US5043538A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Water resistant cable construction
Assignee: Southwire Co LLC
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Filing: 1989-07-03
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Granted: 1991-08-27
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Expires: 2009-07-03
Abstract
Abstract A water impervious cable construction for aerial, underground, or underwater use which includes at least one central electrical conductor, an overlayer of insulation material such as a plastic, a shield layer formed of a plurality of individual conductors (or the equivalent) which may be spirally wrapped and which shield layer is embedded in a layer of semiconducting material (which may also be a plastic), a layer of overlapped moisture barrier metal foil material, and a further overlayer of insulating material. The cable is manufactured on a substantially conventional cable extrusion line in which the partially manufactured cable (insulated core or cores wrapped with the shield conductors) is introduced into an extruder and a layer of semiconducting material is extruded thereon, wrapped with metal foil tape (which may include an edge located sealant), and introduced into a subsequent extruder to form one or more outer coatings. Use of expensive or special plastic laminated metal tape in combination with "hold" tape materials is eliminated, reducing the manufacturing cost to produce the cable.
Inventors
- 👤 Raburn L. Hughey, Jr.
- 👤 Jerry M. Hesterlee
- 👤 Frank R. Thrash, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:27
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B9/00; H01B9/02; H01B7/00; H01B7/17; H01B7/28; H01B7/282; H01B7/2825; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02A30/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A high voltage, high power water resistant cable, comprising: a) a conductive cable core; b) a plastic layer surrounding said cable core; c) an electrically conductive shielding overlying said plastic layer; d) a semiconducting layer encapsulating said shielding; e) a moisture barrier enclosing said semiconducting layer, said moisture barrier comprising a foil having overlapping edges, said edges being unsealed to permit internal cable expansion; and f) an outer covering of protective, insulating plastic over said moisture barrier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A high voltage, high power water resistant cable, comprising: a) a conductive cable core; b) a plastic layer surrounding said cable core; c) an electrically conductive shielding overlying said plastic layer; d) a semiconducting layer encapsulating said shielding; e) a moisture barrier enclosing said semiconducting layer, said moisture barrier comprising a foil having overlapping edges, said edges being unsealed to permit internal cable expansion; and f) an outer covering of protective, insulating plastic over said moisture barrier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said moisture barrier is a metal foil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said shielding includes a plurality of longitudinal wires.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said shielding is encapsulated in said semiconducting layer such that moving contact between said shielding and said moisture barrier is substantially eliminated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cable of claim 2, wherein said metal foil moisture barrier is coated with a plastic material on at least one side.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cable of claim 2, wherein said metal foil moisture barrier is aluminum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cable of claim 2, wherein said metal foil moisture barrier is copper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cable of claim 2, wherein said metal foil moisture barrier is lead.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cable of claim 2, wherein said metal foil moisture barrier is steel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cable of claim 2, wherein said metal foil moisture barrier is an alloy including a metal selected from the group which includes aluminum, copper, lead, and steel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cable of claim 2, wherein said metal foil moisture barrier is between about 3 mils and about 10 mils thick.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cable of claim 1, wherein said outer layer of insulation is corrugated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cable of claim 12, wherein said outer layer of insulation is longitudinally corrugated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cable of claim 12, wherein said outer layer of insulation is circumferentially corrugated.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
115 words
The method of manufacturing a high voltage, high power water resistant cable, comprising: a) providing at least one electrical cable core conductor; b) extruding at least one layer of insulation around said at least one core conductor; c) forming a metal shield layer overlying said extruded insulation layer; d) extruding a semiconducting layer so as to encapsulate said shield layer; e) forming an elongated metal foil moisture barrier around said semiconducting layer; f) overlapping said moisture barrier along the edges thereof; g) extruding an outer covering of protective, insulating plastic over said moisture barrier; and, h) permanently sealing the overlapping edges of the moisture barrier by the latent heat of one of said extrusion steps.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
115 words
The method of manufacturing a high voltage, high power water resistant cable, comprising: a) providing at least one electrical cable core conductor; b) extruding at least one layer of insulation around said at least one core conductor; c) forming a metal shield layer overlying said extruded insulation layer; d) extruding a semiconducting layer so as to encapsulate said shield layer; e) forming an elongated metal foil moisture barrier around said semiconducting layer; f) overlapping said moisture barrier along the edges thereof; g) extruding an outer covering of protective, insulating plastic over said moisture barrier; and, h) permanently sealing the overlapping edges of the moisture barrier by the latent heat of one of said extrusion steps.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the metal foil moisture barrier includes longitudinal edges, further including the step of forming the moisture barrier around the semiconducting layer such that the metal foil encircles the semiconductor layer in electrical contact therewith.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15, further including the step of corrugating the outer covering of protective, insulating plastic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the moisture barrier heat seal is accomplished with latent heat from the semiconductor layer extrusion step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said moisture barrier heat seal is formed with the aid of latent heat from a subsequent extrusion step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
A water resistant cable which includes an insulation layer; an electrically conducting shielding overlying said insulation layer; a semiconducting layer encapsulating said shielding; an elongated moisture barrier comprising a metal foil face and a plastic layer face, said moisture barrier having overlapping edges; and an outer layer of insulation extruded overall, wherein said moisture barrier encircles said semiconducting layer such that the metal foil face is in electrical contact therewith and the overlapping edges are not sealed to one another.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
80 words
A water resistant cable which includes an insulation layer; an electrically conducting shielding overlying said insulation layer; a semiconducting layer encapsulating said shielding; an elongated moisture barrier comprising a metal foil face and a plastic layer face, said moisture barrier having overlapping edges; and an outer layer of insulation extruded overall, wherein said moisture barrier encircles said semiconducting layer such that the metal foil face is in electrical contact therewith and the overlapping edges are not sealed to one another.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-26 | 1995-02-25 | 1995-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-26 | 1999-02-25 | 1999-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-26 | 2003-02-25 | 2003-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |