Communication wire

• US 20050167148A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Incorporated Located
• Inventors: Kenny, Robert, Johnston, Fred, Wiekhorst, David, Stutzman, Spring, Dickman, Jim L., Juengst, Scott, Stutzman, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 7,049,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/110.R
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/002 Pair constructions
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/12 Arrangements for exhibiting specific transmission characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0233 Cables with a predominant gas dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0275 comprising one or more extruded layers of insulation

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved cable comprising a twisted wire pair. Each wire in the twisted wire pair includes a conductor and a polymeric insulator surrounding the conductor. The insulator defines a plurality of channels that run along the length of the conductor. The conductor has an exterior surface that is exposed to gas within the channels. Apparatuses and methods of manufacturing the improved cable are also disclosed.

Claims

1-48. -48. (canceled)

49. A twisted wire pair comprising:

a first wire and a second wire, the first and second wires being twisted about one another;

the first wire including a first conductor and first polymeric insulator surrounding the first conductor, the first insulator defining a plurality of first insulator channels having lengths that run along the length of the first conductor, the first conductor having an exterior surface that is exposed to gas within the first channels; and

the second wire including a second conductor and a second polymeric insulator surrounding the second conductor, the second insulator defining a plurality of second insulator channels having lengths that run along the length of the second conductor, the second conductor having an exterior surface that is exposed to gas within the second channels.

50. The twisted wire pair of claim 49, wherein the first and second polymeric insulators include a polyolefin material.

51. The twisted wire pair of claim 49, wherein the first and second polymeric insulators includes a fluoropolymer material.

52. The twisted wire pair of claim 49, wherein the first and second polymeric insulators are each less than about 0.01 inches thick.

53. The twisted wire pair of claim 49, wherein the twisted wire pair passes National Fire Prevention Association test 255.

54. The twisted wire pair of claim 49, wherein the twisted wire pair passes National Fire Prevention Association test 259.

55. The twisted wire pair of claim 49, wherein the twisted wire pair passes National Fire Prevention Association test 262.

56. The twisted wire pair of claim 49, wherein an overall dielectric constant of each of the first and second wires is less than about 2.

57. The twisted wire pair of claim 49, wherein the first and second insulators are configured such that substantially no water invades the first and second insulator channels when the first and second insulators are submerged in water heated to 90 degrees C. for 30 days.

58. The twisted wire pair of claim 49, wherein inner sides of the first insulator channels are bounded by the exterior surface of the first conductor, and wherein inner sides of the second insulator channels are bounded by the exterior surface of the second conductor.

59. The twisted wire pair of claim 49, wherein the gas within the first and second channels includes air.

60. A twisted wire pair comprising:

a first wire and a second wire, the first and second wires being twisted about one another;

the first wire including a first conductor and first polymeric insulator surrounding the first conductor, the first insulator defining an interior passage that extends along a length of the first insulator, the interior passage including a central region and a peripheral region, the first conductor being positioned within the central region, the peripheral region of the interior passage including a plurality of channels that are circumferentially spaced relative to one another about the central region of the interior passage; and

the second wire including a second conductor and a second polymeric insulator surrounding the second conductor, the second insulator defining an interior passage that extends along a length of the second insulator, the interior passage including a central region and a peripheral region, the second conductor being positioned within the central region, the peripheral region of the interior passage including a plurality of channels that are circumferentially spaced relative to one another about the central region of the interior passage.

61. The twisted wire pair of claim 60, wherein the first and second polymeric insulators include a polyolefin material.

62. The twisted wire pair of claim 60, wherein the first and second polymeric insulators includes a fluoropolymer material.

63. The twisted wire pair of claim 60, wherein the first and second polymeric insulators are each less than about 0.01 inches thick.

64. The twisted wire pair of claim 60, wherein the twisted wire pair passes National Fire Prevention Association test 255.

65. The twisted wire pair of claim 60, wherein the twisted wire pair passes National Fire Prevention Association test 259.

66. The twisted wire pair of claim 60, wherein the twisted wire pair passes National Fire Prevention Association test 262.

67. The twisted wire pair of claim 60, wherein an overall dielectric constant of each of the first and second wires is less than about 2.

68. The twisted wire pair of claim 60, wherein the first and second insulators are configured such that substantially no water invades the first and second insulator channels when the first and second insulators are submerged in water heated to 90 degrees C. for 30 days.

69. A telecommunications cable comprising:

a first wire and a second wire, the first and second wires being twisted about one another; and

the first and second wires each including;

a conductor; and

polymeric insulation surrounding the conductor, the polymeric insulation defining a plurality of interior air channels having lengths that run generally along a length of the conductor, the air channels being circumferentially spaced relative to one another about the conductor, the air channels having transverse cross-sections that are not fully enclosed by the polymeric insulation, and the conductor including an exterior surface that is exposed to air within the air channels.

70. The telecommunications cable of claim 69, wherein the polymeric insulation includes a fluoropolymer material.

71. A telecommunications cable comprising:

a first wire and a second wire, the first and second wires being twisted about one another; and

the first and second wires each including;

a conductor extending along a longitudinal axis; and

polymeric insulation surrounding the conductor, the polymeric insulation defining a plurality of channels that extend generally along the longitudinal axis, the channels being circumferentially spaced relative to one another about the conductor, the channels containing gas, and the conductor including an exterior surface that bounds inner sides of the channels such that the gas within the channels is exposed to the exterior surface of the conductor.

72. The telecommunications cable of claim 71, wherein the polymeric insulation includes a fluoropolymer material.