Optical fibers twinning apparatus and process

Abstract

This specification describes a twinned pair of optical fibers having two optical fibers twisted about each other axially. Also described is a fiber optics cable having at least one twinned pair of optical fibers.

1 . A twinned pair of optical fibers, wherein two optical fibers are twisted about each other axially.  
   
   
       2 . The twinned pair of  claim 1 , having a twinned pair lay length that maintains said fibers at or above their minimum bend radius.  
   
   
       3 . The twinned pair of  claim 1 , wherein said lay length varies along the length of the twinned pair.  
   
   
       4 . A cable, comprising at least one twinned pair of optical fibers.  
   
   
       5 . The cable of  claim 4 , further comprising an untwinned optical fiber.  
   
   
       6 . The cable of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one twinned pair is helically stranded.  
   
   
       7 . The cable of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one twinned pair has a reverse oscillation lay configuration.  
   
   
       8 . A cable, comprising two or more twinned pairs of optical fibers, wherein said twinned pairs provide two or more different twinned pair lay lengths.  
   
   
       9 . A twinner, comprising: 
 two fiber payoffs having independent tension control;    rotational speed control;    line speed control;    a takeup with independent tension control; and    sheaves that have a radius greater than or equal to the minimum bend radius of the fiber being processed and that are cleaned to fiber processing requirements.    
   
   
       10 . The twinner of  claim 9 , wherein said twinner comprises a conventional copper wire twinner modified for use with optical fibers.  
   
   
       11 . A twinner, comprising a conventional copper wire twinner modified for use with optical fibers, wherein said twinner is modified by: 
 replacing copper wire payoffs with fiber payoffs;    replacing a copper wire takeup with a fiber reel; and    using sheaves that have a radius greater than or equal to the minimum bend radius of the fibers being processed and that are cleaned to fiber processing requirements.    
   
   
       12 . The twinner of  claim 11 , wherein said twinner is further modified by: 
 setting the tension to not exceed the maximum specified tension for the fibers being twinned; and    setting the twinned pair lay length to not violate the minimum bend radius for said fibers.    
   
   
       13 . A method for inducing extra fiber length into an optical fiber cable, comprising: 
 using a twinned pair of optical fibers in a cable.    
   
   
       14 . A method for inducing extra fiber length into an optical fiber cable, comprising: 
 twinning together two optical fibers;    collecting a twinned pair onto a single payoff;    stranding said twinned pair; and    jacketing said stranded twinned pair.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said stranding comprises reverse oscillation lay stranding.  
   
   
       16 . A method for twisting optical fibers together, comprising: 
 inserting at least two optical fibers into a twinner modified for use with optical fibers; and    using said twinner to twist said at least two fibers about each other.    
   
   
       17 . A method for manufacturing a fiber optic cable, comprising: 
 twinning two fibers together to form a twinned pair;    stranding at least one twinned pair; and    jacketing said at least one stranded twinned pair.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said stranding is helical stranding.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising inducing extra fiber length by reverse oscillation lay.  
   
   
       20 . A method for manufacturing a fiber optic cable, comprising: 
 using fewer payoffs than the number of fibers to be stranded;    stranding at least two optical fibers; and    jacketing the stranded fibers.    
   
   
       21 . A system for manufacturing a fiber optics cable, comprising: 
 a copper wire twinner modified for use with optical fibers;    a strander; and    a jacket line.    
   
   
       22 . A quad of optical fibers, comprising: 
 two twinned pairs twisted about each other axially.    
   
   
       23 . A triplet of optical fibers, comprising: 
 a twinned pair of optical fibers and a single, untwinned fiber twisted about each other axially.    
   
   
       24 . A method for managing optical fibers in a cable, comprising: 
 using a plurality of twinned pairs of optical fibers in a cable; and    marking the fibers of said twinned pairs with one or more colors, wherein more than one fiber is marked with a particular color, but wherein no two fibers marked with the same color have identically marked corresponding twinned fibers.    
   
   
       25 . A method for managing optical fibers in a cable, comprising: 
 using a plurality of twinned pairs of optical fibers in a cable, each pair having a first fiber and a second fiber; and    marking each fiber of each twinned pair;    wherein the combination of the marking of said first fiber and the marking of said second fiber of one twinned pair is not duplicated by another twinned pair in said cable.