OPTICAL COMMUNICATION CABLE

摘要

OPTICAL COMMUNICATION CABLE An improved optical cable having increased bending flexibility along with increased tensile strength comprises means for controlling coupling between a cable jacket and its reinforcing strength members. In one embodiment, a reinforcement bedding layer is applied between a plastic-extruded inner jacket and the outer cable jacket. Before extrusion of the outer jacket, the reinforcing strength members are helically applied onto the bedding layer with predetermined strength member surfaces making intimate surface contact with the bedding layer. Because the bedding layer is impervious to the plastic extrudant used to construct the outer jacket and is capable of rendering the predetermined strength member surfaces sufficiently inaccessible to the plastic extrudant, encapsulation of strength member lengths containing the predetermined strength member surfaces by the plastic extrudant is prevented. In another embodiment, the cable sheath includes two separate layers of strength members, each layer having predetermined lays in opposite directions such that under a tensile load they produce equal but oppositely directed torques about the cable's longitudinal axis. The coupling between each layer of strength members and its surrounding jacket can also be controlled.