Woven fiber protection cable assembly for use in optical fiber hydrophone array
First Claim
1. An apparatus for protecting optical fiber in an optical fiber hydrophone module as the fiber transitions between components of the module, the module comprising a fiber transition segment, a module oil seal assembly, and a hydrophone assembly adjacent to the fiber transition segment, the module having a central axis and an outermost hose surrounding an internal strength member that surrounds at least a portion of the fiber transmission segment, the module oil seal assembly, and the hydrophone assembly with two affixed positioning tapes substantially parallel to the central axis, the hydrophone assembly comprising a plurality of mandrels helically wrapped with optical fiber and connected in linear relation with interconnect springs having a helical groove that receives the optical fiber, the fiber transition segment comprising a conical, elongated element having first and second ends, the first end adapted to be connected to the hydrophone assembly, and having a helical groove for receiving the optical fiber from the assembly so that the fiber transitions to the central axis of the module, the fiber protecting apparatus comprising:
- an elastic woven fiber strap having a first side, a second side, a first layer, a second layer, a first end, a longitudinal middle portion, and a second end, wherein the strap at the first end and longitudinal middle portion are substantially aligned with the central axis of the hydrophone module, the first layer and second layer are fastened together in the longitudinal middle portion, the first end of the strap comprises a loop, and the first and second layers at the second end of the strap are spatially separated and extend at least in part on opposite sides of the fiber transition segment; and
a first tube in which an optical fiber is disposed, the first tube attached to the strap in a sinusoidal pattern to at least the longitudinal middle portion of the first layer of the strap;
wherein the first end of the strap is adapted to be attached to a relatively fixed element and the first and second layers at the second end of the strap are adapted to be attached to a relatively movable element, and wherein elongation of the strap causes the period of the sinusoidal pattern to increase without imparting damaging stress to the optical fiber.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A woven fiber protection cable assembly for use in an optical fiber hydrophone module. The assembly comprises an elastic woven fiber strap with at least one tube attached to one or more sides of the strap in a sinusoidal pattern. The strap at a first end and longitudinal middle portion is substantially aligned with the central axis of the hydrophone module. Two layers of the strap are fastened together in the longitudinal middle portion, and the first end of the strap comprises a loop. The two layers at the second end of the strap are spatially separated and on opposite sides overlap a fiber transition segment, around which one end of the tube is coiled. The elongation of the strap causes the period of the sinusoidal pattern to increase without imparting damaging stress to the optical fiber.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for protecting optical fiber in an optical fiber hydrophone module as the fiber transitions between components of the module, the module comprising a fiber transition segment, a module oil seal assembly, and a hydrophone assembly adjacent to the fiber transition segment, the module having a central axis and an outermost hose surrounding an internal strength member that surrounds at least a portion of the fiber transmission segment, the module oil seal assembly, and the hydrophone assembly with two affixed positioning tapes substantially parallel to the central axis, the hydrophone assembly comprising a plurality of mandrels helically wrapped with optical fiber and connected in linear relation with interconnect springs having a helical groove that receives the optical fiber, the fiber transition segment comprising a conical, elongated element having first and second ends, the first end adapted to be connected to the hydrophone assembly, and having a helical groove for receiving the optical fiber from the assembly so that the fiber transitions to the central axis of the module, the fiber protecting apparatus comprising:
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an elastic woven fiber strap having a first side, a second side, a first layer, a second layer, a first end, a longitudinal middle portion, and a second end, wherein the strap at the first end and longitudinal middle portion are substantially aligned with the central axis of the hydrophone module, the first layer and second layer are fastened together in the longitudinal middle portion, the first end of the strap comprises a loop, and the first and second layers at the second end of the strap are spatially separated and extend at least in part on opposite sides of the fiber transition segment; and
a first tube in which an optical fiber is disposed, the first tube attached to the strap in a sinusoidal pattern to at least the longitudinal middle portion of the first layer of the strap;
wherein the first end of the strap is adapted to be attached to a relatively fixed element and the first and second layers at the second end of the strap are adapted to be attached to a relatively movable element, and wherein elongation of the strap causes the period of the sinusoidal pattern to increase without imparting damaging stress to the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for protecting an optical fiber for use in an optical fiber hydrophone module as the fiber transitions between components of the module, the module comprising a fiber transition segment, a module oil seal assembly, and a hydrophone assembly adjacent to the fiber transition segment, the module having a central axis and an outermost hose surrounding an internal strength member that surrounds at least a portion of the fiber transmission segment, the module oil seal assembly, and the hydrophone assembly with two affixed positioning tapes substantially parallel to the central axis, the hydrophone assembly comprising a plurality of mandrels helically wrapped with optical fiber and connected in linear relation with interconnect springs having a helical groove that receives the optical fiber, the fiber transition segment comprising a conical, elongated element having first and second ends, the first end adapted to be connected to the hydrophone assembly, and having a helical groove for receiving the optical fiber from the assembly so that the fiber transitions to the central axis of the module, the fiber protecting apparatus comprising:
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an elastic woven fiber strap; and
a tube in which an optical fiber is disposed, the tube attached to the strap in a sinusoidal pattern and having a coiled end not attached to the strap, the coiled end of the tube wrapped around the fiber transition segment and receiving the optical fiber as the fiber transitions from the fiber transition segment to the central axis of the module.
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15. An optical fiber hydrophone module for protecting optical fiber as the fiber transitions between components of the module, the module having a longitudinal central axis and comprising:
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a fiber transition segment, the fiber transition segment comprising a conical, elongated element having first and second ends, the first end adapted to be connected to the hydrophone assembly, and having a helical groove for receiving the optical fiber from the assembly so that the fiber transitions to the central axis of the module;
a module oil seal assembly;
a hydrophone assembly adjacent to the fiber transition segment, the hydrophone assembly comprising a plurality of mandrels helically wrapped with optical fiber and connected in linear relation with interconnect springs having a helical groove that receives the optical fiber;
an elastic woven fiber strap having a first side, a second side, a first layer, a second layer, a first end, a longitudinal middle portion, and a second end, wherein the strap at the first end and longitudinal middle portion are substantially aligned with the central axis of the hydrophone module, the first layer and second layer are fastened together in the longitudinal middle portion, the first end of the strap comprises a loop, and the first and second layers at the second end of the strap are spatially separated and extend at least in part on opposite sides of the fiber transition segment;
a first tube in which an optical fiber is disposed, the first tube attached to the strap in a sinusoidal pattern to at least the longitudinal middle portion of the first layer of the strap; and
an internal strength member surrounding the fiber transition segment, module oil seal assembly, hydrophone assembly, and woven fiber strap, and first tube, with two affixed positioning tapes substantially parallel to the central axis, wherein the first end of the strap is attached to the module oil seal assembly and the first and second layers at the second end of the strap are attached to respective positioning tapes, and wherein elongation of the strap causes the period of the sinusoidal pattern to increase without imparting damaging stress to the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for protecting an optical fiber as the fiber transitions between components of an optical fiber hydrophone module, the module comprising a fiber transition segment, a module oil seal assembly, and a hydrophone assembly adjacent to the fiber transition segment, the module having a central axis and an outermost hose surrounding an internal strength member that surrounds at least a portion of the fiber transmission segment, the module oil seal assembly, and the hydrophone assembly with two affixed positioning tapes substantially parallel to the central axis, the hydrophone assembly comprising a plurality of mandrels helically wrapped with optical fiber and connected in linear relation with interconnect springs having a helical groove that receives the optical fiber, the fiber transition segment comprising a conical, elongated element having first and second ends, the first end adapted to be connected to the hydrophone assembly, and having a helical groove for receiving the optical fiber from the assembly so that the fiber transitions to the central axis of the module, the fiber protecting steps comprising:
- providing an elastic woven fiber strap having a first side, a second side, a first layer, a second layer, a first end, a longitudinal middle portion, and a second end, wherein the strap at the first end and longitudinal middle portion are substantially aligned with the central axis of the hydrophone module, the first layer and second layer are fastened together in the longitudinal middle portion, the first end of the strap comprises a loop, and the first and second layers at the second end of the strap are spatially separated and extend at least in part on opposite sides of the fiber transition segment; and
attaching a first tube in which an optical fiber is disposed to the strap in a sinusoidal pattern to at least the longitudinal middle portion of the first layer of the strap, wherein elongation of the strap causes the period of the sinusoidal pattern to increase without imparting damaging stress to the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (18)
- providing an elastic woven fiber strap having a first side, a second side, a first layer, a second layer, a first end, a longitudinal middle portion, and a second end, wherein the strap at the first end and longitudinal middle portion are substantially aligned with the central axis of the hydrophone module, the first layer and second layer are fastened together in the longitudinal middle portion, the first end of the strap comprises a loop, and the first and second layers at the second end of the strap are spatially separated and extend at least in part on opposite sides of the fiber transition segment; and
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19. A method for protecting an optical fiber as the fiber transitions between components of an optical fiber hydrophone module, the module comprising a fiber transition segment, a module oil seal assembly, and a hydrophone assembly adjacent to the fiber transition segment, the module having a central axis and an outermost hose an internal strength member that surrounds at least a portion of the fiber transmission segment, the module oil seal assembly, and the hydrophone assembly with two affixed positioning tapes substantially parallel to the central axis, the hydrophone assembly comprising a plurality of mandrels helically wrapped with optical fiber and connected in linear relation with interconnect springs having a helical groove that receives the optical fiber, the fiber transition segment comprising a conical, elongated element having first and second ends, the first end adapted to be connected to the hydrophone assembly, and having a helical groove for receiving the optical fiber from the assembly so that the fiber transitions to the central axis of the module, the fiber protecting steps comprising:
- providing an elastic woven fiber strap;
attaching a tube for holding an optical fiber to the strap in a sinusoidal pattern;
coiling an end of the tube not attached to the strap;
wrapping the coiled end of the tube around the fiber transition segment; and
receiving the optical fiber as the fiber transitions from the fiber transition segment to the central axis of the module.
- providing an elastic woven fiber strap;
Specification