Flexible optical cable with ultra-large core number and preparation method

Abstract

The super-large-core-number flexible optical cable comprises a framework groove, optical fiber ribbons and a sheath layer, the framework groove is formed in the sheath layer, the space in the sheath layer is divided into a plurality of fan-shaped areas, a radial star composed of a plurality of edges is formed, the optical fiber ribbons are arranged in the fan-shaped areas, and the optical fiber ribbons are arranged in the fan-shaped areas. Bent grooves are formed in the surface, in the length direction, of the framework groove at intervals. The beneficial effects are that the optical cable is not provided with a central reinforcing member and a central sleeve, and employs a partial bonding type optical fiber ribbon, thereby being easier to improve the optical fiber density under a certain outer diameter, and especially having more advantages in the outer diameter of an optical cable with an ultra-large number of cores.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of optical fiber manufacturing, and particularly relates to a super-large-core-count flexible optical cable and a preparation method. BACKGROUND

[0002] Most conventional super-large-core-count microcables adopt a multi-layer sleeve structure, a plurality of optical fibers are made into microsleeves, a plurality of microsleeves are twisted into a cable core, and then an outer sheath is extruded to form an air-blow microcable. In order to increase the core count under the premise of limiting the outer diameter of the optical cable, the microcable structure often adopts 200um or 180um optical fibers to reduce the outer diameter of the sleeve or adopts various core-count sleeves to achieve the purpose of controlling the outer diameter. Due to the existence of the sleeve and the central strength member, it is difficult to make the outer diameter of the optical cable very small, especially the super-large-core-count flexible optical cable is more difficult to control the outer diameter and has certain limitations. For the super-large-core-count microcable, a multi-layer twisted structure is often adopted. When the microcable is stretched, the central strength member provides tensile resistance, and each layer of sleeve is stressed under the friction and restraint of the binder, causing uneven stress of different layers of sleeve. The innermost layer of sleeve and the outer layer of sleeve have a large difference in stress. In order to ensure the mechanical properties of the whole optical cable, the excess length of different layers of sleeve is different, the pitch is different, the process is complex, and the manufacturing process is difficult. SUMMARY

[0003] To solve the problems in the background art, the present application provides a super-large-core-count flexible optical cable adopting a skeleton structure, which improves the lateral pressure resistance and bending capacity of the optical cable, is suitable for complex pipe routing, and improves construction efficiency. The technical solutions are as follows. The super-large-core-count flexible optical cable comprises a skeleton groove, an optical fiber ribbon, and a sheath layer. The skeleton groove is arranged in the sheath layer, divides the space in the sheath layer into a plurality of fan-shaped areas, forms a radial star shape composed of a plurality of edges, the optical fiber ribbon is arranged in the fan-shaped area, and the surface of the skeleton groove in the length direction is provided with a bending groove at intervals.

[0004] The super-large-core-count flexible optical cable is further designed in that a reinforcing member is connected to the center of the skeleton groove and the radial edges.

[0005] The super-large-core-count flexible optical cable is further designed in that the included angles between the edges are equal.

[0006] The super-large-core-count flexible optical cable is further designed in that a water-blocking tape is arranged in the sheath layer, and the water-blocking tape covers the optical fiber ribbon and the skeleton groove.

[0007] The super-large-core-count flexible optical cable is further designed in that the optical cable adopts a full-dry structure, and the optical fiber ribbon is a bonded optical fiber ribbon.

[0008] The further design of the super-large core number flexible optical cable is that the notch width of the bending groove is 2-4 mm, the groove bottom width is 0.5-1 mm, the depth of the bending groove is 1.2-1.6 mm, and the spacing of adjacent bending grooves is 15-25 mm.

[0009] According to the super-large core number flexible optical cable of claim 1, the outer sheath is a PE sheath or a flame-retardant TPU sheath.

[0010] The beneficial effects of the present application are: The super-large core number flexible optical cable of the present application does not have a central reinforcing member and a central sleeve, and under a certain outer diameter, the optical fiber density is improved, and the outer diameter of the super-large core number optical cable is more advantageous. The skeleton groove adopted in the present application has a triangular structure in cross section, which can provide excellent lateral pressure resistance. The skeleton groove and the groove body are spaced apart by the added reinforcing member, and when the optical cable is subjected to tensile force, the skeleton groove as a whole can provide tensile resistance, so that the inner layer optical fiber, the intermediate layer optical fiber and the outermost layer optical fiber can be uniformly stressed, and the performance of the optical cable is excellent, and the manufacturing process is easy to control.

[0011] The super-large core number flexible microcable of the present application adopts a full dry structure, and compared with conventional microcables, the step of wiping the fiber paste is reduced during splicing, energy saving and environmental protection are achieved, and the construction efficiency is improved.

[0012] The super-large core number flexible microcable of the present application adopts a bonded optical fiber ribbon, and compared with conventional super-large core number microcables using single fibers, the optical fiber ribbon can be fusion spliced, and the fusion splicing efficiency is improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional structure diagram of the super-large core number flexible optical cable.

[0014] Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional view of the super-large core number flexible optical cable.

[0015] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional structure diagram of the skeleton groove.

[0016] Figure 4 It is Figure 3 It is a side view of the three-dimensional structure diagram of the skeleton groove.

[0017] Figure 5 It is Figure 4 It is an AA sectional view of the side view of the skeleton groove.

[0018] It is illustrated that 1 is a skeleton groove, 10 is an edge, 11 is a through hole, 2 is a reinforcing member, 3 is an optical fiber ribbon, 4 is a water-blocking tape, 5 is a sheath layer, 6 is a bending groove spacing, and 7 is a bending groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Figures 1 to 5 The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Embodiment 1

[0020] As Figure 1 The super-large-core-count flexible optical cable in this embodiment mainly comprises a skeleton groove 1, an optical fiber ribbon 3 and a sheath layer 5. The skeleton groove 1 is arranged in the sheath layer 5, thereby dividing the space in the sheath layer 5 into three fan-shaped groove areas. The skeleton groove 1 is composed of three edges and has a radial star shape, thereby providing excellent lateral pressure resistance. The optical fiber ribbon 3 is arranged in the groove in the fan-shaped area, and the surface of the skeleton groove 1 in the length direction is radially and spacedly provided with curved grooves.

[0021] In this embodiment, the skeleton groove is made of low-shrinkage HDPE material. Embodiment 2

[0022] The super-large-core-count flexible optical cable in this embodiment is based on Embodiment 1. In this embodiment, a water-blocking tape 4 is additionally arranged in the sheath layer 5, as shown in Figure 2 The water-blocking tape 4 covers the optical fiber ribbon 3 and the skeleton groove 1.

[0023] The skeleton groove in this embodiment is composed of a central axis and three edges 10 connected to the central axis 12 and arranged radially along the central axis 12, as shown in Figure 3 , Figure 5 The central axis and the edges 10 of the skeleton groove 1 are provided with through holes 11 for penetrating the reinforcing member 2, as shown in Figure 2 In this embodiment, the reinforcing member 2 is made of aramid yarn. In this embodiment, the included angles between the adjacent edges 10 are equal, and the capacities and cross sections of the corresponding three fan-shaped groove areas are consistent.

[0024] The optical fiber ribbon 3 of the optical cable in this embodiment is a partially bonded type optical fiber ribbon. The specific arrangement mode is shown in patent application CN118707670A. Compared with the conventional single-fiber super-large-core-count microcable, the optical fiber ribbon is fused in this embodiment, thereby improving the fusion efficiency. In addition, a full-dry structure is adopted, thereby reducing the step of wiping the fiber paste, saving energy and protecting the environment, and improving the construction efficiency.

[0025] The width of the slot 8 of the curved groove 7 is 2-4 mm, and in this embodiment, the width is set to 3 mm. The width of the groove bottom 9 of the curved groove is 0.5-1 mm, and in this embodiment, the width of the bottom is set to 0.75 mm. The depth of the curved groove is 1.2-1.6 mm, and in this embodiment, the depth of the curved groove is set to 1.4 mm. The spacing W between adjacent curved grooves is 15-25 mm, and in this embodiment, the spacing of the curved grooves is set to 20 mm, as shown in Figure 4When the optical cable is subjected to tensile force, the skeleton groove as a whole can provide tensile resistance, so that the inner fiber, the middle fiber, and the outermost fiber are uniformly stressed, resulting in excellent optical cable performance and easy-to-control manufacturing process.

[0026] In this embodiment, the outer sheath is made of PE or flame-retardant TPU, which is convenient for outdoor and indoor wiring.

[0027] This invention achieves higher fiber density for the same outer diameter; specific parameters are detailed in the table below: Example 3

[0028] This embodiment describes the preparation method of the ultra-high core count flexible optical cable in Embodiments 1 and 2. The preparation method specifically includes the following steps: Step 1) The reinforcing member and the skeleton groove are extruded through the extruder mold and the skeleton mold respectively. After initial shaping by air cooling, the curved groove is periodically engraved on the moving skeleton groove by a special engraving device. After further water cooling, the skeleton groove is formed by winding.

[0029] Step 2) In the slotting process, a set number of optical fiber strips are placed into the skeleton slot using a special mold, and a water-blocking tape is wrapped around the outside of the skeleton slot. Then, an outer sheath is extruded to form a flexible optical cable with an ultra-high core count. The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible optical cable with an ultra-high core count, characterized in that... It includes a skeleton groove, an optical fiber ribbon, and a sheath layer. The skeleton groove is located inside the sheath layer, dividing the space inside the sheath layer into several fan-shaped groove regions. The optical fiber ribbon is located within the fan-shaped groove regions. The surface of the skeleton groove along its length direction is provided with curved grooves at intervals.

2. The ultra-high core count flexible optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The skeleton groove consists of a central axis and multiple edges connected to the central axis.

3. The ultra-high core count flexible optical cable according to claim 2, characterized in that... Reinforcing members are threaded through the central axis and edges of the skeleton groove.

4. The ultra-high core count flexible optical cable according to claim 2, characterized in that... The included angles between adjacent edges are all equal.

5. The ultra-high core count flexible optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that... The sheath layer is provided with a water-blocking strip, which covers the optical fiber strip and the skeleton groove.

6. The ultra-high core count flexible optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that... The optical cable adopts a completely dry structure.

7. The ultra-high core count flexible optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that... The optical fiber ribbon is a bonded optical fiber ribbon.

8. The ultra-high core count flexible optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that... The bending groove has an opening width of 2-4 mm, a bottom width of 0.5-1 mm, a depth of 1.2-1.6 mm, and a spacing of 15-25 mm between adjacent bending grooves.

9. The ultra-high core count flexible optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that... The outer sheath is made of PE or flame-retardant TPU.

10. The method for preparing an ultra-high core count flexible optical cable as described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that... The preparation method includes the following steps: Step 1) Extrude the reinforcing member and skeleton groove in the skeleton groove through the extruder mold and the skeleton mold respectively. After air cooling for initial shaping, the skeleton groove is periodically engraved on the moving skeleton groove by a special engraving device. After water cooling, the skeleton groove is formed by winding. Step 2) In the slotting process, a set number of optical fiber strips are placed into the skeleton slot using a special mold, and a water-blocking tape is wrapped around the outside of the skeleton slot. Then, an outer sheath is extruded to form a flexible optical cable with an ultra-high core count.

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