System and method for manufacturing optical fiber

Abstract

A system for drawing optical fiber in microgravity including a sealed housing to prevent infiltration of at least humidity and filled with a dry environment, a preform holder located within the sealed housing to hold preform material, a furnace located within the sealed housing to receive the preform material from the preform holder and to heat the preform material from which the optical fiber is pulled, a feed system to move the preform material from the preform holder to the furnace, a drawing mechanism located within the sealed housing to pull the optical fiber from the preform material within the furnace, a diameter monitor located within the sealed housing to measure a diameter of the optical fiber and a fiber collection mechanism located within the sealed housing to gather and store the optical fiber.

1 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method for drawing optical fiber in microgravity, the method comprising:
 heating a preform material within a furnace until the preform material reaches a viscous state;   applying tension to an end of the preform material to cause an initial formation of a first end of an optical fiber with a gripper;   pulling the optical fiber from the furnace to a spool device with a capturing device; and   attaching the first end of the optical fiber to a spool device to gather the optical fiber around the spool device.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising maintaining an environment around the furnace, gripper, spool device with a sealed housing. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising removing parts of the optical fiber once it is removed from the furnace with at least one of an iris and a pinch wheel. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising applying a coating to the optical fiber. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising:
 inserting the gripper into the preform; and   applying, by the gripper, a constant force to simulate 1G of gravity.   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising:
 spooling the optical fiber at a spooling speed on the spool device; and   changing the spooling speed to control a diameter of the optical fiber.   
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 obtaining data, from a plurality of sensors, regarding a plurality of characteristics including at least one of relative humidity, temperature, tension experienced by the optical fiber, external force, and visual images.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 evaluating the data from at least one of the plurality of sensors; and   autonomously controlling the spooling speed at which the optical fiber is pulled to the spool device, in response to the evaluated data.   
     
     
         34 . A method, the method comprising:
 heating a preform material in a furnace until the preform material is in a viscous state;   applying tension to an end of the preform while in the viscous state to cause forming of a neck arrangement in the preform material; and   pulling an optical fiber from the preform material at the neck arrangement to a spool.   
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising changing a speed of pulling the optical fiber from the preform material to cause a change in diameter of the optical fiber. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising applying a coating to the optical fiber with a coating system. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising cooling the optical fiber once removed from the furnace. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising:
 inserting a gripper into the preform; and   applying, by the gripper, a constant force to simulate 1G of gravity.   
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising:
 spooling the optical fiber at a spooling speed on the spool; and   changing the spooling speed to control a diameter of the optical fiber.   
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39 , further comprising:
 obtaining data, from a plurality of sensors, regarding a plurality of characteristics including at least one of relative humidity, temperature, tension experienced by the optical fiber, external force, and visual images.   
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , further comprising:
 evaluating the data from at least one of the plurality of sensors; and   autonomously controlling the spooling speed at which the optical fiber is pulled to the spool device, in response to the evaluated data.   
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising removing parts of the optical fiber once it is removed from the furnace with at least one of an iris and a pinch wheel.