Composite fiber optic and electrical cable and associated fabrication method
First Claim
1. A composite fiber optic and electrical cable comprising:
- an elongate core,at least one optical fiber extending longitudinally within said core,a pair of electrical power conductors extending longitudinally of and alongside said core,an insulating layer of a first polymer material surrounding each of said electrical power conductors, andan outer jacket of a second polymer material surrounding said core and surrounding and encasing said electrical power conductors and their respective insulating layers and having properties enabling said outer jacket to be separated from said insulating layers, wherein said second polymer material is of a composition which forms a distinct mechanical separate phase from said first polymer material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A composite fiber optic and electrical cable having a core which loosely contains at least one optical fiber, a pair of copper clad steel electrical conductors having an outer polymer insulating layer, and a polymer jacket. The jacket is made of a polymer material having a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of the insulating material of the electrical conductors. As a result, the polymer jacket does not bond with the insulating material during production of the cable. The jacket can thus be easily stripped from the electrical conductors during installation of the cable to facilitate the attachment of the electrical conductors to a signal repeater, or power source, or other electrical device. The cable is manufactured by advancing the core and electrical conductors through an extruder which forms the jacket around the core and electrical conductors. The core may be supplied from a storage reel or may be fabricated just prior to extruding the jacket around the buffer tube and electrical conductors, by extruding a buffer tube loosely around the optic fibers and then surrounding the buffer tube with a reinforcing layer.
223 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A composite fiber optic and electrical cable comprising:
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an elongate core, at least one optical fiber extending longitudinally within said core, a pair of electrical power conductors extending longitudinally of and alongside said core, an insulating layer of a first polymer material surrounding each of said electrical power conductors, and an outer jacket of a second polymer material surrounding said core and surrounding and encasing said electrical power conductors and their respective insulating layers and having properties enabling said outer jacket to be separated from said insulating layers, wherein said second polymer material is of a composition which forms a distinct mechanical separate phase from said first polymer material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A composite fiber optic and electrical cable comprising:
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at least one optical fiber, an elongate buffer tube loosely surrounding said at least one optical fiber, a reinforcing layer surrounding said buffer tube thereby forming a core with said buffer tube, a pair of electrical power conductors extending longitudinally of and alongside said core disposed on diametrically opposite sides of said core, an insulating layer of a first polymer material individually surrounding each of said electrical power conductors, an outer jacket of a second polymer material surrounding said core and surrounding said electrical power conductors and their respective insulating layers, said second polymer material having a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of said first polymer material, and said second polymer material forming a distinct separate phase from said first polymer material, and at least one rip-cord extending longitudinally of said cable within said outer jacket and disposed adjacent one of said electrical power conductors to facilitate separation of said outer jacket from said cable. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A composite fiber optic and electrical cable comprising:
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at least one optical fiber, an elongate buffer tube loosely surrounding said at least one optical fiber, a reinforcing layer surrounding said buffer tube thereby forming a core with said buffer tube, a pair of electrical power conductors extending longitudinally of and alongside said core disposed on diametrically opposite sides of said core, each of said electrical power conductors comprising a conductor core and an electrically conductive outer layer of greater conductivity than said conductor core, an insulating layer of a first polymer material individually surrounding each of said electrical power conductors, and an outer jacket of a second polymer material surrounding said core and surrounding said electrical power conductors and their respective insulating layers, said second polymer material having a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of said first polymer material, and said second polymer material forming a distinct separate phase from said first polymer material. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of producing a composite fiber optic and electrical cable comprising:
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advancing a core, containing within it at least one optical fiber, along a path of travel, advancing a pair of power conductors, each surrounded by an insulating layer made of a first polymer material, along a path of travel adjacent to said path of travel of the core, and extruding an outer jacket around said core and said power conductors such that the outer jacket surrounds and encases each of said power conductors, wherein the outer jacket is made of a second polymer material having properties enabling said outer jacket to be separated from said insulating layers, and wherein the second polymer material is of a composition which forms a distinct mechanical separate phase from the first polymer material. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of producing a composite fiber optic and electrical cable comprising:
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advancing at least one optical fiber along a path of travel, extruding a loosely fitting buffer tube around the fiber or fibers, applying a layer of reinforcing material to the outer surface of said buffer tube to form a core, advancing a pair of power conductors along two paths of travel alongside the core and on diametrically opposite sides of said core, each power conductor being surrounded by an insulating layer made of a first polymer material, advancing at least one rip-cord along a path of travel adjacent to the path of travel of the core, and extruding an outer jacket around said core, said power conductors and said at least one rip cord, said outer jacket being made of a second polymer material having a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of said first polymer material.
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Specification