Patent ID: 11964899
Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC C  G | IPC C  G

Claim 0:
1. A method of making an optical fibre preform comprising:
providing a hollow outer tube of glass;
providing a hollow primary capillary tube of glass with an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the outer tube;
positioning the primary capillary tube inside the outer tube such that an outer surface of the primary capillary tube lies against an inner surface of the outer tube along a contact line parallel to the longitudinal axes of the primary capillary tube and the outer tube;
placing one of a pair of magnetically attracted elements inside the primary capillary tube;
arranging a second of the pair of magnetically attracted elements outside the outer tube radially aligned with the contact line such that magnetic force between the pair of magnetically attracted elements pulls the capillary tube; and
bonding the primary capillary tube into its position inside the outer tube by directing a laser beam to be incident onto an outer surface of the outer tube or an inner surface of the primary capillary tube at one or more locations aligned with the contact line.