Importance

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Abstract

Flat filaments or ribbons are deflected by a system of sheaves to converge the filaments to closing stations proximate to points at which the filaments are tangentially applied to helical surfaces of a central cylindrical core member. Successive sets of filament deflection sheaves stack the filaments into bundles or stacks which can be separated by spacer elements which are applied to a smooth core or the filaments can be inserted into helical grooves or slots in the core. Preferably, adjacent filaments forming each stack are guided to prevent contact or totally eliminate sliding friction until just prior to application in the core. The apparatus and method can be used to produce optical fiber cables, high pressure flexible composite pipes and the like in which the flat ribbons can be wound either within helical grooves formed within the core or about the cylindrical surface of a smooth core. Different numbers of filament units can be wound about the core and different numbers of filaments or ribbons can be stacked in one or more of the filament units or bundles. The apparatus and method of the invention are extremely versatile and can produce, for example, both simple and complex fiber optic and other cables including numerous flat fiber optic ribbons or filaments, or flexible composite pipes with multiple layers of helically wound flat strips, in a simple and economical manner.

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First Claim