Sheathed cable for underground mining

• US 7,175,460 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: DBT GmbH (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tschope, Jurgen, Mundry, Sebastian M, Frank, Reiner
• Primary Examiner(s): Gushi; Ross N.
• Application Number:
  US11/296,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20060121777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 439/276, 439/936, 439/460, 439/610
• US Class Current: 439/276
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5808 formed by a metallic element crimped around the cable H01R4/185 takes precedence

Abstract

A sheathed cable for underground mining, comprising a flexible sheath (2) containing armouring (3) and receiving the electric conductors (4), a cable connector (30) being mounted on one end of the sheathed cable and comprising a one-part hollow coupling sleeve (31) which engages over the sheath (2) and receives the end of the sheathed cable in tension-resistant manner in a compression joint and also comprises a plug insert (32) connected to the sleeve (31) by a snap-in connection and receiving contact elements preferably in the form of pins (36) and sockets (37) electrically connected to the conductors (4), wherein a cable feed-through opening (39) in the hollow coupling sleeve (31) is partly filled with sealing compound (38), wherein the coupling sleeve (31) has a continuation (34) which is deformable in order to make the compression joint and exclusively receives the sheathed cable (1), sheath (2), conductors (4) and armouring (3).

Claims

1. A sheathed cable for underground mining, comprising a flexible sheath containing armouring and receiving the electric conductors, a cable connector being mounted on one end of the sheathed cable and comprising a one-part hollow coupling sleeve which engages over the sheath and receives the end of the sheathed cable in tension-resistant manner in a compression joint and also comprises a plug insert connected to the sleeve by a snap-in connection and receiving contact elements electrically connected to the conductors, wherein a cable feed-through opening in the hollow coupling sleeve is partly filled with sealing compound, in which the coupling sleeve has a continuation which is deformable in order to make the compression joint and exclusively receives the sheathed cable, sheath, conductors and armouring and in which the coupling sleeve and continuation are connected in tension-resistant manner to the sheathed cable exclusively via a crimp connection.

2. A sheathed cable according to claim 1, in which the sealing compound is cast between the back of the contact elements and an end of the cable.

3. A sheathed cable according to claim 1, in which the receiving contact elements are in the form of pins and sockets.

4. A sheathed cable according to claim 1, in which the armouring is bonded in the cable sheath or a cable with insulation surrounding the conductors is disposed inside the sheath.

5. A sheathed cable according to claim 1, in which the coupling sleeve and continuation integrally formed thereon are of brass.

6. A sheathed cable according to claim 1, in which a sensor is firmly fastened to the other end of the cable and comprises a sensor device disposed in a casing and scanning measurements or variables and converting them into electric signals, wherein a connecting element in the form of a plug or socket is fastened to the sensor casing and can be coupled to a receiving connection on an underground device, and wherein the sensor casing has a portion with a cable insertion opening at which the sensor end of the sheathed cable is fastened in tension- resistant manner and through which the conductors of the cable are firmly connected to the sensor device.

7. A sheathed cable according to claim 6, in which the sensor device is multi-part and comprises a measuring body spaced apart from an electronic measuring unit and connected thereto by electric connecting cores, wherein the conductors are firmly connected to the electronic measuring unit.

8. A sheathed cable according to claim 6, in which one-piece crimpable insertion sleeve formed integrally on the sensor casing, which surrounds the cable insertion opening, and engages over the sensor end of the sheathed cable.

9. A sheathed cable according to claim 6, in which the connecting element is fastened to the sensor casing by a screwable fixing ring.

10. A sheathed cable according to claim 6, in which the sensor device comprises a pressure sensor and the receiving connection is a hydraulic connection.

11. A sheathed cable according to claim 6, in which the sheathed cable is secured in tension-resistant manner to the sensor casing by a crimp barrel.

12. A sheathed cable according to claim 11, in which the sensor casing, at or in the neighborhood of the sensor casing portion comprising the cable insertion opening, has a collar with a web which engages under the crimp barrel.