Fiber optic cables having ultra-low shrinking filaments and methods of making the same

• US 6,553,167 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Self, Larry W., Hurley, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suchecki, Krystyna
• Application Number:
  US09/873,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20020181906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 385/100, 385/102-103, 385/113
• US Class Current: 385/102
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4432 with fibre reinforcements

Abstract

A fiber optic cable and method of manufacturing the same having at least one optical fiber component, at least one strength member and at least one ultra-low shrinking filament. The at least one ultra-low shrinking filament having a shrinkage of about 0.2% or less when heated and held at about 85° C. for about seven days. At least one strength member and at least one ultra-low shrinking filament being disposed generally between the at least one optical fiber component and a cable jacket. The jacket generally surrounding the at least one optical fiber component, the at least one strength member and the ultra-low shrinking filament. The cable can include an interfacial layer interposed between said at least one optical fiber component and the jacket. Additionally, the cable can be riser or plenum rated.

Claims

1. A fiber optic cable, comprising:

at least one optical fiber component;

at least one strength member;

at least one ultra-low shrinking filament, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament having a shrinkage of about 0.2% or less when heated and held at about 85°

C. for about seven days; and

a cable jacket, said at least one strength member and said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament being disposed generally between said at least one optical fiber component and said cable jacket.

2. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament having a shrinkage of about 0.1% or less when heated and held at about 85°

C. for about seven days.

3. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament fiber selected from nylon, rayon, cotton, polyester, acrylics, acetates, polyproylene or blends thereof.

4. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament comprising a nylon material.

5. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament being a composite filament.

6. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament having a coating system.

7. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1, said at least one strength member comprising aramid fibers.

8. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1, said at least one strength member comprising kevlar®

fibers.

9. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1, said at least one optical fiber component being selected from a tight-buffered optical fiber, a non-buffered optical fiber or an optical fiber ribbon.

10. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1, said cable being a premises cable.

11. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1, said cable being either riser or plenum rated.

12. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1, further comprising an interfacial layer disposed between said optical fiber component and said jacket.

13. A fiber optic cable, comprising:

at least one optical fiber component being generally stranded around a central member;

a first layer comprising at least one strength member and at least one ultra-low shrinking filament, said first layer being disposed generally between said at least one optical fiber component and a cable jacket;

said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament having a shrinkage of about 0.2% or less when heated and held at about 85°

C. for about seven days; and

said jacket generally surrounding said at least one optical fiber component, said central member, and said first layer.

14. The fiber optic cable according to claim 13, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament having a shrinkage of about 0.1% or less when heated and held at about 85°

C. for about seven days.

15. The fiber optic cable according to claim 13, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament selected from nylon, rayon, cotton, polyester, acrylics, acetates, polypropylenne or blends thereof.

16. The fiber optic cable according to claim 13, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament comprising a nylon material.

17. The fiber optic cable according to claim 13, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament being a composite filament.

18. The fiber optic cable according to claim 13, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament having a coating system.

19. The fiber optic cable according to claim 13, said at least one strength member comprising aramid fibers.

20. The fiber optic cable according to claim 13, said at least one strength member comprising a Kevlar®

aramid fiber.

21. The fiber optic cable according to claim 13, said at least one strength member and said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament being generally stranded around said at least one optical fiber component.

22. The fiber optic cable according to claim 13, said at least one optical fiber component being selected from a tight-buffered optical fiber, a non-buffered optical fiber or an optical fiber ribbon.

23. The fiber optic cable according to claim 13, further comprising optical fiber components stranded around said first layer;

a second layer comprising at least one strength member and at least one ultra-low shrinking filament, said second layer disposed between said first layer and said jacket.

24. The fiber optic cable according to claim 23, said second layer being stranded.

25. The fiber optic cable according to claim 13, said cable being a premises cable.

26. The fiber optic cable according to claim 13, said cable being either riser or plenum rated.

27. The fiber optic cable according to claim 13, further comprising an interfacial layer disposed between said optical fiber component and said jacket.

28. A fiber optic cable, comprising:

a first group of tight-buffered optical fiber components being generally adjacent a central member;

a first layer being disposed generally between said first group of tight-buffered optical fiber components and a second group of tight-buffered optical fiber components;

a second layer being disposed generally between said second group of tight-buffered optical fiber components and a cable jacket, said jacket generally surrounding said central member, said first and second groups and said first and second layers; and

one of said layers comprising at least one ultra-low shrinking filament, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament having a shrinkage of about 0.2% or less when heated and held at about 85°

C. for about seven days.

29. The fiber optic cable according to claim 28, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament having a shrinkage of about 0.1% or less when heated and held at about 85°

C. for about seven days.

30. The fiber optic cable according to claim 28, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament selected from nylon, rayon, cotton, polyester, acrylics, acetates, polypropylene or blends thereof.

31. The fiber optic cable according to claim 28, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament comprising a nylon material.

32. The fiber optic cable according to claim 28, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament being a composite filament.

33. The fiber optic cable according to claim 28, said at least one ultra-low shrinking filament having a coating system.

34. The fiber optic cable according to claim 28, said at least one central member comprising aramid fibers.

35. The fiber optic cable according to claim 28, said at least one central member comprising a Keviar®

aramid fiber.

36. The fiber optic cable according to claim 28, said cable being a premises cable.

37. The fiber optic cable according to claim 28, said cable being either riser or plenum rated.

38. The fiber optic cable according to claim 28, further comprising an interfacial layer disposed between said central member and said jacket.