Distributed cable feed system and method

• US 6,697,712 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UtilX Corporation (Novinium, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: UtilX Corporation (Novinium, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bertini, Glen J., Stagi, William Richard, Lanan, Keith W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paladini, Albert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, PAUL L
• Application Number:
  US09/559,364
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 700/9, 700/90, 700/281-283, 702/188, 239/302, 174/8, 174/10, 174/37, 523/173, 341/04, 344/37, 137/599.01, 137/599.09, 137/599.11
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/02 with screens or conductive layers, e.g. for avoiding large potential gradients
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87338 Flow passage with bypass

Abstract

The present invention provides a distributed feed system (10) for use in a cable system (12), where the cable system includes at least two cable subsystems (14a-14d). The distributed feed system is adapted to feed a performance-enhancing compound into each of the cable subsystems. The distributed feed system includes a central feed station (22) having a tank (24) for holding the performance-enhancing compound. The distributed feed system further includes an impermeable or low-permeable distribution conduit (26a-26c) that connects the central feed station to each of the cable subsystems to permit distribution of the performance-enhancing compound therethrough to each of the cable subsystems.

Claims

1. A distributed feed system for use in a cable system, the cable system including at least two cable subsystems, each cable subsystem comprising a distribution conduit and a permeable conduit extending though the cable subsystem, the distributed feed system being adapted to feed a performance enhancing compound into each of the cable subsystems and comprising:

a central feed station including a tank for holding the performance enhancing compound;

said distribution conduit connects the central feed station to each of the cable subsystems to permit distribution of the performance enhancing compound therethrough to each of the cable subsystems; and

said permeable conduit, in fluid communication with said distribution conduit, distributes and diffuses said performance enhancing compound within said cable subsystem.

2. The distributed feed system of claim 1, wherein the central feed station further comprises a first flow control system coupled to the tank and adapted to controllably release the performance-enhancing compound from the tank.

3. The distributed feed system of claim 2, wherein the first flow control system of the central feed station comprises one or more orifices.

4. The distributed feed system of claim 2, wherein the first flow control system of the central feed station comprises:

a shutoff valve; and

a flow measurement instrument coupled to the shutoff valve, the flow measurement instrument being adapted to actuate the shutoff valve upon measurement of a flow rate in excess of a predetermined value.

5. The distributed feed system of claim 2, wherein the first flow control system of the central feed station comprises an osmotic flow control device.

6. The distributed feed system of claim 5, wherein the osmotic flow control device comprises:

a permeable membrane; and

a frame placed over the membrane to expose a predetermined area of the membrane through the frame to the performance-enhancement compound.

7. The distributed feed system of claim 6, wherein the frame is an adjustable size so as to selectively vary the area of the membrane to be exposed therethrough.

8. The distributed feed system of claim 7, wherein the adjustable size frame comprises plural pairs of washers, each pair of washers being adapted to sandwich the membrane therebetween and comprising;

a first washer including an aperture; and

a second washer including a boss adapted to be received within the aperture of the first washer, the second washer further including a bore axially extending through the boss;

wherein the size of the aperture of the first washer varies among the plural pairs of washers.

9. The distributed feed system of claim 7, wherein the adjustable size frame comprises:

an impermeable male portion having a length dimension, the male portion including a passage extending therethrough along its length; and

a female portion adapted to receive the male portion therein;

wherein the membrane is shaped to enclose one longitudinal end of the male portion; and

wherein the male portion enclosed by the membrane, when received within the female portion, establishes an annular seal with the female portion at a selected location along the length of the male portion.

10. The distributed feed system of claim 9, wherein the adjustable size frame further comprises an O-ring, the male portion including a plurality of circumferential grooves defined along its length for receiving the O-ring therein to establish an annular seal with the female portion.

11. The distributed feed system of claim 1, further comprising a communication network including a central database, wherein the central feed station further comprises a data communication device for transmitting data, relating to the central feed station, to the central database via the network.

12. The distributed feed system of claim 11, wherein the data communication device comprises a radio.

13. The distributed feed system of claim 12, wherein the data communication device comprises a cellular radio.

14. The distributed feed system of claim 11, wherein the communication network comprises the Internet.

15. The distributed feed system of claim 11, wherein the central feed station further comprises a level measurement device adapted for measuring the remaining amount of the performance-enhancement compound left in the tank, and the data transmitted to the central database includes the measurement obtained by the level measurement device.

16. The distributed feed system of claim 11, wherein the data communication device periodically transmits data, relating to the central feed station, to the central database.

17. The distributed feed system of claim 11, wherein the data communication device transmits data, relating to the central feed station, to the central database upon an occurrence of a predetermined event.

18. The distributed feed system of claim 1, wherein the cable system comprises a plurality of cables for transmitting information, each cable extending between two terminations to form each of the cable subsystems, the cables being arranged to connect each of the cable subsystems with the feed station, and the distribution conduit being integrally formed with each of the cables.

19. The distributed feed system of claim 18, wherein the distribution conduit comprises metal.

20. The distributed feed system of claim 19, wherein the distribution conduit comprises material selected from the group consisting of copper and aluminum.

21. The distributed feed system of claim 18, wherein the cable comprises:

a housing;

an information-conducting core disposed within the housing;

an insulation layer surrounding the core; and

a tube disposed radially outside the insulation layer and within the housing, the tube serving as the distribution conduit.

22. The distributed feed system of claim 21, wherein the tube additionally serves as a neutral wire.

23. The distributed feed system of claim 22, wherein the tube comprises metal.

24. The distributed feed system of claim 23, wherein the tube comprises material selected from the group consisting of copper and aluminum.

25. The distributed feed system of claim 18, wherein the cable comprises:

a housing;

an information-conducting core disposed within the housing, the conducting core including a tube to serve as the distribution conduit; and

an insulation layer surrounding the core.

26. The distributed feed system of claim 25, wherein the tube comprises metal.

27. The distributed feed system of claim 26, wherein the tube comprises material selected from the group consisting of copper and aluminum.

28. The distributed feed system of claim 18, further comprising a second flow control device disposed along at least one of the cables.

29. The distributed feed system of claim 28, wherein the second flow control device is disposed at one of the terminations of at least one of the cables.

30. The distributed feed system of claim 28, wherein the second flow control device comprises an osmotic flow control device.

31. The distributed feed system of claim 30, wherein the osmotic flow control device comprises:

a permeable membrane; and

a frame placed over the membrane to expose a certain area of the membrane through the frame to the performance-enhancement compound.

32. The distributed feed system of claim 31, wherein the frame is an adjustable size so as to selectively vary the area of the membrane to be exposed therethrough.

33. The distributed feed system of claim 32, wherein the adjustable size frame comprises plural pairs of washers, each pair of washers being adapted to sandwich the membrane therebetween and comprising:

a first washer including an aperture; and

a second washer including a boss adapted to be received within the aperture of the first washer, the second washer further including a bore axially extending through the boss;

wherein the size of the aperture of the first washer varies among the plural pairs of washers.

34. The distributed feed system of claim 32, wherein the adjustable size frame comprises:

a male portion having a length dimension, the male portion including a passage extending therethrough along its length; and

a female portion adapted to receive the male portion therein;

wherein the membrane is shaped to enclose one longitudinal end of the male portion; and

wherein the male portion enclosed by the membrane, when received within the female portion, establishes an annular seal with the female portion at a selected location along the length of the male portion.

35. The distributed feed system of claim 34, wherein the adjustable size frame further comprises an O-ring, the male portion including a plurality of circumferential grooves defined along its length for receiving the O-ring therein to establish an annular seal with the female portion.

36. The distributed feed system of claim 18, wherein each of the cables comprises a permeable conduit axially disposed within, the permeable conduit being adapted to permit a performance-enhancing compound to flow therethrough, the permeable conduit being permeable to the compound to permit the compound to migrate radially outwardly through the permeable conduit into the cable, wherein the distribution conduit is coupled to the permeable conduit of each of the cables.

37. The distributed feed system of claim 36, wherein the permeable conduit is adapted to allow the compound to migrate therethrough to achieve a predetermined permeation rate of the compound through the cable.

38. The distributed feed system of claim 37, wherein the permeation rate is predetermined by selectively adjusting at least one factor selected from the group consisting of:

material forming the permeable conduit;

geometry of the permeable conduit; and

materials forming the cable.

39. The distributed feed system of claim 18, wherein the cable comprises:

a plurality of strands wrapped about a central axis;

strand-blocking material filled within interstices among the plurality of strands;

a strand shield surrounding the plurality of strands; and

an insulation layer surrounding the strand shield;

wherein the cable is designed to achieve a predetermined permeation rate of the compound through the cable, and wherein the permeation rate is predetermined by selectively adjusting at least one factor selected from the group consisting of strand compression, the strand-blocking material, material forming the strand shield, and material forming the insulation layer.

40. The distributed feed system of claim 18, wherein the cable comprises an information-conducting core, a strand shield surrounding the core, and an insulation layer surrounding the strand shield, further comprising a permeable layer provided between the strand shield and the insulation layer to achieve a predetermined permeation rate of the compound through the cable.

41. The distributed feed system of claim 18, further comprising:

a shielded tube including a dielectric inner tube and a semiconducting or conducting outer tube surrounding the inner tube; and

an insulating housing;

wherein the distribution conduit fluidly communicates with an end of one of the cables within the insulating housing, the outer tube of the shielded tube being coupled at one end to the distribution conduit and at the other end to the insulating housing.

42. The distributed feed system of claim 41, wherein the inner tube comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

43. The distributed feed system of claim 41, wherein the outer tube comprises metallic mesh.

44. The distributed feed system of claim 41, wherein the outer tube comprises an extruded semiconductor.

45. The distributed feed system of claim 1, wherein the performance-enhancing compound comprises a silane of the formula:

46. The distributed feed system of claim 45, wherein x is selected to control oligomerization of the compound.

47. The distributed feed system of claim 46, wherein x is 1.

48. The distributed feed system of claim 46, wherein x is 2.

49. The distributed feed system of claim 45, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of phenyldimethylmethoxysilane, trimethylisopropoxysilane, trimethylethoxysilane, dimethyldimethoxysilane, dimethyldiethoxysilane, phenylmethyldimethoxysilane, naphthlamethyldiexthoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, bromophenylethyldiethoxysilane, their ethoxy equivalents, their propoxy equivalents, and their partial hydrolyzates.