초록 ▼

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

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.

대표청구항 ▼

A process for fabricating an optical fiber cable assembly having at least one optical fiber housed within a sealed metal or metal alloy tube, said process comprising: forming a metal or metal alloy strip into a tube having a seam formed by spaced-apart tube portions; inserting said at least one opti

A process for fabricating an optical fiber cable assembly having at least one optical fiber housed within a sealed metal or metal alloy tube, said process comprising: forming a metal or metal alloy strip into a tube having a seam formed by spaced-apart tube portions; inserting said at least one optical fiber within said tube; sealing said seam and said tube; said sealing step comprising providing a bath of molten metallic sealing material having a composition different from that of said metal or metal alloy forming said tube, said bath having an inlet through which said tube and said at least one fiber enter said bath and an outlet through which said tube and said at least one fiber exit said bath; said sealing step further comprising pulling said tube with said at least one fiber through said bath of molten metallic sealing material without any protective structure between said tube and said bath to permit said tube to be in contact with said molten metallic sealing material as it travels from said inlet to said outlet and to permit the motion of said tube through said bath to cause said molten sealing material to flow into said seam and seal said tube and to form a coating about said tube; and rapidly solidifying said sealing material after said tube exits said bath by passing said tube through a water quench.