US4479702A — Method and apparatus for assembling a compact mul…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 72 words

An optical fiber communication cable, said cable comprising: at least one optical fiber; a tubular cable core surrounding said at least one optical fiber and being radially spaced therefrom; and said tubular cable core being formed from a composite material having a first layer of high strength metallic material, a second layer of electrically insulating material bonded to said first layer and at least two electrical conductors bonded to said second layer.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 72 words

An optical fiber communication cable, said cable comprising: at least one optical fiber; a tubular cable core surrounding said at least one optical fiber and being radially spaced therefrom; and said tubular cable core being formed from a composite material having a first layer of high strength metallic material, a second layer of electrically insulating material bonded to said first layer and at least two electrical conductors bonded to said second layer.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The cable of claim 1 further comprising: cushioning material surrounding said at least one optical fiber.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The cable of claim 2 wherein: said cushioning material comprises a dielectric filler material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The cable of claim 1 further comprising: said electrical conductors each being formed from a metallic material having an electrical conductivity in excess of 50% IACS.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The cable of claim 1 further comprising: said first layer comprising a tubular sheath; and said electrical conductors being spaced radially outwardly of said sheath.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

The cable of claim 1 further comprising: said first layer comprising a tubular sheath; and said electrical conductors being spaced radially inwardly of said sheath.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 30 words

The cable of claim 1 further comprising: a dielectric layer surrounding said tubular cable core; a loadbearing layer around said dielectric layer; and an outer covering surrounding said loadbearing layer.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 69 words

A method of assembling an optical fiber communication cable, said method comprising: providing a strip of composite material comprising a first layer of high strength metallic material, a second layer of electrical insulating material bonded to said first layer and a plurality of electrical conductors bonded to said second layer; and forming a tubular cable core for housing at least one optical fiber from said strip of composite material.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 69 words

A method of assembling an optical fiber communication cable, said method comprising: providing a strip of composite material comprising a first layer of high strength metallic material, a second layer of electrical insulating material bonded to said first layer and a plurality of electrical conductors bonded to said second layer; and forming a tubular cable core for housing at least one optical fiber from said strip of composite material.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 8 wherein: said core forming step comprises forming a seam; and sealing said seam to form a sealed tubular cable core.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 9 further comprising: inserting said at least one optical fiber into said sealed tubular cable core after said sealing step has been completed.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 10 further comprising: injecting a cushioning material into said sealed tubular cable core after said sealing step has been completed.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 11 wherein said cushioning material injecting step comprises: injecting a dielectric filler into said sealed tubular cable core.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said composite material providing step further comprises: bonding said first layer to a first surface of said second layer; bonding a third layer of electrically conductive material to a second surface of said second layer opposed to said first surface; and longitudinally segmenting said third layer to form said electrical conductors.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said composite material providing step comprises: bonding said first layer to a first surface of said second layer; and bonding a plurality of strips of electrically conductive material to a second surface of said second layer opposed to said first surface so as to form said plurality of electrical conductors.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said step of bonding said electrically conductive material to said second surface comprises: bonding a metallic material having an electrical conductivity in excess of 50% IACS to said second surface.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 13 wherein said step of bonding said electrically conductive material to said second surface comprises: bonding a metallic material having an electrical conductivity in excess of 50% IACS to said second surface.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising: plating portions of said composite material prior to said cable core forming step to improve the solderability of said composite material.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 17 wherein said plating step comprises: electrolessly plating said portions with a material consisting essentially of copper.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of forming said tubular cable core comprises: forming said cable core so that said first layer comprises a tubular sheath and said plurality of conductors are located radially outwardly of said tubular sheath.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of forming said tubular cable core comprises: forming said cable core so that said first layer comprises a tubular sheath and said plurality of conductors are located radially inwardly of said tubular sheath.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising: extruding a dielectric layer around said tubular cable core; fabricating a loadbearing layer around said dielectric layer; and extruding an outer covering around said loadbearing layer.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 73 words

An apparatus for assembling an optical fiber communication cable, said apparatus comprising: means for assembling a strip of composite material comprising a first layer of high strength metallic material, a second layer of electrical insulating material bonded to said first layer and a plurality of electrical conductors bonded to said second layer; and means for forming a tubular cable core for housing at least one optical fiber from said strip of composite material.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 73 words

An apparatus for assembling an optical fiber communication cable, said apparatus comprising: means for assembling a strip of composite material comprising a first layer of high strength metallic material, a second layer of electrical insulating material bonded to said first layer and a plurality of electrical conductors bonded to said second layer; and means for forming a tubular cable core for housing at least one optical fiber from said strip of composite material.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising: said core having a seam; and means for sealing said seam so as to form a sealed tubular cable core.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: means for inserting said at least one optical fiber into said sealed tubular cable core after said seam has been completely sealed.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising: means for injecting a cushioning material into said sealed tubular cable core after said seam has been completely sealed.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising: said assembling means comprising means for segmenting a layer of metallic material having an electrical conductivity in excess of 50% IACS said plurality of electrical conductors.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising: said assembling means comprising means for bonding a plurality of strips of metallic material having an electrical conductivity in excess of 50% IACS to said second layer to form said plurality of electrical conductors.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising: means for plating portions of said composite material to enhance the solderability of said composite material.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 16 words

plating means comprises: means for electrolessly plating said portions with a material consisting essentially of copper.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 16 words

plating means comprises: means for electrolessly plating said portions with a material consisting essentially of copper.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising: means for extruding a dielectric layer around said tubular cable core; means for fabricating a loadbearing layer around said dielectric layer; and means for extruding an outer covering around said loadbearing layer.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-10-30	1988-04-30	1988-10-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-10-30	1992-04-30	1992-10-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-10-30	1996-04-30	1996-10-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for assembling a compact multi-conductor optical fiber communication cable

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