastic material, said further layer extending at least partly into said grooves; a substantially incompressible fluid filling any otherwise empty spaces in said grooves; and a water-tight metal sheath around said further layer of platic material, said sheath, by itself, having a resistance to compression which is insufficient to withstand the compression forces to which the cable is subjected during use; said cable being without armor externally of the first mentioned said layer of plstic material which, by itself, can withstand the mechanical stresses to which the cable is subjected to use. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification