GB2169095A - Optical cables - Google Patents

Optical cables Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2169095A
GB2169095A GB08527370A GB8527370A GB2169095A GB 2169095 A GB2169095 A GB 2169095A GB 08527370 A GB08527370 A GB 08527370A GB 8527370 A GB8527370 A GB 8527370A GB 2169095 A GB2169095 A GB 2169095A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
fibre
fibres
optical
cable
strength member
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Withdrawn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
GB08527370A
Other versions
GB8527370D0 (en
Inventor
Clifford Heywood
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.)
Telephone Cables Ltd
Original Assignee
Telephone Cables 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 Telephone Cables Ltd filed Critical Telephone Cables Ltd
Publication of GB8527370D0 publication Critical patent/GB8527370D0/en
Publication of GB2169095A publication Critical patent/GB2169095A/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Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • G02B6/44—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
    • G02B6/443—Protective covering
    • G02B6/4432—Protective covering with fibre reinforcements

Abstract

To provide greater strength than plastic and be lighter than metal, a protective strength member (6,7) for an optical cable is formed of fibre- reinforced resin such as that formed by the "Pultrusion" process. The fibres may be either polymeric high-strength fibres such as Kevlar fibres, or mineral fibres such as carbon, boron or glass. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Optical cables This invention relates to optical cables and more particularly to protective strength members for such cables.
Optical cables generally consist of at least one optical fibre enclosed within a protective sheath and having a strength member either at the axis of the cable or around the outside.
An armour sheath or pressure-resistant sheath is usually also provided around the sheath protecting the fibre.
The strength members and armour sheaths are generally formed of metallic members with the protective sheath being formed of plastic.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective strength member for an optical cable which is considerably stronger than plastic and yet is lighter than metal.
Accordingly, the invention provides an optical cable having at least one optical fibre and incorporating a hollow protective strength member formed of fibre-reinforced resin.
The resin may be either a thermosetting resin or a polymer matrix and the fibres may be either polymeric high-strength fibres such as Kevlar fibres or mineral fibres such as carbon, boron or glass fibres.
Such fibres are well known for their high tensile strength and embedding them in a resin matrix provides the material with compressive strength.
One example of such material is made of glass fibres embedded in thermosetting resin and extruded to the desired shape by a process known as Pultrusion.
The hollow protective strength member may be a tube made of the fibre-reinforced resin in which one or more optical fibres are loosely accommodated. Several such tubes may then be stranded together to form a composite cable structure.
Alternatively, a known type of optical cable may be loosely enclosed within a tube of fibre-reinforced resin to protect it, or the tube may be used as a tight-fitting sheath within a cable structure.
A further possibility is to have the protective strength member composed of several rods of fibre-reinforced resin stranded together helically to form a hollow tube-like member which can be used to loosely enclose a known type of cable. Alternatively the rods may be tightly helically wound around other sheaths within the cable structure.
As will be appreciated, any arrangement of an optical cable may be constructed in accordance with the invention provided that the optical fibres are enclosed within a hollow member made of this material so as to protect the fibres.
The invention will now be more fully described, by way of example, with reference Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a cable structure incorporating several protective strength members in the form of fibre-reinforced resin tubes stranded together.
Figure 2 shows an alternative form of optical cable having a strength member in the form of a fibre-reinforced resin tube.
Figure 3 shows a further form of cable having a fibre reinforced tube used as a tight fitting sheath within a cable structure, and Figure 4 shows a cable with a protective strength member composed of several rods of fibre-reinforced resin.
Referring to Fig. 1 this shows a cable incorporating a plurality of hollow protective strength members 1 each in the form of a tube 2 of glass fibre-reinforced thermosetting resin conveniently formed by pultrusion, and each of which loosely accommodates one or more optical fibres 3. The tubes 2 in this case seven, may be stranded together to form an optical fibre cable unit 4 as shown accommodated within a protective outer sheath 5. The sheath 5 may also be made of a fibre-reinforced resin.
Referring to Fig. 2 this illustrates an alternative form of cable utilising one or more known optical cable structures, one of which is shown at 6 loosely accommodated in a hollow protective strength member 5 of fibre reinforced resin. The constructional details of the optical cable structure 6 are not relevant to the present invention and will not be described.
Referring to Fig. 3, an outer protective strength member 5, in this case, in the form of a tube 7 of fibre-reinforced resin tightly surrounds one or more, in this case three, optical fibre cable units 4 of the kind described with reference to Fig. 1 but, it will of course be appreciated that the outer protective strength member 5 need not necessarily take the form of a tube. For example the strength member may take the form of one homogeneous mass, not shown, or any other shape as desired.
Referring to Fig. 4 one or more optical fibres 3 are loosely accommodated within a protective strength member 8 which consists of a plurality of rods 9 of fibre reinforced resin arcuate cross section joined together to form a hollow tube. The protective strength member 8 may as shown, tightly sheath a known type of extruded plastics tube 10 which houses the optical fibres 3.
1. An optical cable having at least one optical fibre and incorporating a hollow protective strength member formed of fibre-reinforced resin.
2. An optical cable according to Claim 1, wherein the resin is a thermosetting resin.
3. An optical cable according to Claim 1,
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Optical cables This invention relates to optical cables and more particularly to protective strength members for such cables. Optical cables generally consist of at least one optical fibre enclosed within a protective sheath and having a strength member either at the axis of the cable or around the outside. An armour sheath or pressure-resistant sheath is usually also provided around the sheath protecting the fibre. The strength members and armour sheaths are generally formed of metallic members with the protective sheath being formed of plastic. It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective strength member for an optical cable which is considerably stronger than plastic and yet is lighter than metal. Accordingly, the invention provides an optical cable having at least one optical fibre and incorporating a hollow protective strength member formed of fibre-reinforced resin. The resin may be either a thermosetting resin or a polymer matrix and the fibres may be either polymeric high-strength fibres such as Kevlar fibres or mineral fibres such as carbon, boron or glass fibres. Such fibres are well known for their high tensile strength and embedding them in a resin matrix provides the material with compressive strength. One example of such material is made of glass fibres embedded in thermosetting resin and extruded to the desired shape by a process known as Pultrusion. The hollow protective strength member may be a tube made of the fibre-reinforced resin in which one or more optical fibres are loosely accommodated. Several such tubes may then be stranded together to form a composite cable structure. Alternatively, a known type of optical cable may be loosely enclosed within a tube of fibre-reinforced resin to protect it, or the tube may be used as a tight-fitting sheath within a cable structure. A further possibility is to have the protective strength member composed of several rods of fibre-reinforced resin stranded together helically to form a hollow tube-like member which can be used to loosely enclose a known type of cable. Alternatively the rods may be tightly helically wound around other sheaths within the cable structure. As will be appreciated, any arrangement of an optical cable may be constructed in accordance with the invention provided that the optical fibres are enclosed within a hollow member made of this material so as to protect the fibres. The invention will now be more fully described, by way of example, with reference Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a cable structure incorporating several protective strength members in the form of fibre-reinforced resin tubes stranded together. Figure 2 shows an alternative form of optical cable having a strength member in the form of a fibre-reinforced resin tube. Figure 3 shows a further form of cable having a fibre reinforced tube used as a tight fitting sheath within a cable structure, and Figure 4 shows a cable with a protective strength member composed of several rods of fibre-reinforced resin. Referring to Fig. 1 this shows a cable incorporating a plurality of hollow protective strength members 1 each in the form of a tube 2 of glass fibre-reinforced thermosetting resin conveniently formed by pultrusion, and each of which loosely accommodates one or more optical fibres 3. The tubes 2 in this case seven, may be stranded together to form an optical fibre cable unit 4 as shown accommodated within a protective outer sheath 5. The sheath 5 may also be made of a fibre-reinforced resin. Referring to Fig. 2 this illustrates an alternative form of cable utilising one or more known optical cable structures, one of which is shown at 6 loosely accommodated in a hollow protective strength member 5 of fibre reinforced resin. The constructional details of the optical cable structure 6 are not relevant to the present invention and will not be described. Referring to Fig. 3, an outer protective strength member 5, in this case, in the form of a tube 7 of fibre-reinforced resin tightly surrounds one or more, in this case three, optical fibre cable units 4 of the kind described with reference to Fig. 1 but, it will of course be appreciated that the outer protective strength member 5 need not necessarily take the form of a tube. For example the strength member may take the form of one homogeneous mass, not shown, or any other shape as desired. Referring to Fig. 4 one or more optical fibres 3 are loosely accommodated within a protective strength member 8 which consists of a plurality of rods 9 of fibre reinforced resin arcuate cross section joined together to form a hollow tube. The protective strength member 8 may as shown, tightly sheath a known type of extruded plastics tube 10 which houses the optical fibres 3. CLAIMS
1. An optical cable having at least one optical fibre and incorporating a hollow protective strength member formed of fibre-reinforced resin.
2. An optical cable according to Claim 1, wherein the resin is a thermosetting resin.
3. An optical cable according to Claim 1, wherein the resin is a polymer matrix.
4. An optical cable according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the fibres are polymeric highstrength fibres.
5. An optical cable according to Claim 4, wherein the polymeric high-strength fibres are kevlar fibres.
6. An optical cable according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the fibres are mineral fibres.
7. An optical cable according to Claim 6, wherein the mineral fibres are carbon, boron or glass fibres.
8. A cable structure comprising several optical cables according to any preceding claim stranded together.
9. An optical cable according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the hollow protective strength member comprises several rods of fibre-reinforced resin stranded together helically to form a hollow tube-like structure.
10. An optical cable substantially as shown in and as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
GB08527370A 1984-12-19 1985-11-06 Optical cables Withdrawn GB2169095A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB848432123A GB8432123D0 (en) 1984-12-19 1984-12-19 Optical cables

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8527370D0 GB8527370D0 (en) 1985-12-11
GB2169095A true GB2169095A (en) 1986-07-02

Family

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Family Applications (2)

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GB848432123A Pending GB8432123D0 (en) 1984-12-19 1984-12-19 Optical cables
GB08527370A Withdrawn GB2169095A (en) 1984-12-19 1985-11-06 Optical cables

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB848432123A Pending GB8432123D0 (en) 1984-12-19 1984-12-19 Optical cables

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB8432123D0 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2193583B (en) * 1986-08-07 1990-05-16 Telephone Cables Ltd Optical cables
GB2240189A (en) * 1990-01-17 1991-07-24 Telephone Cables Ltd Optical cables
EP0677759A1 (en) * 1994-04-13 1995-10-18 Alcatel Kabel AG &amp; Co. Optical cable with stain and compression resistant bundels
EP0696750A1 (en) * 1994-08-10 1996-02-14 Alcatel Cable Manufacturing method of a reinforced fiberoptical cable, apparatus and cable obtained by this method
AT2039U1 (en) * 1996-01-22 1998-03-25 Oekw Oesterreichische Kabelwer Fiber optic cable

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1519521A (en) * 1974-07-30 1978-08-02 Western Electric Co Optical transmission devices
GB2102148A (en) * 1981-06-17 1983-01-26 Bicc Plc An improved optical cable
EP0113377A1 (en) * 1982-07-05 1984-07-18 The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. Coated optical fiber
GB2135792A (en) * 1982-08-17 1984-09-05 Chevron Res Armored optical fiber cable
GB2141558A (en) * 1983-06-17 1984-12-19 Bicc Plc An improved optical fibre ribbon structure
GB2144237A (en) * 1983-07-28 1985-02-27 American Telephone & Telegraph Optical fiber cable
EP0136913A2 (en) * 1983-10-05 1985-04-10 International Standard Electric Corporation Dielectric optical cable
EP0136887A2 (en) * 1983-10-05 1985-04-10 International Standard Electric Corporation Dielectric optical fibre cable
GB2152235A (en) * 1981-07-20 1985-07-31 Chevron Res Armoured optical fibre cable for use in an optical communication system for drill hole logging
GB2156094A (en) * 1984-03-14 1985-10-02 Bicc Plc Optical fibre element comprising resiliently set flexible tube

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1519521A (en) * 1974-07-30 1978-08-02 Western Electric Co Optical transmission devices
GB2102148A (en) * 1981-06-17 1983-01-26 Bicc Plc An improved optical cable
GB2152235A (en) * 1981-07-20 1985-07-31 Chevron Res Armoured optical fibre cable for use in an optical communication system for drill hole logging
EP0113377A1 (en) * 1982-07-05 1984-07-18 The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. Coated optical fiber
GB2135792A (en) * 1982-08-17 1984-09-05 Chevron Res Armored optical fiber cable
GB2141558A (en) * 1983-06-17 1984-12-19 Bicc Plc An improved optical fibre ribbon structure
GB2144237A (en) * 1983-07-28 1985-02-27 American Telephone & Telegraph Optical fiber cable
EP0136913A2 (en) * 1983-10-05 1985-04-10 International Standard Electric Corporation Dielectric optical cable
EP0136887A2 (en) * 1983-10-05 1985-04-10 International Standard Electric Corporation Dielectric optical fibre cable
GB2156094A (en) * 1984-03-14 1985-10-02 Bicc Plc Optical fibre element comprising resiliently set flexible tube

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2193583B (en) * 1986-08-07 1990-05-16 Telephone Cables Ltd Optical cables
GB2240189A (en) * 1990-01-17 1991-07-24 Telephone Cables Ltd Optical cables
EP0677759A1 (en) * 1994-04-13 1995-10-18 Alcatel Kabel AG &amp; Co. Optical cable with stain and compression resistant bundels
EP0696750A1 (en) * 1994-08-10 1996-02-14 Alcatel Cable Manufacturing method of a reinforced fiberoptical cable, apparatus and cable obtained by this method
FR2723645A1 (en) * 1994-08-10 1996-02-16 Alcatel Cable PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A REINFORCED FIBER OPTIC CABLE, DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS PROCESS AND CABLE OBTAINED BY THIS PROCESS
US5619606A (en) * 1994-08-10 1997-04-08 Alcatel Cable Method of manufacturing a reinforced cable containing optical fibers apparatus for implementing the method and a cable obtained by performing the method
AT2039U1 (en) * 1996-01-22 1998-03-25 Oekw Oesterreichische Kabelwer Fiber optic cable

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8432123D0 (en) 1985-01-30
GB8527370D0 (en) 1985-12-11

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