Optical Fiber Coating Guide Hole Design for Volatile Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional secondary coating devices for optical fibers face issues with foreign substance adherence to the inner walls and surrounding portions of the inlet holes, leading to damage of the primary coating and limitations in increasing manufacturing speed and fiber length due to the accumulation of volatile resin components during the drawing process.
Innovation Solution
The secondary coating device incorporates a tubular inlet hole with a guide hole that is coaxially connected, where the inner diameter of the tubular inlet hole is between 1.5 to 2.0 times the primary-coated optical fiber's diameter, and the guide hole's depth is between 2.0 to 9.0 millimeters, ensuring the relation B≤A, where B and A are the inner diameters of the guide hole's leading and trailing edges, respectively, to facilitate effective dispersion of volatiles and reduce adherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the drawing speed is increased and the length of optical fiber drawn at one time is extended, then productivity is improved, but foreign substance adherence to the inlet hole becomes more critical and damages the primary coating
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet hole structure is segmented into two distinct parts: a guide hole portion and a tubular inlet hole portion. The guide hole has a larger inner diameter to prevent foreign substance adherence, while the tubular inlet hole has a controlled diameter for proper resin coating. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the inlet hole structure are given different local qualities: the guide hole portion has a larger diameter (7.0-9.0mm) to prevent foreign substance accumulation, while the tubular inlet hole portion has a specific diameter ratio (1.5-2.0 times the fiber diameter) for proper resin coating. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between preventing foreign substance adherence and maintaining coating quality.
2Device complexity
If a conventional inlet hole structure is used, then the device is simple, but foreign substances accumulate and diminish the inner diameter, damaging the optical fiber
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet hole is divided into a guide hole portion (with larger diameter to prevent foreign substance accumulation) and a tubular inlet hole portion (with controlled diameter for resin coating). This segmentation prevents foreign substance adherence while maintaining proper coating function, enabling continuous manufacturing without damage to the optical fiber.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide hole portion with its larger diameter is designed to preliminarily prevent foreign substance accumulation before the fiber reaches the tubular inlet hole. This preliminary protective action ensures that the tubular inlet hole remains clear and functional throughout continuous operation, maintaining productivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the tubular inlet hole diameter is too small, then resin coating is precise, but foreign substance adherence damages the fiber surface
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet hole structure is segmented into a guide hole portion with larger diameter (to prevent foreign substance adherence) and a tubular inlet hole portion with controlled diameter ratio of 1.5-2.0 times the fiber diameter (to ensure precise resin coating). This segmentation allows both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously in different portions of the same structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide hole portion provides a larger diameter space free from foreign substance accumulation, while the tubular inlet hole portion provides the precise diameter control needed for accurate resin coating. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between preventing foreign substance damage and achieving precise coating thickness.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the inlet hole diameter is increased to prevent foreign substance adherence, then fiber surface quality is maintained, but resin coating precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet hole is segmented into a guide hole portion with larger diameter (to prevent foreign substance accumulation) and a tubular inlet hole portion with controlled diameter (1.5-2.0 times fiber diameter) to maintain coating precision. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both larger and appropriately sized openings without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide hole portion has larger diameter quality to prevent foreign substance accumulation, while the tubular inlet hole portion has controlled diameter quality for precise resin coating. This local quality assignment resolves the contradiction by providing each function with the appropriate structural characteristic.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively prevents foreign substance adherence, allowing for continuous high-quality optical fiber drawing up to 300 kilometers without surface damage, thereby increasing manufacturing speed and extending the length of optical fibers produced in a single run.
Implementation Method 1
A UV light is irradiated on the coated resin in a UV irradiating chamber 44 to cure the coated resin, forming the primary coating. A UV light is irradiated on the coated resin in a UV irradiating chamber 46 to cure the coated resin, forming the secondary coating.
Implementation Method 2
When the resin composition for the primary coating is cured a heat is produced by the heat of polymerization.
Data Source
AI summary
A guide hole guides a primary-coated optical fiber to a tubular inlet hole. An inner diameter of the guide hole is larger than that of the tubular inlet hole. An inner diameter of the tubular inlet hole is in a range from 1.5 times to 2.0 times that of the primary-coated optical fiber. A length of the tubular inlet hole is in a range from 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. A depth of the guide hole is in a range from 2.0 mm 9.0 mm. A relation B≦A is satisfied, with B equal to or larger than 7.0 mm, where A is an inner diameter of a leading edge of the guide hole continued to a trailing edge of the tubular inlet hole, and B is an inner diameter of a trailing edge of the guide hole.