Rugged micromodule cable

摘要

A rugged micromodule cable includes central strength yarns, micromodules stranded around the central strength yarns, additional strength yarns positioned around the stranded micromodules, and a jacket of polymeric material surrounding the additional strength yarns. The micromodules each include sheathing surrounding a plurality of optical fibers. The strand profile of the micromodules is tight, having an average lay length of less than 250 mm, and the sheathing is thin-walled, having an average thickness of less than about 200 micrometers. The strand of the micromodules, the positioning of the additional strength yarns, and bonding between the additional strength yarns and the jacket mitigate lengthwise movement of the optical fibers in the rugged micromodule cable.

主权项

1. A method of manufacturing a rugged micromodule cable, comprising steps of:
stranding micromodules around one or more central strength yarns, wherein the central strength yarns comprise fibrous strength material, wherein the micromodules each comprise sheathing surrounding a plurality of optical fibers, and wherein the sheathing is thin-walled, having an average thickness of less than about 200 micrometers; positioning additional strength yarns around the stranded micromodules; and pressure extruding a jacket of polymeric material over the additional strength yarns such that at least some of the additional strength yarns press against the interior of the jacket during the pressure extruding and form grooved impressions on an interior surface of the jacket that remain and are visibly present after the polymeric material has solidified and cooled to room temperature of 25° C., upon opening the jacket to view the interior surface following the pressure extruding step, wherein the steps of stranding the micromodules, positioning the additional strength yarns, and pressure extruding the jacket mitigate lengthwise movement of the optical fibers in the rugged micromodule cable.