COVERING METHOD OF FLEXIBLE OPTICAL FIBER BUNDLE OR THE LIKE

• Main Author: UMEMURA TETSUYA
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.07.1984
• Subjects: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PHYSICS

PURPOSE:To apply covering on an optical fiber without damaging the same by winding spirally a shape memory alloy formed to a tape shape having a suitable width to form said alloy into a coiled tube, and heat-treating the tube then deforming plastically the tube at an ordinary temp. to develop the tube, winding the alloy around the outside circumference of a flexible optical fiber bundle or the like and heat-treating the bundle wound around said tape. CONSTITUTION:A shape memory alloy 1 which is formed to a suitable width and inside thickness according to an intended application is formed to a coiled tube 2 having the same inside diameter as the outside diameter of a covering material 3 such as a flexible optical fiber bundle or the like. The tube is then heat-treated to store the coil shape and thereafter the tube 2 is plastically deformed at an ordinery temp. and is coiled or stretched straightly. The shape memorized tape is wound around the outside circumference of the material 3 and is then heat- treated to restore the alloy 1 into the tube 2. The covering in tight contact with the material 3 is thus applied on the outside circumference of said material without using any special installation and jig and without damaging said material.