EP1692332A1

EP1692332A1 - Abrasion-resistant sleeve for electrical wires, cables or tubes

Info

Publication number: EP1692332A1
Application number: EP04816527A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter V. Uribarri
Original assignee: Sofanou SA
Current assignee: Delfingen FR Anteuil SA
Priority date: 2003-12-09
Filing date: 2004-12-09
Publication date: 2006-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-09
Also published as: JP4395518B2; DE04816527T1; EP1692332B1; JP2007514068A; US20050124249A1; WO2005056898A1; ES2269019T1

Abstract

The invention relates to a tubular, abrasion-resistant sleeve, made from a knitted textile fabric which is thermofixed to give an elastic tubular sleeve. The textile material is produced with a first monofilament weft thread and a second multifilament texturised weft thread. A collection of warp threads, including a number of multifilament textured threads, forming a layer of lockstitches is knitted into the textile material. A multifilament textured thread can optionally be used as an included warp, or for insertion, to give a more pronounced continuity on the surface of the textile material.

Description

ABRASION RESISTANT SHEATH, FOR ELECTRIC WIRES, CABLES OR TUBES

Technical Field The present invention relates generally to a protective sheath for covering a product subjected to unfavorable environmental conditions and, more particularly, to a flat knitted textile fabric shaped into a tubular textile sheath.

State of the art Coatings for securing scattered articles such as metal wires, cables or tubes are generally known in the art. These protective coatings include corrugated coatings, braided coatings and textile coatings. Until now, each of these types of tubular sheaths was designed for a given function and behaved particularly well for this given function, in particular abrasion resistance, flame retardance, high temperatures or protection against interference electromagnetic. However, many models of tubular ducts require specific manufacturing for their given application. Consequently, there is a need for a common or universal means of manufacturing a tubular sheath in which the wires located inside the sheath are replaced, combined or exchanged based on a given application.

Disclosure of invention

The present invention relates to a flat, hooked textile fabric which is shaped into a tubular sheath. The textile fabric can be manufactured from a wide variety of threads depending on the application given on a common machine whatever the threads and, consequently, of the application for tubular sheaths.

Consequently, the present invention relates to an abrasion resistant tubular sheath having a monofilament forming a first weft in the textile fabric, a first multifilament yarn forming a second weft in the textile fabric and a set of hooked chains comprising a plurality of threads. multifilament textures forming a chain-stitch tablecloth in the textile fabric. The textile fabric is hooked in a flat configuration and then shaped by an operation of

-UILLE m REPLACEMENT IKil 26 thermofixing in elastic tubular sheath. In one embodiment of the present invention, a series of polyamide monofilament and multifilament yarns are used to form an abrasion resistant tubular sheath. In a second embodiment, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) monofilament yarn is used in conjunction with a series of polyester multifilament yarns. The PET monofilament yarn and the polyester multifilament yarns are treated with a flame retardant to form a self-extinguishing abrasion-resistant tubular sheath at zero combustion speed. In a third embodiment of the invention, a poly (phenylene sulfide) monofilament yarn is used in conjunction with a mixed Nomex® / Basofil® textured yarn, that is to say a composite filament with high resistance characteristics to flame, heat and abrasion, to obtain a high temperature abrasion resistant tubular sheath. In a fourth embodiment, a polyamide monofilament is used in conjunction with a series of mixed stainless steel and polyester yarns and polyester multifilament yarns to form a protected abrasion resistant tubular sheath.

Likewise, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing an abrasion-resistant tubular sheath comprising the preparation of a textile fabric by stitching at the chain stitch a set of multifilament chains on a set of wefts, in particular a monofilament weft and a multifilament weft, by pulling the textile fabric on a mandrel to form a tubular textile sheath and by elastic fixing the tubular textile sheath on the mandrel.

Other applicability zones of the present invention will emerge from the detailed description given below. It is understood that the detailed description and the specific examples, although indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more widely understood from the detailed description and the attached drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an abrasion-resistant tubular sheath according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed illustration of the hooked textile fabric forming the tubular sheath illustrated in FIG. 1; Fig. 3 is an illustration of the pattern used to make the textile fabric shown in FIG. 2; Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the pattern illustrated in FIG. 3; and Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the method of manufacturing a tubular sheath according to the invention.

Mode (s) of Carrying Out the Invention

The following description of the preferred embodiments is purely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application or its uses.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 4, the present invention relates to a generally flat hooked textile fabric 12, shaped as an elastic sheath which maintains its tubular shape. The textile fabric 12 comprises a monofilament yarn 14 forming a first weft and a textured multifilament yarn 16 forming a second weft in the textile fabric 12. The textile fabric 12 further comprises a set of hooked chains in the form of textured multifilament yarns forming in the textile fabric 12 a tablecloth 18 with chain stitches. In a preferred embodiment, the textile fabric 12 further comprises a set of established chains, in particular a plurality of multifilament yarns forming a ply 20 with mesh inserted into the textile fabric 12. The ply with inserted mesh 20 is used to fill the spacing on the face of the textile fabric 12 between the chain stitches of the ply 18 to form a smoother surface there. However, the expert in the art will note that a textile fabric 12 can be manufactured without the ply 18 with inserted mesh while remaining within the scope of the invention. As used in the application, the term "yarn" is intended to include monofilaments, multifilaments and combinations thereof.

As illustrated in the figures, the wefts 14, 16 are passed through all the ends formed by the chains 18, 20 over the width of the textile fabric from the edge 22 to the edge 24. The chain 18 is a hooked chain formed in the form of a closed loop chain or a chain stitch in the textile fabric 12. The hooked chain 18 is formed in each row of pins on the length of the textile fabric 12. The established chains 20 are formed by inserting the textured multifilament fiber between each row of pins along the length of the textile fabric 12. As a result, a web of chain stitches is formed along the selvedge. The textile fabric 12 can be hooked on any conventional machine capable of forming a two-fabric textile fabric 14, 16 with a set of chains 18 with chain stitches and a set of inserted chains 20.

With reference now to FIG. 5, the process for manufacturing the abrasion-resistant tubular sheath 10 is illustrated in a flow diagram 100. At the start, a flat textile fabric 12 having a monofilament weft 14, a multifilament weft 16, a hooked multifilament warp 18 and an established multifilament chain 20, as indicated in block 102. Once formed, the flat textile fabric 12 is pulled on a generally cylindrical mandrel to form a sheath of tubular textile fabric 10, as indicated in block 104. The claimed ply 18 and the insertion ply 20 are oriented so as to be generally parallel to the longitudinal axis AA of the tubular sheath 12 (as shown in FIG. 1). As is currently preferred, the textile fabric tubular sheath 10 has an overlapped portion 26 (shown in Fig. 1) which preferably extends over about 25 percent of the tubular sheath 12. In other words, the overlapping portion 26 extends over approximately 90 degrees, as indicated by the angle α shown in FIG. 1. Next, the tubular sheath 10 of textile fabric is heated while it is on the mandrel, as illustrated by process step 106. In this step, certain multifilament fibers found inside the tubular sheath can be heat-set once they have been subjected to an appropriate elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient in a particular configuration. The parameters for the heat-setting of the tubular sheath 10 generally depend on the type of filaments used in the textile fabric 12. For example, a textile fabric containing PET can be heated to a temperature such that the PET can at least partially melt to reinforce strongly heat setting and tie the other threads in the textile fabric.

Then, the textile tubular sheath 10 is cooled to resiliently fix the textile fabric 12 in the rolled up or tubular configuration, as indicated in process step 108. Finally, the tubular sheath 10 in textile fabric can be cut or wound from otherwise in progress, as indicated in process step 110. Again, depending on the composition of the textile fabric and the

FE heat setting treatment, a cutting step can be performed by mechanical shears or, alternatively, by a thermal cutting process, both generally known in the art. The thermal cutting process has the additional advantage of fusing the ends of the chains 18, 20 to prevent fraying of the textile fabric 12.

As noted previously, the present invention can readily adapt to a variety of produced abrasion resistant tubular sheaths. Table I reproduced below indicates four examples of compositions for an abrasion resistant tubular sheath 10 according to the present invention. As used in Table I, the initials PA denote a polyamide, PE denotes a polyester, PET denotes a poly (ethylene terephthalate), PPS denotes a poly (phenylene sulfide), B / W a mixture of NomexΘ / Basofil ® and SS of stainless steel. The prefix FR used in Example 2 designates the yarns which have undergone a delaying treatment known in the art.

Table 1

In the first preferred example, Example 1A, a textile fabric is hooked mainly from polyamide or nylon threads to form a tubular sheath resistant to abrasion. Specifically, a 6/6 nylon monofilament yarn having a diameter in the range of 0.1778 mm to 0.381 mm (0.007 "to 0.015" - 7 to 15 mils) is used as the weft 14. Alternatively, as shown in Example 1B, a monofilament yarn having a nylon 6/6 core with a polyester coating may be substituted for the weft 14. A textured multifilament nylon 6/6 yarn having a denier in the range from 1000 to 2000 ( 1000D to 2000D) is used as the weft 16. A 6/6 nylon multifilament textured thread having a denier in the range of 100 to 400 (100D to 400D) is used as a crochet warp 18. A 6/6 nylon multifilament textured thread having a denier in the range of 50 to 400 (50D to 400D) is used as an inserted warp 20. In a much preferred embodiment, the weft 14 is a 0.254 mm (10 mil) monofilament yarn, the weft 16 is a 1000D multifilament thread, chain 18 is 400 multifilament thread D and chain 20 is a 100D multifilament yarn.

In the second preferred example, Example 2, a textile fabric is hooked mainly from flame retardant poly (ethylene terephalate) yarn and from flame retardant polyester yarn to form a self-extinguishing tubular sheath of zero combustion speed (SENBR). Specifically, a flame retardant poly (ethylene terephalate) monofilament yarn having a diameter in the range of 0.1778 mm to 0.381 mm (0.007 "to 0.015" - 7 to 15 mils) is used as the weft 14. A flame retardant textured multifilament polyester yarn having a denier in the range of 1000 to 2000 (1000D to 2000D) is used as a weft 16. A flame retardant textured multifilament polyester yarn having a denier in the range of 100 to 400 ( 100D to 400D) is used as a crochet chain 18. A flame retardant textured multifilament polyester yarn having a denier in the range of 50 to 400 (50D to 400D) is used as an insertion chain 20. In one embodiment clearly preferred, the weft 14 is a 0.254 mm (10 mils) monofilament yarn, the weft 16 a 1000D multifilament yarn, the warp 18 a 400D multifilament yarn and the warp 20 a 100D multifilament yarn.

In the third preferred example, Example 3A, a textile fabric is hooked mainly from poly (phenylene sulfide) yarns and yarns of a Nomex® / Basofil® mixture to form a tubular sheath at high temperature.

Sheetl able to withstand 200 ° C. Specifically, a poly (phenylene sulfide) monofilament yarn having a diameter in the range of 0.1778 mm to 0.381 mm (0.007 "to 0.015" - 7 to 15 mils) is used as a weft 14. Alternatively, as shown in Example 3B, a monofilament yarn having a poly (phenylene sulfide) with about 2% Teflon can be substituted for the weft 14. A textured multifilament mixed thread of Nomex® / Basofil® having a denier in the range of 1000 to 2000 (1000D to 2000D) is used as a weft 16. A textured multifilament mixed thread of Nomex® / Basofil® having a denier in the range of 100 to 400 (100D to 400D) is used as a hooked chain 18. A multifilament thread mixed texture of Nomex® / Basolfil® having a denier in the range of 50 to 400 (50D to 400D) is used as insertion chain 20. In a clearly preferred embodiment, the weft 14 is a 0.254 mm monofilament yarn (10 mils), weft 16 a multifilament yarn re from 1000D, chain 18 a 400D multifilament yarn and chain 20 a 100D multifilament yarn. The mixture of Nomex® with Basofil® in the threads 16, 18, 20 will be determined by the specific application and the processing parameters for the loom on which the textile fabric is crocheted. However, a 60/40 mixture of Nomex / Basofil is currently preferred.

In the fourth preferred example, Example 4A, a textile fabric is hooked mainly from a polyamide, yarns of a mixture of stainless steel / polyester and polyester yarns to form a tubular sheath which provides protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI). Specifically, a 6/6 nylon monofilament yarn having a diameter in the range of 0.1778 mm to 0.381 mm (0.007 "to 0.015" - 7 to 15 mils) is used as the weft 14. Alternatively, as shown in Example 4B, a monofilament yarn having a 6/6 nylon core with a polyester coating may be substituted for the weft 14. A mixed stainless steel / textured multifilament polyester yarn having a denier in the range of 1000 to 2000 (1000D to 2000D) is used as the weft 16. A mixed textured stainless steel / multifilament polyester yarn having a denier in the range of 100 to 400 (100D to 400D) is used as a crochet warp 18. A textured multifilament polyester yarn having a denier in the range of 50 to 400 (50D to 400D) is used as an insertion chain (20). Alternatively, as shown in Example 4B, a monofilament yarn having a core of poly (ethylene terephalate) with a polyester coating may be substituted for the insertion chain 20. In a much preferred embodiment, the weft 14 is a 1000D multifilament yarn, the frame 16 is a 1000D multifilament yarn, the warp 18 is a wire

- ϋl ID 400D multifilament yarn and chain 20 a 100D multifilament yarn. The mixture of stainless steel and polyester in the threads 16, 18, 20 will be determined by the specific application and the processing parameters for the loom on which the textile fabric is hooked. However, a 20/80 stainless steel / polyester blend is currently preferred.

Industrial application

As described above, the invention relates to an improved structure of textile fabric for use in an abrasion-resistant tubular sheath. The characteristics of the sheath can be modified by varying the threads, fibers and / or filaments without appreciably modifying the manufacturing process. In this regard, certain compositions have been indicated to provide abrasion resistance, flame retardancy, resistance to high temperatures and / or protection against EMI / RFI. In addition, certain preferred wire sizes have been provided for the manufacture of a tubular sheath having a diameter in the range of 5 mm to 38 mm. However, the expert in the art will note that the dimensions of the filaments as well as the dimensions of the textile fabric forming the tubular sheath can be modified according to the specifications of a particular application. Likewise, additional monofilaments and / or multifilaments can be added to the weft threads and / or the warp threads to give an additional structure and function to the tubular sheath. Furthermore, if the composition of each textile fabric has been described with specific reference to a particular characteristic, the expert in the art will note that a combination of characteristics can be provided by combining one or more of the embodiments described. Consequently, the description of the invention presented here is a simple illustration and, consequently, the variants which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are supposed to be within the scope of the invention. These variants should not be considered as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention

Claims

1. Abrasion resistant tubular sheath comprising: a monofilament yarn forming a first weft in a textile fabric; a first multifilament yarn forming a second weft in said textile fabric; and a set of knitted chains comprising a plurality of second multifilament yarns forming a chain-stitch ply in said textile fabric; wherein said textile fabric is thermofixed into an elastic tubular sheath.

2. Abrasion-resistant tubular sheath according to claim 1, in which said monofilament yarn is chosen from the group consisting of a polyester yarn, a polyamide yarn, a poly (ethylene terephalate yarn) ), a poly (phenylene sulfide) thread, a poly (phenylene sulfide) thread with a Teflon thread and a polyester thread on polyamide.

The abrasion resistant tubular sheath of claim 2, wherein said monofilament yarn comprises a 6/6 nylon yarn having a diameter in the range of 0.1778mm to 0.381mm (7 to 15 mils).

The abrasion-resistant tubular sheath according to claim 1, wherein said first multifilament yarn comprises a textured multifilament yarn.

5. Abrasion-resistant tubular sheath according to claim 4, in which said textured multifilament is chosen from the group consisting of a polyamide yarn, a polyester yarn, a composite filament with high resistance characteristics to flame, heat and abrasion, and a mixed wire of stainless steel and polyester.

The abrasion resistant tubular sheath according to claim 5, wherein said first multifilament yarn comprises a 6/6 nylon yarn having a denier in the range of about 1000D to 2000D.

The abrasion-resistant tubular sheath according to claim 1, wherein said second multifilament yarn comprises a textured multifilament yarn.

8. abrasion resistant tubular sheath according to claim 7, wherein said second multifilament yarn is chosen from the group consisting of a polyamide yarn, a polyester yarn, a composite filament with high characteristics flame, heat and abrasion resistance, and a mixed stainless steel / polyester wire.

The abrasion resistant tubular sheath of claim 8, wherein said second multifilament yarn comprises a 6/6 nylon yarn having a denier in the range of about 100D to 400D.

10. Abrasion-resistant tubular sheath according to claim 1, further comprising a set of established chains comprising a plurality of third multifilament yarns forming a web of meshes inserted in said textile fabric.

11. An abrasion resistant tubular sheath according to claim 10, wherein said third multifilament yarn comprises a textured multifilament yarn.

12. Abrasion resistant tubular sheath according to claim 11, wherein said third multifilament yarn is chosen from the group consisting of a polyamide yarn, a polyester yarn and a composite filament with high holding characteristics. flame, heat and abrasion.

13. The abrasion resistant tubular sheath of claim 12, wherein said third multifilament yarn comprises a 6/6 nylon yarn having a denier in the range of about 50D to 400D.

14. An abrasion resistant tubular sheath according to claim 1, further comprising a set of established chains comprising a plurality of third threads forming a mesh ply inserted in said textile fabric, wherein said third thread is a polyester monofilament thread on poly (ethylene terephalate).

15. An abrasion resistant tubular sheath according to claim 1, wherein said monofilament yarn, said first multifilament yarn and said second multifilament yarn are treated with a flame retardant composition to obtain a self-extinguishing tubular sheath having a burning speed nothing.

16. Abrasion resistant tubular sheath, comprising: a nylon 6/6 monofilament yarn having a diameter of about 0.254 mm (10 mils) forming a first weft in a textile fabric a first textured multifilament nylon 6/6 yarn having a denier of about 2000D forming a second frame in said textile fabric; and a set of knitted chains comprising a plurality of second chains

^: SUBSTITUTE RULE 26] 6/6 nylon multifilament textured yarns having a denier of approximately 400D forming a chain-stitch ply in said textile fabric; wherein said textile fabric is thermofixed into an elastic tubular sheath.

17. The abrasion-resistant tubular sheath according to claim 16, further comprising a set of established chains comprising a plurality of third 6/6 nylon textured multifilament filaments having a denier of approximately 100D forming a sheet of mesh inserted in said textile canvas.

18. An abrasion resistant tubular sheath according to claim 16, wherein said nylon 6/6 monofilament yarn comprises an inner core of Nylon 6/6 and an outer shell of polyester.

19. An abrasion resistant flame retardant tubular sheath comprising: a poly (ethylene terephalate) flame retardant monofilament yarn having a diameter of about 0.254 mm (10 mils) forming a first weft in a textile fabric; a flame retardant polyester multifilament textured yarn having denier of about 2000D forming a second weft in said textile fabric; and a set of knitted chains comprising a plurality of second textured multifilament yarns of flame retardant polyester having a denier of approximately 400D forming a chain-stitch ply in said textile fabric; wherein said textile fabric is thermofixed into an elastic tubular sheath.

20. The abrasion resistant flame retardant tubular sheath of claim 19, further comprising a set of established chains comprising a plurality of third textured polyester flame retardant multifilament yarns having a denier of about 100D forming a mesh web inserted into said textile fabric.

21. An abrasion resistant high temperature tubular sheath comprising: a poly (phenylene sulfide) monofilament yarn having a diameter of about 0.254 mm (10 mils) forming a first weft in a textile fabric; a composite filament with high flame, heat and abrasion resistance characteristics, having a denier of approximately 2000D forming a second weft in said textile fabric; and a set of knitted chains comprising a plurality of second composite filaments with high flame, heat and abrasion resistance characteristics, having a denier of approximately 400D forming a web of chain stitches in said textile fabric; wherein said textile fabric is thermofixed in an elastic tubular sheath.

22. abrasion resistant high temperature tubular sheath according to claim 21, further comprising a set of established chains comprising a plurality of third composite filaments with high flame, heat and abrasion resistance characteristics, having a denier of approximately 100D forming a mesh ply inserted in said textile fabric.

23. The abrasion resistant high temperature tubular sheath of claim 21, wherein said poly (phenylene sulfide) monofilament wire is a poly (phenylene sulfide) wire with a Teflon monofilament wire.

24. Protected abrasion resistant tubular sheath, comprising: a 6/6 nylon monofilament yarn having a diameter of about 0.254 mm (10 mils) forming a first weft in a textile fabric; a first mixed multifilament stainless steel / polyester thread having a denier of approximately 2000D forming a second weft in the textile fabric; and a set of knitted chains comprising a plurality of mixed multifilament threads of stainless steel / polyester having a denier of about 400D forming a chain-stitch ply in said textile fabric; wherein said textile fabric is thermofixed into an elastic tubular sheath.

25. Protected abrasion resistant tubular sheath according to claim 24, further comprising a set of established chains comprising a plurality of second polyester textured multifilament yarns having a denier of approximately 100D forming a mesh ply inserted in said textile fabric .

26. The abrasion-resistant protected tubular sheath according to claim 24, further comprising a set of established chains comprising a plurality of polyester monofilament threads on polyethylene terephthalate having a diameter of about 0.254 mm (10 mils) forming a mesh tablecloth inserted into said textile fabric.

27. A abrasion-resistant protected tubular sheath according to claim 24, wherein said nylon 6/6 monofilament yarn comprises an inner core of Nylon 6/6 and an outer shell of polyester.

Sheet

28. A method of forming an abrasion resistant tubular sheath comprising: the preparation of a textile fabric by stitching at the chain stitch a first set of multifilament warps on a set of wefts comprising a monofilament weft and a multifilament weft; positioning said textile fabric on a mandrel to form a tubular sheath of textile fabric; and resiliently fixing said tubular textile fabric sheath to said mandrel.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the resilient fixing of said tubular sheath of textile fabric comprises heating and, subsequently, cooling of said tubular sheath of textile fabric on said mandrel.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising preparing said textile fabric by inserting by stitching a second set of multifilament chains on said set of wefts.

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