Patent ID: 6931182

Claim:
An optical fiber bypass apparatus for use in an optical fiber hydrophone module for protecting optical bypass fiber, the module having a central axis and comprising the optical hydrophone assembly, an internal strength member, and a woven fiber protection cable assembly at each end of the module, the hydrophone assembly having two ends, being encircled in open-cell foam, and being aligned with the module central axis and comprising a plurality of mandrels helically wrapped with optical fiber and connected in linear relation, the internal strength member comprising at least one positioning tape and spanning the length of the module, the bypass apparatus comprising: an elastic woven fiber bypass cable attached to the positioning tape at spaced intervals and at locations proximate to each end of the hydrophone assembly substantially parallel to the module central axis and alongside the hydrophone assembly; and a jacketed optical fiber attached to one side of the bypass cable in a sinusoidal pattern, the jacket carrying the optical fiber as the fiber transitions from the woven fiber protection cable assembly at one end of the hydrophone assembly and carrying the optical fiber for the length of the hydrophone assembly until transitioning to the woven fiber protection cable on the other end of the hydrophone assembly, wherein elongation of the bypass cable causes the period of the sinusoidal pattern to increase without imparting damaging stress to the optical fiber, and wherein the optical fiber transitions to the woven fiber protection cable at each end of the hydrophone module.