Power and control cable for healthcare facilities

• US 10,347,395 B1
• Filed: 03/19/2018
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southwire Company
• Original Assignee: Southwire Company
• Inventors: Jackson, Roy, McCardel, David Brian, Godfrey, Carol Elsen, Temblador, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau N
• Application Number:
  US15/925,462
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 174113 R, 174102 R
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/17 Protection against damage caused by external factors, e.g. sheaths or armouring
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/003 including electrical control or communication wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/023 composed of helicoidally wound tape-conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/028 with screen grounding means, e.g. drain wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0468 Corrugated

Abstract

A metal clad cable for healthcare facilities including a first ground conductor, a phase conductor in contact with the first ground conductor, a neutral conductor positioned in contact with the first ground conductor and the phase conductor, a control conductor assembly including a first control conductor and a second control conductor positioned in contact with the phase conductor and the neutral conductor in a valley between the phase conductor and the neutral conductor. The control conductor assembly, the first ground, the phase conductor and the neutral conductor are wrapped in a binder tape forming a core. A second ground conductor is positioned outside the binder tape of the core located away from the control conductor assembly with no contact with the control conductor assembly, and an interlock armor disposed over the core and the second ground conductor, the second ground conductor is maintained in contact with the interlock armor.

Claims

1. A metal clad cable, comprising:

a first ground conductor having a first diameter;

a phase conductor or neutral conductor positioned adjacent to the first ground conductor and in contact with the first ground conductor;

a control conductor assembly including a first control conductor and a second control conductor, wherein the control conductor assembly is positioned away from direct contact with any valley at least partially formed by a second ground conductor having a second diameter positioned outside a binder tape of a core, and the control conductor assembly, the first ground conductor, the phase conductor, and the neutral conductor are wrapped in the binder tape to form the core;

the second ground conductor having the second diameter positioned outside the binder tape of the core, the second ground conductor being located relative to the control conductor assembly such that the second ground conductor is not in contact with the control conductor assembly; and

an interlock armor disposed over the core and the second ground conductor such that the second ground conductor is maintained in contact with the interlock armor.

2. The metal clad cable according to claim 1, wherein the second diameter of the second ground conductor is greater than the first diameter of the first ground conductor.

3. The metal clad cable according to claim 1, wherein the second ground conductor is located in a valley between the first ground conductor and the neutral conductor.

4. The metal clad cable according to claim 1, wherein the second ground conductor is located in a valley between the first ground conductor and the phase conductor.

5. The metal clad cable according to claim 1, wherein the interlock armor has a circular or an oval cross-section.

6. The metal clad cable according to claim 5, wherein the interlock armor includes identification indicia on a circumference of the interlock armor.

7. The metal clad cable according to claim 6, wherein the indicia indicates a circuit type.

8. The metal clad cable assembly according to claim 1, where the core comprises a set of conductors each configured to operate as class 2 or class 3 circuit conductors in accordance with Article 725 of the National Electrical Code®

.

9. A method of assembling a metal clad cable, the method comprising:

assembling a first ground conductor adjacent to and in contact with a phase conductor or a neutral conductor

positioning a control conductor assembly away from direct contact with any valley at least partially formed by a second ground conductor having a second diameter that is to be positioned outside a binder tape of a core;

wrapping the binder tape around the first ground conductor, the phase conductor, the neutral conductor, and the control conductor assembly to form the core;

positioning the second ground conductor outside the binder tape of the core and spaced away from the control conductor assembly; and

covering the core and the second ground conductor with an interlock armor ensuring the second ground conductor is in contact with the interlock armor along a length of the metal clad cable.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the second ground conductor is located in a valley between the first ground conductor and the neutral conductor.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the second ground conductor is located in a valley between the first ground conductor and the phase conductor.