Abstract: An elongated optical transmission element has a plurality of light waveguides which are continuously mechanically connected to one another in various planes to form a structure extending in a longitudinal direction so that the cohesion between waveguides is essentially obtained by connections on the inside of the structure. The structure can be used in an optical and/or electrical lead and is used in optical and/or electrical cables.

Abstract: A process for coating at least one optical waveguide with a filling compound has at least two successive filling stages separated by a wiping device of reduced cross section. In the region of the wiping device, a proportion of the filling compound which is thus wiped off is led past the wiping device by a bypass and is fed once more to coat the optical waveguide in the second filling stage.

Abstract: A chamber element for an optical cable includes an opening for waveguides, which opening is defined by a chamber floor and two legs extending therefrom. The legs are shaped so that a resultant radial force proceeds inside the cross section of the legs as the force is directed toward a center axis of the cable.

Abstract: An optical cable comprises a plurality of light waveguides which are arranged at least one group with a prescribed structure. The light waveguides will have different mechanical sensitivities, with the waveguides having a low mechanical sensitivity being in those regions of the structure which have elevated mechanical stressing occurring.

Abstract: Supporting elements designed as independent profiles are provided between ribbon stacks of optical waveguide ribbons of an optical cable. The supporting elements contribute to positing securing of the ribbon stacks within the opposite table.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a chamber member which receives optical light waveguides comprises an extruder head for extruding the chamber member followed by a calibrating device which inserts members into each of the chambers to insure the desired dimensions of each of the chambers and a method of using the apparatus by extruding a chamber member, allowing the extruded chamber member to cool and then calibrating the dimension of the chamber walls of the chambers.

Abstract: A method for covering at least one optical fiber with a protective layer comprises extruding the protective layer and embedding reinforcing elements in the protective layer to form a composite covering and simultaneously introducing the optical fiber into the composite covering. The method includes introducing a single waveguide or a plurality of waveguides, which may be formed into a bundle with a filling compound.

Abstract: A process for forming a plastic casing having reinforcing elements to resist tensile forces by simultaneously extruding the plastic casing and the reinforcing elements which are in a molten form and then twisting the extruded casing and elements to impart a helical configuration to the elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an optical cable includes an extruder for extruding a sheath on each light waveguide to form an independent light waveguide lead, a cooling device immediately following the extruder for cooling the light waveguide lead, which is then stranded to form a lead bundle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stranding with changing lay directions (SZ-stranding) utilizes an elongated cylindrical member which is driven with changing rotational sense on which the conductors are wrapped and supplied to a stranding disk at one end. The cylindrical member serves the purpose of stranding and is held under an axial tensile stress at its ends during the stranding process. The cylindrical member is also twisted to provide a torsional stress.

Abstract: An optical communications cable includes a core of tensile material about which is provided an extruded plastic chambered body, the chambers accommodating optical fibers. The outer wall of each chamber is provided with grooves along which the outer wall may be torn or cut to peel the wall back like a banana peel for access to the chamber. Alternate embodiments include shell or cap like portions forming the chamber outer wall and connected to the chambered body by thin tearable webs so that the shell or cap like portions may be peeled back.

Abstract: An optical cable comprising a central element surrounded by a layer containing a plurality of inwardly opening chambers, with each chamber receiving a stack of bands, which bands contain a plurality of waveguides. Preferably, each of the chambers is formed by a sub-element which has a U-shape in cross section and the sub-elements are formed on the cable core in a stranded manner, either by being stranded individually thereon or by being extruded individually thereon.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical cable characterized by forming a band of optical waveguides by mechanically combining the waveguides together and then subjecting the band to a cabling process to produce the optical cable. To reduce or eliminate torsion in the optical waveguides of the optical cable, the light waveguides are subjected to a pre-torsion prior to formation into the band in a direction opposite to the direction of torsion created by subjecting the band to a cabling process. The pre-torsion to the light waveguides is formed by an overhead haul-off of the light waveguides from a supply reel, which may be rotated to vary the amount of pre-torsion being formed.