Shielded mining cable

Claim 1

An electrical power cable comprising (a) a core of flattened, substantially elliptical shape having a major axis and a minor axis normal thereto including (1) a plurality of three power conductors, (2) a ground check conductor, (3) a ground conductor, and (4) plural bodies of elastomeric material and each said conductor disposed in a separate body wherein (i) said bodies supporting each said power conductor and ground check conductor is an insulating material, (ii) said body supporting said ground conductor comprising a bedding jacket of semi-conductive material forming part of a current path to ground, (iii) each said body of elastomeric material arranged along said major axis, and (iv) one of said ground conductor and ground check conductor located between a first pair of power conductor and the other of said ground conductor and ground check conductor located between the other pair of power conductor bodies; (b) a jacket surrounding said core, said jacket being formed of an insulative material; and (c) a continuous layer of a semi-conducting material substantially of equal thickness throughout disposed around and in contact with said core thereby to provide an additional part of said current path to ground in the event of the occurrence of physical damage to said electrical power cable.