KR100911352B1 - An optical fiber cable and a water blocking tape used therein - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical cable and a waterproof tape used therein, wherein at least one optical fiber unit, at least one buffer tube surrounding the at least one optical fiber unit, and interposed between the at least one optical fiber unit and the buffer tube protect the optical fiber unit. And a waterproof tape having a waterproof function and an outer shell surrounding the outside of the buffer tube, wherein the waterproof tape has an embossing treatment formed on at least one of an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface thereof.

As a result, the buffering effect of the waterproof tape protecting the optical fiber unit of the optical cable can be doubled, and the formation of the embossing portion has the effect of increasing the total surface area, thereby increasing the hygroscopicity and improving the waterproofness.

Fiber optic, cable, waterproof tape, embossing, shock absorbing, surface area

Description

Optical cable and waterproof tape used for it {AN OPTICAL FIBER CABLE AND A WATER BLOCKING TAPE USED THEREIN}

Since the accompanying drawings are for understanding the technical spirit of the present invention together with the detailed description of the following invention, the present invention should not be construed as limited to the matters shown in the following drawings.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional optical cable.

2 is a perspective view of an optical cable according to the present invention;

3 is a cross-sectional view of an optical cable according to the present invention.

4 is a perspective view of a waterproof tape according to the present invention.

5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the waterproof tape according to the present invention unfolded.

6 to 10 are cross-sectional views illustrating various embodiments of a cut along AA ′ of FIG. 5.

Figure 11 is a plan view showing an embodiment in which the embossing portion is disposed flat in the waterproof tape.

12 is a plan view showing another embodiment in which the embossing treatment is disposed in a flat surface of the waterproof tape.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

10: optical fiber 20: buffer tube

30: waterproof tape 32: embossing forming portion

40: shell

The present invention relates to an optical cable and a waterproof tape used therein, wherein the waterproof tape is characterized in that an embossing portion is formed on at least one of an outer circumferential surface or an inner circumferential surface thereof.

In general, an optical cable refers to a cable made of one or more strands of optical fibers that transmit data using the principle of total reflection of light, and has a higher data transmission bandwidth and less loss than other wired transmission media.

The general configuration of such an optical cable is as follows.

The optical cable includes at least one optical fiber unit including at least one optical fiber, a waterproof material surrounding and protecting the at least one optical fiber unit, having a waterproof function, a buffer tube surrounding and protecting the waterproof tape, and an outer shell surrounding the buffer tube. It is made, including.

When moisture penetrates inside of the optical cable, mechanical reliability may decrease or hydrogen gas may be generated by chemical reaction with metal in the cable, and moisture may move into the optical cable to corrode the cable connection device and the terminal equipment. Also occurs.

Therefore, using a more perfect waterproof material is an important factor that determines the waterproofness of the optical cable.

A conventional technique for protecting against externally penetrated moisture is to fill a space between the optical fiber unit and the buffer tube in a jelly type waterproof material.

However, the jelly-type waterproofing material should also be removed in the process of exposing the optical cable for connection or installation with the outside, there is a problem that the hand or equipment may be contaminated by the jelly.

In addition, since the use of a chemical solvent such as gasoline or alcohol when removing the jelly, there is a problem causing environmental pollution.

Therefore, a method of interposing the waterproof tape in the buffer tube has been proposed as a method for solving the problem, the configuration is as follows.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional optical cable with a waterproof tape interposed therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical cable includes at least one optical fiber unit 10 including at least one optical fiber, at least one optical fiber, a waterproof tape 30 having a waterproof function, and at least one waterproof fiber. It comprises a buffer tube 30 for protecting, and an outer shell 40 surrounding the buffer tube.

Here, the waterproof tape 30 surrounding and protecting the at least one optical fiber unit 10 and having a waterproof function is usually interposed with a predetermined space between the optical fiber unit 10 and the buffer tube 30, the shape of which the surface is It is made of a flat cylindrical shape, the material is made of a combination of non-woven fabric and waterproofing powder.

Therefore, when moisture penetrates according to factors such as damage of the optical cable, the waterproofing powder of the waterproofing tape 30 absorbs and expands to perform the waterproofing function.

However, the waterproof tape 30 used in the conventional optical cable as described above has a flat surface and is interposed with a predetermined space between the optical fiber unit 10 and the buffer tube 30, thereby providing the optical fiber unit 10. There is a problem that is difficult to completely protect from external shock.

In addition, there is a limit in the surface area that the water penetrated from the outside to the waterproof tape 30, there is a problem that can not properly exhibit the waterproof function.

In addition, in order to reinforce the buffering function of the waterproof tape 30, the waterproof tape 30 should be made thick. For this purpose, the waterproof tape 30 needs to be manufactured in multiple layers.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems,

The waterproof tape according to the present invention has an object of protecting the optical fiber unit more securely by forming a portion for the impact relief on the surface of the waterproof tape.

In addition, the waterproof tape is intended to double the amount of water absorption by increasing the surface area to increase the contact area with the infiltrated moisture.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the manufacturing cost of the waterproof tape by proposing a waterproof tape to secure a large space for the same material in order to effectively absorb the external impact.

Optical cable according to the present invention for achieving the above object,

At least one optical fiber unit 10, at least one buffer tube 20 surrounding the at least one optical fiber unit 10, and the at least one optical fiber unit 10 and the buffer tube 20 interposed between the optical fiber unit ( 10) As an optical cable comprising a waterproof tape 30 to protect and waterproof, and the outer shell 40 surrounding the outside of the buffer tube 20,

The waterproof tape 30 is characterized in that the embossing processing portion 32 is formed on at least one surface of the outer circumferential surface or the inner circumferential surface.

Here, the embossing processing part 32 may be formed in an arc shape in cross section.

On the other hand, the embossing processing unit 32 is alternately formed on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the waterproof tape 30, the waterproof tape 30 may be formed in the shape of a sine wave in cross-section.

In addition, the cross section of the embossing processing unit 32 may be formed in the shape of a square or a triangle.

In addition, the embossing processing unit 32 may be continuously arranged in a straight line front, back, left, and right on the plane of the waterproof tape 30.

In another embodiment, the embossing processing unit 32 may be disposed along the shape of the planar ridge network of the waterproof tape 30.

It is preferable that the height h of the embossing process part 32 comprised as mentioned above is 0.3 mm-2 mm.

On the other hand, the waterproof tape 30 used in the optical cable according to the present invention,

At least one optical fiber unit 10, at least one buffer tube 20 surrounding the at least one optical fiber unit 10, and the at least one optical fiber unit 10 and the buffer tube 20 interposed between the optical fiber unit ( 10) As a waterproof tape 30 for the optical cable including a waterproof tape 30 to protect and waterproof, and an outer shell 40 surrounding the outside of the buffer tube 20,

The waterproof tape 30 is characterized in that the embossing processing portion 32 is formed on at least one surface of the outer circumferential surface or the inner circumferential surface.

Here, the embossing processing part 32 may be formed in an arc shape in cross section.

On the other hand, the embossing processing unit 32 is alternately formed on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the waterproof tape 30, the waterproof tape 30 may be formed in the shape of a sine wave in cross-section.

On the other hand, the embossing processing unit 32 may be formed in the shape of a square or triangle on the cross-section.

In addition, the embossing processing unit 32 may be continuously arranged in a straight line front, back, left, and right on the plane of the waterproof tape 30.

In another embodiment, the embossing processing unit 32 may be disposed along the shape of the planar ridge network of the waterproof tape 30.

It is preferable that the height h of the embossing process part 32 comprised as mentioned above is 0.3 mm-2 mm.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Prior to this, terms used in the present specification and claims should not be construed in a dictionary sense, and the inventors may properly define the concept of terms in order to explain their invention in the best way. It should be construed as meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the configuration shown in the embodiments and drawings described herein are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not represent all of the technical spirit of the present invention, various equivalents that may be substituted for them at the time of the present application It is to be understood that variations may exist.

2 is a perspective view of an optical cable according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the optical cable according to the present invention.

2 and 3, an optical cable according to the present invention includes at least one optical fiber unit 10, at least one buffer tube 20 surrounding the at least one optical fiber unit 10, and at least one optical fiber unit ( 10) and an optical cable including a waterproof tape 30 interposed between the buffer tube 20 to protect the optical fiber unit 10 and having a waterproof function, and an outer shell 40 surrounding the outside of the buffer tube 20. As the waterproof tape 30 is characterized in that the embossing portion 32 is formed on at least one of the outer circumferential surface or the inner circumferential surface.

Meanwhile, the waterproof tape 30 used for the optical cable according to the present invention includes at least one optical fiber unit 10, at least one buffer tube 20 surrounding the at least one optical fiber unit 10, and at least one optical fiber unit. Interposed between the 10 and the buffer tube 20 includes a waterproof tape 30 which protects the optical fiber unit 10 and has a waterproof function, and an outer shell 40 surrounding the outside of the buffer tube 20. As waterproof tape 30 for an optical cable, the waterproof tape 30 is characterized in that the embossing processing portion 32 is formed on at least one surface of the outer peripheral surface or the inner peripheral surface.

2 and 3, the optical cable according to the present invention basically includes an optical fiber unit 10, a waterproof tape 30, a buffer tube 20 and the shell 40 and the like.

The optical fiber unit 10 refers to a unit composed of a predetermined number of optical fiber core wires. The optical fiber core wires generally use glass fiber made of silica having high refractive index for the core part (center part), and the clad part (outer part). In this case, glass or synthetic resin made of low refractive index silica is used, and the light passing through the center is totally reflected so that the signal is transmitted.

And the surface is coated with a resin to mechanically protect the core and the cladding portion of such a material.

In this case, when the optical fiber unit 10 is formed in plural, a bundle tube may be further included to surround and protect the optical fiber unit 10.

The buffer tube 20 broadly performs the role of wrapping and protecting the one or more optical fiber units 10, that is, waterproofing and absorbing external shock.

The waterproof tape 30 is interposed between the at least one optical fiber unit 10 and the buffer tube 20 to protect the optical fiber unit 10 and to perform a waterproof function to absorb moisture penetrated into the optical cable.

The waterproof tape 30 is preferably produced by applying a waterproofing powder to the nonwoven fabric, the nonwoven fabric is to form a fabric directly by binding the fiber assembly by mechanical, chemical or heat treatment of the fiber.

In addition, the waterproof powder is preferably made of a super absorbent polymer (SAP), and the super absorbent resin has a property of absorbing moisture from tens to hundreds of times more than its own weight.

Therefore, the waterproof tape 30 has a property of basically absorbing moisture by the applied waterproof powder.

The waterproof tape 30 as described above is usually manufactured by applying an adhesive to the surface of the nonwoven fabric, applying waterproof powder to the adhesive again, and then covering the upper surface with the waterproof tape 30 again.

When the waterproof tape 30 manufactured as described above is interposed between the one or more optical fiber units 10 and the buffer tube 20, a space is provided between the optical fiber unit 10 and the buffer tube 20. Intervened.

This is to provide a space for the waterproof tape 30 to absorb and expand the moisture when the optical cable is damaged or cut in part due to external shock or aging to penetrate the moisture.

In addition to the waterproof function, the waterproof tape 30 may enhance the function of absorbing external shocks between the optical fiber unit 10 and the buffer tube 20, and thus, it is necessary to more effectively protect the optical fiber unit 10. .

In order to more effectively protect the optical fiber unit 10 as described above, the embossing processing unit 32 is formed on at least one surface of the outer circumferential surface or the inner circumferential surface of the waterproof tape 30.

The embossing refers to a processing method of inserting the workpiece between the irregularities of iron stamps and applying a strong pressure on the back side to create a raised pattern.

6 to 10 are cross-sectional views illustrating various embodiments of a cut along AA ′ of FIG. 5.

The embossing processing part 32 formed by the embossing process as described above may be formed in an arc shape as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 on the cross section of the waterproof tape 30, and may be formed in a quadrangle as shown in FIG. It may be made of a triangle as shown in 9.

In addition, the embossing processing unit 32 having the above-described shape may be formed on only one surface of the outer circumferential surface or the inner circumferential surface of the waterproof tape 30, but may be simultaneously formed on the outer circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface.

Here, when the embossing processing portion 32 is formed in an arc shape on the cross-section of the waterproof tape 30, as shown in FIG. 10, the embossing processing portion 32 is alternately formed on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the waterproof tape 30. The waterproof tape 30 may be configured to have a sine wave shape in cross section.

The shape of the embossing processing unit 32 as described above is merely an embodiment, and the height of the waterproof tape 30 is modified by modifying the shape of the waterproof tape 30, and the optical fiber unit 10 and the buffer tube 20 of the optical cable are changed. It can be implemented in various shapes as long as it can increase the effect of absorbing external shocks by interposing the gaps between the < RTI ID = 0.0 >

Until now, the cross-sectional shape of the waterproof tape 30 according to the shape of the embossing processing unit 32 has been described. Hereinafter, the shape of the embossing processing unit 32 in the waterproof tape 30 will be described.

11 and 12 are plan views illustrating an embodiment in which the embossing processing unit 32 is disposed in the waterproof tape 30 in a plan view.

As shown in FIG. 11, the embossing processing part 32 may be continuously arranged in a straight line in front, rear, left, and right of each other when viewed in plan view of the waterproof tape 30, and as shown in FIG. 12, the waterproof tape 30 is shown in FIG. 12. The embossing processing units 32 of neighboring rows may be alternately arranged along the shape of the planar ridge network.

If the height (h) of the embossing processing part 32 in the waterproof tape 30 as described above is too thin, less than 0.3 mm, the original intention to increase the buffering effect by occupying a large space may be lost, and in excess of 2 mm. If the formation is too high, the force is applied to the waterproof tape 30 due to the characteristics of the embossing process in which the waterproof tape 30 is sandwiched between the irregularities of the iron seal and then pressurized to form the embossing processing portion 32. There is a risk of tearing.

Therefore, the height h of the embossing treatment part 32 included in the waterproof tape 30 of the present invention is preferably made in the range of 0.3 mm to 2 mm.

The outer shell 40 surrounds the buffer tube 20 and protects the buffer tube 20 from the outside. Although not shown in detail, the outer shell 40 may be formed of a single layer structure made of a sheath layer, and an inner sheath layer and a remy. It may also consist of a multi-layered structure, such as a moisture-proof layer of naked aluminum, an outer sheath layer.

Here, the sheath layer is preferably made of plastic resin such as PBT, PE, PVC, flame free flameretardant thermoplastic, and polyurethane.

Although the components of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the technical idea known in the art.

Referring to the waterproof tape 30 of the optical cable configured as described above to perform the waterproof function.

First, the optical fiber unit 10 surrounds the buffer tube 20 with a sufficient space, and a waterproof tape 30 is interposed between the optical fiber unit 10 and the buffer tube 20.

The waterproof tape 30 occupies a large amount of space with respect to the material by the embossing processing part 32, and the embossing processing part 32 itself has a shock-absorbing effect, thereby double the external shock absorbing function.

On the other hand, when a part of the optical cable is damaged and moisture penetrates into the optical cable, the waterproof tape 30 is increased in surface area by the surface area of the embossing treatment part 32 as compared with the cylindrical waterproof tape 30 having a flat surface. It has an effect, the surface area of the waterproof tape 30 can increase the water absorption amount to increase the waterproof effect.

As mentioned above, although the present invention has been described by way of limited embodiments and drawings, the technical idea of the present invention is not limited thereto, and a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, Various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Effects according to the present invention by the above configuration is as follows.

First, since the embossing process itself has a buffering effect, it can exert an effect that can double the buffering effect of the waterproof tape to protect the optical fiber unit.

Second, the waterproof tape has an effect of increasing the total surface area due to the formation of the embossing treatment portion, the contact area with the water penetrated into the optical cable is increased, and the effect of doubling the water moisture absorption by the increased surface area. Can be.

Third, in contrast to the case where the waterproof tape is made of a cylindrical surface having a conventional flat surface, the same amount of material can be as large as the embossed portion, thereby saving the material of the waterproof tape and reducing the cost. Can be exercised.

Claims (16)

At least one optical fiber unit, at least one buffer tube surrounding the at least one optical fiber unit, a waterproof tape interposed between the at least one optical fiber unit and the buffer tube to protect and protect the optical fiber unit, and an outer portion of the buffer tube. As an optical cable including the outer shell surrounding the, The waterproof tape is an optical cable, characterized in that the embossing portion formed on at least one surface of the outer peripheral surface or the inner peripheral surface. The method of claim 1, The optical cable, characterized in that the embossing portion is formed in an arc shape in cross section. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The embossing processing portion is alternately formed on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface, so that the waterproof tape has a sine wave shape in cross section. The method of claim 1, The embossing processing unit is an optical cable, characterized in that the cross section made of a square. The method of claim 1, The embossing processing unit is an optical cable, characterized in that consisting of a triangle in cross section. The method of claim 1, The embossing processing unit is an optical cable, characterized in that arranged in a straight line front to back, left and right on each other in the plane of the waterproof tape. The method of claim 1, The embossing processing unit is disposed along the shape of the planar ridge network of the waterproof tape. The method of claim 1, The height (h) of the embossing portion is 0.3mm to 2mm optical cable. At least one optical fiber unit, at least one buffer tube surrounding the at least one optical fiber unit, a waterproof tape interposed between the at least one optical fiber unit and the buffer tube to protect and protect the optical fiber unit, and an outer portion of the buffer tube. As a waterproof tape for an optical cable including an outer jacket wrapping the, The waterproof tape is a waterproof tape, characterized in that the embossing portion formed on at least one surface of the outer peripheral surface or the inner peripheral surface. The method of claim 9, Waterproofing tape, characterized in that the embossing portion is formed in an arc-shaped cross-section. The method of claim 9 or 10, The embossing portion is alternately formed in an arc shape in cross section on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface, so that the waterproof tape has the shape of a sine wave in the cross section. The method of claim 9, The embossing treatment is a waterproof tape, characterized in that consisting of a rectangular cross-section. The method of claim 9, The embossing treatment is waterproof tape, characterized in that consisting of a triangle in cross-section. The method of claim 9, The embossing treatment is a waterproof tape, characterized in that arranged in a straight line front, back, left, and right of each other on the plane of the waterproof tape. The method of claim 9, The embossing treatment portion is waterproof tape, characterized in that disposed along the shape of the planar ridge net of the waterproof tape. The method of claim 9, The height (h) of the embossing portion is a waterproof tape, characterized in that 0.3mm ~ 2mm.

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