Conduit for use in the transmission of electrical power

• US 6,903,277 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert H. Whidden
• Original Assignee: Robert H. Whidden
• Inventors: Whidden, Robert H
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau N.
• Application Number:
  US10/091,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20030168242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 174/36, 174/102.R, 174/106.R, 174/113.R, 174/116, 174/108
• US Class Current: 174/106.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/023 composed of helicoidally wound tape-conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/024 composed of braided metal wire
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/028 with screen grounding means, e.g. drain wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/029 Screen interconnecting circuits

Abstract

A conduit is provided for transmission of electrical power. The conduit includes a plurality of conductors for operatively connecting the terminals of a power source to a target. A shield extends about the conductors for preventing electromagnetic and radio frequency interference from passing therethrough. Braiding extends about the shield and ground wires pass through the shield. The shield and the braiding extending about the conductors provide an uninterrupted low impedance path for both high frequency and low frequency electromagnetic and radio frequency common mode noise, associated waveform phenomenon, and associated stray currents that may be conducted, induced, or radiated by the transmission of electrical power on the conductors.

Claims

1. A conduit for carrying multi-phase electrical power from a power source to a target, comprising:

a plurality of conductors for electrically connecting the power source and the target, each conductor of a predetermined length and including a wire having insulation wrapped thereabout;

a plurality of ground wires positioned adjacent corresponding conductors, each ground wire having a first end connectable to a neutral point of the power source and a second end connectable to a ground terminal of the target;

a flexible inner jacket having an inner surface defining a passageway for housing the conductors and an outer surface;

tubular core extending about the outer surface of the jacket and having an outer surface, the core preventing electromagnetic and radio frequency interference from passing therethrough;

braiding wound about the outer surface of the core, the braiding having first and second opposite ends; and

a flexible outer jacket extending about the braiding.

2. The conduit of claim 1 wherein each ground wire is wrapped around the insulation of a corresponding conductor.

3. The conduit of claim 1 wherein each ground wire extends along the length of a corresponding conductor.

4. The conduit of claim 1 wherein the braiding includes first and second end portions, each end portion extending through the outer jacket of the conduit.

5. The conduit of claim 1 wherein the outer jacket includes first and second ends and wherein the conduit further comprises first and second connectors, the connectors mounted on the core adjacent corresponding ends of the outer jacket.

6. A conduit for carrying three phase electrical power from a power source to a target, the power source having terminals corresponding to each phase of the electrical power, a neutral point and a ground terminal and the target having terminals corresponding to each phase of the electrical power and a ground terminal, the conduit comprising:

a first conductor having a first end connectable to a first terminal of the power source and a second end connectable to the first terminal of the target;

a second conductor having a first end connectable to a second terminal of the power source and a second end connectable to the second terminal of the target;

a third conductor having a first end connectable to a third terminal of the power source and a second end connectable to the third terminal of the target;

a shield extending about the conductors for preventing electromagnetic and radio frequency interference from passing therethrough;

braiding extending about the shield, the braiding having a first end portion connectable to the neutral point of the power source and a second end portion connectable to the grounding terminal of the target;

a first ground wire position adjacent the first conductor, the first ground wire having a first end connectable to the neutral point of the power source and a second end connectable to the ground terminal of the target;

a second ground wire position adjacent the second conductor, the second ground wire having a first end connectable to the neutral point of the power source and a second end connectable to the ground terminal of the target; and

a third ground wire position adjacent the third conductor, the third ground wire having a first end connectable to the neutral point of the power source and a second end connectable to the ground terminal of the target.

7. The conduit of claim 6 further comprising:

a flexible inner jacket positioned between the conductors and the shield; and

a flexible outer jacket about the braiding.

8. The conduit of claim 7 wherein the first and second end portions of the braiding extend through the outer jacket of the conduit.

9. The conduit of claim 6 wherein a shield includes first and second ends and wherein the conduit further comprises first and second connectors, the connectors mounted on corresponding ends of the shield.