JP2003151378A - Distribution cable and its distinguishing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily distinguish a particular distribution cable in a dark place or the like. SOLUTION: A plurality UTPs 1 are stranded by winding them along with an optical fiber cable 5 around a translucent inclusion such as a cotton yarn, they are bundled by winding securing tape 3, and they are covered by a sheath 4. The securing tape 3 and the sheath 4 are transparent. A part of a clad part of the optical fiber cable 5 is removed. When distinguishing the distribution cable from other distribution cables, for example, infrared light is made incident from an end part of the optical fiber cable 5. Since light leaks out through the transparent securing tape 3 and sheath 4 from a removed portion of the clad part, distinguishing from the other distribution cables is facilitated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wiring cable and a method of identifying the wiring cable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Under-floor wiring cables in data centers and computer centers of companies are often laid out in a complicated manner by laying, relocating, and removing several times.

[0003]

In the state where the cables are arranged in a complicated manner as described above, for example, when the cables to be removed are taken out, there are many cables of the same type at first glance, so the cable to be removed can be specified. Is difficult and work efficiency is poor.

Here, for example, since the LAN cable uses a standardized unshielded twisted pair cable (UTP), it is difficult to identify it by mere color coding or maker marking.

For this reason, in the past, for example, two people pulling the cable, and another person sharply distinguishes the cables at hand intervals while discovering and removing the specific cable. At least two people are required and the work cost is high.

In particular, since there are many dark places, such as under the floor, in the cabling of cables, there has been a demand for facilitating the identification of a particular cable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a wiring cable which can be easily identified even in a dark place and a method of identifying the same.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems,
The invention according to claim 1 is a wiring cable comprising an electric wire and a protective material covering the electric wire, further comprising an optical fiber cable twisted relative to the electric wire, wherein the protective material is It is transparent.

The invention according to claim 2 is the wiring cable according to claim 1, wherein the electric wire is a twisted pair cable.

A third aspect of the present invention is the wiring cable according to the first or second aspect, wherein the electric wires are twisted into a plurality.

The invention according to claim 4 is the wiring cable according to claim 3, further comprising a pressing tape and a protective material for bundling and tightening the plurality of electric wires and the optical fiber cables, and the pressing tape and The protective material is transparent.

The invention according to claim 5 is the wiring cable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical fiber cable has a core portion for advancing internal light, and the core portion. And a clad part formed around the clad part. The clad part is formed intermittently at regular intervals in order to leak a part of the light in the core part to the outside.

The invention according to claim 6 is the wiring cable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical fiber cable has a core portion for advancing internal light, and the core portion. And a clad part formed around the clad part, and a constant part over the entire length of the clad part is cut out in order to leak a part of the light in the core part to the outside.

The invention described in claim 7 is an identification method for distinguishing the wiring cable according to any one of claims 1 to 6 from other wiring cables, wherein an optical fiber is provided at an end of the optical fiber cable. And a step of visually recognizing light leaking from the optical fiber cable in the middle of the wiring cable.

[0015]

1 and 2 are sectional views showing a wiring cable according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this wiring cable includes a plurality of twisted pair cables (electric wires) 1 and a translucent intervening material 2 such as cotton thread.
A twisted pair cable 1 and an optical fiber cable 5 twisted together.
Is transparent.

The twisted pair cable 1 is, for example, a standardized general unshielded twisted pair cable (U
TP) is used and is entangled and twisted with the intervening material 2 which has been known for a long time.

The optical fiber cable 5 is for distinguishing this wiring cable by visually recognizing the light leaking to the outside when the light is passed through the inside, and it is easy to handle and the red light passing through the inside is used. A plastic optical fiber is used to make it visible to the naked eye. As shown in FIG. 3, the optical fiber cable 5 has a clad portion 5b formed around the core portion 5a, and in particular, a portion of the light traveling by being totally reflected inside the core portion 5a leaks to the outside. For this reason, the clad portion 5b is peeled off so as to be intermittent at a length of 3 cm per 1 m (portion denoted by reference numeral 5c) in the length direction. Alternatively, a part of the clad portion 5b may be provided over the entire length of the clad portion 5b (e.g.
6) may be formed by cutting out. As in the twisted pair cable 1, the optical fiber cable 5 is entwined with the interposing material 2 and twisted together as in the twisted pair cable 1. The end portion of the optical fiber cable 5 is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the wiring cable is connected to a dedicated connector (see reference numeral 8 in FIG. 4) for connecting to the twisted pair cable 1.
Red LED (light emitting element) 9 built in the dedicated connector 8
The red light is incident on the inside of the optical fiber cable 5.

As the pressing tape 3, a general transparent adhesive tape made of transparent polypropylene or the like is used, and the twisted pair cable 1 and the optical fiber cable 5 are wound and fastened in a state of being entwined with the interposing material 2. .

The sheath 4 is a protective material made of transparent PVC, PE or the like, and further covers the periphery of the pressing tape 3.

A method of identifying the above wiring cable from other wiring cables will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, the dedicated connector 8 for connecting to the wiring cable C is turned on to cause the built-in red LED 9 to emit light. At this time, preferably,
Red light is incident on both ends of the wiring cable C from the red LEDs 9 of the dedicated connectors 8 connected on both sides.

The red light incident on the optical fiber cable 5 travels in the core portion 5a while totally reflecting the boundary between the core portion 5a and the cladding portion 5b. Then, for example, in the portion 5c where the clad portion 5b is peeled off as shown in FIG.
Part of the red light traveling in the core portion 5a leaks to the outside. The leaked red light leaks to the outside as indicated by reference numeral 10 in FIG. 4 through the semitransparent interposition material 2, the transparent pressing tape 3, and the transparent sheath 4.

Then, the wiring cable C whose red light enters the red LED 9 of the dedicated connector 8 at the end can be distinguished from other cables. In particular, since the wiring cable C is often arranged in a dark place such as under the floor, even if a small amount of red light leaks out, the leaked red light can be easily visually recognized. .

Therefore, the cable management and construction are facilitated, and even one person can find the desired cable from among the many cables by the light leaking from the cable and can perform the work. The number of workers and costs are reduced compared to the conventional method that required two people.

[0025]

According to the invention described in claim 1, when the electric wire such as the twisted pair cable according to claim 2 is twisted in plural as described in claim 3, for example, Since the optical fiber cables are twisted relative to each other and the surrounding protective material is made transparent, light is incident on the end portion of the optical fiber cable as in claim 7, and the optical fiber is provided in the middle of the wiring cable. By visually recognizing the light leaked from the cable through the transparent protective material, the wiring cable of interest can be easily identified from other wiring cables. In particular, since wiring cables are often arranged in a dark place such as under the floor, even if a small amount of red light leaks, the leaked red light can be easily visually recognized. Therefore, cable management and construction become easier, and even one person can find the target cable from the light leaking out of the many cables and work, so at least two people are required to distinguish the wiring. The number of workers and the cost can be reduced compared to the required conventional method.

Further, for example, when a plurality of electric wires and optical fiber cables are bundled and wound with a pressing tape and further protected by a protective material, the pressing tape and the protective material are transparent. Therefore, the light leaked through the transparent pressing tape and the protective material can be easily visually recognized.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the clad portion of the optical fiber cable is formed intermittently at regular intervals, a part of the light in the core portion is formed at the portion where the clad portion is missing. Easily leaks out. Therefore, the leaked light can be easily visually recognized.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a constant portion is cut out over the entire length of the clad portion of the optical fiber cable. The part easily leaks to the outside. Therefore, the leaked light can be easily visually recognized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a wiring cable according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a wiring cable according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an optical fiber cable.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a method of identifying a wiring cable.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 twisted pair cable 2 interposer 3 tapes 4 sheath 5 optical fiber cable

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A wiring cable comprising an electric wire and a protective material covering the electric wire, further comprising an optical fiber cable twisted relative to the electric wire, wherein the protective material is transparent. Wiring cable characterized by. 2. The wiring cable according to claim 1, wherein the electric wire is a twisted pair cable. 3. The wiring cable according to claim 1, wherein the electric wire is twisted into a plurality of pieces. 4. The wiring cable according to claim 3, further comprising a holding tape and a protective material that bundle and fasten the plurality of electric wires and the optical fiber cable, and the holding tape and the protective material are transparent. Wiring cable characterized by 5. The wiring cable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical fiber cable has a core portion for advancing internal light, and a clad formed around the core portion. A wiring part, wherein the clad part is formed intermittently at regular intervals in order to leak a part of the light in the core part to the outside. 6. The wiring cable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical fiber cable has a core portion for advancing internal light, and a clad formed around the core portion. And a fixed portion over the entire length of the clad portion is cut out in order to leak a part of the light in the core portion to the outside. 7. An identification method for identifying the wiring cable according to any one of claims 1 to 6 from other wiring cables, the method including injecting light into an end portion of the optical fiber cable, And a step of visually recognizing light leaking from the optical fiber cable in the middle of the wiring cable.