Airfoil cables for use with drones
AssigneeSuperior Essex International LP
InventorsThomas Christopher Cook, Robin D. Gainsford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid cable configured to tether a drone or other aerial device to a base station may include at least one conductor configured to carry a power signal and at least one optical fiber component. A jacket may be formed around the at least one conductor and the at least one optical fiber component. The jacket may have an airfoil cross-sectional shape that is symmetrical about a center line extending from a first rounded edge to a second trailing edge. As a result, the cable may orient itself towards the wind and a lift force exerted on the cable may be approximately equal along opposite lateral sides of the cable.
Claims20
A cable, comprising:
- at least one conductor configured to carry a power signal;
- at least one optical fiber component, each optical fiber component comprising at least one optical fiber;
- a plurality of aramid strength members surrounding the at least one conductor and the at least one optical fiber component;
- and
- a jacket formed around the at least one conductor, the at least one optical fiber component, and the plurality of aramid strength members, the jacket having a cross-sectional shape that is symmetrical about a center line extending from a first edge to a second edge, the first edge comprising a rounded profile, and the cross-sectional shape having a tapered profile between the first edge and the second edge.
A cable, comprising:
- at least one conductor;
- at least one optical fiber;
- and
- a jacket formed around the at least one conductor and the at least one optical fiber, the jacket having a cross-sectional airfoil shape that is symmetrical about a center line extending from a rounded edge to a sharp tailing edge,
- a plurality of aramid strength members positioned within the jacket between the at least one conductor and the at least one optical fiber and surrounding the at least one conductor and the at least one optical fiber.
A cable, comprising:
- at least one conductor;
- at least one optical fiber;
- a plurality of aramid strength members surrounding the at least one conductor and the at least one optical fiber;
- and
- a jacket formed around the at least one conductor, the at least one optical fiber, and the plurality of aramid strength members, the jacket comprising a cross-sectional airfoil shape that is symmetrical about a center line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.