Abstract: An electrical discharge, suitable for heating optical fibers for processing, is made in a controlled partial vacuum, such that saturation of available ionizable gas molecules is reached. The workpiece temperature is thereby made to be a stably controlled function of the absolute air pressure and is insensitive to other conditions. A system and method accomplishing the foregoing are provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 23, 2016
Date of Patent:
November 19, 2019
Assignee:
3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Inventors:
Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, John Lower, Jason Troyer, Clyde J. Troutman
Abstract: A multi-electrode system includes a fiber holder that holds at least one optical fiber, a plurality of electrodes arranged to generate a heated field to heat the at least one optical fiber, and a vibration mechanism that causes at least one of the electrodes from the plurality of electrodes to vibrate. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum. The system can be used for processing many types of fibers, such processing including, as examples, stripping, splicing, annealing, tapering, and so on. Corresponding fiber processing methods are also provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 27, 2016
Date of Patent:
April 25, 2017
Assignee:
3SAE Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, Jared C. Meitzler, Clyde J. Troutman
Abstract: A multi-electrode system includes a fiber holder that holds at least one optical fiber, a plurality of electrodes arranged to generate a heated field to heat the at least one optical fiber, and a vibration mechanism that causes at least one of the electrodes from the plurality of electrodes to vibrate. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum. The system can be used for processing many types of fibers, such processing including, as examples, stripping, splicing, annealing, tapering, and so on. Corresponding fiber processing methods are also provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 25, 2017
Date of Patent:
April 24, 2018
Assignee:
3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Inventors:
Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, Jared C. Meitzler, Clyde J. Troutman