An optical cable includes: an optical fiber unit where a plurality of optical fibers are wrapped with a wrapping tape; at least three tensile strength members disposed in parallel with and on an outer side of the optical fiber unit at intervals in a circumferential direction; and a sheath that coats the optical fiber unit and the tensile strength members and that is disposed between the optical fiber unit and the tensile strength members. An inner wall surface of the sheath formed between the optical fiber unit and the tensile strength members protrudes toward a cable center in comparison with an inner wall surface of the sheath where none of the tensile strength members are disposed. A portion of the wrapping tape disposed on the inner wall surface that protrudes toward the cable center is depressed toward the cable center.

A cable storage device (100) includes a removal station (110) and a storage spool (120). Slack length of the cable (190) is advanced into the cable storage device. At least a jacket (195) of the cable (190) is removed at the removal station (110). At least a signal-carrying portion of the cable (190) is wound at the storage spool (120). The removed jacket (195) exits the cable storage device (100). The cable (190) can be axially secured at the cable storage device (100). Certain types of spools can index the cable.

A fiber cable may be neatly and efficiently cut if the razor edge is held in a fixed position while the cable is pulled along a cutting channel. The cable may be first cut to remove the outer layer prior to cutting further layers. One example may have a double cable splitting device with two sets of channels that include razors in each of the channels which locks in to position to secure the cable and razor against the cable during a cutting procedure.

A stripping tool configured to sequentially strip the layers of a cable, such as a fiber optic cable. The stripping tool includes multiple channels, each with a distinct role in stripping a layer of the fiber optic tool. The user sequentially moves the cable from channel-to-channel while operating the tool. At the conclusion of these operations the cable is appropriately stripped and ready for a subsequent operation.

An optical fiber cable includes: a core comprising gathered optical fibers; an inner sheath housing the core; a wire body embedded in the inner sheath; tension members embedded in the inner sheath, wherein the core is interposed between the tension members; a reinforcing sheet that covers the inner sheath; and an outer sheath that covers the reinforcing sheet, wherein in the inner sheath, t.sub.i<T.sub.i and t.sub.o<T.sub.o are satisfied, where a thickness of a radially inner portion between the core and the wire body is t.sub.i, a thickness of a radially inner portion between the core and each of the tension members is T.sub.i, a thickness of a radially outer portion between the wire body and the reinforcing sheet is t.sub.o, a thickness of a radially outer portion between each of the tension members and the reinforcing sheet is T.sub.o.

A fiber optic cable includes core elements wound in a pattern of stranding, the core elements comprising tubes surrounding optical fibers. The fiber optic cable further includes an binder film surrounding the stranded core elements. The binder film is continuous peripherally around the core elements, forming a continuous closed loop when viewed in cross-section, and continuous lengthwise along a length of the cable that is at least a meter. Further, the binder film is in radial tension and opposes outwardly transverse deflection of the core elements.

A coating removal tool includes a base part and a cover part, to remove a coating of an optical fiber by overlapping the cover part and the base part. The base part and the cover part are made of resin, and include at least a pair of coating removal blades including a base front blade portion provided on the base part and a cover front blade portion provided on the cover part. The base part includes a V-groove which sandwiches the optical fiber in either one or both of a front and rear of the optical fiber in the longitudinal direction and the cover part includes a V-groove which sandwiches the optical fiber and is provided on a side where the V-groove exists in the front and rear of the longitudinal direction in a state where the cover part and the base part are overlapped.

An optical fiber cable includes: a cable body that includes an optical fiber; an external sheath that accommodates the cable body; a protective layer that is disposed between the cable body and the external sheath and that includes a first groove on an inner circumferential surface of the protective layer, wherein the first groove extends along an axial direction of the cable body; and a first ripcord disposed in the first groove and between the cable body and the protective layer.

An adjustable cable slitter includes two components each comprising a main body portion, a coupling device at one end of the main body portion and a T-shaped handle disposed at an opposite end of the main body portion. The coupling device couples the two components together allowing the two components to rotate and be expanded. A channel runs along an interior length of each of the main body portions. A blade housing on at least one of the components of the main body portion securely holds a knife blade with a predetermined amount of cutting edge protruding into the channel. The knife blade tip can be oriented to cut a circumferential cut in the cable sheath or a longitudinal cut along the length of the cable. The exposed portion of the blade pierces the sheath cutting the cable near its end or in a middle of the cable.

A fiber optic drop cable may include a buffer tube having a diameter between approximately 2.20 mm and approximately 3.20 mm to facilitate housing of at least twelve optical fibers. First and second strength rod may be respectively positioned on opposite sides of the buffer tube, and each strength rod may have a diameter between approximately 1.25 mm and approximately 2.10 mm. Additionally, a jacket may be formed around the buffer tube and the strength rods. The jacket may have an elongated cross-sectional shape with a major dimension between approximately 8.0 mm and approximately 9.5 mm and a minor dimension between approximately 4.0 mm and approximately 4.4 mm.