Abstract: A repair line for repairing a closure defect in a metal tube containing at least one transmission optical fiber which includes a repair station having a tube conditioning system for bending and tensioning a portion of the tube including the defect and a laser for welding point by point along the defect with the minimum heat input at each point.

Abstract: The unit for protecting the inside of a metal tube containing at least one optical fiber against overheating limits the extent to which fibers inserted by an auxiliary tube and filler gel overheat level with the laser welding that closes the metal tube. The unit including a thermal diffuser interposed between the auxiliary tube for inserting fibers and the closure zone that is defined on the metal tube. The invention is applicable to making an underwater optical cable.

Abstract: A method of repairing a closure defect in a metal tube containing at least one transmission optical fiber entails bending and tensioning a portion of the tube including the defect and laser welding point by point along the defect within the bent portion with the minimun heat input at each point.

Abstract: The splice device for splicing together two under-sea cables, each of which has a bundle of optical fibers protected inside a protective tube and armoring wires stranded on an inner sheath covering the protective tube, includes a strong support mounted on the protective tubes for protecting the two bundles of fibers, which bundles are welded together. In the splice device the support is locked on the protective tubes between the inner sheaths of the cables, and it receives firstly the end portions of the armoring wires, tensioned longitudinally in one layer on its periphery, and secondly an outer metal sleeve crimped on said support and on the armoring wires between the support and the sleeve.

Abstract: The cable has optical fibers embedded in a material filling the tube which itself lies inside a helical lay of metal wires having high mechanical strength and in which the interstices are filled with a sealing material. The cable includes a first extruded sheath between the tube and the helical lay, and the helical lay is itself covered by a second extruded sheath which is insulating and abrasion resistant, and if the cable is for a remotely-powered link, it includes a conductive strip on the tube or on the first sheath.

Abstract: The undersea cable has optical fiber embedded in material filling a tube which itself lies inside a helical lay of metal wires having high mechanical strength, the interstices between the wires of the helical lay being filled with a sealing material. The helical lay is surrounded by an extruded sheath made of an electrically insulating and abrasion resistant material, and for the purposes of remotely powering equipment interposed on the cable, the cable includes conductive means either belonging to the helical lay or surrounding it, said conductor means being surrounded by said sheath.