Optical cable with improved strength
First Claim
1. An optical cable comprising a longitudinally extending crush resistant central core formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly facing ribs with adjacent ribs defining grooves between them, the ribs and the defined grooves extending longitudinally of the cable and lying at angles to the core axis;
- some of the grooves each housing a tube extending along the length of the groove;
at least one optical fiber housed within and extending along each tube throughout the length of the cable; and
a protective jacket surrounding the core.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Optical cable having a central core with grooves along the outside, the grooves housing tubes containing optical fibers. The grooves are inclined to the core axis and preferably are sinusoidal in that they extend around the core in each direction while extending axially and do not complete a revolution around the core before changing direction. In preferred structures, the tubes contact around a concave base surface of the grooves or contact opposing groove walls. In addition, the tubes provide greater strength if they are in a load transmitting relationship with a metal sheath if there is one. The structure also allows for a different water blocking material to be used within the tubes than outside the tubes and within the grooves so as to satisfy different property requirements.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An optical cable comprising a longitudinally extending crush resistant central core formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly facing ribs with adjacent ribs defining grooves between them, the ribs and the defined grooves extending longitudinally of the cable and lying at angles to the core axis;
- some of the grooves each housing a tube extending along the length of the groove;
at least one optical fiber housed within and extending along each tube throughout the length of the cable; and
a protective jacket surrounding the core. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- some of the grooves each housing a tube extending along the length of the groove;
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10. A method of making optical cable comprising:
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providing a longitudinally extending crush resistant central core formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly facing ribs with adjacent ribs defining between them longitudinally extending grooves, the ribs and grooves also extending at angles to the core axis; providing a plurality of tubes each housing at least one optical fiber; locating the tubes and their housed fibers within at least some of the grooves so as to extend along said grooves; and providing a protective jacket in a position surrounding the core. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification