An apparatus for reducing fiber whip damage to optical fiber wound on a fiber winding spool is provided. The apparatus includes a fiber entry feed mechanism operatively coupled to the fiber winding spool to feed the optical fiber onto the fiber winding spool. The apparatus also includes a whip shield arranged to substantially surround the fiber winding spool. The whip shield includes a first surface aligned with and facing the fiber winding spool within an entry slot that is laterally offset from a second surface. The first surface transitions to the second surface such that a loose end of the optical fiber is initially directed into the entry slot away from the fiber winding spool and transitions to the second surface.

A method of laying an optical fiber comprises providing a continuous optical fiber, a first segment of optical-electrical hybrid cable having a first fiber receiving tube, and a second segment of optical-electrical hybrid cable having a second fiber receiving tube. The optical fiber is laid into the first fiber receiving tube using an air-blowing device. A leading end of the optical fiber is fixed in a transfer apparatus after the leading end passes through an outlet of the first fiber receiving tube. A portion of the optical fiber which has passed through the first segment is wound in the transfer apparatus until the optical fiber is completely laid in the first segment. The leading end of the optical fiber is detached from the transfer apparatus. The portion of the optical fiber which has passed through the first segment is laid into the second fiber receiving tube using the air-blowing device.

A reel enclosure includes a base and a door pivotally coupled with the base. The door is movable between a first closed position and a second open position and is configured to hold a reel at an interior surface of the door. The reel is configured to have cable wound thereon. In the first closed position, the base is configured to prevent the reel from rotating relative to the door and the base, and, in the second open position, the door is configured to hold the reel outside of an interior of the base and permit the reel to rotate relative to the door and the base.

A reel enclosure includes a base and a door pivotally coupled with the base. The door is movable between a first closed position and a second open position and is configured to hold a reel at an interior surface of the door. The reel is configured to have cable wound thereon. In the first closed position, the base is configured to prevent the reel from rotating relative to the door and the base, and, in the second open position, the door is configured to hold the reel outside of an interior of the base and permit the reel to rotate relative to the door and the base.

A telecommunications cable spool for storing, paying-out, and reeling-in a telecommunications cable includes a spool, an axis of rotation, and a rotatable cable guide mounted about the axis. The spool defines a wrapping area that receives a plurality of wraps of the cable and defines a circumference. The axis passes through the spool within the circumference. The guide defines a rotating cable guide path with a first end adjacent the wrapping area and a second end positioned near the axis. The first end of the path is oriented at least partially tangential to the circumference, and the second end of the path is oriented at least partially aligned with the axis. The cable is routed along a cable route that extends between first and second ends with a storage portion between the ends of the route. The route includes a transitional portion along the guide path between the storage portion and the second end of the route. A portion of the transitional portion is routed through a center of the storage portion. A deployed portion of the cable is paid-out from the second end of the cable route.

A remotely controlled, tethered vehicle system is comprised of a communication network interface, a system command and control module, a power source, a tether cable spooling apparatus and a remotely controlled vehicle that is tethered to the communication, control and power source by a cable that is controlled to be dispensed from or retracted into the spooling apparatus. The spooling apparatus has a spooling mechanism that is controlled to move the cable into and out of the spooling apparatus without using a slip ring device.

A method of manufacturing an optical fiber, in which a coating is provided on a bare optical fiber, includes winding the optical fiber around a bobbin such that a strain relaxation coefficient T.sub./K is less than or equal to 292, and an one-layer strain .sub.n is greater than or equal to 0.01.

A method of manufacturing an optical fiber, in which a coating is provided on a bare optical fiber, includes winding the optical fiber around a bobbin such that a strain sensing coefficient T.sub./KL is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 973, and a one-layer strain .sub.n is greater than or equal to 0.01.

An apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber including: a drawing portion; a coating portion; and a curing portion, wherein: a direction changer which changes a direction of the bare optical fiber is disposed in any position from the drawing portion to the coating portion; the direction changer includes a guide groove which guides the bare optical fiber; a blowout port of a fluid which floats the bare optical fiber wired along the guide groove is formed along the guide groove in the guide groove; and in the blowout port, the Reynolds number in an inlet wire portion of the bare optical fiber to the guide groove and an outlet wire portion from the guide groove is greater than the Reynolds number in an intermediate portion between the inlet wire portion and the outlet wire portion.

Systems (100) and methods (1400) for operating a Spool Mechanism (SM). The methods comprise: transitioning an operational mode of SM from a first operational mode in which a drag torque is not settable to a second operational mode in which the drag torque is settable; selectively mechanically coupling a rewind motor to a spool (612) of SM by engaging a coupler (1014) in response to the SM's transition into the second operational mode; activating the rewind motor (610) such that the rewind motor applies a motor torque having a pre-defined value selected for facilitating a setting of the drag torque to an optimal value; mechanically gradually adjusting an amount of drag resistance applied to the spool by a drag mechanism (1012); and discontinuing the mechanical adjustment of the drag resistance when the spool's speed is within a threshold percentage range of a zero resistance speed.