Patent ID: 6456895
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: C03C,G05B

Abstract:
An optical fiber manufacturing system, the system comprising:a fiber draw tower assembly, the fiber draw tower assembly comprising a coating applicator and a UV curing lamp system, the UV curing lamp system capable of applying UV radiation to an optical fiber having a coating layer thereon in order to cure the coating layer, the coating layer being applied to the optical fiber by the coating applicator, the UV curing lamp system comprising a transmissive center tube through which an optical fiber having a coating layer thereon passes, the UV curing lamp system comprising a V bulb that generates UV radiation for curing the coating layer, wherein a gas is pumped into the center tube in order to purge air from the center tube, the gas exiting the center tube in an exhaust stream via an exhaust opening; a sensor disposed to measure a temperature of the exhaust stream as the exhaust stream exits the center tube; and a defect detector in communication with the sensor, the defect detector receiving an electronic signal from the sensor, the electronic signal corresponding to the temperature of the exhaust stream, the defect detector comparing the electrical signal to a first threshold value to determine whether or not the temperature of the exhaust stream is below a threshold temperature, wherein if a determination is made that the temperature of the exhaust stream is below the threshold temperature, the defect detector determines that the coating layer is not being properly cured.