Patent ID: 6021649
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
An apparatus useful for forming a glass core/glass clad fiber, said apparatus comprisinga first crucible having an open top and a bottom, said bottom of said first crucible terminating in an orifice, said orifice of said first crucible connecting said bottom of said first crucible with a conduit, said conduit extending downward from said orifice in said bottom of said first crucible and joining with a cavity, said cavity extending downward and terminating in a fiber drawing orifice;a second crucible having an open top and a bottom, said bottom of said second crucible having an orifice, said orifice of said second crucible extending downward into a bore concentric and contiguous with said cavity, said bore terminating at an outlet above said fiber drawing orifice, with a gap existing between said outlet and said fiber drawing orifice, said first crucible and said second crucible being spaced apart from each other, and said first crucible and second crucible being nonintersecting with respect to each other;a first heater for maintaining contents in said first crucible at a first temperature; anda second heater for maintaining contents in said second crucible at a second temperature different from said first temperature.