GB2186520A - Manufacture of helically grooved optical cable core - Google Patents

Manufacture of helically grooved optical cable core Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2186520A
GB2186520A GB08603072A GB8603072A GB2186520A GB 2186520 A GB2186520 A GB 2186520A GB 08603072 A GB08603072 A GB 08603072A GB 8603072 A GB8603072 A GB 8603072A GB 2186520 A GB2186520 A GB 2186520A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
reinforcing member
advancing
angular displacement
longitudinal axis
oscillatory
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Withdrawn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
GB08603072A
Other versions
GB8603072D0 (en
Inventor
George Cowie Crossan
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.)
AUSTRAL STANDARD CABLES Pty LT
Original Assignee
AUSTRAL STANDARD CABLES Pty LT
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 AUSTRAL STANDARD CABLES Pty LT filed Critical AUSTRAL STANDARD CABLES Pty LT
Priority to GB08603072A priority Critical patent/GB2186520A/en
Publication of GB8603072D0 publication Critical patent/GB8603072D0/en
Priority to NZ219183A priority patent/NZ219183A/en
Priority to AU68571/87A priority patent/AU580701B2/en
Publication of GB2186520A publication Critical patent/GB2186520A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/03—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
    • B29C48/06—Rod-shaped
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/03—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
    • B29C48/131—Curved articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/15—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. extrusion moulding around inserts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/25—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C48/30—Extrusion nozzles or dies
    • B29C48/32—Extrusion nozzles or dies with annular openings, e.g. for forming tubular articles
    • B29C48/34—Cross-head annular extrusion nozzles, i.e. for simultaneously receiving moulding material and the preform to be coated
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/25—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C48/92—Measuring, controlling or regulating
    • 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
    • G02B6/4479—Manufacturing methods of optical cables
    • G02B6/4489—Manufacturing methods of optical cables of central supporting members of lobe structure
    • 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
    • G02B6/4479—Manufacturing methods of optical cables
    • G02B6/449—Twisting
    • G02B6/4491—Twisting in a lobe structure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2948/00—Indexing scheme relating to extrusion moulding
    • B29C2948/92—Measuring, controlling or regulating
    • B29C2948/92504—Controlled parameter
    • B29C2948/9258—Velocity
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2948/00—Indexing scheme relating to extrusion moulding
    • B29C2948/92—Measuring, controlling or regulating
    • B29C2948/92504—Controlled parameter
    • B29C2948/9258—Velocity
    • B29C2948/9259—Angular velocity
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/001—Combinations of extrusion moulding with other shaping operations
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/03—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
    • B29C48/05—Filamentary, e.g. strands

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
  • Extrusion Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

The helical grooves are provided around the circumference of a plastics covering extruded around a central (reinforcing) strength member from a fixed extrusion head orifice, by rotatably driving the advancing member at a location upstream of the orifice about its longitudinal axis through an oscillating angular displacement. The orifice produces circumferentially spaced grooves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the advancing member which, by virtue of the oscillating motion of the member, are caused to follow helical paths whose direction of lay reverses at spaced positions along the length of the elongate core so formed. The oscillating angular displacement is imparted to the member by an oscillating rotating assembly, carrying a plurality of wheels which are freely rotatable about axes substantially normal to the member and are urged into engagement with the member, alternate ones of the wheels being spaced on opposite sides of, and longitudinally of the member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Optical cable manufacture This invention relates to optical cablesforthetransmission of light of a wavelength suitable for use in the communicationsfield.
The invention is particularly concerned with an optical cable of the kind comprising an elongate core consisting of a central flexible reinforcing member and, surrounding the reinforcing member, an extruded elongate covering of plastics material having in its outer circumferential surface a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending separate grooves in at least one of which is loosely housed at least one optical fibre. In an optical cable ofthis kind, it is common practice for the circumferentially spaced grooves to extend helically along the length of the core and forthe direction of lay ofthe helically extending grooves to reverse at longitudinally spaced positions along the length ofthe core.
Two methods of manufacturing an elongate core comprising a plastics covered flexible elongate reinforcing member with reverse lay helically exten- ding grooves in the outer plastics covering have been proposed and are currently in use. In the first of these methods, downstream of an extrusion machine by means of which a plastics covering having in its outer surface grooves extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reinforcing member is extruded around the reinforcing member, at a position at which the plastics covering has solidified, the plastics covered reinforcing member is twisted back and forth about the axis of the reinforcing memberto causethe grooves in the plastics covering immediately downstream ofthe extrusion orifice to follow helical paths around the reinforcing member, the lay of which paths is reversed at regular intervals. In the second of these methods, the extrusion machine has at the extrusion orifice an oscillating die which, as the reinforcing membertravels therethrough, extrudes around the advancing reinforcing member a plastics covering having in its outer surface a plurality of helically extending grooves whose direction of lay reverses at spaced positions along the length of the core.Each of these methods of manufacture requires the use of oscillating tooling which is subject to excessive wear and which ismechanicallycomplexandvulnerableto complicated breakdowns, with the result that worn or damaged parts cannot readily be repaired or replaced, thereby necessitating an unacceptable loss of production time. Furthermore, individual groove identification is difficult due to the use of rotating tooling.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of and improved apparatus for manufacturing an elongate core for use in an optical cable ofthe aforesaid kind,which method and apparatus are simple and inexpensive and do not have the aforesaid disadvantages of said known methods and apparatus.
According to the invention, the improved method comprises causing a flexible elongate reinforcing memberto travel in the direction of its length through, and towards the extrusion orifice of, an extrusion machine; at a position upstreamoftheextru- sion orifice rotatably driving the advancing reinforcing memberabout its longitudinal axis through an oscillating angular displacement; and extruding on to the advancing and oscillating reinforcing member a circumferential covering of plastics material having in its outer circumferential surface a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves which, as they emerge from the extrusion orifice, extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the advancing reinforcing memberandwhich, byvirtueoftheoscillating motion imparted to the advancing reinforcing member, are caused to follow helical paths whose direction of lay reverses at spaced positions along the length of the elongate core so formed.
Preferably, for any predetermined linear speed at which the reinforcing member is caused to travel through the extrusion machine, the speed at which the advancing reinforcing member is rotatably driven about its longitudinal axis and/orthe extent of oscillatoryangulardisplacementimpartedtothe advancing reinforcing member and/or the rate at which the oscillatory angular displacement is reversed can be adjusted to provide in the outer sur- face of the plastics covering of the reinforcing member grooves of any desired lay length and/or profile orwaveform lying within limited ranges.
The improved apparatus according to the inven tioncomprisesatleastonetubularshaftthrough which a flexible reinforcing member travelling towards an extrusion machine can be adapted to pass and which can be rotatably driven about its longitudinal axis; means for rotatably driving the or each tubularshaftwith an oscillating angular displacement; and a pluralityoffreelyrotatablewheelsdir- ectly or indirectly rotatably mounted on the tubular shaft or shafts at longitudinally spaced positions about axes extending substantially normal to the longitudinal axisoftheoreachtubularshaft,alter nate freely rotatable wheels being rotatably mounted on opposite sides with respect to the advancing reinforcing member and being adapted to be urged against the advancing reinforcing member, the arrangement being such that, when the or each tubular shaft is rotatably driven with an oscillatory angular displacement, the freely rotatable wheels urged against the advancing reinforcing member will impartanoscillatoryangulardisplacementto the advancing reinforcing member as it travels towards and through the extrusion orifice of an extrusion machine adapted to extrude a plastics tube having in its outer circumferential surface a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reinforcing member so that, as the plastics tube is extruded on to the advancing and oscillating plastics covered reinforcing member, the plastics covering formed on the reinforcing member will also oscillate and the grooves will be caused to follow helical paths whose direction of lay reverses at spaced positions along the length ofthe reinforcing member.
Preferably, the improved apparatus also includes means by which any one or more of the speed at which the advancing reinforcing member can be rotatably driven, the extent ofoscillatoryangulardis- placementandtherateatwhichtheoscillatoryangular displacement reverses, can be readily adjusted for any predetermined linear speed at which the reinforcing member is to be drawn through the extrusion machine, e.g. by means of a capstan orpairof endless belts.
The freely rotatable wheels may be urged against the advancing reinforcing member by associated springs or by fluid pressure. The circumferential surface of each freely rotatable wheel may be app ropriately shaped to bear against an arcuate portion of the circumferential surface ofthe advancing reinforcing member.
Byway of example, a preferred electronic control system can select any rotational speed lying in the range 1 to l33rpmand/oranyangleofdisplacement lying in the range +/-20to +/-999 ; additionally,the preferred electronic control system can select re- gion overwhich reversal of the oscillatory angular displacement occurs to be within the range 20to 9990 Preferably, also, the improved apparatus includes means for continuously monitoring and indicating the lay length, angular displacement and profile of the grooves in the extruded plastics covering of an elongate core.The monitoring means may be operatively coupled to the means for rotatably driving the or each tubular shaft with an oscillatoryangulardis- placement about its longitudinal axis so that the rotational speed and/or oscillatory angular displacement can be automatically adjusted in response to any variation from preselected values of rotational speed and oscillatory angular displacement.
In a preferred embodiment, the improved apparatus comprises two tubular shafts longitudinally spaced with respect to the direction of travel of a reinforcing member,twosupportplates,onesupport plate being secured to thefirsttubular shaft atthe endoftheshaftnearerthesecondtubularshaftand the other support plate being secured to the second tubular shaft at the end nearer the first tubularshaft; bearing blocks by which the two tubular shafts are supported and which are mounted on a fixed base plate fitted to an adjustable stand which can be bolted to thefactoryfloor; and, extending between the two support plates, a longitudinally extending baron which said freely rotatable wheels are rotatably mounted.
The improved apparatus for manufacturing an elongate core for use in an optical cable oftheaforesaid kind has several important advantages. It is fully self-contained and can be fitted to any conventional extrusion line employing any conventional fixed extrusion head and can be moved from one extrusion line to another as required with a relatively short set up time. The electrical power used by the improved apparatus is very substantially less than that needed by currently used apparatus with rotating tooling for forming grooves in the plastics covering of an elongate core and, as a consequence, the cost of manufacture of elongate cores having reverse lay heli cally extending grooves is substantially less than that of methods currently used. The improved apparatus is simple and rugged in construction and requires little maintenance. Since the improved apparatus is fully self-contained and is positioned upstream of the extrusion machine, groove identification equipment positioned at extrusion heads, i.e.
colour identification by ink or colour identification by tandem extrusion, can be employed; moreover, ex trusiontooling can be readily changed and equipment readily set up in a shorttimewithoutadjust mentofthe improved apparatus.
The invention is further illustrated, by way of example, by the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe preferred apparatus for manufacturing an elongate core for use in an optical cable, and Figure2 is a side view of the apparatus.

Claims (10)

1. A method of manufacturing an elongate core for use in an optical cable, which method comprises causing a flexible elongate reinforcing memberto travel in the direction of its length through, and tow ardsthe extrusion orifice of, an extrusion machine; at a position upstream ofthe extrusion orifice rotatably driving the advancing reinforcing member about its longitudinal axis through an oscillating angular displacement; and extruding on to the advancing and oscillating reinforcing member a circumferential covering of plastics material having in its outer circumferential surface a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves which, as they emerge from the extrusion orifice, extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the advancing reinforcing member and which, by virtue of the oscillating motion imparted to the advancing reinforcing member, are caused to follow helical paths whose direction of lay reverses at spaced positions along the length of the elongate core so formed.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, for any predetermined linear speed at which the reinforcing member is caused to travel through the extrusion machine, the speed at which the advancing reinforcing member is rotatably driven about its longitudinal axis and/or extent of oscillatory angular displacement imparted to the advancing reinforcing member and/or the rate atwhich the oscillatory angulardisplacement is reversed is or are adjusted to provide in the outer surface of the plastics covering of the reinforcing member grooves of any desired lay length and/or profile orwaveform lying within limited ranges.
3. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of an elongate corefor use in an optical cable, which apparatus comprises at least one tubular shaft through which a flexible reinforcing membertravelling towards an extrusion machine can be adapted to pass and which can be rotatably driven about its longitudinal axis; means for rotatably driving the or each tubularshaftwith an oscillating angular displacement; and a plurality of freely rotatable wheels directly or indirectly rotatably mounted on thetubular shaft or shafts at longitudinally spaced positions about axes extending substantially normal to the longitudinal axisoftheoreachtubularshaft,alter- nate freely rotatable wheels being rotatably moun ted on opposite sides with respect to the advancing reinforcing member and being adapted to be urged againsttheadvancing reinforcing member,the arrangment being such that, when the or each tubular shaft is rotatably driven with an oscillatory angular displacement, the freely rotatable wheels urged against the advancing reinforcing member will impart an oscillatory angulardisplacementto the advancing reinforcing member as ittravelstow- ards and through the extrusion orifice of an extrusion machine adapted to extrude a plastics tube having in its outer circumferential surface a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe reinforcing member so that, as the plastics tube is extruded on to the advancing and oscillating reinforcing member, the plastics covering formed on the reinforcing member will also oscillate and the grooves will be caused to follow helical paths whose direction of lay reverses at spaced positions along the length ofthe reinforcing member.
4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the apparatus also includes means bywhich anyone or more of the speed at which the advancing reinforc- ing member can be rotatably driven, the extent of os cillatoryangulardisplacementandtherateatwhich the oscillatory angular displacement reverses, can be readily adjusted for any predetermined linear speed at which the reinforcing member is to be drawn through the extrusion machine.
5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, wherein the freely rotatable wheels are urged against the advancing reinforcing member by associated springs or byfluid pressure.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the circumferential surface of each freely rotatable wheel is appropriately shaped to bear against an arcuate portion ofthe circumferential surface ofthe advancing reinforcing member.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 6, wherein the apparatus also includes means for continuously monitoring and indicating the lay length, angular displacement and profile ofthe grooves in the extruded plastics covering of an elongate core.
8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the monitoring means is operatively coupled to the means for rotatably driving the or each tubular shaft with an oscillatory angular displacement about its longitudinal axis so that the rotational speed and/or oscillatory angular displacement can be automatic allyadjusted in responsetoanyvariationfrom preselected values of rotational speed and oscillatory angular displacement.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3to 8, which apparatus comprises two tubular shafts lon gitudinally spaced with respect to the direction of travel of the reinforcing member, two support plates, onesupportplate being secured to the firsttubuiar shaftatthe end oftheshaftnearerthesecondtubular shaft and the other support plate being secured to thesecondtubularshaftattheend nearerthefirst tubularshaft; bearing blocks by which the two tubular shafts are supported and which are mounted on a fixed base plate fitted to an adjustable stand which can be bolted to the factory floor; and, extending between the two support plates, a longitudin ally extending bar on which said freely rotatable wheels are rotatably mounted.
10. Apparatusforuseinthemanufactureofan elongate core for use in an optical cable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
10. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of an elongate core for use in an optical cable substantially as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 2,4,9 above have been deleted ortextually amended.
(b) Newortextually amended claims have beenfiled as follows: (c) Claims 10 above have been re-numbered as 11 and their appendancies corrected.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1,wherein,for any predetermined linear speed at which re- inforcing member is caused to travel through the extrusion machine, the speed at which the advancing reinforcing member is rotatably driven about its longitudinal axis with an oscillatory angular displacement and/or the extent of oscillatory angular displacement imparted to the advancing reinforcing member and/or the rate at which the oscillatory angular displacement is reversed is or are adjusted to provided in the outer surface of the plastics covering ofthe reinforcing member grooves of any desired lay length and/or profile orwaveform lying within limited ranges.
4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the apparatus also includes means by which any one or more of the speed at which the advancing reinforcing member can be rotatably driven with an oscillatory angular displacement, the extent of oscillatory angular displacement and the rate at which the oscil latory angular displacement reverses, can be readily adjusted for any predetermined linear speed at which the reinforcing member is to be drawn through the extrusion machine.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3to 8, which apparatus comprises two tubular shafts longitudinally spaced with respect to the direction of travel ofthe reinforcing member, two support plates, one support plate being secured to thefirsttubular shaft and the other support plate being secured to the second tubular shaft; bearing blocks by which the two tubular shafts are supported and which are mounted on a fixed base plate fitted to an adjustable stand which can be bolted to the factory floor; and, extending between the two support plates, a long itudinally extending bar on which said freely rotatable wheels are rotatably mounted.
GB08603072A 1986-02-07 1986-02-07 Manufacture of helically grooved optical cable core Withdrawn GB2186520A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08603072A GB2186520A (en) 1986-02-07 1986-02-07 Manufacture of helically grooved optical cable core
NZ219183A NZ219183A (en) 1986-02-07 1987-02-05 Manufacture of helically grooved optical cable core
AU68571/87A AU580701B2 (en) 1986-02-07 1987-02-06 Optical cable manufacture

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08603072A GB2186520A (en) 1986-02-07 1986-02-07 Manufacture of helically grooved optical cable core

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8603072D0 GB8603072D0 (en) 1986-03-12
GB2186520A true GB2186520A (en) 1987-08-19

Family

ID=10592694

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08603072A Withdrawn GB2186520A (en) 1986-02-07 1986-02-07 Manufacture of helically grooved optical cable core

Country Status (3)

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AU (1) AU580701B2 (en)
GB (1) GB2186520A (en)
NZ (1) NZ219183A (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0359420A2 (en) * 1988-09-07 1990-03-21 Telephone Cables Limited Cable core with a twisting channel, and laying optical fibre therein
EP0362621A2 (en) * 1988-10-07 1990-04-11 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and apparatus for the manufacture of an optical cable
WO1996015466A1 (en) * 1994-11-11 1996-05-23 Metal Manufactures Limited Optical fibre cable
EP0903603A2 (en) * 1997-09-22 1999-03-24 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Apparatus and method for making slotted rod for optical cable
US6844503B2 (en) 2001-06-29 2005-01-18 Tyco Electronics U.K. Limited Helical shed

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB374160A (en) * 1931-03-09 1932-06-09 Quasi Arc Co Ltd Improvements in electrodes or welding rods for use in electric arc welding
GB2023060A (en) * 1978-06-07 1979-12-28 Northern Telecom Ltd Improvements in optical cables

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3480069D1 (en) * 1983-02-25 1989-11-16 Philips Patentverwaltung Method of producing a tubular wave guide and device for carrying out the method
IT1177431B (en) * 1984-12-17 1987-08-26 Pirelli Cavi Spa PROCESS AND PRODUCTION LINE OF ELEMENTARY FIBER OPTIC CABLES WITH CORE EQUIPPED WITH OPEN ALICA SLOTS
GB8501450D0 (en) * 1985-01-21 1985-02-20 Bicc Plc Optical cable manufacture

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB374160A (en) * 1931-03-09 1932-06-09 Quasi Arc Co Ltd Improvements in electrodes or welding rods for use in electric arc welding
GB2023060A (en) * 1978-06-07 1979-12-28 Northern Telecom Ltd Improvements in optical cables

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0359420A2 (en) * 1988-09-07 1990-03-21 Telephone Cables Limited Cable core with a twisting channel, and laying optical fibre therein
EP0359420A3 (en) * 1988-09-07 1991-08-28 Telephone Cables Limited Cable core with a twisting channel, and laying optical fibre therein
EP0362621A2 (en) * 1988-10-07 1990-04-11 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and apparatus for the manufacture of an optical cable
EP0362621A3 (en) * 1988-10-07 1991-01-02 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and apparatus for the manufacture of an optical cable
WO1996015466A1 (en) * 1994-11-11 1996-05-23 Metal Manufactures Limited Optical fibre cable
EP0903603A2 (en) * 1997-09-22 1999-03-24 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Apparatus and method for making slotted rod for optical cable
EP0903603A3 (en) * 1997-09-22 1999-09-01 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Apparatus and method for making slotted rod for optical cable
US6190583B1 (en) 1997-09-22 2001-02-20 Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. Apparatus and method for making slotted rod for optical cable
US6844503B2 (en) 2001-06-29 2005-01-18 Tyco Electronics U.K. Limited Helical shed

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6857187A (en) 1987-08-13
GB8603072D0 (en) 1986-03-12
NZ219183A (en) 1989-10-27
AU580701B2 (en) 1989-01-27

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