Abstract: A system for positioning an optical preform in a furnace is provided that includes an upper muffle and a downfeed handle assembly with a tube defining a first end and a second end, the second end extending into the upper muffle. A handle is disposed within the tube. A second end of the handle extends into the upper muffle and a seal assembly is positioned around both the tube and the handle. The first end of the handle extends through the seal assembly and a drive assembly is coupled with the downfeed handle.

Abstract: An optical fiber draw furnace system including a muffle, a downfeed handle, and a downfeed handle extension portion. The downfeed handle is moveably disposed within an inner cavity of the muffle. The downfeed handle extension portion is connected to the downfeed handle and moveably disposed within the inner cavity of the muffle. Furthermore, the downfeed handle extension portion forms a first gap between an outer surface of the downfeed handle extension portion and an inner surface of the muffle, the first gap having a length in a range of about 0.001 m to about 0.2 m.

Abstract: A system for positioning an optical preform in a furnace is provided that includes an upper muffle and a downfeed handle assembly with a tube defining a first end and a second end, the second end extending into the upper muffle. A handle is disposed within the tube. A second end of the handle extends into the upper muffle and a seal assembly is positioned around both the tube and the handle. The first end of the handle extends through the seal assembly and a drive assembly is coupled with the downfeed handle.

Abstract: A system for positioning an optical preform in a furnace is provided that includes an upper muffle and a downfeed handle assembly with a tube defining a first end and a second end, the second end extending into the upper muffle. A handle is disposed within the tube. A second end of the handle extends into the upper muffle and a seal assembly is positioned around both the tube and the handle. The first end of the handle extends through the seal assembly and a drive assembly is coupled with the downfeed handle.

Abstract: A system for positioning an optical preform in a furnace is provided that includes an upper muffle and a downfeed handle assembly with a tube defining a first end and a second end, the second end extending into the upper muffle. A handle is disposed within the tube. A second end of the handle extends into the upper muffle and a seal assembly is positioned around both the tube and the handle. The first end of the handle extends through the seal assembly and a drive assembly is coupled with the downfeed handle.

Abstract: A method for forming a porous soot body that includes depositing soot on a release coating supported by a bait substrate. Characteristics of the release coating control the strength of attachment of the porous soot body to the bait substrate. Weak attachment of the porous soot body to the bait substrate facilitates separation of the porous soot body from the bait substrate without damaging the porous soot body. The release coating may be formed from a brittle material or a material that oxidizes or otherwise depletes during deposition of the soot that forms the porous soot body. The release coating may include carbon. The separated porous soot body may be consolidated to form a core cane or may function as a sleeve (porous cladding) in a cane-in-soot fiber preform manufacturing process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing or preventing fiber entry whip as the loose end of a fiber being wound on a spool enters a fiber winding device. A fiber winding device comprises a spool winder entrance, a winding spool and a fiber whip shield substantially surrounding the winding spool. A fiber entry whip reducer positioned in front of the fiber winding device comprises at least one pulley and a guide channel including a straight entry section and a curved section leading to the fiber winding device. The guide channel is formed and positioned such that the loose end of the fiber is maintained against the guide channel by centrifugal force imparted onto the fiber by the curvature of the channel and forward motion of the fiber produced by the rotating spool, thereby producing a trajectory such that the loose end of the fiber enters the fiber winding device and is maintained against the whip shield.

Abstract: An apparatus for threading a fiber that is being continuously supplied by a supplying device for winding on a spool, includes a collecting device, adjacent to the supplying device, that collects the fiber by urging the fiber from the supplying device into the collecting device to provide a tension in the fiber between the supplying device and the collecting device, a positioning device that engages the fiber, between the supplying device and the collecting device, with an engaging portion that allows the fiber to be continuously collected in the collecting device and that moves from a position adjacent to the supplying device and the collecting device to a position adjacent to the spool to move the fiber to at least one threading position, and a threading device that automatically threads the fiber at the at least one threading position onto the spool.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing or preventing fiber entry whip as the loose end of a fiber being wound on a spool enters a fiber winding device. A fiber winding device includes a spool winder entrance, a winding spool and a fiber whip shield substantially surrounding the winding spool. A fiber entry whip reducer positioned in front of the fiber winding device includes at least one pulley and a guide channel including a straight entry section and a curved section leading to the fiber winding device. The guide channel is formed and positioned such that the loose end of the fiber is maintained against the guide channel by centrifugal force imparted onto the fiber by the curvature of the channel and forward motion of the fiber produced by the rotating spool, thereby producing a trajectory such that the loose end of the fiber enters the fiber winding device and is maintained against the whip shield.