Abstract:
A plasma flame is generated in an interior volume of a tubular member to be a radially directed plasma flame, directed to an inside surface of the tubular member, and reagent chemicals are injected to form soot particles, and the soot particles are deposited on the inner surface by the plasma flame. The plasma flame is generated by establishing an electromagnetic field in a region in the tube interior and inserting a plasma gas feeder nozzle into the tube interior, with the nozzle structured to emit plasma gas in a manner forming the radially directed plasma flame.
Abstract:
A plurality of glass deposition targets are rotated simultaneously and a first plasma torch, having a coil diameter larger than the sum of the target diameters, deposits glass simultaneously on the plurality. After the diameter of the targets reaches a threshold a second plasma torch is used. The diameter of the second plasma torch can provide for simultaneous deposition. In a further embodiment, after the target diameter reaches a second threshold a third plasma torch is used. In a further embodiment the spacing between the axes of rotation of the targets is widened as the target diameter increases. In a still further embodiment a single plasma torch includes movable concentric tubes within its coil to selectively operate as any of a plurality of different diameter plasma torches.
Abstract:
A plasma flame is generated in an interior volume of a tubular member to be a radially directed plasma flame, directed to an inside surface of the tubular member, and reagent chemicals are injected to form soot particles, and the soot particles are deposited on the inner surface by the plasma flame. The plasma flame is generated by establishing an electromagnetic field in a regi on in the tube interior and inserting a plasma gas feeder nozzle into the tube interior, with the nozzle structure to emit plasma gas in a manner forming t he radially directed plasma flame.
Abstract:
A plasma gas flows along a gas line (42) to a plasmatron torch (40). A sourc e gas also flows to the plasmatron torch (40) along a line (44). This creates a reaction product which deposits onto a target (34) . This creates a tubular body which can be used to make optical fibers.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for making optical fiber preforms using simultaneous plasma deposition on the inside and outside surface of a starting tube. A starting tubular member (12) is rotated, CFOT chemicals (22) are selectively injected into the plasma torch (16) and CFIT chemicals (24) are selectively injected to flow through the hollow of the tube (12). The plasma torch is traversed along the tubular member to simultaneously deposit soot on the inside and outside surface. The soot on one or both surfaces may be consolidated into a silica layer as it is deposited. The plasma torch (16) is traversed again to deposit additional soot, and/or consolidate previously deposited soot, on one or both surfaces. The process is repeated until a predetermined amount of silica is formed on the tubular member. The tubular member is then collapsed. Optionally, additional plasma deposition is performed during or after the collapsing.
Abstract:
AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A TUBULAR MEMBER, WHICH IS SUITABLE FOR USE AS A STARTER TUBE OR AN OPTICAL FIBER PREFORM, ON A ROTATING CYLINDRICAL TARGET MOUNTED ON A LATHE. THE TUBULAR MEMBER IS MADE BY MEANS OF PLASMA OUTSIDE VAPOR DEPOSITION. IN THIS PROCESS, A SOURCE GAS COMPRISING SIC14 AND, OPTIONALLY, A FLUORINE-LADEN CHEMICAL, IS INTRODUCED INTO AN AIR PLASMA.BOTH THE AIR AND THE SOURCE GAS ARE DRY GASES AND HAVE LOW HYDROXYL CONTENT. THE AIR PLASMA IS CREATED BY A HIGH-FREQUENCY PLASMATRON TORCH WHICH TRAVELS ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE TARGET ON A CARRIAGE. THE TORCH IS PROVIDED WITH A SHORT U-SHAPED GUTTER ON EITHER SIDE OF ITS RIM DIRECTLY BENEATH THE TARGET AND THE GROWING TUBULAR MEMBER. THIS GUTTER HELPS CHANNEL REACTION PRODUCTS OF THE SOURCE GAS AND THE PLASMA SO AS TO ENHANCE DEPOSITION ON THE GROWING TUBULAR MEMBER. THE TORCH IS FURTHER PROVIDED WITH AN INDUCTION COIL HAVING A PLURALITY OF WINDINGS, THE UPPERMOST WINDING BEING MAINTAINED A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM THE SURFACE OF THE TUBULAR MEMBER AS THE LATTER IS BUILT UP..FIG. 1
Abstract:
A plurality of glass deposition targets are rotated simultaneously and a first plasma torch, having a coil diameter larger than the sum of the target diameters, deposits glass simultaneously on the plurality. After the diameter of the targets reaches a threshold a second plasma torch is used. The diameter of the second plasma torch can provide for simultaneous deposition. In a further embodiment, after the target diameter reaches a second threshold a third plasma torch is used. In a further embodiment the spacing between the axes of rotation of the targets is widened as the target diameter increases. In a still further embodiment a single plasma torch includes movable concentric tubes within its coil to selectively operate as any of a plurality of different diameter plasma torches.