Open AccessDevelopment of a cable reel development system using a rotary joint for kilometer lengths of two-fiber multi-mode fiber optic cable
Author(s) -
J.A. Curtiss,
J.R. Jahelka
Publication year - 1995
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/113692
Subject(s) - engineering , base station , optical fiber cable , optical fiber , electrical engineering , multi mode optical fiber , joint (building) , computer hardware , computer science , telecommunications , architectural engineering
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) recently developed a two-component system for use during remote inspections. The system consists of a mobile unit with television cameras and other equipment and a stationary base station. A variety of signals must be continually transmitted between the two system components as the mobile unit is moved from the location to another. Two channels of broadband (10MHz) NTSC video are transmitted from the mobile unit to the base station, and a bi-directional ``talk set`` provides audio communication between personnel at each location. In addition, several channels of RS-232 are required to support present and future instruments used at the mobile unit and controlled by personnel at the base station. Brookhaven developed a mobile unit which communicated with a base station over a 2-fiber multimode fiber optic cable. One of the design requirements was maintaining constant communication with the base station during the time the mobile unit was moved about. To provide uninterrupted communications, deployment of the 1-km long fiber optic cable was initially performed with a ``spinning reel`` mechanism. The spinning reel mechanism proved to be mechanically unsuitable, and so the cable deployment mechanism was redesigned to spool the cable off the reel. The requirement for uninterrupted communications required a two-channel fiber optic rotary joint in the design. Incorporation of the rotary joint into the design is described, and appropriate reference material is included