LIGHT WEIGHT CABLE

• US 20150107866A1
• Filed: 04/24/2013
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nexans Incorporated (Nokia Corporation), Olex Australia Pty. Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nexans Incorporated (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Michael, Barber, Kenneth Willis
• Application Number:
  US14/384,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20150107866A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/6
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/023 Alloys based on aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 3/30 plastics; resins; waxes
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0275 comprising one or more extruded layers of insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/17 Protection against damage caused by external factors, e.g. sheaths or armouring
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/1825 forming part of a high tensile strength core
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/008 for overhead application

Abstract

A cable adapted for suspension between poles in a single wire earth return application is composed of three elements; a core 2.030; a conductive layer 2.032 around the core, and a jacket 2.034 over the conductive layer. The core has high tensile strength to weight ratio and can be made of a composite material such as carbon fibre and epoxy. The conductive material can be aluminium. The jacket can be made from a material having electrical insulating properties. The conductive layer can be formed as a loose tube (7.072) around the core and drawn down to contact the outer surface of the core.

Claims

1. An electrical cable comprising:

including a core made from a material having high tensile strength,

a conductive layer over the core, and

an outer jacket.

2. A cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is a tube the inner diameter of which is in contact with the outer surface of the core.

3. A cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is aluminium.

4. A cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer jacket is made from a material having electrical insulating properties.

5. A cable as claimed in claim 1 having an outer diameter of about 13 mm or less.

6. A cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the cable is no greater than 10 mm.

7. A cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the core has a diameter of between about 3 mm and about 8 mm.

9. A cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the conductive layer is no greater than about 2 mm and no less than about 0.2 mm.

10. A single line earth return line including a cable as claimed in claim 1.

11. An overhead power line including at least one line having a cable as claimed in claim 1.

8. A cable as claimed in claim 8, wherein the core diameter is greater than or equal to about 3.5 mm and the less than or equal to about 7 mm.

12. A method of manufacturing a suspension cable, the method including the steps of:

applying a layer of conductive material to the exterior of a core,

and applying a jacket over the layer of conductive material.

13. A method of manufacturing a cable as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of applying a layer of conductive material includes the step of wrapping a tape of conductive material around the core.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, including the steps of bonding the longitudinal sides of the tape together after the tape is wrapped around the core to form a loose tube around the core, and drawing the loose tube down to the outer surface of the core.

15. A method of manufacturing a cable as claimed in claim 12, including the steps of forming a loose tube of conductive material around the core in a continuous forming process, and drawing the loose tube down to contact the surface of the core.

16. A method of manufacturing a cable as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of applying a layer of conductive material to the core includes the step of extruding the conductive layer onto the core.