Cable separator spline

• US 20030132021A1
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belden Technologies, LLC (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Belden Technologies, LLC (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Gareis, Galen M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,855,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/113C
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/04 with pairs or quads mutually positioned to reduce cross-talk
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/06 with means for reducing effects of electromagnetic or electrostatic disturbances, e.g. screens

Abstract

A cable separator spline and a cable containing the cable separator spline in its core. The spline extends longitudinally and has a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending open pockets in which cables, such as twisted pair cables, can be placed and form part of the core. A cross-section of the spline has a major axis and a minor axis with the major axis being longer than the minor axis. At least one and preferably at least two pockets are on the major axis, and at least one and preferably at least two pockets are on the minor axis. The core containing the twisted pair cables in the pockets can of course be shielded and jacketed, just jacketed or any other desired cable construction that would benefit from the use of my elongated separator spline.

Claims

1. A cable separator spline comprising:

a longitudinally extending spline having a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending open pockets,

a cross-section of said spline having a major axis and a minor axis,

at least one pocket being on the major axis, and

at least one pocket being on the minor axis.

2. The spline of claim 1 wherein,

said major axis is substantially perpendicular to said minor axis, and

each of said pockets longitudinally extending substantially parallel to each other.

3. The spline of claim 2 wherein,

each of said pockets have a cross-sectional area which is 75% or less than a cross-sectional area of a circular envelope of a cable to be placed in said pocket.

4. The spline of claim 1 wherein,

said spline has first, second, third, and fourth spaced longitudinally extending open pockets,

a cross-section of said spline having a major axis and a minor axis,

said first and second pockets having substantially the same cross-sectional area, and

said third and fourth pockets having substantially the same cross-sectional area.

5. The spline of claim 4 wherein,

said major axis is substantially perpendicular to said minor axis,

said third and fourth pockets having substantially the same cross-sectional area,

said first, second, third, and fourth pockets longitudinally extending substantially parallel to each other, and

each of said pockets have a cross-sectional area which is 75% or less than a cross-sectional area of a circular envelope of a cable to be placed in said pocket.

6. The spline of claim 5, wherein

said first and second pockets having a depth greater than a depth of said third and fourth pockets, and

each of said pockets have a cross-sectional area of about 25% to 75% the cross-sectional area of the circular envelope of the cable to be placed in said pocket.

7. A communication cable comprising:

a cable core surrounded by a jacket,

said cable core having

a longitudinally extending spline having first, second, third, and fourth spaced longitudinally extending open pockets for separating four twisted pair cables,

a cross-section of said spline having a major axis and a minor axis,

said major axis being substantially perpendicular to said minor axis,

said first and second pockets been diametrically spaced from each other and being on the major axis,

a twisted pair cable having a long lay being in each of said first and second pockets,

said third and fourth pockets been diametrically spaced from each other and being on the minor axis,

a twisted pair cable having a shot lay being in each of said third and fourth pockets,

said first and second pockets having substantially the same cross-sectional area,

said third and fourth pockets having substantially the same cross-sectional area,

each of said first, second, third, and fourth pockets longitudinally extending substantially parallel to each other,

said first and second pockets having a depth greater than a depth of said third and fourth pockets, and

each of said first, second, third, and fourth pockets having a cross-sectional area which is 25% to 75% of the cross-sectional area of a circular envelope of the twisted pair cable in said pocket.

8. A communication cable comprising:

a cable core surrounded by a jacket,

said cable core having

a longitudinally extending spline having a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending open pockets,

a cross-section of said spline having a major axis and a minor axis,

at least one pocket being on the major axis,

at least one pocket being on the minor axis, and

at least one cable in at least two of said pockets.

9. The communication cable of claim 8 wherein,

said major axis is substantially perpendicular to said minor axis, and

each of said pockets longitudinally extending substantially parallel to each other.

10. The communication cable of claim 9 wherein,

each of said pockets have a cross-sectional area which is 75% or less than a cross-sectional area of a circular envelope of the cable in said pocket.

11. The communication cable of claim 9 wherein,

said spline has first, second, third, and fourth spaced longitudinally extending open pockets,

a cross-section of said spline having a major axis and a minor axis,

said first and second pockets having substantially the same cross-sectional area, and

said third and fourth pockets having substantially the same cross-sectional area.

12. The communication cable of claim 11 wherein,

said major axis is substantially perpendicular to said minor axis,

said third and fourth pockets having substantially the same cross-sectional area,

said first, second, third, and fourth pockets longitudinally extending substantially parallel to each other,

a twisted pair cable having a cross-sectional area of a circular envelope being in each of said pockets, and

each of said pockets having a cross-sectional area which is 75% or less than the cross-sectional area of the circular envelope of the twisted pair cable in said pocket.

13. The communication cable of claim 12, wherein

said first and second pockets having a depth greater than a depth of said third and fourth pockets, and

each of said pockets have a cross-sectional area of about 25% to 75% the cross-sectional area of the circular envelope of the cable in said pocket.

14. The communication cable of claim 10, wherein

a shield surrounds said core and said jacket surrounds the shielded core.

15. The communication cable of claim 11, wherein

a shield surrounds said core and said jacket surrounds the shielded core.

16. The communication cable of claim 13, wherein

a shield surrounds said core and said jacket surrounds the shielded core.