A recirculating powder applicator includes an applicator body having an inlet on an upstream surface and an outlet on a downstream surface, wherein the inlet and outlet define a passage that extends transversely through the thickness of the applicator body, a powder conduit, an air inlet, an exhaust aperture located on one of the upstream or downstream surfaces, and a circulation chamber located on the interior of the applicator body. The powder conduit and air inlet are in fluid communication with the passage and the passage is in fluid communication with the circulation chamber. A method of applying powder to a substrate during a continuous process includes using a recirculating powder applicator.

The present disclosure provides a formfitting loose tube for optic cables. The formfitting loose tube includes a loose tube wall. The loose tube wall includes first sides, second sides, a plurality of deformation induction tabs and a plurality of fiber optics stacked together having a shape form. The plurality of deformation induction tabs includes curving sections. The curving sections intersect the first sides and the second sides at intersections. The first sides and the second sides of the loose tub wall are configured to fit the shape form of the plurality of fiber optics stacked together. The plurality of deformation induction tabs induces elastic deformation of the loose tube wall under external stress.

An optical communication cable is provided. The optical communication cable includes a cable jacket forming a central bore, a plurality of subunits having subunit sheaths, and a furcation plug coupled to the cable jacket, wherein the cable jacket defines an outer surface of the optical communication cable on an upstream side of the furcation plug and the plurality of subunits extend beyond the central bore and are exposed on a downstream side of the furcation plug such that the subunit sheaths define the outer surface of the optical communication cable. A plurality of connectors are coupled to the downstream ends of the plurality of subunits.

The present disclosure provides an optical waveguide cable. The optical waveguide cable includes one or more optical waveguide bands positioned substantially along a longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide cable. The optical waveguide cable includes one or more layers substantially concentric to the longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide cable. The one or more layers include a cylindrical enclosure. The one or more optical waveguide bands include a plurality of light transmission elements. The density of the cylindrical enclosure is at most 0.935 gram per cubic centimeter. The optical waveguide cable has a waveguide factor of about 44%. The one or more optical waveguide bands are coupled longitudinally with the cylindrical enclosure.

A recirculating powder applicator includes an applicator body having an inlet on an upstream surface and an outlet on a downstream surface, wherein the inlet and outlet define a passage that extends transversely through the thickness of the applicator body, a powder conduit, an air inlet, an exhaust aperture located on one of the upstream or downstream surfaces, and a circulation chamber located on the interior of the applicator body. The powder conduit and air inlet are in fluid communication with the passage and the passage is in fluid communication with the circulation chamber. A method of applying powder to a substrate during a continuous process includes using a recirculating powder applicator.

A low attenuation optical cable is provided. The cable includes an outer cable jacket and at least one buffer tube surrounded by the cable jacket. The cable includes a plural number of optical fibers located within the channel of the at least one buffer tube. The cable includes small sized active particles located within the buffer tube, and an average maximum outer dimension of the active particles within the buffer tube is 50 microns. The small sized active particles reduce microbending-based attenuation otherwise seen with larger sized active particles, particularly within densely packed buffer tubes.

A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a jacket of the cable, the jacket having a cavity defined therein, an optical element including an optical fiber and extending within the cavity of the jacket, and a dry water-blocking element extending along the optical element within the cavity. The dry water-blocking element is wrapped around the optical element with at least a portion of the dry water-blocking element disposed between another portion of the dry water-blocking element and the optical element, thereby defining an overlapping portion of the dry water-blocking element. The optical element interfaces with the overlapping portion to provide direct or indirect coupling between the optical element and the jacket.

Fiber blocking apparatuses couple to an outside fiber optic cable and include a damping unit that prevents damaging (e.g., micro-fracturing) optical fibers received from the outside fiber optic cable and blocks a gelatinous element from advancing out of the outside fiber optic cable. The fiber blocking apparatuses include a view port providing visibility of a routing of the optical fibers in the fiber blocking apparatuses.

A deployable fiber optic cable for pairing with a connector, the cable including a plurality of partially bonded ribbon fibers each being sized and configured to be rolled into a circular cross section; an elongate member forming a slotted core including a plurality of rounded slots for longitudinally surrounding the circular cross sections of a corresponding plurality of the plurality of partially bonded ribbon fibers; a plurality of rugged fiber tubes each located adjacent a corresponding one of the plurality of slots and wherein each of the plurality of rugged fiber tubes longitudinally surround a corresponding plurality of the plurality of partially bonded ribbon fibers; a plurality of water-blocking yarn members each surrounding a corresponding one of the plurality of rugged fiber tubes; a rugged outer jacket; and a yarn strength member located between the rugged outer jacket and the slotted core.

An optical communication cable is provided. The optical communication cable includes an outer cable layer and a plurality of optical fiber bundles surrounded by the outer cable laver. Each optical fiber bundle includes a bundle jacket surrounding a plurality of optical fiber subunits located within the bundle passage. The plurality of optical subunits are wrapped around each other within the bundle passage forming a wrapped pattern. Each optical fiber subunit includes a subunit jacket surrounding a elongate optical fiber located within the subunit passage. The cable jacket, bundle jacket and subunit jacket may be fire resistant, and strength strands of differing lengths may be located in the bundles and the subunits.