Patent Description:
With the development of the communication technology, the demand for optical cables is increasing, and at the same time, higher requirements are put forward on the structure and performance of the optical cables.

The common optical cable structure mainly comprises a cable sheath on the surface layer and a plurality of parallel-provided optical fibers inside. The cable sheath mainly plays a safety protection role on the optical fibers; in the subsequent wrapping or rolling and bundling process of the optical cable, the relative positions of a plurality of optical fibers are prone to dislocation and winding.

When the optical cable enters a household or needs to be switched, the cable sheath needs to be stripped firstly, and a plurality of optical fibers separately diverge. However, since a plurality of optical fibers in the existing optical cable is prone to winding, it is inconvenient to diverge the plurality of optical fibers such that time and labor are wasted and normal wiring is affected.

<CIT> has disclosed an optical cable structure which includes: a first jacket, a supporting skeleton provided in the first jacket, and optical fiber units; wherein holding leaves are provided to extend away from the supporting skeleton, such that the optical fiber units may be held by the holding leaves.

The invention aims to provide an optical cable structure and a preparation method therefor, so that the technical problem that optical fibers in the existing optical cable structure are inconvenient to diverge is solved.

In order to solve the technical problem, the invention provides an optical cable structure according to claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

The invention further provides a preparation method for an optical cable structure according to claim <NUM>.

According to the technical scheme, the beneficial effects achieved by the invention are as follows:.

the present invention provides an optical cable structure comprising a first jacket and a supporting skeleton provided within the first jacket; the supporting skeleton is provided with an accommodating groove for accommodating optical fiber unit, and the supporting skeleton is configured to always have a clamping force applied to the optical fiber unit.

Because the optical fiber unit is provided in the accommodating groove on the supporting skeleton, a plurality of accommodating grooves can be provided, the plurality of accommodating grooves can separate a plurality of optical fiber units, and the supporting skeleton is configured to always have a clamping force applied to the optical fiber units, so that the positions of the optical fiber units are limited to move, and the winding among the plurality of optical fiber units is avoided. After the first jacket is stripped, a plurality of optical fiber units can quickly diverge from a plurality of accommodating grooves so that time and labor are saved.

The drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present invention.

The technical schemes of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described examples are only a part of the examples of the present invention, rather than all the examples. Based on the examples of the present invention, all other examples obtained by one of ordinary skills in the art without involving any inventive efforts are within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

In describing the present invention, it is to be understood that the orientations or positional relationships indicated by the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", and the like are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings for purposes of describing the invention and simplifying the description only, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the referenced device or element must have a particular orientation or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation. It is therefore not to be understood as limiting the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first", "second", "third", as they appear, are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

In describing the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "install", "link", "connect", as they appear, are to be construed broadly, for example, either fixedly connected or detachably connected or integrated connected, unless expressly specified and limited otherwise; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; the connection may be connected directly or indirectly through intervening media, and the connection may be an internal connection between two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in this invention will be understood by those of ordinary skills in the art, as the case may be.

As shown in <FIG>, the present example provides an optical cable structure including a first jacket <NUM> and a supporting skeleton <NUM> provided within the first jacket <NUM>; the supporting skeleton <NUM> is provided with an accommodating groove <NUM> for accommodating optical fiber unit <NUM>, and the supporting skeleton <NUM> is configured to always have a clamping force applied to the optical fiber unit <NUM>.

Specifically, the first jacket <NUM> is provided as a hollow sleeve, the first jacket <NUM> is sleeved outside the supporting skeleton <NUM>, the accommodating groove <NUM> is provided as a groove formed in the supporting skeleton <NUM>, and the axis of the accommodating groove <NUM> is parallel to the axis of the supporting skeleton <NUM>. Preferably, the accommodating grooves <NUM> are provided in a plurality, and the plurality of accommodating grooves <NUM> is provided in the supporting skeleton <NUM>. The axes of the plurality of accommodating grooves <NUM> are parallel to each other, the plurality of accommodating grooves <NUM> is uniformly provided around the axis of the supporting skeleton <NUM> at intervals in sequence, one optical fiber unit <NUM> is placed in each accommodating groove <NUM>, any two adjacent optical fiber units <NUM> are separated by the accommodating grooves <NUM>, and the winding of two adjacent optical fiber units <NUM> is avoided. The width of the accommodating groove <NUM> is slightly smaller than the diameter of the optical fiber unit <NUM>, the optical fiber unit <NUM> is clipped in the accommodating groove <NUM>, and the surface layer of the optical fiber unit <NUM> is slightly deformed, so that the accommodating groove <NUM> limits the movement of the optical fiber unit <NUM> and prevents the optical fiber unit <NUM> from being separated from the accommodating groove <NUM>.

According to the optical cable structure provided by the example, since the optical fiber unit <NUM> is provided in the accommodating groove <NUM> on the supporting skeleton <NUM>, a plurality of accommodating grooves <NUM> can be provided. The plurality of accommodating grooves <NUM> can separate the plurality of optical fiber units <NUM>, and the supporting skeleton <NUM> is configured to always have a clamping force applied to the optical fiber units <NUM>, so that the positions of the optical fiber units <NUM> are limited to move, and the winding among the plurality of optical fiber units <NUM> is avoided. After the first jacket <NUM> is stripped, a plurality of optical fiber units <NUM> can quickly diverge from the plurality of accommodating grooves <NUM> so that time and labor are saved.

On the basis of the example, the supporting skeleton <NUM> in the optical cable structure provided by the example further comprises a skeleton body <NUM> and a reinforcing core <NUM>; a filling chamber is provided in the skeleton body <NUM>, the reinforcing core <NUM> is provided in the filling chamber, and the accommodating groove <NUM> is provided on the skeleton body <NUM>.

Specifically, the skeleton body <NUM> is extrusion molded by a high-density polyethylene material, and the reinforcing core <NUM> is made of a fiber-reinforced composite material. Both the skeleton body <NUM> and the reinforcing core <NUM> can be bent, and the reinforcing core <NUM> is used for enhancing the tensile strength of the skeleton body <NUM>. The filling chamber is provided to be cylindrical. The reinforcing core <NUM> is filled in the filling chamber or the skeleton body <NUM> is extrusion molded outside the reinforcing core <NUM>. The accommodating groove <NUM> is a groove formed in the skeleton body <NUM>, and the accommodating groove <NUM> and the skeleton body <NUM> are integrally formed by extrusion molding.

Further, a water-blocking layer <NUM> and a heat-insulating layer <NUM> are sequentially provided between the first jacket <NUM> and the supporting skeleton <NUM> from inside to outside.

Specifically, the water-blocking layer <NUM> may be provided as a water-blocking tape, a water-blocking yarn or a water-blocking powder or the like. Preferably, the water-blocking layer <NUM> is provided as a water-blocking tape, and the water-blocking tape is wrapped outside the supporting skeleton <NUM>. The heat-insulating layer <NUM> may be provided as glass fiber, an asbestos fiber, or the like.

Further, the water-blocking layer <NUM> comprises a first water-blocking tape, wherein the first water-blocking tape is wrapped on the supporting skeleton <NUM>. The heat-insulating layer <NUM> comprises a glass fiber layer, and the glass fiber layer is sleeved outside the first water-blocking tape.

Specifically, the first water-blocking tape can be fixed on the outside of the supporting skeleton <NUM> through binding yarns, and the first water-blocking tape is used for preventing water vapor from penetrating into the surface layer of the optical fiber unit <NUM>. The glass fiber layer is provided between the first jacket <NUM> and the water-blocking tape. The glass fiber layer is made of glass fiber yarns, and the glass fiber yarns have good abrasion resistance, heat insulation and insulation properties, so that the external temperature can be isolated from the optical fiber unit <NUM>, the optical cable can be ensured to still work normally under the condition that the temperature is too high or too low, and the optical cable can adapt to a severe natural environment. The insulation characteristic of the glass fiber layer can protect the optical cable from lightning strike or other electromagnetic interference. As the glass fiber layer is brittle, the crushed glass slag can damage the oral cavity of a mouse in the mouse biting process, making mice feel afraid of the optical cable and having the mouse-proof effect.

According to the optical cable structure provided by the example, the strength of the skeleton body <NUM> is improved by providing the reinforcing core <NUM>, and the tensile property is better. By providing the first water-blocking tape, water vapor is prevented from penetrating into the optical cable to damage the optical fiber unit <NUM>, and the waterproof capacity of the optical cable is improved. By providing the glass fiber layer, on one hand, the optical cable can be normally used in an extremely cold or hot environment, and on the other hand, the optical cable has a good mouse-proof effect and the use safety of the optical cable is improved.

On the basis of the example, further, as shown in <FIG>, the optical cable structure provided by the example further comprises a second jacket <NUM> and a conductive wire unit <NUM> provided in the second jacket <NUM>. The outer wall of the second jacket <NUM> is connected to the outer wall of the first jacket <NUM>.

Specifically, the material of the second jacket <NUM> is the same as that of the first jacket <NUM>. A plurality of conductive wire units <NUM> can be provided, and a plurality of conductive wire units <NUM> is provided in parallel and is provided in the first jacket <NUM>. The conductive wire unit <NUM> comprises a transmission wire <NUM> and a wire jacket <NUM> wrapped outside the transmission wire <NUM>, wherein the transmission wire <NUM> is preferably provided as a copper wire, the copper wire can be provided as a plurality of wires according to requirements, and the wire jacket <NUM> is provided as enameled skin outside of the copper wire. The first jacket <NUM> and the second jacket <NUM> are provided in parallel, and the outer surface of the first jacket <NUM> is connected with the outside surface of the second jacket <NUM>. Preferably, the first jacket <NUM> and the second jacket <NUM> are provided as an integrally formed structure having an <NUM>-shaped cross-sectional profile.

Further, between the second jacket <NUM> and the conductive wire unit <NUM>, and from inside to outside, a shielding layer <NUM>, a metal braided layer <NUM>, and a second water-blocking tape <NUM> are sequentially provided.

Specifically, the shielding layer <NUM> is provided as a thin metal layer wrapped outside the conductive wire unit <NUM>. Preferably, the shielding layer <NUM> is provided as an aluminum foil. The aluminum foil is wrapped outside the conductive wire unit <NUM> to form the aluminum foil shielding layer <NUM>, and the aluminum foil shielding layer <NUM> isolates the magnetic field generated by the conductive wire unit <NUM> to avoid the interference with the communication of the optical fiber unit <NUM>. The metal braided layer <NUM> is braided by a braiding machine, the metal braided layer <NUM> is braided outside the shielding layer <NUM>. On one hand, the metal braided layer <NUM> improves the shielding effect on the conductive wire unit <NUM>, and on the other hand, the tensile strength of the optical cable can be improved. The second water-blocking tape <NUM> is wrapped outside the metal braided layer <NUM>. The second water-blocking tape <NUM> can be bound on the metal braided layer <NUM> by binding yarns to limit the movement of the position of the second water-blocking tape <NUM>. The second water-blocking tape <NUM> can also be provided as a water-blocking substance such as water-blocking yarns or water-blocking powder and the like.

Further, both the first jacket <NUM> and the second jacket <NUM> are made of polyethylene material.

Specifically, the first jacket <NUM> and the second jacket <NUM> are integrally formed by polyethylene material through an extrusion molding process. The first jacket <NUM> and the second jacket <NUM> serve as protective layers of the outermost layers of the optical cable, and the polyethylene protective layer has good corrosion resistance, and water resistance and scratch resistance capacity. By manufacturing through an extrusion process, which is a mature process technology, the cost is low.

Further, along the direction in which the first jacket <NUM> points toward the supporting skeleton <NUM>, the accommodating space of the accommodating groove <NUM> is gradually reduced, and the optical fiber unit <NUM> abuts against the inner wall of the accommodating groove <NUM>.

According to the claimed invention, along the direction in which the first jacket <NUM> points to the supporting skeleton <NUM>, the width of the accommodating groove <NUM> is gradually increased to form a groove structure with a smaller opening and a larger internal width dimension. The optical fiber unit <NUM> is embedded in the accommodating groove <NUM>, and the optical fiber unit <NUM> abuts against the inner walls of the two sides of the accommodating groove <NUM> and the groove bottom. The surface layer of the optical fiber unit <NUM> is slightly deformed, so that the optical fiber unit is clipped in the accommodating groove <NUM>, and the optical fiber unit <NUM> is prevented from being separated from the accommodating groove <NUM>.

Further, the optical fiber unit <NUM> comprises a transmission optical fiber <NUM> and a nylon tight cover <NUM> sleeved outside the transmission optical fiber <NUM>.

Specifically, the nylon tight cover <NUM> is extrusion molded outside the transmission optical fiber <NUM>. One or more transmission optical fibers <NUM> can be provided in the nylon tight cover <NUM>, and preferably, the present example provides an optical cable structure in which one transmission optical fiber <NUM> is provided within a nylon tight cover <NUM>. The tight cover made of the nylon material has a long performance degradation period and is not easy to age. Compared with other materials, the tight cover can bear high and low temperature tests in a wider temperature range, and has a lasting protection effect on the transmission optical fiber <NUM>.

According to the optical cable structure provided by the example, the conductive wire unit <NUM> is provided in the second jacket <NUM>, and the outer wall of the first jacket <NUM> abuts against the outer wall of the second jacket <NUM> to form a photoelectric hybrid cable with an <NUM>-shaped cross-section, so that the simultaneous transmission of electric energy and optical signal is realized. By providing the shielding layer <NUM>, the metal braided layer <NUM> and the second water-blocking tape <NUM> between the conductive wire unit <NUM> and the second jacket <NUM>, the electromagnetic shielding capacity, the tensile capacity and the water-proof capacity of the photoelectric hybrid cable are improved, and the use of the photoelectric hybrid cable is more reliable.

On the basis of the above examples, the example provides a preparation method for an optical cable structure. As shown in <FIG>, the preparation method comprises a cable core forming procedure, a conductive core forming procedure and a jacket forming procedure. As shown in <FIG>, the cable core forming procedure comprises: positioning the reinforcing core <NUM> on an extruder, and extrusion molding the skeleton body <NUM> outside the reinforcing core <NUM> through the extruder along the length direction of the reinforcing core <NUM>; putting the optical fiber unit <NUM> into the accommodating groove <NUM> on the supporting skeleton <NUM> to form a primary cable core; wrapping the first water-blocking tape outside the primary cable core; curing and forming the glass fiber layer outside the first water-blocking tape through a curing machine to form a cable core. As shown in <FIG>, the conductive core forming procedure comprises: wrapping aluminum foil outside the conductive wire unit <NUM> to form a shielding layer <NUM>; braiding metal wires outside the shielding layer <NUM> through a braider to form a metal braided layer <NUM>; and wrapping the second water-blocking tape <NUM> outside the metal braided layer <NUM> to form a conductive core. The jacket forming procedure comprises: simultaneously extrusion molding a polyethylene raw material outside the cable core and conductive core through an extruder to form the first jacket <NUM> and the second jacket <NUM>.

Specifically, the reinforcing core <NUM> is formed by a fiber reinforced composite material through an extrusion molding process. The reinforcing core <NUM> is positioned on the extrusion die of an extruder, the skeleton body <NUM> is formed outside the reinforcing core <NUM> by using a high-density polyethylene material through the extrusion die, and the accommodating groove <NUM> is simultaneously formed on the skeleton body <NUM>. The optical fiber unit is placed into the accommodating groove <NUM> manually or by means of equipment to form a primary cable core. The first water-blocking tape is longitudinally wrapped outside the primary cable core, and the first water-blocking tape is bound outside the primary cable core by binding yarns, for preventing the first water-blocking tape from moving relative to the primary cable core. One layer of glass fiber can be placed outside the first water-blocking tape to form a cable core structure. An aluminum foil shielding layer <NUM> is wrapped on the outside of the conductive wire unit <NUM>, and then two metal braiding strands staggered in the front and back directions are braided outside the shielding layer <NUM> through a high-speed braider to form a metal braided layer <NUM>. The second water-blocking tape <NUM> is longitudinally wrapped outside the metal braided layer <NUM> and fixed by binding yarns to form a conductive core. With the polyethylene (PE) raw material and by an extruder, the first jacket <NUM> and the second jacket <NUM> are integrally formed outside the cable core and the conductive core to form a complete optical cable structure. According to the preparation method of the optical cable structure provided by the example, the production of a new type of optical cable structure with a supporting skeleton <NUM> is realized, and the produced optical cable structure can avoid the winding of the optical fiber unit <NUM> so that the diverging of the optical fiber unit <NUM> during wiring is facilitated, which is convenient in use.

Claim 1:
An optical cable structure, comprising: a first jacket (<NUM>), a supporting skeleton (<NUM>) provided in the first jacket (<NUM>), and an optical fiber unit (<NUM>);
wherein an accommodating groove (<NUM>) is provided within the supporting skeleton (<NUM>), the optical fiber unit (<NUM>) is embedded in the accommodating groove (<NUM>), and the supporting skeleton (<NUM>) is configured to always have a clamping force applied to the optical fiber unit (<NUM>),
wherein the width of the accommodating groove (<NUM>) is slightly smaller than the diameter of the optical fiber unit (<NUM>), and
wherein along the direction in which the first jacket (<NUM>) points toward the supporting skeleton (<NUM>), the width of the accommodating groove (<NUM>) is gradually increased to form a groove structure with a smaller opening and a larger internal width dimension, and the optical fiber unit (<NUM>) abuts against inner walls of the accommodating groove (<NUM>).