Patent US3945620A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4626298A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4626298A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making flat multiple conductor cable
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
•
Filing: 1985-03-25
•
Granted: 1986-12-02
•
Expires: 2005-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A lightweight pliable flat conductor cable comprises a plurality of round wire conductors supported within generally parallel channels defined cooperatively by preformed and bonded plies of a polyimide insulation sheet material, particularly such as Kapton film. The Kapton film is highly resistant to degradation from exposure to ultraviolet radiation and further provides the conductor cable with a high degree of pliability throughout a broad range of temperature extremes, as encountered, for example, in an outer space environment. A method of forming the flat conductor cable is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Ira L. Allard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/08; H01B7/0838; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24628; Y10T428/24669; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31721; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of forming a flat conductor cable having a plurality of elongated generally round wire conductors, comprising the steps of: preforming a plurality of elongated and generally parallel spaced channels into a lower ply of a relatively thin and lightweight polyimide sheet material; placing the round wire conductors into the spaced channels of the lower ply of polyimide sheet material; and bonding the lower ply of polyimide sheet material together with an upper ply of a relatively thin and lightweight polyimide sheet material with the round wire conductors supported within the spaced channels.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of forming a flat conductor cable having a plurality of elongated generally round wire conductors, comprising the steps of: preforming a plurality of elongated and generally parallel spaced channels into a lower ply of a relatively thin and lightweight polyimide sheet material; placing the round wire conductors into the spaced channels of the lower ply of polyimide sheet material; and bonding the lower ply of polyimide sheet material together with an upper ply of a relatively thin and lightweight polyimide sheet material with the round wire conductors supported within the spaced channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said preforming step comprises a thermal forming step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said thermal forming step comprises exposing the polyimide sheet material to a temerature within the range of from about 825° F. to about 950° F. for about thirty minutes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said thermal forming step comprises exposing the polyimide sheet material to a temperature within the range of from about 850° F. to about 900° F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said bonding step comprises supporting the upper and lower plies in intimate contact with an adhesive substance therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the adhesive substance comprises a thermal setting adhesive and said bonding step further includes exposing the adhesive to a setting temperature sufficient to bond the upper and lower plies together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the adhesive substance is a sheet of a nitrile adhesive, said temperature exposing step comprising exposing the nitrile adhesive sheet to a temperature of about 350° F. for about five minutes.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of forming a flat conductor cable having a plurality of round wire conductors, comprising the steps of: preforming a lower ply of polyimide sheet material to include a plurality of elongated, open-topped, and generally parallel spaced channels; placing the round wire conductors into the channels; overlying the lower ply with an adhesive substance; placing an upper ply of polyimide sheet material in overlying relation with the adhesive substance and the lower ply; and bonding the upper and lower plies together.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of forming a flat conductor cable having a plurality of round wire conductors, comprising the steps of: preforming a lower ply of polyimide sheet material to include a plurality of elongated, open-topped, and generally parallel spaced channels; placing the round wire conductors into the channels; overlying the lower ply with an adhesive substance; placing an upper ply of polyimide sheet material in overlying relation with the adhesive substance and the lower ply; and bonding the upper and lower plies together.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said preforming step comprises a thermal forming step, and wherein said bonding step comprises a thermal bonding step.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
255 words
A method of forming a flat conductor cable having a plurality of round wire conductors, comprising the steps of: placing a lower ply of polyimide sheet material having a thickness within the range of about 0.5 mil to about 5.0 mil over a forming die having a plurality of elongated generally parallel spaced grooves formed therein; displacing and retaining the lower ply into conformance with the grooves in the forming die by inserting an elongated die bar into one of the grooves and then inserting subsequent die bars one at a time respectively into subsequent grooves each adjacent a groove having a die bar already inserted therein; covering the die bars and lower ply with an upper platen and exposing the lower ply to a temperature of about 825° F. to about 950° F. for a time of about thirty minutes for thermally forming the lower ply to include a plurality of longitudinal open-topped channels; removing the upper platen and the die bars from the lower ply; placing a thermal setting adhesive over the lower ply; placing an upper ply of polyimide film sheet material having a thickness within the range of about 0.5 mil to about 5.0 mil over the thermal adhesive; covering the upper ply with the upper platen and subjecting the thermal setting adhesive to a temperature of about 350° F. for about five minutes to bond the upper and lower plies together thereby forming the conductor cable; and removing the thus-formed conductor cable from the upper platen and the forming die.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
255 words
A method of forming a flat conductor cable having a plurality of round wire conductors, comprising the steps of: placing a lower ply of polyimide sheet material having a thickness within the range of about 0.5 mil to about 5.0 mil over a forming die having a plurality of elongated generally parallel spaced grooves formed therein; displacing and retaining the lower ply into conformance with the grooves in the forming die by inserting an elongated die bar into one of the grooves and then inserting subsequent die bars one at a time respectively into subsequent grooves each adjacent a groove having a die bar already inserted therein; covering the die bars and lower ply with an upper platen and exposing the lower ply to a temperature of about 825° F. to about 950° F. for a time of about thirty minutes for thermally forming the lower ply to include a plurality of longitudinal open-topped channels; removing the upper platen and the die bars from the lower ply; placing a thermal setting adhesive over the lower ply; placing an upper ply of polyimide film sheet material having a thickness within the range of about 0.5 mil to about 5.0 mil over the thermal adhesive; covering the upper ply with the upper platen and subjecting the thermal setting adhesive to a temperature of about 350° F. for about five minutes to bond the upper and lower plies together thereby forming the conductor cable; and removing the thus-formed conductor cable from the upper platen and the forming die.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3082292A
Cited
US3547718A
Cited
US3900662A
Cited
US4090902A
Cited
US3833755A
Cited
US3932689A
Cited
US4098628A
Cited
US4375379A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-01 | 1990-06-02 | 1990-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-01 | 1994-06-02 | 1994-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-01 | 1998-06-02 | 1998-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |