JP2009265525A - Optical fiber cable - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber cable that stably secures transmission characteristics by reducing lateral pressure to a groove bottom surface. <P>SOLUTION: The optical fiber cable 10 includes a plurality of ribbons 13 of coated optical fibers, slots 11 having ribbon storage grooves 17 housing the plurality of ribbons 13 of coated optical fibers, and a coating 14 covering the slots 11. On a groove bottom surface 23 of each of the ribbon storage grooves 17, an inclusion 15 which can move in a peripheral direction of the slot 11 is provided so that both or one side of each of the ribbons 13 does not come into contact with the groove bottom surface 23 along the length direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber cable in which a plurality of tape core wires are accommodated in a slot.

  As an example of a conventional optical fiber cable, as shown in FIG. 6, an optical fiber cable 100 in which a tape core wire 103 is accommodated in a groove 102 of a slot 101 is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

JP-A-4-81706

  However, in the optical fiber cable 100 disclosed in Patent Document 1, the surface roughness in the groove 102 of the slot 101 is improved, but melt fracture occurs due to an increase in linear velocity, and the surface roughness cannot be sufficiently improved. The case was expected. Further, the end of the tape core 103 accommodated in the groove 102 may come into contact with the bottom of the groove, and when the tape core 103 is inclined in the groove 102 due to bending stress or the like, the tape core 103 It is expected that the side pressure concentrates on the end of the fiber and the transmission characteristics of the end fiber decrease.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber cable that can reduce the lateral pressure with the bottom surface of the groove and stably ensure transmission characteristics.

  An optical fiber cable according to the present invention that can solve the above-mentioned problems is coated with a plurality of tape core wires, a slot having a tape core wire receiving groove for storing the plurality of tape core wires, and an outer side of the slot. An optical fiber cable having a sheath, wherein both sides or one side of the cross section of the tape core wire is in contact with the groove bottom surface in the longitudinal direction within the groove bottom surface of the tape core wire receiving groove. In order to avoid this, it is characterized in that an inclusion that is movable in the circumferential direction of the slot is provided.

  According to the optical fiber cable configured as described above, the tape core wire is displaced as the inclusion provided in the groove bottom surface of the tape core wire receiving groove of the slot slides along the groove bottom surface. The side pressure is absorbed and absorbed, and both sides or one side in the cross section of the tape core wire are held so as not to contact the groove bottom surface in the longitudinal direction. As a result, even if the surface roughness of the groove bottom surface is at a high level, side pressure does not concentrate on the end center side of the tape core wire, and the transmission pressure is stably ensured by reducing the side pressure with the groove bottom surface. can do.

  In the optical fiber cable according to the present invention, it is preferable that the inclusion has a width in the circumferential direction of the slot set to 30 to 80% with respect to the width of the groove bottom surface.

  According to the optical fiber cable configured as described above, when the inclusion protrudes in a protruding shape from the groove bottom surface, the lateral pressure is locally concentrated there. By setting the predetermined width to 30 to 80%, it is possible to prevent concentration of lateral pressure from occurring.

  In the optical fiber cable according to the present invention, it is preferable that the inclusion has a moving gap of 0.2 mm or less between the bottom surface of the groove.

  According to the optical fiber cable configured as described above, the inclusion is slidable within the moving gap between the groove bottom surface within the tape core wire receiving groove and the tape core within the tape core wire receiving groove. For example, in an SZ twisted slot type cable or the like in which the wire rotates and rises, the end center of the tape core wire does not directly contact the bottom surface of the groove, so that transmission characteristics can be stably secured.

  In the optical fiber cable according to the present invention, it is preferable that the tape core wire receiving groove is set to have a clearance dimension of 1.4 mm or less when the tape core wire is stored.

  According to the optical fiber cable configured as described above, even if the clearance dimension of the tape core wire receiving groove when the tape core wire is stored becomes as high as about 1.4 mm, the inclusions cause the groove bottom surface to It is possible to stably secure the transmission characteristics by reducing the side pressure.

  Moreover, in the optical fiber cable according to the present invention, it is preferable that the inclusion is formed in an arc shape protruding in the outer peripheral direction starting from both ends of the groove bottom surface of the tape core wire receiving groove.

  According to the optical fiber cable configured as described above, the end of the tape core is formed by inclusions formed in an arc shape protruding in the outer circumferential direction starting from both ends of the bottom surface of the tape core receiving groove. As a result, the side pressure is not concentrated on the groove, and the side pressure against the groove bottom surface is reduced, so that transmission characteristics can be stably secured.

  According to the optical fiber cable according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical fiber cable that can stably secure transmission characteristics by reducing the side pressure with the groove bottom surface.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
1 and 2 show a first embodiment of an optical fiber cable according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the optical fiber cable according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an optical fiber of FIG. It is a partial fracture appearance perspective view of a tape cable core applied to a cable.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an optical fiber cable 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a slot 11, a tape core wire 13, a jacket 14, and a slide member 15 that is an inclusion. ing.

  The slot 11 is, for example, an SZ twist type slot, and is formed into a cylindrical shape as a whole using a polymer material such as polyethylene, and has a tension member 12 as a strength member at the center, and has an outer periphery. It has five SZ twisted tape core wire receiving grooves 17. Note that the tape core wire receiving groove 17 may be spiral instead of SZ twisted.

  The tape core wire receiving grooves 17 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the slot 11 and twisted in a wave shape in the axial direction, and the tape core wires 13 are stacked and stored in five stages. A tape core wire 13 is held in the axial direction of the slot 11.

  The tape core wire 13 includes eight optical fibers 20 coated with a primary coating 18 and a secondary coating 19 and a sheath 21, and is laminated in five stages in the tape core wire receiving groove 17. A tape core assembly 22 is formed.

  The outer jacket 14 is made of a resin material such as polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and is extruded from the tape core assembly 22 into the slot 11 in which the tape core assembly 22 is housed in the tape core housing groove 17. 17 is held so that it does not protrude from the tape core housing groove 17.

  The slide member 15 is formed in a plate shape having an oval cross-sectional view using, for example, a resin material such as polyamide, and is formed on the groove bottom surface 23 along the groove bottom surfaces 23 of the five tape core wire receiving grooves 17. Built in.

  The slide member 15 has a predetermined height dimension, and the width L1 in the circumferential direction of the slot 11 is set to 30 to 80% with respect to the width L2 of the groove bottom surface 23. For this reason, the slide member 15 has movement gaps L3 on both sides thereof, for example, a total of 0.2 mm or less of 0.1 mm with respect to the width L2 of the groove bottom surface 23. Thus, the slide member 15 slides on the groove bottom surface 23 in the circumferential direction of the slot 11 within the range of the movement gap L3, thereby absorbing the deviation of the tape core wire 13 and relieving the side pressure. It can hold | maintain so that the both sides or one side of the core wire 13 may not contact the groove bottom face 23 over a longitudinal direction.

  Further, the slide member 15 has a surface roughness Ra of the lower surface on the groove bottom surface 23 side set to 0.8 μm or less. As a result, the slide member 15 is smooth on the groove bottom surface 23 side, and the tape core wire assembly 22 is placed on the upper portion of the slide member 15 on the groove bottom surface 23 within the gap L3 for movement. By sliding in the circumferential direction, in addition to the end center of the tape core wire 13, the transmission characteristics of the core wires other than the end center can be simultaneously stabilized.

  The clearance L4 between the upper end edge of the tape core wire receiving groove 17 and the upper surface of the tape core wire 13 at the upper end of the tape core wire assembly 22 stored in the tape core wire receiving groove 17 is set to 1.4 mm or less. ing. As a result, even if the clearance of the tape core wire receiving groove 17 when the tape core wire 13 is stored becomes high density, the slide member 15 reduces the side pressure with the groove bottom surface 23 and stabilizes the transmission characteristics. Can be secured.

  Normally, the surface roughness of the groove bottom surface 23 is defined in JIS B0601, and the average surface roughness Ra (Roughness average) is defined by the following formulas 1 and 2.

  Here, x: distance in the length direction of the sample, F (x): a function describing the unevenness state of the sample surface, L: length to be measured when measuring the surface roughness, r1: within the section of the length to be measured And take the average of f (x). Ra is also referred to as centerline average roughness, and its physical meaning is the average distance from the centerline, ie, r1. Therefore, the average surface roughness Ra of the surface of the tape core wire receiving groove 17 of the slot 11 is expressed by Formula 2.

  Regarding such surface roughness Ra, there is a tendency to deteriorate as the linear velocity increases. Further, when the residual strain of the tape core wire 13 in the tape core wire receiving groove 17 increases toward the tension side, the side pressure also tends to increase. Further, when the optical fiber cable 10 is bent, the tape core wire 13 tends to tilt left and right within the tape core wire accommodation groove 17. At this time, since the lateral pressure of the tape core wire 13 is concentrated on the end center side in contact with the groove bottom surface 23, the transmission characteristics may be deteriorated even if the surface roughness is low.

  As described above, according to the optical fiber cable 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the tape core wire 13 is provided in the groove bottom surface 23 of the tape core wire receiving groove 17 of the slot 11. By sliding 15 along the groove bottom surface 23, the shift is absorbed and the lateral pressure is relaxed, and both sides or one side is held so as not to contact the groove bottom surface 23 in the longitudinal direction. As a result, even if the surface roughness of the groove bottom surface 23 is at a high level, the side pressure does not concentrate on the end center side of the tape core wire 13, and the side pressure with the groove bottom surface 23 is reduced to stabilize the transmission characteristics. Can be secured.

  Further, when the slide member 15 protrudes in a protruding shape from the groove bottom surface 23, the lateral pressure is locally concentrated on the slide member 15. Therefore, the circumferential width L 1 of the slot 11 is set to the width L 2 of the groove bottom surface 23. By setting the predetermined 30 to 80%, it is possible to prevent the concentration of the side pressure from occurring.

  Further, since the slide member 15 is slidable within the movement gap between the slide core 15 and the groove bottom surface 23 in the tape core housing groove 17, the tape core 13 rotates and rises in the tape core housing groove 17. For example, even in an SZ twist slot type cable or the like, it is possible to stably ensure transmission characteristics by preventing the end center of the tape core wire 13 from directly contacting the groove bottom surface 23.

  Further, even if the clearance L4 of the tape core wire receiving groove 17 when the tape core wire 13 is received becomes high density of about 1.4 mm, the slide member 15 reduces the side pressure with the groove bottom surface 23 and transmits it. The characteristics can be secured stably.

  Further, even if the surface roughness Ra on the groove bottom surface 23 side of the slide member 15 is at a relatively high level of 1.6 μm, in addition to the end center of the tape core wire 13, core wires other than the end center are also excellently transmitted. Characteristics can be secured.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the optical fiber cable according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber cable according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the following embodiments, components that are the same as those in the first embodiment described above or functionally similar components are simplified or omitted by giving the same reference numerals or equivalent symbols in the drawings. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the optical fiber cable 30 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has five tape cores each having a slide plate 31 having a short plate shape in the upper stage and a long plate shape in the lower stage. They are incorporated on the groove bottom surface 23 of the line accommodating groove 17.

  The slide member 31 has an outer shape in which the lower portion covers most of the groove bottom surface 23 of the tape core wire receiving groove 17, has a predetermined height dimension, and the width L1 in the circumferential direction of the slot 11 is the groove bottom surface. The width L2 is set to 30 to 80%. For this reason, the slide member 31 has movement gaps L3 of 0.2 mm or less in total, for example, 0.1 mm each with respect to the width L2 of the groove bottom surface 23 on both sides thereof. Thereby, the slide member 31 is slid in the circumferential direction of the slot 11 on the groove bottom surface 23 within the range of the gap L3 for movement, thereby absorbing the deviation of the tape core wire 13 and relieving the lateral pressure. Both sides or one side of the tape core wire 13 is held so as not to contact the groove bottom surface 23 in the longitudinal direction.

  Further, the slide member 31 has a lower surface on the groove bottom surface 23 side and a surface roughness Ra set to 0.8 μm or less. As a result, the slide member 31 is smooth on the groove bottom surface 23 side, and with the tape core assembly 22 placed thereon, the slide member 31 moves over the groove bottom surface 23 within the range of the gap L3 for movement. By being slid in the circumferential direction, in addition to the end center of the tape core wire 13, the transmission characteristics of the core wires other than the end center are simultaneously stabilized.

  Since the optical fiber cable 30 of the second embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment described above, description thereof is omitted. In particular, according to the optical fiber cable 30 of the present embodiment, the slot is a slot. 11 is effective when the tape core wire receiving groove 17 is SZ twisted.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the optical fiber cable according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber cable according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the optical fiber cable 40 according to the third embodiment of the present invention has a shape swelled in an arc shape protruding in the outer peripheral direction starting from both ends of the groove bottom surface 23 of the tape core wire receiving groove 17. The formed slide member 41 is incorporated on the groove bottom surface 23 of the five tape core wire receiving grooves 17.

  The slide member 41 has an outer shape that covers most of the groove bottom surface 23 of the tape core wire receiving groove 17 and has a predetermined height dimension. The width L1 in the circumferential direction of the slot 11 is the width L2 of the groove bottom surface 23. Is set to 30 to 80%. For this reason, the slide member 41 has movement gaps L3 on both sides thereof, for example, 0.1 mm in total and 0.2 mm or less with respect to the width L2 of the groove bottom surface 23. As a result, the slide member 41 is slid in the circumferential direction of the slot 11 on the groove bottom surface 23 within the range of the movement gap L3, so that the shift of the tape core wire 13 is absorbed and the side pressure is relieved. It holds so that the both sides or one side of the core wire 13 may not contact the groove bottom face 23 over the longitudinal direction.

  Further, the slide member 41 has a surface roughness Ra of the lower surface on the groove bottom surface 23 side set to 0.8 μm or less. As a result, the slide member 41 is smooth on the groove bottom surface 23 side, and with the tape core assembly 22 placed thereon, the slide member 41 moves over the groove bottom surface 23 within the range of the movement gap L3. By being slid in the circumferential direction, in addition to the end center of the tape core wire 13, the transmission characteristics of the core wires other than the end center are simultaneously stabilized.

  Since the optical fiber cable 40 of the third embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment described above, description thereof is omitted. In particular, according to the optical fiber cable 40 of the present embodiment, the tape With the slide member 41 formed in a circular arc shape convex toward the outer circumferential direction starting from both ends of the groove bottom surface 23 of the core wire housing groove 17, side pressure is not concentrated on the end center side of the tape core wire 13, The transmission pressure can be stably secured by reducing the side pressure with the groove bottom 23.

  Next, an example carried out to confirm the operation and effect of the optical fiber cable according to the present invention will be described.

[Transmission characteristics measurement test]
As Comparative Example 1, an optical fiber cable having a slot in which a slide member was not incorporated on the bottom surface of the tape core wire receiving groove was prepared. Further, as Comparative Example 2, an optical fiber cable having a slot in which a slide member having a remarkably small length with respect to the circumferential direction of the slot as compared to the groove bottom surface was prepared on the groove bottom surface of the tape core wire receiving groove.

Example 1 is an optical fiber cable 10 having a slot 11 incorporating the slide member 15 shown in the first embodiment. Example 2 is an optical fiber cable 30 having a slot 11 in which the slide member 41 shown in the third embodiment is incorporated.
Using these, the transmission characteristics are measured, and the measurement results are shown in FIG. The residual strain of the tape core wire was set to a range of 0.00 to 0.03%, which is generally considered as an optimum strain value. The tape core used in the measurement test has a normal level of fiber strain.

  As is clear from FIG. 5, in Comparative Example 1 in which the slide member was not incorporated, the maximum transmission characteristic was significantly deteriorated when the surface roughness Ra exceeded 1.2 μm. Further, in Comparative Example 2 in which a slide member having a remarkably small length with respect to the circumferential direction of the slot was incorporated, the side pressure was concentrated at the central portion of the tape core wire contacting the slide member, and the transmission characteristics deteriorated.

On the other hand, Example 1 and Example 2 are good because the transmission loss at a wavelength of 1.55 μm is 0.3 dB / km or less even when the surface roughness Ra is at a high level of 1.6 μm. It can be seen that the transmission characteristics are maintained. Further, it was confirmed that the core wires other than the end centers have transmission characteristics superior to those of the normal due to the buffering effect and the surface smoothing effect. In addition, the slide member which is an inclusion may be provided in all the tape core wire receiving grooves, or may be provided only in a specific groove. The clearance is about 0.2 mm. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and similar transmission characteristics can be obtained even when the clearance is 0.9 mm or less. Although this tends to reduce the clearance while the development of diameter reduction is being promoted for multi-laying laying applications recently, it is possible to sufficiently cope with such a tendency. Recognize.

In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A deformation | transformation, improvement, etc. are possible suitably. In addition, the material, shape, dimension, numerical value, form, number, arrangement location, and the like of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary and are not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.
For example, the number of optical fibers accommodated in the optical fiber cable is not limited to eight, and may be four or other plural numbers. Further, the shape of the tape core wire receiving groove is not limited to the illustrated rectangular shape, but can be applied to an inverted isosceles trapezoidal slot.

It is sectional drawing of the optical fiber cable which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a partially broken external appearance perspective view of the tape core wire applied to the optical fiber cable of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the optical fiber cable which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the optical fiber cable which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the relationship between groove bottom surface roughness and transmission characteristics. It is sectional drawing of the conventional optical fiber cable.

Explanation of symbols

10, 30, 40 Optical fiber cable 11 Slot 13 Tape core 14 Outer jacket 15, 31, 41 Slide member (inclusion)
17 Tape core wire receiving groove 23 Groove bottom

Claims (5)

An optical fiber cable comprising: a plurality of tape core wires; a slot having a tape core wire receiving groove for storing the plurality of tape core wires; and a jacket coated on the outside of the slot;
Inclusions movable in the circumferential direction of the slot in the groove bottom surface of the tape core wire receiving groove so that both sides or one side in the cross section of the tape core wire do not contact the groove bottom surface in the longitudinal direction An optical fiber cable comprising:   2. The optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein a width of the inclusion in the circumferential direction of the slot is set to 30 to 80% with respect to a width of the groove bottom surface.   The optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein the inclusion has a gap for movement of 0.2 mm or less between the bottom surface of the groove.   The optical fiber cable according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a clearance dimension when the tape core wire is received is set to 1.4 mm or less. The said inclusion is formed in the circular arc shape protruded in the outer peripheral direction from the both ends of the said groove bottom face of the said tape core wire accommodation groove | channel as the starting point. Fiber optic cable.

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