AU2021104230A4

AU2021104230A4 - Composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions

Info

Publication number: AU2021104230A4
Application number: AU2021104230A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Long Chen; Zhaowei DING; Le HU; Yihua MAO; Cong Shen; Xinhua Shen; Chunmin SHENG; Yuechen SONG; Wenbo WAN; Huibin WANG; Mengwei Wang; Jian Wu; Wei Wu; Songnian XIE; Cong XU; Meijia Yang
Original assignee: Zhejiang Dongtong Iot Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Zhejiang Dongtong Iot Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-04-13
Filing date: 2021-07-16
Publication date: 2021-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-16
Also published as: WO2022217700A1; CN113113182A

Abstract

The invention relates to a composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions, including an optical cable unit, an electric cable unit, and a first sheath body. The optical cable unit and the electric cable unit are both disposed in the first sheath body. The electric cable unit includes a first electric cable subunit and a second electric cable subunit. Along a length extension direction, the first electric cable subunit and the second electric cable subunit are both always kept in a parallel state relative to the optical cable unit. A cross section of the first sheath body is in a "capsule" shape, and is formed by sequentially connecting an upper section used for installing the first electric cable subunit, a middle section used for installing the optical cable unit, and a lower section used for installing the second electric cable subunit. On the premise of ensuring an overall mechanical property of the composite cable, a butterfly-shaped design structure is capable of effectively reducing an overall outer diameter of the composite cable. Moreover, entanglement between the optical cable unit and the electric cable unit in a laying process is also avoided, which is beneficial for executing a subsequent branching operation of a terminal. 1/5 A 31 2/21 1111 22 B FIG. 1

Description

1/5

A

31 2/21

1111

22

B

FIG. 1

COMPOSITE CABLE WITH BOTH OPTICAL SIGNAL AND ELECTRIC ENERGY TRANSMISSION FUNCTIONS TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of communication optical cable manufacturing technologies, and more particularly, to a composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0002] With the continuous growth of information demands, optical fiber communication is widely used as a communication mode with a fastest signal transmission speed and a best transmission quality. However, with the rapid development of network construction, an application of an optical cable is becoming more and more extensive.

[0003] In some application scenarios that both an optical signal and an electric energy need to be transmitted, an optical cable and an electric cable are generally used in parallel. If the optical cable and the electric cable are in a narrow space, there may be redundant wires, which have a serious impact on construction wiring. At present, there are some composite cables in the market. Through actual disassembly, it is found that a structure of the composite cables is that the electric cable and the optical cable are simply twisted together. Thus, on one hand, the composite cables are easy to have "strand loosening" in a process of being threaded, and then it is easy to cause a single electric cable or a single optical cable to be broken due to a hooking effect of a hole or a sidewall of a split. On the other hand, due to entanglement between the electric cable and the optical cable, it is difficult to execute a branching operation of a terminal. On the other hand, mechanical property indexes of existing composite cables in the market are difficult to meet the national standards, especially tensile and bending indexes. Therefore, it is urgent for technicians to solve the above problems.

SUMMARY OF PRESENT INVENTION

[0004] Therefore, in view of the above existing problems and defects, the designer of the present invention collects relevant data, and through the evaluation and consideration of various parties, and the constant experiments and modifications by technicians who have been engaged in research and development in this industry for many years, a composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions finally appears.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention relates to a composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions finally appears, including an optical cable unit, an electric cable unit, and a first sheath body. The optical cable unit and the electric cable unit are both disposed in the first sheath body. A central axis of the optical cable unit coincides with a central axis of the first sheath body, and the optical cable unit includes at least one optical cable. The electric cable unit includes a first electric cable subunit and a second electric cable subunit. Along a length extension direction, the first electric cable subunit and the second electric cable subunit are both always kept in a parallel state relative to the optical cable unit. A cross section of the first sheath body is in a "capsule" shape, and is formed by sequentially connecting an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section from top to bottom. The upper section, the middle section, and the lower section are respectively used for installing the first electric cable subunit, the optical cable unit, and the second electric cable subunit.

[0006] As a further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, the middle section is provided with a left separating tank and a right separating tank. The left separating tank and the right separating tank are respectively formed by oppositely extending left and right side walls of the middle section, and are both forwardly corresponding to the optical cable unit.

[0007] As a further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, cross sections of the left separating tank and the right separating tank are both in a "V" shape. In a process of extruding and molding the first sheath body, the left separating tank and the right separating tank are both directly molded on the left and right side walls of the middle section.

[0008] As a further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, an upper tag line and a lower tag line are respectively spray-printed and molded on the upper section and the lower section. The upper tag line and the lower tag line have different colors.

[0009] As a further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, the optical cable includes a cable core and a protective sheath layer which are concentrically sleeved with each other. The protective sheath layer is preferably formed by extruding a low-smoke halogen-free flame-retardant polyolefin sheath material.

[0010] Asa further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, the first sheath body is preferably formed by extruding ceramic low-smoke halogen-free polyolefin.

[0011] Asa further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, the composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions further includes a second sheath body and a tensile body. The second sheath body is concentrically sleeved on a periphery of the first sheath body to cooperatively form an accommodating cavity. The tensile body is disposed in the accommodating cavity.

[0012] Asa further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, the tensile body is preferably formed by mutually twisting a plurality of aramid yarns and a plurality of glass fiber yams.

[0013] Asa further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, the composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions further includes a left filling rope and a right filling rope. The left filling rope and the right filling rope both penetrate through the tensile body, and are symmetrically arranged on left and right sides of the first sheath body.

[0014] As a further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, the composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions further includes a first flame-retardant layer, a second flame-retardant layer, a third flame-retardant layer, and a fourth flame-retardant layer. The first flame-retardant layer, the second flame-retardant layer and the third flame-retardant layer are all molded in the first sheath body, and are sleeved on peripheries of the first electric cable subunit, the second electric cable subunit, and the optical cable unit correspondingly. The fourth flame-retardant layer is molded in the accommodating cavity and is sleeved on a periphery of the tensile body.

[0015] Asa further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, the first flame-retardant layer, the second flame-retardant layer, the third flame-retardant layer, and the fourth flame-retardant layer are all formed by circumferentially winding a flame-retardant glass fiber tape.

[0016] Asa further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention, the second sheath body is preferably formed by extruding a low-smoke halogen-free flame-retardant material.

[0017] Compared with a composite cable with a traditional design structure, in the technical solution disclosed by the present invention, the optical cable used for transmitting a signal and two electric cable subunits used for transmitting an electric energy are sleeved in the first sheath body at the same time to mold a butterfly-shaped optical cable. On the premise of ensuring an overall mechanical property of the composite cable, a butterfly-shaped design structure is capable of effectively reducing an overall outer diameter of the composite cable, which is beneficial for laying the composite cable in a narrow space. In addition, along the length direction of the composite cable, the electric cable subunits are always kept in a parallel state relative to the optical cable, so that entanglement between the two in a laying process is also avoided, which is beneficial for executing a subsequent branching operation of a terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or in the prior art more clearly, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are merely some embodiments recorded in the present invention. For those of ordinary skills in the art, other drawings may also be obtained based on these drawings without going through any creative work.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a first implementation of a composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions in the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a view of an A side in FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 3 is aviewof aB side inFIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a structural schematic diagram of a second implementation of the composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions in the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a structural schematic diagram of a third implementation of the composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions in the present invention.

[0024] 1 refers to optical cable unit; 11 refers to optical cable; 111 refers to cable core; 112 refers to protective sheath layer; 2 refers to electric cable unit; 21 refers to first electric cable subunit; 22 refers to second electric cable subunit; 3 refers to first sheath body; 31 refers to upper section; 311 refers to upper tag line; 32 refers to middle section; 321 refers to left separating tank; 322 refers to right separating tank; 33 refers to lower section; 331 refers to lower tag line; 4 refers to second sheath body; refers to tensile body; 6 refers to left filling rope; 7 refers to right filling rope; 8 refers to first flame-retardant layer; 9 refers to second flame-retardant layer; 10 refers to third flame-retardant layer; and 11a refers to fourth flame-retardant layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Contents of the present invention will be further described in detail hereinafter with reference to specific embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a structural schematic diagram of a first implementation of a composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions in the present invention. It can be seen that the composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions is mainly composed of an optical cable unit 1, an electric cable unit 2, and a first sheath body 3. The optical cable unit 1 and the electric cable unit 2 are both disposed in the first sheath body 3. A central axis of the optical cable unit 1 coincides with a central axis of the first sheath body 3, and the optical cable unit includes at least one optical cable 11. The electric cable unit 2 includes a first electric cable subunit 21 used as a live wire and a second electric cable subunit 22 used as a ground wire. Along a length extension direction, the first electric cable subunit 21 and the second electric cable subunit 22 are both always kept in a parallel state relative to the optical cable unit 1. A cross section of the first sheath body 3 is in a "capsule" shape, and is formed by sequentially connecting an upper section 31, a middle section 32, and a lower section 33 from top to bottom. The upper section 31, the middle section 32, and the lower section 33 are respectively used for installing the first electric cable subunit 21, the optical cable unit 1, and the second electric cable subunit 22.

[0026] In the above technical solution, the optical cable 11 used for transmitting a signal and two electric cable subunits (the first electric cable subunit 21 and the second electric cable subunit 22) used for transmitting an electric energy are sleeved in the first sheath body 3 at the same time to mold a butterfly-shaped optical cable.

On the premise of ensuring an overall mechanical property of the composite cable, a butterfly-shaped design structure is capable of effectively reducing an overall outer diameter of the composite cable, which is beneficial for laying the composite cable in a narrow space.

[0027] It should also be noted here that, along the length direction of the composite cable, the two electric cable subunits (including the first electric cable subunit 21 and the second electric cable subunit 22) are always kept in a parallel state relative to the optical cable 11, so that entanglement among the three in a laying process is avoided, which is beneficial for executing a subsequent branching operation of a terminal.

[0028] In addition, it can be seen from FIG. 1 that the middle section 32 is provided with a left separating tank 321 and a right separating tank 322 having cross sections in a "V" shape at the same time. The left separating tank 321 and the right separating tank 322 are respectively formed by oppositely extending left and right side walls of the middle section 32, and are both forwardly corresponding to the optical cable unit 1. A depth is controlled between 1 mm to 1.2 mm. Thus, a convenience and a regularity of subsequent branching operation are effectively improved. For example, when the first electric cable subunit 21, the optical cable 11, and the second electric cable subunit 22 need to be branched, a constructor only needs to oppositely exert forces on the upper section 31 and the lower section 33 at the same time, and the left separating tank 321 and the right separating tank 322 are subjected to a tearing force to continuously extend towards an interior of the first sheath body 3, thus facilitating separation of the first electric cable subunit 21, the second electric cable subunit 22, and the optical cable 11. Moreover, a split after separation is more regular, which avoids a problem of damaging the first electric cable subunit 21, the optical cable 11, and the second electric cable subunit 22 in a tearing process.

[0029] Generally speaking, in order to reduce molding costs of the left separating tank 321 and the right separating tank 322, and improve a molding quality, in a process of extruding and molding the first sheath body 3, the left separating tank 321 and the right separating tank 322 are directly molded on the left and right side walls of the middle section 32.

[0030] In addition, it can be seen from FIG. 1 that the optical cable 11 includes a cable core 111 and a protective sheath layer 112 which are concentrically sleeved with each other..

[0031] The first sheath body 3 is preferably formed by extruding ceramic low-smoke halogen-free polyolefin, so as to effectively improve an outer protection property of the composite cable, ensure a good smoothness of an outer surface, and facilitate subsequent threading operation.

[0032] On the basis that the first sheath body 3 is preferably made of the ceramic low-smoke halogen-free polyolefin, the protective sheath layer 112 and protective sheath layers of the first electric cable subunit 21 and the second electric cable subunit 22 are all preferably formed by extruding a low-smoke halogen-free flame-retardant polyolefin sheath material. Thus, the composite cable has a stronger flame-retardant property, such as a burning resistance property, a nucleation property, a smoke suppression property, and an anti-dripping property; and a heat release amount of the composite cable in a burning process is greatly reduced, and the optical cable can meet a European requirement that a cable in a permanent building must meet test standards of CPRCca, sla, burning dripping dO, and burning gas acidity al.

[0033] It can be seen from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 that an upper tag line 311 and a lower tag line 331 are respectively spray-printed and molded on the upper section 31 and the lower section 33. The upper tag line 311 and the lower tag line 331 have different colors. By arranging through the above technical solution, the first electric cable subunit 21 and the second electric cable subunit 22 may be effectively distinguished, so that a problem of unclear distinguishment during actual branching operation is avoided, which ensures correct conduction between the composite cable and a terminal device.

[0034] In a traditional design structure, the flame-retardant layers are all molded inside the electric cable or the optical cable. Even if the electric cable or the optical cable is burned, flame only spreads within a limited range, so that residual flame or residual burning may be self-extinguished within a limited time. A specific structure is as follows. Taking the optical cable as an example, the optical cable is mainly composed of a cable core, an inner sheath layer, a flame-retardant layer, and an outer sheath layer which are sequentially and concentrically sleeved from inside to outside. In an actual molding process, a flame-retardant tape is wound around the inner sheath layer to form the flame-retardant layer first, and then the outer sheath layer is molded on a periphery of the flame-retardant layer. However, a molding method of the optical cable is difficult in construction, and a quality of the optical cable after molding is not easy to control. Moreover, the outer sheath layer may also be damaged after burning, so as to affects subsequent application of the optical cable. FIG. 4 shows a structural schematic diagram of a second implementation of the composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions in the present invention. It can be seen that, compared with the above first implementation, the difference is as follows. A first flame-retardant layer 8, a second flame-retardant layer 9, and a third flame-retardant layer 10 are added in the composite cable. The first flame-retardant layer 8, the second flame-retardant layer 9, and the third flame-retardant layer 10 are all molded in the first sheath body 3, and are sleeved on peripheries of the first electric cable subunit 21, the second electric cable subunit 22, and the optical cable unit 1 correspondingly. In actual molding processes of the first electric cable subunit 21, the second electric cable subunit 22, and the optical cable unit 1, no flame-retardant layer is molded therein in advance, but a flame-retardant layer molding process is put behind, which means that in an actual molding process of the composite cable, flame-retardant glass fiber tapes are respectively wound along circumferential directions of the first electric cable subunit 21, the second electric cable subunit 22, and the optical cable unit 1 to mold the first flame-retardant layer 8, the second flame-retardant layer 9 and the third flame-retardant layer 11 respectively.

[0035] According to verification by practical experiments, a flame-retardant property of the composite cable disclosed in the second implementation is basically the same as that of the traditional composite cable, but the molding process of the first flame-retardant layer 8, the second flame-retardant layer 9, and the third flame-retardant layer 10 is simpler, and the quality is easier to control. Thus, by arranging through the above technical solution, even if a fire occurs, an integrity of the outer sheath layers of the first electric cable subunit 21, the second electric cable subunit 22, and the optical cable unit 1 after burning may be effectively ensured.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a structural schematic diagram of a third implementation of the composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions in the present invention. Compared with the above second implementation, the differences are as follows.

[0037] 1) A second sheath body 4 and a tensile body 5 are added. The second sheath body 4 is concentrically sleeved on a periphery of the first sheath body 3 to cooperatively form an accommodating cavity. The tensile body 5 is disposed in the accommodating cavity. By arranging through the above technical solution, a bending property of the composite cable can be effectively improved, and a phenomenon that the first electric cable subunit 21, the second electric cable subunit 22, and the optical cable 11 are bent and damaged due to an excessively small bending radius in a threading process is avoided, and an overall tensile property of the composite cable can also be effectively improved.

[0038] 2) The tensile body 5 is preferably formed by twisting a plurality of aramid yams and a plurality of glass fiber yarns. The second sheath body 4 is preferably formed by extruding a low-smoke halogen-free flame-retardant material. The aramid yam and the glass fiber yam have special properties such as a low density, a very high tensile modulus, a high breaking strength, and a low elongation at break, can keep an inherent stability at a high temperature, and have a very low shrinkage, a low creep deformation, and a very high glass transition temperature. In addition, the aramid yam and the glass fiber yam have a high corrosion resistance, a non-conductivity, and a strong chemical resistance except a strong acid and a strong alkali. In addition, more importantly, there are little differences in tensile modulus and high temperature resistance between the aramid yam and the glass fiber yam, and the aramid yam and the glass fiber yam may be kept in a stable twisted state for a long time after molding, and are not easy to have a "strand loosening" problem.

[0039] 3) A left filling rope 6 and a right filling rope 7 are added. The left filling rope 6 and the right filling rope 7 both penetrate through the tensile body 5, and are symmetrically arranged on left and right sides of the first sheath body 3. Thus, not only an overall roundness of the composite cable can be effectively improved, but also the bending property can be improved to a certain extent.

[0040] 4) A fourth flame-retardant layer 11a is added. The fourth flame-retardant layer 11a is molded in the accommodating cavity and is sleeved on a periphery of the tensile body 5. The fourth flame-retardant layer 11a is formed by circumferentially winding a flame-retardant glass fiber around the tensile body 5.

[0041] The above descriptions of the disclosed embodiments enable those skilled in the art to implement or use the present invention. Many modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but should comply with the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions, comprising an optical cable unit, an electric cable unit, and a first sheath body; the optical cable unit and the electric cable unit being both disposed in the first sheath body, wherein a central axis of the optical cable unit coincides with a central axis of the first sheath body, and the optical cable unit comprises at least one optical cable; the electric cable unit comprises a first electric cable subunit and a second electric cable subunit; along a length extension direction, the first electric cable subunit and the second electric cable subunit are both always kept in a parallel state relative to the optical cable unit; a cross section of the first sheath body is in a "capsule" shape, and is formed by sequentially connecting an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section from top to bottom, wherein the upper section, the middle section, and the lower section are respectively used for installing the first electric cable subunit, the optical cable unit, and the second electric cable subunit.
2. The composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions according to claim 1, wherein the middle section is provided with a left separating tank and a right separating tank; and the left separating tank and the right separating tank are respectively formed by oppositely extending left and right side walls of the middle section, and are both forwardly corresponding to the optical cable unit.
3. The composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions according to claim 2, wherein cross sections of the left separating tank and the right separating tank are both in a "V" shape; and in a process of extruding and molding the first sheath body, the left separating tank and the right separating tank are both directly molded on the left and right side walls of the middle section.
4. The composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions according to claim 1, wherein an upper tag line and a lower tag line are respectively spray-printed and molded on the upper section and the lower section; and the upper tag line and the lower tag line have different colors.
5. The composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions according to claim 1, wherein the optical cable comprises a cable core and a protective sheath layer which are concentrically sleeved with each other; and the protective sheath layer is formed by extruding a low-smoke halogen-free flame-retardant polyolefin sheath material.
6. The composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions according to claim 1, wherein the first sheath body is formed by extruding ceramic low-smoke halogen-free polyolefin.
7. The composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a second sheath body and a tensile body, wherein the second sheath body is concentrically sleeved on a periphery of the first sheath body to cooperatively form an accommodating cavity; and the tensile body is disposed in the accommodating cavity.
8. The composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions according to claim 7, wherein the tensile body is formed by mutually twisting a plurality of aramid yams and a plurality of glass fiber yams.
9. The composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions according to claim 7, further comprising a left filling rope and a right filling rope, wherein the left filling rope and the right filling rope both penetrate through the tensile body, and are symmetrically arranged on left and right sides of the first sheath body.
10. The composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions according to claim 7, further comprising a first flame-retardant layer, a second flame-retardant layer, a third flame-retardant layer, and a fourth flame-retardant layer, wherein the first flame-retardant layer, the second flame-retardant layer and the third flame-retardant layer are all molded in the first sheath body, and are sleeved on peripheries of the first electric cable subunit, the second electric cable subunit, and the optical cable unit correspondingly; and the fourth flame-retardant layer is molded in the accommodating cavity and is sleeved on a periphery of the tensile body.
11. The composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions according to claim 10, wherein the first flame-retardant layer, the second flame-retardant layer, the third flame-retardant layer, and the fourth flame-retardant layer are all formed by circumferentially winding a flame-retardant glass fiber tape.
12. The composite cable with both optical signal and electric energy transmission functions according to claim 7, wherein the second sheath body is formed by extruding a low-smoke halogen-free flame-retardant material.