Optical Fiber Preform With Isolation Tubes For Layered Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical fiber manufacturing methods are inefficient and complex, requiring separate processes for core and cladding formation, which hampers the production of high-quality multilayer structure optical fibers.
Innovation Solution
An optical fiber preform design that integrates a core rod, a quartz thin sleeve, and multiple isolation tubes, with powder filling tubes to fill cladding materials between these components, allowing for simultaneous drawing and cladding formation, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional separate processes for core and cladding formation are used, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but productivity is reduced due to process complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the core rod and cladding formation processes into a single integrated preform structure. The core rod is placed inside the quartz thin sleeve with isolation tubes, and both are simultaneously heated and drawn during the optical fiber drawing process, eliminating the need for separate cladding manufacturing steps and improving productivity while maintaining manufacturing precision through controlled powder filling and solid melting.
2Manufacturing precision
If powder filling is performed without isolation tubes, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to poor powder filling uniformity and layer isolation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the space between the core rod and quartz thin sleeve into multiple isolated sections using isolation tubes. Each section can be filled with powder independently, ensuring uniform powder distribution and preventing mixing between different cladding layers. This segmentation approach maintains manufacturing precision while keeping the overall structure manageable through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation tubes act as intermediary structures that separate and isolate different powder filling zones. These tubes prevent direct contact between powders from different sections, ensuring uniform filling and distinct layer formation. The isolation tubes are temporary structures that are removed or melted away during the heating process, leaving the desired multilayer structure.
3Productivity
If separate cladding manufacturing step is used, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but productivity is reduced due to multiple processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary preparation by placing the core rod inside the quartz thin sleeve with isolation tubes positioned before the drawing process. Powder is pre-filled into the isolated sections, and the entire structure is prepared in advance. During the drawing process, all components are simultaneously heated and solid-melted, forming the cladding in one integrated step that maintains precision while improving productivity.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple isolation tubes are used, then manufacturing precision is improved through better layer isolation, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses multiple isolation tubes to segment the preform structure into distinct sections for different cladding layers. Each isolation tube creates a separate filling zone, enabling precise control over powder distribution and layer formation. This segmentation improves layer isolation quality and manufacturing precision while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular assembly.
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 approach eliminates the need for a separate cladding manufacturing step, ensures uniform powder filling, and achieves better isolation between layers, enhancing the performance and efficiency of multilayer structure optical fiber production by solidly melting each layer under controlled pressure.
Implementation Method 1
heating the preform to a softened state
Implementation Method 2
heating the unprocessed secondary preform... to a softened state
Implementation Method 3
generating a condition of reduced pressure within the interior space
Implementation Method 4
this cavity is flushed with an inert gas
Implementation Method 5
simultaneously or subsequently drawing an optical fiber therefrom
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Disclosed are an optical fibre preform for manufacturing a multi-layer structure optical fibre and a method for manufacturing a multi-layer structure optical fibre using the fibre preform. The optical fibre preform comprises a core rod (1), a thin quartz sleeve (2) arranged, in a sleeving manner, on the outside of the core rod, and an isolation quartz tube (3) arranged, in a sleeving manner, between the core rod (1) and the thin quartz sleeve (2), wherein the thin quartz sleeve (2) and the isolation quartz tube (3) are both composed of high-purity silicon dioxide, and a gap between the isolation quartz tube (3) and the thin quartz sleeve (2) forms a second filling space. The use of the optical fibre preform can not only maintain a good optical fibre performance, but also can simplify the technological process of the manufacture of the optical fibre, thereby improving optical fibre manufacturing efficiency.