TRANSMISSION MEDIUM AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH

• US 20170018332A1
• Filed: 07/14/2015
• Published: 01/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barzegar, Farhad, BARNICKEL, DONALD J., BENNETT, ROBERT, GERSZBERG, IRWIN, HENRY, PAUL SHALA, WILLIS, THOMAS M. III
• Granted Patent: US 10,044,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission medium having a core. A conductive layer forms an uninsulated outer surface of the transmission medium. The conductive layer is configured to impede accumulation of water to support propagation of first electromagnetic waves guided by the uninsulated outer surface. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A transmission medium comprising:

a core; and

a conductive layer forming an uninsulated outer surface of the transmission medium, the conductive layer configured to impede accumulation of water to support propagation of first electromagnetic waves guided by the uninsulated outer surface.

2. The transmission medium of claim 1 wherein the conductive layer comprises a plurality of conductors.

3. The transmission medium of claim 2 wherein the plurality of conductors individually have a sector cross section concentrically truncated to conform with an outer surface of the core.

4. The transmission medium of claim 2 wherein radial cavities between adjacent ones of the plurality of conductors are at least partially filled with dielectric to impede the accumulation of water in areas between the adjacent ones of the plurality of conductors where field strengths of the first electromagnetic waves are high.

5. The transmission medium of claim 2 wherein ones of the plurality of conductors individually mate with adjacent ones of the plurality of conductors to impede the accumulation of water between the adjacent ones of the plurality of conductors.

6. The transmission medium of claim 2 wherein the plurality of conductors comprise a plurality of strands that surround the core.

7. The transmission medium of claim 6 wherein at least one of the plurality of strands has a circular cross section.

8. The transmission medium of claim 2 wherein the plurality of conductors comprise a plurality of aluminum plurality strands and the core comprises a steel conductor.

9. The transmission medium of claim 8 wherein cavities between adjacent ones of the plurality of conductors are at least partially filled with dielectric to impede the accumulation of water between adjacent ones of the plurality of conductors.

10. The transmission medium of claim 1 wherein the conductive layer supports transmission of medium voltage power.

11. The transmission medium of claim 1 wherein the core includes a waveguide that supports propagation of second electromagnetic waves within the core.

12. A power line comprising:

a core; and

a plurality of conductors surrounding the core to form a conductive outer surface that supports propagation of first guided electromagnetic waves, the plurality of conductors configured to impede accumulation of water between adjacent ones of the plurality of conductors.

13. The power line of claim 12 wherein the plurality of conductors individually have a sector cross section concentrically truncated to conform with an outer surface of the core.

14. The power line of claim 13 wherein ones of the plurality of conductors individually mate with adjacent ones of the plurality of conductors to impede the accumulation of water between the adjacent ones of the plurality of conductors.

15. The power line of claim 13 wherein radial cavities between adjacent ones of the plurality of conductors are at least partially filled with dielectric to impede the accumulation of water in areas between the adjacent ones of the plurality of conductors where field strengths of the first electromagnetic waves are high.

16. The power line of claim 12 wherein the plurality of conductors comprise a plurality of strands that surround the core.

17. The power line of claim 16 wherein at least one of the plurality of strands has a circular cross section.

18. The power line of claim 12 wherein the plurality of conductors comprise a plurality of aluminum plurality strands and the core comprises a steel conductor.

19. The power line of claim 18 wherein cavities between adjacent ones of the plurality of conductors are at least partially filled with dielectric to impede the accumulation of water between the adjacent ones of the plurality of conductors.

20. The power line of claim 12 wherein the plurality of conductors support transmission of medium voltage power.

21. The power line of claim 12 wherein the core includes a guided wave cable that supports propagation of second guided electromagnetic waves within the core.

22. A method comprising:

generating a signal; and

propagating the signal as an electromagnetic wave bound to an outer surface of a power line having a core and a plurality of conductors configured to impede accumulation of water in cavities between the plurality of conductors.