Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A cable comprising at least one cable core, and, surrounding the core or assembly of cores, a water-impermeable barrier comprising a cushioning layer of elastomeric material; a substantially circumferentially continuous wall of metal or metal alloy constituted by at least one longitudinally applied, transversely folded metal tape which carries a coating of plastics material on its outwardly facing surface; at least one elongate flexible binder helically wound around the metal wall under such a tension that at least one helically extending corrugation is formed in the metal wall throughout the length of the cable and that elastomeric material of the cushioning layer fills the trough of the helical corrugation in the inner surface of the metal wall; and, surrounding the metal wall, an extruded sheath of plastics material which is bonded to the plastics coating on the outer surface of the metal tape or tapes constituting the metal wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A cable comprising at least one cable core, and, surrounding the core or assembly of cores, a water-impermeable barrier comprising a cushioning layer of elastomeric material; a substantially circumferentially continuous wall of metal or metal alloy constituted by at least one longitudinally applied, transversely folded metal tape which carries a coating of plastics material on its outwardly facing surface; at least one elongate flexible binder helically wound around the metal wall under such a tension that at least one helically extending corrugation is formed in the metal wall throughout the length of the cable and that elastomeric material of the cushioning layer fills the trough of the helical corrugation in the inner surface of the metal wall; and, surrounding the metal wall, an extruded sheath of plastics material which is bonded to the plastics coating on the outer surface of the metal tape or tapes constituting the metal wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the outer surface of the flexible binder is of plastics material and the plastics material of the overlying sheath is also bonded to the plastics surface of the flexible binder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cable as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible binder is at least one wire of metal or metal alloy having an outer coating of plastics material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cable as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible binder is a plastics coated non-metallic filament.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cable as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each metal tape forming the metal wall is of copper or a copper-based alloy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electric cable as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the core is a single stranded electric conductor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electric cable as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the core is a multiplicity of plastics insulated conductors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical cable as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the core is an extruded elongate body of plastics material having a bore in which at least one optical fibre is loosely housed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An optical cable as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the core is at least two plastics tubes assembled together, in at least one of which tubes at least one optical fibre is loosely housed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each metal tape constituting the metal wall also carries a coating of plastics material on its inwardly facing surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cable as claimed in claim 10, wherein the plastics coating on the inwardly facing surface of the or each metal tape is bonded to the elastomeric material constituting the cushioning layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
A method of manufacturing a cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the helically extending corrugation in the metal wall is formed after the or each metal tape has been longitudinally applied to and transversely folded around the cushioning layer by helically winding at least one elongate flexible binder around the metal wall under such a tension that a helically extending corrugation is formed in the metal wall throughout the length of the cable and that elastomeric material of the cushioning layer is caused to flow into and to fill the trough of the helical corrugation in the inner surface of the metal wall.