RU2789701C1 - High-strength data transmission cable - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electrical engineering.

SUBSTANCE: in order to manufacture the high-strength cable: a fibre optic wire (2) is arranged in a spiral around a core (1) containing a thermoplastic material; an additional thermoplastic material (3) is arranged in a spiral around the combination of the core (1) and the fibre optic wire (2); the thermoplastic materials are hardened so as to form the main cable (10). A screen (4) is then formed around the main cable (10), as well as a hollow braided power element containing a synthetic material around the main cable covered with the screen. The resulting cable is tensioned and heated so as not to compromise the structural integrity of the layer (3). The fact that the desired elongation and compaction value of the resulting cable and the power element containing said cable have been achieved is determined, followed by cooling the cable to ambient temperature while maintaining tensioning of the cable.

EFFECT: higher resolution and quality of the signal transmitted via fibre optic wires contained in the cable, with an increase in the strength of the cable.

3 cl, 18 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES

The present disclosure generally relates to the technical field of cables, and in particular to a cable which is made from a synthetic polymeric material, exhibits high rigidity and tensile strength, and which includes data wires and/or power wires.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is becoming increasingly important to reduce the weight of cables as well as to avoid dangerous kickback events that occur when ropes/cables break during use. The problem is that lighter, less kickback or low kickback cables are made from synthetic strength elements, which, although lighter than steel cables, are also stronger or as strong as steel cables, cannot provide adequate protection for fiber optic wires for the transmission of information contained within the cable. For this reason, steel wire cables continue to be used in many applications that require fiber optic wires to be deployed within the cable, and the problem of dangerous kickback continues to harm operators and crew.

Other problems with incorporating fiber optic cables into steel wire cables are that in some cases the steel wire cables are too heavy to function properly and therefore cannot be deployed. This has prevented the industry from adopting advanced equipment and technologies that can be used, for example, to increase the resolution of data transmitted over such cables in order to be able to prevent real-time damage to the environment from equipment operating remotely, which is very important for underwater applications in oil and gas industry, where the correct placement and operation of equipment at great depths requires a high degree of accuracy, which, in turn, requires high quality data transmission in order to best prevent accidents that damage the environment. In other applications, high-quality data transmission is required to operate equipment that protects marine mammals from harm, as well as to protect against unintentional catch of non-target fish in fishing operations that should catch only certain fish, usually determined by government agencies responsible for ensuring the conservation of fish stocks. at the level of sustainable use. It is also very important for marine mammals, birds and other fish, as any accidentally caught fish reduces the food supply for these important creatures.

For example, a towed trawl typically includes a headline sonar sensor to track the opening of the trawl and schools of fish in front of the trawl. The data cable, ie the headline sonar cable, sometimes referred to as the third wire, includes a wire for transmitting data signals from the headline sonar sensor to the towing vessel. Both for the success of commercial fisheries and for the health of the marine mammals and seabirds that depend on healthy fish stocks, it is critical to develop and implement technology to easily identify and distinguish between different fish species, as well as adults and juvenile fish. Fish tend to be shoals according to their age group, eg adults and juveniles are shoals in different shoals, and also according to their species, i.e. salmon, saithe and herring shoals are independent of each other. However, with the current technology, it is not possible to accurately differentiate different age groups of fish of the same species, and the existing technology does not allow reliable differentiation of different species when such species are mixed in the same region. As a result, juveniles and undersized fish continue to be caught in large numbers even if they are not targeted, and as a result, non-target species tend to be caught in large numbers even if there is no economic benefit from catching them.

To explain how a species of fish is accidentally caught, even if it does not bring economic benefit, can be as follows: For example, when fishing for Alaskan pollock, the fishing fleet often accidentally catches many thousands of tons of non-target species, such as herring, salmon, squid, etc. Some of these non-target species are prohibited by law, such as salmon or herring, and the idea behind this ban is that no one should benefit financially from catching non-target fish. This policy arose out of conflict between the natives and other salmon and herring shore fishing organizations and modern high seas fishing fleets. Thus, salmon and herring caught in Alaskan waters by high-seas fishing fleets are counted by government authorities, then taken out to sea and thrown overboard. Or, as in the case of squid, the catch is sold at a low price. Similar situations exist in most other fishing regions. In addition, schools of juveniles such as walleye pollock, as well as other fish, cannot be easily separated from schools of adult fish using prior technologies. Thus, many thousands of tons of fish juveniles are destroyed even though they are too small for fillets, and are used only for making fishmeal, which is very bad.

Thus, it is easy to understand that it is important to protect non-target fish species, juveniles and small fish from unintentional catch. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to determine the composition of fish schools identified and targeted by fishing vessels, such as mid-water/ocean trawlers, at the location of the fishing gear itself. For example, due to the fact that during fishing operations the position of the mid-water/ocean trawl can be more than half a kilometer away from the trawler, as well as due to side currents and different flow directions between surface currents acting on the trawler and deep currents acting directly trawl, the position of the trawl most often does not correspond to the orientation of the trawler pulling the trawl. For this reason, the hydroacoustic equipment on board the trawl vessel does not make it possible to accurately determine which schools of fish are directly in the opening path of the trawl itself. This can only be determined using sonar located directly on the trawl net itself. Therefore, if non-target fish species and juveniles are to be protected rather than caught, it is necessary that the sonar located on the trawl itself be able to distinguish between fish species, juveniles and small fish, and, moreover, transmit this information to the trawl vessel. At present, various organizations are working on the technology for such sonar, and it is safe to say that sufficient technical progress has been made, and with the help of known technologies, it is possible to create a sonar that can accurately distinguish between different fish species, as well as juvenile and adult fish. The use of such equipment on a trawl headline sonar, for example, would allow the operator of a trawl vessel to distinguish, and thus avoid, passing a trawl opening in the path of shoals of juveniles and non-target fish species.

The problem is that the current state of the art does not offer a headline sonar cable that is capable of transmitting a high enough quality data signal to allow the use of very high resolution sonars that are able to distinguish between different fish species, as well as juveniles and small fish. Therefore, even if it is possible to build a sonar that can do this, it is still not possible to use it because it is not possible with known topline sonar cables to transmit a high enough resolution signal over the distances that exist between the topline sonar and the trawl vessel to extract benefit from the use of such high resolution information. The impossibility of real use of such equipment obviously hinders the development of such equipment. Thus, it can be understood that there is a long overdue need in the industry for a top line sonar cable capable of transmitting a data signal strong enough to allow the use of equipment capable of distinguishing between fish of different species, as well as adult fish and juveniles, so that non-target fishing can be avoided. fish and juveniles.

Currently, the traditional power elements of ordinary cables of the upper selection watercolor are made of steel and include a central metal wire surrounded by multi -layered, twisted or wicker copper wires. Wicker copper wires surrounding the central wire protect the data signal transmitted through the central copper wire from electromagnetic interference, which worsen the quality of the transmitted data signals. The cables of the upper selection watercolor can have a length of up to 4000 m, and in addition to their main function of transmitting data signals, they are also sometimes used to increase the trawl opening due to the rise of the upper selection. Therefore, the headline sonar cable is sometimes referred to as the third cable.

When used with a trawl, the headline sonar cable must absorb the load resulting from the pitching of the trawler in rough seas. The pitching forces the stern of the trawler, where the winch of the third cable is located, to transmit pulsating shocks to the cable of the upper line sonar unwinding from it. The pitching significantly increases the compressive force applied to the headline sonar cable on the winch, thereby correspondingly increasing the possibility that the data signal wire of the headline sonar cable may be damaged.

One of the disadvantages of the usual steel cable of the upper selection of the upper selection is its weight. The weight of the steel cable of the upper selection of the upper selection negatively affects the work of the trawl and the performance of fishing tackle. The long steel cable of the upper selection watercress, extending between the trawler and the trawl, will fall below the upper selection of the trawl. In addition, the swan of the watercolor cable of the upper selection of trawler often lacks power to tension the steel cable of the upper seizure, since the winch withstands its weight.

The steel cable of the headline sonar, which extends below the headline of the trawl, must pass through schools of fish in front of the opening of the trawl. Passing the steel cable of the headline sonar through the school spooks the fish and the school turns sideways. Turning the school sideways can reduce the catch because some of the fish avoid the opening of the trawl.

Another disadvantage of steel topline sonar cable is when the cable breaks. The torn steel cable of the headline sonar, due to its weight, first falls down, and then begins to cut through and damage the trawl. Similarly, when the trawler turns while towing the trawl, it often becomes difficult to steer the steel cable of the headline sonar so as to avoid contact between the cable and the trawl lines and/or bridles. Contact between the topline sonar cable and the trawl lines and/or bridles can damage the topline sonar cable and the trawl lines and/or bridles, either individually or collectively. Similarly, sometimes the headline sonar cable comes into contact with the trawl door. Contact between the headline sonar cable and the trawl door can either cut the cable or entangle the cable with the trawl door, causing the trawl door to become unmanageable. Solving any of the previous problems associated with the use of steel top line sonar cable requires the removal, repair and/or reconfiguration of the fishing gear.

Over time, rust also destroys the steel cable of the headline sonar. In addition, topline sonar steel cables are difficult to splice because they typically consist of two twisted layers of steel wire, one twisted clockwise and one twisted counterclockwise.

Cables made from synthetic polymeric materials have physical properties very different from those of conductors such as optical fibers and wires made of copper, aluminum or other metals. In most cases, the elasticity of wires is very low, while synthetic polymer materials usually have more elasticity. Twisting twisted and/or braided fibers and/or filaments of synthetic polymeric materials into a cable further increases the elasticity of the finished cable due to the voids that occur between the fibers and/or filaments. A straight conductor oriented parallel to a cable or contained within a cable made from synthetic polymeric materials tends to break upon initial application of tension which stretches the cable. The structural elasticity of cables made from synthetic polymer materials can be reduced by stretching the cable when hot or cold. Stretching a cable made from synthetic polymeric materials reduces elasticity by compressing the fibers and/or filaments and removing voids.

Fibers and/or filaments made from ultra high tenacity synthetic polymeric materials such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene ("UHMWPE"), HMPE, Kevlar (TM) and Twaron (TM); carbon fibers; aromatic polyester, such as Vectran (TM); thermosetting polyurethane, such as Zylon (TM); and aromatic copolyamide, such as Teknora (TM); typically have an elongation at break of 2 to 10%. A cable made from such materials typically has a structural elongation of 2-5%. If a conductor is placed inside or with a cable made from such a synthetic polymeric material, it must withstand this elongation without breaking or becoming brittle, eventually leading to premature failure of the conductor.

Known signal cables for power transmission and data transmission, using synthetic fibers as a strength element. For example, Cortland Cable Company offers such cables for seismometer/magnetometer tow cables, side-scan sonar and video surveillance tow cables, and ocean floor seismic cables. Such cables, when tied to a Remotely Operated Vehicle (“ROV”), operate at low tension and little swell. Severe wave shocks are uncommon for current ROV cable and fixed ocean cable applications, or other known non-steel cable applications carrying power and data cables. In fact, it is well known in the art that ROVs should not be used with such lines in the rough conditions in which trawlers normally operate.

In fact, it is correct to say that when high tension is required, in combination with repeated windings under tension on the winch drum and storage under tension on this drum, as is the case with the trawl headline sonar cable, fabrication of a tension sensing data cable having a conductor surrounded by strength element formed from man-made fibers is not the preferred choice of the industry. One of the reasons the industry continues to rely on heavy data cables with strong steel members is that many past experiments with sheathed wires (including fiber optic lines, copper wires, etc.) in power elements such as braided sheath layers of synthetic polymer fibers have either failed in high tension applications such as those described above or have failed to provide a level of resolution, i.e., received signal quality, that is equal to or better than conventional designs.

Patent document WO 2004/020732 A2 discloses a cable having a thermoplastic core enclosed in a braided, co-extruded or pultruded sheath. During manufacture, the cable is heated to a temperature at which the thermoplastic core becomes liquid or semi-liquid. When heated to this temperature, the cable stretches so that it becomes permanently elongated. During stretching, the hot thermoplastic core material fills the voids in the surrounding sheath. For added strength and/or stiffness, the thermoplastic core may include a central inner fiber or strength member thread that is different from the thermoplastic core and is made of a metallic or polymeric material. Using a metal central internal power member to transmit data signals does not work because during the manufacture of the cable the metal wire either breaks or becomes so brittle that it fails prematurely.

In an attempt to meet a long standing need in the industry, our prior application WO 2009/142766 A2 proposes a non-steel strain sensing data and power cable capable of withstanding very high loads, such as those experienced by a trawl headline sonar cable, as well as capable of being reeled or winch under high tension, and which can be wound and unwound from a winch subjected to the wave action of a fishing trawler without rapid damage to the cable, in particular before twenty-four calendar months from the date of first use. Unfortunately, although these disclosures have met with some acceptance, especially with regard to the conductors formed from the metal filaments included in the topline sonar cables described, attempts to incorporate fiber/optical wires in accordance with these ideas have failed because these fiber optic wires broke at the first using a cable.

In an attempt to further improve the resolution of the data signal and thus meet the above-described remaining long-felt needs in the industry for headline sonar cables, several years after our aforementioned initial publication, we have proposed further and subsequent ideas, embodied in the subsequent application WO 2017/149553 A1. These ideas include ideas related to increasing the resolution of the signal transmitted by any metal data signal conductors, as well as any fiber optic conductors that may be used in forming the headline sonar cable. While these ideas have markedly improved the signal resolution of the metal conductors used with the topline sonar cables described, attempts to use fiber optic/fiber optic wires with such topline sonar cables also failed because these fiber optic wires also broke on the first use of the cable.

Thus, it is clear that there continues to be a long overdue need in the industry to improve data signal quality and/or resolution for topline sonar cables and other data cables using fiber optic wires.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a durable synthetic fiber data cable capable of being wound onto a winch under the tension and wave shocks experienced by a fishing trawler, which remains intact for at least 24 calendar months of its commercial use from the date of first use, and which provides higher resolution and/or quality of the signal transmitted via the fiber optic wires contained in the data cable compared to the previous non-steel data cables described in the Applicant's patent documents WO 2009/142766 A2 and WO 2017/149553 A1, and in In particular, it has a sufficiently high quality and resolution of the transmitted data signal in order to be able to use equipment capable of distinguishing between different types of fish, juveniles and small fish.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a data cable made of a strong synthetic fiber capable of being wound on a winch and remaining intact under the strain and wave impacts experienced by, for example, fishing trawlers and seismic vessels, in particular those having a displacement of over 100 tons and even over 3000 tons. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a strong synthetic fiber data cable capable of being wound on a winch at a pull of more than 100 kg, which remains intact for at least 24 calendar months of its commercial use from the date of first use on trawlers or displacement seismic vessels. over 200 tons

Another object of the present invention is to provide a non-steel data cable that does not twist when loosened.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a high-strength data cable capable of being wound on a winch under tension, having a strength element formed preferably from synthetic fibers, having a low weight and low kickback, which has a higher resolution and/or signal quality transmitted over fiber optics. wires contained in a cable as compared to known cables, and which also optionally contains power wires, such as a coaxial cable, inside the core of a high-strength data cable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the surprising and unexpected discovery that by suspending within a flexible solid material an optical fiber wire, itself formed into a helix, to form a main cable formed by the combination of (i) the fiber optic wire defining the helix; and (ii) a flexible solid material within which is suspended (and preferably fully encapsulated) a fiber optic wire defining the helix, and using the main cable as a support core for a (preferably braided) strength element formed from a polymeric material that preferably supports the natural the shape of the internal cavity of the strength member under tension, which is sufficient, for example, 10% or more of the maximum tension force of the strength member, it is possible to obtain an unexpectedly durable, high-strength, high-resolution data cable.

The present invention is further based on the surprising and unexpected discovery that by using a high strength data cable manufacturing process which includes a new step of providing additional fixation between the core containing the thermoplastic material and the helically wound fiber optic wire(s) around the core, this additional fixation being in addition to any fixation resulting from the fact that the fiber optic wire(s) are connected to the core while being spirally arranged around it, and that by providing this additional fixation before placing the thermoplastic material around the combination of fiber optic wire (wires) and the core so as to enclose the fiber optic wire(s) within the thermoplastic material and/or between the core and the thermoplastic material; and then forming at least a polymer material sheath layer of the strength member around the sheathed fiber optic wire(s) helically wound around the core, a high-strength data cable having a very high signal quality can be obtained, thus satisfying a need long felt for industry.

Preferably the core around which the fiber optic wires are helically wound is formed from a thermoplastic material and at least has an outer layer of thermoplastic material, and also preferably the thermoplastic material located around the combination of the core and the fiber optic wires helically wound around the core is a thermoplastic material which creates a very strong bond with the thermoplastic material forming the core and at least with the thermoplastic material forming the outer layer of the core, for example forming the core layer with which the helically wound fiber optic wires are in contact. Ideally and preferably, the bond formed is inseparable. For example, the bond should ideally be so strong that the thermoplastic material that surrounds the combination of the core and the fiber optic wires helically wound around it cannot solidify from the thermoplastic material that forms the core.

Even more preferably thermoplastic material, which is located around the combination of the core and fiber -fiber wires, spirally wound around it, is a thermoplastic material that creates a very solid connection, and preferably inextricable communication as with (I) thermoplastic material that forms the core, as well as at least at least and especially with thermoplastic material that forms the outer layer of the core; So with (II) fiber -optic wires and/or with the outer layer and/or the outer part of the fiber -optic wires, such as any buffer material, isolation material or other material forming the outer layer of fiber -optic wires.

Thus, in one aspect, the present invention provides a high-strength data cable having a power element and a core, and the high-strength data cable comprises, along its entire length, a main cable containing said core, and also containing at least one fiber optic wire arranged in a spiral way; and completely encased in a hard, flexible material. Thus, typically at least one fiber optic cable is arranged in a helix around the core.

In one embodiment, a high strength data cable is enclosed in a hard, flexible material by being sandwiched and/or sandwiched between: (a) a layer of hard, flexible material containing at least the surface of the core, and in some embodiments, the entire core from center to its surface; and (b) a layer of hard, flexible material comprising a layer outside the surface of the core.

The layer of hard, flexible material containing the surface of the core (or the entire core) and the layer of hard, flexible material containing the layer that is external to the surface of the core are preferably permanently bonded to each other. Thus, in some embodiments, the joint strength is substantially equal to or greater than the tensile strength of one or both materials.

In some embodiments, the layer of hard, flexible material containing at least the surface of the core and the layer of hard, flexible material containing the layer that is external to the surface of the core each contain the same substance, and they are permanently bonded to each other, which means that in some embodiments, the layer containing at least the surface of the core layer that is external to the surface of the core is made of essentially the same or the same material.

In one embodiment of a high strength data cable: (i) a layer of hard, flexible material containing at least a core surface; (ii) a layer of hard, flexible material containing a layer that is external to the surface of the core; and (iii) the layer containing the fiber optic wire is permanently connected to each other. In some embodiments, each of these three layers contains the same substance, and they are permanently bonded to each other, which means that in some embodiments, they are made of essentially the same or identical material. In embodiments containing these three layers, it is preferred that they are all permanently bonded to each other.

The hard, flexible layer outside the core (i.e., the surrounding fiber optic cable) has a thickness, measured from the outermost edge of the fiber optic conductor to the outer surface of said layer, which is preferably at least four times the diameter of the optical tube (22, 22A) of the fiber optic wire, and preferably 4 to 200 times the optical tube diameter of the fiber optic wire.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a high strength data cable comprises a flow shield, where the combination of the flow shield and the outer surface of the hard, flexible layer surrounding the core conforms to the inner wall of the cavity of the surrounding cable strength member, which strength member is preferably is a hollow braided power element. In some high strength data cable embodiments, the boundary between the hard, flexible layer (3) surrounding the core and the surface of the core has a shape that does not match the inner wall of the strength element cavity. In some such embodiments, the interface between the hard, flexible layer (3) surrounding the core and the surface of the core is shaped without raised dimples when viewed from the outside of the core (eg, out of the core).

In some embodiments, a high strength data cable comprises a plurality of fiber optic wires, each of which is preferably completely enclosed in a hard, flexible material forming the surface of the core (or the entire core) and a hard, flexible material forming the layer (3). Preferably, the outside of the fiber optic wire does not directly contact the outside of any other fiber optic conductor at any point along the length of the main cable.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a process for manufacturing a high strength data cable comprising the steps

(i) arranging in a helical manner at least one fiber optic wire around a core containing a thermoplastic material that forms at least a surface of the core;

(ii) then placing additional thermoplastic material around the combination of the core and at least one fiber optic wire that is helically arranged around the core to completely enclose the fiber optic wire within the thermoplastic material;

(iii) then curing the thermoplastic materials in order to form the main cable (10);

(iv) then forming a flow protection shield around the main cable;

(v) then forming a hollow braided strength element containing synthetic material around the main cable, covered with a screen to protect against flow; followed by tensioning the resulting cable and heating sufficient to ensure permanent deformation of the thermoplastic material constituting the layer (3), without causing a violation of the structural integrity of the layer (3), as well as to enable the extension and compaction of the resulting cable and the strength element containing the mentioned received cable;

(vi) then determining that the desired amount of elongation and compaction of the obtained cable and the strength element containing the specified obtained cable has been achieved, followed by cooling the obtained cable to a temperature at which the thermoplastic material-containing layer (3) cannot be permanently deformed, without causing damage to the structural integrity of the layer (3), thereby permanently lengthening and compacting the strength element as well as the resulting cable, and forcing the layer (3) in combination with the flow protection screen to conform to the inner wall of the strength element cavity. The process for producing high-strength data transmission cable is characterized by the following steps:

A. providing a core, preferably containing a thermoplastic material and preferably having an outer surface layer of a thermoplastic material, and optionally containing any wires and/or other elements within the core;

b. arranging at least one and up to several fiber optic wires in a spiral form around the outer side of the core;

With. optionally, but most preferably, providing additional fixation between the core and the fiber optic wires that form a helix around the core;

d. positioning additional thermoplastic material around the combination of the core and fiber optic wires helically arranged around the core to enclose the fiber optic wires between the core and the thermoplastic material;

e. forming a flow shield around the combination of the core, the fiber optic wires helically around the core, and the thermoplastic material around the combination of the core and the fiber optic wires helically around the core;

f. forming a preferably woven layer of polymer material strength element shell around the screen to protect against flow and the elements contained therein;

g. arranging in a fluid state around the sheath layer of the strength member a hardening elastic adhesive such as a multi-component blended polyurethane; And

h. forming a protective coating around the sheath layer of the strength member and the elastic adhesive, thereby forming an improved high strength, lightweight and crush resistant high resolution power fiber optic data cable of the present invention.

Most preferably, the thermoplastic core material and the additional thermoplastic material are selected such that the bond formed between (a) the solid phase of the additional thermoplastic material; and (b) the solid phase of the thermoplastic material forming the core and/or at least forming the outer portion of the core is so strong that the two thermoplastic materials cannot be separated. That is, they cannot be completely separated from each other, and any attempt to do so will result in an uneven break, as a result of which it will not be possible to obtain a structure having only additional thermoplastic material, and/or having only a core without additional thermoplastic material. This bond is preferably inextricable. Even more preferably, the additional thermoplastic material and the thermoplastic core material are the same thermoplastic material.

Even more preferably, the additional thermoplastic material forms a strong bond with the material forming the outer layer of the fiber optic wires. Even more preferably, both the thermoplastic material forming the core and/or forming at least the outer surface of the core and the additional thermoplastic material both form a strong bond with the material forming the outer layer of the fiber optic wires.

Further, in contrast to the current state of the art and the industry trend for crush-resistant power and data cables formed from synthetic polymer strength members, such as cables of the prior art Applicant, and before the manufacturing steps disclosed above: “g. arranging in a fluid state around the sheath layer of the strength member a hardening elastic adhesive such as a multi-component mixed polyurethane; and H. formation of a protective coating around the sheath layer of the strength element and the elastic adhesive", the cable of the present invention, formed using the steps (a) to (f) disclosed above and having no protective coating around the sheath layer of the strength element and the adhesive layer that adheres such a coating to the sheath layer of the strength member, can now be cold stretched. For example, it can be stretched at a temperature that is low enough not to cause the thermoplastic material to melt. A tension of 15-80% of the maximum tensile force of the sheath layer of the strength element is considered useful. The cable can then be provided with a protective sheath, such as a braided sheath, which is bonded to the strength member's sheath layer with an elastic adhesive. Or, alternatively and optionally, and also before the steps: “g. arranging in a fluid state around the sheath layer of the strength member a hardening elastic adhesive such as a multi-component blended polyurethane; and H. formation of a protective coating around the sheath layer of the strength element and elastic adhesive, additional subsequent steps include stretching to the depth of heating the cable formed using the above stages (a) - (f) and not having a protective coating around the sheath layer of the strength element and adhesive layer, which adheres such a coating to the shell layer of the strength element, as follows:

(i) applying a first tension to the sheath layer of the strength element, and thus to all elements contained within the sheath layer of the strength element (the sheath layer of the strength element and all the elements contained within it may also be referred to herein generally as "unfinished cable »);

(ii) applying heat to the unfinished cable of the present invention, such heat being chosen to cause the thermoplastic material within the unfinished cable of the present invention to reach a molten, eg, semi-liquid state. Optionally, and as experimentally determined, regardless of desire, contrary to the state of the art and the industry trend, heat can be chosen and applied so that only a portion of the core reaches a molten state, especially so that it is sufficient for a portion of the core, most close to the outer side of the unfinished cable, has reached the molten state, but not enough for the part of the core closest to the longitudinal center axis of the unfinished cable, has reached the molten state. This can be achieved by controlling both the temperature and the duration of exposure to heat, for example by running an unfinished cable through a furnace, by adjusting the heat, means of heat application, such as radiant heat with or without hot air or steam blowing, etc., and also the rate of passage of the cable through the furnace and its length, until a set of parameters and/or a formula for a specific diameter and design of the unfinished cable is experimentally reached, allowing only those parts of the thermoplastic in the cable to be melted that are near its outer surface, without causing melting those parts of the thermoplastic in the cable that are closer to its longitudinal central axis. Thus, for example, the core 1 can remain solid while the additional thermoplastic layer 3 can reach a molten state during cable processing.

(iii) applying tension to the sheath layer of the strength element of the unfinished cable sufficient to elongate the sheath layer of the hollow braided strength element and the structures contained in the sheath layer of the hollow braided strength element (such as fiber optic coils) by a predetermined amount that does not cause the fiber optics to break. wires, and which also eliminates the structural elongation of the sheath layer of the strength element, while reducing its diameter and the diameter of the unfinished cable;

(iv) determining that a desired amount of elongation, and preferably a predetermined amount of elongation, of at least the sheath layer of the strength member has been achieved;

(v) cooling the sheath layer of the strength element and the elements contained within it, preferably while maintaining tension on the sheath layer of the strength element and thus also maintaining tension on the elements contained within it, for example within an unfinished cable, until the thermoplastic material contained inside the sheath layer of the strength element does not reach a solid state, and also so that the combination of elements contained inside the sheath layer of the strength element acquires a shape corresponding to and adapted to the natural shape of the walls formed by the internal cavity of the hollow braided strength element, and preferably, but not necessarily, also so that, as a result, the optical wires contained within the cooled incomplete cable experience some compression and/or reduction in their length, approximately 0.5% or less, but may be more;

(vi) applying to the outer surface of the sheath layer of the strength element any additional elements or substance, such as polyurethane or other elastic adhesive substance in a fluid state; then

(vii) while the elastic adhesive is still in a fluid state (if such an agent has been chosen for use), forming a protective coating around the sheath layer of the force element and the elastic adhesive layer and/or other elements located outside the sheath layer of the force element, thereby forming the improved synthetic fiber reinforced high resolution data cable of the present invention.

The high strength data cable thus formed of the present invention provides a much higher data signal quality and/or resolution than known high strength data cables, allowing the use of equipment that is currently under development but cannot be used, for example, with known data cables, and which allows fish species to be identified and their sizes to be distinguished, thereby avoiding the capture of non-target fish, as well as juveniles and small-sized fish, thus improving the health of fisheries, marine mammals and seabirds, as well as fishing communities that depend on them, while achieving the objectives of this disclosure.

With the advantages listed above, the described non-steel high-strength data cable meets the needs long felt in the industry.

These and other features, objects and advantages will become apparent or apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the various drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a high strength data cable according to the present disclosure, which shows the various layers in one embodiment;

Fig. 1A is a side view of the high strength data cable shown in FIG. 1 which likewise shows its various layers;

Fig. 2, 3 and 4 show the manufacturing steps for forming the main cable 10 of a high strength data cable in accordance with the present disclosure.

Fig. 3A is a cross section along line 3A shown in FIG. 3;

Fig. 4A is a cross section along line 4A shown in FIG. 4;

Fig. 5 shows a side view of the main cable 10 shown in FIG. 4 of the high strength data cable shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A, where the helical fiber optic wires 2 as well as the first strength member 8, completely enclosed in the thermoplastic material 1, 3, and thus also completely enclosed in the main cable 10, are shown in dotted lines, as in the X-ray.

Fig. 6 is a cross section along line 6 shown in FIG. 1;

Fig. 7 is a side view showing the profile of the main cable 10 after completion of the heating and tensioning steps of the high-strength data cable (performed before the installation of the outer cover 7 and the adhesive layer 6), where the strength member sheath layer 5 and the flow shield layer 4 are not shown in the drawing so that the main cable 10 can be seen, and where the parts of the fiber optic wires 2 enclosed in the main cable 10 are shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the high strength data cable shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A along line 6 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A showing the various layers of the high strength data cable 20 where the assembled high strength data cable has been heated and stretched prior to the installation of the adhesive layer 6 and the final outer cover 7.

Fig. 9 and FIG. 9A are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of a high strength data cable of the present disclosure, showing its various layers where the coaxial cable has been included in the core 1 and the main cable 10.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative high strength data cable shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 9A along line 10 shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 9A showing the various layers of the finalized high strength data cable 20 where the final assembled high strength data cable has been heated and stretched prior to the installation of the adhesive layer 6 and the final outer cover 7.

Fig. 11 is a side view of a high-strength data cable of the present disclosure, showing its various layers, where a portion of each fiber optic wire 2 has been torn off from the main cable 10, resulting in a break in layer 3 as well as layer 1, with the material of layer 1 and layer 3 adhered to the outer buffer/insulation layer of the fiber optic wires with an adhesion force sufficient to ensure that at least portions of the material of layer 1 separate from the other material of layer 1 and remain attached to portions of the buffer/insulation layer of fiber optic wires 2 during and after peeling off parts of the fiber optic wires 2 from layer 3, and thus from the main cable 10 (thereby also forming grooves in the main cable 10, which were previously occupied by the combination of the length of the fiber optic wire 2, as well as parts of the material forming layer 1 and 3).

Fig. 12 is a cross-section perpendicular to the long axis of the fiber optic wire 2 of one type of fiber optic wire 2 used as an example of forming a high-strength data cable of the present disclosure, and showing the various layers and members constituting the fiber optic wire 2, including the core 41; lining 43 and buffer 45 (buffer 45 is also known as "buffer layer", "coating", "sheath" or "insulation"). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the combination of core 41 and sheath 43 contained in any fiber optic conductor used in forming any embodiment of the high strength data cable of the present disclosure forms a unit known as the "optical tube" denoted in FIG. 12 by reference numeral 22. For the purposes of this disclosure, the largest width of any optical tube used in any optical fiber wire used in the formation of the high strength data cable of this disclosure is referred to herein as the optical tube diameter, and is obtained by measuring the distance along an imaginary straight line, passing through the cross section of the optical tube with its largest width, as shown in FIG. 12 imaginary straight line 33.

Fig. 13 is a cross section perpendicular to the long axis of the fiber optic wire 2 of another type of fiber optic wire used as an example of forming the high-strength data cable of the present disclosure, and showing the various layers and members of the fiber optic wire. The fiber optic wire shown in Fig. 13 contains layers and elements similar to the fiber optic wire shown in FIG. 12, including: core 41A, cladding 43A, and buffer 45 (also known as "buffer layer", "coating", "sheath", or "insulation"), except that fiber optic wire 2 in FIG. 13 contains an additional cladding layer 47, which is also known as the "outer liner" and/or as the "outer liner layer", hence the liner layer 43A is optionally also known as the "inner liner" and/or "inner liner layer". For the purposes of this disclosure, the "optical tube" of the fiber optic wire shown in FIG. 13, as well as any fiber optic wire used in the formation of any high strength data cable of the present disclosure, is also formed by a core and jacket combination (which in the case of the fiber optic wire shown in FIG. 13 includes inner and outer jackets 43A and 47) , indicated by reference numeral 22A. For the purposes of this disclosure, the largest width of any optical tube used in any fiber optic wire used in forming the high-strength data cable of this disclosure is referred to herein as the optical tube diameter and is obtained by measuring the distance along an imaginary straight line through the cross section of the optical pipe with its largest width, as shown in FIG. 13 by an imaginary straight line 33A.

Fig. 14 shows in perspective a cross section of an alternative main cable of the present invention in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the alternative main cable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 and FIG. 1A shows a high-strength data cable 20 of the present invention, including: a core 1 containing a thermoplastic material and associated with a first strength member 8 (see also FIG. 2); at least one and preferably several fiber optic wires 2 spirally arranged around the core 1 (see also Fig. 3), which can be any type of useful fiber optic wire, although it has surprisingly been found that a single fiber optic wire is preferred; an additional thermoplastic layer 3 covering the spirally arranged fiber optic wires between the layer 3 and the outer surface of the core 1 (see also Fig. 4); screen 4 for flow protection; layer 5 of the shell of the power element; elastic adhesive layer 6 and protective outer cover 7.

The core 1 is preferably formed from a thermoplastic material. However, the core 1 may include metal and/or other wires (not shown in Fig. 1) and/or other elements (not shown in Fig. 1) located inside the core, such as a coaxial power and/or data cable (see the elements indicated by reference numerals 21, 22 and 23 in Fig. 9, Fig. 9A, Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, showing the inner core 1 with coaxial cable); and/or such as copper filament braided wire, and/or such as the electromagnetic shield described in our previous publications referenced above. The parts of the core 1 not occupied by elements necessary for the manufacture and/or operation of a high strength data cable are preferably formed from a thermoplastic material. Regardless of which design is used for the core 1, the outer surface layer of the core 1 is formed from a thermoplastic material and has a thickness prior to stretching stages ranging from about 0.5 mm to about 4 mm, preferably from about 1.5 mm to about 4 mm. .

Preferably for all embodiments of the high strength data cable of the present invention: core 1 has a circular cross section (although, less preferably, it may have an oval or quasi-oval or quasi-circular or elliptical cross-section); and when the core 1 has a circular cross section, the diameter of the core 1 is preferably thirty-two to two hundred and sixty-four, and preferably forty to sixty-four, of the optical tube diameter of the optical fiber wire used in forming the high strength data cable of the present invention. Surprisingly, such embodiments have been found to provide a higher resolution of transmitted data and differ from the prior art and industry trend, as shown in an illustrative example in our previously published patent applications. When the core 1 has a cross section that is not perfectly round, the diameter of the core 1, measured as the diameter at the largest width of the cross section, preferably has a value in the above ranges.

In one particularly preferred embodiment of the high strength data cable of the present invention, the core 1 is preferably directly connected to the first strength element 8. This can be achieved by forming the core 1 around the first strength element 8, for example by extruding a thermoplastic rod around the first strength element 8 (see Fig. 2), or alternatively, for example, by first extruding a thermoplastic rod to form the core 1, and then weaving a hollow braid around the thermoplastic rod to obtain a braided first strength element 8, which can be done Using a conventional binding machine. At present, it is preferable that the core 1 be formed around the first strength member 8 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and that the first strength element 8 does not come into contact with the surface of the core 1. At present, to form the first strength element 8, it is preferable to use a strength element capable of maintaining its integrity at temperatures up to 120 degrees Celsius, preferably up to 200 degrees Celsius, and especially at temperatures up to 270 degrees Celsius, such as aramid thread or interlaced polyester threads. At present, it is preferred that the strength member is not formed from a thermoplastic material.

However, alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9-11, which depicts an alternative embodiment of the high strength data cable illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A, where the coaxial cable assembly has been included in the core 1 as shown by elements 21, 22 and 23, when it is desired to include a metal wire inside the core 1, the first strength element 8 may be located inside the braided metal conductor 21, and the combination of the braided metal conductor 21 and the first strength element 8 can then be directly connected to the core 1, preferably by extruding a thermoplastic layer 22 around the combination of the braided metal conductor 21 and the first strength element 8, to form a rod that defines the core 1; and, in addition, an electromagnetic shield 23 can be formed outside the thermoplastic layer 22, for example, by laying copper threads in two opposite directions of the layer, where such an electromagnetic shield 23 can also serve as a conductor and/or conductive loop, and then the thermoplastic layer forming the exterior core 1 can be formed around this electromagnetic shield.

The optical fiber wires used in the formation of any high-strength data cable of the present invention preferably have a buffer layer on the outside of the sheath that is sufficiently thick and formed from a sufficiently abrasion-resistant material so that it can withstand the abrasion that occurs during the manufacturing process without it. completely removed in any position from the outer surface of the shell, and could maintain its integrity at temperatures up to 200 degrees Celsius, and especially at temperatures up to 250 degrees Celsius, even more preferably at temperatures up to 270 degrees Celsius; and furthermore preferably such buffer layer consists of a material which includes a mixture of materials, where one material in the mixture is the same thermoplastic material as used in the formation of layers 1 and/or 3, preferably polyethylene or nylon , and a combination of silicone with a thermoplastic material is currently preferred. An example of such a buffer layer is indicated by reference numeral 45 in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.

Reference numeral 19 in FIG. 5 shows the pitch of the fiber optic wires helically arranged around the core 1: the fiber optic wires are preferably helically arranged around the core 1 with a pitch that is 160-480 and preferably 336-480 optical tube diameters for at least one and preferably all of the fiber optic wires formed into a high strength data cable.

As shown in FIG. 5: For any embodiment of the high strength data cable of the present invention, the additional thermoplastic layer 3 is preferably formed so that it completely covers the outer surfaces 15 of the fiber optic wires 2 with a layer 13 of thermoplastic material having a thickness chosen such that after the final production of the high strength cable for data transmission, the fiber optic wires remained encapsulated in the thermoplastic even after the combination of the main cable 10 encased in the flow shield 4 is optionally but preferably deformed by heat stretching as described herein to fit and maintain the internal the cavity of the power element 5 (see Fig. 8).

Referring to FIG again. 5: For any embodiment of the high strength data cable of the present invention: Preferably, when positioned around the core and the fiber optic wires helically wound around the core, the additional thermoplastic layer 3 has a thickness measured from the outermost edge 15 of the fiber optic wire to the layer surface 17 3 of the main cable 10, which is preferably a minimum of 4, and may range from 4 to 66 diameters of the optical tube of this fiber optic wire. In other words, for any high strength data cable of the present invention, it is preferable that the thickness of that part of the additional thermoplastic layer 3 that is external from the outermost edge 15 of the buffer layer 45 of the fiber optic wire forming the high strength data cable is in the range of 4 up to 66 optical tube diameters of this fiber optic cable.

The flow barrier 4 can be any layer that stops and/or substantially stops the passage of molten (eg "semi-liquid") phases of thermoplastic material through the flow barrier. Preferably, the flow barrier is formed by closely interlacing polyester fibers or filaments with such a dense braid structure that the molten phases of the thermoplastic contained in the additional thermoplastic layer 3 and also contained within the core 1 do not and/or practically do not pass through the screen for flow protection. When it is desired to implement an optional but less preferred embodiment of the high strength data cable of the present invention by forming a high strength data cable by omitting the steps of heating the cable until the thermoplastic material in the core 1 and/or layer 3 is molten, contrary to the state of the art and the industry trend, the flow protection screen can be omitted, and thus the flow protection screen is optional and optional in such embodiments, which is also contrary to the state of the art and the industry trend.

The sheath layer 5 of the strength member is preferably formed from a superfiber such as HMPE, and when the option of thermally stretching the high strength data cable at or near the thermoplastic phase change temperature is selected, this layer is preferably formed with a 24-strand braiding machine to obtain a hollow braided strength member sheath layer 5 of 24 strands, e.g. with a strand design of "2x24" and even more preferably "3x24", which goes against the state of the art and the industry trend of using a 12-strand braiding machine to make a hollow braided sheath layer 5 a power element of 12 strands. When heating and stretching the high-strength data cable of the present invention is chosen, such a step is performed before installing the elastic adhesive layer 6 and the outer cover 7 so that the result is a combination of the outer layer 3 of the main cable 10 and the flow shield 4 enclosing the main cable 10 deformable so that it adapts to the inner cavity of the hollow braided strength element (and also to make the main cable 10 take on a wavy profile in the top view, see Fig. 7), most preferably without deforming the thermoplastic material layer, which is outermost from the core 1 and around which the fiber optic wires form their helix (see Fig. 8), which can be determined by forming the outer thermoplastic material layer of the core 1 in a different color than the thermoplastic material layer 3 and determining whether the Their border of the section as a result on heating and stretching, with the goal being to remove structural stretch and induce densification of the strength member without deforming core 1, which is against the state of the art and the industry trend as illustrated by our previous patent applications where fiber optic wires were pressed into the core 1 As a result of the stages of stretching and/or stages of heating and stretching.

The elastic adhesive layer 6 is preferably a type of polyurethane, such as a mixed polyurethane of two or more components, which is preferably applied in a flowable state to the outer surface of the strength member shell layer just prior to forming the protective coating 7 around the strength member shell layer. As a result, the elastic adhesive layer 6 binds the sheath layer of the load-bearing element to the protective coating.

Manufacturing processes

The production method of the high-strength data cable of the present invention includes the steps of:

(a) Step 1: providing a flexible core 1 of solid material (see FIG. 2), and preferably a core 1 associated with a first strength element 8, which is located inside and in the center of the core 1, as shown in FIG. 1, Fig. 1A and FIG. 2. The core 1 contains a flexible solid thermoplastic material, and when it contains no other elements than the first strength element 8, preferably contains, in addition to the first strength element 8, only a flexible solid thermoplastic material (the first strength element 8 itself is ideally formed from a non-thermoplastic material, as described above). The core 1 is preferably in the form of a cable and/or rod with a circular cross section; or the shape of an elongated object with a circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core 1. It is important to note that whatever elements are included in the core 1, such as, for example, a metal wire for power supply, the core 1 has an outer surface layer formed from flexible rigid thermoplastic material.

(b) Stage 2: arrangement of at least one and up to several fiber optic wires 2 in a spiral around the outer side of the core (see Fig. 3). This step can be performed using a winding machine, such as a machine that rotates around a center point of one or more spools and/or bobbins, each of which carries the fiber optic wire wound around it. The flexible core 1 is continuously passed through the central axis of the winder, for example by unwinding from the supply reel and winding onto the take-up reel, preferably with guides holding the core 1 passed through the central winding point of the winder located along the central axis of the winder. It must be ensured that the fiber optic wires are unwound from the spools and/or spools in a direction perpendicular or at least more perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spools and/or spools, so that it is parallel to this axis so that rotation is not transmitted to the fiber optic wires. The fiber optic wires, and thus the spools and/or reels, are spaced at the same distance from each other (see Fig. 3A), and the fiber optic wires are wound and placed on the thermoplastic surface of the core 1 (see also Fig. 3A). For example, if there are four fiber optic wires, there are four spools and/or spools at a sixty degree angle to each other. If there are three fiber optic wires, then similarly there are three spools and/or spools at a one hundred and twenty degree angle to each other. If there are two fiber optic wires, then there are two spools and/or spools located at an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees to each other. When only one optical fiber wire is used to form the high-strength data cable of the present invention, then preferably a strand and/or thread and/or fiber that is not an optical fiber wire is also arranged on the core 1 in a helical manner at the same position and using the same means and equipment as the second fiber optic wire, if it were used, resulting in a helical fiber optic wire and a helical strand that is not a fiber optic wire, which can also be a strand of thermoplastic material or, for example, polyester. Even more preferably, when only one fiber optic wire is used, then two strands and/or threads and/or fibers are arranged helically around the core 1, and these three elements, for example one fiber optic wire and two strands and/or threads, and/ or fibers that are not fiber optic wires are placed at an angle of one hundred and twenty degrees to each other and are wound around the core 1 using the same means and equipment that are used when winding three fiber optic wires around the core 1. In this case, these two strands and/or threads and/or fibers can be strands of thermoplastic material or, for example, polyester.

(c) stage 3: it is not necessary, but most preferably, providing additional fixation between the core and the fiber -optic wires that form a spiral around the core;

(d) Stage 4: positioning additional thermoplastic material 3 around the combination of core 1 and fiber optic wires 2 helically wrapped around core 1 to enclose the fiber optic wires between core 1 and thermoplastic material 3 (see Fig. 4), and curing the additional thermoplastic material 3 to completely enclose the helical fiber optic wires within a rigid, flexible material shaped into a rod and/or cable, thus obtaining a main cable 10 (see also FIG. 5). Polyethylene and various forms of polyethylene are suitable for the thermoplastic material of core 1 and layer 3. This step can be done by placing after the aforementioned center winding point an extrusion die that extrudes a fluid thermoplastic material around the combination of: core 1 and everything connected to core 1, for example, any fiber optic wires helically wound around the core 1; as well as any strands and/or filaments and/or fibers helically wound around the core 1 (for example, when only one is used, or in some cases only two fiber optic wires are used), and pulling and/or otherwise passing the "cable" , formed by this combination, through the extrusion die while extruding (preferably under pressure) the thermoplastic material to form layer 3, preferably selecting the temperature of the molten thermoplastic material, as well as the extrusion pressure and extrusion time, which cause softening (but not liquefaction) of the surface of the thermoplastic outer part of the core 1, while at the same time applying sufficient pressure to partially push the fiber optic wires onto the outer thermoplastic surface of the core 1 so that they are fixed in the surface of the core 1, with the subsequent curing of the thermoplastic material forming the layer 3 (while continuing to feed the core 1) , forming that how the main cable 10.

For further discussion of the main cable 10: FIG. 5 shows a side view of what is the production step of the main cable 10 of the most preferred embodiment of the high strength data cable according to the present invention (for example, the main cable which is the result of steps 1-4, especially the obligatory steps 1, 2 and 4, and preferably the optional step 3) and before enclosing the main cable within the flow shield or strength element, and of course any selected heating and stretching steps), where the thermoplastic material forming the core 1, as well as any thermoplastic material and / or elements forming the core 1 as well as the additional thermoplastic material forming layer 3 of the main cable are not shown in the figure, except for a peripheral contour of thermoplastic material forming layer 3 to make visible the helical fiber optic wires 2 which are completely enclosed in a hard, flexible thermoplastic material. Although in Fig. 5 shows three fiber optic wires, one is often preferred, although any number needed may be used. Accordingly, in FIG. 5 shows a main cable 10 containing an optical fiber wire 2 arranged in a helix and completely enclosed in a flexible solid material.

Having discussed the main cable 10 resulting from stages 1-4, we will continue to discuss the subsequent stages of production:

(e) Step 5: optional, and in the case where it is desired to heat and stretch the high strength data cable after adding the strength element, the subsequent step forms a flow shield 4 (see Fig. 6) around the main cable 10 (preferably immediately around an additional thermoplastic material forming a layer 3 located around the combination of the core 1 and fiber optic wires 2 spirally wound around the core);

(f) Step 6: forming the preferably braided layer 5 of the strength member sheath of polymeric material around the thermoplastic material forming layer 3 (see FIG. 1), or if the optional step of forming a flow shield 4 around layer 3 has been performed, then, a sheath layer of the strength element is formed around the flow protection screen by stretching all elements contained within the flow protection screen; while ensuring that the fiber optic wires remain intact, and thus forming the high strength data cable of the present invention.

The preferred construction for the sheath layer of the strength member is a hollow braided construction, preferably having an equal number of S and Z strands forming a hollow braid, with each main braid strand preferably having a flattened shape. Each such braid strand preferably has a width that is at least twice its height, especially when it is in the formed layer of the hollow braided sheath of the strength member. Each such braid strand preferably also consists of a plurality of filaments. Preferably, each such braid strand comprises two strands, each not braided or parallel laid, but preferably of a twisted/laid design, especially long twist and/or loose twist, in accordance with industry standards for loose twist for HMPE and/or another selected fiber. It is important and preferred that each such yarn be formed sufficiently loose, e.g. sufficiently loosely twisted/laid down, that the weaving tension applied by the weaving device deforms each such yarn into a flattened shape having a greater width compared to its height in the final sheath layer of the hollow braided power element. Thus, the braid strands take on a flattened shape with an aspect ratio greater than two to one. In other words, since there are at least two filaments forming each strand of braid forming the sheath layer of the strength element, and since each such filament has the same height and width as the other such filaments forming one braid strand, and since each such filament has a greater width compared to its height after the weaving process, the final braiding strand, which is formed from at least two strands, must elongate and/or define a flattened shape having a greater width than its height, where the width is twice or more height.

Contrary to the state of the art and the industry trend, the high-strength data cable of the present invention can be used in the state in which it is in the above step 6, preferably after applying a protective coating, which is adhered to the strength member with an elastic adhesive layer. However, this is undesirable. Most preferably, and contrary to the state of the art and the industry trend, the high strength data cable formed by the methods described in steps 1-6 above (and not having the adhesive layer 6 and outer cover 7) is further subjected to the steps of heating the high strength data cable, selected so that it is sufficient to preferably ensure the deformation of the thermoplastic layer 3 without changing the phase of the containing thermoplastic material of the core 1; and even more preferably, and also contrary to the state of the art and the industry trend, also without changing the phase of the layer 3 containing the thermoplastic material and/or the high-strength data cable (for example, so as to exclude the change in the phase of said thermoplastic from solid to molten and/or liquid), these steps being combined with the steps of stretching the cable by a predetermined amount to permanently elongate and permanently compact the sheath layer of the strength element and the main cable 10, especially so as to reduce its diameter, as well as the diameter and average thickness of the entire high-strength data cable ( without adhesive layer 6 and outer coating 7), followed by cooling the high-strength data cable (without its adhesive layer 6 and outer coating 7), preferably while maintaining sufficient tension on the cable to maintain its elongation and sealing, so that the combination of the outer part thermoplastic layer 3 in combination with a flow protection screen 4 pr has been shaped to conform to and support the natural interior cavity wall surface of the hollow braided strength element while maintaining a predetermined amount of elongation and compaction so as to continuously elongate and permanently seal and continuously reduce the diameter of the cable. Contrary to the state of the art and the industry trend, as shown in our previous patent applications, the heat, tension and time values in one preferred embodiment are preferably chosen to cause the combination of thermoplastic layer 3 and flow shield 4 to deform so that to adapt to the natural shape of the wall of the inner cavity of the hollow braided strength member 5, while most preferably: (i) without displacing the fiber optic wires 2; (ii) preventing the fiber optic wires 2 from being displaced in the material of the core 1 after the heating and stretching steps compared to their position before the heating and stretching steps; and (iii) preventing the fiber optic wires from intertwining with the core 1 compared to their position relative to the core 1 prior to the heating and stretching steps.

The next step in the production of a high-strength data cable can be to cover the sheath layer of the strength element with a protective coating 7, which is preferably glued to the sheath layer of the strength element with an elastic adhesive layer 6.

The high strength data cable thus formed of the present invention provides a much higher data signal quality and/or resolution than known high strength data cables, allowing the use of equipment that is currently in development but cannot be used with known high-strength data cables, and which allows the identification of fish species and distinguish between their sizes, thus avoiding the capture of non-target fish, as well as juvenile and small-sized fish, thus improving the health of fisheries, marine mammals and seabirds, as well as fishing communities that depend on them, while achieving the objectives of this disclosure.

Surprisingly and unexpectedly, by combining the steps of providing additional fixation between the core and the fiber optic wires helically wound around the core, that is, a stronger fixation than that obtained by spirally winding the fiber optic wires around the core 1, with the subsequent steps of arranging additional thermoplastic material 3 so as to completely enclose the helically wound fiber optic wires 2 within the thermoplastic material, where the thermoplastic core material 1 also forms the surface of the core 1 and is compatible and forms a tight and preferably inseparable bond with the thermoplastic material used to form the additional thermoplastic material layer 3, and preferably is the same material as the thermoplastic material of layer 3, followed by curing and/or cooling of layer 3, thus forming the main cable 10, followed by formation of a layer of layers of polymeric strength member, preferably HMPE fibers, around layer 3 (and optionally a flow barrier) so that even without thermal stretching with temperatures sufficient for the thermoplastic of one or both core 1 and layer 3 to reach the molten phase, a high-strength data cable with high signal resolution is formed.

The key step of providing additional fixation between the core 1 and the fiber optic wires helically wound around the core 1 can be done by any suitable method that prevents the fiber optic wire from sliding along the core 1, and especially by any suitable method that prevents the fiber optic wire from sliding along the core 1, and /or which retains the original helical shape of the fiber optic wires so that the helical shape of the fiber optic wires does not change during further processing steps including, but not limited to, the step of arranging additional thermoplastic material 3 around the fiber optic wires and core 1 to completely enclose the fiber optic wires inside thermoplastic material.

In other words, the fixation between the fiber optic wires and the core around which they are located is increased to provide greater resistance to slipping on the core and/or to helixing of the fiber wires than is provided by just having the fiber optic wires coiled around the core. Examples include:

1. placing a sticky substance, such as an adhesive, on the outer surface of the core before winding the fiber optic wires around the core in a helical fashion. The sticky substance could be disposed by passing the core through a bath of such a sticky substance that does not dry too quickly, or by spraying, rolling or brushing such a substance onto the core. This substance must be compatible with the molten phases of the thermoplastic selected for the thermoplastic core and for the additional thermoplastic material forming layer 3.

2. bonding the fiber optic wires to the core around which they are wound, for example by tying them in place with double-sided adhesive tape.

3. heating the fiber optic wires before wrapping them around the core so that the combination of their temperature and the tension on the fiber optic conductors as they are applied to the core causes them to extrude some of the material onto the surface of the core and form a recessed track, such as a groove on the surface of the core, within which is placed a at least a portion of the width of the helical fiber optic wires.

4. heating the core, or at least its surface, prior to the helical winding of the fiber optic wires around the core, such that the combination of heat and tension on the fiber optic wires as they are helically wound around the core causes the fiber optic wires to extrude some of the material onto the surface of the core and form a recessed track, such as a groove on the surface of the core, inside which is placed at least part of the width of each fiber optic wire.

5. Spraying or otherwise applying an adhesive to the fiber optic wires before wrapping them helically around the core so that they adhere to the core and resist movement along the length of the core.

6. Spraying or otherwise placing an adhesive on the combination of fiber optic wires and core after they are helically wound around the core so that the fiber optic wires become glued to the core and resist movement along it.

7. The presently preferred method of additional fixation between the core and the fiber optic wires wound helically around the core is to run the core, which already has the fiber optic wires coiled around it, through a heating element that uses heat such as radiant heat, at a temperature and duration of exposure sufficient to excite the (preferably thermoplastic) surface of the core, followed by the combination of core and fiber optic wires reaching a lower temperature than the temperature inside the heating element, and especially the temperature at which the thermoplastic is in the solid phase, followed by the placement of an additional thermoplastic material around the combination of the core and the fiber optic wires helically arranged around it.

After the step of providing additional fixation between the core and the fiber optic wires spiraled around it, the step of arranging additional thermoplastic material forming layer 3 around the combination of core 1 and the fiber optic wires spiraling around it is preferably carried out. Surprisingly and unexpectedly, it has been found that it is preferable to use a type of extrusion known as pressure extrusion to carry out this step. Once the additional thermoplastic material forming layer 3 has been positioned to completely enclose the fiber optic wires within the thermoplastic layer 3 and the thermoplastic at least the surface of the core 1, the next step is to form a flow shield around the thermoplastic layer 3, with subsequent steps the productions described above to form the shell layer of the strength element, the elastic adhesive layer and the protective coating.

Alternative Core Embodiments

Fig. 14 shows in perspective a cross section of an alternative main cable 110 of the present invention in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the alternative main cable 110. As shown, the alternative main cable 110 includes a variant of the main cable 10 that includes a coaxial cable 111 contained within the main cable. cable 10, and further includes a number of additional wires 112 that are enclosed in a rigid material 114, preferably a rigid thermoplastic material, which is preferably the same thermoplastic as layer 3 of the main cable 10. As shown, several additional wires 112 are located outside of the main cable 10. Most preferably, a flow shield 4 is formed around and covers the main cable 10, and most preferably, several additional wires 112 are located outside both the main cable 10 and the flow shield 4 that covers the main cable. Main cable 10. Several additional wires 112 are preferably laid in parallel around the main cable 10, but may be twisted.

The presently preferred method for forming an alternative main cable 110 includes the steps of:

A) providing a finished main cable 10, produced as described above, covered with a screen 4 to protect against flow;

B) providing multiple rods 116, where each rod contains a wire 112, enclosed in a rigid material 114, which is preferably the same thermoplastic material as layer 3, and where each rod 116 is covered with a screen 117 to protect against flow, which is preferably formed of tightly woven polyester fibers and/or filaments, which are preferably woven into a hollow braid, but can also be any layer that stops and/or substantially prevents the passage of molten (e.g. "semi-liquid") phases of the thermoplastic material through the screen to protect against flow;

C) arranging the desired number of rods 116, preferably in parallel, around the main cable 10, thereby forming an alternative main cable 110; And

D) the location of the flow shield 4A around the main cable 110, where the flow shield 4A is preferably formed from tightly woven polyester fibers and/or filaments, which are preferably woven into a hollow braid, but can also be any layer that stops And/or mainly prevents the passage of molten (for example, “half -life”) phases of thermoplastic material through the screen to protect against the flow.

Although the rods 116 can have any cross -sectional form, it is currently preferable that the 116 rods themselves are formed in such a way as to have a conical form of 118 cross section (if you look in the plane perpendicular to the long size of any such rod 116), such as, for example,, for example,, for example, truncated wedge to facilitate their positioning when laid in parallel around the main cable 10.

Preferably, each wire 112 is connected to a strength member (not shown) prior to being sheathed and/or another layer of thermoplastic material, such as by being attached to a fiber and/or strand of HMPE or aramid, such as being formed into a hollow copper braid. and/or other metal filaments around the strength element, where such strength element preferably has a higher softening temperature and/or fracture temperature compared to the rigid material 114.

After the flow shield 4A is formed around the outside of the alternative main cable 110, the rest of the manufacturing processes described above, which occur after the formation of the flow shield 4 of the main cable 10, are carried out in a similar manner for the alternative main cable 110, to obtain an alternative cable according to the present invention, which can, for example, be used as a complete cable for connecting floating vessels with kites, which are used on such vessels as a sail.

Ways to use

With reference to FIG. 11: In order to use the high strength data cable of the present invention, it must be connected to an interrogator or other equipment such as a sonar by exposing the fiber optic connectors. This can advantageously be done firstly by removing parts of the cover 7, the adhesive layer 6, the strength member 5 and the flow protection screen 4, so that the main cable 10 then protrudes outwards and/or protrudes from the surface 44 formed by the cut edges of the cover. , adhesive layer, strength element and screen for protection against flow; secondly, by heating the outer surface of the layer 3 of the protruding part of the main cable 10 (preferably its farthest end 51), which, for example, can be done by directing a stream of heated air from an air gun to a part of the fiber optic wire visible through a preferably translucent thermoplastic layer 3 forming the outer surface of the main cable 10 for a time sufficient to soften the thermoplastic material in direct contact with the selected part of the fiber optic wire; then removing the fiber optic wire from layer 3, which can be done by probing along it with pointed pliers or tweezers and then grasping the fiber optic wire at its distal end 61; followed by carefully tearing off the selected fiber optic wire from the softened thermoplastic layer 3 of the main cable 10; followed by suspending and heating the next area of the thermoplastic layer 3 of the main cable 10, which is outside the remaining parts of the selected fiber optic wire in the sheath; and then continuing to remove the selected fiber optic wire from the main cable 10 until it is exposed and pulled out of the main cable 10 long enough to be connected to another fiber optic wire that connects the fiber optic wire forming a high-strength data cable, with other fiber optic wires connecting to other equipment. When the data cable also includes a coaxial cable or a power wire, it is also released from the main cable 10 as shown in FIG. 11 to make it available for connection with other equipment.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The cable for transmitting data in the present invention can be used as a cable of the upper selection watercress, and can also be used for connection and communication, and in the presence of a metal power wire 21 and supply to the watercolor blocks located in other areas of the trawl in addition to the upper selection, And it can, for example, serve as a watercolor cable for watercress blocks installed on the middle part of the trawl, a bag or a motor/puppet of trawl. The data cable can also be deployed from the main line reels of the trawler and serve a dual purpose, such as a trawl line as well as a top line sonar cable, and thus, for example, communicate with a top line sonar or other device in the fishing gear via the trawl line. , and not through a specialized headline sonar cable.

The data cable of the present invention can also serve as a high-strength data cable for trawl lines, and thus, for example, communicate with a top line sonar or other device in fishing gear through the trawl line, rather than through a specialized improved crush-resistant high resolution power and fiber cable, which can also be used as a towline, deep water winch, crane line, seismic line, deep water mooring, downhole line, tether or ROV line, ultra-wide-angle seismic camera or carrier cable for data and/or power transmission, a feeder cable for towed seismic arrays and/or a power cable. When used as a wellbore line and/or a cable in the wellbore, it is expected that it would be advantageous to make the final outer covering of the laid steel wire to armor the cable. However, in most other applications, the braided coating described above is expected to be most useful. When used as a seismic ultra-wide angle camera or as a crane wire, or in any application requiring thermal resistance, including cable in a wellbore, it is expected to be beneficial that the strength member be formed from a hollow 24-strand braided structure, which is counter to with the state of the art and the industry trend where the 2x24 strand design is considered most useful, or even more preferably the 3x24 strand design, where each of the 24 strands is formed from a strand of aramid that is enclosed within a sheath of HMPE or PTFE or polyester and then these strands are woven together into a hollow braided 24-strand strength member, which is preferably a strand construction of at least 2x24 or 3x24. When used in any application requiring thermal stability, heat detection, elongation detection or break detection, or detection of the region of the cable responsible for the failure of any of the cable's ability to transmit data and/or power, it is expected to be useful that an improved high-strength, lightweight, crush-resistant power fiber optic The high resolution cable of the present invention contains, for its optical fibers, fibers of a type that can be used with interrogators that read and interpret Brillouin scatter and/or Raman backscatter wavelengths, and in particular with optical fibers capable of transmitting accurately interpreted Brillouin wavelengths and/or Raman backscattering wavelengths so that elongation and/or heating of the optical fibers can be controlled in any region along the length of the optical fiber. Thus, by passing light through optical fibers in such a way that Brillouin and/or Raman backscatter can be read, and Brillouin and/or Raman wavelengths can be interpreted with a suitable interrogator, stretching and/or heating at specific positions can be determined. along the monitored optical fiber, and thus the elongation of the cable can be determined at specific positions along its length; and thus the elongation of the strength element of the cable, as well as its temperature, can be determined at specific positions along the cable; and in this way it is possible to determine the integrity of the strength element of the cable, and also to determine whether the cable is suitable for continuous use in a particular application, or it is better to replace it. It is important to note that previous attempts to use Brillouin and/or Raman backscattering wavelengths to track the elongation and/or heating of optical fibers in any region along their length and/or the length of a cable containing optical fibers have failed and the prior art has not proposed the design and method of the data cable according to the present invention. It is important to note that there has long been a belief and trend in the industry to minimize the bending of fiber optic wires contained within cables of any type, including but not limited to yacht cables, including the use of such fiber optic wires to control heat and/or elongate both fiber optic wires and cables containing them. This goes against the current state of the art as well as the industry trend and conventional wisdom that a helical fiber optic wire used to form a cable core in accordance with the methods and construction described herein can transmit high resolution data signals. The fact that the cable of the present invention functions in this way goes against the prevailing beliefs in the industry.

Thus, the present invention is also based on an amazing and unexpected discovery that by forming a cable to transmit data using a process that includes stages:

hanging in flexible solid material at least one and preferably two fiber -optic wires that determine the spiral (or, alternatively, determining the double spiral; or, in the case of three or more optical wires that determine other spiral forms) to form the main cable formed by the combination ( i) fiber -optic wires that determine the spiral (and/or double spiral or other spiral); and (II) flexible solid material, inside which the fiber -optic wires that determine the spiral are suspended (and preferably completely concluded), and using the main cable as a supporting core for (preferably wicker) a power element formed from polymer material, and preferably where the main cable is the main cable Supports the natural shape of the inner cavity of the table, so that the temperature and lengthening of the cable can be controlled using the following stages:

a) selecting fiber optic wires capable of transmitting Brillouin and/or Raman backscatter wavelengths;

b) passing light through optical fibers in such a way that the lengths of the waves of Brilluan and/or reverse Raman scattering can be read;

c) interpreting the Brillouin and/or Raman wavelengths with a suitable interrogator to determine elongation and/or heating at specific locations along the optical fiber or fibers to be monitored;

d) correlations of particular positions along the optical fiber or fibers controlled by the specific locations along the length of the data cable containing the optical fiber or fibers; and corresponding to specific positions along the controlled optical fiber or fibers;

thus determining the elongation of the strength element of the cable, as well as its temperature at said specific positions along the cable.

Then, for or in determining the integrity of the cable strength member, the next step is to correlate the known elongation and heating values for the cable strength member with data points indicating that the strength member is either safe to use or should be replaced.

Alternatively, but less desirable, it is contemplated useful that the cable of the present invention comprise, as its optical fibers, optical fibers with fiber optic Bragg grating, in which there are several different Bragg grating structures in one fiber, corresponding to different locations along the length of the optical fiber and reflecting the wavelength And/or wavelengths that differ from some, all or most of the other drawings of the Bragg grille in other places along the length of the optical fiber, and thus along the entire length of the cable. The placement of a fiber with a Bragg grill in a spiral structure and suspension and/or the conclusion of such an optical fiber into a rigid material in a load -bearing cable is contrary to a modern level of technology and an industry trend, and suddenly allows for useful monitoring of heat, lengthening and deformation using the rest of the well -known methods .

Although the present invention was described in terms of the preferred embodiment, it should be understood that such disclosure is purely illustrative and should not be interpreted as limiting. Consequently, without deviations from the spirit and the area of the present invention, various alterations, modifications and/or alternative applications of the present invention can be implemented by specialists in this field of technology after reading the previous disclosure. Accordingly, it is assumed that the attached formula of the invention covers all such alterations, modifications or alternative applications that correspond to the true spirit and the area of coverage of the present invention.

Claims (9)

1. The production process of a data cable, containing the steps: (i) arranging in a helical manner at least one fiber optic wire (2) around a core (1) containing a thermoplastic material forming the surface of the core (1); (ii) then positioning additional thermoplastic material (3) around the combination of core (1) and fiber optic wire (2) which is helically positioned around core (1) so as to completely enclose the fiber optic wire within the thermoplastic material; (iii) then curing the thermoplastic materials in order to form the main cable (10); (iv) then forming a screen (4) to protect against flow around the main cable (10); (v) then forming a hollow braided strength element containing a synthetic material around the main cable, covered with a screen to protect against flow; followed by tensioning the resulting cable and heating sufficient to ensure permanent deformation of the thermoplastic material constituting the layer (3), without destroying the structural integrity of the layer (3), as well as to enable the extension and compaction of the resulting cable and the strength element containing the said resulting cable; (VI) Then the determination that the desired extension and compaction of the resulting cable and the power element containing the indicated cable is achieved, followed by the cooling of the resulting cable to the ambient temperature while maintaining the tension of the cable. 2. Process according to claim 1, further comprising selecting a temperature for heating the thermoplastic layer (3), which allows the thermoplastic layer (3) to be deformed without causing a phase change of the layer (3) containing the thermoplastic material. 3. Process according to claim 1, further comprising selecting a temperature for heating the thermoplastic layer (3), which allows the thermoplastic layer (3) to be deformed while keeping the thermoplastic material (3) in the solid phase.

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