Fiber optic cables with multiple stacks of optical fiber ribbons

• Main Authors: SHEU JIM JENQTSONG, SMALL, JR. RICHARD DALTON, NORRIS RICHARD HARTFORD, JACKSON KENNETH WADE, TAYLOR CARL RAYMOND, LEVER CLYDE JEFFERSON, WEIMANN PETER A, HARDWICK, III NATHAN E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.11.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CABLES; CONDUCTORS; ELECTRICITY; INSULATORS; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING ORDIELECTRIC PROPERTIES

A fiber optic cable includes multiple differently sized stacks of optical fiber ribbons. The stacks include a central stack that is approximately centrally located in a jacket passage and peripheral stacks positioned radially around the central stack. A difference exists between the dimensions of the central stack and the dimensions of one or more of the peripheral stacks. Another fiber optic cable has multiple longitudinally extending stacks of optical fiber ribbons that are within a jacket passage. The stacks include a central stack that is approximately centrally located in the jacket passage, and peripheral stacks positioned radially around the central stack. Buffer encasements that respectively contain the peripheral stacks are longitudinally stranded around the central stack. Each buffer encasement includes a longitudinally extending interior surface that extends around and defines a longitudinally extending passage that contains the respective peripheral stack, and each interior surface closely bounds and engages a substantial portion of the periphery of the respective peripheral stack. Another fiber optic cable includes multiple optical modules within a longitudinally extending jacket and longitudinally stranded around a central member. Each optical module includes a stack of optical fiber ribbons enclosed in a buffer encasement. Each buffer encasement includes a longitudinally extending interior surface that extends around and defines a longitudinally extending passage that contains the respective stack, and the interior surface closely bounds and engages a substantial portion of the periphery of the respective stack.