Optical cable and process for the manufacture thereof

Details Optical cable and process for the manufacture thereof Optical cable and process for the manufacture thereof

1994-06-24

1996-07-30

Bovernick, Rodney B.

Optical waveguides

Optical transmission cable

Tightly confined

385103, 385114, G02B 644

Patent

active

055420192

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical cable having chamber elements which are disposed annularly in at least one layer and which serve to receive optical waveguides.
2. Description of the Related Art
An optical cable is disclosed in German Patent Application 3,839,109. Its cable core comprises a plurality of chamber elements to receive optical waveguides.
A disadvantage of an optical cable constructed in this manner resides principally in that the dimensioning and shaping of the known chamber elements alone determine the strength of the construction of the cable core. If there is excessively great radial load, there may possibly be the danger of deformating the chamber elements and possibly of damage to the optical waveguides embedded in them. With respect to the bending of the side walls, in the case of the conventional design the danger of deformation cannot be substantially reduced, as the maximum bending moment occurs at a position of the side wall of the U profile at which position, of course, least space is available for strengthening, namely inside. An integration of the supporting function into the chamber elements would lead to a marked asymmetry of the chamber elements, which could make the manufacture of the chamber profiles and their interstratification on spools in the production sequence more difficult, especially as the transverse dimensions of the chambers are relatively critical for the strip stack.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an optical cable having chamber elements, in which the strength of the construction of the cable core is improved in a simple and reliable manner.
In the case of an optical cable of the initially mentioned type, this and other objects and advantages are achieved in that supporting elements are provided between the chamber elements, in that the supporting elements are disposed so as to extend substantially radially, and in that the radial extent of the supporting elements is selected to be at least equal to the radial extent of the chamber elements.
The invention is distinguished especially in that the supporting elements between the chamber elements act as supporting pillars against radial and transverse forces. In the case of the invention, it is thus not necessary that the chamber elements alone determine the strength and stiffness of the construction of the cable core. The latter properties of the cable structure are predominantly ensured by the resistance and supporting function of the supporting elements against transverse and radial forces, i.e. the compressive strength and stiffness of the cable are substantially provided by the supporting elements. In this way, the chamber walls of the chamber elements can be relatively thin, i.e. of a filigree thickness. On account of their reduced stiffness and strength, e.g. filigree chamber elements exhibit a substantially improved bending capability. In addition, an enhanced elasticity of the chamber elements facilitates their handling during the stranding process, especially in the processing of very great run lengths of the chamber elements. The supporting elements between the chamber elements can be stranded in a simple manner together with the chamber elements in a single operation.
According to an expedient further development of the invention, the supporting elements exhibit in each instance at least one transversely extending projection. As a result of this, it is achieved that at least the intermediate spaces between the chamber elements, i.e. the fillers in the cable core or/and even the chamber elements, can be completely or partly covered over. Thus, the additional application of a cover layer on the chamber elements can possibly be saved, or this cover layer can be designed in a substantially simpler or thinner configuration.
Present invention also provides a process for the manufacture of an optical cable, which is characterized in that the chamber elements are disposed annularly in at least one stranding la

REFERENCES:
patent: 5013126 (1991-05-01), Hattori et al.
patent: 5193134 (1993-05-01), Pizzorno et al.

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