Conductor module, especially of an optical fibre type, having longitudinal impenetrability and controlled relative slippage, and associated method of production

• US 7,444,051 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Draka-Comteq USA Incorporated (Draka-Comteq)
• Original Assignee: Draka-Comteq USA Incorporated (Draka-Comteq)
• Inventors: Bonicel, Jean-Pierre, Tatat, Olivier, Avrons, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G
• Assistant Examiner(s): El Shammaa; Mary A
• Application Number:
  US11/015,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20050169587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 385100-102, 385/105, 385/106, 385/109, 385/110, 385/112
• US Class Current: 385/102
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44384 the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence

Abstract

A conductor module (M) comprises a jacket (E) tightly accommodating, in the manner of tubing, at least two flexible conductors (C). The conductors (C) are coated with a small amount of oil (H) having a viscosity strictly less than 100 millipascal second (mPa.s) so as to allow control of the slippage of the jacket (E) in relation to the conductors (C) and longitudinal impenetrability inside the module (M).

Claims

1. Conductor module (M) comprising:

a jacket (E) tightly accommodating at least two flexible conductors (C), wherein said conductors (C) are coated with a small amount of oil (H) having a viscosity less than 100 millipascal second (mPa.s) at a temperature between 18°

C. and 22°

C. so as to allow control of the slippage of said jacket (F) in relation to said conductors (C) and longitudinal impenetrability inside said module (M).

2. Module according to claim 1, wherein said tubing jacket is of low thickness.

3. Module according to claim 1, wherein that said oil (H) has a viscosity of between about 25 millipascal second (mPa.s) and about 85 millipascal second (mPa.s) inclusive at said temperature.

4. Module according to claim 3, wherein said oil (H) has a viscosity equal to about 75 millipascal second (mPa.s) at said temperature.

5. Module according to claim 1, wherein that said amount of oil (H) is selected so as to ensure a level of filling of the free regions of between about 10% and about 40 inclusive.

6. Module according to claim 1, wherein said oil (H) is selected from a group comprising at least silicone-based oils, paraffin oils and petroleum-based oils.

7. Module according to claim 1, wherein said conductors (C) are optical fibres.

8. Module according to claim 1, wherein said conductors (C) are electrical wires.

9. Cable (CB), characterized in that it comprises at least two conductor modules (M) according to claim 1.

10. Method of producing a conductor module (M) comprising a tubing jacket tightly accommodating at least two flexible conductors, the method comprising the following steps:

coating the at least two flexible conductors (C) with oil (H) having a viscosity less than 100 millipascal second (mPa.s) at a temperature between 18°

C. and 22°

C.; and

extruding the tubing jacket (E) around said conductors (C) such that the coated conductors are tightly accommodated in said jacket to control slippage of said jacket relative to said conductors and to prevent penetration of moisture inside said module.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said tubing jacket is of low thickness.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein that said oil (H) has a viscosity of between about 25 millipascal second (mPa.s) and about 85 millipascal second (mPa.s) inclusive at said temperature.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said oil (H) has a viscosity equal to about 75 millipascal second (mPa.s) at said temperature.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein that said amount of oil (H) is selected so as to ensure a level of filling of the free regions of between about 10% and about 40 inclusive.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said oil (H) is selected from a group comprising at least silicone-based oils, paraffin oils and petroleum-based oils.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein said conductors (C) are optical fibres.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein said conductors (C) are electrical wires.