Appeal No. 2003-2153 Page 8
Application No. 09/632,160
Figure 5 is a diagram of a fifth embodiment of Keller's invention. In this
embodiment the cable is a loose tube plenum indoor-outdoor cable having multiple
buffer tubes 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 arranged around a central strength member
414 having an overcoat 415. Each buffer tube 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 has optical
fibers 402a, 404a, 406a, 408a, 410a, 412a arranged therein. Each buffer tube 402,
404, 406, 408, 410, 412 also has cycled fiber locks, one of which is respectively shown
in hatching as 402b, 404b, 406b, 408b, 410b, 412b. Each buffer tube 402, 404, 406,
408, 410, 412 also has water swellable powder (not shown) therein for absorbing water
and other moisture. A water swellable binder 420 is wrapped around the buffer tubes
402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412. Water swellable yarns 416, 418 are arranged inside the
water swellable binder 420. A water swellable aramid yarn 422 is wrapped around the
water swellable binder 420. A jacket 424 is arranged about the water swellable aramid
yarn 422.
Figure 6 is a diagram of a process for providing cycled fiber locks on an optical
fiber. The cycled fiber lock process has a part A, a part B, a gear pump 510, and a
drop meter unit 520 for dropping a mixture of the part A and the part B onto optical
fibers 502 to form cycled fiber locks 504, 506, 508. The cycled fiber lock process also
includes steps using an extrusion crosshead 530 and a water trough 540.
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Last modified: November 3, 2007