GB2168824A - Optical fibre cables containing an electrical conductor - Google Patents
Optical fibre cables containing an electrical conductor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2168824A GB2168824A GB08522678A GB8522678A GB2168824A GB 2168824 A GB2168824 A GB 2168824A GB 08522678 A GB08522678 A GB 08522678A GB 8522678 A GB8522678 A GB 8522678A GB 2168824 A GB2168824 A GB 2168824A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- optical cable
- optical
- channels
- cable according
- electrical conductor
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 20
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 title claims description 12
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 31
- 235000019271 petrolatum Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 abstract description 5
- 235000015110 jellies Nutrition 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000008274 jelly Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- UNILWMWFPHPYOR-KXEYIPSPSA-M 1-[6-[2-[3-[3-[3-[2-[2-[3-[[2-[2-[[(2r)-1-[[2-[[(2r)-1-[3-[2-[2-[3-[[2-(2-amino-2-oxoethoxy)acetyl]amino]propoxy]ethoxy]ethoxy]propylamino]-3-hydroxy-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-2-oxoethyl]amino]-3-[(2r)-2,3-di(hexadecanoyloxy)propyl]sulfanyl-1-oxopropan-2-yl Chemical compound O=C1C(SCCC(=O)NCCCOCCOCCOCCCNC(=O)COCC(=O)N[C@@H](CSC[C@@H](COC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCC)OC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCC)C(=O)NCC(=O)N[C@H](CO)C(=O)NCCCOCCOCCOCCCNC(=O)COCC(N)=O)CC(=O)N1CCNC(=O)CCCCCN\1C2=CC=C(S([O-])(=O)=O)C=C2CC/1=C/C=C/C=C/C1=[N+](CC)C2=CC=C(S([O-])(=O)=O)C=C2C1 UNILWMWFPHPYOR-KXEYIPSPSA-M 0.000 description 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- -1 petroleium jelly Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000005871 repellent Substances 0.000 description 1
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
- G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
- G02B6/4401—Optical cables
- G02B6/4429—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
- G02B6/44382—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables the means comprising hydrogen absorbing materials
-
- 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
- G02B6/4407—Optical cables with internal fluted support member
-
- 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
- G02B6/4415—Cables for special applications
- G02B6/4416—Heterogeneous cables
-
- 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
- G02B6/4429—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
- G02B6/44384—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Communication Cables (AREA)
Abstract
When a water-blocking medium such as petroleum jelly is provided in a an optical cable 1 of the type comprising one or more optical fibres loosely enclosed within at least one of a plurality of longitudinally extending channels 6 formed in an extrudate (an integral cable) the jelly tends to restrict the freedom of movement of the fibres. By enclosing the fibre(s) 8 within a tube 9 in the channel(s) 6 the fibre(s) 8 are allowed to move freely even when the channels 6 are filled with jelly. One or more other channels 6 include electrical conductors 11 therein so that an electrical/optical cable is provided which has a smooth circular outer profile. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Optical cables
This invention relates to optical fibre cables and more particularly to cables of the type in which one or more optical fibres are accommodated within at least one of a plurality of longitudinally extending open or closed channels formed in an extrudate.
Such cables are known from, for example, our co-pending patent application No. 2123978A in which the optical fibres are loosely accommodated within the channels, the fibres being introduced into the channels during the extrusion process and having a greater natural length than the corresponding channel.
It is often desired to fill the channels with a water-impermeable medium such as petroleum jelly but this restricts the freedom of movement of the fibres. It is thus an object of the invention to provide an optical cable wherein such freedom of
movement of the fibres is not lost.
There is now also a requirement for optical ca
bles capable of carrying electrical conductors and
in view of the disparity in size between, for exam
ple copper quads, and optical fibres, there is a difficulty in manufacturing cables in which the conductors and fibres are stranded together.
It is thus an object of the present invention to
provide an optical cable which may be easily man
ufactured so as to include electrical conductors as well as optical conductors.
Accordingly, the invention provides an optical cable comprising an extrudate formed with a plu
rality of longitudinally extending channels, with an
optical fibre unit, comprising at least one optical fibre loosely accommodated within a tube, or at
least one optical fibre ribbon, extending along at
least one of the channels, and at least one electrical conductor extending along at least one other channel.
By electrical conductor, it is meant any electrical conducting member whether consisting of a single conducting wire or a plurality of conductors within an outer coating of insulant. The insulated conductors may be singles or twisted to form pairs of quads. Thus in a preferred embodiment, the electrical conductor comprises four insulated electrical conducting wires formed into a star quad.
By optical fibre ribbons is meant an elongate element of width substantially greater than its thickness, and comprising a plurality of optical fibres secured side-by-side in the form of a ribbon or tape.
Preferably, the channels are filled with a waterimpermeable compound such as petroleium jelly, although they could alternatively be partially or completely filled with a powder which may be either water-blocking or hydrogen-trapping.
The tube made also be filled with a water-repellent fluid.
One embodiment of an optical cable according to the invention will now be more fully described by way of example with reference to the drawing.
The optical cable 1 is composed of an extrudate 2 having a centre portion 3 extruded around a central strength member 4, a plurality of fins 5 extending raidally away from the centre portion 3, so as to form channels 6 between them and an outer portion 7 closing off the channels 6. Thus, the extrudate 2 has a cross-section in the shape of a cartwheel with channels formed in the sectors between the fins. In this embodiment there are four such channels 6 but of course any desired number may be provided, as is more fully explained in GB 2123978. In the case of the open channel version the outer portion 7 is removed or formed with slots.
A plurality of optical fibres 8, in this embodiment two fibres, are accommodated within a plastics tube 9 so as to form an optical fibre unit. The optical fibres are of greater length than the tube so that they are loose within the tube. An optical fibre unit is provided in at least one of the channels 6 (in this embodiment two of the channels) by feeding them in.
A plurality of electrical conductors 11, each in an insulating sheath 12, is provided in at least one of the other channels 6 (again two channels in this embodiment).
As can be seen, the tube 9 can be considerably smaller than the electrical conductor element without affecting the mechanical performance of the cable or its physical size or shape.
Each of the channels contains a water blocking or hydrogen absorbing compound 13 which does not impare the relationship between the fibre protected within its tube and mechanical stresses outside the cable sheath which may be encountered during manufacture, installation or the working life of the cable.
The tube 9 may itself be filled with a water impermeable fluid if desired.
The extrudate 2 may be surrounded by a protective sheath 14 if desired over which any of the conventional forms of armouring or protection including protection against magnetic or electrostatic interference may be applied.
By accommodating the optical fibres within tubes in this way, there is no loss of freedom of movement of the fibre, when the channel is filled with petroleum jelly as happens when the fibres are directly embedded in the jelly.
Further, by accommodating both the electrical conductors and the optical conductors within a cable of this type, the disparity in size does not matter and a cable with a smooth circular outer diameter is provided.
In place of one or more of the tubed optical fibres a channel may contain an optical fibre ribbon, comprising, for example, six, eight or ten, plastics coated optical fibres secured side-by-side, for example as described in copending patent application No. 8506499. Such a fibre ribbon may be of undulating form within the respective channel, in order to reduce the risk of the fibres being damaged if the cable is subjected to a tensile force or is bent.
Claims (10)
1. An optical cable comprising an extrudate formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending channels, with an optical fibre unit, comprising at least one optical fibre loosely accommodated within a tube, or at least one optical fibre ribbon, extending along at least one of the channels, and at least one electrical conductor extending along at least one other channel.
2. An optical cable according to Claim 1, wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending channels is filled with a water-impermeable compound.
3. An optical cable according to Claim 2, wherein the water-impermeable compound is petroleum jelly.
4. An optical cable according to Claim 1, wherein at least one of the longitudinally extending channels is partially or completely filled with powder.
5. An optical cable according to Claim 4, wherein the powder has water-blocking or hydrogen-trapping properties or both.
6. An optical cable according to Claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor consists of either a single conducting wire or a plurality of conductors within an outer coating of insulant.
7. An optical cable according to Claim 6, wherein the insulated conductors are either singles or twisted to form pairs or quads.
8. An optical cable according to Claim 7, wherein the electrical conductor comprises four insulated electrical conducting wires formed into a star quad.
9. An optical cable as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the extrudate is surrounded by a protective sheath.
10. An optical cable substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB848427895A GB8427895D0 (en) | 1984-11-05 | 1984-11-05 | Optical cables |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB8522678D0 GB8522678D0 (en) | 1985-10-16 |
GB2168824A true GB2168824A (en) | 1986-06-25 |
GB2168824B GB2168824B (en) | 1988-10-26 |
Family
ID=10569246
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB848427895A Pending GB8427895D0 (en) | 1984-11-05 | 1984-11-05 | Optical cables |
GB08522678A Expired GB2168824B (en) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-09-13 | Optical fibre cable containing at least one electrical conductor |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB848427895A Pending GB8427895D0 (en) | 1984-11-05 | 1984-11-05 | Optical cables |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (2) | GB8427895D0 (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3618659A1 (en) * | 1986-06-03 | 1987-12-10 | Rheydt Kabelwerk Ag | Fibre-optic cable |
EP0266941A2 (en) * | 1986-11-04 | 1988-05-11 | Nortel Networks Corporation | Optical cable |
EP0562770A2 (en) * | 1992-03-24 | 1993-09-29 | AT&T Corp. | Hybrid communications cable for enhancement of transmission capability |
FR2809498A1 (en) * | 2000-05-29 | 2001-11-30 | Cit Alcatel | High voltage line upper position placed fibre optic cable having center with helix groove containing flexible tubes/fibre optic sections and flexible material |
WO2001095004A2 (en) * | 2000-06-05 | 2001-12-13 | Essex Group, Inc. | Hybrid data communications cable |
WO2001088930A3 (en) * | 2000-05-15 | 2002-03-07 | Tyco Electronics Corp | Vapor proof high speed communications cable and method of manufacturing the same |
US6577794B1 (en) | 1999-09-27 | 2003-06-10 | Robert M. Currie | Compound optical and electrical conductors, and connectors therefor |
WO2009079920A1 (en) * | 2007-12-13 | 2009-07-02 | Shanghai Bandweaver Communication Technologies Co., Ltd. | A compound fiber high-power cable |
WO2018175253A1 (en) * | 2017-03-22 | 2018-09-27 | Dow Global Technologies Llc | Optical cable with channel structure |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1448793A (en) * | 1974-05-31 | 1976-09-08 | Post Office | Optical cables |
GB1479427A (en) * | 1975-02-05 | 1977-07-13 | Bicc Ltd | Opticle cables |
GB1561806A (en) * | 1976-09-22 | 1980-03-05 | Post Office | Dielectric optical waveguide cables |
GB2085188A (en) * | 1980-09-26 | 1982-04-21 | Bicc Ltd | An improved optical cable |
GB2123978A (en) * | 1982-07-12 | 1984-02-08 | Telephone Cables Ltd | Optical fibre cable |
-
1984
- 1984-11-05 GB GB848427895A patent/GB8427895D0/en active Pending
-
1985
- 1985-09-13 GB GB08522678A patent/GB2168824B/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1448793A (en) * | 1974-05-31 | 1976-09-08 | Post Office | Optical cables |
GB1479427A (en) * | 1975-02-05 | 1977-07-13 | Bicc Ltd | Opticle cables |
GB1561806A (en) * | 1976-09-22 | 1980-03-05 | Post Office | Dielectric optical waveguide cables |
GB2085188A (en) * | 1980-09-26 | 1982-04-21 | Bicc Ltd | An improved optical cable |
GB2123978A (en) * | 1982-07-12 | 1984-02-08 | Telephone Cables Ltd | Optical fibre cable |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3618659A1 (en) * | 1986-06-03 | 1987-12-10 | Rheydt Kabelwerk Ag | Fibre-optic cable |
EP0266941A2 (en) * | 1986-11-04 | 1988-05-11 | Nortel Networks Corporation | Optical cable |
EP0266941B1 (en) * | 1986-11-04 | 1993-08-04 | Nortel Networks Corporation | Optical cable |
EP0562770A2 (en) * | 1992-03-24 | 1993-09-29 | AT&T Corp. | Hybrid communications cable for enhancement of transmission capability |
EP0562770A3 (en) * | 1992-03-24 | 1993-12-15 | American Telephone & Telegraph | Hybrid communications cable for enhancement of transmission capability |
CN1074158C (en) * | 1992-03-24 | 2001-10-31 | 美国电话及电报公司 | Hybrid communications cable for enhancement of transmission capability |
US6577794B1 (en) | 1999-09-27 | 2003-06-10 | Robert M. Currie | Compound optical and electrical conductors, and connectors therefor |
WO2001088930A3 (en) * | 2000-05-15 | 2002-03-07 | Tyco Electronics Corp | Vapor proof high speed communications cable and method of manufacturing the same |
US6469251B1 (en) | 2000-05-15 | 2002-10-22 | Tyco Electronics Corporation | Vapor proof high speed communications cable and method of manufacturing the same |
EP1164396A1 (en) * | 2000-05-29 | 2001-12-19 | Alcatel | Optical fibre cable |
FR2809498A1 (en) * | 2000-05-29 | 2001-11-30 | Cit Alcatel | High voltage line upper position placed fibre optic cable having center with helix groove containing flexible tubes/fibre optic sections and flexible material |
WO2001095004A2 (en) * | 2000-06-05 | 2001-12-13 | Essex Group, Inc. | Hybrid data communications cable |
WO2001095004A3 (en) * | 2000-06-05 | 2003-10-30 | Essex Group | Hybrid data communications cable |
WO2009079920A1 (en) * | 2007-12-13 | 2009-07-02 | Shanghai Bandweaver Communication Technologies Co., Ltd. | A compound fiber high-power cable |
WO2018175253A1 (en) * | 2017-03-22 | 2018-09-27 | Dow Global Technologies Llc | Optical cable with channel structure |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2168824B (en) | 1988-10-26 |
GB8522678D0 (en) | 1985-10-16 |
GB8427895D0 (en) | 1984-12-12 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19990913 |