GB2104676A - Optical fibre(s) located in a protective coating - Google Patents

Optical fibre(s) located in a protective coating Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2104676A
GB2104676A GB08119673A GB8119673A GB2104676A GB 2104676 A GB2104676 A GB 2104676A GB 08119673 A GB08119673 A GB 08119673A GB 8119673 A GB8119673 A GB 8119673A GB 2104676 A GB2104676 A GB 2104676A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
assembly
optical fibre
fibre
fibres
optical
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08119673A
Inventor
Robert Pennell Williams
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NORTHANTS AFORM Ltd
Original Assignee
NORTHANTS AFORM Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by NORTHANTS AFORM Ltd filed Critical NORTHANTS AFORM Ltd
Priority to GB08119673A priority Critical patent/GB2104676A/en
Publication of GB2104676A publication Critical patent/GB2104676A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/04—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings formed by bundles of fibres
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
    • B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
    • B29D11/00663—Production of light guides
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4401—Optical cables

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Surface Treatment Of Glass Fibres Or Filaments (AREA)

Abstract

An optical fibre assembly comprises one or more optical fibres 2 located in a protective coating 4 e.g. made from glass rovings and unsaturated isophthalic polyester resin. The optical fibre 2 may be a medium-loss all glass fibre produced from the stratified melt process. This fibre has a high numerical aperture and a core diameter of 200 microns. The assembly is optionally rod- shaped with an external diameter of 4 mm. This assembly may be produced by drawing the glass reinforcing fibres through a bath of unpolymerised polyester resin, positioning the optical fibre 2 centrally in the reinforcing fibre bundle, and then drawing the composite material through a heated sizing die. By suitably varying the composition of the coating 4 the degree of stiffness can be adjusted to suit the requirements of a particular application of the optical fibres. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An optical fibre assembly Technical field The present invention relates to optical fibres.
Optical fibres are used for carrying signals to a desired location, and it is found that these optical fibres have many different operational applications. A feature of optical fibres is that they are of relatively small diameter which means that they can pass signals to a location which would be inaccessable to other forms of current carrying conductors. The difficulty arises that in some applications the optical fibres are vulnerable to damage or deterioration either by physical contact with a surrounding medium or from a hostile environment.
Statement of invention and advantages It is an aim of the invention to alleviate this difficulty, and accordingly there is provided an optical fibre assembly comprising one or optical fibres located in a protective coating.
The composition of this coating may be arranged so that the coating provides a required degree of mechanical stiffness. By suitably varying the composition of the coating the degree of stiffness can be adjusted to suit the requirements of a particular application of the optical fibres. If desired, the protective coating may itself be coated with a non-structurai protective outer coating.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the optical fibre or fibres may be co-extruded with glass fibre or other reinforcement while being impregnated with a thermosetting resin. This process will be referred to as "pultrusion". The physical properties of the optical fibre assembly can be arranged to suit a particular application by suitably varying the amount, proportion and type of both the reinforcement and the impregnating resin.
Figure in the drawing An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawing which is a side elevation of one optical fibre assembly of the invention.
Detailed description of the drawings Referring to the drawing, one optical fibre assembly of the invention includes an optical fibre 2 which is a medium-loss all glass fibre produced from the "Stratified Melt" process. This fibre has a high numerical aperture and a core diameter of 200 microns.
The assembly includes a co-extruded reinforced protective coating 4 made from glass rovings manufactured to BS 3691 and unsaturated isophthalic polyester resin. This resin is produced to BS 3532 by reacting together a dihydric alcohol and a dibasic acid, either or both of which contain a double bonded pair of carbon atoms.
The optical fibre assembly is rod-shaped with an external diameter of 4 mm. This assembly is manufactured by drawing the glass reinforcing fibres through a bath of unpolymerised polyester resin, positioning the optical fibre 2 centrally in the reinforcing fibre bundle, and then drawing the composite material through a heated sizing die.
This 4 mm diameter optical fibre assembly rod has the following mechanical properties: Glass content by weight 70% Density 2 kg/dm3 Tensile Strength 1100 MN/m2 Tensile Modulus 35 GN/m2 Compressive strength 400 MN/m2 Coefficient of expansion 12 x 1 O-3/ C Claims (filed on 23 June 1982) 1. An optical fibre assembly comprising one or more optical fibres located in a protective coating.
2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 in which at least one of the fibres is a medium-loss all glass fibre.
3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 in which the glass fibre is produced from the stratified melt process.
4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the glass fibre has a high numerical aperture and a core diameter of 200 microns.
5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which the optical fibre or fibres are coextruded with a reinforced protective coating while being impregnated with a thermosetting resin.
6. An assembly as claimed in Claim 5 in which the protective coating is made from glass rovings, and the thermosetting resin is an unsaturated isophthalic polyester resin.
7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim which is rod-shaped with an external diameter of 4 mm.
8. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim having the following mechanical properties: Glass content by weight 70% Density 2 kg/dm3 Tensile Strength 1100 MN/m2 Tensile Modulus 35 GN/m2 Compressive Strength 400 MN/m2 Coefficient of expansion 1 2 xl O-!0 9. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which the protective coating is coated with a non-structural protective outer coating.
10. A method of manufacturing an optical fibre assembly as claimed in Claim 1 in which the optical fibre or fibres are co-extruded with a reinforced protective coating while being impregnated with a thermosetting resin.
1 A method as claimed in Claim 10 in which the protective coating is reinforced with glass fibre.
12. A method as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11 in which the resin is produced by reacting together a dihydric alcohol and a dibasic acid, either or both of which contain a double bonded pair of carbon atoms.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (13)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION An optical fibre assembly Technical field The present invention relates to optical fibres. Optical fibres are used for carrying signals to a desired location, and it is found that these optical fibres have many different operational applications. A feature of optical fibres is that they are of relatively small diameter which means that they can pass signals to a location which would be inaccessable to other forms of current carrying conductors. The difficulty arises that in some applications the optical fibres are vulnerable to damage or deterioration either by physical contact with a surrounding medium or from a hostile environment. Statement of invention and advantages It is an aim of the invention to alleviate this difficulty, and accordingly there is provided an optical fibre assembly comprising one or optical fibres located in a protective coating. The composition of this coating may be arranged so that the coating provides a required degree of mechanical stiffness. By suitably varying the composition of the coating the degree of stiffness can be adjusted to suit the requirements of a particular application of the optical fibres. If desired, the protective coating may itself be coated with a non-structurai protective outer coating. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the optical fibre or fibres may be co-extruded with glass fibre or other reinforcement while being impregnated with a thermosetting resin. This process will be referred to as "pultrusion". The physical properties of the optical fibre assembly can be arranged to suit a particular application by suitably varying the amount, proportion and type of both the reinforcement and the impregnating resin. Figure in the drawing An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawing which is a side elevation of one optical fibre assembly of the invention. Detailed description of the drawings Referring to the drawing, one optical fibre assembly of the invention includes an optical fibre 2 which is a medium-loss all glass fibre produced from the "Stratified Melt" process. This fibre has a high numerical aperture and a core diameter of 200 microns. The assembly includes a co-extruded reinforced protective coating 4 made from glass rovings manufactured to BS 3691 and unsaturated isophthalic polyester resin. This resin is produced to BS 3532 by reacting together a dihydric alcohol and a dibasic acid, either or both of which contain a double bonded pair of carbon atoms. The optical fibre assembly is rod-shaped with an external diameter of 4 mm. This assembly is manufactured by drawing the glass reinforcing fibres through a bath of unpolymerised polyester resin, positioning the optical fibre 2 centrally in the reinforcing fibre bundle, and then drawing the composite material through a heated sizing die. This 4 mm diameter optical fibre assembly rod has the following mechanical properties: Glass content by weight 70% Density 2 kg/dm3 Tensile Strength 1100 MN/m2 Tensile Modulus 35 GN/m2 Compressive strength 400 MN/m2 Coefficient of expansion 12 x 1 O-3/ C Claims (filed on 23 June 1982)
1. An optical fibre assembly comprising one or more optical fibres located in a protective coating.
2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 in which at least one of the fibres is a medium-loss all glass fibre.
3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 in which the glass fibre is produced from the stratified melt process.
4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the glass fibre has a high numerical aperture and a core diameter of 200 microns.
5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which the optical fibre or fibres are coextruded with a reinforced protective coating while being impregnated with a thermosetting resin.
6. An assembly as claimed in Claim 5 in which the protective coating is made from glass rovings, and the thermosetting resin is an unsaturated isophthalic polyester resin.
7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim which is rod-shaped with an external diameter of 4 mm.
8. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim having the following mechanical properties: Glass content by weight 70% Density 2 kg/dm3 Tensile Strength 1100 MN/m2 Tensile Modulus 35 GN/m2 Compressive Strength 400 MN/m2 Coefficient of expansion 1 2 xl O-!0
9. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which the protective coating is coated with a non-structural protective outer coating.
10. A method of manufacturing an optical fibre assembly as claimed in Claim 1 in which the optical fibre or fibres are co-extruded with a reinforced protective coating while being impregnated with a thermosetting resin.
1 A method as claimed in Claim 10 in which the protective coating is reinforced with glass fibre.
12. A method as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11 in which the resin is produced by reacting together a dihydric alcohol and a dibasic acid, either or both of which contain a double bonded pair of carbon atoms.
13. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 1 2 comprising drawing glass reinforcing fibres through a bath of unpolymerised polyester resin, positioning the optical fibre centrally in the reinforcing fibre bundle, and then drawing the composite material through a heated sizing die.
1 4. An optical fibre assembly substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawing.
1 5. A method of manufacturing an optical fibre assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB08119673A 1981-06-25 1981-06-25 Optical fibre(s) located in a protective coating Withdrawn GB2104676A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08119673A GB2104676A (en) 1981-06-25 1981-06-25 Optical fibre(s) located in a protective coating

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08119673A GB2104676A (en) 1981-06-25 1981-06-25 Optical fibre(s) located in a protective coating

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2104676A true GB2104676A (en) 1983-03-09

Family

ID=10522811

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08119673A Withdrawn GB2104676A (en) 1981-06-25 1981-06-25 Optical fibre(s) located in a protective coating

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2104676A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0126428A2 (en) * 1983-05-18 1984-11-28 Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited Plastic optical fiber
GB2140930A (en) * 1983-03-08 1984-12-05 Northants Aform Limited Protected fibre optic cable and coupler therefor
US4789239A (en) * 1983-06-10 1988-12-06 Mitsubishi Cable Industries, Ltd. Emission spectroscopic analyzer

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2140930A (en) * 1983-03-08 1984-12-05 Northants Aform Limited Protected fibre optic cable and coupler therefor
EP0126428A2 (en) * 1983-05-18 1984-11-28 Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited Plastic optical fiber
EP0126428A3 (en) * 1983-05-18 1985-08-28 Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited Plastic optical fiber
US4789239A (en) * 1983-06-10 1988-12-06 Mitsubishi Cable Industries, Ltd. Emission spectroscopic analyzer

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4479984A (en) Radiation curable multifilament composite
JPS60107610A (en) Optical fiber cable
CA2314317A1 (en) Optical fiber cable with single strength member in cable outer jacket
MX9700058A (en) Reinforcing structural rebar and method of making the same.
JPH0564807U (en) Optical cable element
CA2053596A1 (en) Lightweight optical fiber cable
JP2888664B2 (en) Optical tube made of CFRP
CA2091716A1 (en) Underwater optical fiber cable having optical fiber coupled to grooved core member
KR930005927A (en) Coated fiber optic
GB1438074A (en) Optical fibre cables
GB2104676A (en) Optical fibre(s) located in a protective coating
JPH09243886A (en) Nonmetallic optical fiber cable
DE3879077D1 (en) FABRICATION METHOD FOR AN OPTICAL CABLE AND CABLES PRODUCED THEREOF.
GB2118735A (en) Optical fibre transmission cable reinforcement
GB2179072A (en) Optical fibre cables
JPS6141532A (en) Tubular body for fishing rod, etc.
GB2169095A (en) Optical cables
JPH0147761B2 (en)
CN214704109U (en) Novel optical cable
JPS62153808A (en) Nonmetallic high-tensile strength wire
JPH0336972Y2 (en)
EP1420278A2 (en) Jacket materials and fiber optic cable design for duct application
JPS5882205A (en) Reinforced optical fiber
JPH01304408A (en) Optical fiber cable
CN2509589Y (en) Nonmetallic central bunched pipe type optical cable

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)