CABLE FOR A SYSTEM FOR CONDUCTING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRICAL ENERGY AND FOR PROVIDING A FAST DATA-CONDUCTING COMMUNICATION LINK

Abstract

In order to provide a cable for a system for conducting and distributing electrical energy and for providing a fast data-conducting communication link, with which high data transmission rates can also be realized in a future-proof manner, and which can be easily used in a system for conducting and distributing electrical energy and for providing a fast data-conducting communication link, a cable is proposed for a system for conducting and distributing electrical energy and for providing a fast data-conducting communication link, comprising a sheathing, wherein at least one electrical line and an optical conductor are embedded in the sheathing, and wherein the cable has a cross-section with a one-fold rotational symmetry.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. A cable for a system for conducting and distributing electrical energy and for providing a fast data-conducting communication link, comprising a sheathing, characterized in that at least one electrical line and an optical conductor are embedded in the sheathing, and that the cable has a cross-section with a one-fold rotational symmetry.

24. The cable according to claim 23, characterized in that the cross-section is an n-polygonal cross-section.

25. The cable according to claim 23, characterized in that the cross-section is arrowed or arrow-shaped.

26. The cable according to claim 23, is characterized in that the sheathing has a cavity, wherein the cavity is arranged running over an entire length of the cable.

27. The cable according to claim 26, characterized in that the optical conductor is arranged in the cavity, in that the optical conductor is, in particular completely, distanced from a wall of the cavity, and/or that the optical conductor is preferably arranged centrally in the cavity.

28. The cable according to claim 26, characterized in that positioning means are arranged in the cavity for positioning the optical conductor in the cavity.

29. The cable according to claim 23, characterized in that at least two, preferably at least three electrical lines are provided, and/or in that at least one electrical line consists of copper, and/or in that the optical conductor is a glass fiber, and/or that the optical conductor has a diameter between 50 μm and 200 μm, preferably between 100 μm and 150 μm, particularly preferably between 120 μm and 130 μm, and/or that the cavity has a diameter between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, preferably between 0.7 mm and 0.9 mm, particularly preferably of 0.7 mm, and/or that the optical conductor is a multimode conductor or a single mode conductor.

30. A connection device, in particular terminal, for a cable according to claim 23, comprising a receiving area, at least one internal line and a contact bridge with at least one electrically conductive section, wherein the contact bridge is designed to electrically connect in an activated state the at least one internal line to the at least one electrical line of a section of the cable arrangeable or arranged in the receiving area, and to disconnect in a deactivated state the electrical connection, characterized in that the receiving area is configured to receive any section of the cable, or wherein the receiving area has a contact element for contacting the optical conductor of the cable and is exclusively configured to receive one end of the cable.

31. The connection device according to claim 30, characterized in that the contact bridge is arranged pivotable and/or movable on the connection device, and/or is insertable into the connection device, wherein the contact bridge is configured to be pivoted, displaced or inserted into the connection device for activation in such a way that the at least one electrically conductive section penetrates the sheathing of a cable arranged in the receiving area and/or penetrates the sheathing and makes contact with the at least one electrical line of the cable.

32. The connection device according to claim 30, characterized in that the connection device, in particular the contact bridge, are designed in such a way that the optical conductor is not damaged when the contact bridge is activated.

33. The connection device according to claim 30, characterized in that the contact element projects into the receiving region.

34. The connection device according to claim 30, characterized in that the contact element is in the form of a pipe.

35. The connection device according to claim 30, characterized in that the contact element has a funnel-shaped insertion area.

36. The connection device according to claim 30, characterized in that a locking device is provided, which is designed to prevent the activation of the contact bridge as long as an end of the cable is not completely arranged in the receiving area.

37. A distribution device comprising at least two, preferably at least three connection devices according to claim 30, wherein the internal lines of at least two of the connection devices are electrically connected to each other, and/or wherein the contact elements of at least two of the connection devices are connected to each other.

38. The cable according to claim 24, characterized in that n is greater than or equal to 4, preferably greater than or equal to 6, in further preferably greater than or equal to 8.

39. The cable according to claim 26, is characterized in that the cavity is formed tubular, pipe-like or channel-like, or wherein the cavity is a tube, a pipe or a channel, wherein the cavity most particularly has a rectangular or round or oval, in particular elliptical, cross-section.

40. The cable according to claim 28, characterized in that the positioning means comprise a thread or a foil or a membrane.

41. The connection device according to claim 30, characterized in that the contact element has an interior into which the optical conductor can be inserted for contacting.

42. The connection device according to claim 30, characterized in that the interior of the contact element is filled with a, preferably nondrying, optical gel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0121] Various embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. They show:

[0122] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a cable with electrical lines and an optical conductor,

[0123] FIG. 2 a perspective representation of a distribution device,

[0124] FIG. 3 a cross-sectional view of a distribution device with connection devices arranged in the interior,

[0125] FIG. 4 a perspective side view of a distribution device with a receiving area

[0126] FIG. 5 a perspective view of a receiving area with a contact element,

[0127] FIG. 6 a perspective view of a further distribution device in an open state

[0128] FIG. 7 a perspective view of the further distribution device with a cable inserted into the distribution device,

[0129] FIG. 8 a perspective view of a closed distribution device with a cable

[0130] FIG. 9 a schematic diagram of a system for conducting and distributing electrical power and providing a fast data-conducting communication link,

[0131] FIG. 10 a device for cutting a cable with electrical lines and an optical conductor,

[0132] FIG. 11 a device for cutting a cable to length with the cable arranged in a cable receptable,

[0133] FIG. 12 a cross-sectional view of a cable,

[0134] FIG. 13 a device for cutting a cable to length according to a first process step for cutting a cable,

[0135] FIG. 14 a device for cutting a cable to length according to a second step for cutting a cable, an

[0136] FIG. 15 a device for cutting a cable to length after a third process step for for cutting a cable.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0137] FIG. 1 shows a cable 100 for a system 400 for conducting and distributing electrical power and for providing a fast, data-conducting communication link (FIG. 9). The cable 100 comprises a sheathing 10 and electrical lines embedded in the sheathing 11. In addition, in the sheathing 10, an optical conductor 12 is embedded. The cable 100 has a cross-section 13 with a one-fold rotational symmetry. In the case shown, the cross-section 13 is a hexagonal cross-section 13. The hexagonal cross-section 13 has an arrowed or arrow-shaped form. The arrowed or arrow-shaped cross section 13 is formed by two parallel long sides 14a, 14b. At the ends, two short sides 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d each run between the long sides 14a, 14b, which have an outwardly directed tip 16a on one side of the cross-section 13 and an inwardly directed tip 16b on the opposite side.

[0138] In the region of the outwardly directed tip 16a of the cross-section 13, a cavity 17 is arranged which extends along the entire length of the cable 100. Alternatively, and in some applications preferred, the cavity 17 can be arranged centrally in the cross-section 13 of the cable 100. The cavity 17 is tubular, pipe-like or channel-like in shape and has a circular cross-section. The optical conductor 12 is centrally located in the cavity 17 and is fully spaced apart from a wall 18 of the cavity 17 arranged. In order to position the optical conductor 12, positioning means 19 are provided in the form of four thin membranes 20 which project radially inwards from the wall 18 of the cavity. The optical conductor 12 is positioned at the point of contact of the membranes 20. The optical conductor 12 is formed as a glass fiber 21 and can be a multimode conductor or a single-mode conductor. The electrical lines embedded in the sheathing 10, are made of copper and run in the cable 100 essentially parallel to each other.

[0139] The electrical lines 11 have an elongated cross-section with a substantially rectangular basic shape, wherein the upper sides 22a and bottom sides 22b of the electrical lines 11 are rounded. The optical conductor 12 has a diameter of about 125 μm, and the diameter of the cavity 17 is about 0.7 mm. The sheathing 10 consists of a plastic material. The electrical lines 11 are designed in particular for the transmission of electrical energy. Due to the optical conductor 12, the cable 100 can furthermore be used for transmitting data at high transmission rates for a fast data-conducting communication link.

[0140] FIG. 2 shows a distribution device 200 with a basic housing 23 and a lid-like upper part of the housing 24. Four connection devices 300 (FIG. 3) are arranged inside the distribution device 200, as described below and not completely visible in FIG. 2.

[0141] The connection devices 300 each comprise a contact bridge 25a, 25b, which can be guided from the outside through openings 26 provided for this purpose in the upper part of the housing 24 and inserted into the associated connection device 300 arranged inside the distribution device 200. Each of the connection devices 300 comprises a receiving area 27, into each of which one end 28 of a previously described cable 100 can be inserted through an insertion opening 29.

[0142] The insertion openings 29 each have a cross-section which corresponds to the cross-section 13 of the cable 100. FIG. 2 shows how an end 28 of a cable 100 is inserted into one of the receiving areas 27.

[0143] The contact bridge 25a of the connection device 300, into which the end 28 of the cable 100 is inserted, is shown in FIG. 2 in an activated state, in which the contact bridge 25a is fully inserted into the associated connection device 300 through the opening 26 in the upper part of the housing 24. The remaining three contact bridges 25b are shown in a deactivated state. The cable 100 is partially stripped to reveal the electrical line 11.

[0144] FIG. 3 shows the distribution device 200 of FIG. 2 in a cross-sectional view without the upper part of the housing 24. The connection devices 300 are arranged in an interior 30 of the distribution device 200 wherein connection devices 300 are arranged. Each of the connection devices 300 has a receiving 27 for an end 28 of a cable 100, wherein each receiving area 27 can exclusively receive the end 28 of the cable 100. Each contact bridge 25a, 25b has electrically conductive sections 31 which can be inserted into correspondingly configured openings 32, in the respective corresponding connection device 300, from above. The electrically conductive sections 31 are designed in such a way that when the contact bridge 25a, 25b is inserted into the sheathing 10 of the end 28 of the cable 100 arranged in the receiving area 27, they penetrate the sheathing 10 and contact at least one electrical line 11 of the cable. On the bottom 33 of the distribution device 200, internal lines 34 of the connection devices 300 are arranged, which electrically connect the connection devices 300 to each other.

[0145] In the activated state, inserted into the respective connection device 300, the electrically conductive sections 31 of the contact bridges 25a, 25b also contact the internal lines 34, so that an electrical contact is established between the electrical lines 11 of the cables 100 and the internal lines 34. Electrical energy can thus be transmitted from a cable 100, inserted into the end of a first connection device 300, to the further connection devices 300 and further cables 100 inserted therein. The electrical sections 31 of the contact bridges 25a, 25b are designed in such a way that when the respective contact bridge 25a, 25b is activated, the optical conductor 12 arranged in the cable 100 is not damaged. In two of the shown connection devices 300, a contact element 35 is arranged in the receiving area 27 for contacting the optical conductor 12 of an inserted cable 100. The contact elements 35 of the connection devices 300 are connected to each other via an optical conducting agent 36, so that optical signals from the optical conductor 12 of a first cable can be conducted via the contact elements 35 and the optical conducting agent 36 into a second (not shown) cable 100. The two contact elements 35 and the optical conducting agent 36 can also be formed, for example, as a pipe.

[0146] Each of the connection devices further comprises a locking device 37, wherein each locking device 37 includes two spring-loaded safety bars 38. The safety bars 38 prevent the insertion and consequently activation of the contact bridges 25a, 25b as long as no cable 100 is completely inserted into the receiving area 27. When inserting a cable 100, the safety bars 38 are displaced against the spring force by contact with the end 28 of the cable 100. Once the cable 100 is fully inserted into the receiving area 27, the contact bridge 25a, 25b can be inserted and activated. Due to the use of two safety bars 38 per locking device 37, the activation of the contact bridge 25a, 25b can be prevented even if the cable 100 is cut at an angle.

[0147] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the distribution device 200. The insertion opening 29 of the receiving area 27 is shown. The insertion opening 29 has a shape corresponding to the cross-section 13 of the cable 100. In the receiving area 27, the safety bars 38 of the locking device 37 are recognizable. In addition, the contact element 35 for contacting the optical conductor 12 of the cable 100 is visible.

[0148] FIG. 5 shows the contact element 35 in an enlargement of the receiving area 27. The contact element 35 is essentially formed as a pipe 39 and protrudes about 2 mm into the receiving area 27. The contact element 35 comprises a funnel-shaped insertion area 40. When the end 28 of the cable 100 is inserted into the receiving area 27, the contact element 35 penetrates at least partially into the cavity 17 of the cable 100 (FIG. 1, FIG. 3). At the same time, the optical conductor 12 arranged in the cavity 17 is guided along the funnel-shaped insertion area 40 of the contact element 35 and centered in the contact element 35. A non-drying optical gel 41 is provided inside the contact element 35, so that a transition of the optical signals from the optical conductor 12 of the cable 100 into the contact element 35 can take place without significant attenuation. With the optical conductive agent 36 of the distribution device 200 adjoining the contact element 35, the optical signals can be routed to another of the distribution devices 300 and can there coupled via an identically formed contact element 35 into the optical conductor 12 of another cable 100. Instead of the contact element 35 formed as a pipe 39, the optical conductor 12 of each cable 100 can be provided with a funnel-shaped connection element into which the contact element can be inserted.

[0149] FIG. 6, shows a second embodiment of a distribution device 200. The distribution has 200 comprises a basic housing 23 and an upper part of the housing 24. Furthermore, the distribution device 200 comprises three connection devices 300 with associated contact bridges 25a, 25b. The receiving areas 27 of two of the connection devices 300 are substantially identical to the receiving areas 27 of the connection devices 300 of the first embodiment of the distribution device 200 according to FIGS. 2 to 5. The receiving area 27a of the third connection device 300 is deviatingly configured such that any section of the cable 100 can be arranged in this receiving area 27a, as shown in FIG. 7. The cable 100 passes through the entire receiving area 27a, that means, that the cable 100 is guided into the receiving area 27a on one side and is guided out of the receiving area 27a on the opposite side. After the section of the cable 100 has been inserted, the receiving area 27a is closed by arranging the upper part of the housing 24 on the basic housing 23, so that the cable 100 is held in the receiving area 27a. In order to ensure a fixed orientation of the cable 100 in the receiving area 27a, the insertion opening 29a of the receiving area 27a, which is formed between the bottom of the receiving area 27a and the upper part of the housing 24 when the latter is arranged on the basic housing 23, has a shape which corresponds to the cross-section 13 of the cable 100.

[0150] In FIG. 8, the second embodiment of the distribution device 100 is shown in a completely closed configuration. In FIG. 8, all contact bridges 25a are activated and are fully inserted into the associated connection device 300. Analogously to the first embodiment of the distribution device 100, when the contact bridges 25a, 25b are activated, electrically conductive sections 31 of the contact bridges 25a, 25b are pressed into the sheathing 10 of the cables 100 until they contact the electrical lines 11 in the cables 100 and make electrical contact with internal lines 34 of the distribution device 200. With the second distribution device 200, electrical contact can take place at any point of the cable 100. Due to the orientation of the cable 100 guaranteed by the cross-section 13 of the cable and the shape of the insertion opening 29, 29a of the receiving areas 27, 27a and a corresponding design of the contact bridges 25a, 25b, it is also ensured that the optical conductor 12 of the cable 100 is not damaged.

[0151] FIG. 9 finally shows a schematic view of a system 400 for conducting and distributing electrical power and for providing a fast data-conducting communication link, with a plurality of distribution devices 200 of the first embodiment or the second embodiment, and cables 100 connecting the distribution devices 200. The system 400 can be used for electrical installation and data communication in a building, such as a residence or an office building.

[0152] FIG. 10 shows a device 500 for cutting the cable 100 to length. The device 500 is formed as a pair of pliers 42 and comprises a cutting part 43 with a first cutting edge 44, a second cutting edge 45 and a third cutting edge 46. The first cutting edge 44 is arranged at the first edge 47 of the cutting part 43. The second cutting edge 45 and the third cutting edge 46 are arranged at a second edge 48 of the cutting part 43. The second edge 48 is thereby at an angle of about 95° to the first edge 47. The first cutting edge 44 has notches 49 with cutting edges 50 for separating the electrical lines 11 in the cable 100. The second cutting edge 45 is designed as a reamer 51, in particular as a diamond reamer 52.

[0153] Furthermore, the device 500 comprises a cable receptacle 53 with a first part 54 and a second part 55, as well as a spreading mechanism 56, which is configured to pivot the first part 54 and the second part 55 relative to each other. The cable receptacle 53, in particular the first part 54 and the second part 55, are formed complementary to the cross-section 13 of the cable 100 (FIGS. 1, 11 and 12), so that the cable 100 can only be inserted into the cable receptacle 53 in a fixed orientation. If the cable 100 is formed in an arrowed or arrow-shaped manner, then the cable receptacle 53 is also formed in an arrowed or arrow-shaped manner. The device 500 further comprises two handle levers 57, which can be manually moved towards each other.

[0154] FIG. 11 shows the device 500 with a cable 100 inserted into the cable receptacle 53. The cable 100 is formed arrowed and has three electrical lines 11 and an optical conductor 12 arranged in a cavity 17. Corresponding to the number of electrical lines 11, the first cutting edge 44 of the cutting part 43 has three notches 49 with cutting edges 50.

[0155] FIG. 12 shows the cable 100 in a cross-sectional view. As previously explained with respect to FIG. 1, the cross-section 13 is a hexagonal, arrowed or arrow-shaped cross-section 13, with an outwardly directed tip 16a and an inwardly directed tip 16b. Three electrical lines 11 are arranged in the sheathing 10 in a first section 58 of the sheathing 10 with the inwardly directed tip 16b. A second section 59 of the sheathing 10 comprises the outwardly directed tip 16a and the cavity 17 with the optical conductor 12 arranged therein.

[0156] FIG. 13 shows the device 500 with the cable after the pliers 42 are closed by approximately 20°. By means of the first cutting edge 44, the cable 100 is cut in the first section 58, starting from the inwardly directed tip 16b up to the first cutting line 60 according to FIG. 12, so that the cavity 17 is cut or opened.

[0157] If the pliers 42 are closed further, the second cutting edge 45 slides along the optical conductor 12 to the second cutting line 62 according to FIG. 12. This scratches the optical conductor 12. At the same time, the spreading mechanism 56 ensures that the first part 54 and the second part 55 of the cable receptacle 53 are moved against each other, so that the cable 100 is spread along the cut of the first cutting edge 44, as shown in FIG. 14. Thereby, in particular in the second section 59 of the sheathing 10 with the outwardly directed tip 16a, a part of the sheathing 10 remains, so that the cable 100 is not yet completely cut.

[0158] If the pliers 42 are closed further, the state according to FIG. 15 is reached, in which the third cutting edge 46 has cut the remaining part in the second section 59 of the cross-section 13 of the cable 100 until the third cutting line 62 according to FIG. 12. The completely cut cable 100 can then be taken out of the cable receptacle 53.

[0159] If, in an alternative embodiment of the cable 100, the cavity 17 is arranged centrally in the cross-section 13 of the cable 100, the lengths and orientations of the cutting edges 44, 45, 46, in particular the third cutting edge 46, shall be adapted accordingly.