Self-cleaning cable assemblies

• US 9,595,368 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2015
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Cable Technologies Corporation (General Cable Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Cable Technologies Corporation (General Cable Corporation)
• Inventors: Ranganathan, Kumar, Mhetar, Vijay, Siripurapu, Srinivas, Davis, Cody R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H
• Application Number:
  US14/592,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20150194237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 174/69, 174/70.R, 174/70.A, 174/102.R, 174/108, 174/106.R, 174/106.SC, 174/113.R, 174/120.R, 174/120.C, 174/120.SC, 174/121.R, 174/126.1, 174/127, 174/128.1, 174/128.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 2003/2241 Titanium dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/00 Coating compositions, e.g. paints, varnishes or lacquers, characterised by their physical nature or the effects produced electrically insulating plastics, resins or waxes H01B3/30; Filling pastes
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/40 Additives
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/67 Particle size smaller than 100 nm
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/327 using a filling or coating cone or die
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 5/002 Auxiliary arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/285 by completely or partially filling interstices in the cable
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/14 Extreme weather resilient electric power supply systems, e.g. strengthening power lines or underground power cables

Abstract

A cable assembly includes a conductor and a self-cleaning layer that surrounds the conductor and includes one or more of a photocatalyst and an electrocatalyst. Overhead high voltage electricity transmission lines are formed from these cable assemblies. Methods of reducing surface buildup on a cable are also provided.

Claims

1. A cable assembly, comprising:

a conductor;

a self-cleaning layer surrounding the conductor, the self-cleaning layer comprising one or more of a photocatalyst and an electrocatalyst; and

an intermediate layer surrounding the conductor and disposed between the conductor and the self-cleaning layer, the intermediate layer formed from an inorganic, non-photocatalytic material; and

wherein the one or more of the photocatalyst and electrocatalyst are in a crystalline state and have an average particle size of 1 nm to 100 nm, and the cable assembly comprises a water contact angle smaller than a cable assembly without the self-cleaning layer when measured in accordance with ASTM D5725-99 (2008) after exposure to ultraviolet light for 60 minutes or more.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the photocatalyst or the electrocatalyst comprises a semi-conductive material or conductive material.

3. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the photocatalyst and the electrocatalyst comprises titanium oxide.

4. The cable assembly of claim 3, wherein the titanium oxide is in an anatase crystalline state.

5. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the self-cleaning layer further comprises a co-catalyst.

6. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the self-cleaning layer has a thickness of 5 microns or less.

7. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the photocatalyst and the electrocatalyst comprises more than 90%, by dry weight, of the self-cleaning layer.

8. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the self-cleaning layer is free of polymer.

9. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the water contact angle for the cable assembly is reduced by 7% or more after exposure to the ultraviolet light.

10. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness of about 20 μ

m to about 40 μ

m.

11. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the self-cleaning layer conforms to the intermediate layer.

12. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the self-cleaning layer is the outermost layer of the cable assembly.

13. An overhead high voltage electricity transmission line formed from the cable assembly of claim 1.

14. The overhead high voltage electricity transmission line of claim 13, wherein the conductor comprises:

a core, the core comprising one or more of carbon fiber composite, glass fiber composite, aluminum, and aluminum alloy fibers reinforced in aluminum; and

one or more electrically conductive wires, the one or more electrically conductive wires surrounding the core.

15. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductor comprises a plurality of conductive wires.

16. A cable assembly, comprising:

a conductor;

a self-cleaning layer surrounding the conductor, the self-cleaning layer comprising a first photocatalyst comprising titanium oxide; and

an intermediate layer surrounding the conductor and disposed between the conductor and the self-cleaning layer, the intermediate layer comprising from 10% to 35%, by weight, of one or more of a second photocatalyst and an electrocatalyst;

wherein the titanium oxide is in a crystalline state and has an average particle size of 10 nm to 50 nm, and the cable assembly comprises a water contact angle smaller than a cable assembly without the self-cleaning layer when measured in accordance with ASTM D5725-99 (2008) after exposure to ultraviolet light for 60 minutes or more.

17. A cable assembly, comprising:

a conductor; and

a self-cleaning layer surrounding the conductor as the outermost layer of the cable assembly, the self-cleaning layer comprising one or more of a photocatalyst and an electrocatalyst and being free of polymer; and

wherein the one or more of the photocatalyst and electrocatalyst are in a crystalline state and have an average particle size of 1 nm to 100 nm, and the cable assembly comprises a water contact angle smaller than a cable assembly without the self-cleaning layer when measured in accordance with ASTM D5725-99 (2008) after exposure to ultraviolet light for 60 minutes or more.