Sheathed cable for underground mining

• US 20060121777A1
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: DBT GmbH (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mundry, Sebastian M., Frank, Reiner, Tschope, Jurgen
• Granted Patent: US 7,175,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5808 formed by a metallic element crimped around the cable H01R4/185 takes precedence

Abstract

A sheathed cable for underground mining, comprising a flexible sheath (2) containing armouring (3) and receiving the electric conductors (4), a cable connector (30) being mounted on one end of the sheathed cable and comprising a one-part hollow coupling sleeve (31) which engages over the sheath (2) and receives the end of the sheathed cable in tension-resistant manner in a compression joint and also comprises a plug insert (32) connected to the sleeve (31) by a snap-in connection and receiving contact elements preferably in the form of pins (36) and sockets (37) electrically connected to the conductors (4), wherein a cable feed-through opening (39) in the hollow coupling sleeve (31) is partly filled with sealing compound (38), wherein the coupling sleeve (31) has a continuation (34) which is deformable in order to make the compression joint and exclusively receives the sheathed cable (1), sheath (2), conductors (4) and armouring (3).

Claims

1. A sheathed cable for underground mining, comprising a flexible sheath containing armouring and receiving the electric conductors, a cable connector being mounted on one end of the sheathed cable and comprising a one-part hollow coupling sleeve which engages over the sheath and receives the end of the sheathed cable in tension-resistant manner in a compression joint and also comprises a plug insert connected to the sleeve by a snap-in connection and receiving contact elements preferably in the form of pins and sockets electrically connected to the conductors, wherein a cable feed-through opening in the hollow coupling sleeve is partly filled with sealing compound, in which the coupling sleeve has a continuation which is deformable in order to make the compression joint and exclusively receives the sheathed cable, sheath, conductors and armouring.

2. A sheathed cable according to claim 1, in which the sealing compound is cast directly on the back of the contact elements

3. A sheathed cable according to claim 1, in which the coupling sleeve and the extension integrally formed thereon are of brass and are connected in tension-resistant manner to the sheathed cable exclusively via a crimp connection.

4. A sheathed cable according to claim 1, in which the armouring is bonded in the cable sheath and/or a cable with insulation surrounding the conductors is disposed inside the sheath.

5. A sheathed cable according to claim 1, in which a sensor is firmly fastened to the other end of the cable and comprises a sensor device disposed in a casing and scanning measurements or variables and converting them into electric signals, wherein a connecting element in the form of a plug or socket is fastened to the sensor casing and can be coupled to a receiving connection on an underground device, and wherein the sensor casing has a portion with a cable insertion opening at which the sensor end of the sheathed cable is fastened in tension-resistant manner and through which the conductors of the cable are firmly connected to the sensor device.

6. A sheathed cable according to claim 5, in which the sensor device is multi-part and comprises a measuring body spaced apart from an electronic measuring unit and connected thereto by electric connecting cores, wherein the conductors are firmly connected to the electronic measuring unit.

7. A sheathed cable according to claim 5, in which one-piece crimpable insertion sleeve formed integrally on the sensor casing, which surrounds the cable insertion opening, and engages over the sensor end of the sheathed cable.

8. A sheathed cable according to claim 5, in which the sheathed cable is secured in tension-resistant manner to the sensor casing by a crimp barrel.

9. A sheathed cable according to claim 8, in which the sensor casing, at or in the neighbourhood of the sensor casing portion comprising the cable insertion opening, has a collar with a web which engages under the crimp barrel.

10. A sheathed cable according to claim 5, in which the connecting element is fastened to the sensor casing by a screwable fixing ring.

11. A sheathed cable according to claim 5, in which the sensor device comprises a pressure sensor and the receiving connection is a hydraulic connection.