Abstract: A method of connecting pipes of plastics material of a double pipe system and a pipe connection made by the method. The inner pipes of the pipe system are connected to each other with a sleeve member by welding or gluing. Clamping jaws are used for holding and moving the inner pipes toward each other. The outer pipes are shorter than the inner pipes at least by the thickness of the two clamping jaws. For bridging the gap between the outer pipes, an expandable intermediate ring is inserted in the gap. An electric welding sleeve is used for connecting the outer pipes and the intermediate ring.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for curing epoxy in a fiber optic connector. An oven has a receptacle for receiving the connector with an exposed length of an optical fiber projecting therefrom. A heat conductive sheath is positionable on the connector about the optical fiber for distributing heat from the oven and for protecting the fiber when the connector is inserted into the receptacle. Sensing elements are located in the path of insertion movement of the fiber optic connector and conductive sheath to be actuated thereby in response to the connector being inserted into the receptacle. A micro-controller is coupled between the sensing elements and audible/visual signals. The micro-controller includes a timer to actuate the audible/visual signals after a predetermined period of time within which the heater is energized.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for mounting a second optical component on a first optical component using a spacer layer for forming a controlled gap between the two components. In a preferred embodiment, a CCD sensor is formed having a non-active area and an active area for detecting lightwaves. A spacer layer of an epoxy or similar material is formed on at least a portion of the non-active area of the sensor. A fiber optic faceplate is mounted on the spacer layer to form the controlled gap between the active area of the CCD sensor and the faceplate. The fiber optic faceplate has a predetermined index of refraction for passing lightwaves towards the active area of the sensor. A coupling compound, having an index of refraction which substantially matches that of the faceplate, is used to fill the controlled gap between the faceplate and the active area of the sensor.

Abstract: A method of joining tubes (A and B) having a corrugated wall (10) of fusible plastic material and terminating at a cut through a corrugation rib, comprises the following steps. An annular body (14) expanding when energy is supplied to it, is positioned in an annular space (13) formed by the corrugation ribs at the end of one tube (A) and an inner boundary which can be formed by an inner wall (11) of fusible plastic material, integral with the corrugated wall of said one tube, or by a sleeve inserted into the adjacent ends of the tubes, also of fusible material. The tube ends are put together to close said space by the end of the other tube (13), and a radial and axial support (19) for the corrugation ribs is arranged on the outside of the tubes. Then, the annular body is expanded by heating to fuse said body to the walls of the tubes and the sleeve, respectively.

Abstract: A method for making an improved all-dielectric, self-supporting (ADSS) fiber optic aerial cable with improved mechanical coupling between the primary and secondary strength elements. The method includes calculating the required degree of mechanical coupling (Kc) between the primary and secondary strength elements in order to avoid relative slippage therebetween and then selecting suitable cable elements so as to make the fiber optic cable with a degree of mechanical coupling at least equal to the calculated Kc value.

Abstract: An apparatus for splicing the tow ends of man-made fiber tows, including a pair of jet carriers having oppositely directed pairs of jets to which compressed air can be supplied, whereby the connection of tow ends introduced between the pair of jet carriers is effected by aerodynamic turbulence. In order to enable an automatic splicing procedure, the pair of jet carriers is disposed on a jet carrier transport device that is movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal orientation of the fiber tows. In addition, a cutting mechanism is provided that is movable parallel to the jet carrier transport device and cuts off projecting fiber ends after completion of splicing. A holding device having holders fixes the tow ends in position.

Abstract: A heating arrangement (2) embracing tubular parts (1a, 1b) of plastic material which have to be joined by welding, comprises electrically heatable jaws (26).A bladder (50) expandable by compressed air is arranged inside the tubular parts (1a, b), which includes a centrally arranged tensile part (56) such as, for instance, cable for the purpose of limiting the length. The air pressure in the bladder is higher than the pressure generated by the material when melting, this for the purpose of producing an adequate welding pressure.

Abstract: A linear beam splicer including a splicing unit mounted on a frame and positioned between a beam support rack and a tufting machine. The splicing unit includes a frame carrying a grip and gauging bar assembly for holding the yarns to be spliced, and a longitudinally extending heating element mounted on the frame and extending parallel to and below the grip and gauging bar assembly. The heating unit is pivotally connected at each end thereof to the frame by an oscillating crank mechanism, whereby the heating element is moved in a linear direction against the yarns to be spliced, whereby all the yarns are spliced simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a high efficiency optical coupler by matching the emerging light exit pupil from a coupler opening to the acceptance shape of a coupler optical fiber. An excimer laser forms the coupler opening in an optical fiber by removing cladding from the optical core surface. The coupler opening has an elliptical shape resulting in an emerging light exit cone and that exit cone matches an acceptance cone of a circular coupler optical fiber.

Abstract: A buffered optical fiber (20) includes an optical fiber (21) comprising a core and a cladding. Typically, the optical fiber is enclosed by at least one layer (23) of coating material. The optical fiber is enclosed by a plastic buffer layer (30). Interposed between the optical fiber and the buffer layer is a decoupling material (40) which provides a controlled coupling of the buffer layer to the underlying coating material. As a result, there is sufficient adhesion between the buffer layer and the underlying coating material to maintain the buffer layer in place during normal use of the buffered optical fiber. On the other hand, the adhesion is low enough so that the buffer layer may be removed upon the application of resonably low stripping forces. Advantageously, the decoupling material also allows the selective removal of the optical fiber coating material as well as the plastic buffer layer.

Abstract: In a method of measuring a quantity of heat, the distance between the position of an end of an exposed fiber portion before heating and the position of the end after heating is measured, and the quantity of heat applied to the end of the exposed fiber portion is calculated based on the distance. When heat is applied to an end of an exposed fiber portion, the end is fused and is rounded due to surface tension. For this reason, the position of the end of the exposed fiber portion retracts from the position it occupied before heating by the volume required for rounding the end. This retraction amount corresponds to a quantity of heat applied to the end of the exposed fiber portion. Therefore, by meauring the retraction amount, the quantity of heat applied to the ends of the exposed fiber portion can be quantitatively measured.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermally splicing a plurality of associated pairs of yarn ends employed in tufting carpet is provided, having an electrically conductive wire extending across a width of a beam of yarn ends as a heating element, the wire being biased in tension between a pair of springs attached to the wire and to terminal mounted on a bracket member. A yarn end spacing and gaging bar is also mounted to the bracket to retain the associated pairs of yarn ends in a contacting relation in recesses disposed between teeth on the bar, the pairs of yarn ends being made up of yarn ends severed from a spent beam of yarn and associated yarn ends from a fresh beam of yarn. The apparatus maintains the heating element in a substantially fixed position with respect to the plurality of associated pairs of yarn ends to effect a substantially simultaneous heating and melting together of the pairs of yarn ends, and is preferably removably mounted to a beam rack holding the fresh beam.

Abstract: Described is a method for assembling multi-fiber array connectors. V-grooved silicon chips are placed in a holder which allows the chips to "float" with respect to each other and adjust to varying fiber diameters. Once the fibers are inserted, the chips are clamped and cemented together with the fibers fixed in the grooves.

Abstract: A coupler for at least two optical fibres in which at least one port is redundant, e.g. a 1.times.2 or a 1.times.3 coupler, is formed by first terminating the fibre end which is to form that redundant port, and then coupling the fibres e.g. by fusion.

Abstract: A method for welding together filled sintered polytetrafluoroethylene components. The ends of the components to be welded are carefully tapered to form reverse mated surfaces and then assembled in position to be welded. The actual welding step is carried out under heat and pressure followed by cooling under pressure. The process is particularly useful in the fabrication of very large gaskets or other very large planar objects.

Abstract: Members especially hollow members 10, 12 such as pipes and pipe fittings one member 12 of cross-linked polyethylene say and the other member 10 of medium density polyethylene say are joined by fusion using a butt fusion machine. End surfaces of the members are pressed at higher pressure against a hot plate 18 to upset only the medium density material to form beads 20, 22. No cross-linked material is upset to form beads. The pressure is reduced during a soak stage then the plate is removed and the surfaces are mutually engaged at the higher pressure. The beads formed are adjacent the interface between the members and both beads are offset towards the medium density material, member 10. Careful alignment will avoid faults caused when the beads do not cover exposed parts of end surfaces. Other materials include polypropylene, copolymer or monopolymer types. Natural gas distribution systems can be fabricated using the invention.

Abstract: Pipes, typically of medium density polyethylene for use in underground distribution systems for natural gas are joined by fusion using a very short period (25 seconds) for heating the pipe ends and a very short period (3 seconds) between separation of ends from the heater body and engagement of the ends. Those periods are such that the beads formed by upset of the softened end material of the pipes are relatively small, e.g. beads have a cross-sectional area of 10mm.sup.2 for pipe for 250 mm outside diameter and wall thickness 15 mm. Typically such a bead extends only some 2.5 mm away from the adjacent pipe wall surface. Tensile, bending and impact tests show joint strength equivalent to the parent wall strength. In accelerated lifetime tests at high pressure and temperature the joints are at least equal to conventionally made joints.

Abstract: Two plugs each comprises a pair of plastic guide plates with inner sides in which are formed duplicate groove patterns each consisting of parallel V-sided spaced grooves running through the plugs and divided into a central set of smaller "fiber" grooves and a pair of larger "pin" grooves on opposite sides of and spaced from the pin grooves. The two plates in each plug are disposed with their respective groove patterns registering with each other across a transverse gap such that the fiber grooves define a set of fiber channels extending through the plug from its rear to an end face on a front nose on the plug, the pin grooves defining a pair of pin channels having front openings rearward of such end face. Optical fibers from a ribbon type cable extend through the fiber grooves to the front of the nose.

Abstract: A device for welding tubular components of thermoplastic material. The device includes a heating device for generating the necessary melting temperature arranged at the circumference and at the abutting ends of the tubular components. The bag or casing is arranged in the region of the welded connection inside the tubular components. The bag or casing is capable of being expanded and pressed against the inner circumference of the tubular components. Pressing the casing against the inner circumference of the tubular components prevents the formation of a welding bead during the welding procedure and serves to generate a welding pressure. After welding has been carried out, the casing is radially contracted and removed from the tubular components.

Abstract: The present invention involves a multiple cavity optical fiber splice made of a unistructural mass of inherent shape memory polymer material. The unistructural mass has a longitudinal dimension with opposite ends which includes at least a first bore at one end and at least a second bore and a third bore at the other end wherein the bores go into the mass and at least two connect to each other. The unistructural mass has two shapes, the first shape is a unique, recoverable, predetermined inherent shape wherein each bore has a preset diameter to accommodate and tightly hold end segments of denuded optical fibers of predetermined diameter and the second shape is a deformed shape which may be caused by solvent swelling and partial shrinking of the inherent memory polymer material such that each bore has enlarged predetermined diameters greater than the diameters of the segments of the denuded optical fibers so as to freely receive the end segments of the denuded optical fibers.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector element comprises a connector body having a passage extending therethrough, the passage having a forward portion for receiving an optical fiber and a rearward portion which is wider than the forward portion for receiving an optical fiber and surrounding protective material, and an optical fiber stub secured within the forward portion of the passage, the optical fiber stub having a forward end surface which has an optical finish. The connector element is used to terminate an optical fiber cable by cutting the cable to a desired length, stripping back an end portion of protective material surrounding an optical fiber of the cable to expose an end portion of the optical fiber, and securing the exposed fiber end portion and an end portion of the protective material remaining on the fiber in the connector body passage with the fiber end portion in abutment and axial alignment with the fiber stub.

Abstract: A connector splicing optical fibers wherein a glass sleeve, having a precision cut bore formed therein, is provided with funnel-shaped access openings at each end thereof for receiving the ends of the glass fibers to be spliced. In one embodiment, a permanent splice is made by applying a bonding agent and sealant to the funnel-shaped openings, and in another embodiment, a retainer ring is employed to thereby provide a disconnectable splice.

Abstract: First and second members (e.g. pipes, fittings) of cross-linked polyolefinic material such as polyethylene having a melt flow index (MFI) of zero are joined using a third member of polyolefinic material such as polyethylene having a higher MFI e.g. 0.3. The first member 10 and the third member gripped by clamps 18, 20 of a butt fusion machine are pressed against opposite faces of a heater plate which is then withdrawn and the members are pressed together by the clamps. Only the third member is upset to form beads 24, 26. Part of the third member is removed leaving a stub part 16. The second member is joined to the stub's face 36 using the heater plate. The part 16 is upset leaving a thin wafer 48. The two interfaces 30, 50 limit the growth of cracks in the wafer to prevent their propagation through the pipe thickness under hoop stress. The beads are preferably removed at each stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to the butt-welding of pipes of plastics materials. Equipment is alreaady known where pipe ends are first urged against a trimmer plate, and then urged against a heater plate to create beads of a required size at the ends of the pipes, following which the pipe ends are urged into abutting relationship for welding to occur. Particularly with automatic machines employing hydraulic power, the force applied between the pipe ends and the heater plate and subsequently between the pipe ends needs to include an allowance for the drag factor inherent in the pipeline and compensate for any frictional effect in the mechanical and hydraulic moving components, and which is a difficult calculation.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical fiber joint between a pair of elongated optical fibers each of which has a longitudinal axis surrounded by a core and cladding having different refractive indices and forming a single-mode light-guiding region, the core and cladding of each fiber having non-circular transverse cross-sections defining two polarization-maintaining axes of birefringence transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fiber. Each of the fibers also has predetermined external flat reference surfaces for locating the core and cladding and the axes of birefringence within each fiber from the exterior geometry of the fiber.

Abstract: A damage detection and evaluation system utilizes optical fibers to detect and assess damage to a structure. The optical fibers are intermittently etched in a controlled manner to weaken them so they fracture when a desired load is applied to the structure. Where visual inspection of the optical fibers is used to check for damage, a reference set of optical fibers is used. Where photodetection is used and minimal connections to the structure are required, one end of the optical fiber is made reflecting so an optical connection is only made to the other end. To further simplify the connection, a single input/output optical connection to a demultiplexing/multiplexing chip mounted on or within the structure is provided. Where orthogonal grids of fibers are not possible, the invention provides interdigitated optical fibers and volume backscattering to locate the position of the first fracture along the length of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Two thermoplastic tubes are welded together by pre-cutting the tubes to create two ends which are axially aligned when placed in a holding device. A wafer is inserted in the space between the cut ends and the wafer is heated to melt the cut ends while the cut ends are in a non-flattened condition. After the wafer is removed the melted cut ends are pressed against each other to weld the cut ends together.

Abstract: A coupler for joining polymeric pipes comprises a generally cylindrical radially heat-shrinkable member which is composed of a conductive polymer. To recover the coupler, current is passed axially through the coupler via electrodes. The coupler has a center portion of increased wall thickness and in this way, when there is a gap between the pipes, overheating of the center portion of the coupler is avoided.

Abstract: A device for connecting optical fibers is formed by inserting one or more fibers into at least one end of a capillary tube. The bore is tapered to facilitate fiber insertion. To taper the end of a bore, the tube is rotated about its longitudinal axis while a first narrow stream of abrasive particles is directed onto the tube end. The axis of the first stream is located off the axis of the tube bore, thereby forming a taper that is spherical rather than conical. A second stream, the axis of which is coaxial with the bore, is then directed onto the tube end to remove that portion of the tapered aperture adjacent the bore, thereby forming a more funnel-shaped aperture.

Abstract: The method of joining together the ends of ducts made of melt processible fluoropolymers such as Teflon PFA, which are characterized by a high degree of chemical inertness and a continuous service temperature in the range of 300.degree. to 500.degree. F. The joining of the ends together is accomplished by the use of infrared heat emanating from an infrared heat source with temperatures in the range of 1250.degree. to 2000.degree. F. and spaced from the ends of the duct by approximately 1/4" to 2 inches for a period of time approximately up to one minute which may be gauged by the appearance of the duct end as it becomes visibly molten to a depth of approximately 1/2". The infrared heater is then removed and the ducts are put together under almost no pressure and the ducts are held briefly, in one form, less than a minute, to quickly establish a joint that becomes at least as strong and expectedly stronger than the original ducts.

Abstract: An apparatus for welding tubular components of thermoplastic material. The apparatus includes a heating device for heating the ends of the tubular components to be welded together until the melting range of the thermoplastic material is reached. Two outer support rings which are slid toward each other after the thermoplastic material has melted and an expandable inner support member ensure that welding pressure is built up, so that a welded connection can be obtained which is strong and free of welding beads.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of joining two bevelled rod ends composed of plastics material reinforced with long fibres, using a shrinkable tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a welded connection of tubular components of thermoplastic material includes a bracing device and a heating device to be inserted into the tubular components. The heating device has an expandable hollow body, in the interior of which are arranged an electric heating element and a liquid which expands when heated. When the heating device is heated, the hollow body rests against the ends of the tubular components to be welded together and the necessary welding temperature is transmitted to these components. Since the hollow body rests against the inner circumference of the tubular components, the formation of a welding bead is prevented. After welding has been carried out, the hollow body which has cooled and shrunk is removed by means of a traction strand.

Abstract: Two thermoplastic tubes are welded together in a process which includes severing the tubes by a severing wafer having a temperature of about 350.degree. F. to create two cut sections. The severing wafer is removed from the space between the tubes and a hot wafer having a temperature of 500.degree.-1200.degree. F. is inserted in the space to radiantly heat the tube ends so that they are welded when pressed-together while in an unflattened and open condition.

Abstract: A fiber optic switch has a fixed member and a movable member mounted for cantilevered movement with respect thereto. Both of the members are fabricated from borosilicate glass.

Abstract: A fusion weld method and assembly for forming a fusion welded joint between abutting pipe sections having the same exterior diameter and having a predetermined melting temperature. The assembly includes an extruded welding collar having an interior surface fabricated to closely receive the inserted pipe sections. A welding sleeve comprising a pair of spaced apart sections is received within collar recesses dimensioned to place the sleeve in flush relationship with the collar interior and immediately adjacent the pipe sections. The welding sleeve sections are located on opposite sides of the pipe ends to isolate the pipe ends from their heating effect, and the connecting lead between the sections is recessed for the same reason. The close fit of the collar and sleeve sections with the pipe sections enables development of internal bonding pressures sufficient to constrain the wire turns of the sleeve sections against thermal drift, and to produce a fusion bond of adequate depth and continuity.

Abstract: Opposed ones of optical fibers respectively secured in a plurality of guide grooves formed in first and second blocks, are jointed to each other through an optical film formed on at least one of their opposed inclined end faces in such a way that their optical axes are aligned with each other. Further, each of optical fibers similarly disposed on a third block is formed at its one end face with a total reflection film and is arranged in parallel to the optical fibers of the first and second blocks in such a way that an optical signal incident to the respective fibers of the first block is propagated through the splitting films and total reflection films along optical axes of the associated optical fibers of the third block.

Abstract: A plastic tube is sealed at its end by placing the tube in a pair of spaced apart tube holders having tube receiving pockets. The tube is cut by a cutting device movable into and out of the space between the pockets to form two distinct tube sections which are melted at their ends while in the clamped condition. The cut ends are then brought into contact with each other in a mis-aligned condition offset by one-half the thickness of a tube wall to seal the tube end.

Abstract: A method of connecting two thermoplastic pipes and joint resulting therefrom which includes an electrically conductive insert sleeve with radially extending barbs alternately projecting to the inside and outside diameter of the sleeve into the adjacent fused plastic to achieve the joint.

Abstract: Long lengths of a heat-shrinkable sleeve for use in splicing electrical cables and the like are manufactured by providing an elongated impermeable core having a smooth outer surface, extruding an elongated sleeve around and in contact with the core, the sleeve having a smooth inner surface conforming to the outer surface of the core, and effecting an initial expansion of a portion of the sleeve to a larger diameter in an expansion zone so that the sleeve separates from the core and leaves a space between the sleeve and core. A fluid is introduced into the space under pressure via a fitting at the downstream end of the sleeve while continuously advancing the sleeve and core through the expansion zone. To begin the process, a permeable core is used, and the sleeve is extruded around and in contact with the permeable core.

Abstract: In order to weld butt-jointed plastic tubes, a welding element with a wire coil for electrical resistance heating is positioned between the abutting tube ends. The tube ends are pressed to each other while at the same time the welding device is heated to welding temperature. Lastly, the tube ends are held together until the welded area has hardened by cooling. The welding device is constructed in the form of an annular disc the external diameter of which is approximately equal to the external diameter of the tubes and the internal diameter of which is approximately equal to the nominal internal diameter of the tubes. A heating wire coil spirals around the geometric center of the annular disc, and is positioned on the two annular disc surfaces that come into contact with the tube ends.

Abstract: An electro-optical converter has at least three optical or electrical ports at least one of which is optical and one of which is electrical. The converter includes an essentially rigid support, a fiber-optic lateral coupler secured to the support including at least two length-wise continuous optical fibers juxtaposed along a portion of their length to provide lateral transfer of optical energy therebetween, and an electro-optical device also secured to the support in close relationship to the coupler. The device has at least one optical port and at least one electrical port. One of the coupler fibers communicates within the converter with the optical port of the electro-optical device, to serve as an internal signal link therebetween. The length of the link between coupler and electro-optical device is of the order of 10 centimeters or less. Protective means associated with the optical fibers, the electro-optical device and the internal link serve to protect the components from outside physical disturbance.

Abstract: Method for joining thermoplastic cores having spaced, longitudinal surface grooves for receiving optical fibers or electrical wires. A heat shrinkable plastic sleeve is applied over the end of one of the cores. A piece of a core selected so that the ends of the grooves match, at each end, the grooves of the cores to be joined, is inserted between the ends of the cores in abutting relation with the cores, and malleable metal elements, longer than the piece and having the cross-sectional shape of the grooves are inserted in the grooves of the piece with the ends thereof in the grooves of the cores. The sleeve is slid over the elements-piece assembly and heated so that it shrinks therearound, so that the plastic of the piece and the cores is softened and the grooves conform to the shape of and embed the elements and so that the ends of the piece fuse with the ends of the cores.

Abstract: Thermoplastic tubes are welded together in a dry condition with the tubes being open and maintained in their undistorted condition during the welding step. In an alternative technique a branch tube is welded to a main tube by placing the tubes in a non-parallel orientation in a holding device. A wafer cuts completely through one tube to form two tube sections. The wafer also cuts a notch from the other tube. One of the tube sections is shifted to become aligned with the notched other tube and welded thereto. A further technique includes placing at least one tube in a holding device which has a false floor for pressing against an area of the tube while the tube is being flattened at two spaced locations on opposite sides of the area. When the false floor is moved away from the tube a partial vacuum results. An air pocket is formed when the tube is severed by a wafer by air flowing into the cut tube.

Abstract: A method of processing spliced filamentary materials within which the filamentary material is spliced with a hardenable friable, splicing material, the filamentary material then being processed to break the friable splice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for splicing lengths of synthetic fiber tow. The tail of one length of tow and the lead portion of another length are each separated into an equal number of bundles. Bundles from the lead portion are overlapped with bundles from the tail portion to form overlapped pairs of bundles, which pairs are confined in a pair of separate, spaced-apart, open-ended passageways. Then, the overlapped pairs in each of the pairs of passageways are subjected to a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart jets of gaseous fluid oriented generally perpendicular to the length of the overlapped pairs. This causes fibers in the pairs of bundles from the lead portion and the tail portion to become entangled to form a splice between the lengths of full tow. With certain tows it is preferred that the direction of the jets in one of the passageways of each of the pairs of passageways is opposed to the direction of the jets in the other passageway of each of the pairs of passageways.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for butt-welding two adjoining plastic tubular members which are held in axially adjustable mountings and which are joined together under axial pressure after heating in the area of their juncture by means of electric heating elements. Welding without formation of an interior bead is made possible with the invention by inserting into the plastic tubular members, prior to heating, a bolster which bridges the juncture and fits flush against the inside curvature of the plastic tubular members, and by applying in the area of the juncture shell-shaped heating elements to the outside of the plastic tubular members to heat the abutting ends of the plastic tubular members from the outside.

Abstract: A lightguide fiber (16), having predetermined losses, is fabricated from individual pieces (26) of fiber which are selected from an inventory thereof such that the median loss per unit length of pieces remains substantially the same after fiber fabrication. To fabricate the fiber, the inventory is first divided into a plurality of classes based on the following criteria: (1) whether each piece has a length above or below the average length of the pieces within the inventory. (2) whether each piece has a median loss per unit length above or below the median loss per unit length of the fiber to be fabricated, and (3) whether each piece has a variation in loss above or below a preselected value. Thereafter, the classes are successively examined, beginning with the first one, to determine whether any piece therein has transmission characteristics suitable for fabricating the fiber. If so, the piece is selected from the class.

Abstract: A method of aligning and attaching optical fibers to substrate optical waveguides is disclosed. In accordance with the method, one or more slabs of preferentially etchable material and a waveguide substrate are placed adjacent each other face down on a flat surface for aligning the tops of the slabs with the top of the waveguide. A backing plate is secured to the back surface to hold the entire assembly together. The preferentially etchable material is thereafter etched to form v-grooves in alignment with the light guiding region of the waveguide substrate. Thereafter, optical fibers are secured thereto in an optically aligned manner with the light guiding region. In another aspect, the invention is directed to a fiber pigtailed waveguide substrate manufactured in accordance with the method.

Abstract: A linear welding process and apparatus connects fluid-filled tubes in a sterile manner. The linear welder includes a base on which a carriage is slidably mounted. A pair of side by side arms are secured to the carriage as are a pair of tube holders. A pair of clamping jaws are mounted on the arms to clamp a pair of tubes in the holders. The arms are movable for passing the clamped tubes into contact with a heated wafer which cuts the tubes into tube sections. The tube sections are realigned and a pair of sections are butt welded together.