Process and apparatus for fabricating optical fiber cables

Details Process and apparatus for fabricating optical fiber cables Process and apparatus for fabricating optical fiber cables

1985-05-20

1987-12-08

Ramsey, Kenneth J.

Metal fusion bonding

Process

With shaping

228222, 350 9623, H04B 900

Patent

active

047113880

ABSTRACT:
A process and apparatus for fabricating an optical fiber communication cable are described herein. The optical fiber cable has a cable core including a metal containment tube and at least one optical fiber within the tube. The containment tube preferably is formed by drawing a strip of metal through at least one forming die. In a first aspect of the present invention, smooth operation of the forming die is promoted by first passing the metal strip through a shaving die to remove any shearing burrs along the strip edges and to maintain the width of the strip within a desired tolerance.
In a second aspect of the present invention, various approaches for effectively sealing the containment tube are described. In a first embodiment, the tube is sealed using a wave soldering approach wherein a flow of moving molten solder is used to substantially fill a seam in the tube. In a preferred embodiment, a mechanical separation is placed between the tube and the moving molten solder to prevent sealing until a steady state running condition has been achieved. In a second embodiment, the tube is sealed by wrapping a metal foil having a meltable coating about the tube and heating the assembly to melt the coating and effect a seal.
In a third aspect of the present invention, the optical fiber cable is provided with an improved concentricity. The improved concentricity is effected by passing the sealed metal tube through a die for removing any excess material such as solder from about the outer periphery of the tube.

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