GB2161507A

GB2161507A - Woven electrical ribbon cable

Info

Publication number: GB2161507A
Application number: GB08417520A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Scholes
Original assignee: MARLING MITRONICS Ltd
Current assignee: MARLING MITRONICS Ltd
Priority date: 1984-07-10
Filing date: 1984-07-10
Publication date: 1986-01-15
Also published as: GB8417520D0

Abstract

A woven electrical ribbon cable is provided which comprises electrical conductors 10 running in the warp direction and a weft of textile yarns, there being additional spacing yarns 12 between the electrical conductors 10 and the weave pattern being such that the conductors 10 and/or the spacing yarns 12 float over a major portion of their length. A ribbon cable so constructed allows angled beads to be made without substantially increasing the thickness thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Woven ribbon cable This invention relates to woven ribbon electrical cable and in particular relates to such ribbon cable of controlled maximum thickness.

Woven electrical ribbon cable is increasingly commonly used in electrical and electronic applications, especially for making the multiple connections often necessary with microprocessors control equipment. In many applications, especially in aerospace applications, space is very restricted and it is desirable for the ribbon cable to be as flat as possible. If it is necessary to bend ribbon cable this is conventionally done by folding the cable over at the desired angle. Naturally, in the area of the fold the cable thickness is effectively doubled.

The invention seeks to provide a form of woven electrical ribbon cable which can be bent at an angle without increasing the thickness thereof.

According to the present invention there is provided a woven electrical ribbon cable which comprises electrical conductors running in the warp direction and a weft of textile yarns, there being additionally spacing yarns between the electrical conductors and the weave pattern being such that the conductors and/or the spacing yarns float over a major portion of their length.

By including spacing yarns and arranging that they float over a major portion of their length, when a cable is bent at an angle the float portions of the spacing yarns move from between the conductors giving the conductors the necessary room to accommodate the bend without substantially increasing the thickness of the ribbon cable. The spacing yarns may be any suitable material, textile or other, but are preferably monofilament yarns.

The weaving pattern allows relatively long float lengths of the spacing yarn, for example the spacing yarns may float for four picks and be woven in for two, thereby ensuring that the float lengths can move from between the conductors when the latter are bent.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates the conventional way of bending ribbon cables to an angle; Figure 2 illustrates the weaving pattern of the preferred form of ribbon cable in accordance with the invention; and Figure 3 illustrates the cable woven accord ing to Fig. 2 being bent to an angle of 90 .

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 a conventional ribbon cable is shown bent to a desired angle. The bend is accomplished by folding the cable over on itself thereby doubling its thickness in the area of the bend.

In Fig. 2 there is illustrated the weaving pattern of a ribbon cable in accordance with the invention. Conductors 10, for example insulated copper wires, form the warp but in each a pair of spacing yarns 12, being polyester or nylon monofilaments, are arranged in between each conductor 10. In the weaving pattern illustrated each conductor 10 is floated for four picks and then two picks in turn while the spacer yarns are regularly woven in.

As woven, the ribbon is straight and flat with the spacing yarns 1 2 between the conductors 1 0. However, when the ribbon is bent, for example as illustrated in Fig. 3 through a right angle, the spacing yarns 1 2 move out of the plane of the ribbon during the long float lengths of conductor 10. It will be appreciated that as the ribbon is bent the outside conductor 1 OA follows a smooth path but that the conductors closer to the inner radius of the curve follow progressively shorter paths and must therefore 'lose' length.

The space between the conductors 10 vacated by the spacer yarns 1 2 to a large extent provides this necessary space for the excess length of the inner conductors to be absorbed.

Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the excess length of the inner conductors is all absorbed within the width of the ribbon cable and the thickness is not increased.

The spacer weft yarns are omitted from Fig.

3 for clarity and the side shown is the face having the four pick float lengths of conductors 10, the two picks of weft on this face of the ribbon being illustrated at 14.

A ribbon cable constructed in accordance with the invention allows angled bends to be made without substantially increasing the thickness thereof which is of great advantage in applications where space is restricted, especially where a number of ribbons are employed and that the paths which they must follow involve many bends.

1. A woven electrical ribbon cable which comprises electrical conductors running in the warp direction and a weft of textile yarns, there being additional spacing yarns between the electrical conductors and the weave patterns being such that the conductors and/or the spacing yarns float over a major portion of their length.

2. A woven electrical ribbon cable as claimed in Claim 1 in which the float portions of the spacing yarns move from between the conductors when the cable is bent, giving the conductors the necessary room to accommodate the bend without substantially increasing the thickness of the cable.

3. A woven electrical ribbon cable as claimed in either of Claims 1 or 2 in which the spacing yarns are monofilament yarns.

4. A woven electrical ribbon cable as

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Woven ribbon cable This invention relates to woven ribbon electrical cable and in particular relates to such ribbon cable of controlled maximum thickness. Woven electrical ribbon cable is increasingly commonly used in electrical and electronic applications, especially for making the multiple connections often necessary with microprocessors control equipment. In many applications, especially in aerospace applications, space is very restricted and it is desirable for the ribbon cable to be as flat as possible. If it is necessary to bend ribbon cable this is conventionally done by folding the cable over at the desired angle. Naturally, in the area of the fold the cable thickness is effectively doubled. The invention seeks to provide a form of woven electrical ribbon cable which can be bent at an angle without increasing the thickness thereof. According to the present invention there is provided a woven electrical ribbon cable which comprises electrical conductors running in the warp direction and a weft of textile yarns, there being additionally spacing yarns between the electrical conductors and the weave pattern being such that the conductors and/or the spacing yarns float over a major portion of their length. By including spacing yarns and arranging that they float over a major portion of their length, when a cable is bent at an angle the float portions of the spacing yarns move from between the conductors giving the conductors the necessary room to accommodate the bend without substantially increasing the thickness of the ribbon cable. The spacing yarns may be any suitable material, textile or other, but are preferably monofilament yarns. The weaving pattern allows relatively long float lengths of the spacing yarn, for example the spacing yarns may float for four picks and be woven in for two, thereby ensuring that the float lengths can move from between the conductors when the latter are bent. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates the conventional way of bending ribbon cables to an angle; Figure 2 illustrates the weaving pattern of the preferred form of ribbon cable in accordance with the invention; and Figure 3 illustrates the cable woven accord ing to Fig. 2 being bent to an angle of 90 . Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 a conventional ribbon cable is shown bent to a desired angle. The bend is accomplished by folding the cable over on itself thereby doubling its thickness in the area of the bend. In Fig. 2 there is illustrated the weaving pattern of a ribbon cable in accordance with the invention. Conductors 10, for example insulated copper wires, form the warp but in each a pair of spacing yarns 12, being polyester or nylon monofilaments, are arranged in between each conductor 10. In the weaving pattern illustrated each conductor 10 is floated for four picks and then two picks in turn while the spacer yarns are regularly woven in. As woven, the ribbon is straight and flat with the spacing yarns 1 2 between the conductors 1 0. However, when the ribbon is bent, for example as illustrated in Fig. 3 through a right angle, the spacing yarns 1 2 move out of the plane of the ribbon during the long float lengths of conductor 10. It will be appreciated that as the ribbon is bent the outside conductor 1 OA follows a smooth path but that the conductors closer to the inner radius of the curve follow progressively shorter paths and must therefore 'lose' length. The space between the conductors 10 vacated by the spacer yarns 1 2 to a large extent provides this necessary space for the excess length of the inner conductors to be absorbed. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the excess length of the inner conductors is all absorbed within the width of the ribbon cable and the thickness is not increased. The spacer weft yarns are omitted from Fig. 3 for clarity and the side shown is the face having the four pick float lengths of conductors 10, the two picks of weft on this face of the ribbon being illustrated at 14. A ribbon cable constructed in accordance with the invention allows angled bends to be made without substantially increasing the thickness thereof which is of great advantage in applications where space is restricted, especially where a number of ribbons are employed and that the paths which they must follow involve many bends. CLAIMS

4. A woven electrical ribbon cable as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 in which the conductors are insulated copper wires.

5. A woven electrical ribbon cable as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 in which each conductor is floated for four

6. A woven electrical ribbon cable as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the spacer yarns are regularly woven in.

7. A woven electrical ribbon cable as herein before described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

CLAIMS Superseded claim 5.

New or amended claim: 5. A woven electrical ribbon cable as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 in which each conductor is floated for four picks and then two picks in turn.