Claims
- 1. An apparatus for proof testing an optical waveguide fiber, comprising:a first capstan pulley defining a first outer diameter; a continuous first capstan belt under tension and in contact with said first outer diameter of said first capstan pulley, the contact between said first capstan belt and said first capstan pulley defining a first arc of contact, said first capstan belt defining a first belt width and a first belt thickness and a first belt length; a second capstan pulley defining a second outer diameter; and a continuous second capstan belt under tension and in contact with said second outer diameter of said second capstan pulley, the contact between said second capstan belt and said second capstan pulley defining a second arc of contact, said second capstan belt defining a second belt width, a second belt thickness and a second belt length; wherein said first arc of contact is equal to or greater than about 105° and said second arc of contact is at least 20° greater than said first arc of contact.
- 2. The apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said first width of said first capstan and belt said second width of said second capstan belt each have a lateral modulus of elasticity, and said first length of said first capstan and said second length of said second capstan belt each have a longitudinal modulus of elasticity, and wherein said lateral modulus of elasticity is between about ⅕ and about ⅙ of the longitudinal modulus elasticity.
- 3. The apparatus described in claim 2, wherein said first width of said first capstan belt and said second width of said second capstan belt are each equal to or greater than about 1.5 inches and said first thickness of said first capstan belt and said second thickness of said second capstan belt are each equal to or less than about 0.6 mm.
- 4. The apparatus described in claim 3, further including:a set of at least three idler pulleys encircled by said first capstan belt.
- 5. The apparatus described in claim 4, wherein said pulleys of said first set are spaced through an arc of about 180° around said first capstan pulley.
- 6. The apparatus described in claim 5, wherein at least one of said first set of idler pulleys is adjustable such that adjustment of said at least one of said first set of idler pulleys adjusts the tension in said first capstan belt.
- 7. The apparatus described in claim 6, further including:a second set of at least three idler pulleys encircled by said second capstan belt.
- 8. The apparatus described in claim 7, wherein said pulleys of said second set are spaced through an arc of about 180° around said second capstan pulley.
- 9. The apparatus described in claim 8, wherein at least one of said second set of idler pulleys is adjustable such that adjustment of said at least one of said second set of idler pulleys adjusts the tension in said second capstan belt.
- 10. The apparatus described in claim 1, further including:a set of at least three idler pulleys encircled by said first capstan belt.
- 11. The apparatus described in claim 10, wherein said pulleys of said first set are spaced through an arc of about 180° around said first capstan pulley.
- 12. The apparatus described in claim 10, wherein at least one of said first set of idler pulleys is adjustable such that adjustment of said at least one of said first set of idler pulleys adjusts the tension in said first capstan belt.
- 13. The apparatus described in claim 1, further including:a second set of at least three idler pulleys encircled by said second capstan belt.
- 14. The apparatus described in claim 13, wherein said pulleys of said second set are spaced through an arc of about 180° around said second capstan pulley.
- 15. The apparatus described in claim 13, wherein at least one of said second set of idler pulleys is adjustable such that adjustment of said at least one of said second set of idler pulleys adjusts the tension in said second capstan belt.
- 16. An apparatus for screen testing an optical waveguide fiber, comprising:a first capstan pulley defining a first outer diameter; a continuous first capstan belt under tension and in contact with said first outer diameter of said first capstan pulley, the contact between said first capstan belt and said first capstan pulley defining a first arc of contact, said first capstan belt defining a first width, a first thickness and a first belt length; a second capstan pulley defining a second outer diameter; and a continuous second capstan belt under tension and in contact with said second outer diameter of said second capstan pulley, the contact between said second capstan belt and said second capstan pulley defining a second arc of contact, said second capstan belt defining a second width, a second thickness and a second belt length; wherein said first width of said first capstan belt and said second width of said second capstan belt each have a lateral modulus of elasticity, and said first length of said first capstan belt and said second length of said second capstan belt each have a longitudinal modulus of elasticity, and wherein said lateral modulus of elasticity is between about ⅕ and about ⅙ of the longitudinal modulus of elasticity.
- 17. The apparatus described in claim 16, wherein said first width of said first capstan belt and said second width of said second capstan belt are each equal to or greater than about 1.5 inches and said first thickness of said first capstan belt and said second thickness of said second capstan belt are each equal to or less than about 0.6 mm.
- 18. The apparatus described in claim 17, further including:a set of at least three idler pulleys encircled by said first capstan belt.
- 19. The apparatus described in claim 18, wherein said pulleys of said first set are spaced through an arc of about 180° around said first capstan pulley.
- 20. The apparatus described in claim 19, wherein at least one of said first set of idler pulleys is adjustable such that adjustment of said at least one of said first set of idler pulleys adjusts the tension in said first capstan belt.
- 21. The apparatus described in claim 20, further including:a second set of at least three idler pulleys encircled by said second capstan belt.
- 22. The apparatus described in claim 21, wherein said pulleys of said second set are spaced through an arc of about 180° around said second capstan pulley.
- 23. The apparatus described in claim 22, wherein at least one of said second set of idler pulleys is adjustable such that adjustment of said at least one of said second set of idler pulleys adjusts the tension in said second capstan belt.
- 24. The apparatus described in claim 17, wherein said second arc of contact is at least 20° greater than said first arc of contact.
- 25. An apparatus for proof testing an optical fiber comprising:a first capstan pulley defining a first outer diameter; a continuous first capstan belt under tension and in contact with said first outer diameter of said first capstan pulley, the contact between said first capstan belt and said first capstan pulley defining a first arc of contact; a second capstan pulley defining a second outer diameter; and a continuous second capstan belt under tension and in contact with said second outer diameter of said second capstan pulley, the contact between said second capstan belt and said second capstan pulley defining a second arc of contact; wherein said second arc of contact is at least 20° greater than said first arc of contact.
- 26. The apparatus described in claim 25, wherein said first arc of contact is equal to or greater than 105°, and said second arc of contact is equal to or greater than 153°.
- 27. The apparatus described in claim 25, wherein said first capstan belt and said second capstan belt each have a width of equal to or greater than about 1.5 inches and a thickness of equal to or less than about 0.6 mm.
- 28. The apparatus described in claim 25, wherein said first width of said first capstan and said second width of said second capstan belt each have a lateral modulus of elasticity, and said first length of said first capstan and said second length of said second capstan belt each have a longitudinal modulus of elasticity, and wherein said lateral modulus of elasticity is between about ⅕ and about ⅙ of the longitudinal modulus elasticity.
- 29. The apparatus described in claim 25, further including:a set of at least three idler pulleys encircled by said first capstan belt.
- 30. The apparatus described in claim 29, wherein at least one of said first set of idler pulleys is adjustable such that adjustment of said at least one of said first set of idler pulleys adjusts the tension in said first capstan belt.
- 31. The apparatus described in claim 29, wherein said pulleys of said first set are spaced through an arc of about 180° around said first capstan pulley.
- 32. The apparatus described in claim 29, further including:a second set of at least three idler pulleys encircled by said second capstan belt.
- 33. The apparatus described in claim 32, wherein at least one of said second set of idler pulleys is adjustable such that adjustment of said at least one of said second set of idler pulleys adjusts the tension in said second capstan belt.
- 34. The apparatus described in claim 32, wherein said pulleys of said second set are spaced through an arc of about 180° around said second capstan pulley.
- 35. A method for proof testing an optical waveguide fiber, said method comprising:providing an optical fiber; drawing the fiber between a first rotating capstan and a first capstan belt through a first arc of contact; and drawing the fiber between a second rotating capstan and a second capstan belt through a second arc of contact that is at least 20° greater than the first arc of contact wherein the arc of contact is defined as an arc through which the respective belt contacts the outer circumference of the corresponding rotating capstan.
- 36. The method described in claim 35, further including:testing the proof strength of the optical fiber by rotating the second capstan to obtain a faster surface speed than that of the first capstan.
- 37. The method described in claim 35, wherein said drawing steps include employing capstan belts with a width equal to or greater than about 1.5 inches.
- 38. The method described in claim 35, wherein said drawing steps include employing capstan belts with a thickness equal to or less than 0.6 mm.
- 39. The method described in claim 35, wherein said drawing steps include employing capstan belts that have a lateral modulus of elasticity that is between about ⅕ and ⅙ the longitudinal modulus of elasticity of the capstan belts.
Parent Case Info
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/190,860, filed Mar. 20, 2000 and PCT Application Number PCT/US01/03870, filed Feb. 6, 2001.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US01/03870 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO01/71304 |
9/27/2001 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 785 173 |
Jul 1997 |
FR |
WO 0151911 |
Jul 2001 |
WO |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Patent Abstracts of Japan, JP 60179625, Feb. 27, 1984, T. Yoshimitsu; Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp. |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/190860 |
Mar 2000 |
US |