Method and apparatus for continuously manufacturing optical preform and fiber

摘要

A method an apparatus for continuously producing optical waveguide fiber and preforms. A continuous supply of core cane is provided to a walled deposition chamber upon which glass soot is deposited to form a soot preform. The preform is passed through an aligned drying, consolidation and draw chambers from which an optical fiber may be drawn. In one embodiment, a plurality of burners are positioned at different radial distances from a longitudinal axis of the cane in the deposition chamber. One or more environmental seal(s) are provided to prevent process gasses or contaminants from flowing into or between the chambers.