Patent ID: 8528367
Filing Date: 2013-09-10
Classification: C03B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for cooling an optical fiber during an optical fiber drawing operation, the method comprising: drawing an optical fiber along an optical fiber pathway positioned between a first cooling tube and a second cooling tube at a rate of at least 35 m/s; directing a flow of cooling fluid onto the optical fiber through cooling fluid outlets positioned along an axial length of the first cooling tube; directing a flow of cooling fluid onto the optical fiber through cooling fluid outlets positioned along an axial length of the second cooling tube wherein the cooling fluid outlets of the second cooling tube are oriented to direct a flow of cooling fluid across the optical fiber pathway towards the first cooling tube and the cooling fluid outlets of the first cooling tube are oriented to direct a flow of cooling fluid across the optical fiber pathway towards the second cooling tube and the cooling fluid outlets are tapered such that the flow of cooling fluid provided by the fluid outlets of at least one tube is focused between the drawn fiber and the opposing wall of the other cooling tube; and venting the cooling fluid such that bulk axial flow of cooling fluid along the optical fiber pathway is prevented.