Stefan Richter

US Patent:

6366725, Apr 2, 2002

Filed:

Jan 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/481597

Inventors:

Alexander Weiss - Mönchengladbach, DE
Marta Garcia - Santander, ES
Stefan Richter - Hickory NC

Assignee:

Alcatel - Paris

International Classification:

G02B 644

US Classification:

385106, 385100, 385102, 385104

Abstract:

An optical cable for routing in sewers, with a cable core and a metallic cladding ( ) encircling the cable core in which the cable core is composed of several stranding elements ( ) which have a sheath ( ) in which several optical waveguides ( ) are accommodated, wherein each stranding element ( ) comprises a bundle of plural optical waveguides ( ) running parallel to each other and unstranded or stranded with large pitch, each bundle is encircled by a sheath ( ) which fits closely around the bundle, and plural such stranding elements ( ) are stranded to the cable core with the cable core being built up exclusively from such bundles.

US Patent:

6483971, Nov 19, 2002

Filed:

Mar 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/810221

Inventors:

Pierre Gaillard - Calais, FR
J. Boyet Stevens - Maineville OH
Vincent Bourget - Sur Mer, FR
Brian G. Risch - Hickory NC
Stefan Richter - Hickory NC

Assignee:

Alcatel - Paris

International Classification:

G02B 644

US Classification:

385113

Abstract:

An optical-fiber cable includes an assembly of buffer tubes including at least two flexible buffer tubes that are held together compactly by adhesion to one another. The cable further includes a plurality of optical fibers, which are housed within the buffer tubes, a jacket surrounding the assembly of buffer tubes, and at least one longitudinal strength member that is provided at the periphery of the assembly of buffer tubes. According to one aspect, the jacket is formed of polyethylene, the buffer tubes are formed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a thermoplastic elastomer possessing flexible diol segments, and the buffer tubes are contained within the jacket in a helical or SZ stranding configuration. According to a second aspect, a fiber optic buffer tube includes low and high melting point materials forming domains and a matrix, respectively, and preferably further includes a filler. The domains are embedded in the matrix.

US Patent:

6704481, Mar 9, 2004

Filed:

Dec 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/750339

Inventors:

Pierre Gaillard - Calais, FR
Stefan Richter - Hickory NC
Matthew Barber - Mooresville NC
Christopher L. Johnson - Granite Falls NC
Geoffrey Witt - Hickory NC

Assignee:

Alcatel - Paris

International Classification:

G02B 644

US Classification:

385113

Abstract:

The invention is a cable assembly in which the ripcord is bonded or woven to the cable assemblys armor tape. This arrangement helps to prevent the ripcords from moving from their initial position, therefore allowing better dissection of a cable sheath and/or jacket. The cable assembly includes a cable core (e. g. , soft buffer tubes surrounding optical fibers), a tape surrounding the cable core, at least one ripcord attached to the tape, and a cable jacket surrounding the tape. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a cable assembly includes a cable core having a predetermined axial length, a cable jacket for housing the cable core along the predetermined axial length of the cable core, and a ripcord disposed between the cable core and the cable jacket along the predetermined axial length, in a manner that the ripcord is contained within the predetermined axial length, but the ripcord has a length substantially longer that the predetermined axial length. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ripcord is disposed along the predetermined axial length in a wavy shape, thus the ripcord is made âflexibleâ, alleviating damage to the cable assembly that can occur from ripcord tension.

US Patent:

61818577, Jan 30, 2001

Filed:

May 12, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/310601

Inventors:

Marta Garcia S. Emeterio - Santander, ES
Stefan Richter - Hickory NC

Assignee:

Alcatel - Paris

International Classification:

G02B 604

US Classification:

385115

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method for accessing a fiber from a bundle of fibers disposed in a sheath. The method comprises several steps which include cutting the sheath circumferentially at a leading position as well as circumferentially at a trailing position to divide the sheath into a leading section, a mid-section and a trailing section. The sheath is spread along the axis of the sheath between the leading section and the mid-section to create a first access opening. A fiber to be accessed is cut at the first access opening. The leading section and mid-section are pushed together to close the first access opening. The sheath is spread along the axis of the sheath between the mid-section and the trailing section to create a second access opening wherein the fiber is pulled from the mid-section of the sheath so that it extends out of the second access opening. The mid-section and trailing section of the sheath are pushed together to close the second access opening while the fiber is permitted to extend out of the trailing cut. Tape may be placed around the cuts to physically join the sections of the sheath and to seal out contaminants.