Richard David Small

US Patent:

6430344, Aug 6, 2002

Filed:

Feb 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/792735

Inventors:

Lisa A. Dixon - Atlanta GA
Richard H. Norris - Powder Springs GA
Richard D. Small - Lilburn GA
Peter A. Weimann - Atlanta GA

Assignee:

Fitel USA Corp. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G02B 644

US Classification:

385109, 385113, 385141

Abstract:

A communications cable is disclosed herein that includes an outer jacket, and either a core tube or at least one buffer tube. The core tube or at least one buffer tube includes a resin and high aspect ratio fillers that occupy a predetermined volume of the core tube or buffer tubes so as to impart crush resistance to the cable. Further, the core tube or buffer tube may include two layers, an outer layer and an inner layer, in which the outer layer includes both a resin and high aspect ratio fillers, and the inner layer includes the resin without the high aspect ratio fillers.

US Patent:

6487345, Nov 26, 2002

Filed:

Oct 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/697339

Inventors:

Lisa A. Dixon - Atlanta GA
Richard D. Small - Lilburn GA
Phillip M. Thomas - Suwanee GA
Peter A. Weimann - Atlanta GA

Assignee:

Fitel USA Corp. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G02B 644

US Classification:

385100

Abstract:

A jacket for a communication cable is made from a resin that has high aspect ratio filler materials, and possibly coupling agents, dispersed therein. The fillers and the coupling agents reduce the post-extrusion shrinkage of the jacketing compound such that the strength members used in the communication cable need have only negligible compressive stiffness. The communication cable may further include a skin coating surrounding the outer jacket.

US Patent:

6594427, Jul 15, 2003

Filed:

Aug 23, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/644489

Inventors:

Lisa A. Dixon - Atlanta GA
Richard H. Norris - Powder Springs GA
Richard D. Small - Lilburn GA
Phillip M. Thomas - Suwanee GA
Peter A. Weimann - Atlanta GA

Assignee:

Fitel USA Corp. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G02B 644

US Classification:

385109

Abstract:

A jacket for an outside plant communication cable is made from a resin of an impact-modified polypropylene copolymer compounded with UV stabilizers. The resin has the characteristics of low cost, low post-extrusion shrinkage, high melting temperature and increased crush and abrasion resistance. The UV light stabilizers may include UV absorbers, quenchers, and/or hindered amine light stabilizers.

US Patent:

6600859, Jul 29, 2003

Filed:

Jul 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/897684

Inventors:

Vidyananda B. Chandraiah - Lawrenceville GA
Kenneth W. Jackson - Snellville GA
Kariofilis Konstadinidis - Decatur GA
Richard Dalton Small - Lilburn GA

Assignee:

Fitel USA Corp. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G02B 644

US Classification:

385114, 385100, 385127, 385128, 385141

Abstract:

A composite modular optical fiber ribbon structure has one or more separate sub-ribbons, each encased in a first matrix having a relatively high elastic modulus at room temperature. The sub-ribbons are assembled in a planar array which is encased in a second matrix having a relatively low elastic modulus at room temperature.

US Patent:

6611646, Aug 26, 2003

Filed:

Oct 8, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/415881

Inventors:

Richard Hartford Norris - Powder Springs GA
Richard D. Small - Lilburn GA
Phillip Maurice Thomas - Suwanee GA
Peter A. Weimann - Atlanta GA

Assignee:

Fitel USA Corp. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G02B 644

US Classification:

385113, 385111, 385112

Abstract:

A hybrid strength member ( ) for an optical cable ( ) is made from dielectric materials, and provides excellent compressive and tensile properties within a single structure. The strength member includes two concentric layers of filamentary strands that are embedded in a thermoset material such as epoxy. The filamentary strands of the inner layer ( ) primarily comprise aramid fibers, while the filamentary strands of the outer layer ( ) primarily comprise glass fibers. A pair of strength members ( - - ) is embedded in a plastic jacket of the optical cable at diametrically opposite sides of a central core tube that contains a number of optical fibers. Each strength member includes a thin coating ( ) of a relatively soft material (i. e. , a hardness of less than 80D on the Shore durometer scale) to enhance its coupling to the plastic jacket. Moreover, each strength member has a compressive stiffness that is effective to inhibit substantial contraction of the cable, and a tensile stiffness that is effective to receive tensile loads without substantial transfer of such loads to the glass fibers.

US Patent:

6778744, Aug 17, 2004

Filed:

Sep 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/255852

Inventors:

Richard Hartford Norris - Powder Springs GA
Richard D. Small - Lilburn GA
Phillip Maurice Thomas - Suwanee GA
Peter A. Weimann - Atlanta GA

Assignee:

Fitel USA Corp. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G02B 644

US Classification:

385113, 385111, 385112

Abstract:

An optical cable ( ) includes one or more tubes ( ), each containing a number of optical fibers ( ), and a plastic jacket ( ) that encloses the tube(s). A pair of diametrically opposed rods ( - - ) are at least partially embedded in the polyethylene jacket and are made from continuous-filament glass fibers that are embedded in epoxy. Each rod has a compressive stiffness that is effective to inhibit substantial contraction of the cable, and a tensile stiffness that is effective to receive tensile loads without substantial transfer of such loads to the glass fibers. Each dielectric rod includes a thin layer ( ) of a frictional adhesion coating that provides a controlled adhesion between the rod and the jacket of between 50 and 300 lb. /in. Whereas dual-rod cable designs have a preferred bending plane that passes through the rods, controlled adhesion between the rods and the jacket enables the cable to be easily bent in other planes and to be blown through ducts having multiple corners.

US Patent:

20040091221, May 13, 2004

Filed:

Aug 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/938107

Inventors:

Harold Debban - Snellville GA, US
Clyde Lever - Buford GA, US
Richard Norris - Powder Springs GA, US
Dennis Slaton - Gainsville GA, US
Richard Small - Lilburn GA, US
Phillip Thomas - Suwanee GA, US
Peter Weimann - Atlanta GA, US

International Classification:

G02B006/44

US Classification:

385/114000

Abstract:

Embodiments of the invention include an optical fiber cable having improved optical fiber densities and no central strength member. The optical fiber cable includes one or more multi-fiber unit tubes having an optical fiber ribbon stack snugly positioned therein. The diagonal length of the ribbon stack is approximately equal or, alternatively, at least 90% of the inner diameter of the unit tube. The multi-fiber unit tube is made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or other material soft and flexible enough to allow the ribbon stack to be relatively firmly positioned therein without affecting the optical fiber performance. The optical fiber cable includes one or more filling materials such as yarn fillers positioned, e.g., between the ribbon stack and the inner walls of the unit tube, to maintain the shape of the multi-fiber unit tube. The yarn filler material includes super absorbent polymers to reduce propagation of water down the unit tube.

US Patent:

60350881, Mar 7, 2000

Filed:

Sep 18, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/154670

Inventors:

Vidyananda Bangalore Chandraiah - Lawrenceville GA
Kenneth Wade Jackson - Snellville GA
Richard D. Small - Lilburn GA
Neil Wilbur Sollenberger - Duluth GA

Assignee:

Lucent Technologies Inc. - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

G02B 644

US Classification:

385114

Abstract:

A method for performing fiber break-out in an optical fiber ribbon, which does not require shutting down the fibers in the ribbon while break-out is being performed, includes the step of placing the ribbon on a smooth surface that is either flat or curved with a radius much greater than the critical bend radius after the matrix material of the ribbon has been softened and swollen. The ribbon is temporarily affixed to the surface, and the softened matrix is then pulled away therefrom. The ribbon is then turned over and temporarily affixed to the surface and the remaining matrix is removed. The fibers that remain are then cleaned with an alcohol solution. In a variation of the method, the matrix is removed by rubbing or abrading it with a textured cloth or pad.