Abstract: Apparatus for applying traction to an elongate cylindrical element produced by fusion of an end portion of a preform of glass material, in which a traction device is capable of being connected to a portion of the elongate cylindrical element to provide traction of the elongate cylindrical element along an axis. A device for the rotation of the elongate cylindrical element applies a twist to the elongate cylindrical element about the axis simultaneously with the traction.

Abstract: A method for producing a single-mode fiber for submarine cables including washing and flame polishing of a preform, fiber drawing, coating with a first coating layer and curing therein using an UV-curing device, coating with a second coating layer and curing therein using the UV-curing device, fiber selection with a 2% screening strain, and testing the properties of the fiber. The fiber has a high strength and long coiling length exceeding 100 km and the method is easy to practice with low production cost and parameters involved therein are highly controllable.

Abstract: An optical fiber twisting apparatus that prevents line distortion in an optical fiber undergoing a drawing process and provides a consistent coating on a bare optical fiber. This optical fiber twisting apparatus includes a twist roller apparatus that having a twist roller that, by imparting a twist to an optical fiber, imparts a twist to a molten portion of an optical fiber preform positioned on an upstream side of the optical fiber, and a support portion that supports the twist roller. The accuracy of the outer circumference of the twist roller when the twist roller is forming a part of the twist roller apparatus is 15 ?m or less.

Abstract: An optical fiber twisting apparatus that prevents line distortion in an optical fiber undergoing a drawing process and provides a consistent coating on a bare optical fiber. This optical fiber twisting apparatus includes a twist roller apparatus that having a twist roller that, by imparting a twist to an optical fiber, imparts a twist to a molten portion of an optical fiber preform positioned on an upstream side of the optical fiber, and a support portion that supports the twist roller. The accuracy of the outer circumference of the twist roller when the twist roller is forming a part of the twist roller apparatus is 15 ?m or less.

Abstract: An optical fiber twisting apparatus that prevents line distortion in an optical fiber undergoing a drawing process and provides a consistent coating on a bare optical fiber. This optical fiber twisting apparatus includes a twist roller apparatus that having a twist roller that, by imparting a twist to an optical fiber, imparts a twist to a molten portion of an optical fiber preform positioned on an upstream side of the optical fiber, and a support portion that supports the twist roller. The accuracy of the outer circumference of the twist roller when the twist roller is forming a part of the twist roller apparatus is 15 ?m or less.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber includes the steps and/or means of: drawing a fiber from a heated preform by applying a pulling force to the fiber; spinning the fiber while it is drawn, wherein the step of spinning the fiber includes the sub-steps of winding the fiber on a spin roller by a winding arc, such that a friction force is generated between the fiber and the spin roller resulting from the winding arc and from the pulling force; axially displacing the spin roller such that the fiber is caused to roll over the spin roller surface by the friction force.

Abstract: An anti-PMD system comprises a pulley which oscillates in rotation and applies a torsion torque alternately in the clockwise direction and in the counterclockwise direction to an optical fiber during drawing of the optical fiber to reduce its PMD. A portion of a peripheral external surface of the pulley intended to be in contact with the optical fiber during drawing is convex.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for drawing an optical fiber for controlling polarization mode dispersion. A furnace is provided for uniformly heating an optical fiber preform in the drawing system mounted to an optical fiber draw tower. The furnace comprises: (a) a main body; (b) a sub-body placed coaxially with the main body and having a diameter smaller than that of the main body; and (c) an upper gas feeding section over the main body, wherein the upper gas feeding section includes a first hollow rotary body having at least one slit in the inner surface thereof along the longitudinal direction of an optical fiber and at least one opening extended in the direction of the center, whereby a gas artificially/periodically creates non-contact polarization to the optical fiber by the first hollow rotary body. Effective non-contact control can be carried out about polarization mode dispersion of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber, and a method of making such optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber exhibits a beatlength greater than about 5 meters, and the fiber is spun to provide a polarization mode dispersion in the spun state of said fiber which is less than 0.05 ps/km1/2. The fiber is spun by employing a spin having a spin repeat distance of at least 10 meters. The spin preferably alternates between clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for manufacturing single mode optical fiber which incorporates a spin in the molten fiber during manufacturing. The introduction of spin minimizes a form of distortion called polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and varying the spin, i.e. changing its characteristics, is known to further reduce PMD. However, introducing spin on a molten fiber may result in also introducing twist on the fiber. Twist is a non-permanent rotational force on the cooled fiber which causes stress and is to be avoided. A spin function is disclosed that not only contains a high degree of variability for reducing PMD, but also ensures that mechanical twist on the fiber is minimized, thus reducing stress on the fiber. The spin function modulates either the amplitude, frequency, or both, at the beginning of a cycle to minimize twist on the fiber.

Abstract: A mat of mineral fibers has a random or quasi-random fiber orientation. The fibers have diameters which, for the great majority of them, are 2.5 to 4.5 micrometers, and a length of 2 to 15 cm. Its density is less than 40 kg/m3. Its resistance to compression, for a crushing of 10%, is equal to at least 0.5 kN/m2. The fineness of the fibers and their random distribution imparts to the mat an exceptional lightness and an excellent flexibility, making possible the perfect application of the mat on cylindrical surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating an optical fiber by spinning are disclosed. In the optical fiber fabricating method, an end of an optical fiber preform is molten and an optical fiber is drawn from the molten preform end. The optical fiber is then coated and spun in a direction. A coating distortion is eliminated from the optical fiber by spinning the optical fiber in a different direction.

Abstract: When an optical fiber 3 is formed by drawing a preform 1, twisting is generated in the optical fiber 3. An outer diameter of the optical fiber 3 is continuously measured along a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 3 from two different directions in a plane perpendicular to the advancing direction of the optical fiber 3 by a device for measuring twisting 4, thus twisting of the optical fiber 3 is measured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for impulsively spinning optical fiber while the optical fiber is being drawn is disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of drawing optical fibers using a spin-amplitude modulation for the manufacture of optical fibers from their preforms, which includes the steps of melting a portion (e.g. an end) of the optical fiber's preform with heat or other means and drawing it, and creating spin by repeating the spin-amplitude modulation process of giving spin to the melted/drawn optical fiber according to a predetermined spin function while changing the frequency of spin.

Abstract: In an optical fiber drawing apparatus capable of drawing one piece of an optical fiber, the present invention provides an optical fiber drawing apparatus which is adapted to decrease a break of an optical fiber to be adjusted a curvature radius thereof by at least one or more moving rollers continuously installed after a fixing roller and to decrease a polarization mode dispersion (PMD) by a birefringence which is not desired in an optical fiber.

Abstract: An anti-PMD system comprises a pulley which oscillates in rotation and applies a torsion torque alternately in the clockwise direction and in the counterclockwise direction to an optical fiber during drawing of the optical fiber to reduce its PMD. A portion of a peripheral external surface of the pulley intended to be in contact with the optical fiber during drawing is convex.

Abstract: An optical fiber manufacturing method and apparatus in which an optical fiber is drawn from an optical fiber preform, while rotating the optical fiber, to impart the optical fiber with twist. Specifically, with the optical fiber in contact with an arc concave surface of first swing guide roller under a predetermined force, a first swing guide roller is swung with the center of the arc concave surface to twist the optical fiber. In this arrangement, the variation range of the path of the optical fiber can be reduced, making it possible to stabilize the pressure of the swing guide roller against the optical fiber. Accordingly, the frictional force developed across the swing guide roller and the optical fiber can be kept constant to make slippage less likely, making it possible to efficiently twist the optical fiber always at a predetermined rotatory force.

Abstract: A device for continuously twisting an optical fiber, which can add a sufficient twist to an optical fiber, is provided. Reciprocating rollers reciprocate so that the moving direction would be opposite each other along a center axis of rotation. The optical fiber passes through a gap between the reciprocating rollers and runs in contact with the outer circumferential surface of respective reciprocating rollers in order. Reciprocation of the reciprocating rollers adds a twist to the optical fiber. When &phgr; is a contacting angle between the optical fiber and the reciprocating rollers, F is maximum static friction of the optical fiber against the outer circumferential surface of the reciprocating rollers, and T is tension of the optical fiber, the coefficient of friction &mgr; between the optical fiber and the outer circumferential surface of the reciprocating rollers is lead from an operational formula of &mgr;=(1/&phgr;)·ln(F/T).

Abstract: Apparatus for applying traction to an elongate cylindrical element (5) produced by fusion of an end portion (2a) of a preform (2) of glass material, in which a traction device (3) is capable of being connected to a portion (5i) of the elongate cylindrical element (5) to provide traction of the elongate cylindrical element along an axis (6). A device (4) for the rotation of the elongate cylindrical element applies a twist to the elongate cylindrical element (5) about the axis (6) simultaneously with the traction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spinning device for low polarization mode dispersion. The spinning device for minimizing PMD(Polarization Mode Dispersion) of the drawn optical fiber in the optical fiber drawing process includes: a base plate arranged at a lower end of a drawing tower; a tilting spinning wheel mounted on the base plate for rotating along a first rotational shaft, for transferring a drawn optical fiber to a capstan, for periodically rotating along a second rotational shaft within a predetermined angle range at a perpendicular relation to the first rotational shaft, for applying a periodic twisting on the optical fiber using the tension of the drawn optical fiber with its outer periphery touched with the drawn optical fiber; and, a speed reducing unit connected to the second rotational shaft of the tilting spinning wheel for reducing the rotational speed of the wheel.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical fiber (100) having low PMD, comprises the steps of: a) heating at least one end portion (3a) of a preform (3); b) drawing an optical fiber (100) from a free end of said heated end portion (3a) along a fiber drawing axis (I—I); c) coating said optical fiber (100) with a suitable coating material; d) applying to said coated optical fiber (100) a torque about said fiber drawing axis (I—I), e) winding said coated optical fiber (100) onto a collecting spool (9). According to the invention, step d) is carried out by means of a pulley (16) supported upstream of said collecting spool (9) and rotated about the fiber drawing axis (I—I), said optical fiber (100) being wound up onto said pulley (16) for an angle of at least about 360°. Advantageously, such method also allows to notably increase the amount of optical fiber produced per unit of time with respect to the prior art.

Abstract: A fiber (106) having low polarization mode dispersion is made by heating the end of a preform (100) with a furnace (101). The fiber is drawn from the heated end. The fiber passes between two rollers (102, 104). As the fiber passes therebetween, the angular tilt of each of the rollers is changed so that a spin is imparted to the fiber.

Abstract: A device for continuously twisting an optical fiber, which can add a sufficient twist to an optical fiber, is provided. Reciprocating rollers reciprocate so that the moving direction would be opposite each other along a center axis of rotation. The optical fiber passes through a gap between the reciprocating rollers and runs in contact with the outer circumferential surface of respective reciprocating rollers in order. Reciprocation of the reciprocating rollers adds a twist to the optical fiber. When &phgr; is a contacting angle between the optical fiber and the reciprocating rollers, F is maximum static friction of the optical fiber against the outer circumferential surface of the reciprocating rollers, and T is tension of the optical fiber, the coefficient of friction &mgr; between the optical fiber and the outer circumferential surface of the reciprocating rollers is lead from an operational formula of &mgr;=(1/+)·In(F/T).

Abstract: An optical fiber is rolled by a swing motion of a swing guide roller in order to impart a predetermined twist to it effectively, and its polarization dispersion is suppressed equivalently as in a perfectly circular concentric optical fiber. A method of manufacturing such an optical fiber is also provided. As a swing guide roller swings, the optical fiber is rolled on its roller surface, so that a clockwise twist and a counterclockwise twist are imparted to the optical fiber alternately. At this time, the optical fiber is fitted in a V-shaped narrow groove formed at the central portion of the roller surface of a next-stage first stationary guide roller provided just beside the swing guide roller. Rolling of the optical fiber on the roller surface of the first stationary guide roller is suppressed, thereby helping smooth rolling of the optical fiber on the roller surface of the swing guide roller.

Abstract: Optical fiber is provided with a periodically reversing spin while the fiber is pulled through a melt zone. A cooled region of the fiber downstream from the melt zone passes between a pair of opposed elements. The opposed elements are moved so that surface regions engaging the fiber move in opposite lateral directions relative to one another, thus spinning the fiber about its axis. The lateral movement of the engaged surface portions is periodically reversed to reverse the spin direction. The opposed elements may include belts or rollers, which can be tilted to orientations oblique to the longitudinal direction of the fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a optical fiber which includes a furnace for softening an optical fiber blank; a tractor for drawing the optical fiber from the softened optical fiber blank; and a first applicator for applying a coating of a first coating material to the optical fiber, the first applicator having a rotatable die.

Abstract: A spinner is adapted to be fixed at one end of a rotatable shaft in a fiberizer, the spinner including a radial wall extending radially out from the shaft and having an upper surface, a dam separating the upper surface into an inner portion and an outer portion, a lower surface, at least one first flow hole connecting the upper surface to the lower surface, and at least one second flow hole connecting the inner portion and the outer portion of said upper surface, and an outer peripheral wall connected to the radial wall and having a plurality of orifices therethrough.

Abstract: An optical fiber is rolled by a swing motion of a swing guide roller in order to impart a predetermined twist to it effectively, and its polarization dispersion is suppressed equivalently as in a perfectly circular concentric optical fiber. A method of manufacturing such an optical fiber is also provided. As a swing guide roller swings, the optical fiber is rolled on its roller surface, so that a clockwise twist and a counterclockwise twist are imparted to the optical fiber alternately. At this time, the optical fiber is fitted in a V-shaped narrow groove formed at the central portion of the roller surface of a next-stage first stationary guide roller provided just beside the swing guide roller. Rolling of the optical fiber on the roller surface of the first stationary guide roller is suppressed, thereby helping smooth rolling of the optical fiber on the roller surface of the swing guide roller.

Abstract: The present invention furnishes a device for fiberizing molten mineral materials in order to produce mineral fiber products by means of a spinner (2) having a multiplicity of orifices (6; 8) provided in the peripheral wall (4) thereof, for centrifuging molten mineral materials (10; 12) supplied to the spinner (2), with the spinner (2) comprising on the inside (14) of the peripheral wall (4) compartments (18; 20) arranged in sections and delimited by baffles (16) for separately feeding and separately receiving a respective molten material (10; 12) to at least one associated orifice (6; 8), with the orifices (6; 8) extending at least approximately in a radial direction through the peripheral wall (4). In the present invention a method for producing this device is moreover proposed.

Abstract: An annealing mold and fiber retaining device includes a fiber holding plate having fiber channels and an annealing insert. Retainers are provided for attachment to the plate to retain fibers in the channels. After annealing, the annealing insert is replaced by a packaging insert. The fiber holding plate is mounted between a support plate and a cover plate. The mounted plates include a coextensive current conductor port and the plates are mounted in a housing which includes vibration mounts for isolating the plates from vibration within the housing.

Abstract: An amorphous silicon film is formed on a flat glass substrate, and then crystallized by heating to obtain a crystalline silicon film. The glass substrate is placed on a stage having a convex U-shaped curved surface. The glass substrate is heated for a desired period of time at a temperature close to a strain point of the glass substrate, and then is cooled. Also, an amorphous silicon film formed on a glass substrate is crystallized into a crystalline silicon film by heating and then the glass substrate is mounted on a stage having a flat surface in such a manner that the lower surface of the glass substrate is in close contact with the flat surface of the stage by pressing the upper surface of the glass substrate. Then, a linear laser beam is irradiated on the crystalline silicon film in a scanning manner.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber, whereby a fiber is drawn from a molten extremity of a preform and is subsequently subjected to a torque, thereby causing a portion of the fiber to be twisted about its longitudinal axis and to be endowed with a spin. The torque is applied by running the fiber between a pair of wheels which rotate in mutually opposite senses about two different rotational axes, each wheel having a peripheral curved surface, the wheels being thus arranged that the fiber runs substantially tangential to their curved surfaces and is pressed therebetween, the wheels being moved back and forth relative to one another in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fiber so as to cause the fiber to be rolled back and forth between their curved surfaces.

Abstract: A spinner is adapted to be fixed at one end of a rotatable shaft in a fiberizer, the spinner including a radial wall extending radially out from the shaft and having an upper surface, a dam separating the upper surface into an inner portion and an outer portion, a lower surface, at least one first flow hole connecting the upper surface to the lower surface, and at least one second flow hole connecting the inner portion and the outer portion of said upper surface, and an outer peripheral wall connected to the radial wall and having a plurality of orifices therethrough.

Abstract: A fiber insulation product comprising hollow fibers. Each hollow fiber may be composed of at least two different thermoplastic insulating materials, such as glasses, having differing coefficients of thermal expansion, with each of the hollow fibers being an irregular-shape exhibiting a substantially uniform volume filling nature, and providing improved recovery and thermal conductivity abilities even in the absence of a binder material. An apparatus for making hollow fibers for such a product is also provided.

Abstract: In a method of and an apparatus for forming composite and other fibers, individual filaments from two or more sets of continuous primary filaments of two or more heat-softenable fiberizable materials are brought together lengthwise to form pairs of continuous primary filaments. The groupings of continuous primary filaments are fed into a high energy attenuation blast where the filaments are heated, attenuated and formed into composite or other staple fibers of the heat-softenable fiberizable materials. Preferably, the individual continuous primary filaments of the groupings of continuous primary filaments are fused, adhesively bonded or otherwise joined together, prior to being introduced into the high energy attenuation blast, to prevent the individual primary filaments of the groupings of continuous primary filaments from separating in the high energy attenuation blast.

Abstract: A glass fiber insulation product comprises irregularly-shaped glass fibers of two different glasses having differing coefficients of thermal expansion, with the irregularly-shaped dual-glass fibers exhibiting a substantially uniform volume filling nature, and providing improved recovery and thermal conductivity abilities even in the absence of a binder material.

Abstract: Apparatus for making dual component fibers is provided and includes a spinner having a peripheral wall. The spinner includes orifices located on the peripheral wall thereof for centrifuging the dual component fibers, with the spinner being divided into a series of generally vertically-aligned compartments by baffles positioned circumferentially around the interior of the peripheral wall. First and second molten thermoplastic materials are supplied to the spinner and directed into alternate ones of the compartments so that adjacent compartments contain different thermoplastic materials. Passages are located in each of the compartments through which the respective molten thermoplastic materials flow to the orifices on the peripheral wall of the spinner. The passages in adjacent ones of the compartments communicate with one another and with the orifices to join the first and second molten thermoplastic materials together into dual component fibers.

Abstract: Apparatus for making dual component fibers is provided and includes a spinner having a peripheral wall. The spinner includes orifices located on the exterior of the peripheral wall for centrifuging dual component fibers, with the spinner being divided into at least two compartments. The first and second molten thermoplastic materials are supplied to the spinner and directed into alternate ones of the compartments so that adjacent compartments contain different thermoplastic materials. Passages are located in each of the compartments through which the molten thermoplastic materials flow to the orifices on the peripheral wall of the spinner. At least some of the passages have branches which form a common inlet adjacent to the interior of the peripheral wall and which communicate with at least two different orifices on the peripheral wall of the spinner.

Abstract: An apparatus for making dual component fibers is provided and includes a distributor having orifices in the peripheral wall and nested within a rotary spinner. The distributor is divided into a series of generally vertically-aligned compartments by baffles positioned circumferentially around the interior of the peripheral wall, with the orifices communicating with the compartments. First and second molten thermoplastic materials are supplied to the distributor and centrifuged as alternating thin layers to the face of the spinner. The spinner is also rotated to centrifuge dual component fibers through the orifices in the peripheral wall of the spinner.

Abstract: An apparatus for making dual component fibers is provided and includes a spinner having peripheral and bottom walls. The spinner includes orifices located on the peripheral wall thereof for centrifuging the dual component fibers, with the spinner being divided into a series of generally vertically-aligned compartments by baffles positioned circumferentially around the interior of the peripheral wall. A first divider is provided in the spinner for directing the first molten thermoplastic material into alternate ones of the compartments, and a second divider is provided for directing the second molten thermoplastic material into the remaining ones of the compartments so that adjacent compartments contain different thermoplastic materials. Passages are located in each of the compartments through which the respective molten thermoplastic materials flow to the orifices on the peripheral wall of the spinner.

Abstract: A holder for annealing a fiber optic coil uses a silica ring on a silica substrate, or silica tubular coil, either of which may be directly incorporated into a coil subassembly for a Faraday-effect current sensor. The ring may be formed in a silica plate by sandblasting or grinding, or formed separately and adhered to the plate. In the tubular holder embodiment, silica tubes and sleeves are used to protect fusion splices between the ends of the fiber coil and polarizing fibers. Use of silica for most of the subassembly components matches the coefficients of thermal expansion of the subassembly to that of the fiber coil, and also allows the coil to be annealed at extremely high temperatures. Annealing yields fiber coils of lowered birefringence, particularly when used with spun fibers. Ferrules are used to adjust the angular orientation of the fibers with respect to their planes of polarization.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for making dual component fibers. The apparatus comprises a distributor, equipment for providing first and second thermoplastic materials to the distributor, a rotatable spinner and a rotation mechanism. The distributor has an outer casing and a divider cup fixedly positioned within the outer casing. The outer casing has first and second orifices extending through its peripheral wall. The divider cup defines with the outer casing first and second chambers for receiving first and second molten thermoplastic materials. The first orifices communicate with the first chamber and the second orifices communicate with the second chamber. The rotatable spinner includes first and second passages in its peripheral wall.

Abstract: Apparatus for making dual component fibers is provided and includes a spinner having a peripheral wall. The spinner includes orifices located on the peripheral wall thereof for centrifuging the dual component fibers, with the spinner being divided into a series of compartments by baffles positioned circumferentially around the interior of the peripheral wall. The baffles are positioned at an angle of from about 5.degree. to about 75.degree. from vertical, and most preferably about 45.degree. from vertical. The number of orifices on the spinner peripheral wall can thus be increased to increase the throughput of fibers from the spinner while still maintaining a minimum required spacing between orifices for the structural integrity of the spinner.

Abstract: Apparatus for making dual-component thermoplastic fibers, such as glass fibers, comprises a spinner having an orificed peripheral wall for centrifuging fibers from thermoplastic material, the spinner having vertically aligned compartments with first and second thermoplastic materials in alternate compartments, and a series of elongated orifices in the peripheral wall in communication with each of two adjacent compartments to enable centrifuging of both the first and second thermoplastic materials from a single orifice.