Optical cable
First Claim
1. An optical cable adapted to be freely supported in long length from spaced supports along a location subject to electrical interference, comprising an optical cable element comprising a plurality of separately formed tubes of plastics material in at least one of which is loosely housed at least one optical fibre and, surrounding the tubes, an outer protective sheath;
- and, loosely surrounding the optical cable element, an outer protective sleeve which has an inner diameter substantially greater than the overall diameter of the optical cable element and which has embedded in the sleeve at least one layer of circumferentially spaced elongate non-metallic reinforcing members which extend substantially lengthwise of the sleeve, each of the reinforcing members having, in the member, undulations that serve to improve the mechanical bonding of the member within the sleeve and the flexibility of the cable, wherein the optical cable element comprises a plurality of separately formed tubes of plastics material in at least one of which is loosely housed at least one optical fibre and, surrounding the tubes, an outer protective sheath and wherein the optical cable element is loosely housed within and extends helically throughout substantially the whole of the length of the sleeve and is contiguous with the internal surface of the sleeve at least spaced positions along the length of the sleeve.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical cable suitable for suspension beside an electrical railway or other location where an electric communication cable would be subjected to electrical interference comprises an optical cable element which is loosely housed in and extends helically throughout the length of an outer protective sleeve which has embedded in and at spaced positions around the sleeve a plurality of elongate non-metallic reinforcing members which extend lengthwise of the sleeve. Each reinforcing member has, in the member, undulations that serve to improve the mechanical bonding of the member within the sleeve and the flexibility of the cable. The optical cable element comprises a plurality of plastic tubes helically laid around a central non-metallic reinforcing member and surrounded by an outer sheath. In each of some of the tube is loosely housed a separate optical fibre.
78 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An optical cable adapted to be freely supported in long length from spaced supports along a location subject to electrical interference, comprising an optical cable element comprising a plurality of separately formed tubes of plastics material in at least one of which is loosely housed at least one optical fibre and, surrounding the tubes, an outer protective sheath;
- and, loosely surrounding the optical cable element, an outer protective sleeve which has an inner diameter substantially greater than the overall diameter of the optical cable element and which has embedded in the sleeve at least one layer of circumferentially spaced elongate non-metallic reinforcing members which extend substantially lengthwise of the sleeve, each of the reinforcing members having, in the member, undulations that serve to improve the mechanical bonding of the member within the sleeve and the flexibility of the cable, wherein the optical cable element comprises a plurality of separately formed tubes of plastics material in at least one of which is loosely housed at least one optical fibre and, surrounding the tubes, an outer protective sheath and wherein the optical cable element is loosely housed within and extends helically throughout substantially the whole of the length of the sleeve and is contiguous with the internal surface of the sleeve at least spaced positions along the length of the sleeve.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification