Abstract: A package (20) from which elongated strand material (26) of a coil (24) is dispensed includes a carton (22) in which is disposed the coil. The carton is assembled from a blank (30) of corrugated fiberboard. The blank is formed to include a plurality of interconnected wall panels (32, 34, 36, 38) with each panel having closure flaps extending laterally from opposed side edge surfaces thereof. A tab extends laterally from each of the closure flaps. Each flap is attached hingedly to its associated wall panel and each tab is attached hingedly to its associated flap through a scored line. In end ones (56 and 67) of the closure flaps, portions of the closure flaps extend at least to free outer end edge surfaces of the associated tabs and are normal to end edge surfaces of the blank.

Abstract: In order to coat successive increments of length of an elongated strand material such as an optical fiber (22), for example, with a marking material, for example, a liquid coating material (40) is circulated through an input section (85) into an inner chamber (71) of a housing (62) and outwardly through an output section (87) to be returned to a reservoir (39). Elongated strand material is advanced through an entry portion into and through the inner chamber wherein it is contacted by the liquid coating material being circulated therethrough. Afterwards, each successive increment of length is advanced through an exit die (73) which causes the liquid coating material to be formed into a layer of predetermined thickness on the elongated strand material.

Abstract: A network ring topology includes a plurality of entry and exit interfaces (100,110) disposed in administrative locations such as in an equipment room (53) and in riser and satellite closets (51, 57), and at stations. Interconnections between ports of sets of ports of the interfaces are made in the closets by jumpers (120--120) and either in a direct or in an inverted manner, the direct being between corresponding ports of corresponding sets of ports in interfaces. Inverted connections are made between two exit or between two entry interfaces in which input and output ports of corresponding rings are connected by jumpers. The interfaces are color coded and may be either entry or exit type to denote the arrangement of the ports. The interfaces and the color coding arrangement allow a craftperson to make connections in an administrative location without having to follow signals through the ring. For a dual ring counter rotating network, each interface necessarily include two sets of ports.

Abstract: A drawn optical fiber (21) is provided with inner and outer layers (42,44) of coating material to protect the optical fiber during handling and use. The coating materials are such that they are characterized by being curable upon exposure to different portions of the light spectrum. In a preferred embodiment, the coating material of the inner layer includes a photoinitiator which absorbs light in the visible portion of the light spectrum whereas the outer coating material of the outer layer includes a photoinitiator which absorbs light in the ultraviolet light portion of the light spectrum.

Abstract: An optical fiber (24), destined to receive a hermetic coating (32), is moved through a hermetic coating apparatus (30) wherein the fiber, entering the hermetic coating apparatus at a predetermined temperature, is caused to be engaged by a reactive gas. The reactive gas, reacting with the heated fiber, is effective to cause a layer of a hermetic material to be deposited adjacent to the outer surface of the fiber. A cross-flow purge gas is effective to prevent a resultant accumulation of a soot comprising reactive components of the reactive gas adjacent to portions of the hermetic coating apparatus which become heated by the fiber. Failure to prevent the accumulation of the soot may lead to fiber abrasions and reduced fiber strength.

Abstract: A communications cable (20) includes a core (22) comprising a plurality of transmission media having a relatively supple layer (26) of a plastic material wrapped thereabout. Disposed about the layer of plastic material and in engagement therewith is a relatively rigid inner plastic jacket (28). Disposed about the inner jacket are additional components of a sheath system such as metallic shields and one or more additional plastic jackets. Interposed between the relatively supply layer of plastic material and the jacket is a waterblocking system which comprises two elongated strand materials (42,44) such as yarns. The two elongated strand materials are wrapped helically about the layer of plastic material in opposite helical directions. The elongated strand materials are effective to intercept water which may travel along the cable between the relatively supple layer of plastic material and the jacket which is contiguous thereto.

Abstract: Terminated arrays (22,22) of optical fibers are spliced together by a splicing device (20) which includes a housing (40). The housing includes two sidewalls (42,42) and two endwalls (46,46), each endwall adapted to have an end portion of a terminated array inserted therethrough. The end portions of the terminated arrays are received between two negative chips (33,33) disposed between two backing plates (60,60) to cause the terminated arrays to be aligned. Clamping means (70) includes two spring clips (72,72) each adapted to be disposed in an armed position to allow insertion of the end portions of the terminated arrays and then to be moved to a clamping position in which portions of the clips are in compressive engagement with the backing plates to hold the terminated arrays in alignment and in the housing.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable (20) which is particularly suited for shipboard use includes a core (22) and a sheath system (30). The core includes a plurality of optical fiber cable components (24,24) each including a buffered fiber (26) and high strength aramid yarn (27). About the four optical fiber cable components which are arranged about a central organizer (25) is a waterblocking-strength member system (32) which includes at least two spaced layers (33,33) each comprising a superabsorbent material. A strength member layer (40) is disposed between each two adjacent superabsorbent layers. An outer jacket (34) comprises a plastic material which in a preferred embodiment includes a low halogen, fire-resistant material.

Abstract: Variations in bending loss for relatively small radii bends along a length of optical fiber (26) are determined by using an optical time domain reflectometer (20) to measure the backscattering power as a function of distance along the fiber in one direction along the length of fiber by launching light energy into one end of the fiber. Then the backscattering power is measured as a function of distance along the fiber in the opposite direction from an opposite end by launching light energy into an opposite end of the fiber. Mathematical representations of backscattering forward and reverse signals for corresponding points along the length of the fiber are added to provide a quantity which is related to mode field diameter of the fiber. Variations in the mode field diameter are indicative of variations in the bending loss along the length of fiber. By measuring the bending loss at the end points of the length of fiber, the absolute bending loss along the length of fiber can be estimated from the above quantity.

Abstract: A communications cable for use in buried environments in an outside plant includes a core (22) comprising at least one transmission medium and a mechanically strengthened, thermal resistant barrier layer (40) disposed about a plastic tubular member (23). A metallic shield (32) and a plastic jacket (36) are disposed about the barrier. The barrier layer may comprise a tape (41) which is made of a material such as woven glass or an aramid fibrous material, for example, which is resistant to relatively high temperatures, which has suitable strength properties in all directions and at elevated temperatures and which is characterized by properties which cause the barrier layer to impede the passage therethrough of particles which are sufficiently large to cause damage to the core. In a preferred embodiment, the thermal barrier layer also includes provisions for preventing the longitudinal flow of water within the cable.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector (22) which is assembled to a coupling housing (90) by causing only relative linear motion between the connector and the housing and which also includes facilities for preventing optical disconnection from another connector having a portion disposed in the housing includes a cap (45) having two diametrically opposed slots (53--53) each having an enlarged portion (57). A barrel (42) is retained within the cap and has mounted thereto a ferrule (40) in which is terminated an end portion of an optical fiber (21) which is to be connected to another optical fiber. The connector is moved to cause the ferrule to enter a sleeve (92) of a housing of a coupling (35) and to cause locking pins (96--96) of the housing to enter and to be moved along the slots of the cap until each pin is received in an enlarged portion of a slot. A cap extender (60) is connected to an end of the cap and includes an annular detent (63).

Abstract: An optical fiber cable (20) ideally suited for aerial distribution use, for example, includes in a preferred embodiment at least one bundle (23) of optical fibers (25--25). The at least one bundle is disposed in a tubular member (30) which is made of a plastic material suitable for use in a relatively wide temperature range and which is enclosed by a sheath system (32). A predetermined excess length of fiber is caused to be disposed in the tubular member. The excess length of each fiber is such that it is sufficient to avoid undue strains on the fiber as the cable core is exposed to the elements and to forces imparted during handling such as during installation. On the other hand, the excess fiber length must not be so great as to result in undue curvature of the fiber or excessive interactive engagement of the fiber with an inner wall of the tubular member.

Abstract: A balanced mode transmission system (20) for use in a local area network includes at least one twisted pair of insulated metallic conductors (27--27) which at its end is connected through a transformer to a transmitting computer and to a receiving computer (48). Each pair of conductors adjacent to the transmitting end and optionally adjacent to the receiving end is provided with a longitudinal choke (56,57). Also, a longitudinally extending metallic wire (60) is included in the system and is connected possibly through a resistor to ground at each end. The combination of the longitudinal choke at least adjacent to the transmitting end and the longitudinally extending metallic wire is superbly effective in suppressing electromagnetic interference notwithstanding the absence of shielding.

Abstract: An undercarpet cable (40) includes a plurality of longitudinally extending interlocking segments (42--42). The segments are designed each to have an optical fiber (33) housed therein or when interlocked in an assembly to provide a longitudinally extending cavity for receiving an optical fiber. The assembly of segments is capable of being routed along at least two paths which are normal to each other. Advantageously, longitudinal relative motion between adjacent ones of the segments and between the optical fiber and the segments is allowed. As a result, the cable may be routed in tortuous paths under a carpet to service workstations as desired.

Abstract: An apparatus (19) which is capable of being used in the field is adapted to polish fiber end faces each terminated by a plurality of cylindrically shaped ferrule type connector plugs (30--30). The apparatus includes a platform (50) which includes a plurality of nests (52--52) each adapted to receive a plug such that a plug end face (29) is disposed adjacent to a polishing surface and such that an end portion of fiber which protrudes from each plug engages the polishing surface. Facilities are provided in each nest for applying forces to each plug which may be varied to control the pressure between each fiber end face and the polishing surface and, if desired, subsequently between each plug end face and the polishing surface. Relative motion between the plurality of plugs and the polishing surface is caused to exist such that the polishing surface is turned rotatably while being revolved about an axis to provide uniformly polished fiber end faces.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable closure (20) includes a cable termination assembly (26) and a cover (28) into which the termination assembly is inserted. The cable termination assembly includes an end plate assembly (34) through which distribution cables (21,22) to be spliced extend. From the end plate is cantilevered a distribution portion (106) which supports an optical fiber organizer (115). Mounted on the fiber organizer adjacent to a longitudinal edge thereof are a plurality of stacked organizing modules (120,120). Each module includes a plurality of nests (134-134) for receiving splicing devices such that the axes of the fibers in the devices are parallel to each other and to an axis of the closure. Optical fibers from each incoming cable are routed in individual bundles or as ribbons from the distribution portion to selected ones of the modules.

Abstract: Drawn optical fiber is provided with at least one layer of a coating material. The coating material typically is a UV curable material and provides the optical fiber with mechanical and environmental protection. It has been found that the temperature at which the optical fiber is cured has a pronounced effect on the modulus of the cured coating material. In order to provide a coated optical fiber of which the coating material has a desired modulus, the temperature of the coating material during cure is controlled by controlling the amount of energy of infrared wavelength which impinges on the coating material.

Abstract: A cylindrical ferrule type optical fiber connector (20) includes an attenuator arrangement which includes an element (70) that is capable of movement during the assembly of the connector. The connector includes a cylindrically shaped sleeve (60) which has a longitudinally extending slot (61) formed through the wall thereof and which is adapted to receive a cylindrical plug (40) in each end thereof, each plug being spring-biased outwardly from a cap (45) and terminating an optical fiber (21). The attenuator element has a disc-shaped portion (74) which is disposed within the sleeve. A neck portion (76) which extends through the slot of the sleeve connects the disc-like portion to a supporting head portion (72) which engages an outer surface of the sleeve. As a first one plug is inserted into the sleeve, it engages the attenuator element and causes it to be moved along the slot in the sleeve.

Abstract: A laser marking apparatus provides markings of enhanced readability in an outer jacket of repetitively spaced sections along the length of a moving cable which is delivered from a supply source. The cable is advanced under tension and is wound onto a take-up spool. The outer jacket is of a specified color and has an outer surface. The laser marking apparatus includes a first guide roller, a laser marker, an applicator, a coarse brush roller with a first driving mechanism, a fine brush roller with a second driving mechanism and a second guide roller. The first and second guide rollers are disposed adjacent to the supply source before the laser marker and before the take-up spool after the fine brush roller, respectively, in order to guide the cable along a path of travel so that the outer jacket passes adjacent to the laser marker. The laser marker inscribes in the outer jacket markings opening to the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for applying a colorant material to the surface of a plastic insulation material which has been applied to an elongated material such as a metallic conductor (22) or an optical fiber which is being moved at any of a wide range of speeds along a path of travel. The coolant material is applied by nozzles which are staggered along the path of travel and which direct the colorant into engagement with the plastic insulation material at different radial directions. A first plurality of nozzles (46--46) each cause the colorant to be in a spray pattern (45) which is in the area of a plane. Advantageously, those nozzles cooperate to stabilize the conductor and prevent undulations thereof as the conductor is moved along its path of travel. A second plurality of nozzles (50--50) cause the colorant to be in a solid conical pattern (53).