Coaxial cable for exterior use

• US 20070051523A1
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eng, Wing
• Granted Patent: US 7,425,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/28
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/18 Coaxial cables; Analogous cables having more than one inner conductor within a common outer conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/18 Protection against damage caused by wear, mechanical force or pressure; Sheaths; Armouring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53213 Assembled to wire-type conductor

Abstract

A coaxial cable for outdoor use having at least one center conductor, at least one dielectric around the conductor with enhanced Structural Return Loss features, a woven braided shield wrapped around the dielectric with superior BNC connector pull testing features, a substantially water-proof insulating jacket wrapped around the shield, and dry floodant dispersed along the interior surface of the jacket. Additionally, an inline protector is connected to at least one end of the cable. In the case where the inline protector is female, the invention contemplates a male BNC connector crimped to the end of the cable for attachment to the protector. A kit includes a length of coaxial cable, an inline protector, and, in certain specific embodiments, a male connector to connect the cable to a female protector port.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable article of manufacture for outdoor use, the cable comprising:

a center conductor;

a dielectric around the conductor;

a shield wrapped around the dielectric;

a substantially water-proof insulating jacket wrapped around the shield, the jacket having an interior surface;

dry floodant hydroscopic powder dispersed along the interior surface of the jacket; and

an inline protector connected to at least a first end of the cable.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein the exterior diameter of the cable is approximately 0.235 inch or less.

3. The cable of claim 1, wherein the exterior diameter of the cable is approximately 0.134 inch or less.

4. The cable of claim 1, wherein water penetration of the jacket meets or exceeds GR-421-2949-CORE, Issue 1, Section 6.7 for a three foot water test for four hours.

5. The cable of claim 1, wherein the dielectric comprises insulating grade foam polyolefin.

6. The cable of claim 1, wherein the shield comprises shielding tape of aluminum-laminated foil;

and shield braid.

7. The cable of claim 1, wherein the cable withstands a cold bend test at −

20°

C. performed pursuant to SCTE IPS-TP001.

8. The cable of claim 1, wherein the inline protector comprises a female connector, and further comprising a male connector connected to the female connector and to the first end of the cable.

9. The cable of claim 1, further comprising a BNC-type connector connecting the inline protector to the cable.

10. The cable of claim 8, wherein the male connector comprises a BNC-type connector.

11. The cable of claim 1, wherein the dielectric comprises virgin, unreprocessed, material.

12. The cable of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises cable type 734.

13. The cable of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises cable type 735.

14. The cable of claim 1, wherein the conductor comprises copper.

15. The cable of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises cable type 734 and the number of conductors is selected from the following:

1, 3, 6, 9, 12, or 15.

16. The cable of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises cable type 735 and the number of conductors is selected from the following:

1, 3, 6, 9, 12, or 15.

17. A coaxial cable article of manufacture for outdoor use, the cable comprising:

a center conductor;

a dielectric around the conductor;

a braided shield wrapped around the dielectric;

a substantially water-proof insulating jacket wrapped around the shield, the jacket having an interior surface; and

dry floodant hydroscopic powder dispersed along the interior surface of the jacket,

wherein the cable withstands a BNC connector pull test result exceeding approximately 70 pounds and wherein Structural Return Loss test results exceed approximately 35 dB.

18. A kit comprising:

a length of coaxial cable having at least one end, the cable further comprising a center conductor;

a dielectric around the conductor;

a shield wrapped around the dielectric;

a substantially water-proof insulating jacket wrapped around the shield, the jacket having an interior surface; and

dry floodant hydroscopic powder dispersed along the interior surface of the jacket; and

an inline protector adopted for connection to the end of the cable.

19. The kit of claim 18, the kit further comprising a connector to connect the inline protector to the end of the cable.

20. The kit of claim 18, wherein the cable is selected from type 734 or type 735.