Fiber optic assemblies, cable, and manufacturing methods therefor

1. A fiber optic cable comprising:

at least one optical waveguide, wherein the at least one optical waveguide has a predetermined length; and

at least one water-swellable yarn, the at least one water-swellable yarn having a predetermined length, the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn being greater than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide, wherein the at least one water-swellable yarn is disposed longitudinally relative to the at least one optical waveguide so that the at least one water-swellable yarn and the at least one optical waveguide generally act as independent bodies within a common longitudinal cavity.

2. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1 , the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn being at least about 0.05% longer than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide.

3. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1 , the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn being at least about 0.1% longer than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide.

4. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1 , the at least one water-swellable yarn has a denier of about 5000 or less and comprises at least two filaments that are stranded together, and at least one of the two filaments being a water-swellable filament.

5. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1 , the at least one water-swellable yarn has a denier of about 2500 or less and comprises at least two filaments that are stranded together with about ten TPI or less during a no-load condition, and at least one of the at least two filaments being a water-swellable filament.

6. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1 , further comprising a lubricant on a portion of the at least one optical waveguide.

7. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1 , further comprising a silicone oil on a portion of the at least one optical waveguide.

8. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1 , the at least one optical waveguide being a portion of a fiber optic ribbon, the fiber optic ribbon having a predetermined ribbon length that is less than the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn.

9. The fiber optic cable according to claim 1 , further comprising a tube, the tube being the common longitudinal cavity.

10. An optical tube assembly comprising:

a tube;

at least one optical waveguide, the optical waveguide being disposed in the tube, wherein the at least one optical waveguide has a predetermined length; and

at least one water-swellable yarn, the at least one water-swellable yarn being disposed within the tube and having a predetermined length, the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn being greater than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide, wherein the at least one water-swellable yarn is disposed longitudinally relative to the at least one optical waveguide so that the at least one water-swellable yarn and the at least one optical waveguide generally act as independent bodies within the tube.

11. The optical tube assembly according to claim 10 , the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn being at least about 0.05% longer than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide.

12. The optical tube assembly according to claim 10 , the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn being at least about 0.1% longer than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide.

13. The optical tube assembly according to claim 10 , the at least one water-swellable yarn has a denier of about 5000 or less and comprises at least two filaments that are stranded together, and at least one of the two filaments being a water-swellable filament.

14. The optical tube assembly according to claim 10 , the at least one water-swellable yarn has a denier of about 2500 or less and comprises at least two filaments that are stranded together with about ten TPI or less during a no-load condition, and at least one of the at least two filaments being a water-swellable filament.

15. The optical tube assembly according to claim 10 , the at least one optical waveguide having an excess length compared with a length of the tube.

16. The optical tube assembly according to claim 10 , further comprising a lubricant on a portion of the at least one optical waveguide.

17. The optical tube assembly according to claim 10 , further comprising a silicone oil on a portion of the at least one optical waveguide.

18. The optical tube assembly according to claim 10 , the at least one optical waveguide being a portion of a fiber optic ribbon, the fiber optic ribbon having a predetermined ribbon length that is less than the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn.

19. The optical tube assembly according to claim 10 , the optical tube assembly being a portion of a cable.

20. The optical tube assembly according to claim 10 , the optical tube assembly being a portion of a cable, wherein the optical tube assembly is stranded about a central member.

21. The optical tube assembly according to claim 10 , the optical tube assembly being a portion of a figure eight cable.

22. An optical tube assembly comprising:

a tube;

at least one optical waveguide, the optical waveguide being disposed in the tube, wherein the at least one optical waveguide has a predetermined length;

a lubricant, the lubricant being disposed on a portion of the at least one optical waveguide; and

at least one water-swellable yarn, the at least one water-swellable yarn being disposed within the tube and having a predetermined length, the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn being at least about 0.05% longer than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide, wherein the at least one water-swellable yarn is disposed longitudinally relative to the at least one optical waveguide so that the at least one water-swellable yarn and the at least one optical waveguide generally act as independent bodies within the tube.

23. The optical tube assembly according to claim 22 , the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn being at least about 0.1% longer than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide.

24. The optical tube assembly according to claim 22 , the at least one water-swellable yarn has a denier of about 5000 or less and comprises at least two filaments that are stranded together, and at least one of the at least two filaments being a water-swellable filament.

25. The optical tube assembly according to claim 22 , the at least one water-swellable yarn has a denier of about 2500 or less and comprises at least two filaments that are stranded together with about ten TPI or less during a no-load condition, and at least one of the at least two filaments being a water-swellable filament.

26. The optical tube assembly according to claim 22 , the at least one optical waveguide having an excess length compared with a length of the tube.

27. The optical tube assembly according to claim 22 , the lubricant being a silicone oil.

28. The optical tube assembly according to claim 22 , the at least one optical waveguide being a portion of a fiber optic ribbon, the fiber optic ribbon having a predetermined ribbon length that is less than the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn.

29. The optical tube assembly according to claim 22 , the optical tube assembly being a portion of a cable.

30. The optical tube assembly according to claim 22 , the optical tube assembly being a portion of a cable, wherein the optical tube assembly is stranded about a central member.

31. The optical tube assembly according to claim 22 , the optical tube assembly being a portion of a figure eight cable.

32. A fiber optic cable comprising:

a central member;

a tube, the tube being stranded about the central member;

at least one optical waveguide, the optical waveguide being disposed in the tube, wherein the at least one optical waveguide has a predetermined length; and

at least one water-swellable yarn, the at least one water-swellable yarn being disposed within the tube and having a predetermined length, the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn being greater than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide, wherein the at least one water-swellable yarn is disposed longitudinally relative to the at least one optical waveguide so that the at least one water-swellable yarn and the at least one optical waveguide generally act as independent bodies within the tube.

33. The fiber optic cable according to claim 32 , the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn being at least about 0.05% longer than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide.

34. The fiber optic cable according to claim 32 , the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn being about 0.1% longer than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide.

35. The fiber optic cable according to claim 32 , the at least one water-swellable yarn has a denier of about 5000 or less and comprises at least two filaments that are stranded together, and at least one of the at least two filaments being a water-swellable filament.

36. The fiber optic cable according to claim 32 , the at least one water-swellable yarn has a denier of about 2500 or less and comprises at least two filaments that are stranded together with about ten TPI or less during a no-load condition, and at least one of the at least two filaments being a water-swellable filament.

37. The fiber optic cable according to claim 32 , the at least one optical waveguide having an excess length compared with a length of the tube.

38. The fiber optic cable according to claim 32 , further comprising a lubricant on a portion of the at least one optical waveguide.

39. The fiber optic cable according to claim 32 , further comprising a silicone oil on a portion of the at least one optical waveguide.

40. The fiber optic cable according to claim 32 , the at least one optical waveguide being a portion of a fiber optic ribbon, the fiber optic ribbon having a predetermined ribbon length that is less than the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn.

41. The fiber optic cable according to claim 32 , further comprising a jacket, the jacket being flame-retardant.

42. A method of making a fiber optic tube assembly, comprising the steps of:

paying off at least one optical waveguide, the optical waveguide having a predetermined length;

paying off at least one water-swellable yarn, the optical waveguide having a predetermined length;

maintaining the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn so that its predetermined length is greater than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide; and

extruding a tube about the at least one optical waveguide and the at least one water-swellable yarn, wherein the at least one water-swellable yarn is disposed longitudinally relative to the at least one optical waveguide so that the at least one water-swellable yarn and the at least one optical waveguide are able to act as independent bodies within the tube.

43. The method according to claim 42 , further comprising maintaining the predetermined length of the at least water-swellable yarn at least about 0.05% longer than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide.

44. The method according to claim 42 , further comprising maintaining the predetermined length of the at least water-swellable yarn at least about 0.1% longer than the predetermined length of the at least ore optical waveguide.

45. The method according to claim 42 , further comprising the step of applying a lubricant on a portion of the at least one optical waveguide.

46. The method according to claim 42 , further comprising extruding a jacket about the fiber optic tube assembly, thereby forming a fiber optic cable.

47. A fiber optic cable comprising:

at least one optical waveguide;

a lubricant, the lubricant being disposed on a portion of the at least one optical waveguide; and

at least one water-swellable yarn, the at least one water-swellable yarn has a denier of about 5000 or less and comprises at least two filaments that are stranded together, and at least one of the two filaments being a water-swellable filament, wherein the at least one water-swellable yarn is disposed longitudinally relative to the at least one optical waveguide so that the at least one water-swellable yarn and the at least one optical waveguide generally act as independent bodies within a common longitudinal cavity.

48. The fiber optic cable according to claim 47 , the at least one optical waveguide having a predetermined length and the at least one water-swellable yarn having a predetermined length, wherein the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn is greater than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide.

49. The fiber optic cable according to claim 48 , the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn being at least about 0.05% longer than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide.

50. The fiber optic cable according to claim 48 , the predetermined length of the at least one water-swellable yarn being at least about 0.1% longer than the predetermined length of the at least one optical waveguide.

51. The fiber optic cable according to claim 47 , the at least one water-swellable yarn has a denier of about 2500 or less.

52. The fiber optic cable according to claim 47 , the lubricant being a silicone oil.