Fiber Optic Cables Suitable for Automated Preconnectorization

Abstract

Fiber optic drop cables are disclosed that are suitable for automated preconnectorization. In one embodiment, an optical waveguide is disposed in a buffer tube that has two strength components disposed on opposite sides thereof and a plurality of strength members. The plurality of strength members are disposed at a plurality respective interstices located between the buffer tube and the two strength components and shaped into a plurality of substantially triangular shapes for improving the balancing of the residual stresses in the fiber optic cable caused by the shrinkage of a cable jacket during cooling. In another embodiment, a fiber optic cable includes a tonable lobe connected by a web that is frangible and the web includes predetermined ratios for easily and reliable separation of the tonable lobe.

1 . A fiber optic drop cable comprising:
 a main cable body, the main cable body having at least one optical waveguide, at least one strength component, and a cable jacket; and   a tonable lobe, the tonable lobe having a toning wire that includes a copper material for locating the fiber optic drop cable, the tonable lobe being connected to the cable jacket of the main cable body by a web that is frangible, wherein   the web has a first radius R 1  adjacent to the main cable body and a second radius R 2  adjacent to the tonable lobe, and   a radius ratio is defined as the ratio between the second radius and the first radius (R 2 /R 1 ), wherein the radius ratio is greater than 2.   
   
   
       2 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 1 , the main cable body further comprising at least one strength member. 
   
   
       3 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 2 , the at least one optical waveguide being disposed within a buffer tube. 
   
   
       4 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 3 , the buffer tube having a thixotropic grease therein. 
   
   
       5 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 2 , the web having a first thickness t 1  adjacent to the main cable body and a second thickness t 2  adjacent to the tonable lobe and a thickness ratio is defined as the ratio between the second thickness and the first thickness (t 2 /t 1 ), wherein the thickness ratio is greater than 1. 
   
   
       6 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 2 , the main cable body having a width of about 10 millimeters or less and a height of about 5 millimeters or less. 
   
   
       7 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 1 , the optical waveguide being housed in a buffer tube, the main cable body having two strength components and a plurality of strength members disposed at a plurality interstices between the buffer tube and the two strength components. 
   
   
       8 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 7 , the plurality of strength members being shaped into a plurality of substantially triangular shapes for improving the balancing of the residual stresses in the fiber optic cable due to shrinkage of a cable jacket during cooling. 
   
   
       9 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 2 , the web having a first thickness t 1  adjacent to the main cable body and the tonable lobe having a minimum wall thickness t 3 , wherein a tear control ratio is defined as the ratio between the minimum wall thickness and the first thickness (t 3 /t 1 ), wherein the tear control ratio is greater than about 0.7. 
   
   
       10 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 2 , the tonable lobe having a separation force from the main cable body between about 10 Newtons and about 50 Newtons along a X-X axis. 
   
   
       11 . A fiber optic drop cable comprising:
 a main cable body, the main cable body having at least one optical waveguide, at least one strength component, and at least one strength member; and   a tonable lobe, the tonable lobe having a toning wire that includes a copper material for locating the fiber optic drop cable and the tonable lobe being connected to the main cable body by a web that is frangible, wherein   the web has a first thickness t 1  adjacent to the main cable body and the tonable lobe has a minimum wall thickness t 3 , and   a tear control ratio is defined as the ratio between the minimum wall thickness and the first thickness (t 3 /t 1 ), wherein the tear control ratio is greater than about 0.7.   
   
   
       12 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 11 , the web having a first radius R 1  adjacent to the main cable body and a second radius R 2  adjacent to the tonable lobe and a radius ratio is defined as the ratio between the second radius and the first radius (R 2 /R 1 ), wherein the radius ratio is greater than 1. 
   
   
       13 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 12 , the radius ratio being greater than about 2.0. 
   
   
       14 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 11 , the main cable body having two strength components and a plurality of strength members disposed at a plurality of interstices between a buffer tube and the two strength components. 
   
   
       15 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 14 , the strength members being shaped into a plurality of substantially triangular shapes for improving the balancing the residual stresses in the fiber optic cable due to shrinkage of a cable jacket during cooling. 
   
   
       16 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 11 , the at least one optical waveguide being disposed within a buffer tube. 
   
   
       17 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 16 , the buffer tube having a thixotropic grease therein. 
   
   
       18 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 11 , the web having a first thickness t 1  adjacent to the main cable body and a second thickness t 2  adjacent to the tonable lobe and a thickness ratio is defined as the ratio between the second thickness and the first thickness (t 2 /t 1 ), wherein the thickness ratio is greater than 1. 
   
   
       19 . A fiber optic drop cable comprising:
 a main cable body, the main cable body having at least one optical waveguide, at least one strength component, and at least one strength member, the main cable body having a width of about 10 millimeters or less and a height of about 5 millimeters or less;   a tonable lobe, the tonable lobe having a toning wire that includes a copper material for locating the fiber optic drop cable and the tonable lobe being connected to the main cable body by a web that is frangible, wherein the web has a first thickness t 1  adjacent to the main cable body and the tonable lobe has a minimum wall thickness t 3 , wherein a tear control ratio is defined as the ratio between the minimum wall thickness and the first thickness (t 3 /t 1 ), wherein the tear control ratio is greater than about 0.7.   
   
   
       20 . The fiber optic drop cable of  claim 19 , the tonable lobe having a separation force from the main cable body between about 10 Newtons and about 50 Newtons along a X-X axis.