Electromagnetic and anti-ballistic shielded cable

Abstract

In general, aspects of this invention relate to electrical cables and, in particular, to a cable with electromagnetic and/or anti-ballistic shielding. According to one aspect, a cable may comprise: a conductor; a continuous metallic sheath surrounding the conductor; and a supplemental sheath layer surrounding the metallic sheath. According to another aspect, a cable may comprise: a conductor; an armor layer surrounding the conductor; a fabric layer surrounding the conductor; and a polymer layer surrounding the conductor. According to yet another aspect, a cable may comprise: a conductor; an inner synthetic strength member surrounding the conductor; a polymer compound positioned between the conductor and the inner synthetic strength member; a polymer layer surrounding the inner synthetic strength member; an armor layer surrounding the polymer layer; an outer synthetic strength member surrounding the armor layer; and a polyolefin layer surrounding the outer synthetic strength member.

Claims

1. A cable comprising: a. one or more conductors surrounded by an inner synthetic strength member, wherein the one or more conductors and the inner synthetic strength member define a plurality of interstitial spaces filled with an extended polymer compound and located between the one or more conductors; b. a continuous metallic sheath surrounding the inner synthetic strength member and the one or more conductors, wherein the extended polymer compound provides energy absorbing homogeneous foamed layers of various polymers to the cable; and c. an outer synthetic strength layer surrounding the metallic sheath, the inner synthetic strength member and the outer synthetic strength layer made of an anti-ballistic material, wherein the cable with the layering of the continuous metallic sheath, the energy absorbing inner synthetic strength member and outer synthetic strength layer, and the energy absorbing homogeneous foamed layers of various polymers provide electromagnetic shielding without joints, seams, or cracks.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein the outer synthetic strength layer includes a copper mesh material.

3. The cable of claim 1, wherein the outer synthetic strength layer includes aluminum polyester tape.

4. The cable of claim 1, wherein the continuous metallic sheath is made of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum and copper.

5. The cable of claim 1, wherein the continuous metallic sheath has a thickness ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

6. The cable of claim 1 further comprising a high-density polyolefin layer as an outer-most layer.

7. A cable comprising: a. one or more conductors surrounded by an inner synthetic strength member, wherein the one or more conductors and the inner synthetic strength member define a plurality of interstitial spaces filled with an extended polymer compound and located between the one or more conductors; b. an armor layer surrounding the inner synthetic strength member and the one or more conductors, wherein the extended polymer compound provides energy absorbing homogeneous foamed layers of various polymers to the cable; c. a synthetic fabric strength layer surrounding the armor layer, the inner synthetic strength member and the synthetic fabric strength layer made of an anti-ballistic material; and d. a polymer layer surrounding the inner synthetic strength member, wherein the cable with the layering of the armor layer, the energy absorbing inner synthetic strength member and synthetic fabric strength layer, and the energy absorbing homogeneous foamed layers of various polymers provide electromagnetic shielding without joints, seams, or cracks.

8. The cable of claim 7, wherein the polymer compound is extruded between the one or more conductors and the inner synthetic strength member.

9. The cable of claim 7 further comprising a high-density polyolefin layer as an outer-most layer.

10. The cable of claim 7, wherein the synthetic fabric strength layer includes a copper mesh material.

11. The cable of claim 7, wherein the synthetic fabric strength layer includes aluminum polyester tape.

12. The cable of claim 7, wherein the armor layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum and copper.

13. The cable of claim 7, wherein the armor layer has a thickness ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

14. A cable comprising: a. one or more conductors; b. an inner synthetic strength member surrounding the one or more conductors, wherein the one or more conductors and the inner synthetic strength member define a plurality of interstitial spaces located between the one or more conductors; c. an extended polymer compound extruded to fill the plurality of interstitial spaces, wherein the extended polymer compound provides energy absorbing homogeneous foamed layers of various polymers to the cable; d. a polymer layer surrounding the inner synthetic strength member; e. an armor layer surrounding the polymer layer; f. an outer synthetic strength member surrounding the armor layer, the inner synthetic strength member and the outer synthetic strength member made of an anti-ballistic material; and g. a polyolefin layer surrounding the outer synthetic strength member, wherein the cable with the layering of the armor layer, the energy absorbing inner synthetic strength member and outer synthetic strength member, and the energy absorbing homogeneous foamed layers of various polymers provide electromagnetic shielding without joints, seams, or cracks.

15. The cable of claim 14, wherein the polyolefin layer is a high-density polyolefin.

16. The cable of claim 14, wherein the polymer compound between the one or more conductors and the inner synthetic strength member is extruded.

17. The cable of claim 14, wherein the outer synthetic strength layer includes a copper mesh material.

18. The cable of claim 14, wherein the outer synthetic strength layer includes aluminum polyester tape.

19. The cable of claim 14, wherein the armor layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum and copper.

20. The cable of claim 14, wherein the armor layer has a thickness ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A more complete understanding of the present invention and certain advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following detailed description in consideration with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the cable of the present invention.

(3) The reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) In the following description of various example structures in accordance with the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example adjustment members, golf club heads, and golf club structures in accordance with the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts and structures may be utilized, and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional or spatial orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention.

(5) For anti-ballistic capability, the design of the cable depends on a layering of different impact absorbing materials including, but not limited to armor (aluminum or steel), energy absorbing fabric and energy absorbing homogeneous or foamed layers of various polymers. The materials are laid up in various combinations and permutations including, but not limited to, those illustrated and described below.

(6) An embodiment of the cable of the present invention is indicated in general at 10 in FIG. 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, three bundles of power conductors 12a, 12b and 12c are surrounded by an inner synthetic strength member 14. It is to be understood that while three power conductor bundles 12a, 12b and 12c are illustrated, the cable may include a larger or smaller number of cables and the bundle(s) of power conductors may include a number of individual wires different from the number illustrated. The spaces between the power conductor bundles 12a, 12b and 12c and the synthetic case member is filled with an extended polymer compound 16. A polymer layer 18 surrounds the synthetic case member. An armor layer 22, which is preferably steel, aluminum or copper, is encased between the polymer layer 18 and an outer synthetic strength member 24. The inner and outer synthetic case members 14 and 24 may be constructed from, as examples only, Kevlar. An outermost layer 26 is preferably constructed from a high-density polyolefin.

(7) The order and number of layers presented in FIG. 1 may be varied.

(8) In addition to, or alternatively, embodiments of cable systems of the present invention are designed to mitigate or eliminate the transfer of magnetic fields in either direction with respect to the cable core. In other words, the cables are electromagnetic pulse (EMP) shielded.

(9) In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a cable system (cable, fitting, accessories and preparation) provides proper electromagnetic pulse (EMP) shielding without joints, seams or cracks that would otherwise allow the propagation of magnetic fields. In addition, some embodiments provide proper grounding to allow any induced signal a low resistance path to ground.

(10) In some embodiments, the cable is completely covered in a continuous sheath of metal, such as armor layer 22 of FIG. 1. The sheath is continuous in that it is without joints, seams or cracks. In addition, the sheath is of substantial thickness for cable integrity and to provide enough cross sectional area to provide a low resistance path to ground. As an example only, the sheath may be 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm thick. The cable is terminated with a connector that provides 360 degree grounding to the sheath and the connection shall be made with a special conductive paste to enhance the grounding affects.

(11) In alternative embodiments, the cable may include an additional or supplemental sheath layer (in addition to armor layer 22) over the core of the cable made of a material such as, for example, copper mesh or aluminum polyester tape.

(12) While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

CONCLUSION

(13) While the invention has been described in detail in terms of specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and methods. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.