DE3312649A1 - Sealing material and apparatus for fixing an optical waveguide in a protective tube - Google Patents

Abstract

A sealing material for fixing an optical waveguide lying loosely in a protective tube comprises a mixture of wax and viscous polyisobutylene. By virtue of its good flow properties in the heated state, this mixture can be introduced very easily into the space between the protective tube and the optical waveguide and exerts only a slight pressure on the optical waveguide, so that there is no increase in attenuation.

Description

AEG-TELEFUNKEN Κ1 E7 / Th / sch

Nachrichtentechnik GmbH BK ^83/1 H

Gerberstrasse 33

D-7150 Backnang

Potting material and device for fixing an optical waveguide in a protective tube

The present invention relates to a potting material and a device for fixing an optical waveguide at the end of a Protective tube, the inner clear width of which is greater than the cross-section of the fiber optic cable loosely in it.

When splicing two fiber optic cables, e.g. using one - arc it depends; that the end faces of the light waveguides are very precisely aligned with one another. For this purpose, the fiber optics, as in the Mach Richting Electronics 36 (1982), No. 6, pp.25-254 described, usually with their so-called secondary protection clamped in brackets. As a rule, the secondary protection consists of a protective hose, where the fiber optic cable is loose. Since the fiber optic cables do not have a defined, have a central position · is that. Insertion of the optical waveguides with a precise mutual alignment in the splicing device difficult.

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In order to circumvent this problem, the invention is based on the object of providing a potting material for fixing the optical waveguide indicate at the end of a protective hose that has good pouring properties and sufficient adhesion and the optical waveguide is left mechanically only to a small extent, so that there is no increase in attenuation in it.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the space between the protective tube and the optical waveguide is removed filling potting material consists of a mixture of wax and viscous polyisobutylene.

Appropriate execution of the invention together with a casting device emerge from the subclaims. 15th

The invention will then be explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1 a casting device and
Fig. 2 shows an encapsulated protective hose end.

The potting material, which is used for the central fixation of an optical waveguide in a protective tube, is a mixture of 100 parts by weight wax and 50 parts by weight - known under the trade name Oppanol Type B-10 Polyisobutylene. This highly viscous Oppanol type B-10 gives the wax good adhesion. It also sets the Brittleness of the wax and improves the elasticity of the wax, especially at low temperatures. That Oppanol alone does not have good casting properties due to its viscosity. Only the mixture of wax and Oppanol results in Heating a flowable mass that can be easily introduced into the space between the protective tube and the fiber optic cable, However, it does not flow too far into the protective tube, but rather concentrates in the end area of the protective tube. The potting material used also has the advantage that it

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exerts only small forces on the optical waveguide when it cools down and there is therefore no increase in attenuation.

It is advisable to add a dye to the mixture of wax and oppanol, which differs from the color of the protective tube. Thus, especially with a transparent protective hose, it is easy to observe how far the potting material flows into the protective hose during casting.
10

1 shows a device with which the wax-oppanol mixture can be introduced into the space between the protective tube 1 and the optical waveguide 2 held centered therein. The device consists of a funnel 3 in which the wax-oppanol mixture 4 is ^{heated up to approx. 150 °} C. with the aid of a soldering iron until it flows out of the funnel opening into the protective tube.

On the inside of the funnel wall there is a sleeve 5, into which the soldering tip 6 of the soldering iron is inserted and possibly also is clamped, so that on the sleeve and the funnel wall good heat conduction between the soldering tip 6 and the wax-oppanol mixture.

Finally, FIG. 2 shows an encapsulated protective hose end. On the one hand, the potting material 7 fixes the optical waveguide 2 centrally in the protective hose, but also seals the open end of the protective hose against moisture away.

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Claims (5)

AEG-TELEFUNKEN K1 E7 / Th / sch Nachrichtenentechnik GmbH BK 83/41 Gerberstrasse 33 D-7150 Backnang Claims Potting material for fixing an optical waveguide at the end of a protective tube, the inner clear width of which is greater than the cross-section of the optical waveguide loosely therein, characterized in that the potting material (4) fills the space between the protective tube (1) and the optical waveguide (2) a mixture of wax and viscous polyisobutylene. 2. Potting material according to claim 1, characterized in that 100 parts by weight of wax are mixed with 50 parts by weight of polyisobutylene. 3. Potting material according to claim 1, characterized in that the potting material (4) is added a dye which differs from the color of the protective tube. 4. Device for introducing the potting material according to one of the preceding claims in the space between the protective hose and the fiber optic cable, thereby ge -20 J 3 Ί 2 b 4 Β - 2 - BK 83/41 indicates that a funnel (3) which receives the potting material (4) is connected in a thermally conductive manner to the soldering tip (6) of a soldering iron. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that a sleeve (5) is arranged on the wall of the funnel (3) into which the soldering tip (6) is inserted. COPY