JP2003279818A - Manufacturing method and manufacturing plant for optical submarine cable - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method for an optical submarine cable capable of eliminating the possibility of the presence of foreign matters such as dust between an electric insulating coating and a protective coating by executing the electric insulating coating and the protective coating on the same working line. <P>SOLUTION: In the method for manufacturing the optical submarine cable by working the coating on an intermediate body (13) having an optical fiber unit and a composite pressure resistant layer formed around the optical fiber unit, the intermediate body is supplied through an accumulator (20) capable of continuing supply to an exit side even when the supply on an entrance side is stopped, the intermediate body is moved through a turn sheave (21) capable of keeping tension on the entrance side and the tension on the exit side practically fixed, the electric insulating coating of a copper tube is worked around the intermediate body on the entrance side of the turn sheave and the protective coating is worked around the electric insulating coating on the exit side of the turn sheave. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical submarine cable and a manufacturing plant.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical fiber unit formed by arranging a plurality of optical fibers around a central steel wire and surrounding the plurality of optical fibers with a resin layer is provided with a resin protective layer or the like on the outer periphery of the optical fiber unit. Can be used on land as. On the other hand, the optical submarine cable used on the submarine has a composite pressure-resistant layer formed of a steel tube, a tensile strength member and a copper tube around the optical fiber unit, and the composite pressure-resistant layer is further covered with an electric insulation coating and It is formed by being surrounded by a protective coating.

One single-length optical submarine cable is manufactured with a predetermined length, and two optical submarine cables which should be positioned adjacent to each other are connected to each other via a submarine repeater or a joint box. By repeating such a connection, an optical submarine cable with a total length of several thousand kilometers can be obtained, and the copper tube in the composite pressure-resistant layer of the optical submarine cable supplies power to the submarine repeater.

[0004]

A coating having an electric insulation function and a coating having a protection function for the coating, which are provided around the composite breakdown voltage layer, are made of materials suitable for achieving the respective functions, for example, They are made of different materials, such as low density polyethylene achieving the former and high density polyethylene achieving the latter.

In the past, extrusion of an electrically insulating coating was used,
The extrusion processing of the protective coating was carried out in separate processing lines as independent steps. As a result, dust may adhere to the electrical insulating coating in various steps after processing the electrical insulating coating and before processing the protective coating. After processing the protective coating, this waste will be present between the electrical insulation coating and the protective coating, and particularly in the case of conductive waste, it adversely affects the withstand voltage characteristics of the optical submarine cable.
There is a possibility that the power supply to the submarine repeater by the copper tube may be hindered. Further, after the processing of one single length of the electrical insulating coating is completed, the processing line is stopped, and the next one single length of the electrical insulating coating is processed, and the processing and stopping are repeated for each single length. However, the same repetition occurs in the processing of the protective coating, and there is a lot of time loss.

The present invention has been developed in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric insulating coating and a protective coating between the electric insulating coating and the protective coating by performing them on the same processing line. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an optical submarine cable and a manufacturing factory, which can eliminate the possibility that foreign matter such as dust is present and enhance the manufacturing capacity.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following constitution. The gist of the invention according to claim 1 is to process a coating on an intermediate body having an optical fiber unit and a composite pressure-resistant layer formed around the optical fiber unit and comprising a steel tube, a tensile strength body, and a copper tube. A method of manufacturing an optical submarine cable, wherein even if the supply on the inlet side is stopped, the intermediate is supplied via an accumulator that can continue the supply to the outlet side, and the tension on the inlet side and the tension on the outlet side. Moving the intermediate body through a turn sheave that can be kept substantially constant, and processing a coating having an electrically insulating function of the copper tube around the intermediate body on the inlet side of the turn sheave. Manufacturing of an optical submarine cable, characterized in that it comprises processing another coating around the coating on the exit side of the turn-sheave, which protective function of the coating. It resides in the way. The gist of the invention according to claim 2 is to form an optical fiber unit and the periphery of the optical fiber unit,
A factory for manufacturing an optical submarine cable by processing a coating on an intermediate body having a steel tube, a tensile strength body, and a composite pressure-resistant layer composed of a copper tube, the accumulator being the intermediate body to the inlet side of the accumulator. The accumulator formed so that the supply to the outlet side can be continued even if the supply to the outlet side is stopped; A turnable sheave and a first for arranging a coating around the intermediate body, which is arranged on the inlet side of the turnsieve
And a second resin molding machine disposed on the outlet side of the turn sheave and processing another coating around the coating, the present invention resides in a manufacturing plant for optical submarine cables.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An optical submarine cable 10 includes an optical fiber unit 11 and a composite pressure-resistant layer 12 formed around the optical fiber unit 11 and coated on an intermediate body 13 with reference to FIG. It is manufactured by processing 14 and 15. The optical fiber unit 11 has a structure known per se, which is formed by arranging a plurality of optical fibers around a central steel wire and surrounding the whole with a resin.

The composite pressure resistant layer 12 comprises a steel tube 16, a tensile strength member 17, and a copper tube 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the steel tube 16 is formed by abutting three pipe pieces, which are made in a form divided into three in the circumferential direction, in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber unit 11 to form a plurality of high tensile strength steel wires. A strength member 17 is formed by winding around the steel tube 16. Further, the resin 19 makes the tensile member 1
7 fills the gap and surrounds the strength member 17 with copper tube 18
Are arranged to form the intermediate body 13.

A method of manufacturing the optical submarine cable 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 showing a schematic plan view of a manufacturing plant.
Even if the supply on the inlet side is stopped, the intermediate body 13 can be supplied via the accumulator 20 capable of continuing the supply on the outlet side, and the tension on the inlet side and the tension on the outlet side can be kept substantially constant. Moving the intermediate body 13 through the turn-sheave 21, processing the coating 14 having an electrically insulating function of the copper tube 18 around the intermediate body 13 at the inlet side of the turn-sheave 21, and coating 14 at the outlet side of the turn-sheave 21. Around another, including another coating 15 having the protective function of the coating 14.

The accumulator 20 is formed so that the supply of the intermediate body 13 to the outlet side of the accumulator 20 is continued even if the supply of the intermediate body 13 to the inlet side of the accumulator 20 is stopped. As a result, for example, when the end portion 22a of the intermediate body 13 wound on the roll 22 reaches the inlet of the accumulator 20, the start end portion 23 of the roll 23 to be coated next.
a to connect the end portion 22a with the accumulator 2
Even if the supply of the intermediate body 13 is stopped on the inlet side of 0, the supply of the intermediate body 13 is still maintained on the outlet side of the accumulator 20.

The intermediate body 13 reaching the outlet side of the accumulator 20 is washed by the washing machine 24 and heated by the burner 25, and then reaches the first resin molding machine 26. Intermediate 13
The first resin molding machine 26 extrudes the coating 14 having an electric insulation function, for example, a low density polyethylene resin. The intermediate body 13 processed with the coating 14 is the cooling trough 2
During the passage through 7, the coating 14 is cooled. Then, the intermediate body 13 with the coating 14 inverted by the turn sheave 21 is
Reaching the second resin molding machine 28, the second resin molding machine 2
At 8, a protective coating 15, for example a high density polyethylene resin, is extruded. While the intermediate body 13 processed by the coating 15 passes through the cooling trough 29, the coating 15 is cooled and the optical submarine cable 10 is obtained. The optical submarine cable 10 is wound on a pan 30 in the stockyard. The first resin molding machine 26 and the second resin molding machine 28 are extrusion molding machines.

During the production of the optical submarine cable 10, even if the tension applied to the intermediate body 13 varies between the inlet side and the outlet side of the turn sheave 21, the turn sheave 21 operates so as to absorb the variation in tension, Keep the tension between the outlet side and the outlet side constant. Therefore, since the molding process by the first resin molding machine 26 and the second resin molding machine 28 is performed with the tension applied to the intermediate body 13 kept constant, the coatings 14, 15
It is possible to prevent wrinkles and uneven thickness of layers. The tension to the intermediate body 13 is applied by the take-up caterpillar 31 for taking the optical submarine cable 10 and the take-up caterpillars 32, 33 arranged at the inlet side and the outlet side of the accumulator 20.

The manufacturing plant of the optical submarine cable 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3 showing a side surface of the accumulator 20, FIG. 4 showing a plan view of the turn sheave 21, and a side view of the turn sheave 21. 5, an intermediate body 13 having an optical fiber unit 11 and a composite pressure-resistant layer 12 formed around the optical fiber unit 11 and made of a steel tube 16, a tensile strength member 17, and a copper tube 18 is coated 14, The optical submarine cable 10 is manufactured by processing 15 and includes an accumulator 20 and a turn sheave 21.
And a first resin molding machine 26 and a second resin molding machine 28.

The accumulator 20 is the accumulator 2
Even if the supply of the intermediate 13 to the inlet side of 0 is stopped, the supply to the outlet side can be continued. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the accumulator 20 is fixed in position and is supported by a rotatable sheave 40 and a vertically movable moveable sheave 41, and exerts an upward force on the sheave 41. It consists of a weight 42. The weight 42 is a wire 4 extending through a pulley 44 attached to a ceiling 43.
The sheave 41 is lifted by being connected to the sheave 41 at 5.

The intermediate body 13 on the outlet side of the take-up caterpillar 32 is wound around the lower side of the sheave 40 and then the upper sheave 41.
And wrap it halfway around the upper side of the sheave 41 and guide it downward. The intermediate body 13 reaching the lower sheave 40 is pulled out toward the take-up caterpillar 33, or winding of the sheave 40 under the sheave 40 and half winding of the sheave 41 on the upper side are repeated several times, and the intermediate body 13 is taken up. Pull out towards.

Intermediate 1 to the inlet side of accumulator 20
3, the sheave 41 is in the position indicated by the solid line in FIG.
After that, it is taken up by the take-up caterpillar 33. When the supply of the intermediate body 13 to the inlet side of the accumulator 20 is stopped, the intermediate body 1 located between the sheave 40 and the sheave 41.
Since the tension applied to 3 becomes large, the upper sheave 41 gradually moves downward as shown by the phantom line while pulling up the weight 42, but the intermediate body 13 is still pulled by the take-up caterpillar 33. In this way, the supply on the outlet side of the accumulator 20 is continued. When the supply of the intermediate body 13 to the inlet side of the accumulator 20 is restarted, the intermediate body 1 located between the sheave 40 and the sheave 41.
Since the tension applied to 3 returns to the original state, the sheave 41 is pulled up by the weight 42 and gradually moves upward to the position indicated by the solid line.

The turn sheave 21 can keep the tension on the inlet side and the tension on the outlet side of the turn sheave 21 substantially constant. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the turn sheave 21 is rotatably supported by the shaft 50, and the shaft 50 is movable in the horizontal direction A with respect to the base 51.
Supported by. A weight 52 is connected to the shaft 50 by a chain 54 extending through a chain wheel 53, pulling the sheave 21 to the right with a force W in FIG.

When the tension of the intermediate body 13 on the inlet side of the turn sheave 21 is T1 and the tension of the intermediate body 13 on the outlet side is T2, the relationship of T1 + T2 = W is established, and T1 = T2 when the weight 52 is stationary. . When either tension increases, the turn sheave 21 moves in the horizontal direction A, and the weight 52 becomes stationary at the point where T1 = T2. Thereby, the tension of the intermediate body 13 on the inlet side and the outlet side of the turn sheave 21 is kept constant.

The first resin molding machine 26 includes a turn sheave 2
Located on the inlet side of 1, the low density polyethylene is extruded to process the coating 14 around the intermediate 13. on the other hand,
The second resin molding machine 28 is disposed on the exit side of the turn sheave 21, and extrusion-molds the high-density polyethylene to cover 1
Process the coating 15 around 4. First resin molding machine 26
Is automatically supplied with a low density polyethylene supply system 55, and the second resin molding machine 28 is automatically supplied with a high density polyethylene supply system 56.

[0021]

According to the present invention, since the processing of the electric insulation coating and the processing of the protective coating are performed on the same processing line,
There is almost no possibility that foreign matter such as dust adheres to the electric insulating coating after the electric insulating coating is processed and before the protective coating is processed. Therefore, the presence of foreign matter between the electrical insulation coating and the protective coating does not affect the withstand voltage characteristics of the optical submarine cable and does not hinder the power supply to the submarine repeater by the copper tube.

When the intermediate is supplied through the accumulator, even if the supply on the inlet side of the accumulator is stopped, the supply on the outlet side can be continued. Therefore, the processing of the electric insulation coating and the protective coating on the processing line is stopped. Without doing so, continuous processing is possible, and the optical submarine cable can be efficiently manufactured. In other words, a long optical submarine cable can be obtained. In addition, since the electric insulation coating and the protective coating are processed in one processing line, the processing time is about half that of the conventional separate processing,
The processing cost can be reduced.

Since the tension of the intermediate body on the inlet side and the outlet side of the turn sheave is kept substantially constant, a high-quality optical submarine cable can be obtained without causing wrinkles on the coating and uneven coating thickness. Can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an end view of an optical submarine cable.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an outline of a factory that manufactures an optical submarine cable according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the accumulator.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a turn sheave.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a turn sheave.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Optical submarine cable 11 Optical fiber unit 12 Composite pressure-resistant layer 13 Intermediate 14 Electrical insulation coating 15 Protective coating 16 steel tube 17 Strength member 18 copper tube 19 resin 20 Accumulator 21 turn sheave 22,23 rolls 22a Terminal part 23a Starting end 24 washing machine 25 burners 26 First resin molding machine 27,29 cooling trough 28 Second resin molding machine 30 bread 31, 32, 33 Collection Caterpillar 40, 41 sheaves 42,52 weight 43 ceiling 44 Pulley 45 wire 50 axes 51 base 53 chain wheel 54 chains 55 Low Density Polyethylene Supply System 56 High Density Polyethylene Supply System

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takio Miyamoto             1-2-1 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd.             In Ocy Sea F-term (reference) 2H001 BB06 DD04 DD07 DD08 DD24                       FF01 KK06 KK17 KK22 KK24                       MM04 MM09

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An optical submarine cable is manufactured by processing a coating on an intermediate body having an optical fiber unit and a composite pressure-resistant layer formed of a steel tube, a strength member and a copper tube, which is formed around the optical fiber unit. And supplying the intermediate through an accumulator capable of continuing the supply to the outlet side even if the supply on the inlet side is stopped, and the tension on the inlet side and the tension on the outlet side are substantially constant. Moving the intermediate body through a turn sheave, which can be kept at, processing a coating having an electrically insulating function of the copper tube around the intermediate body at the inlet side of the turn sheave, and at the outlet side of the turn sheave. Around the coating at
A method of manufacturing an optical submarine cable, which comprises processing another coating having a protective function of the coating. 2. An optical submarine cable is manufactured by processing a coating on an intermediate body having an optical fiber unit and a composite pressure-resistant layer formed around the optical fiber unit and comprising a steel tube, a tensile strength member and a copper tube. In the factory, the accumulator is an accumulator formed so that the supply to the outlet side can be continued even if the supply of the intermediate to the inlet side of the accumulator is stopped, and the turn sheave is the turn sheave. A turn sheave capable of keeping the tension on the inlet side and the tension on the outlet side substantially constant, and a first resin molding machine disposed on the inlet side of the turn sheave and processing a coating around the intermediate body. A second resin molding machine disposed on the exit side of the turn sheave and processing another coating around the coating. Bull manufacturing plant.