Self-sealing electrical cable having a finned inner layer
AssigneeSouthwire Company
InventorsStephen Lee Spruell, Scott Mitchell Robertson, John Nicholas Ware, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical cable and a method for manufacturing the electrical cable are provided in which a plurality of conductors have an inner protective layer extruded thereabout, a ribbed or finned surface exterior thereto which includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs or fins between which exist a plurality of channel regions, an outer insulation layer thereabout, and a material within the channel regions which provides self-sealing properties to the cable, all applied to the conductor as a combined multilayer, the inner layer and outer layer merging to form the fins therebetween.
Claims42
An electrical cable comprising a conductor, an inner layer of material encompassing the conductor, a plurality of fins extending longitudinally outwardly from said inner layer, an outer insulation layer, an interior of which at least partly contacts the fins' upper portions thereby forming channel regions consisting of a space between the fins and between the inner layer and the outer insulation layer, and a material within the channel regions which provides self-sealing properties to the cable, said electrical cable being produced by forming the inner layer, fins, self-sealing material, and outer insulation through a combined multilayer application to the conductor.
A method of making an insulated electrical cable which mitigates the effects of voids, punctures, or cracks formed in the insulation prior to installation of the cable, during the installation of the cable, and after the cable is placed in service comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a conductor;
- (b) providing an inner layer of material on an exterior of the conductor;
- (c) providing an outer insulation material layer encircling the inner layer material;
- (d) forming a plurality of outwardly extending fins between the inner layer material and the outer layer material, thereby establishing channel regions consisting of a space between the fins and between the inner layer material and the outer layer material;
- and
- (e) providing a material in the channel regions which provides self-sealing properties;
- wherein the outer layer material encloses the conductor, inner layer, fins, and material having self-sealing properties by contacting the upper portion of the fins, and wherein steps b, c, d, and e are performed simultaneously.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.