Strengthened fiber optic cable

摘要

A fiber optic cable has strength assemblies (30) adjacent a tube (13) for imparting crush resistance to the cable and at least one of the strength assemblies (13) includes a strength member (32) in contact with the tube (13) which has at least one optical fiber (11) therein. The strength member (32) is coupled to a first jacket (34) and may be surrounded a single jacket, or by an armor tape (36) and a second jacket (38) . The strength member may be disposed in a recess of the tube. When crush loads are applied to the fiber optic cable, the stresses created in the cable are advantageously distributed by the strength assemblies (30) whereby stress concentrations and undue deflection of the cable in response to the crush loads are avoided. Tight coupling and minimized gaps between the cable components in the strength assemblies (30) inhibits slippage and/or warping of the components under stress, and thereby evenly distribute the stress for preventing crush induced attenuation in the optical fibers. <IMAGE> <IMAGE>