# US 9,040,825 B2 · Conductors and metal-covered cable with coded information and method of applying coded information > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,040,825 B2 - Document ID: US9040825B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/792,640 - Filed: 2010-06-02 - Published: 2011-09-15 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2007-11-13 - Assignees: Southwire Company - Applicants: Richard Temblador; Charles L. Holcombe; Allan W. Daniel - Inventors: Richard Temblador; Charles L. Holcombe; Allan W. Daniel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040825B2 ## CPC - H01B 7/365: {being indicia imposed on the insulation or conductor} - G06Q 50/04: Manufacturing - G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply - H02G 3/0468: {Corrugated} - H02G 3/0683: {with bolts operating in a direction transverse to the conductors} - B41M 5/24: Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording {(marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00)} - H01B 13/348: {using radiant energy, e.g. a laser beam} - H02G 2200/10: Prevention of theft of valuable metals - Y02P 90/30: Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K}) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A metal-clad cable assembly comprising a metal sheath disposed around a conductor assembly. The metal sheath contains spaced apart crowns and valleys defining an outer surface of the metal sheath. The cable assembly includes coded information formed within the metal sheath, the coded information providing a characteristic and/or an intended application of the metal-clad cable assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A metal-clad cable assembly, comprising: a metal sheath disposed around a conductor assembly, the metal sheath having spaced apart crowns and valleys; and one or more alpha-numeric character recessed areas, each alpha-numeric character recessed area continuously formed from a removed portion of an outer surface of the spaced apart crowns and valleys, the alpha-numeric character recessed areas providing at least one of a characteristic or intended application of the metal-clad cable assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 1, further comprising a coating disposed on an outer surface of the metal sheath, the alpha-numeric character recessed areas formed within the coating. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 2, wherein the coating is conductive. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 2, wherein the coating comprises at least one of a stain, ink or paint. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the alpha-numeric character recessed areas are etched into the metal sheath. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 5, wherein the alpha-numeric character recessed areas comprise a powder coating to contrast the alpha-numeric character from the outer surface of the metal sheath. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the alpha-numeric character recessed areas are formed within the metal sheath along a longitudinal length and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the metal-clad cable assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the alpha-numeric character recessed areas are formed at spaced apart intervals along a longitudinal length of the metal-clad cable assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the metal sheath is interlocked. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the metal sheath is corrugated. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductor assembly comprises at least two conductors and a binder disposed around the at least two conductors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bare grounding conductor disposed externally to the conductor assembly, the bare grounding conductor and metal sheath forming a low impedance ground path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more alpha-numeric character recessed areas extend to a depth within the outer sheath about 0.001 inches. ### Claim 14 A method of manufacturing a metal-clad cable assembly comprising: wrapping a metal sheath around a conductor assembly, the metal sheath having a plurality of spaced apart crowns and valleys disposed along a longitudinal direction of the metal clad cable assembly; and forming continuously extending alpha-numeric character recessed areas in the metal sheath by removing at least a portion of the outer sheath along the plurality of spaced apart crowns and valleys, the alpha-numeric recessed areas providing at least one of a characteristic or intended application of the metal-clad cable assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising forming a coating on an outer surface of the metal sheath. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein forming the alpha-numeric character recessed areas comprises using a laser to burn the alpha-numeric character recessed areas into the coating and etch the alpha-numeric character recessed areas into the metal sheath. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising forming a powder coating within the etching to contrast the alpha-numeric character recessed areas from the outer sheath. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein wrapping the metal sheath around the conductor assembly comprises providing an interlocking metal sheath. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the wrapping the metal sheath around the conductor assembly comprises providing a corrugated metal sheath. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising forming the conductor assembly by providing at least two conductors and a binder disposed around the at least two conductors. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising providing a bare grounding conductor externally to the conductor assembly such that the bare grounding conductor and metal sheath form a ground path. ### Claim 22 A metal-clad cable assembly, comprising: a metal sheath disposed around a conductor assembly, the metal sheath having spaced apart crowns and valleys; a coating material disposed on the outer surface of the metal sheath; and an alpha-numeric character recessed area continuously extending along a removed portion of an outer surface of the coating material on the spaced apart crowns and valleys, the alpha-numeric character recessed area providing at least one of a characteristic or intended application of the metal-clad cable assembly. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 22, wherein the coating material is conductive. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 22, wherein the coating material comprises at least one of a stain, ink or paint. ### Claim 25 A metal-clad cable assembly, comprising: a metal sheath disposed around a conductor assembly, the metal sheath having spaced apart crowns and valleys; and one or more symbol recessed areas, each symbol recessed area continuously formed from a removed portion of an outer surface of the spaced apart crowns and valleys, the symbol recessed area providing at least one of a characteristic or intended application of the metal-clad cable assembly. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The metal-clad cable assembly of claim 25, wherein the symbol recessed area comprises an alpha-numeric character. ### Claim 27 A metal-clad cable assembly, comprising: a metal sheath disposed around a conductor assembly, the metal sheath having spaced apart crowns and valleys; and one or more alpha-numeric character etched areas, at least a portion of each alpha-numeric character etched area continuously extending along an outer surface of the spaced apart crowns and valleys, the alpha-numeric character etched areas providing at least one of a characteristic or intended application of the metal-clad cable assembly.