TREATED ELECTRICAL CABLE
Improved electrical cables employ a protective material thereon for antimicrobial prevention. The electrical cable is formed by a metallic strip helically wound with interlocking edges to define an armor having an inner hollow area within which is housed a plurality of electrical conductors. The armor is treated with a coating which may be used for corrosion protection. The coating is treated with an antimicrobial and/or antifungal additive inhibiting the proliferating or these microorganisms on the cable.
1 . An electrical cable comprising:
a flexible metallic armor having an outer surface and defining an interior hollow area;
a plurality of electrical conductors disposed within said hollow area; and
a coating disposed over said outer surface of said armor, said coating including an antimicrobial additive such that said coating and the antimicrobial additive bond to the outer surface of said armor.
2 . The electrical metal cable of claim 1 further comprising a surface treatment disposed between said outer surface of said armor and said coating.
3 . The electrical metal cable of claim 2 wherein said surface treatment comprises zinc.
4 . The electrical metal cable of claim 1 wherein said coating comprises chromate.
5 . The electrical metal cable of claim 1 wherein said flexible metallic armor comprises a metal strip helically wound with interlocking edges.
6 . The electrical metal cable of claim 1 wherein said flexible metallic armor comprises an aluminum strip helically wound with interlocking edges.
7 . The electrical metal cable of claim 6 wherein said coating comprises paint.
8 . The electrical metal cable of claim 1 wherein said flexible metallic armor comprises an electroplated steel strip helically wound with interlocking edges.
9 . The electrical metal cable of claim 8 wherein said coating comprises paint.
10 . The electrical cable of claim 1 further including a visual indicator applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of said metallic armor, said visual indicator treated with an antimicrobial additive.
11 . The electrical cable of claim 1 further including a visual indicator applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of said metallic armor, said visual indicator treated with an antifungal additive.
12 . The electrical cable of claim 1 wherein the coating further comprises an antifungal additive.
13 . An electrical cable comprising:
a flexible metallic armor having an outer surface and defining an interior hollow area;
a plurality of electrical conductors disposed within said hollow area; and
a coating disposed over said outer surface of said armor, said coating treated with an antifungal additive such that said protective coating and the antifungal additive bond to the outer surface of said armor.
14 . The electrical metal cable of claim 13 further comprising a surface treatment disposed between said outer surface of said armor and said coating.
15 . The electrical metal cable of claim 14 wherein said surface treatment comprises zinc.
16 . The electrical metal cable of claim 13 wherein said coating comprises chromate.
17 . The electrical metal cable of claim 13 wherein said flexible metallic armor comprises a metal strip helically wound with interlocking edges.
18 . The electrical metal cable of claim 13 wherein said flexible metallic armor comprises an aluminum strip helically wound with interlocking edges.
19 . The electrical metal cable of claim 18 wherein said coating comprises paint.
20 . The electrical metal cable of claim 13 wherein said flexible metallic armor comprises an electroplated steel strip helically wound with interlocking edges.
21 . The electrical metal cable of claim 20 wherein said coating comprises paint.
22 . The electrical cable of claim 13 further including a visual indicator applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of said metallic armor, said visual indicator treated with an antimicrobial additive.
23 . The electrical cable of claim 13 further including a visual indicator applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of said metallic armor, said visual indicator treated with an antifungal additive.
24 . The electrical cable of claim 13 wherein the coating further comprises an antimicrobial additive.
25 . A method of manufacturing an electrical cable comprising:
galvanizing a metal strip with a zinc coating;
adding an antimicrobial material to a protective coating;
covering said zinc coated strip with said protective coating;
drying said protective covered strip;
supplying the protective covered strip into a profiling die to form an arcuate member; and
supplying the arcuate members to a interlocking tool which interlocks the edges of the arcuate members around a plurality of electrical conductors.
26 . A method of manufacturing an electrical cable comprising:
galvanizing a metal strip with a zinc coating;
adding an antifungal material to a protective coating;
covering said zinc coated strip with said protective coating;
drying said protective covered strip;
supplying the protective covered strip into a profiling die to form an arcuate member; and
supplying the arcuate members to an interlocking tool which interlocks the edges of the arcuate members around a plurality of electrical conductors.
27 . A method of manufacturing an electrical cable comprising:
adding an antimicrobial material to a coating mixture;
applying the coating mixture to a metallic strip;
supplying the coated strip into a profiling die to form an arcuate member; and
supplying the arcuate members to an interlocking tool which interlocks the edges of the arcuate members around a plurality of electrical conductors.
28 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 27 further comprising applying a visual indicator to at least a portion of the coated strip, said visual indicator treated with an antimicrobial additive.
29 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 27 further comprising applying a visual indicator to at least a portion of the coated strip, said visual indicator treated with an antifungal additive.
30 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 27 wherein said metallic strip is aluminum.
31 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 27 wherein said metallic strip is electroplated steel.
32 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 27 wherein said coating is paint.
33 . A method of manufacturing an electrical cable comprising:
adding an antifungal material to a coating mixture;
applying the coating mixture to a metallic strip;
supplying the coated strip into a profiling die to form an arcuate member; and
supplying the arcuate members to an interlocking tool which interlocks the edges of the arcuate members around a plurality of electrical conductors.
34 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 33 further comprising applying a visual indicator to at least a portion of the coated strip, said visual indicator treated with an antimicrobial additive.
35 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 33 further comprising applying a visual indicator to at least a portion of the coated strip, said visual indicator treated with an antifungal additive.
36 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 33 wherein said metallic strip is aluminum.
37 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 33 wherein said metallic strip is electroplated steel.
38 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 33 wherein said coating is paint.