RU2752894C1 - Fibre-optic cable with copper current-conducting cores - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: cables.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the cable industry, can be used in a design of fibre-optic cables and electronic equipment and applied in manufacture of cables. A fibre-optic cable containing optical fibres (1) and insulated copper current-conducting cores (3) made of thermally untreated copper wire simultaneously performing the function of a power element and produced by drawing without subsequent thermal treatment, enclosed in a cable shell (5).

EFFECT: creation of a fibre-optic cable without using additional power elements in the design thereof, since the function of a power element in the cable is performed by copper current-conducting cores made of thermally untreated copper wire, exhibiting the required strength and rigidity, thereby the design of the cable is simplified, material consumption is reduced due to elimination of the power element, the dimensions of the cable are reduced and the technology of manufacture thereof is simplified.

13 cl, 6 dwg, 2 tbl

Description

The invention relates to the cable industry and can be used in the construction of fiber-optic cables and electronic equipment, and used in the production of cables used for the simultaneous transmission of data via optical fibers and conductive conductors, as well as, if necessary, the transmission of electric current through conductive conductors.

LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY

During installation and during operation, a fiber-optic cable is subjected to mechanical stress (tension, torsion, pressure, impact, bending), as a result of this, strength elements are provided in its design that prevent the cable from damage.

Known optical cables containing optical fibers for data transmission, but their design lacks elements for the transmission of electric current. For this reason, to power the equipment, it is necessary to additionally install the power cable. The disadvantage of this technical solution is the high cost of installing the cable line, narrow functionality, due to a significant increase in the total overall dimensions of the cables.

The closest technical solution to the proposed one is an electro-optical cable (RU 175197 U1, 11/28/2017) containing a conductive core, a reinforcing element and a fiber-optic module located in an outer insulating shell, and a fiber-optic module containing a protective shell in which optical fibers filled with a hydrophobic filler are placed. In addition, the cable contains a core of stranded copper conductors adjacent to said protective sheath, and said elements are placed in an outer insulating sheath, which is formed from an insulating sheath of a reinforcing element, an insulating sheath of a fiber-optic module, interconnected by a first isthmus, and also from insulating sheath of the conductive core, which is connected to the insulating sheath of the fiber-optic module by a second isthmus made in the same plane with the first isthmus. All said insulating shells and the first and second isthmuses are made in one piece in the form of a single insulating shell made of high density polyethylene. The reinforcing element can be made of a fiberglass rod. The conductor consists of stranded copper conductors, for example seven conductors, with a total cross-section of 2.5 mm ² . The conductor can also be made of copper with a cross section of 1.5 mm ² . The fiber optic module may contain, in particular, sixteen single mode optical fibers.

The cable design described in the closest analogue contains power elements that protect optical fibers from mechanical damage during laying and during operation, while the use of power elements increases the overall dimensions and cost of the cable.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The main method for the production of copper wire is drawing, a method of processing metals by pressure, in which metal in the form of a wire, pipe, strip, rod is pulled through holes, the transverse dimensions of which are smaller than the dimensions of the original cross-section of the metal being pulled. The tool with which the drawing process is carried out is called a wire. During this process, copper wire rod is pulled through dies, the cross-section of which is less than the diameter of the copper bar. When drawing, the properties of the metal being pulled change, the strength of the copper wire increases, and the ductility decreases. The same properties - an increase in strength and a decrease in ductility - is possessed by copper wire obtained on drawing equipment - machines using dies through which wire rod is pulled. To increase the ductility of the drawn wire, i.e. its further use is usually carried out by heat treatment - annealing, i.e. heating and holding at a certain elevated temperature. The result is a soft copper wire, which, depending on the diameter, has a relative elongation according to Table 1. The use of such soft copper wire in fiber-optic cables requires the introduction of additional strength elements into their design.

The technical problem solved by the present invention is the creation of a device with a combination of the following technical properties:

- simultaneous transmission of data via optical fibers and electric current via conductive cores in one cable;

- combination in one means - copper conductive conductors of the functions of both conductive conductors for the transmission of electric current, and the properties of the power element;

- elimination of the need to use additional power elements;

- Ease of cable installation when using it due to size reduction due to the absence of a separate power element.

In addition, the invention is aimed at reducing the cost of fiber optic cable.

The above technical problem is solved by the proposed invention due to the fact that the proposed fiber-optic cable contains optical fibers placed in a sheath, which depending on the diameter is characterized by a relative elongation according to table 2 and obtained by drawing without subsequent heat treatment, i.e. without using annealing.

In the proposed technical solution for the manufacture of copper conductive cores, a heat-treated, more durable and stiffer copper wire is used, which has a relative elongation, the value of which, depending on the diameter, is given in Table 2. This makes it possible to manufacture a fiber-optic cable without power elements, since the function The power element is made of copper conductive conductors from thermally untreated copper wire, which have the required strength and rigidity. The choice of the diameter and number of conductors is made depending on the required mechanical and operational loads. Thus, in the proposed invention, a non-thermally treated copper wire is used to protect the optical fiber from mechanical stress.

The technical result achieved with the use of the invention consists in creating a fiber-optic cable used for the simultaneous transmission of data over optical fibers and electric current through copper conductors, without the use of additional power elements in its design, thereby simplifying the design of the cable, providing savings material due to the elimination of the power element, the dimensions are reduced and the cable manufacturing technology is simplified.

The use of copper conductive conductors made of thermally untreated copper wire allows providing the required mechanical properties of the cable while simultaneously realizing the conductive conductors of their main function - the transmission of electric current through them. The non-thermally treated copper wire has sufficient rigidity to eliminate the occurrence of mechanical stress in the optical fiber, this ensures that the cable service life is the same as that of a fiber-optic cable with conductive conductors of soft annealed copper wire and additional power elements.

The absence of additional power elements in the proposed cable reduces its overall dimensions, which is especially important when laying in confined spaces (sewers, cable risers, pipes, etc.).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated by drawings, which show the following.

FIG. 1 - shows a flat cable, in which thermally untreated copper conductors in insulation are located parallel to an optical module with optical fibers.

FIG. 2 - a round cable is depicted, in which insulated, thermally untreated copper conductors are located in different places of the sheath.

FIG. 3 - shows a cable with an FTTH cable, and copper conductors made of thermally untreated copper wire in insulation adjoin directly to the FTTH cable.

FIG. 4 - shows a cable in which copper conductive conductors without insulation are located directly in the cable sheath.

FIG. 5 - shows a cable with twisted insulated copper conductors.

FIG. 6 - shows a cable with optical fibers located directly in the cable sheath without an optical module.

In the drawings, the numbers indicate:

1 - optical fiber.

2 - optical module.

3 - copper conductors from thermally untreated copper wire.

4 - insulation of a conductive copper core.

5 - cable sheath.

6 - FTTH cable.

7 - water blocking material.

CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The fiber-optic cable has an outer polymer cable sheath 5, in which copper conductive cores 3 and optical fibers 1 are located, which can be located in an optical module 2 or without an optical module. Copper conductive conductors 3 of thermally untreated copper wire are located parallel to the optical fibers 1 and are enclosed, as a rule, in an insulating layer - insulation 4 of the conductive copper conductor, however, they can be located in the sheath 5 of the cable and without an insulating layer.

Various cable configurations are shown in FIG. 1-6.

Optical fibers 1 in one of the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and 2 are located in the optical module 2, which is a protective shell. The optical fibers in the optical module can be in a hydrophobic filler or water blocking material. In addition, the optical module 2 may contain water-blocking materials 7. The water-blocking material 7 can be selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobic filler, a water-blocking tape, a water-blocking powder, a water-blocking thread, or any combination of a water-blocking tape, a water-blocking powder, a water-blocking thread. In this case, the water-blocking material can be contained not only in the optical module, but also inside the cable sheath 5, as shown in FIG. 3.

In one preferred embodiment, the optical module 2 is replaced by a drop cable or FTTH cable 6 (see FIG. 3).

In one preferred embodiment, insulated copper conductors 3 of heat-treated copper wire are laid in the aforementioned cable sheath 5 at different locations at a distance from the longitudinal axis of the cable (see FIG. 2).

The insulation 4 of the copper conductor 4 may be insulation made of a polymer material selected from the group consisting of low-pressure polyethylene, medium-pressure polyethylene, high-pressure polyethylene, expanded polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, PVC compound, silicone rubber, rubber, polyurethane, polypropylene, fluoroplastic , material of reduced combustibility, material with reduced fire hazard, flame retardant, or any combination of these materials.

In one preferred embodiment, the copper conductors 3 are made without insulation and are located directly in the sheath 5 of the cable at a distance from the optical module 2 (see Fig. 4).

In one preferred embodiment, the optical fibers 1 without an optical module are located directly in the cable jacket 5 (see FIG. 6).

In one preferred embodiment, the copper conductors 3 are multiwire (see FIG. 1), with each conductor made of non-thermally treated copper wire. Copper conductors 3 can be twisted with any twisting steps (see Fig. 5).

In one embodiment, the cable may contain non-thermally treated and heat-treated copper conductors. Non-thermally treated copper wire, from which copper conductors are made, can be made from a billet selected from the group including copper wire rod, oxygen-free copper wire rod, wire rod obtained by continuous casting and rolling from refined waste and scrap copper, or a combination thereof.

The sheath 5 of the cable can be made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride plasticate, light-stabilized polyethylene of low, or medium, or high pressure, cross-linked polyethylene, fluoroplastic, rubber, foamed polyethylene, polyurethane, polypropylene, silicone rubber, polyolefin material of low flammability, material with reduced fire hazard, flame retardant, or can be made from any combination of the mentioned materials.

The sheath 5 of the cable contains or consists of material:

flame retardant for group laying,

and / or flame retardant with group laying, with reduced smoke and gas emission,

and / or flame retardant during group laying and does not emit corrosive gaseous products during combustion and smoldering,

and / or flame retardant with group laying, with reduced smoke and gas emission and low toxicity of combustion products,

and / or flame retardant during group laying and does not emit corrosive gaseous products during combustion and smoldering and with low toxicity of combustion products,

and / or fire-resistant, flame retardant with group laying, with reduced smoke and gas emission,

and / or fire-resistant, flame-retardant when laying in a group and does not emit corrosive gaseous products during combustion and smoldering,

and / or fire-resistant, flame retardant with group laying, with reduced smoke and gas emission and low toxicity of combustion products,

and / or fire-resistant, non-spreading combustion during group laying and does not emit corrosive gaseous products during combustion and smoldering and with low toxicity of combustion products.

The above description of the invention, as well as the drawings, are intended solely to explain the essence of the proposed invention. Other embodiments of the invention, including design changes, substitutions and modifications, may also exist, depending on the conditions of use, without changing the essence and scope of the present invention, which is understandable to those skilled in the art.

Claims (29)

1. A fiber-optic cable containing optical fibers enclosed in a cable sheath, a power element and copper conductive cores, characterized in that the copper conductive cores are made of copper wire, which simultaneously performs the function of a power element and is characterized by the following relative elongation: with a nominal wire diameter of over 0.090 mm to 0.100 mm, relative elongation,%, no more than 16; with a nominal wire diameter over 0.100 mm to 0.120 mm, relative elongation,%, no more than 17; with a nominal wire diameter over 0.120 mm to 0.150 mm, relative elongation,%, no more than 18; with a nominal wire diameter of over 0.150 mm to 0.190 mm, relative elongation,%, no more than 19; with a nominal wire diameter over 0.190 mm to 0.580 mm, relative elongation,%, no more than 20; with a nominal wire diameter of over 0.580 mm to 0.970 mm, relative elongation,%, no more than 25; with a nominal wire diameter over 0.970 mm to 5.00 mm, the relative elongation,%, no more than 30. 2. A cable according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical fibers are located in the optical module. 3. A cable according to claim 2, characterized in that the optical module contains a water-blocking material. 4. A cable according to claim 3, characterized in that said water-blocking material is selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobic filler, a water-blocking tape, a water-blocking powder, a water-blocking thread, or may contain any combination of a water-blocking tape, a water-blocking powder, a water-blocking thread. 5. A cable according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical fibers are located in a drop cable or in an FTTH cable, which are placed inside the cable sheath. 6. The cable according to claim. 1, characterized in that at least two copper conductors are laid in the cable sheath in different places at a distance from the longitudinal axis of the cable. 7. Cable according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6, characterized in that some or all of the conductive cores are made without insulation and are located directly in the cable sheath, in any part of it. 8. The cable according to claim 1, characterized in that the copper conductors are multiwire. 9. The cable according to claim 1, characterized in that the insulated conductive copper conductors are twisted with any twisting steps. 10. A cable according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains non-thermally treated conductive copper conductors and thermally treated conductive copper conductors. 11. The cable according to claim 1, characterized in that the thermally untreated copper wire from which the copper conductors are made is made from a billet selected from the group including copper wire rod, oxygen-free copper wire rod, continuous casting and rolling wire rod from refined waste and scrap copper. 12. Cable according to claim 1, characterized in that the cable sheath is made of a material selected from the group consisting of PVC compound, light-stabilized polyethylene of low, or medium, or high pressure, cross-linked polyethylene, fluoroplastic, rubber, foamed polyethylene, polyurethane , polypropylene, silicone rubber, polyolefin, low flammability material, low fire hazard material, fire resistant and / or combinations thereof. 13. A cable according to claim 1, characterized in that the above-mentioned sheath contains or consists of a material: flame retardant for group laying, and / or flame retardant with group laying, with reduced smoke and gas emission, and / or flame retardant during group laying and does not emit corrosive gaseous products during combustion and smoldering, and / or flame retardant with group laying, with reduced smoke and gas emission and low toxicity of combustion products, and / or flame retardant during group laying and does not emit corrosive gaseous products during combustion and smoldering and with low toxicity of combustion products, and / or fire-resistant, flame retardant with group laying, with reduced smoke and gas emission, and / or fire-resistant, flame-retardant when laying in a group and does not emit corrosive gaseous products during combustion and smoldering, and / or fire-resistant, flame retardant with group laying, with reduced smoke and gas emission and low toxicity of combustion products, and / or fire-resistant, non-spreading combustion during group laying and does not emit corrosive gaseous products during combustion and smoldering and with low toxicity of combustion products.

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