Variable lay stranding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016349471-A1
Application number	US-201615235369-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 12, 2016
Priority date	Feb 17, 2014
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An optical cable includes a core member and a plurality of strands wound around the core member in an SZ configuration, the SZ configuration having at least two reversal sections and a helical section extending along a longitudinal length between the at least two reversal sections. A helical lay length of the wound strands is variable along the longitudinal length of the helical section. A method of forming an optical cable includes providing a core member and surrounding the core member with a plurality of strands by winding the strands in an SZ configuration that includes a helical section extending longitudinally between at least two reversal sections.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An optical cable, comprising:
a core member; and a plurality of strands wound around the core member in an SZ configuration, the SZ configuration having at least two reversal sections and a helical section extending along a longitudinal length between the at least two reversal sections, wherein a helical lay length of the wound strands is variable along the longitudinal length of the helical section.

2 . The optical cable of claim 1 , wherein the helical lay length of one turn of the wound strands is minimized toward a mid-way point of the longitudinal length.

3 . The optical cable of claim 2 , wherein the helical lay length of one turn of the wound strands lengthens from the mid-way point toward each of the at least two reversal sections.

4 . The optical cable of claim 1 , wherein the helical section comprises at least two turns of the plurality of strands around the core member.

5 . The optical cable of claim 1 , further comprising a strength element.

6 . The optical cable of claim 5 , wherein the strength element comprises glass-reinforced plastic, steel, or like strength elements.

7 . The optical cable of claim 1 , wherein the core member includes a buffer tube, an optical fiber, an optical fiber cable, a conducting wire, and/or an insulating wire.

8 . The optical cable of claim 1 , further comprising a thin film binder extrusion covering the helical section and the at least two reversal sections.

9 . A method of forming an optical cable, comprising:
providing a core member; surrounding the core member with a plurality of strands by winding the strands in an SZ configuration that includes a helical section extending longitudinally between at least two reversal sections, wherein a helical lay length of the wound strands is variable along a longitudinal length of the helical section.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
providing a stranding apparatus for forming the optical cable, wherein the stranding apparatus controls the winding of the strands such that a helical lay length of one turn of the wound strands is minimized toward a mid-way point of the longitudinal length.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the stranding apparatus is controlled such that the helical lay length of one turn of the wound strands lengthens from the mid-way point toward each of the at least two reversal sections.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the stranding apparatus is controlled to form the helical section with at least two turns of the plurality of strands around the core member.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
providing the optical cable with a strength element.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the strength element comprises glass-reinforced plastic, steel, or like strength elements.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the core member includes a buffer tube, an optical fiber, an optical fiber cable, a conducting wire, and/or an insulating wire.

16 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
extruding a thin film binder to encompass the helical section and the at least two reversal sections.

Assignees

• Corning Optical Communications LLC

Inventors

• Logan Eric Raymond
• Seddon David Alan

Classifications

• G02B6/4484

  with desired surplus length between fibres and protection features · CPC title

• G02B6/4416

  Heterogeneous cables · CPC title

• G02B6/4413 Primary

  Helical structure · CPC title

• G02B6/449 Primary

  Twisting · CPC title

• G02B6/443

  Protective covering · CPC title