Flame retardant and smoke suppressant composite high performance support-separators and conduit tubes

• US 7,202,418 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cable Components Group, LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cable Components Group, LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Glew, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Chau N.
• Application Number:
  US11/030,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20050199415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 174/113.R, 174/113.C, 174/131.A, 174/110.FC
• US Class Current: 174/113.00C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4429 Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4435 Corrugated mantle
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/06 Insulating conductors or cables H01B13/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/185 Sheaths comprising internal cavities or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/292 using material resistant to heat
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/295 using material resistant to flame
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0412 Heat or fire protective means for fire in electric circuits A62C3/16
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0481 with a circular cross-section H02G3/0468, H02G3/0475 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

The present invention includes a high performance communications cable exhibiting reduced cross-talk of any form between transmission media that includes one or more core support-separators having various shaped profiles which define a clearance to maintain a spacing between transmission media or transmission media pairs. The core may be formed of a conductive or insulative material to further reduce cross-talk and improve other electrical properties as well as reduce flame and smoke spread. The cable and separators are comprised of principally polymer blends that include olefin and/or fluoropolymer and/or chlorofluoropolymer based resins with and without inorganic additive such as nano-clay composites. These unique blends offer both flame and smoke suppression while maintaining the characteristics necessary to improve electrical performance and allow for severe cost reduction over conventional separators. The specially shaped core support-separators can be either interior to the cable jacket or be employed singularly without the benefit of a jacket and extend along the longitudinal length of the communications cable. Alternatively, with no jacket for cable completion, a portion of the separator wherein a thin layer of material can act as a type of skin for future mechanical protection is provided. The specially shaped core support-separator has both a central region as well as a plurality of shaped sections that extend outward from the central region that are either solid or partially solid, foamed or foamed with a solid skin surface. In addition, the invention includes the optional incorporation of hollow ducts that can be used to provide optical or metal conductor media either before, during, or after installation of the cable primarily by gas driven means.

Claims

1. A high performance communications cable comprising:

an interior support-separator with an external radial and axial surface, said interior support-separator extending along a longitudinal length of said communications cable, said interior support-separator also having a central region, said central region also extending along a longitudinal length of said interior support-separator of said communications cable;

said interior support-separator comprising one or more outwardly extended shaped protrusions and conduit tube disposed in said central region;

wherein said central region, outwardly extended protrusions, and conduit tube are comprised of a composition of inorganic and organic polymer;

said composition including;

fluorinated ethylene propylene, fluorinated ethylene, chlorinated ethylene propylene, fluorochlorinated ethylene, perfluoroalkoxy, fluorochlorinated propylene, a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoromethylvinylether (MFA), or a copolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE); and

homo or copolymers of ethylene or propylene with fluorinated ethylene or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); and

blends of polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, nylons, polyesters, polyurethanes; and

nano-composites of clay including unsubstituted or substituted fullerenes primarily comprised of C₆₀ molecules; and

nano-sized particles of ZnO or TiO₂.

2. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 1, wherein said interior support-separator, said central region, said outwardly extended protrusions and said conduit tube are capable of shielding conductors that transmit data at 10 Gbit while substantially mitigating or eliminating all forms of crosstalk.

3. The high performance communications cable of claim 1 or interior support-separator, wherein said composition also comprises acid gas scavengers including hydrogen chloride or hydrogen fluoride or other halogenated gasses that scavenge gasses during combustion.

4. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 1, wherein said composition includes the use of recycled or reground thermoplastics in an amount up to 100%.

5. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 1, wherein a ratio of said fluorinated or otherwise halogenated polymers or copolymers to said ethylene or vinyl chloride polymers or copolymers is from 0.1% up to 99.9%.

6. The high performance communications cable of claim 5, wherein said composition is a foamed polymer and further includes a nucleating agent of polytetrafluoroethylene, carbon black, color concentrate, or boron nitride or other acceptable nucleating or blowing agent.

7. The high performance communications cable of claim 1, wherein said composition of said interior support-separator, said central region, said outwardly extended protrusions and conduit tube comprises solid, partially solid, or foamed material, or a solid skin surface over the foamed material.

8. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 1, wherein said interior support-separator and said central region includes anvil shaped core support-separator sections.

9. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 8, wherein each of said anvil-shaped core support-separator sections comprises channel walls defining said one or more clearance channels and where said clearance channels are defined by a semi-circular geometry such that there remains a 180 degree opening along an external radial and axial surface of said interior support.

10. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 9, wherein each of said anvil-shaped core support-separator sections comprises clearance walls defined by a semi-closed semi-circular geometry such that there remains less than a 160 degree opening along said exterior radial and axial surface, but more than a 10 degree opening along said external surface of said interior support-separator of said clearance channels.

11. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 8, wherein each of said anvil-shaped core support-separator sections comprises clearance walls defined by a fully closed circular geometry that remains closed and includes a flap-top allowing for opening or enclosing said exterior radial and axial surfaces of said channel walls of said clearance channels.

12. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 11, wherein said flap-top is comprised of a press-fit arrangement that is hinged allowing for opening and enclosing said exterior radial and axial surfaces of said channel walls of said clearance channels.

13. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 11, wherein said flap-top is sealed by use of heat, tape, interlocking, or by skin extrusion of said hinged press-fit arrangement.

14. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 11, wherein each of said anvil-shaped core support-separator sections comprises said clearance walls defined by a fully closed circular geometry that remains closed including an interlocking double flap-top, where said double flap-top is adhered to or adjoined with a surface of each side of said clearance walls for opening or closing said exterior radial and axial surfaces of said channel walls of said clearance channels.

15. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 14, wherein said double flap-top is comprised of a press-fit arrangement on each end that remains in an opened or closed position for said exterior radial and axial surfaces of said channel walls of said clearance channels.

16. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 14, wherein said channel walls comprise interior surfaces that are corrugated including internal axial grooves separated by a sufficient distance such that individual conductors or conductor pairs maintain required electrical integrity and such that said conductor or conductor pairs are forced against an edge of said grooves or sections of said channel walls.

17. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 16, wherein said channel walls comprise interior surfaces that are corrugated including internal axial grooves separated by a sufficient distance such that individual conductors or conductor pairs forced into said grooves maintain required electrical integrity.

18. The interior support-separator of claim 16, wherein said channel walls comprise interior surfaces that are corrugated including internal axial grooves separated by a sufficient distance such that individual conductors or conductor pairs maintain required electrical integrity and such that said conductors or conductor pairs are forced against an edge of said grooves or sections of said channel walls.

19. The interior support-separator of claim 18, wherein said channel walls comprise interior surfaces that are ribbed including internal radial grooves separated by a sufficient distance such that individual conductors or conductor pairs maintain required electrical integrity.

20. The interior support-separator of claim 16, wherein said interior support-separator comprises a convoluted external radial and axial surface extending along a longitudinal length such that external surfaces of said anvil shaped core support-separator section include external radial grooves also extending along

21. The interior support-separator of claim 14, wherein said double flap-top is sealed by use of heat, tape, or an interlocking press-fit arrangement. said longitudinal length of said interior support-separator such that said interior support-separator itself functions as a cable jacket.

22. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 8, wherein said interior support-separator comprises a corrugated or convoluted external radial and axial surface extending along a longitudinally length of said communications cable, such that external surfaces of said anvil shaped core support-separator sections include external radial grooves also extending along said longitudinal length of said core support-separator such that said interior support-separator can itself function as a cable jacket for said communications cable.

23. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 8, wherein each of said anvil shaped core support-separator sections are singularly filled with individual or paired metallic or coaxial electrical transmitting conductors or optical fiber conductors, or filled with a combination of said individually or paired metallic or optical fiber conductors along said longitudinal length of said support and said cable.

24. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 8, wherein at least one anvil shaped support-separator section comprises a slotted section distinct from said anvil shaped support-separator sections that is sufficient to contain a grounding wire with a shielding tape.

25. The interior support-separator of claim 8, wherein at least one anvil shaped support-separator section comprises rounded edges of said anvil shaped support-separator sections at an outer radial end of said anvil shaped support-separator sections sufficient to reduce overall weight and size of said interior support-separator and subsequently said cable.

26. The interior support-separator of claim 8, wherein at least one anvil shaped support-separator sections comprises minimized dual lobes at an outer radial end of said anvil shaped support-separator sections sufficient to minimize and reduce overall weight and size of said anvil shaped support-separator and subsequently said cable.

27. The interior support of claim 8, wherein said anvil shaped core support-separator sections are twisted to a specified lay length.

28. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 1, wherein said interior support-separator comprises a center portion, wherein said center portion of said interior support-separator is hollow or solid along a longitudinal length of said communications cable.

29. The high performance communications cable or interior support of claim 1, wherein said metal conductors are copper with or without metallic shielding.

30. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 1, wherein said metal conductors are aluminum with or without metallic shielding.

31. The high performance communications cable or interior support-separator of claim 1, wherein said cable comprises a strength member wherein said strength member lies parallel to said interior support-separator inside a communications cable jacket or within said hollow portion of said interior support-separator along said longitudinal direction of said interior support-separator and said cable.

32. The interior support-separator for a communications cable as in claim 1, extending along a longitudinal length of said communications cable comprising a pendulum shaped separator configuration with a circular disc pendant that comprises a circular central region of said pendulum shaped separator and a hollow orifice in a central region of a central portion of said interior support-separator.

33. The interior support-separator of claim 32, wherein said circular disc pendant is skewed to one end of said central region of said pendulum shaped separator.

34. The interior support-separator of claim 32, extending along a longitudinal length of said communications cable wherein said support-separator comprises a pendulum shaped configuration with pendant shaped sections being an elliptical disc like shaped pendant that comprises a central region of said pendulum shaped separator and a hollow orifice in a center region of said central portion of said interior support-separator.

35. The interior support-separator of claim 34, where said elliptical disc like pendant is skewed to one end of said central region of said pendulum shaped separator.

36. The interior support-separator for a communications cable as in claim 32, extending along a longitudinal length of said communications cable comprising a pendulum shaped configuration with two ends with a pendant shaped section comprising a diamond-like shape and a hollow orifice in a central region of said central portion of said interior support-separator.

37. The interior support-separator of claim 36, where said diamond-like shape may be nearer either end of said central region of said pendulum shaped configuration than near said central region.

38. The interior support-separator for a communications cable as in claim 32, extending along a longitudinal length of said communications cable comprising, a dual-lobed shaped pendulum-like configuration with curved elongated lobed end portions along a top portion and a bottom portion of said pendulum-like configuration creating at least two clearance channels for conductors or conductor pairs and a hollow orifice in a central region of said central portion of said interior support-separator.

39. The interior support-separator for a communications cable as in claim 1, comprising at least two symmetrical or asymmetrical intersecting arms that intersect in a cross-like manner along an essentially horizontal and vertical axis;

said intersecting arms provided with ladder-like steps evenly spaced along each arm and along a complete length of said arm whereby each arm with said ladder-like steps forms a rifle-like pattern along said horizontal and vertical axis said intersecting arms providing four or more separate clearance channels and wherein said arms are comprised of solid or foamed material.

40. The interior support-separator for a communications cable as in claim 39, extending along a longitudinal length of a said communications cable, comprising at least two intersecting arms that intersect in a cross-like manner along an essentially horizontal and vertical axis;

said intersecting arms providing ladder-like steps evenly spaced along each arm and along a complete length of said intersecting arm whereby each arm with said ladder-like steps forms a rifle-like saw-tooth pattern along said horizontal and vertical axis and;

a central portion at an intersection of said each arm, said central portion comprising a central solid member that includes step-like portions cut away from said central solid member and a hollow orifice in a central region of said central portion of said interior support-separator and where said central region is void of a saw-tooth pattern along at least one or more of said horizontal and vertical axis.

41. The interior support-separator for a communications cable as in claim 39, extending along a longitudinal length of said communications cable comprising instead at least two spatial quadrants defined by a horizontal arm member of said support-separator including a two sided drill-bit like shaped central member with geometrically symmetric sections in opposite quadrants and;

each having a drill-bit like shape that is a mirror image of the other drill-bit-like shape in the other quadrant and said support-separator in sum appears to be shaped as a mirrored battleship and a hollow orifice in a center region of said central portion of said interior support-separator.

42. The interior support-separator for a communications cable as in claim 39, extending along a longitudinal length of said communications cable comprising at least two intersecting arms that intersect in a cross-like manner comprising:

a cross like support-separator along an essentially horizontal and vertical axis;

said intersecting arms providing ladder-like steps evenly spaced along each arm and along a complete length of each arm with said ladder-like steps forming a rifle-like saw-tooth pattern along said horizontal and vertical axis and;

a central portion of said two intersecting arms, said central portion comprising a hollow center wherein said vertical and horizontal intersecting arms are initially wide or narrow along a horizontal or vertical axis and become finally narrow or wide along same said horizontal or vertical axis such that said cross like support-separator comprises an asymmetric pattern.

43. The interior support-separator for a communications cable as in claim 39, extending along a longitudinal length of said communications cable comprising at least two spatial quadrants defined by a horizontal member of said support-separator comprising rifle-like saw-blade tooth sections along either a top or bottom portion of said horizontal member.

44. The interior support-separator for a communications cable of claim 43, wherein said horizontal member is comprised of a semi-flexible material, a semi-flexible thermoplastic material, or a semi-rigid thermoset material.

45. The interior support-separator of claim 43, wherein said support-separator is void of any rifle-like saw-blade sections and is simply a film.

46. The interior support-separator for a communications cable as in claim 1, extending along a longitudinal length of said communications cable comprising at least two spatial quadrants defined by two horizontal members connected by a vertical member with two sides such that said support-separator appears as a symmetric or skewed angle iron with a z-like shape and where each of said horizontal members is longer, shorter or the same length as said vertical member.

47. The interior support-separator of claim 46, wherein said support-separator includes rifle-like saw-blade tooth sections along any or all members of said support-separator and along either side of each member of said support-separator.

48. The interior support-separator of claim 1, providing a specified lay length by implementing a twisting thereby providing a lay length twist into said support-separator prior to manufacturing said final communications cable assembly.

49. The interior support-separator of claim 1, wherein said support-separator comprises 24 pair of electrical conductors and a twenty fifth pair of electrical conductors wherein said twenty fifth pair is placed within an orifice within said central region of said interior support-separator.

50. The high performance communications cable of claim 1 comprising:

an interior support-separator with an external radial and axial surface, extending along a longitudinal length of said communications cable, said interior support-separator also having a central ring region, said central ring region also extending along a longitudinal length of said interior support-separator and said communications cable;

said interior support-separator comprising at least one symmetrical core with either a diamond-shaped or circular outer hollow ring region with an inner diamond-shaped or hollow ring region with extending protrusions each extending in a preferred separation from each of said other extending protrusions extending from said outer ring region.

51. The high performance communications cable of claim 50, wherein said central ring region includes a hollow ring region acting as a duct for an air blown fiber (ABF) which is available for filling with optical fiber(s) or other conductor(s) with no extending protrusions.

52. The high performance communications cable of claim 51, wherein said interior support-separator, and said central ring region shaped core support-separator sections comprising solid, partially solid, or foamed thermoplastic or thermosetting dielectric materials.

53. The high performance communications cable of claim 50, wherein said interior support-separator, and said central ring region shaped core support-separator sections comprising solid, partially solid, or hollow, foamed organic or inorganic dielectric materials.

54. The high performance communications cable of claim 50, wherein channel walls of said central ring region with extending protrusions are corrugated including internal axial grooves separated by a sufficient distance such that individual conductors or conductor pairs maintain required electrical integrity and such that said conductor or conductor pairs are forced against an edge of said grooves or sections of said channel walls.

55. The high performance communications cable of claim 50, wherein said interior support-separator comprises a corrugated or convoluted external radial and axial surface extending along a longitudinal length of said communications cable, such that external surfaces of said symmetrical core with a central ring region include external radial grooves also extending along said longitudinal length of said interior support-separator such that said interior support-separator can itself function as a cable jacket for said communications cable.

56. The high performance communications cable of claim 50, wherein said at least one symmetrical core with a central ring region with said extending protrusions are singularly filled with individual or paired metal or coaxial electrical transmitting conductors or optical fiber light transmitting conductors, or filled with a combination of said individual or paired metal or optical conductors along said longitudinal length of said interior support-separator and said communications cable.

58. The high performance communications cable of claim 56, wherein said metal conductors are aluminum with or without metallic shielding.

59. The high performance communications cable of claim 50, wherein said communications cable comprises one or more axial strength members wherein said axial strength members lie parallel to said interior support-separator inside a communications cable jacket or within said hollow ring region of said interior support-separator along said longitudinal length of said interior support-separator and said communications cable.

60. The high performance communications cable of claim 1 comprising;

an interior support-separator with an external radial and axial surface, extending along a longitudinal length of said communications cable, said interior support-separator also having a central region, said central region also extending along a longitudinal length of said interior support-separator and said communications cable;

said interior support-separator comprising a hollow four-petal daisy shaped arrangement with a central region, each hollow petal separated by 90 degrees along an axial plane that extends along a complete length of said communications cable allowing for individual or paired conductors to be placed within said hollow petal.

61. The high performance communications cable of claim 60, wherein said central region of said four-petal daisy shaped arrangement includes at least one hollow region acting as a duct for an air blown fiber (ABF) which are available for filling with optical fiber(s) or other conductor(s).

62. The high performance communications cable of claim 60, wherein said interior support-separator comprises a hollow four-petal daisy shaped arrangement with a central region, each said hollow petal separated by 90 degrees along an axial plane that extends along a longitudinal length of said communications cable allowing for individual or paired conductors to be placed within each said hollow petal or within hollow sections of otherwise solid petals.

63. The high performance communications cable of claim 62, wherein said interior support-separator and said central region of said four-petal daisy shaped arrangement include a hollow region acting as a duct for an air blown fiber (ABF) which is available for filling with optical fiber(s) or other conductor(s).

64. The high performance communications cable of claim 1 comprising:

an interior support-separator and an inner cross-like separator section with rifled sections extending outward into four quadrants away from said central region, said quadrants defined by 90 degree right angles formed by an intersection of extended cross-like rifled separator sections encased within an outer insulated layer which is shaped in an identical cross-like pattern as said extended cross-like rifled separator sections so that dimensions of said outer insulated layer forms a cross-like pattern larger than said inner cross-like separator section with rifled sections and functions as a skin for said inner cross-like separator section with rifled sections.

65. The high performance communications cable of claim 64, wherein said central region of an inner cross-like separator with said outer insulated layer includeing a hollow central region acting as a duct for an air blown fiber (ABF) which is available for filling with optical fiber or other conductors.

66. The high performance communications able of claim 1 comprising:

an interior support-separator with a cross-like separator section with zig-zag sections extending outward onto four quadrants away from said central region, said quadrants defined by 90 degree right angles formed by an intersection of said cross-like separator sections.

67. The high performance communications cable of claim 66, wherein said central region of said cross-like separator section with said zig-zag sections includeing a hollow central region acting as a duct for an air blown fiber (ABF) which is available for filling with optical fiber or other conductors.

68. The high performance communications cable of claim 66, comprising;

a cross-like separator section with zig-zag sections that have sickle-like ends at each of said zig-zag sections extending outward into four quadrants away from said central region, said quadrants defined by 90 degree right angles formed by an intersection of extended cross-like zig-zag separator sections with said sickle-like ends.

69. The high performance communications cable of claim 66, wherein said central region of said cross-like separator sections with said zig-sag sections extended having said sickle-like ends including a hollow central region acting as a duct for an air blown fiber (ABF) which is available for filling with optical fiber(s) or other conductors.

70. The high performance communications cable as in claim 69, also providing a specified lay length by implementing a twisting of said hollow central region thereby providing a lay length twist into said interior support-separator prior to manufacturing a final communications cable assembly.

57. The high performance communications cable of 56, wherein said metal conductors are copper with or without metallic shielding.