Optical fiber cable with ripcords
Abstract
Optical fiber cable (4) comprising: - an armor layer disposed in a cylindrical configuration, said shielding layer one first and second ends, said first end overlapping said second end on an overlap point (3); - a first and a second ripcord (1, 1¿) essentially arranged with a mutual angular spacing of 180 degrees inside the cylindrical form of said armor layer, being located said first and second ripcords (1, 1¿) inside the cylindrical configuration over 45 degrees from said overlap point (3); - a sheath surrounding the cylindrical form of said armor layer; and - first and second radial strength members (2, 2¿) arranged inside said casing, wherein said first and second radial strength members (2, 2Is) are angularly spaced, essentially in more than 45 degrees from said overlap point (3), and that said first ripcord (1) is located at a point proximate to said first radial strength member (2) and towards said overlap point (3), and that said second ripcord (1¿) is located at a point proximate to said second radial strength member (2¿) and in a direction opposite to said overlap point (3).

Term
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Projected expiry passed 11 May 2021, 5.4 years ago.
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6 claims: 1 independent, 5 dependent
- 1ES 2 265 403 T3 REIVINDICACIONES 1. Cable de fibra óptica (4) que comprende:- una capa de blindaje dispuesta con una configuración cilíndrica, incluyendo dicha capa de blindaje uno primer y segundo extremos, solapándose dicho primer extremo sobre dicho segundo extremo en un punto de solapamiento (3);- un primer y un segundo cordones de desgarro (1, 1') dispuestos esencialmente con una separación angular mutua de 180 grados en el interior de la configuración cilíndrica de dicha capa de blindaje, estando situados dichos primer y segundo cordones de desgarro (1, 1') en el interior de la configuración cilíndrica a más de 45 grados de dicho punto de solapamiento (3);- una funda que rodea la configuración cilíndrica de dicha capa de blindaje;y - unos primer y segundo elementos de refuerzo radial (2, 2') dispuestos en el interior de dicha funda, caracterizado porque dicho primer y segundo elementos de refuerzo radial (2, 2') se encuentran angularmente separados, esencialmente, en más de 45 grados de dicho punto de solapamiento (3), y porque dicho primer cordón de desgarro (1) se encuentra situado en un punto próximo a dicho primer elemento de refuerzo radial (2) y hacia dicho punto de solapamiento (3), y porque dicho segundo cordón de desgarro (1') se encuentra situado en un punto próximo a dicho segundo elemento de refuerzo radial (2') y en una dirección opuesta a dicho punto de solapamiento (3).
- 2Cable de fibra óptica de acuerdo con la reivindicación 1, en el que dichos primer y segundo cordones de desgarro (1, 1') se encuentran situados esencialmente a 90 grados con respecto a dicho punto de solapamiento (3).
- 3Cable de fibra óptica de acuerdo con la reivindicación 2, en el que dichos primer y segundo cordones de desgarro (1, 1') están fijamente unidos a la capa de blindaje para impedir su movimiento en el interior de la configuración cilíndrica.
- 4Cable de fibra óptica de acuerdo con la reivindicación 3, en el que dichos primer y segundo cordones de desgarro (1,1') están pegados a la capa de blindaje.
- 5Cable de fibra óptica de acuerdo con la reivindicación 1, en el que uno de dichos primer y segundo cordones de desgarro (1, 1') está marcado, al menos, mediante impresión o textura, y cuando dicho primer cordón de desgarro (1) se encuentra marcado, se marca una superficie externa de una primera porción de dicha funda, mientras que cuando dicho segundo cordón de desgarro (1') se encuentra marcado, se marca una superficie externa de una segunda porción de dicha funda.
- 6Cable de fibra óptica de acuerdo con la reivindicación 5, en el que dicha primera porción marcada cuando está marcado dicho primer cordón de desgarro (1) incluye la superficie externa de la funda que se encuentra esencialmente a una distancia angular máxima de ± 90 grados de dicho punto de solapamiento (3) y en el que dicha segunda porción que se marca cuando está marcado dicho segundo cordón de desgarro (1') incluye la superficie externa de la funda que se encuentra esencialmente a más de ± 90 grados con respecto a dicho punto de solapamiento (3).
Independent claims6
24 paragraphs in 2 sections, as filed
ES 2 265 403 T3
DESCRIPTION
Fiber optic cable with tear cords.
Background of the invention
Scope of the invention
The present invention relates to an optical cable that has easily accessible tear cords that can be used without damaging the optical cable and without breaking.
Background of Related Art
Document EP-A-0893722 describes an optical fiber cable that includes a shielding layer that adopts a cylindrical configuration. The armor layer includes a first end and a second end superimposed on the first end at an overlap point, one or more tear cords disposed within the cylindrical configuration, a sleeve surrounding the cylindrical configuration, and two longitudinal reinforcing elements. diametrically opposites embedded in the sleeve. The longitudinal reinforcing elements extend substantially parallel to the axis of the fiber optic cable. In one embodiment, the fiber optic cable includes a shield layer of cylindrical configuration incorporating a point of overlap, one of the longitudinal reinforcing elements being arranged opposite the point of overlap of the shielding layer so that the other reinforcing element longitudinal is arranged at 180 degrees with respect to the point of overlap. Two tear cords are disposed within the cylindrical configuration at 180 degree angular spacing such that each tear cord is disposed away from the point of overlap.
An optical cable may include a tear cord that facilitates the removal of portions of the cable shield or other protective covering disposed around a group of fibers in order to access said group of fibers. However, the arrangement of tear cords in conventional optical cables can result in the tear cord being cut at the edge of the shielding tape when using the tear cord. When the tear cord is cut, the cord needs to be re-prepared, which is a tedious and time-consuming process.
Additionally, the tear cord can also be cut due to wear caused by contact with a radial reinforcing element (RSM). This occurs when the tear cord is pulled through the wrong part of the sheath. In this situation, the affected RSM can also prevent the tear cord from properly ripping through the cable sheath. The conventional tear cord arrangement, which allows it to be improperly pulled through the cable sheath, can also cause damage to the fiber bundle located in the central cavity of the optical cable.
Tear cords placed without paying due attention to the above can also be accidentally cut when the cable is being prepared. Also, the random arrangement of the tear cords may not provide a sufficient opening of the sheath, making it difficult to remove the cable core from its housing.
Summary of the invention
Starting from EP-A-0893722 as the most relevant registered prior art, the present invention provides a fiber optic cable including:
- a shielding layer arranged in a cylindrical configuration, said shielding layer including first and second ends, said first end overlapping said second end at a point of overlap;
- a first and a second tear cords arranged inside the cylindrical configuration of said armor layer, essentially, with a mutual angular separation of 180 degrees, said first and second tear cords being located inside the cylindrical configuration more than 45 degrees from said point of overlap (3);
- a sheath surrounding the cylindrical configuration of said shielding layer ; Y
- a first and a second radial reinforcement elements arranged inside said sheath, characterized in that said first and second radial reinforcement elements are essentially separated by more than 45 degrees from said point of overlap, and in that said first tear cord It is located at a point close to said first radial reinforcement element and towards said point of overlap, and in that said second tear cord is located at a point close to said second radial reinforcing element and in a direction opposite to said point of overlap.
Further embodiments according to the invention are described in the dependent claims.
The present invention obviates the shortcomings of known fiber optic cables by positioning the tear cords included in the cable shield with respect to the point of overlap of the cable shield as well as the radial reinforcing elements included in the cable. Specifically, the tear cords are located at least 45 degrees, and preferably 90 degrees ± 20 degrees from the center from the point of overlap of the armor tape.
The cable and tear cords can also be color-coded, textured or printed so that the tear cord is pulled back in the correct direction to avoid being damaged by the RSM. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached figures, in which:
Figure 1 shows a tear cord optical cable according to the invention.
Figure 2 shows a tear cord optical cable according to the invention.
Description of preferred embodiments
Referring to figure 1, the tear cords 1,1 'are arranged at 90 ° ± 20 ° with respect to the center of overlap of the shield tape 3. The reason for this is that both edges of the corrugated shield tape they are like a serrated knife. If the tear cord rubs against this edge when used to tear the sheath, the tear cord will be cut and the cord will need to be re-prepared. The tear cords should be spaced 180 ° from each other to provide a cable sheath cut in two to allow easy removal of the fiber core. Thus, to provide the sheath cut in two, the best position that the tear cords can have with respect to the overlap of the shields is 90 degrees. To provide this degree of tear cord displacement with
ES 2 265 403 T3 relative to the central tape and relative to the other tear cord, the tear cords can be simply guided into position during cable fabrication, or they can be glued to the shield tape with the appropriate angular spacing with regarding the overlap of the shielding using the appropriate adhesive.
With reference to figure 2, the situation of the tear cords 1, 1 'with respect to the radial reinforcing elements 2, 2' arranged in an optical cable, in addition to their repositioning with respect to the overlap of the shield 3, should also be considered. In a fiber optic cable including RSMs, ideally tear cord 1 should be pulled in direction A through sheath 4 and tear cord 1 'should be pulled in direction A'. However, without suitable indicators, the operator can pull tear cord 1 in direction B or tear cord 1 'in direction B'. Either situation would cause the tear cord to break due to the shear effect against RSM 2 or 2 '. Therefore, as a further feature of the invention, when the rip cords and RSMs are arranged as shown in Figure 2, the rip cords and one or more sides of the cable jacket are color-coded so that Each tear cord can be identified and pulled through the corresponding side of the cable jacket. Color coding or other types of markings, such as textures or printed notes, are provided to orient the tear cord with the proper side of the barrel in relation to the RSMs.
Contents2
2 sheets
Sheet 1 Sheet 2
11 members in 6 offices
Priority claims5
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20000592910 | United States of America | – | |
| 59291000 | United States of America | A | |
| 59291000 | United States of America | A | |
| 01401208592910 | – | – | – |
| US20000592910 | – | – | – |
Members11
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN1329262A | China | A | |
| EP1168024A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| US6563991B1 | United States of America | B1 | |
| EP1168024A3 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A3 | |
| CN1260592C | China | C | |
| EP1168024B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| AT331969T | Austria | T | |
| ATE331969T1 | Austria | T1 | |
| DE60121100D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| DE60121100T2 | Germany | T2 | |
| ES2265403T3This record | Spain | T3 |
Numbers
- Publication
- 2265403
- Publication, DOCDB
- 2265403
- Publication, EPODOC
- ES2265403T
- Application
- 1401208
- Application, DOCDB
- 01401208
- Application, EPODOC
- ES20010401208T
Titles2
- Spanish
- CABLE DE FIBRA OPTICA CON CORDONES DE DESGARRO.
- English
- FIBER OPTIC CABLE WITH ripcord.
Classification
- CPC, 2
- G02B6/4431
- G02B6/4433
- IPC, 1
- G02B6 44