Optical Fiber Drawing Furnace Sealing Adjustment Device

Abstract

Optical fiber drawing furnace sealing adjustment device, which relates to the technical field of optical fiber drawing, is used to adjust the sealing performance between the optical fiber preform and the furnace mouth according to the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform. It includes a support ring and an outer sleeve. The support ring is located above the furnace mouth of the drawing furnace. The outer sleeve is a spiral structure and is located between the furnace mouth and the support ring. There are connecting bands between the outer sleeve and the furnace mouth, between the outer sleeve and the support ring, and between the upper and lower sides of the outer sleeve; the optical fiber preform passes through the support ring and then extends into the furnace mouth. There is quartz wool between the support ring and the optical fiber preform and between the outer sleeve and the optical fiber preform. Through the setting of the spiral outer sleeve in the present invention, it can tightly wind around the surface of the optical fiber preform, and then press the quartz wool against the optical fiber preform. When the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform changes, the outer sleeve can expand and contract with the change of the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform, so as to ensure that the quartz wool is in close contact with the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform to ensure the sealing performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of optical fiber drawing, and more specifically to a sealing adjustment device for an optical fiber drawing furnace. Background Art

[0002] The optical fiber drawing process is carried out in a drawing furnace. The optical fiber preform is suspended, and the lower end of the optical fiber preform extends into the drawing furnace. Under the action of the drawing furnace, the lower end of the optical fiber preform melts. To ensure the sealing performance, a sealing structure is provided between the furnace mouth of the drawing furnace and the optical fiber preform. Since the optical fiber preform is a variable-diameter cylinder and the outer diameters of different optical fiber preforms are also different, as the optical fiber preform continuously extends into the drawing furnace, a sealing structure with a fixed shape and structure cannot achieve good sealing between the optical fiber preform and the furnace mouth. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sealing adjustment device for an optical fiber drawing furnace, which is used to adjust the sealing performance between the optical fiber preform and the furnace mouth according to the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform, so as to ensure good sealing between the optical fiber preform and the furnace mouth.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problems is: a sealing adjustment device for an optical fiber drawing furnace, including a support ring and an outer sleeve. The support ring is located above the furnace mouth of the drawing furnace. The outer sleeve is a spiral structure. The outer sleeve is located between the furnace mouth and the support ring. There are connecting bands between the outer sleeve and the furnace mouth, between the outer sleeve and the support ring, and between the upper and lower sides of the outer sleeve. The optical fiber preform passes through the support ring and then extends into the furnace mouth. There is quartz wool between the support ring and the optical fiber preform, and between the outer sleeve and the optical fiber preform.

[0005] Further, the support ring and the furnace mouth are fixedly connected by a lower support rod.

[0006] Further, there is a groove on the inner side wall of the outer sleeve. A part of the quartz wool is stuffed into the groove, and the other part of the quartz wool extends out of the groove and contacts the outer wall of the optical fiber preform.

[0007] Further, the connecting band is a wavy structure.

[0008] Further, the number of turns of the outer sleeve is at least one turn.

[0009] Further, it further includes a detection component. The detection component includes a fixed rod, a movable rod, a detection wheel, and a spring. The fixed rod is fixedly connected to the support ring and is arranged along the radial direction of the support ring. One end of the movable rod is slidably arranged in the fixed rod. The other end of the movable rod has a wheel frame. The detection wheel is rotatably installed on the wheel frame. There is a spring between the wheel frame and the fixed rod, and a pressure sensor is arranged on the spring.

[0010] Furthermore, an upper support rod is provided between the top of the support ring and the fixed rod.

[0011] Furthermore, the upper part of the upper support rod is threadedly connected to the fixed rod.

[0012] Furthermore, there are two sets of the detection components, and the two detection components in the same set are located in the same radial direction of the support ring.

[0013] Furthermore, an air injection port is provided on the support ring, and a sealing cavity is formed between the connecting belt, the outer sleeve and the optical fiber between the preforms, and the sealing cavity communicates with the air injection port.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0015] (1) Through the setting of the spiral outer sleeve in the present invention, the outer sleeve has elasticity and can tightly wind around the surface of the optical fiber preform, thereby pressing the quartz wool and the optical fiber preform tightly to ensure the sealing performance;

[0016] (2) Through the setting of the spiral outer sleeve in the present invention, when the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform changes, the outer sleeve can expand and contract with the change of the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform, thereby ensuring the pressure between the optical fiber preform and the outer sleeve, and further ensuring the close contact between the quartz wool and the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform to ensure the sealing performance;

[0017] (3) Through the setting of the connecting belt in the present invention, a closed cavity is formed between the optical fiber preform and the outer sleeve, thereby ensuring the sealing performance. Description of the Drawings

[0018] Figure 1 is the front view of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 is the top view of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 is the three-dimensional view of the outer sleeve;

[0021] Figure 4 is the front view of the outer sleeve;

[0022] Figure 5 is the top view assembly drawing of the outer sleeve and the quartz wool;

[0023] Figure 6 is the front view assembly drawing of the outer sleeve and the connecting belt;

[0024] Figure 7 is the top view assembly drawing of the detection component and the support ring;

[0025] Figure 8 is the top view of the detection component;

[0026] Figure 9 Cross-sectional view of the detection component;

[0027] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the deformed outer sleeve;

[0028] Figure 11 Axial assembly schematic diagram of the outer sleeve and the connecting belt;

[0029] Figure 12 Top view of another structure of the connecting belt;

[0030] Figure 13 Bottom assembly view of the optical fiber preform, outer sleeve and support ring;

[0031] Figure 14 Top assembly view of the support ring and the optical fiber preform;

[0032] Figure 15 Schematic diagram of other forms of assembly of the upper support rod and the detection component;

[0033] Figure 16 Top view of the gas filling port provided on the support ring;

[0034] In the figure: 1 drawing furnace, 11 furnace mouth, 2 optical fiber preform, 21 handle, 3 support ring, 31 lower support rod, 32 upper support rod, 33 gas filling port, 4 outer sleeve, 41 groove, 5 connecting belt, 6 fixing rod, 61 movable rod, 62 wheel frame, 63 spring, 64 detection wheel, 7 quartz wool. Detailed implementation mode

[0035] As Figures 1 to 16 shown, the present invention includes a support ring 3, an outer sleeve 4 and a detection component, and the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] As Figure 1 , Figure 2 shown, the optical fiber drawing furnace sealing adjustment device includes a support ring 3 and an outer sleeve 4. The support ring 3 is located above the furnace mouth 11 of the drawing furnace 1. As Figure 3 , Figure 4 shown, the outer sleeve 4 is a spiral structure. The outer sleeve 4 has elasticity. The outer sleeve 4 is located between the furnace mouth 11 and the support ring 3. As Figure 6 shown, there are connecting belts 5 between the outer sleeve 4 and the furnace mouth 11, between the outer sleeve 4 and the support ring 3, and between the upper and lower sides of the outer sleeve 4. The optical fiber preform 2 passes through the support ring 3 and then extends into the furnace mouth 11. As Figure 5 , Figure 13 , Figure 14 shown, there is quartz wool 7 between the support ring 3 and the optical fiber preform 2, and between the outer sleeve 4 and the optical fiber preform 2.

[0037] Before wire drawing, the handle 21 of the fiber preform 2 is clamped on the chuck, the fiber preform 2 is suspended, and the lower end of the fiber preform 2 passes through the support ring 3 and into the outer sleeve 4. At this time, the quartz wool 7 inside the outer sleeve 4 contacts the outer wall of the fiber preform 2. The lower end of the fiber preform 2 is extended into the drawing furnace 1 through the furnace mouth 11, and quartz wool 7 is stuffed between the support ring 3 and the fiber preform 2.

[0038] Since the outer sleeve 4 is spiral and elastic, the outer sleeve 4 can be in close contact with the fiber preform 2, and there is a certain pressure between the outer sleeve 4 and the fiber preform 2, which can compact the quartz wool 7 on the surface of the fiber preform 2, thereby ensuring the sealing performance.

[0039] The outer sleeve 4 is of a spiral structure. When the outer diameter of the part of the fiber preform 2 in contact with the outer sleeve 4 changes, the outer sleeve 4 can expand and contract with the change of the outer diameter of the fiber preform 2, so as to ensure that the quartz wool on the outer sleeve 4 can always be in contact with and pressed against the outer wall of the fiber preform 2 to ensure the sealing performance. This requires that the size of the outer sleeve 4 should meet the condition that when the outer sleeve 4 contacts the position with the smallest outer diameter of the fiber preform 2, the outer sleeve 4 is still in an expanded state.

[0040] As Figure 1 shown, to realize the assembly between the support ring 1 and the furnace mouth 11, the support ring 3 and the furnace mouth 11 are fixedly connected by the lower support rod 31. There are two lower support rods 31, and they are evenly arranged along the circumferential direction. The lower end of the lower support rod 31 is fixedly connected to the furnace mouth 11, and the upper end of the lower support rod 32 is fixedly connected to the support ring 3.

[0041] As Figure 3 、 Figure 4 shown, the inner side wall of the outer sleeve 4 has a groove 41, and the outer sleeve 4 is spiral, and the groove 41 is also spiral. A part of the quartz wool 7 is stuffed into the groove 41, and another part of the quartz wool 7 extends out of the groove 41 and contacts the outer wall of the fiber preform 2. The setting of the groove 41 facilitates the installation of the quartz wool 7, and can prevent the quartz wool 7 from separating from the outer sleeve 4 during the downward movement of the fiber preform 2.

[0042] As Figure 12 shown, the connecting belt 5 is of a wavy structure. The setting of the wavy connecting belt 5 can meet the expansion and contraction needs of the outer sleeve 4 when the outer diameter of the fiber preform 2 changes.

[0043] As Figure 1 shown, the number of turns of the outer sleeve 4 is at least one turn. As Figure 10 shown, the outer sleeve 4 changes with the change of the outer diameter of the fiber preform 2. When the outer diameter of the fiber preform 2 increases, the outer sleeve 4 expands accordingly. As Figure 11 shown, the connecting belt 5 at the lowermost end of the outer sleeve 4 encloses a cylindrical shape, and the joint is well sealed.

[0044] As shown Figure 1 , Figure 2 in the figure, the present invention includes a detection assembly, which includes a fixed rod 6, a movable rod 61, a detection wheel 64 and a spring 63. The fixed rod 6 is fixedly connected to the support ring 3 and is arranged along the radial direction of the support ring 3. One end of the movable rod 61 is slidably arranged in the fixed rod 6, and the other end of the movable rod 61 has a wheel frame 62. The detection wheel 64 is rotatably installed on the wheel frame 62. There is a spring 63 between the wheel frame 62 and the fixed rod 6, and a pressure sensor is provided on the spring 63. Under the action of the spring 63, the detection wheel 64 keeps in contact with the outer wall of the optical fiber preform 2. There are two groups of detection assemblies, and the two detection assemblies in the same group are located in the same radial direction of the support ring 3. The two detection assemblies in the same group cooperate to measure the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform 2. According to the distance between the fixed rods 6 of the two detection assemblies in the same group and the change in the telescopic amount of the spring 63, the change in the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform 2 is determined, and then the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform 2 is detected. When the spring 63 expands and contracts, the telescopic amount of the spring 63 should ensure that it is always within the elastic coefficient range. The setting of the detection assembly has no effect on the deformation of the outer sleeve 4, that is, the deformation factor of the outer sleeve 4 is the change in the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform 2.

[0045] To realize the assembly of the fixed rod 6, as Figure 1 shown in the figure, an upper support rod 32 is provided between the top of the support ring 3 and the fixed rod 6. The lower end of the upper support rod 32 is fixedly connected to the support ring 3, and the upper end of the upper support rod 32 is fixedly connected to the fixed rod 6.

[0046] To adapt to the sealing requirements of optical fiber preforms 2 with different outer diameters, as Figure 15 shown in the figure, the upper part of the upper support rod 32 is threadedly connected to the fixed rod 6. When the fixed rod 6 is rotated, the distance between the two fixed rods 6 can be adjusted. On the one hand, it adapts to the outer diameter measurement of optical fiber preforms 2 with different outer diameters, and on the other hand, it ensures that the deformation of the spring 63 is within the elastic coefficient.

[0047] As Figure 16 shown in the figure, the support ring 3 has a gas injection port 33. A sealing cavity is formed between the connecting belt 5, the outer sleeve 4 and the optical fiber in the preform 2, and the sealing cavity is communicated with the gas injection port 33. Inert gas is added into the sealing cavity through the gas injection port 33 to further ensure the seal.

[0048] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0049] (1) Through the setting of the spiral outer sleeve 4 of the present invention, the outer sleeve 4 has elasticity and can tightly wind around the surface of the optical fiber preform 2, thereby pressing the quartz wool 7 and the optical fiber preform 2 tightly to ensure the sealing performance;

[0050] (2) By providing the spiral outer sleeve 4, when the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform 2 changes, the outer sleeve 4 can expand and contract with the change of the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform 2, thereby ensuring the pressure between the optical fiber preform 2 and the outer sleeve 4, and further ensuring that the quartz wool 7 is in close contact with the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform 2 to ensure the sealing performance.

[0051] (3) By providing the connecting belt 5, a closed cavity is formed between the optical fiber preform 2 and the outer sleeve 4, thereby ensuring the sealing performance.

[0052] (4) The connecting belt 5 has a wavy structure, which can accommodate the expansion and contraction of the outer sleeve 4 with the optical fiber preform 2, and prevent the connecting belt 5 from restricting the deformation of the outer sleeve 4.

[0053] (5) The detection component is provided to detect the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform. When the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform changes significantly (usually at the end of the optical fiber preform), the detection component can detect the sharp change in the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform, and then remind people to pay attention to whether the outer sleeve can still contact and press the optical fiber preform; through measurement, the outer diameter of the optical fiber preform can also be understood, and then ensure whether the outer sleeve can maintain normal operation.

Claims

1. Fiber drawing furnace sealing adjustment device, characterized in that, It includes a support ring and an outer sleeve. The support ring is located above the furnace opening of the drawing furnace. The outer sleeve is of a spiral structure and is located between the furnace opening and the support ring. There are connecting bands between the outer sleeve and the furnace opening, between the outer sleeve and the support ring, and between the upper and lower sides of the outer sleeve. The optical fiber preform passes through the support ring and extends into the furnace opening. There is quartz wool between the support ring and the optical fiber preform and between the outer sleeve and the optical fiber preform. It further includes a detection component, which includes a fixed rod, a movable rod, a detection wheel and a spring. The fixed rod is fixedly connected to the support ring and is arranged along the radial direction of the support ring. One end of the movable rod is slidably arranged in the fixed rod, and the other end of the movable rod has a wheel frame. The detection wheel is rotatably installed on the wheel frame. There is a spring between the wheel frame and the fixed rod, and there is a pressure sensor on the spring. There is an upper support rod between the top of the support ring and the fixed rod. The upper part of the upper support rod is threadedly connected to the fixed rod. There are two groups of the detection components, and the two detection components in the same group are located in the same radial direction of the support ring.

2. The optical fiber drawing furnace sealing adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein, The support ring and the furnace opening are fixedly connected through a lower support rod.

3. The optical fiber drawing furnace sealing adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are grooves on the inner side wall of the outer sleeve. A part of the quartz wool is stuffed into the grooves, and the other part of the quartz wool extends out of the grooves and contacts the outer wall of the optical fiber preform.

4. The optical fiber drawing furnace sealing adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting band is of a wavy structure.

5. The optical fiber drawing furnace sealing adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of turns of the outer sleeve is at least one turn.

6. The optical fiber drawing furnace sealing adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein There is an air injection port on the support ring. A sealed cavity is formed between the connecting band, the outer sleeve and the optical fiber preform, and the sealed cavity is communicated with the air injection port.

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