APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING OPTICAL FIBER PREFORMS

Apparatuses and methods for processing optical fiber preforms are disclosed. According to one aspect, an apparatus generally includes a furnace body and a muffle disposed within the furnace body. A space between the muffle and the furnace body defines a first interior volume. The muffle defines a se...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser:	Dawes, Steven Bruce, Binko, Randy Allan, Shepard, Bradley Kent, Panin, Nikolay Anatolyevich
Format:	Patent
Sprache:	eng
Schlagworte:	CHEMISTRY GLASS MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES METALLURGY MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:	Apparatuses and methods for processing optical fiber preforms are disclosed. According to one aspect, an apparatus generally includes a furnace body and a muffle disposed within the furnace body. A space between the muffle and the furnace body defines a first interior volume. The muffle defines a second interior volume sealed from the first interior volume. An annulus gas is supplied to the first interior volume and a process gas is supplied to the second interior volume. A differential pressure gauge is coupled to the interior volumes. A flow controller is coupled to at least one of the gas sources and to the differential pressure gauge. The flow controller receives a differential pressure signal from the differential pressure gauge and adjusts a flow of a gas such that the pressure differential between the first interior volume and the second interior volume is minimized.