In-road interface protected cable

Abstract

Embodiments of an optical fiber cable configured for installation in a roadbed are provided. The optical fiber cable includes an optical fiber, a cable jacket surrounding the optical fiber, and an upjacket surrounding the cable jacket. The upjacket does not leach a chemical or chemicals into the roadbed that soften the roadbed. Also provided are embodiments of a method of producing an optical fiber cable configured for installation in a roadbed. Further, embodiments of a method of deploying an optical fiber cable into a roadbed are provided. The method involves the steps of forming a channel in the roadbed, inserting an optical fiber cable into the channel, and closing the channel so as to bury the optical fiber cable in the roadbed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing an optical fiber cable configured for installation in a roadbed, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a cable having at least one optical fiber surrounded by a cable jacket;   selecting at least one material that does not contain a chemical or chemicals capable of leaching from the at least one material into a roadbed that would soften the roadbed; and   extruding the at least one material around the cable jacket to form an upjacket.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting the at least one material comprises selecting at least one of an acrylic, a styrene-acrylic, a styrene-ethylene/butylene block copolymer, a vinyl acetate ethylene, an ethylene vinyl acetate, a polyvinyl acetate, a styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-isoprene block copolymer, a polyphenylene oxide, or a styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding an additive to the at least one material, wherein the additive is bitumen or a polyphosphoric acid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting the at least one material further comprises selecting a material that is capable of leaching an additive into the roadbed that stiffens the roadbed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of extruding the material further comprises extruding a first layer of a first material around the cable jacket and extruding a second layer of a second material around the first layer of the first material, wherein the second layer is harder than the first layer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of extruding the material comprises co-extrusion of a first layer of a first material around the cable jacket and a second layer of a second material around the first layer of the first material. 
     
     
         7 . A method of deploying an optical fiber cable into a roadbed, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming a channel in the roadbed, wherein the roadbed is formed from asphalt concrete comprising aggregate, bitumen, and a polymer additive;   inserting an optical fiber cable into the channel, wherein the optical fiber cable is comprised of an optical fiber surrounded by a cable jacket defining an exterior surface of the optical fiber cable and wherein the cable jacket comprises the polymer additive; and   closing the channel so as to bury the optical fiber cable in the roadbed.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the method does not comprise a step of providing a protective bed of polyurea around the optical fiber cable. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising filling the channel with additional asphalt concrete such that the asphalt concrete surrounds and contacts the exterior surface of the optical fiber cable. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of opening the channel in the roadbed further comprises opening a channel of 1 cm or less in the road bed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of opening the channel in the roadbed further comprises opening the channel to a depth of from 3 to 12 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising a step of providing a plow apparatus capable of heating the roadbed, opening the channel in the roadbed, and inserting the optical fiber cable into the channel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising a step of heating the roadbed before the step of forming the channel in the roadbed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of heating the roadbed comprises heating the roadbed to a temperature of at least 50° C. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the polymer additive is at least one of an acrylic, a styrene-acrylic, a styrene-ethylene/butylene block copolymer, a vinyl acetate ethylene, an ethylene vinyl acetate, a polyvinyl acetate, a styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-isoprene block copolymer, a polyphenylene oxide, or a styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the cable jacket directly contacts the asphalt concrete of the roadbed. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the polymer additive is a blend of two or more polymers comprising a bitumen compatible polymer, a modifier polymer, and processing or asphalt additives. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , where the blend is a miscible blend. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , where the blend is an immiscible blend.