Method and apparatus for cooling optical fibers

摘要

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cooling an optical fiber during the drawing process of said fiber. In particular the present method for cooling an optical fiber comprises flowing a cooling gas onto the optical fiber wherein the flow direction of the cooling gas is substantially transversal with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fiber. It has been found that by employing a flow of cooling gas being substantially transversal to the longitudinal axis of the drawn fiber, the cooling efficiency of the fiber may be substantially improved. The apparatus according to the invention comprises a hollow elongated body, said hollow elongated body having at least one wall defining an internal elongated space through which the drawn fiber passes wherein the at least one wall of said hollow elongated body is provided with at least one longitudinal opening through which said cooling gas is introduced into the hollow body and at least one longitudinal opening through which said cooling gas is removed from said hollow body.