1. A device for processing optical fibers, comprising:
a pair of pulleys arranged to receive in a space between them a first optical fiber element comprising one or more optical fibers contained in a coating, and
a drive mechanism for causing the pulleys to rotate and to pull the first optical fiber element by contact between the outer surface of the first optical fiber element and the pulleys, wherein
a first pulley in the pair of pulleys comprises a circumferential first groove in a circumferential contact surface for receiving the first optical fiber element, the first groove being shaped to accommodate the first optical fiber element such that less than half of the cross sectional surface area of the first optical fiber element protrudes out of the first groove, and
a second pulley in the pair of pulleys comprises a circumferential contact surface contacting a surface of the first optical fiber element.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein at a level of a center point in the cross sectional area of the first optical fiber element the first groove has in the direction of a rotation axis of the first pulley a width corresponding substantially to the width of the first optical fiber element.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein at a level of a center point in the cross sectional area of the first optical fiber element the first groove has in the direction of a rotation axis of the first pulley a width which exceeds the width of the first optical fiber element with up to 20%.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein at a level of a center point in the cross sectional area of the first optical fiber element the first groove has in the direction of a rotation axis of the first pulley a width which exceeds the width of the first optical fiber element with 2.5 to 10%.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface of the second pulley has a circumferential part protruding into the first groove in the first pulley for enclosing the first optical fiber element in a space delimited by the first and second pulleys.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface of the second pulley has a circumferential recess and the first pulley protrudes into the recess in the second pulley for enclosing the first optical fiber element in a space delimited by the first and second pulleys.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein
one of the first and second pulleys comprises a circumferential second groove in the circumferential contact surface for receiving a second optical fiber element having different cross sectional dimensions than the first optical fiber element,
the second groove has different dimensions than the first groove for accommodating the second optical fiber element such that less than half of the cross sectional surface area of the second optical fiber element protrudes out of the second groove, and
the circumferential contact surface of the other one of the first and second pulley contacts a surface of the second optical fiber element.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential contact surface of at least one of the first and second pulleys is at least partially coated with a coating providing a roughened high friction contact surface.
9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a cooling through for a liquid via which the first optical fiber element is led to the pair of pulleys.
10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises an extruder receiving one or more optical fibers and providing a plastic coating to surround the one or more optical fibers in order to produce the first optical fiber element.
11. The device according to claim 1, wherein
the coating of the first optical fiber element is a tube and the one or more optical fibers are loosely arranged inside the tube, and
the device comprises a main capstan arranged after the pair of pulleys to pull the first optical element, and
the pair of pulleys is arranged to pull the first optical fiber element with a higher speed than the main capstan for eliminating effects of post shrinkage.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system for treating with suspended growth aerobic bacteria a fluid in a tank having a ceiling and a floor, the system comprising:
a. a pump for pumping air;
b. a conduit coupled to the pump for receiving air from the pump; and
c. an airlift tube positionable within the tank, wherein the airlift tube includes a tube interior and:
i. a diffuser located within the tube interior, connected to the conduit and arranged to diffuse air into the tube;
ii. one or more inlet ports positioned below the diffuser for receiving the fluid from within the tank; and
iii. an opening above the diffuser,
wherein the airlift tube is arranged to draw the fluid therein through the one or more inlet ports, through the diffuser and out through the opening
2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tube is made of a material that is of greater density than a density of the fluid.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a cross member extending through the tube.
4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a cord attachable to the cross member and arranged to suspend the tube from the ceiling of the tank.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a float attached to the tube and arranged to float the tube in the fluid within the tank.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a pH correction element located within the tank.
7. The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the pH correction element includes a retention basket for retaining a pH neutralizing material therein.
8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the pH neutralizing material is lime.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
a. a cross member extending through the tube;
b. a cord attachable to the cross member and arranged to suspend the tube from the ceiling of the tank;
c. a retention basket removably attached to the cord, wherein the retention basket includes a lime pH neutralizing material therein.
10. The system of claim 1 comprising a plurality of the airlift tubes within the tank.
11. An airlift tube for treating with suspended growth aerobic bacteria a fluid in a tank having a ceiling and a floor, the airlift tube positionable within the tank, the airlift tube comprising
a. a tube interior;
b. a diffuser located within the interior of the tube, connectable to a source of air and arranged to diffuse the air into the interior of the tube;
c. one or more inlet ports positioned below the diffuser for receiving the fluid from within the tank; and
d. an opening above the diffuser,
wherein the airlift tube is arranged to draw the fluid therein through the one or more inlet ports, through the diffuser and out through the opening.
12. The tube as claimed in claim 11 made of a material that is of greater density than a density of the fluid.
13. The tube as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a cross member extending through the tube.
14. The tube as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a cord attachable to the cross member and arranged to suspend the tube from the ceiling of the tank.
15. The tube as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a float attached to the tube and arranged to float the tube in the fluid within the tank.
16. The tube as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a pH correction element located within the tank.
17. The tube as claimed in claim 16 wherein the pH correction element includes a retention basket for retaining a pH neutralizing material therein.
18. The tube as claimed in claim 17 wherein the pH neutralizing material is lime.
19. A method of treating a waste fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
a. directing the waste fluid through an inlet of a fluid containment tank and into an interior of the containment tank;
b. agitating the waste fluid within the tank;
c. exposing the waste fluid to suspension growth aerobic bacteria within the tank; and
d. transferring the waste fluid treated by agitation and exposure to the suspension growth aerobic bacteria out of the containment tank through an outlet, wherein the steps of agitating and exposing are carried out in an airlift tube within the interior of the containment tank, the airlift tube including:
i. a tube interior;
ii. a diffuser located within the interior of the tube, connectable to a source of air and arranged td diffuse the air into the interior of the tube;
iii. one or more inlet ports positioned below the diffuser for receiving the fluid from within the tank; and
iv. an opening above the diffuser,
wherein the airlift tube is arranged to draw the waste fluid therein through the one or more inlet ports, through the diffuser and out through the opening.
20. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising the step of suspending the airlift tube within the tank.
21. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising the step of adding a pH retention element into the tank, wherein the pH retention element is configured to retain a pH neutralizing material therein.
22. The method of claim 19 including the use of a plurality of the airlift tubes in tank.
23. A kit for use in the treatment of a waste fluid in a tank having a floor and a ceiling, the kit comprising:
a. an airlift tube;
b. a diffuser;
c. an air conduit;
d. a diffuser bracket; and
e. instructions for installing the airlift tube in the tank, wherein the instructions include:
i. placing the tube in a selectable position within the tank;
ii. inserting the bracket into the tube;
iii. placing the diffuser on the bracket;
iv. inserting the conduit into the tank;
v. connecting a first end of the conduit to the diffuser; and
vi. connecting a second end of the conduit to a pump.
24. The kit of claim 23 wherein the instructions for installing include the step of placing the tube on the floor of the tank.
25. The kit of claim 23 wherein the instructions for installing include the step of connecting the tube to the ceiling of the tank.
26. The kit of claim 23 wherein the instructions for installing include the step of floating the tube in the tank.
27. The kit of claim 23 further comprising a pH correction element.
28. The kit of claim 27 wherein the pH correction element includes lime chips.