GB2140930A - Protected fibre optic cable and coupler therefor - Google Patents

Protected fibre optic cable and coupler therefor Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2140930A
GB2140930A GB08306278A GB8306278A GB2140930A GB 2140930 A GB2140930 A GB 2140930A GB 08306278 A GB08306278 A GB 08306278A GB 8306278 A GB8306278 A GB 8306278A GB 2140930 A GB2140930 A GB 2140930A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
optical fibre
assembly
fibre
afibre
optic
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Withdrawn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
GB08306278A
Other versions
GB8306278D0 (en
Inventor
Robert Pennell Williams
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.)
NORTHANTS AFORM Ltd
Original Assignee
NORTHANTS AFORM Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by NORTHANTS AFORM Ltd filed Critical NORTHANTS AFORM Ltd
Priority to GB08306278A priority Critical patent/GB2140930A/en
Publication of GB8306278D0 publication Critical patent/GB8306278D0/en
Publication of GB2140930A publication Critical patent/GB2140930A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/262—Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements
    • 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
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
    • G02B6/3817—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres containing optical and electrical conductors
    • 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
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
    • G02B6/3825—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
    • 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
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
    • G02B6/3834—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule
    • G02B6/3843—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, e.g. measuring position or eccentricity
    • 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
    • G02B6/4415—Cables for special applications
    • G02B6/4416—Heterogeneous cables
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4401—Optical cables
    • G02B6/4429—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
    • G02B6/443—Protective covering
    • G02B6/4432—Protective covering with fibre reinforcements

Abstract

An optical fibre assembly comprises one or more optical fibres 1 located in a reinforced protective coating. As shown, coating 2 is a blooming or metallic protective layer, 3 is a layer(s) of reinforcing fibres, e.g. glass rovings or carbon fibres, in a resin 4, 5 is a metallic layer and 6 is a non-structural protective coating. A coupler for this optical fibre assembly is also shown. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A protected fibre optic system We Northants Aform a company existing under the laws of the United Kingdom, of Pound Lane, Thatcham, Berkshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention is concerned with Fibre Optic cable systems which are used for the transmission of light signals visible and non visible. It is commonly known to construct Fibre Optic cables as single or multiple conductors. However in many cases it is very desirable to have cables that can resist forces such as tension, compression, excessive bending, abrasion, liquid and gaseous. It is known that due to small local defects in the optical fibre, light loss occurs at these points and can be of readily measurable intensity.However, in cases where the light information being transmitted is of a confidential or restricted nature, it is highly desirable to diffuse or absorb these extraneous outputs so that readings cannot be taken of the transmitted signals. It is also an advantage to have incorporated into the cable a means of conducting electrical power, or signals and also acting as a lightning conductor for cable protection. It is also known that coupling to a fibre optic cable presents many problems in respect to achieving a good mechanical/physical bond to the cable whilst achieving a low light loss joint.
This invention seeks to overcome the above limitations and achieve the desirable features by producing a fibre optic cable comprising one or more optical fibres located in a protective coating.
The composition of the coating or coatings may be arranged to provide a required degree of mechanical stiffness, protection from hostile environments, diffusion or absorbtion of light leakage from the optic fibres and also electrical protection which in addition totally prevents radiation from the optic fibres and offers a means of conducting electrical energy.
The system also includes a special coupling for the cable which enables joints to be made of high mechanical strength and low light loss.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the optical fibre or fibres may be co-extruded with carbon fibre, glass fibre or other reinforcement material while being impregnated with a resin. This process will be referred to as "pultrusion". The physical properties of the optical fibre assembly can be arranged to suit a particular application by suitably varying the amount, proportion and type of both the reinforcement elements and the impregnating resin. On completion of the pultrusion operation the cable can then be drawn through chemical pre treatment baths and then a metal deposition system, such as a vacuum deposition or electroplating of a metal such as copper or nickel or by combinations of these processes.To ensure a high strength, low loss coupling or joint, part of the coupling can then be soldered or stuck with a conductive adhesive to the outer metal sheath or stuck to the pultruded cable if no metal sheath is applied. Altenatively, the metal housing can be applied by any of the standard methods but this would generally result in a lower strength metallic sheath. The light conduction across the coupling or joint is achieved by a short length of optical fibre that has been drawn down to a form of taper or sectional reduction where the central core of the fibre is larger at the end which interfaces to the transmitting end of the cable or transmittor and the smaller dia interfaces to the cable leading to the receiver or receivers and may be made position adjustable to overcome cable concentricity problems.
The invention is further described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section view of the cable and the coupling.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the cable.
Figure 3 is an end view of the coupling.
Referring to Figures 1 & 2 an optical fibre (1) of glass, plastic or quartz etc or several optical fibres form the central core of the cable. To provide exceptional security from attack, the fibre or fibres may be coated with an inert protective layer (2) by a similar process to that well known optical process of blooming as used on optical lenses. Alternatively, the optical fibres may be coated with a metallic layer by for example, vacuum deposition or electro deposition. Surrounding the optical fibre is a layer of reinforcing fibres (3) which may for example be glass rovings or carbon fibres. The surfaces of the optical fibres and reinforcing fibres may be coated by drawing them through a bath of resin and then pultruding the composite material through a heated die of the required form, thus curing the resin (4) or by injection of the resin into the die.A suitable resin system would provide good adhesion to the optic fibre and reinforcing fibres, and also provide the required physical and optical properties in conjunction with the fibres. The resin for example could be of a lower refractive index than the outer coating of the optical fibre and thus diffuse the extraneous light along its length or it could incorporate a filter medium and this absorb the unwanted radiation. For example, the resin could be Polyester or Furfural alcohol based. This cable may thus have by the appropriate selection of reinforcing fibres and resins, the selected flexibility, tensional strength, abrasion and compression resistance, also the chemical and fire resistance and permeability required.
To further improve these properties and the security of the cable the outer surface of the cable may be coated with a metallic layer (5) by vacuum deposition or electro deposition coated with a non structural protective coating (6) of required.
The electrically conductive coatings, and or reinforcements may be used for electrical signalling purposes or for the supply of electrical power to the transmittors and receivers as well as for the rejection of electrical interference i.e. screening, or conduction of lightning surges.
To ensure that the improved structural properties of the cable are not lost in the coupling, this may be arranged by soldering, brazing or jointing by an electrically conductive adhesive, a metallic or conductive sleeve, with or without a key (7) on to the end of the cable after having slid onto the cable a clamping collar (8). The end face of the cable sleeve assembly may now be finished square to the cable and with a good surface finish to improve and define the optical output of the optic fibre or fibres.
Due to the well known problems of concentricity within the optic fibre and of the optic fibre to the outside of the cable assembly, large losses of light can occur at the coupling interfaces.
To overcome these problems the centre of portion of the coupling comprises a metallic or conductive outer sleeve (9) which mechanically couples to the cable clamping collar (8) which contains within a sectional reducing length of optical fibre or fibres (10). This optical fibre is larger in cross section at end 'A' the entry end, than the transmitter or optic fibre in the cable, and smaller in cross section at the exit end 'B' than the fibre optic in the cable or receiver.
This tapered length of optical fibre (10) may be centrally located in the sleeve (9) by an adhesive filler resin as used in the manufacture of the cable for example. The taper optic fibre section thus collects the majority of the light emitted by the end of the cable provided the difference in diameters is greater than the lack of concentricity between the fibres and passes on all the light to the next cable fibre, again providing the difference in diameters is more than the concentricity errors between the cables. An alternative method to enable cables of considerable excentricity to be coupled together satisfactorily is illustrated in Figures 1 & 3, where the coupling taper optic fibre is held near each end on bushes (11) that are rotatable and thus provide movement to enable the optic fibres to be located to their mating optical position, and then locked in place by the injection of a locking medium such as the resin used in the manufacture of the cable. As an additional aid to coupling efficiency, the mating optic fibre surfaces can be smeared with a viscous optical coupling gel.

Claims (19)

1. An optical fibre assembly comprising one or more optical fibre or fibres located in a reinforced protective coating.
2. Afibre optic assembly as claimed in claim 1 where the optical fibre is coated with a resin with a lower refractive index than the outer layer of the fibre.
3. Afibre optic assembly as claimed in claim 1 where the optical fibre is coated with a resin which absorbs radiation through the optical fibre walls.
4. Afibre optic assembly as claimed in claim 1 where the optical fibre is coated with an optically opaque covering.
5. An optical fibre assembly as claimed in claim 1 where the optical fibre is bloomed.
6. Afibre optic assembly as claimed in claim 1 where the reinforcing elements are electrically conductive such as metal or carbon fibre.
or abrasive resistance than the optical fibre.
7. Afibre optic assembly as claimed in claim 1 where the reinforcing elements are conductive such as metal or carbon fibre.
8. A fibre optic assembly as claimed in claim 1 where the reinforcing elements/resin are optically conductive and this gathers and transmits the radiation from the optical fibre walls.
9. Afibre optic assembly as claimed in claim 1 where the outer surface of the composite is coated with an electrically conductive layer.
10. Afibre optic assembly as claimed in claim 1 where the metallic coated composite is coated with a non-structural protective outer casing.
11. A method of manufacturing an optical fibre assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the optical fibre or fibres are co-extruded or pultruded with a reinforcing protective coating while being impregnated with a thermoplastic orthermo setting resin.
12. A optical fibre assembly coupling maintaining the structural features as claimed in claim 1.
13. An optical fibre assembly coupling incorporating a reducing section fibre.
14. An optical fibre assembly coupling incorporating adjustable alignment features.
15. An optical fibre assembly coupling which ensures electrical continuity.
16. An optical fibre assembly coupling incorporating low light loss features.
17. An optical fibre assembly and coupling system substantially as herein described.
18. An optical fibre assembly and coupling system dependant on only one or more of the features herein described.
19. A method of manufacturing an optical fibre assembly substantially as herein described.
GB08306278A 1983-03-08 1983-03-08 Protected fibre optic cable and coupler therefor Withdrawn GB2140930A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08306278A GB2140930A (en) 1983-03-08 1983-03-08 Protected fibre optic cable and coupler therefor

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08306278A GB2140930A (en) 1983-03-08 1983-03-08 Protected fibre optic cable and coupler therefor

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8306278D0 GB8306278D0 (en) 1983-04-13
GB2140930A true GB2140930A (en) 1984-12-05

Family

ID=10539145

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08306278A Withdrawn GB2140930A (en) 1983-03-08 1983-03-08 Protected fibre optic cable and coupler therefor

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2140930A (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2169096A (en) * 1984-12-28 1986-07-02 Int Standard Electric Corp Joining optical fibres using numerical aperture transformer
GB2243224A (en) * 1990-03-14 1991-10-23 Smiths Industries Plc Optical fibre passing through microwave absorptive insert
US5729643A (en) * 1996-04-05 1998-03-17 Coherent, Inc. Tapered composite optical fiber and method of making the same
US5852692A (en) * 1997-05-16 1998-12-22 Coherent, Inc. Tapered optical fiber delivery system for laser diode
GB2356262A (en) * 1999-11-11 2001-05-16 Schweizer Kashyap Hannah Usha Gap or lens located bewteen two optic fibres to prevent heat spot damage
GB2360853A (en) * 2000-03-30 2001-10-03 Corning Cable Sys Llc Micro composite fiber optic/electrical cable
US8391658B2 (en) 2008-05-28 2013-03-05 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Fiber optic cable with jacket embedded with reinforcing members

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2050238A (en) * 1979-04-26 1981-01-07 Sea Log Corp Fiber reinforced resin structures
GB1593319A (en) * 1976-12-22 1981-07-15 Sea Log Corp Production of fibre reinforced resin structures
GB1593739A (en) * 1976-11-09 1981-07-22 Nordiske Kabel Traad Coated fibre-optic elements and their use
GB2078599A (en) * 1980-06-20 1982-01-13 Sea Log Corp Fabrication of Fiber Reinforced Resin Structures
GB2078996A (en) * 1980-05-29 1982-01-13 Sumitomo Electric Industries Infrared light transmission fibre
GB2104676A (en) * 1981-06-25 1983-03-09 Northants Aform Limited Optical fibre(s) located in a protective coating

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1593739A (en) * 1976-11-09 1981-07-22 Nordiske Kabel Traad Coated fibre-optic elements and their use
GB1593319A (en) * 1976-12-22 1981-07-15 Sea Log Corp Production of fibre reinforced resin structures
GB2050238A (en) * 1979-04-26 1981-01-07 Sea Log Corp Fiber reinforced resin structures
GB2078996A (en) * 1980-05-29 1982-01-13 Sumitomo Electric Industries Infrared light transmission fibre
GB2078599A (en) * 1980-06-20 1982-01-13 Sea Log Corp Fabrication of Fiber Reinforced Resin Structures
GB2104676A (en) * 1981-06-25 1983-03-09 Northants Aform Limited Optical fibre(s) located in a protective coating

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2169096A (en) * 1984-12-28 1986-07-02 Int Standard Electric Corp Joining optical fibres using numerical aperture transformer
GB2243224A (en) * 1990-03-14 1991-10-23 Smiths Industries Plc Optical fibre passing through microwave absorptive insert
US5113475A (en) * 1990-03-14 1992-05-12 Smiths Industries Public Limited Co. Fibre-optic entry to an enclosure
GB2243224B (en) * 1990-03-14 1993-12-15 Smiths Industries Plc Fibre-optic entry to an enclosure
US5729643A (en) * 1996-04-05 1998-03-17 Coherent, Inc. Tapered composite optical fiber and method of making the same
US5852692A (en) * 1997-05-16 1998-12-22 Coherent, Inc. Tapered optical fiber delivery system for laser diode
GB2356262A (en) * 1999-11-11 2001-05-16 Schweizer Kashyap Hannah Usha Gap or lens located bewteen two optic fibres to prevent heat spot damage
GB2360853A (en) * 2000-03-30 2001-10-03 Corning Cable Sys Llc Micro composite fiber optic/electrical cable
US8391658B2 (en) 2008-05-28 2013-03-05 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Fiber optic cable with jacket embedded with reinforcing members
US9046658B2 (en) 2008-05-28 2015-06-02 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Fiber optic cable and connector assembly
US9678290B2 (en) 2008-05-28 2017-06-13 Commscope Technologies Llc Fiber optic cable assembly including a connector assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8306278D0 (en) 1983-04-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JPS61502496A (en) Optical fiber connector and products made from this connector
US6343172B1 (en) Composite fiber optic/coaxial electrical cables
CA2456576C (en) Fiber optic cable with composite polymer/metallic armor
DE69024860T2 (en) Cable with non-metallic reinforcement layer
JPS6219721B2 (en)
US4682850A (en) Optical fiber with single ultraviolet cured coating
CA2025206A1 (en) Optical-fiber incorporated longer-sized subaqueous unit
GB1566929A (en) Coupling optical fibres
US6067394A (en) Structures of optical fiber cables self-reinforced against compression
US4530566A (en) Optical fiber duplex coupler
GB2140930A (en) Protected fibre optic cable and coupler therefor
IE50257B1 (en) An improved method of jointing optical fibres
GB2242035A (en) Restricting expansion of fibre optic sheath
FR2363121A1 (en) High tensile strength optical waveguide - has two layer optical fibre with outer metal covering used for transmitting electrical signal
CN211603641U (en) Enhanced high-temperature-resistant special loose-tube optical cable
CN106847389A (en) A kind of optoelectrical cable
GB1568178A (en) Optical fibre cables
US11906795B2 (en) Fiber optic connector assembly with crimp tube subassembly and method of use
EP3683609A1 (en) Sheathed optical ribbon cable assembly
KR20180086920A (en) Optical fiber and power line composite cable
CN210835374U (en) High-strength access optical cable
CN2935396Y (en) Optical cable
CN210294613U (en) Bending-resistant double-sheath optical cable
CN203552821U (en) High-voltage hollow optical fiber composite insulator
GB1577323A (en) Optical guides

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)