Flexible light optical cable and production method thereof

Abstract

A flexible light optical cable provided by the present invention comprises a Y-shaped support belt, micro beam tubes, a water blocking material and an outer sheath, the Y-shaped support belt is provided with three branches extending outwards from the center, the micro beam tubes arranged side by side with the Y-shaped support belt are arranged among the branches, a plurality of colored optical fibers are wrapped in the micro beam tubes, and the colored optical fibers are wrapped in the outer sheath. The water blocking material and the micro beam tubes are arranged in parallel, the water blocking material is arranged on the side portions of the branches, and the outer protection layer wraps the Y-shaped supporting belt, the micro beam tubes and the water blocking material. The invention further provides a production method of the flexible light optical cable. On the premise of small size and light weight, the flexible light-weight optical cable improves the structural stability, the tensile property, the water resistance, the mechanical property and the service life, and meets the requirements of frequent change and rapid laying of the light-weight optical cable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field related to optical cables, and more precisely to a flexible and lightweight optical cable and a production method thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous development of optical communication technology, the layout of optical communication networks is becoming more and more dense. Optical cables are the basic components of optical communication networks and are used to transmit optical signals. The transmission performance and service life of optical cables directly affect the overall efficiency and stability of optical communication networks. Optical cables can be divided into layer-twisted type and central bundle tube type according to their structure. The outer core of the central bundle tube optical cable is wrapped with a casing, a water-blocking layer, an armor layer and an outer sheath in sequence. The inside of the casing is filled with fiber paste to protect the optical fiber. The water-blocking layer is used for waterproofing, and the armor layer is used for pressure resistance and support of the optical cable. In order to ensure the safety of use, the central bundle tube optical cable is usually larger in size and heavier in weight, and can be effectively used for outdoor long-distance transmission. In the access section of the optical communication network, due to the need to meet the needs of a large number of routes, frequent plugging and unplugging, and rapid installation, smaller and lighter optical cables are required, so the demand for lightweight optical cables is gradually increasing.

[0003] Traditional light optical cables are mostly central bundle tube structures, with composite tape wrapped around the cable core and then extruded with polyethylene material to form an outer sheath. They can be used in situations where the transmission distance is not too far and the safety level requirements are low, and are suitable for laying in aerial, pipeline, channel and building introduction. Traditional light optical cables are easily affected by the environment, have weak tensile strength, and are easily damaged by frequent plugging and unplugging.

[0004] In summary, the art needs a lightweight optical cable that meets flexibility requirements and has better mechanical properties, and improves tensile strength to ensure stable use of the optical cable in high-friction, high-pressure usage environments. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of this, the object of the present invention is to provide a flexible lightweight optical cable, which is centered on a Y-shaped support belt and cooperates with a three-structure micro-tube structure to improve mechanical properties with a small volume and weight.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a flexible light optical cable, wherein the flexible light optical cable is produced by one-step molding in the sheathing process to improve production efficiency and reduce production costs.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a flexible lightweight optical cable, comprising a Y-shaped support belt, a micro-beam tube, a water-blocking material and an outer sheath, wherein the Y-shaped support belt has three branches extending outward from the center, and micro-beam tubes arranged side by side with the Y-shaped support belt are arranged between the branches, and a plurality of colored optical fibers are wrapped in the micro-beam tubes, and the water-blocking material is arranged in parallel with the micro-beam tubes, and the water-blocking material is arranged on the side of the branches, and the outer sheath is wrapped around the outside of the Y-shaped support belt, the micro-beam tubes and the water-blocking material.

[0008] Preferably, the branches have an angle of 120° between them, the distance between the branch ends and the center of the Y-shaped support belt is 1.2-1.5 times the diameter of the microbeam tube, and the width of the branch is 1 / 3-1 / 2 of the diameter of the microbeam tube.

[0009] Preferably, reinforcement members are nested inside the branches.

[0010] Preferably, the diameter of the reinforcement is 1 / 2 of the width of the branch, and the distance between the reinforcement and the center position of the Y-shaped support belt is 1 / 4-5 / 6 of the length of the branch; the reinforcement is made of metal or non-metallic material; when the reinforcement is made of non-metallic material, it is used in the field of power transmission.

[0011] Preferably, the diameter of the microtube is 1.0 mm-2.0 mm.

[0012] Preferably, the water-blocking material is a high-swelling water-blocking yarn.

[0013] Preferably, the wall thickness of the outer protective layer is 0.9 mm-1.2 mm.

[0014] Preferably, the microbeam tube has a microbeam tube color band of a different color from the microbeam tube, and the microbeam tube color band is located on the side of the microbeam tube away from the center of the Y-shaped support band. The outer protective layer has three outer protective layer color bands of a different color from the outer protective layer, and the microbeam tube color band is located on the line connecting the outer protective layer color band and the center of the Y-shaped support band.

[0015] Preferably, the width of the microbeam tube color ribbon is 1 / 30-1 / 10 of the circumference of the microbeam tube, and the width of the outer sheath color ribbon is 1 / 10-1 / 6 of the circumference of the outer sheath.

[0016] The present invention also provides a method for producing a flexible lightweight optical cable, comprising the steps of:

[0017] (A) coloring the optical fiber to form a colored optical fiber;

[0018] (B) The micro-tube is loosened, and multiple colored optical fibers are released from the pay-off drum using a multi-head optical fiber pay-off machine, and the colored optical fibers are synchronously controlled with constant tension through an electrical control system;

[0019] (C) extruding a high flame retardant material through a main extruder, extruding a high flame retardant ribbon material through an auxiliary extruder, and fusing the two materials through a double-layer co-extrusion die head splitter and a die to form a micro-beam tube with a micro-beam tube ribbon, wherein the colored optical fiber is freely distributed in the micro-beam tube;

[0020] (D) Extruding a Y-shaped support belt and an outer sheath, using a pay-off frame to pay off the reinforcement and micro-beam tube, and adjusting the tension of the reinforcement and the micro-beam tube through an electrical control system; extruding the Y-shaped support belt through a main extruder, extruding the outer sheath through several auxiliary extruders, and extruding the outer sheath ribbon through several extruders, and extruding with a multi-layer co-extrusion die head;

[0021] (E) Reeling in and arranging the wires.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of a flexible light optical cable and a production method thereof disclosed in the present invention are: the flexible light optical cable has improved structural stability, tensile strength, water-blocking performance, mechanical properties and service life under the premise of small size and light weight, and meets the needs of frequent changes and rapid laying of light optical cables; the outer sheath color ribbons of the flexible light optical cable correspond to the internal micro-beam tubes respectively, and the position of the micro-beam tubes can be quickly confirmed through the outer sheath color ribbons during use, thereby improving operational efficiency; the production method of the flexible light optical cable is formed in one step in the sheathing process, and the material is completed by the cooperation of multiple extruders, so the production efficiency is higher and the production cost is lower. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0024] like Figure 1 Shown is a schematic structural diagram of a flexible lightweight optical cable of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] like Figure 1As shown, the present application discloses a flexible light optical cable comprising a Y-shaped support belt 1, a micro-tube 22, a water-blocking material 3 and an outer sheath 4. The Y-shaped support belt 1 has three branches extending outward from the center, and the micro-tubes 22 arranged side by side with the Y-shaped support belt 1 are arranged between the branches. A plurality of colored optical fibers 21 are wrapped in the micro-tubes 22, and the water-blocking material 3 is arranged in parallel with the micro-tubes 22, and the water-blocking material 3 is arranged on the side of the branches, and the outer sheath 4 is wrapped around the Y-shaped support belt 1, the micro-tubes 22, and the water-blocking material 3. The flexible light optical cable is centered on the Y-shaped support belt 1, and the micro-tubes 22 are supported by the branches, so the stability is better, and the structure is simpler and more compact.

[0027] The flexible light-weight optical cable has improved structural stability, tensile strength, water-blocking performance, mechanical properties and service life while being small in size and light in weight, and can meet the needs of frequent changes and rapid laying of light-weight optical cables.

[0028] Specifically, the Y-shaped support belt 1 is preferably made of polyester material, which has better overall tensile resistance. The branches of the Y-shaped support belt 1 have an angle of 120°, and the distance between the branch end and the center of the Y-shaped support belt 1 is preferably 1.2-1.5 times the diameter of the microtube 22, and the width of the branch is preferably 1 / 3-1 / 2 of the diameter of the microtube 22. The Y-shaped support belt 1 of the preferred size can play an effective supporting role, and the overall size and weight are small.

[0029] Preferably, a reinforcement member 11 is embedded inside the branch, and the reinforcement member 11 is made of metal or non-metallic material. The overall tensile resistance can be enhanced by setting the reinforcement member 11, and when the reinforcement member 11 is made of non-metallic material, it can be applied to the field of power transmission. Furthermore, the diameter of the reinforcement member 11 is 1 / 2 of the branch width, and the distance between the reinforcement member 11 and the center position of the Y-shaped support belt 1 is 1 / 4-5 / 6 of the branch length.

[0030] The colored optical fibers 21 are freely distributed inside the microtube 22, which is made of highly flame-retardant materials, and preferably has a diameter of 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. The microtube 22 can not only constrain the colored optical fibers 21, but also play a flame-retardant and fire-proof role.

[0031] The water-blocking material 3 is preferably a high-expansion water-blocking yarn to ensure the water-blocking performance of the flexible light optical cable.

[0032] The outer sheath 4 is made of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer material, and the wall thickness of the outer sheath 4 is preferably 0.9 mm-1.2 mm. The outer sheath 4 provides the outermost mechanical protection and anti-corrosion protection.

[0033] The microtube 22 has a microtube color band 221 of a different color from the microtube 22, and the microtube color band 221 is located on the side of the microtube 22 away from the center of the Y-shaped support belt 1. The outer sheath 4 has three outer sheath color bands 41 of a different color from the outer sheath 4, and the microtube color band 221 is located on the line connecting the outer sheath color band 41 and the center of the Y-shaped support belt 1, that is, the outer sheath color band 41 is aligned with the microtube color band 221. The corresponding outer sheath color band 41, i.e., the microtube color band 221, can be the same or different colors, and the three outer sheath color bands 41 can be the same or different colors, and the three microtube color bands 221 can be the same or different colors. When using the flexible light optical cable, the internal microtube 22 can be quickly confirmed by the outer sheath color band 41, so that it can be separated and taken out conveniently and quickly.

[0034] The width of the microbeam tube ribbon 221 is preferably 1 / 30-1 / 10 of the circumference of the microbeam tube 22 , and the width of the outer sheath ribbon 41 is preferably 1 / 10-1 / 6 of the circumference of the outer sheath 4 .

[0035] The present application also proposes a production method for the flexible lightweight optical cable, comprising the steps of:

[0036] (A) coloring the optical fiber to form a colored optical fiber;

[0037] (B) The micro-tube is loosened, and multiple colored optical fibers are released from the pay-off drum using a multi-head optical fiber pay-off machine, and the colored optical fibers are synchronously controlled with constant tension through an electrical control system;

[0038] (C) extruding a high flame retardant material through a main extruder, extruding a high flame retardant ribbon material through an auxiliary extruder, and fusing the two materials through a double-layer co-extrusion die head splitter and a die to form a micro-beam tube with a micro-beam tube ribbon, wherein the colored optical fiber is freely distributed in the micro-beam tube;

[0039] (D) Extruding a Y-shaped support belt and an outer sheath, using a pay-off frame to pay off the reinforcement and micro-beam tube, and adjusting the tension of the reinforcement and the micro-beam tube through an electrical control system; extruding the Y-shaped support belt through a main extruder, extruding the outer sheath through several auxiliary extruders, and extruding the outer sheath ribbon through several extruders, and extruding with a multi-layer co-extrusion die head;

[0040] (E) Reeling in and arranging the wires.

[0041] It is worth noting that in step (D), when the outer sheath color ribbon is selected from three color ribbons of the same color but different colors from the outer sheath material, three extruders are used in conjunction with a three-layer co-extrusion head to extrude during extrusion molding, with the main extruder extrudeing a Y-shaped support belt, an auxiliary extruder extrudeing an outer sheath, and an extruder extrude the color ribbon; when the outer sheath color ribbon is selected from three different color ribbons of different colors from the outer sheath material, five extruders are required to be used in conjunction with a multi-layer co-extrusion head to extrude during extrusion molding, with the main extruder extrude a Y-shaped support belt, an auxiliary extruder extrude an outer sheath, and the other three extruders extrude the color ribbon.

[0042] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables one skilled in the art to implement or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention will not be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but rather to the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A flexible lightweight optical cable, characterized in that: It includes a Y-shaped support belt, a micro-beam tube, a water-blocking material and an outer sheath. The Y-shaped support belt has three branches extending outward from the center. Micro-beam tubes arranged side by side with the Y-shaped support belt are arranged between the branches. Several colored optical fibers are wrapped in the micro-beam tubes. The water-blocking material is arranged in parallel with the micro-beam tubes, and the water-blocking material is arranged on the side of the branches. The outer sheath is wrapped around the outside of the Y-shaped support belt, the micro-beam tubes and the water-blocking material.

2. The flexible lightweight optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The branches have an angle of 120° between them, the distance between the branch ends and the center of the Y-shaped support belt is 1.2-1.5 times the diameter of the microbeam tube, and the width of the branches is 1 / 3-1 / 2 of the diameter of the microbeam tube.

3. The flexible lightweight optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The branches have reinforcing members nested inside.

4. The flexible lightweight optical cable according to claim 3, characterized in that: The diameter of the reinforcement is 1 / 2 of the width of the branch, and the distance between the reinforcement and the center position of the Y-shaped support belt is 1 / 4-5 / 6 of the length of the branch; the reinforcement is made of metal or non-metal material; when the reinforcement is made of non-metal material, it is applied in the field of power transmission.

5. The flexible lightweight optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the micro beam tube is 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm.

6. The flexible lightweight optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water-blocking material is a high-expansion water-blocking yarn.

7. The flexible lightweight optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wall thickness of the outer protective layer is 0.9mm-1.2mm.

8. The flexible lightweight optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microbeam tube has a microbeam tube color band that is different from the color of the microbeam tube, and the microbeam tube color band is located on the side of the microbeam tube away from the center of the Y-shaped support band. The outer protective layer has three outer protective layer color bands that are different from the color of the outer protective layer, and the microbeam tube color band is located on the line connecting the outer protective layer color band and the center of the Y-shaped support band.

9. The flexible lightweight optical cable according to claim 8, characterized in that: The width of the microbeam tube color ribbon is 1 / 30-1 / 10 of the circumference of the microbeam tube, and the width of the outer sheath color ribbon is 1 / 10-1 / 6 of the circumference of the outer sheath.

10. A method for producing a flexible lightweight optical cable, characterized in that: Includes steps: (A) coloring an optical fiber to form a colored optical fiber; (B) The micro-tube is loosened, and multiple colored optical fibers are released from the pay-off drum using a multi-head optical fiber pay-off machine, and the colored optical fibers are synchronously controlled with constant tension through an electrical control system; (C) extruding a high flame retardant material through a main extruder, extruding a high flame retardant ribbon material through an auxiliary extruder, and fusing the two materials through a double-layer co-extrusion die head splitter and a die to form a micro-beam tube with a micro-beam tube ribbon, wherein the colored optical fiber is freely distributed in the micro-beam tube; (D) Extruding a Y-shaped support belt and an outer sheath, using a pay-off frame to pay off the reinforcement and micro-beam tube, and adjusting the tension of the reinforcement and the micro-beam tube through an electrical control system; extruding the Y-shaped support belt through a main extruder, extruding the outer sheath through several auxiliary extruders, and extruding the outer sheath ribbon through several extruders, and extruding with a multi-layer co-extrusion die head; (E) Reeling in and arranging the wires.

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