Dynamic power cable arrangement with moisture ingress detection device

Abstract

“A power cable arrangement (28,40), having a power core with one or more conductors, an intermediate layer disposed about the power core, a water barrier layer tightly arranged about the intermediate layer, and a moisture ingress detection device (10,29) arranged between the water barrier layer and the intermediate layer in direct contact with the water barrier layer. The moisture ingress detection device has an elongated optical fiber (12) surrounded by a water-swellable material (14,32), the swellable material arranged to expand upon contact with moisture and exert a pressure on the underlying optical fiber sufficient to cause an observable change in the attenuation and/or propagation characteristics of the optical fiber.”

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.