Underwater fibre optic cable - has optical fibre lying along sinusoidal path within oblong section tube, allowing relative movement between tube and fibre

The fibre optic cable includes an oblong tube (1) which houses an optical fibre. Four insulated electrical conductors (17,18,19,20) lie two on each side of the tube. The assembly is protected by two layers of high strength steel wires (21,22) twisted around the cable in opposite directions. The optical fibre lies in the tube along a sinusoidal path, touching the two sides of the tube alternately. This fibre is thus longer than the tube, and is able to flex to accommodate variations in the length of the tube. The 'wavelength' of the sine wave is sufficiently long to ensure that the fibre only flexes within acceptable limits. The cable may be used underwater, and is able to withstand temperature variations, or the tension applied as the cable is laid down. UN CABLE DE L'INVENTION COMPORTE AU MOINS UN TUBE 1 DE SECTION DROITE OBLONGUE DANS LEQUEL EST DISPOSE AU MOINS UNE FIBRE OPTIQUE 2, LEDIT TUBE AYANT UNE GRANDE DIMENSION SELON LAQUELLE LA FIBRE OPTIQUE EST DISPOSEE, LE LONG DU TUBE, SELON UN PROFIL D'ALLURE SINUSOIDALE.