Composite conductors including strength members having a conductive core
OwnerJianzhong Jason HUANG, Rulong CHENinventors
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Abstract
An apparatus comprises a strength member including a core formed of a composite material. A plurality of conductive elements are included in the composite material causing the core to be conductive. The strength member may optionally, also include an encapsulation layer disposed around the core. A conductor layer is disposed around the strength member. The plurality of conductive elements may include at least one of conductive fibers, conductive filaments, or conductive tows. The plurality of conductive fibers, conductive filaments, or conductive tows may include at least one of carbon nanotubes or graphene.
Claims29
An apparatus, comprising:
- a strength member, including:
- a core formed of a composite material, and
- at least one of a plurality of conductive elements included in the composite material causing the core to be electrically conductive;
- and
- a conductor layer disposed around the strength member.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a strength member, including:
- a core formed of a composite material, and
- a plurality of elongate conductive elements disposed in the core such that greater than 50% of the plurality of elongate conductive elements are disposed within less than 20% of a radial distance from an outer surface of the core to a central axis of the core;
- and
- a conductor layer disposed around the core.
An electrical conductor, comprising;
- a strength member, comprising:
- an at least partially electrically conductive core including a bulk matrix formed of a composite material, and a plurality of elongate conductive elements embedded in the bulk matrix, and
- an encapsulating layer disposed around the core, the encapsulating layer formed of an electrically conductive material;
- and
- a conductor layer disposed around the strength member,
- the at least partially electrically conductive core causing the electrical conductor to have a resistance of equal to or less than 0.6 ohm/km.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.