Composite cable assembly with neutral buoyancy

摘要

An optical fiber cable assembly for use in a fluid environment includes an elongated optical fiber cable having a negative buoyancy. A first supplemental filament has a positive buoyancy and is connected to the elongated optical fiber cable to form a composite cable assembly having a composite buoyancy that is generally neutral.

主权项

1. An elongated composite assembly adapted for use in a water environment having an upper boundary and a lower boundary, the composite assembly comprising:
an elongated optical fiber cable having a first buoyancy in a water environment, the elongated optical fiber cable having an outer surface; a first elongated supplemental filament having a second buoyancy different from the first buoyancy in the water environment; a second elongated supplemental filament having a third buoyancy different from the first and second buoyancies in the water environment; the elongated optical fiber cable and the first and the second elongated supplemental filament being connected along their lengths so as to form a composite assembly with a composite buoyancy selected such that the composite assembly is suspended between the upper boundary and the lower boundary of the water environment; wherein at least one of the first elongated supplemental filament or second supplemental filament is connected to the elongated optical fiber by being at least partially coiled around the outer surface of the elongated optical fiber cable; and wherein at least one of the first elongated supplemental filament or second elongated supplemental filament has connected portions connected to the elongated optical fiber cable and detached portions not connected to the elongated optical fiber cable such that the detached portions may extend away from the elongated optical fiber cable in the water environment.