Power supply cable for planes on the ground

Abstract

A flexible electric cable for the electric power supply of planes on the ground is subjected to an unspooling and spooling process, the cable having a conductor layout including a plurality of insulated energy supply conductors which are arranged concentrically with respect to a longitudinal central axis of the generally circular in cross-section cable, several insulated neutral conductors which are arranged concentrically with respect to the central axis, and several insulated control conductors which are arranged concentrically with respect to the central axis. A non-metallic, tension- and compression-resistant support member is disposed at the center of the cable, which support member extends over the length of the cable. At least the energy supply conductors include CCA wires having a copper content of at least 15%.

Claims

1. A flexible electric cable for the electric power supply of planes on the ground, wherein the cable is subjected to an unspooling and spooling process, the cable having a conductor layout comprising a plurality of insulated energy supply conductors arranged concentrically with respect to a longitudinal central axis of the generally circular in cross-section cable, a plurality of insulated neutral conductors arranged concentrically with respect to the central axis, and a plurality of insulated control conductors arranged concentrically with respect to the central axis, wherein there is a non-metallic, tension- and compression-resistant support member disposed at the center of the cable, wherein said support member extends over the length of the cable, wherein at least the energy supply conductors comprise CCA (copper clad aluminum) wires having a copper content of at least 15%, and wherein the neutral conductors each comprise a centrally disposed, tension- and compression-resistant element made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material.

2. The cable according to claim 1, wherein also the neutral conductors comprise CCA wires having a copper content of at least 15%.

3. The cable according to claim 1, wherein the energy supply conductors and the neutral conductors comprise a cross-linked insulation material.

4. The cable according to claim 1, wherein the energy supply conductors and the neutral conductors comprise a wrapping comprising a slippery foil.

5. The cable according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of control conductors comprise a plurality of quads, each quad formed by four control conductors stranded together, and wherein a wrapping of slippery foil is wound over the quad.

6. A flexible electric cable for the electric power supply of planes on the ground, wherein the cable is subjected to an unspooling and spooling process, the cable having a conductor layout comprising a plurality of insulated energy supply conductors arranged concentrically with respect to a longitudinal central axis of the generally circular in cross-section cable, a plurality of insulated neutral conductors arranged concentrically with respect to the central axis, and a plurality of insulated control conductors arranged concentrically with respect to the central axis, wherein there is a non-metallic, tension- and compression-resistant support member disposed at the center of the cable, wherein said support member extends over the length of the cable, wherein at least the energy supply conductors comprise CCA (copper clad aluminum) wires having a copper content of at least 15%, and wherein the support element, disposed centrally in the cable, comprises a fiber-reinforced plastic material and a wrapping of slippery foil.

7. The cable according to claim 6, wherein the wrapping of slippery foil comprises non-sintered polytetrafluoroethylene foil.

8. A flexible electric cable for the electric power supply of planes on the ground, wherein the cable is subjected to an unspooling and spooling process, the cable having a conductor layout comprising a plurality of insulated energy supply conductors arranged concentrically with respect to a longitudinal central axis of the generally circular in cross-section cable, a plurality of insulated neutral conductors arranged concentrically with respect to the central axis, and a plurality of insulated control conductors arranged concentrically with respect to the central axis, wherein there is a non-metallic, tension- and compression-resistant support member disposed at the center of the cable, wherein said support member extends over the length of the cable, wherein at least the energy supply conductors comprise CCA (copper clad aluminum) wires having a copper content of at least 15%, wherein the cable comprises a thermoplastic elastomer inner sheath and a thermoplastic elastomer outer sheath, and wherein an anti-torsional protective mesh comprising high strength synthetic fibers is disposed between the two sheaths.

9. The cable according to claim 8, wherein the high strength synthetic fibers are spun from liquid-crystal polymers produced by polycondensation of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 6-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid.

10. The cable according to claim 8, wherein the inner sheath is glued to the outer sheath.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

(2) In the drawings,

(3) The sole FIGURE shows a cross section through a flexible electric cable according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) In the following the invention is described with reference to an embodiment shown schematically in the drawing.

(5) The sole FIGURE shows a cross section through a flexible electric cable 10 for the power supply of planes on the ground, where the cable is subjected to unspooling and spooling before and after each deployment. The cable has a conductor layout comprising a plurality of insulated energy supply conductors 12 which are arranged concentrically with respect to a longitudinal central axis of the generally circular in cross-section cable 10, a plurality of insulated neutral conductors 18 which are arranged concentrically with respect to the central axis, and a plurality of insulated control conductors 16 which are arranged concentrically with respect to the central axis. In the center of the cable 10 there is a non-metallic, tension- and compression-resistant support member 20 which extends over the length of the cable. At least the energy supply conductors 12 comprise CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum) wires having a copper content of at least 15%. The neutral conductors 18 also comprise CCA wires having a copper content of at least 15%. Further, the neutral conductors 18 each comprise a centrally disposed, tension- and compression-resistant element 20 made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material.

(6) The energy supply conductors 12 and the neutral conductors 18 comprise a cross-linked insulation material, for example cross-linked polyethylene. Additionally, the energy supply conductors 12 and the neutral conductors 18 comprise a wrapping consisting of a slippery foil, for example non-sintered PTFE.

(7) The support element 20, disposed centrally in the cable 10 and made of fiber-reinforced plastic material, comprises a wrapping of slippery foil, for example non-sintered PTFE foil.

(8) Four control conductors 16 at a time are stranded to form a quad, and comprise a wrapping of slippery foil, for example non-sintered PTFE foil.

(9) The cable 10 comprises a TPE inner sheath 22 and a TPE outer sheath 24, and an anti-torsional protective mesh consisting of high strength synthetic fibers, for example a mesh made of Vectran fibers, is disposed between the two sheaths. The inner sheath 22 is glued to the outer sheath 24.

(10) Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.