Patent ID: 6879545

Claim:
An apparatus for protecting optical fiber in an optical fiber hydrophone module as the fiber transitions between components of the module, the module comprising a fiber transition segment, a module oil seal assembly, and a hydrophone assembly adjacent to the fiber transition segment, the module having a central axis and an outermost hose surrounding an internal strength member that surrounds at least a portion of the fiber transmission segment, the module oil seal assembly, and the hydrophone assembly with two affixed positioning tapes substantially parallel to the central axis, the hydrophone assembly comprising a plurality of mandrels helically wrapped with optical fiber and connected in linear relation with interconnect springs having a helical groove that receives the optical fiber, the fiber transition segment comprising a conical, elongated element having first and second ends, the first end adapted to be connected to the hydrophone assembly, and having a helical groove for receiving the optical fiber from the assembly so that the fiber transitions to the central axis of the module, the fiber protecting apparatus comprising: an elastic woven fiber strap having a first side, a second side, a first layer, a second layer, a first end, a longitudinal middle portion, and a second end, wherein the strap at the first end and longitudinal middle portion are substantially aligned with the central axis of the hydrophone module, the first layer and second layer are fastened together in the longitudinal middle portion, the first end of the strap comprises a loop, and the first and second layers at the second end of the strap are spatially separated and extend at least in part on opposite sides of the fiber transition segment; and a first tube in which an optical fiber is disposed, the first tube attached to the strap in a sinusoidal pattern to at least the longitudinal middle portion of the first layer of the strap; wherein the first end of the strap is adapted to be attached to a relatively fixed element and the first and second layers at the second end of the strap are adapted to be attached to a relatively movable element, and wherein elongation of the strap causes the period of the sinusoidal pattern to increase without imparting damaging stress to the optical fiber.