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,at least one electrical power conductor extending longitudinally of and alongside said core,an insulating layer of a first polymer material surrounding each electrical power conductor,at least one strength member extending longitudinally of and alongside said core, andan outer protective jacket of a second polymer material surrounding and encasing said core, said at least one strength member and said insulating layer of each electrical power conductor, said protective jacket 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 mechanically separate phase from said first polymer material.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A composite fiber optic and electrical cable having a core which loosely contains at least one optical fiber, one or more electrical conductors having an outer polymer insulating layer, one or more strength members and a surrounding protective jacket. The protective jacket is formed of a polymer material which forms a distinct mechanically separate phase from the polymer material forming the insulation layer surrounding the respective electrical conductors. For example, the jacket can be 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 devices. The cable is manufactured by advancing the core, the electrical conductors and the strength members through an extruder which forms the protective jacket thereabout. The core can be supplied from a storage reel or can be fabricated in-line just prior to extruding the jacket around the buffer tube, the electrical conductors and the strength members, by extruding a buffer tube loosely around the optic fibers.
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Citations
33 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, at least one electrical power conductor extending longitudinally of and alongside said core, an insulating layer of a first polymer material surrounding each electrical power conductor, at least one strength member extending longitudinally of and alongside said core, and an outer protective jacket of a second polymer material surrounding and encasing said core, said at least one strength member and said insulating layer of each electrical power conductor, said protective jacket 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 mechanically 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)
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17. 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 to thereby from an elongate core, at least one electrical power conductor extending longitudinally of and alongside said core, an insulating layer of a first polymer material individually surrounding each electrical power conductor, at least one strength member extending longitudinally of and alongside said core, and an outer protective jacket of a second polymer material surrounding and encasing said core, said at least one strength member and said insulating layer of each electrical power conductor, 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 to thereby facilitate separation of said outer jacket from said insulating layer of each electrical power conductor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. 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 at least one power conductor, 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, advancing at least one strength member along a path of travel adjacent to said path of travel of the core, and extruding an outer protective jacket around said core, said at least one power conductor and said at least one strength member such that the outer jacket surrounds and encases each conductor and each strength member, 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 mechanically separate phase from the first polymer material. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification