Hybrid cable for use in aerial applications
View Patent ↗A cable may include a central strength member, a plurality of optical fiber buffer tubes positioned around the central strength member, and a jacket surround the plurality of buffer tubes and the central strength member. The central strength member may include a plurality of longitudinally extending and twisted conductive components. Each conductive component may include an inner conductor, a dielectric strength member formed around the inner conductor and having a tensile strength of at least 10,000 MPa, and an outer conductor formed around the dielectric strength member. The inner and outer conductor may form a balanced pair of conductors.
1. A cable, comprising:
a central strength member comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending conductive components, each conductive component comprising:
an inner conductor;
a dielectric strength member formed around the inner conductor, the dielectric strength member having a tensile strength of at least 10,000 MPa; and
an outer conductor formed around the dielectric strength member, the inner and outer conductor forming a balanced pair of conductors;
a plurality of buffer tubes positioned around the central strength member, each of the plurality of buffer tubes housing at least one optical fiber; and
an outer jacket surrounding the plurality of buffer tubes and the central strength member.
2. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric strength member comprises a longitudinally extending cavity, and
wherein the inner conductor is positioned within the cavity.
3. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric strength member comprises one of glass reinforced plastic or basalt fiber.
4. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the inner conductor has a first direct current resistance and the outer conductor has a second direct current resistance approximately equal to the first direct current resistance.
5. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive components are one of (i) helically stranded together or (ii) S-Z stranded together.
6. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive components comprises between four and fifty conductive components.
7. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the central strength member further comprises:
a longitudinally extending wrap formed around the plurality of conductive components.
8. The cable of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more strength members positioned in the interstices between the plurality of conductive components.
9. A cable, comprising:
a longitudinally extending central strength member formed from a plurality of twisted components, each component comprising:
an inner conductor;
an outer conductor coaxially arranged around the inner conductor; and
a dielectric strength member positioned between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, the dielectric strength member comprising a tensile strength of at least 10,000 MPa;
a plurality of buffer tubes positioned around the central strength member, each of the plurality of buffer tubes housing at least one optical fiber; and
an outer jacket surrounding the plurality of buffer tubes and the central strength member.
10. The cable of claim 9 , wherein the inner conductor and the outer conductor of each respective component forms a balanced transmission line.
11. The cable of claim 9 , wherein the dielectric strength member comprises a longitudinally extending cavity, and
wherein the inner conductor is positioned within the cavity.
12. The cable of claim 9 , wherein the dielectric strength member comprises one of glass reinforced plastic or basalt fiber.
13. The cable of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of twisted components are one of (i) helically stranded together or (ii) S-Z stranded together.
14. The cable of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of twisted components comprises between four and fifty components.
15. The cable of claim 9 , further comprising:
one or more strength members positioned in the interstices between the plurality of twisted components.
16. The cable of claim 9 , wherein the central strength member further comprises:
a longitudinally extending wrap formed around the plurality of twisted components.
17. A cable, comprising:
a central strength member comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending components, each component comprising:
a dielectric strength member comprising a tensile strength of at least 10,000 MPa and further comprising a longitudinally extending internal cavity;
an inner conductor positioned within the internal cavity; and
an outer conductor formed around the dielectric strength member,
wherein the inner and outer conductors form a balanced pair of conductors;
a plurality of buffer tubes positioned around the central strength member, each of the plurality of buffer tubes housing at least one optical fiber; and
an outer jacket surrounding the plurality of buffer tubes and the central strength member.
18. The cable of claim 17 , wherein the dielectric strength member comprises one of glass reinforced plastic or basalt fiber.
19. The cable of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of longitudinally extending components are one of (i) helically stranded together or (ii) S-Z stranded together.
20. The cable of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of longitudinally extending components comprises between four and fifty components.