KR102531841B1 - Buoyant Optical-Power Composite Cable - Google Patents

Abstract

In the present invention, buoyancy members as buoyancy generating means for generating buoyancy are distributed and arranged outside the core, and at the same time, empty spaces are distributed between the buoyancy members to protect the inner core while improving flexibility and providing sufficient tensile force while reducing the diameter. It relates to a buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable capable of minimizing and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Description

Buoyant Optical-Power Composite Cable

The present invention relates to a buoyancy optoelectric composite cable. More specifically, the present invention distributes buoyancy members as buoyancy generating means to generate buoyancy on the outside of the core and at the same time distributes and forms air gaps between the buoyancy members to protect the inner core while improving flexibility and providing sufficient tensile force. The present invention relates to a buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable capable of minimizing the diameter while simplifying the manufacturing process.

Recently, robots for underwater work with special purposes have been introduced. The use of underwater working robots is expected to expand because tasks previously performed manually by workers can be quickly and safely performed using robots.

Since these underwater robots generally need to be equipped with a communication line for communication of control signals or sensor signals and a power line necessary for performing tasks, the robot for underwater work can be connected to a ship or the like with a cable for communication and power supply. there is.

A cable connecting the underwater working robot and the ship should basically have buoyancy.

If the cable connected to the underwater working robot has no buoyancy, the cable descends due to its own weight, and in the process, it may become entangled with the rudder or screw of the mothership connected to the robot.

In other words, if the cable connecting the robot working underwater has no buoyancy and sinks regardless of the position of the robot, problems such as cable disconnection, cable twisting, or screw jamming occur. Requires buoyancy.

2 shows a cross-sectional view of a cable introduced to connect a robot or the like underwater. The cable shown in FIG. 2 is covered with an inner jacket (50b) in a state where two communication units and four power units (10') are arranged around the central tension line (20'), and then a foam layer ( 60) is provided, and an outer jacket 50a is provided on the outside of the foam layer 60 to provide a communication and power composite cable having buoyancy.

In the case of the cable shown in FIG. 2, a foam layer is provided to provide buoyancy, but it is easily compressed according to the water depth, and the foam layer 60 completely fills a specific layer of the cable, so there is a problem in that flexibility is greatly reduced. In addition, when the foam layer is composed of a specific layer, the foam quality is unstable, so it is not easy to form a circular shape of the cable, and the foam layer forming process is difficult, resulting in an increase in cost.

However, these composite cables must be flexible according to the movement of the underwater working robot, and at the same time have a limited diameter and require buoyancy to the extent that they do not sink in the water. Sufficient rigidity is required to protect the core and the like.

However, even if flexibility, buoyancy, and rigidity are required, if the diameter of the cable is sufficiently increased, it may interfere with the operation of the robot, so the diameter of the cable should also be limited to a reasonable level.

In the present invention, buoyancy members as buoyancy generating means for generating buoyancy are distributed and disposed outside the core, and at the same time, air gaps are distributed between the buoyancy members to protect the inner core while improving flexibility and minimizing the diameter while providing sufficient tensile force. It is a task to be solved to provide a buoyancy optoelectric composite cable that can be manufactured and simplify the manufacturing process.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a plurality of power units having a conductor portion composed of a plurality of wires and an insulating layer surrounding the conductor portion; an optical unit including at least one optical fiber; And, a core portion including a; tension reinforcing unit having a tension member; A plurality of buoyancy members having a specific gravity of 1 or less disposed outside the core part; It is possible to provide a buoyancy optoelectric composite cable having an outer jacket surrounding the outside of the buoyancy member.

In addition, a space inside the outer jacket excluding the core part and the buoyancy member may be maintained as an empty space.

In this case, the core unit may have the tensile reinforcing unit disposed at a central portion, and the power unit and the optical unit may be disposed around the tensile reinforcing unit.

In addition, one optical unit of the core part may be provided, and five power units may be provided.

Here, the plurality of buoyancy members are configured to have a circular cross section, contact each of the core parts, and are disposed adjacent to each other around the core parts, and the diameter of the core parts may be larger than the diameter of the buoyancy members.

In this case, the conductor of the power unit may have a diameter of 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

In addition, the insulating layer of the power unit may be made of a cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) material and may have a thickness of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm.

In this case, the optical unit includes at least one optical fiber and a loose tube or tight buffer equipped with the optical fiber, and the optical unit may have an outer diameter of 2.6 mm to 3.2 mm.

The tension member of the tension reinforcing unit may be composed of tensile fibers, and a reinforcing layer made of ethylene propylene rubber may be provided between the tension member and the foam layer to surround the tension member.

Here, the buoyancy member may be made of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material.

In this case, the outer jacket is made of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material, the outer diameter of the buoyancy photoelectric composite cable is 24 mm to 28 mm, and the minimum curvature radius of the buoyancy photoelectric composite cable is the outer diameter It may be 4 to 6 times of

Also, the diameter of the tensile reinforcing unit of the core part may be greater than the diameters of the light unit and the power unit.

In this case, a diameter of the core part may be greater than a diameter of the buoyancy member.

In addition, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a tensile reinforcement unit provided with a tensile member; Five power units disposed around the tensile reinforcing unit and having a conductor portion composed of a plurality of wires and an insulating layer surrounding the conductor portion; one optical unit disposed around the tension reinforcing unit together with the power unit and having at least one optical fiber; a plurality of buoyancy members arranged side by side adjacent to the outside of the power unit and the light unit; and an outer jacket surrounding the outside of the buoyancy member, and an empty space may be formed between the buoyancy members.

In addition, the buoyancy member may be configured by being foamed with a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material.

Here, the buoyancy member may be made of a material having a specific gravity of 1 or less.

In this case, the buoyancy member may be a tube member made of a material having a specific gravity of 1 or less.

In addition, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a plurality of power units having a conductor portion consisting of a plurality of wires; at least one optical unit including at least one optical fiber; And a core portion including; a tension reinforcement unit having a tension member; And, a buoyancy generating unit provided outside the core unit; An outer jacket surrounding the outside of the buoyancy generating unit, and the buoyancy generating unit may be composed of a plurality of buoyancy members made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and a gap formed between the buoyancy members.

In this case, the overall specific gravity of the buoyancy photoelectric composite cable may be 1 or less.

According to the buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable according to the present invention, buoyancy members as buoyancy generating means for generating buoyancy are distributed outside the core, and at the same time, air gaps are distributed between the buoyancy members to protect the inner core while improving flexibility. The diameter can be minimized while providing sufficient tensile force.

In addition, according to the buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable according to the present invention, the manufacturing process can be simplified by disposing the buoyancy member around the core.

1 shows a cross-sectional view of a buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable according to the present invention.
2 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. Rather, the embodiments introduced herein are provided so that the disclosed content will be thorough and complete, and the spirit of the invention will be sufficiently conveyed to those skilled in the art. Like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the specification.

1 shows a cross-sectional view of a buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable 100 according to the present invention.

The buoyancy optoelectric composite cable 100 according to the present invention includes a plurality of power units 10 having a conductor portion 11 composed of a plurality of wire and an insulating layer 13 surrounding the conductor portion 11; an optical unit 30 including at least one optical fiber; And, a core portion (C) including; a tension reinforcement unit 20 having a tension member 21; A plurality of buoyancy members (60) disposed outside the core portion (C); An outer jacket 70 surrounding the outside of the buoyancy member 60; may be configured to include.

First, structural characteristics of the buoyancy optoelectric composite cable 100 according to the present invention will be described.

Overall, the core part (C) is provided at the center of the cable, and the buoyancy generating part 80 may be disposed outside it.

The core part (C) provided in the center of the buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable 100 may include a power unit 10, a tensile reinforcement unit 20, and an optical unit 30.

The buoyancy optoelectric complex cable 100 according to the present invention connects an underwater working robot and a ship that controls the robot and supplies power, and the cable itself can withstand the load of the robot to prevent loss of the robot in an unexpected situation. tension is required.

Accordingly, the buoyancy optoelectronic composite cable 100 according to the present invention may include the tension reinforcing unit 20, and the position thereof may be the central region of the cable where the load or tension support of the robot is most easily performed.

The tension reinforcing unit 20 may be composed of only the tension member 21 such as rope or yarn, or may further include a reinforcing layer 23 for protecting the tension member 21 .

In addition, the buoyancy photoelectric composite cable 100 according to the present invention may include a plurality of power units 10 for power supply and an optical unit 30 for communication.

In the case of a robot for underwater work, a power unit 10 may be provided for continuous operation of the robot, and an optical unit 30 may be provided for communication of robot control signals or transmission and reception of sensor or camera signals. .

When a communication unit using a metal conductor is applied for communication, it is difficult to provide a communication speed for real-time video transmission, the diameter of the cable increases, and furthermore, it may be difficult to secure flexibility for connection with an underwater robot.

Therefore, in the present invention, an optical unit 30 equipped with at least one optical fiber 31 may be applied as a communication unit for data or control signal transmission.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the core portion C of the buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable 100 according to the present invention, the tensile reinforcement unit 20 is disposed in the center, and the power unit 10 and the optical unit 30 ) may be disposed around the tensile reinforcement unit 20.

In addition, a plurality of buoyancy members 60 may be arranged side by side around the core part (C).

The buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable according to the present invention is provided with a buoyancy member 60 to generate buoyancy when used underwater.

Each buoyancy member 60 is preferably configured to have a circular cross section so that several air gaps S are generated around each buoyancy member to include an empty space.

If the integrity and rigidity of the cable are maintained, the air layer may be more advantageous for generating buoyancy.

Therefore, the buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable 100 according to the present invention has a buoyancy generating unit ( As 80), a plurality of buoyancy members 60 and air gaps are secured to generate sufficient buoyancy and at the same time contribute to securing flexibility.

That is, in the case of the conventional composite cable described with reference to FIG. 2, a foam layer for generating buoyancy is provided without gaps inside the outer jacket 50a to generate buoyancy, but such buoyancy is generated through pores in the form of fine bubbles inside the foam layer. is caused by

Therefore, the buoyancy generated by the buoyancy generator 80 composed of the buoyancy member 60 of the buoyancy and optoelectric composite cable 100 according to the present invention and the gap S therebetween is much greater than that of conventional cables. In other words, if the buoyancy member 60 composed of a material with a lower specific gravity, for example, a specific gravity of 1 or less, is disposed rather than a single foam layer, but a gap is formed therebetween, the overall specific gravity of the cable can be lowered.

In addition, if the structure in which the buoyancy member 60 made of a material of low specific gravity is disposed but a gap is formed therebetween, the size of the gap or empty space is larger than the conventional method shown in FIG. 2 to minimize bending resistance to secure flexibility can

In addition, since the buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable 100 according to the present invention is continuously bent in various directions and has an empty space inside, it is advantageous in generating buoyancy, but it should be premised that the original shape of the cable is maintained.

The buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable 100 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes one light unit 30 and seven buoyancy members 60 outside the core portion in which five power units 10 are provided. It is possible to maintain the original shape of the cable by adjoining each other and contacting the core portion (C) at the same time.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the diameter of the core portion (C) is shown as being larger than each of the buoyancy members 60 and the number of buoyancy members 60 is shown as seven, but the core portion (C ) The diameter or the number of buoyancy members 60 can be changed.

For example, when the diameter of the core portion (C) and the diameter of the buoyancy member (60) are the same, even if six buoyancy members (60) are provided, the buoyancy member (60) contacts each other as well as the core portion (C). Thus, it is possible to prevent the cable from being distorted and to minimize the movement of each unit and buoyancy members during bending.

The outer diameter of the buoyancy optoelectric composite cable 100 according to the present invention may be configured in a size of 26 millimeters (mm) to 30 millimeters (mm), and the minimum radius of curvature is flexible about 4 to 6 times the outer diameter of the cable Aim for In addition, the overall specific gravity of the cable is configured to be less than 1 less than the specific gravity of seawater, so it is necessary to always have positive buoyancy or at least neutral buoyancy.

In general, the standard specific gravity of seawater is about 1.025 (density of water at 4℃ 1 g / cm ³ standard), the buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable 100 according to the present invention has a value of 1.0 or less so that it is not disposed near the surface or sinks in water such as seawater.

In order to satisfy the above conditions, the size or material of each unit follows the conditions below.

The buoyancy optoelectronic composite cable according to the present invention may include a tension reinforcing unit 20 in the center to serve as a central tension line, and the tension member 21 of the tension reinforcing unit 20 is composed of tensile fibers, The tension member 21 and a reinforcing layer 23 made of ethylene propylene rubber (EDPM) surrounding the tension member 21 may be provided.

Recently, robots used for underwater work are driven by an electric driving device, and carry out missions such as underwater exploration, underwater survey, underwater sample collection, ship repair or ship cleaning, etc. In this situation, the buoyancy optoelectric composite cable 100 according to the present invention has a tensile strength of 400 kgf to 600 kgf to prevent an accident in which the underwater robot is swept away by ocean currents or sinks due to its own load. It is preferable to be configured to have.

This tensile strength is provided by the tensile member 21 of the tensile reinforcing unit 20, and the tensile strength of the tensile member 21 itself may be about 300 kgf, but the tensile strength of each unit or jacket as a whole according to the present invention The total tensile strength of the buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable 100 according to the can be improved to about 400 kgf to 600 kgf.

The conductor part 11 at the center of the power unit 10 may be composed of a single wire conductor made of tinned annealed stranded copper, and its diameter is about 1.5 millimeters (mm) to 2.0 millimeters (mm). can be configured.

An insulating layer 13 is provided on the outside of the conductor part 11 of the power unit 10, and the insulating layer 13 may be made of XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) material having insulating properties and impact resistance, , may be configured to a thickness of 0.5 millimeters (mm) to 1.0 millimeters (mm).

The optical unit 30 includes one optical fiber 31 and a loose tube 33 accommodating the optical fiber 31, and the optical unit 30 has an outer diameter of 2.6 millimeters (mm) to It can be configured to a size of 3.2 millimeters (mm). The number of optical fibers 31 accommodated in the loose tube 33 of the optical unit 30 can be increased or decreased.

In addition, the optical communication unit of the optical unit 30 is not limited to a loose tube in which an optical fiber is accommodated, and a tight buffer method including an optical fiber inside is also applicable.

The core part (C) of the buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable 100 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes one optical unit 30 and five power line units outside the tensile reinforcement wire, but the optical unit 30 It is also possible to configure the number of 2 or more and the power unit 10 to 4 or less.

As long as the buoyancy member 60 constituting the buoyancy generating unit 80 is made of a material having a specific gravity of 1 or less, various shapes may be applied. For example, the buoyancy member 60 may be a foam member having a specific gravity of 1 or less, a tube member having a specific gravity of 1 or less, and the like.

For example, the buoyancy member 60 constituting the buoyancy generating unit 80 may be composed of a foam member made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

Polyurethane is tough and has good resistance to chemicals. It is used for electrical insulators, structural materials, foam insulation materials, foam cushions, elastic fibers, etc., and is also used as a substitute for rubber because of its good elasticity. It has a foam structure, so it is elastic, strong, and lightweight, so it is buoyant with polyurethane. When forming a member, it is advantageous to generate buoyancy.

The foam layer for generating buoyancy of the cable shown in FIG. 2 is provided in a single layer, so the sum of the sizes of empty spaces (micro voids, etc.) is very small, but in the case of the buoyancy optoelectric composite cable 100 according to the present invention, it is composed of a plurality of buoyancy members. Since air gaps are naturally generated around the boundary regions of each of the divided and circular cross-sections of the buoyancy members 60, more empty space can be secured, thereby contributing to generation of buoyancy and improvement of flexibility.

This is because buoyancy is easily generated due to the presence of empty space and helps to improve the overall flexibility of the cable.

As described above, in the case of the buoyancy photoelectric composite cable according to the present invention, the buoyancy member 60 as a means for generating buoyancy is first manufactured in the form of a wire rod and placed outside the core portion to cover the outer jacket to complete the buoyancy photoelectric composite cable. Since the manufacturing process can be simplified compared to the method of configuring the layer as a foam layer or configuring a foam layer covering a specific unit, a cost reduction effect can be obtained.

An outer jacket 70 may be provided outside the buoyancy generating unit 80 . The outer jacket 70 is made of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material and can provide sufficient rigidity. Polyurethane used as the outer jacket 70 is also tough and has low reactivity, so it is not easily contaminated or deteriorated in an aquatic environment such as seawater, so that the quality of the buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable 100 according to the present invention can be maintained for a long period of time.

Although this specification has been described with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art can variously modify and change the present invention within the scope not departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the claims described below. will be able to carry out Therefore, if the modified implementation basically includes the elements of the claims of the present invention, all of them should be considered to be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

100: photoelectric composite cable
10: power unit
20: tensile reinforcement unit
30: optical unit
60: buoyancy member
70: outer jacket

Claims (19)

As a buoyancy photoelectric composite cable,
A core unit including; a plurality of power units including a conductor unit composed of a plurality of wires and an insulating layer surrounding the conductor unit, an optical unit including at least one optical fiber, and a tensile reinforcement unit including a tension member;
A plurality of buoyancy members having a circular cross section and having a specific gravity of 1 or less in contact with the outer circumference of the core part;
An outer jacket surrounding the outside of the buoyancy member;
The plurality of buoyancy members are arranged side by side in a single layer, but are arranged circumscribed to each other between each of the buoyancy members,
The space inside the outer jacket excluding the core portion and the buoyancy member is maintained as an empty space,
The buoyancy photoelectric composite cable has an outer diameter of 24 mm to 28 mm, and a minimum curvature radius of the buoyancy photoelectric composite cable is 4 to 6 times the outer diameter. According to claim 1,
The buoyancy optoelectric composite cable, characterized in that the space inside the outer jacket excluding the core part and the buoyancy member is maintained as an empty space. According to claim 1,
The buoyancy photoelectric composite cable according to claim 1 , wherein the core portion has the tension reinforcing unit disposed at a central portion, and the power unit and the optical unit are disposed around the tensile reinforcing unit. According to claim 3,
The buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable, characterized in that the optical unit of the core part is provided with one, and the power unit is provided with five. According to claim 1,
The buoyancy optoelectric composite cable, characterized in that the diameter of the core portion is larger than the diameter of the buoyancy member. According to claim 1,
The buoyancy optoelectric composite cable, characterized in that the conductor portion of the power unit has a diameter of 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm. According to claim 6,
The insulating layer of the power unit may be made of XLPE (Cross-linked polyethylene) material and has a thickness of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. According to claim 1,
The optical unit includes at least one optical fiber and a loose tube or tight buffer equipped with the optical fiber, and the optical unit has an outer diameter of 2.6 mm to 3.2 mm. According to claim 1,
The buoyancy optoelectric composite cable, characterized in that the tensile member of the tensile reinforcing unit is composed of tensile fibers, and a reinforcing layer made of ethylene propylene rubber surrounds the tensile member. According to claim 1,
The buoyancy member is a buoyancy optoelectric composite cable, characterized in that composed of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material. According to claim 1,
The outer jacket is a buoyancy optoelectric composite cable, characterized in that composed of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material. According to claim 1,
The buoyancy photovoltaic composite cable, characterized in that the diameter of the tensile reinforcing unit of the core part is larger than the diameters of the light unit and the power unit. According to claim 1,
The buoyancy optoelectric composite cable, characterized in that the diameter of the core portion is larger than the diameter of the buoyancy member. As a buoyancy photoelectric composite cable,
Tensile reinforcement unit equipped with a tension member;
a plurality of power units disposed around the tensile reinforcing unit and having a conductor portion composed of a plurality of wires and an insulating layer surrounding the conductor portion;
one optical unit disposed around the tension reinforcing unit together with the power unit and having at least one optical fiber;
a plurality of buoyancy members having a circular cross-section, being in contact with outer circumferences of the power unit and the light unit, and arranged side by side in a single layer but circumscribed to each other; and,
Including; an outer jacket surrounding the outside of the buoyancy member,
An empty space is formed between the buoyancy members,
The buoyancy photoelectric composite cable has an outer diameter of 24 mm to 28 mm, and a minimum curvature radius of the buoyancy photoelectric composite cable is 4 to 6 times the outer diameter. According to claim 14,
The buoyancy member is a buoyancy optoelectric composite cable, characterized in that formed by foaming a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material. According to claim 14,
The buoyancy member is a buoyancy optoelectric composite cable, characterized in that composed of a material having a specific gravity of 1 or less. According to claim 14,
The buoyancy photoelectric composite cable, characterized in that the buoyancy member is a tube member made of a material having a specific gravity of 1 or less. As a buoyancy photoelectric composite cable,
A plurality of power units having a conductor portion composed of a plurality of wire; at least one light unit including at least one optical fiber; And a core portion including; a tension reinforcement unit having a tension member; and,
a buoyancy generating unit provided in contact with an outer circumference of the core unit;
An outer jacket surrounding the outside of the buoyancy generating unit;
The buoyancy generating unit has a circular cross section and is composed of a plurality of buoyancy members made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and a gap formed between the buoyancy members,
The plurality of buoyancy members are arranged side by side in a single layer, but are arranged circumscribed to each other between each of the buoyancy members,
The buoyancy photoelectric composite cable has an outer diameter of 24 mm to 28 mm, and a minimum curvature radius of the buoyancy photoelectric composite cable is 4 to 6 times the outer diameter. According to claim 18,
The buoyancy optoelectric composite cable, characterized in that the overall specific gravity of the buoyancy optoelectric composite cable is 1 or less.

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