Indoor/outdoor dry optical fiber cable

• US 6,178,278 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nexans Incorporated (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Keller, David A., Rosko, John C., Keller, Leslie P.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, HUNG NHAT
• Application Number:
  US09/190,706
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 385/109, 385/110, 385/111, 385/112, 385/113
• US Class Current: 385/109
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/441 built up from sub-bundles G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4436 Heat resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44384 the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/28 Protection against damage caused by moisture, corrosion, chemical attack or weather
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/29 Protection against damage caused by extremes of temperature or by flame heat dissipation or conduction H01B7/42

Abstract

The present invention provides an indoor/outdoor cable having an optical fiber, a dry-loose tube, a fiberglass yarn matrix and a jacket, with water swellable powder. The dry-loose tube has the optical fiber arranged therein. The fiberglass yarn matrix has fiberglass yarns and is arranged about the dry-loose tube. The jacket is arranged about the fiberglass yarn matrix. Either the jacket, dry-loose tube, fiberglass yarn matrix or a combination thereof, is made from an optimum blend of FRPVC and PVDF in a ratio of 50% PVDF and 50% FRPVC. The ratio is in a range of 30-60% PVDF to 70-40% FRPVC. The diameter of the water swellable powder particles sprinkled on the optical fiber are less than 50 microns, are in a range of 10-50 microns, and are applied on the optical fiber with about 0.10-1.0 grams per meter. The indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable also may have a cyclically-placed low viscosity elastomer for connecting the one or more optical fibers to the dry-loose buffer tube.

Claims

1. An indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable, comprising an optical fiber;

a buffer tube having the optical fiber arranged therein;

a fiberglass yarn matrix having fiberglass yarns and being arranged about the buffer tube;

a jacket being arranged about the fiberglass yarn matrix;

wherein either the jacket, the buffer tube, the fiberglass yarn matrix, or a combination thereof, is made from an optimal blend of flame retardant polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene fluoride in a range of 30-60% of polyvinylidene fluoride and 70-40% polyvinyl chloride.

2. An indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable according to claim 1, wherein the optimal blend is a ratio of 50% PVDF and 50% FRPVC.

3. An indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable according to claim 1, wherein the indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable includes trace amounts of water swellable powder particles electrostatically sprinkled on the optical fiber arranged inside the loose tube.

4. An indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable according to claim 3, wherein the trace amounts of water swellable powder particles are less than 50 microns.

5. An indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable according to claim 3, wherein the trace amounts of water swellable powder particles are applied on the optical fiber with about 0.10-1.0 grams per meter.

6. An indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable according to claim 3, wherein the trace amounts of water swellable powder particles are less than 50 microns, and are applied on the optical fiber with about 0.10-1.0 grams per meter.

7. A cable according to claim 3, wherein the water swellable powder is made from a copolymer blend of polyacrylate and polyalcohol resins.

8. A cable according to claim 3, wherein the cable further comprises a cyclically-placed low viscosity elastomer for connecting the one or more optical fibers to the buffer tube.

9. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the cable further comprises a cyclically-placed low viscosity elastomer for connecting the one or more optical fibers to the buffer tube.

10. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the fiberglass yarn matrix is applied longitudinally to the buffer tube.

11. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the fiberglass yarn matrix is a single layer of yarn.

12. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the fiberglass yarn matrix is a dual layer of yarn.

13. An indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable, comprising an optical fiber;

a dry-loose tube having the optical fiber arranged therein;

a fiberglass yarn matrix having fiberglass yarns and being arranged about the dry-loose tube;

a jacket being arranged about the fiberglass yarn matrix;

wherein the jacket is made from an optimal blend of polyvinylidene fluoride and flame retardant polyvinyl chloride in a range of 30-60% of polyvinylidene fluoride and 70-40% polyvinylidene chloride.

14. An indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable according to claim 13, wherein the optimal blend is a ratio of 50% polyvinylidene fluoride and 50% polyvinyl chloride.

15. An indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable according to claim 13, wherein the indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable includes trace amounts of water swellable powder particles sprinkled on the optical fiber arranged inside the dry-loose tube.

16. An indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable according to claim 15, wherein the trace amounts of water swellable powder particles are less than 50 microns.

17. An indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable according to claim 15, wherein the trace amounts of water swellable powder particles are applied on the optical fiber with about 0.10-1.0 grams per meter.

18. An indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable according to claim 15, wherein the trace amounts of water swellable powder particles are less than 50 microns, and are applied on the optical fiber with about 0.10-1.0 grams per meter.

19. A cable according to claim 15, wherein the water swellable powder is made from a copolymer blend of polyacrylate and polyalcohol resins.

20. A cable according to claim 15, wherein the cable further comprises a cyclically-placed low viscosity elastomer for connecting the one or more optical fibers to the buffer tube.

21. A cable according to claim 13, wherein the cable further comprises a cyclically-placed low viscosity elastomer for connecting the one or more optical fibers to the buffer tube.

22. A cable comprising one or more optical fibers arranged in a loose tube, wherein the cable includes only trace amounts of water swellable powder particles sprinkled and held in place on the one or more optical fibers arranged inside the loose tube.

23. A cable according to claim 22, wherein the trace amounts of water swellable powder particles are less than 50 microns in size.

24. A cable according to claim 22, wherein the trace amounts of water swellable powder particles are applied on the optical fiber with about 0.10-1.0 grams per meter.

25. A cable according to claim 22, wherein the trace amounts of water swellable powder particles are less than 50 microns in size, are applied on the optical fiber with about 0.10-1.0 grams per meter.

26. A cable according to claim 22, wherein the water swellable powder is made from a copolymer blend of polyacrylate and polyalcohol resins.

27. A cable according to claim 23, wherein the cable further comprises a cyclically-placed low viscosity elastomer for connecting the one or more optical fibers to the buffer tube.

28. An indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable, comprising an optical fiber;

a buffer tube having the optical fiber arranged therein;

a fiberglass yarn matrix having fiberglass yarns and being arranged about the buffer tube;

a jacket being arranged about the fiberglass yarn matrix;

wherein either the jacket, the buffer tube, the fiberglass yarn matrix, or a combination thereof, is made from an optimal blend of flame retardant polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene fluoride in a range of 5-15% of polyvinylidene fluoride and 95-85% polyvinyl chloride.