Abstract: An optical fiber expanded beam connector in which a spherical lens is held between a conical seat on a sleeve and a conical seat on a support for the bared optical fiber, the support being within the sleeve and having an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the sleeve to provide clearance therebetween which permits the support to move radially with respect to the axis of the sleeve. The fiber with its covering is secured to a body within the sleeve, the body being secured to the sleeve. In one embodiment, the support is a ferrule within a bushing which is secured to the body, the length of the bushing from the conical seat being large relative to the radial thickness of the clearance. In another embodiment, the support is a ferrule urged toward the lens by a spring between the ferrule and the body.

Abstract: A cable for conveying both electrical power and optical signals, the cable having an electric conductor with insulation therearound, a sheath around the insulation, a one or two part protective layer around the insulation, a tube within the protective layer and at least one optical fiber loosely received in the tube. The protective layer can have armoring therearound and in this case, the radial thickness of the protective layer is from two to four times the diameter of the tube.

Abstract: A screw type, polymeric material extruder with an elongated body having a cylindrical bore with a hollow screw in the bore, the screw having external and internal threads. A cylindrical body is within the internal threads, and the screw with the wall of the bore and with the cylindrical body forms, respectively, an external material flow chamber and an internal material flow chamber. The cylindrical body can have channels for heating fluid and for additives or dyes. The screw can have openings for feeding one material to a single extrusion head with one mouth by way of both chambers, or the chambers can be supplied with the same or different materials which are fed by way of the chambers to an extrusion head with two mouths for applying the latter materials separately.

Abstract: A composite tape for forming at least part of the insulation of a high voltage electrical cable, particularly an oil-filled cable, and a cable including such insulating tape. The composite tape includes at least one layer of paper tape having a borate or silicate weight content in the range form 0.1 to 3% of the weight of the paper bonded to at least one surface or the surfaces of a film of bi-oriented polymeric plastic material by a copolymer layer which has a thickness of from about 1-10 microns. The thickness of all the plastic material in the composite tape is in the range from 10 to 30% of the total thickness of the tape. Preferred polymeric materials are polypropylene and polymethylpentene. A bonding material can be propylene-ethylene copolymer.

Abstract: A connector for connecting an optical fiber to another optical fiber or other optical signal receiving device, the connector having an elongated body with a central bore which is larger than the optical fiber with a protective layer thereon so that the latter freely slides in the bore. The body also has a pair of spaced reference elements or shoulders on its exterior surface, and a bushing with elastic fingers encircles the portion of the body with the shoulders and is longitudinally slidable between positions in which it engages one shoulder or the other shoulder. The bushing also has a ferrule with a bore for the passage of the bare optical fiber. Also, a method for accurately positioning the fiber in the connector, in which the fiber is cut while it extends from the ferrule and the bushing engages the shoulder farther from the cut, and the bushing is then moved so that it engages the other shoulder and is secured to the body.

Abstract: A submarine, optical fiber telecommunication line having optical fiber cables with external armor interconnected with optical fiber cables with only internal armor by opto-electronic repeaters and tubular bodies. The repeaters, the tubular bodies and the cables can withstand the tensile and hydrostatic stresses to which they are subjected during laying and after laying. At the shore ends, the repeaters are mechanically connected at one of their ends to cables with external armor. The other ends of the repeaters are mechanically connected to the tubular bodies which are mechanically connected to the sheaths and the internal armor of cables with only internal armor. The tubular body has an internal partition to which the internal armor is mechanically connected and has an internal sealing plug for preventing axial flow of water.

Abstract: A joint between two different types of optical fiber cables, the tension and compression stresses to which the cables are subjected being withstood in one of the cables by a centrally disposed armor having the optical fibers therearound and in the other of the cables by an armor surrounding the optical fibers. The joint includes a plate with a central opening, a plurality of spaced second openings around and spaced from the central opening and a plurality of spaced third openings around and spaced from the second openings, the central armor being secured in the central opening, the armor of the other cable being secured in the third openings and the optical fibers of one of the cables extending through the second openings and being connected to the optical fibers of the other cable. A protective body extends from one cable to the other and encloses the plate, the securing devices, the connections and the portions of the armors and the fibers intermediate the cables.

Abstract: A method for interconnecting optical fiber cables and a connector for use in such method. In the method, the spherical lenses normally used to couple the fibers is replaced by a spherical body of smaller diameter and the fibers are brought into contact with such body and fixed in axial position. Thereafter, the body is replaced by the lenses normally used which provides the correct spacing between the latter lenses and the ends of the optical fibers. The connector has housings for the normal lenses part of which is removable for the substitution of the spherical body during adjustment of the positions of the optical fibers.

Abstract: In the manufacture of an optical fiber cable in which optical fibers are paid out from supply bobbins and inserted into the grooves of a core member by means of an inserting head, a photoelectric optical system is disposed between the supply bobbins and the inserting head to provide signals indicating the position of the optical fibers advancing from the supply bobbins. A control device is connected to the photoelectric system and is responsive to the signals generated therefrom to control the speed at which the optical fibers are paid off from the supply bobbins.

Abstract: A filler compound for the spaces between the wires of a stranded conductor surrounded by and contacting a semiconductive layer which is surrounded by a layer of extrudced insulation, a method for filling such spaces with the compounds and an electric cable including such compound. The compound has a polymeric base, a Mooney viscosity at 100.degree. C. between 10 and 60 and a Shore A hardness between 10 and 90. Preferably, the compound includes hygroexpansible, water insoluble organic powder having particle sizes less than 200 microns and specified other characteristics.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cutting optical fibres, whereby said optical fibres provided with at least one protective covering, are caused to be cut by the transveral movement of two blades rigidly connected to one another and forming an angle of less than 45.degree. between them.

Abstract: A connector for interconnecting optical fiber cables or an optical fiber with an optical component, the cable or cables having an optical fiber encircled by a tension resistant member comprising a yarn. The connector has a hollow cylindrical body which slidably receives a lens mount with a lens thereon, the optical fiber is secured to the lens mount and the tension resistant member is secured to the body so that the cable can be pulled without applying damaging stress to the optical fiber. The lens mount is spring biassed into its normal position in which is couples optical signals to another cable or to an optical component.

Abstract: An optical fiber submarine cable having only a central rope for withstanding the stresses to which the cable is subjected, a plastic core with interrupted but closed or substantially closed, grooves at its outer portion, at least one optical fiber in each groove, a sheath around the core, and a substantially incompressible fluid filling all otherwise empty spaces within the sheath including any such spaces between the wires of the rope and in the grooves. The grooves are separated by ribs, and before the sheath is applied the diameter of the core at the ribs is greater than the diameter of the inner surface of the sheath and the sides of the ribs are separated to provide grooves opening outwardly of the core. Also, a process for manufacturing such a cable.

Abstract: A traction resistant termination for a tube which transports fluids under high pressure, the tube having an inner tubular member of an elastomeric or plastomeric material surrounded by at least two helically wound layers of metal straps. The tubular member is received within a first hollow cylindrical body extending from a flange having an opening therethrough with which the body is coaxial. The layers of metal straps and a powder having a hardness greater than the hardness of the straps and surfaces adjacent thereto are clamped between the first body and a second hollow cylindrical body coaxial with the first body. At least one of the first and second bodies is integral with the flange. Also, a method of interconnecting the tube with such bodies.

Abstract: A direct current electric cable with a conductor, a semi-conductive screen around and contacting the conductor, a plurality of layers of insulation formed by tapes of insulating material around the semi-conductive screen, a further semi-conductive screen around the layers of insulation and a metal sheath around the further semi-conductive screen, the layers of insulation being impregnated with a non-migrating, insulation composition having a dropping point temperature at least 5.degree. C. above the maximum operating temperature of the cable and having an electronegative gas dissolved therein, the gas having a coefficient of diffusion in the composition in the range from 3.times.10.sup.-5 to 3.times.10.sup.-6 cm.sup.2 /sec at temperatures below the dropping point temperature of the composition.

Abstract: An electric cable having at least one conductor and at least one covering therefor obtained from the polymerization of a silanic monomer of a compound comprising a non-cross-linked base-polymer and a polymerizable silanic monomer present prior to polymerization in a quantity not less than 5 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the base-polymer. Thepolymerization of the silanic monomer units forms a polymeric mesh which is closely interconnected and thoroughly compenetrated into the non-cross-linked base-polymer. In one embodiment the polymeric mesh may be grafted onto the base-polymer through the addition of an organic peroxide. Thus, there is provided an electric cable for use as building wires wherein the conductor covering is not cross-linked but is heat resistant to temperatures above the deformation temperature of the base-polymer.

Abstract: Apparatus for sensing the position of a body which is rectilinearly movable with respect to a fixed, reference body which apparatus comprises a pair of surfaces on the movable object each with areas with a low coefficient of reflection and with a high coefficient of reflection and a pair of lens systems for projecting light on and receiving reflected light from respective ones of such surfaces. Light is supplied to such lens systems by optical fibers which are coupled to light-to-electrical signal converters for providing electrical signals dependent upon the amount of reflected light received from the surfaces and hence, upon the relative positions of the bodies. The pair of surfaces may be on the end of a piston operable by the pneumatic springs of a vehicle. Also, computer systems for processing the electrical signals of the converters and for actuating controls for changing the position of the movable body.

Abstract: A hollow cylindrical, watertight casing housing optoelectronic repeater components, having optical fibers extending therefrom, and having a bore in which a tension resisting rope is received and is insulated from the wall of the bore. The casing is enclosed by a water-tight, tubular box which has a pair of cylindrical bodies extending therefrom, one at each end of the box. Each cylindrical body has a centrally disposed length of rope surrounded by polymeric material in which optical fibers are embedded, and the polymeric material is surrounded by a metallic sheath. The optical fibers of the cylindrical bodies are connected within the box to the optical fibers extending from the casing. The lengths of rope of the bodies are mechanically connected at one end respectively to opposite ends of the rope in the bore and at the opposite end respectively to ropes of submarine optical fiber cables having similar ropes, optical fibers and a metallic sheath.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for making a flexible tube comprising a plurality of helicoidal metal members in side-by-side relation. In the process, metal strips, shaped to the desired configuration, are twisted around their longitudinal axes to helicoidal shape, the twisting being sufficient to cause the shape to be retained if the strip is released. Thereafter, the so-shaped strip is bent around an axis extending in the width direction of the strip by an amount sufficient to cause the strip to have a radius substantially equal to the tube radius. The strips are then laid up, side-by-side into a tube. The apparatus comprises a rotatable cage carrying bobbins having the strips thereon, two pairs of preshaping rollers to produce the twist and the bend mounted for rotation with the cage, a mold for laying up the helicoidal strips, a guide element for the strips intermediate the rollers and the mold and a take-up bobbin or drum for winding up the tube as it leaves the mold.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for making a cable with filiform elements, such as protected optical fibers or electrical conductors, in open-helix configuration and embedded in a polymeric material. The elements are fed through an extruder where the polymeric material in a plastic state is extruded thereover. The polymeric material with the elements therein is twisted in alternate directions around the cable axis as such material is advanced. The polymeric material is cooled downstream of the extruder to fix the elements in open-helix configuration. The polymeric material may be so twisted by alternately rotating a portion of the extruder in contact with the polymeric material in opposite directions or if the cable includes a central rope, by so twisting the rope in advance of the extruder with a pulley engaging the rope and rotated in a direction transverse to the plane of rotation of the pulley and around the axis of the rope.