Dielectric optical fiber cable having reduced preferential bending

摘要

An optical cable (10) includes one or more tubes (120), each containing a number of optical fibers (101), and a plastic jacket (160) that encloses the tube(s). A pair of diametrically opposed rods (300-1, 300-2) are at least partially embedded in the polyethylene jacket and are made from continuous-filament glass fibers that are embedded in epoxy. Each rod has a compressive stiffness that is effective to inhibit substantial contraction of the cable, and a tensile stiffness that is effective to receive tensile loads without substantial transfer of such loads to the glass fibers. Each dielectric rod includes a thin layer (330) of a frictional adhesion coating that provides a controlled adhesion between the rod and the jacket of between 50 and 300 lb./in2. Whereas dual-rod cable designs have a preferred bending plane that passes through the rods, controlled adhesion between the rods and the jacket enables the cable to be easily bent in other planes and to be blown through ducts having multiple corners.