Flexible electrical cable and associated apparatus

• US 5,824,959 A
• Filed: 10/25/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KARL Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH (Karl Mayer Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Original Assignee: KARL Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH (Karl Mayer Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Inventors: Hoehne, Hans Juergen, Mista, Kresimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau N.
• Application Number:
  US08/740,240
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 174/117 F, 174/117 FF, 174/122 R, 174/124 R, 174/126.2
• US Class Current: 174/117.00F
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 27/02 Warp-thread guides
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 27/32 with independently-movable thread guides controlled by Jacquard mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 37/06 with warp knitting machines
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0018 Strip or foil conductors H01B7/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0869 comprising one or more armouring, tensile- or compression-resistant elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/182 comprising synthetic filaments
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/028 Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits H05K1/0283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0281 Conductive fibers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/281 by means of a preformed insulating foil H05K3/284 takes precedence

Abstract

A flexible electric cable (1) has a conductor (2,3) and a fiber layer (4,5) of electrically conductive fibers which are in contact therewith. A cable of this type (1) is particularly suitable for electrical connection between two components that can move In relation to each other, one of which carries numerous activating elements, which may be controlled by voltage pulses. In this way, cables which are under stress through vibration, bending and tension stress, etc., can retain their function over a longer period.

Claims

1. A flexible electrical cable comprising:

at least one elongate conductor including a flat strip having a wide side, the conductor being made of copper and having a maximum thickness of 0.2 mm;

a fiber layer having electrically conductive fibers disposed along and in contact with the conductor, the fiber layer being adjacent to the wide side of the flat strip and lying on only one flat side of the strip; and

an insulating sleeve of plastic encompassing said at least one conductor.

2. A flexible electrical cable according to one of claim 1, wherein said at least one conductor comprises:

a pair of conductive members arranged side by side, said fiber layer having a corresponding pair of layer portions disposed on said pair of conductive members, separately and on opposite sides.

3. A flexible electrical cable according to one of claim 1, wherein the fiber layer comprises a plurality of carbon fibers.

4. A flexible electrical cable according to one of claim 1, wherein the fiber layer fundamentally comprises:

substantially uninterrupted fibers extending longitudinally alongside the conductor.

5. A flexible electrical cable comprising:

at least one elongate conductor including a flat strip having a wide side;

a fiber layer having electrically conductive fibers disposed along and in contact with the conductor, the fiber layer being adjacent to the wide side of the flat strip; and

an insulating sleeve having a pair of sheets of plastic encompassing said at least one conductor, the conductor and the fiber layer being arranged in a region between the pair of plastic sheets, said pair of plastic sheets being welded to each other on opposite sides of the region containing the conductor and the fiber layer.

6. A flexible electrical cable according to one of claim 5, wherein the conductor is made of copper and has a maximum thickness of 0.2 mm.

7. A flexible electrical cable according to one of claim 5, wherein the fiber layer comprises a plurality of carbon fibers.

8. A flexible electrical cable according to one of claim 5, wherein the fiber layer fundamentally comprises:

substantially uninterrupted fibers extending longitudinally alongside the conductor.

9. A flexible electrical cable comprising:

at least one elongate conductor having a flat strip with a wide side;

a fiber layer having electrically conductive fibers disposed along and in contact with the conductor, the fiber layer being adjacent to the wide side of the flat strip; and

an insulating sleeve of plastic encompassing said at least one conductor, said at least one conductor including;

a pair of conductive members arranged side by side, said fiber layer having a corresponding pair of layer portions disposed on said pair of conductive members, separately and on opposite sides.