Claims
- 1. A payoff system for an optical fiber to be carried by a moving vehicle, comprising a spool having an axis, an optical fiber wound about the axis of the spool, a cone, the inner surface of the cone having secured thereto an energy-absorbing member selected from the group consisting of resilient foam and a textured energy-absorbing fabric, positioned rearwardly of the spool through which the optical fiber passes, a pair of flats between which the fiber passes, means mounting said flats such that the fiber passing therebetween is essentially aligned parallel to the axis of the spool, means resiliently biasing the pair of flats toward each other to place tension on the fiber as it passes therebetween.
- 2. The payoff system as defined in claim 1 wherein the resilient biasing means comprises a foam rubber pad.
- 3. A payoff system as defined in claim 1 wherein the resilient biasing means comprises springs.
- 4. The payoff system as defined in claim 1 wherein the energy-absorbing cone comprises foam rubber.
- 5. The payoff system as defined in claim 1 wherein the energy-absorbing member of the cone comprises a fabric.
- 6. The payoff system as defined in claim 5 wherein the fabric comprises a short-pile fabric.
- 7. The payoff system as defined in claim 5 wherein the fabric comprises a short-loop pile fabric.
- 8. The payoff system as defined in claim 5 wherein the fabric comprises multiple layers of woven fabric.
- 9. The payoff system as defined in claim 1 wherein the flats comprised blocks of sapphire.
- 10. The payoff system as defined in claim 1, including an eyelet for the optical fiber positioned rearwardly of the cone, and an outlet cone following the pair of flats.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 371,095, filed June 26, 1989, now abandonded.
US Referenced Citations (17)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
371095 |
Jun 1989 |
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