Optical fiber cable having fluted strength member core
First Claim
1. An optical fiber cable, which comprises:
- a plurality of optical fibers;
a fluted member which provides suitable tensile and compressive strength for the cable and which comprises a plurality of ribs extending radially from a central portion of said fluted member to provide a plurality of grooves each of which is disposed between two adjacent ribs with said optical fibers being disposed in said grooves, the ratio of the diameter of a circle that passes through outer ends of said ribs to the diameter of a circle that passes through the inverts of the grooves not exceeding a predetermined value which is sufficiently low to provide stability for said ribs and which is sufficiently high to cooperate with the spacing between adjacent ribs to allow a plurality of said optical fibers to be disposed in each groove and to be capable of longitudinal and transverse movement therein, further, the width of each rib as measured along the periphery of the circle that passes through the inverts of the grooves being substantially greater than the width of said each rib as measured along the periphery of the circle that passes through the outer ends of the ribs and being sufficient in value to strengthen and prevent rupture of each rib at its juncture with said central portion of said fluted member; and
a sheath system which encloses said fluted member.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical fiber cable includes a fluted strength member core (22) which comprises a plurality of ribs (26--26) extending radially from a center portion and a plurality of grooves (28--28), each groove being disposed between two adjacent ribs. The fluted core is such that the ratio of the diameter of a circle (41) which passes through an outermost surface of each rib to the diameter of a circle (44) through the inverts of the grooves does not exceed a predetermined value and cooperates with a reference width of each rib to allow a plurality of optical fibers to be disposed in each groove. Further, the geometry of the fluted core is such that the optical fibers are capable of longitudinal and lateral movement in the grooves. A core wrap (50) which may be made of a flame retardant material encloses the fluted core and a jacket (60) which is made of a plastic material encloses the core wrap.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An optical fiber cable, which comprises:
-
a plurality of optical fibers; a fluted member which provides suitable tensile and compressive strength for the cable and which comprises a plurality of ribs extending radially from a central portion of said fluted member to provide a plurality of grooves each of which is disposed between two adjacent ribs with said optical fibers being disposed in said grooves, the ratio of the diameter of a circle that passes through outer ends of said ribs to the diameter of a circle that passes through the inverts of the grooves not exceeding a predetermined value which is sufficiently low to provide stability for said ribs and which is sufficiently high to cooperate with the spacing between adjacent ribs to allow a plurality of said optical fibers to be disposed in each groove and to be capable of longitudinal and transverse movement therein, further, the width of each rib as measured along the periphery of the circle that passes through the inverts of the grooves being substantially greater than the width of said each rib as measured along the periphery of the circle that passes through the outer ends of the ribs and being sufficient in value to strengthen and prevent rupture of each rib at its juncture with said central portion of said fluted member; and a sheath system which encloses said fluted member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification