C - Chemistry – Metallurgy – 03 – B
Patent
C - Chemistry, Metallurgy
03
B
C03B 37/029 (2006.01) C03B 37/025 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 2363673
An apparatus and method for sealing the bottom of an optical waveguide draw furnace is disclosed. The apparatus includes an assembly (10) constructed and arranged to mate with the bottom (70) of the draw furnace (51) to form a seal, and a leak detection system communicating with the assembly to signal the forming of a proper or an improper seal. The covering plate (12) of the assembly is selectively seated on the sealing plate (72) of the draw furnace (51) to form the seal, and an inert gas is delivered between the covering plate (12) and the bottom (70) of the draw furnace. The flow of the inert gas is detected to determine if the seal has been properly formed. An assembly (10) including a covering plate (12) having at least two radially spaced gaskets (18, 20) circumferentially positioned on the top surface (14) of the covering plate (12) for engagement with the sealing plate (72) at the bottom (70) of the draw furnace (51), and a method for sealing the bottom of a draw furnace are also disclosed. Sealing the bottom of sucha draw furnace occurs during preform loading and unloading as well as during idle periods, i.e. those periods when no optical fiber is being drawn from the preform.
L'invention porte sur un appareil et un procédé de fermeture du fond d'un four d'étirage de guides d'onde optiques. L'appareil comporte un assemblage (10) conçu et disposé pour s'adapter au fond (70) du four (51) et constituer un joint étanche. L'invention porte également sur un système de détection de fuites communiquant avec l'assemblage pour signaler si le joint est ou non efficace. La plaque (12) de couverture de l'assemblage se pose sur la plaque (72) de fermeture du four (51) et en assure l'étanchéité. On remplit l'espace compris entre la plaque de couverture (12) et le fond (70) du four d'un gaz inerte dont le flux est détecté pour déterminer si le joint est ou non efficace. L'invention porte en outre sur un assemblage (10) comportant une plaque (12) de couverture munie d'au moins deux joints (18, 20) espacés disposés à la circonférence de la surface (14) supérieure de la plaque (12) de couverture et en contact avec la plaque (72) d'étanchéité à la base (70) du four à étirage (51), et sur un procédé de fermeture du fond d'un tel four. La fermeture du fond du four a lieu lors du chargement et du déchargement des préformes et également pendant les périodes de repos où l'étirage des fibres optiques à partir de la préforme cesse.
Ball Steven C.
Barnard John M. SR.
Snipes James A.
Ball Steven C.
Barnard John M. SR.
Corning Incorporated
Gowling Lafleur Henderson Llp
Snipes James A.
LandOfFree
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