U.S. patent application number 17/728186 was filed with the patent office on 2022-08-04 for cable with fabric sleeve and its method of manufacture.
The applicant listed for this patent is WESCO Distribution, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jerry L. Allen.
Application Number | 20220246331 17/728186 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220246331 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Allen; Jerry L. |
August 4, 2022 |
CABLE WITH FABRIC SLEEVE AND ITS METHOD OF MANUFACTURE
Abstract
A fabric wrapped cable is formed by positioning adhesive on
opposed layers of fabric. A cable is positioned between those
layers and the layers are attached by attaching the adhesive of one
layer to the adhesive of the other layer. In forming the wrapped
cable in such a manner, the cable is provided with at least one
wing.
Inventors: |
Allen; Jerry L.; (Sarasota,
FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WESCO Distribution, Inc. |
Pittsburgh |
PA |
US |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/728186 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16429229 |
Jun 3, 2019 |
11342098 |
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17728186 |
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62681744 |
Jun 7, 2018 |
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International
Class: |
H01B 13/22 20060101
H01B013/22 |
Claims
1. A method of inserting a cable into a conduit comprising the
steps of providing a fabric material having a coefficient of
friction less than that of the cable, positioning the fabric
material around the cable, attaching the ends of the fabric
material together so as to encase the cable in the fabric material
while allowing the cable to be slidable relative to the fabric
material, and inserting the wrapped cable into the conduit.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of attaching includes the
step of forming wings on opposed sides of the cable.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of positioning includes
the step of folding the fabric material around the cable.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of attaching includes the
step of forming a wing extending outwardly from the cable.
5. An apparatus to be inserted into a conduit comprising a cable,
opposed layers of fabric material having a coefficient of friction
less than that of the cable, the cable being positioned between the
layers and the layers being attached to each other but not attached
to the cable.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising at least one wing
formed by the fabric when the layers are attached to each
other.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the opposed layers of fabric
material are formed by spaced sheets of material.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the opposed layers of fabric
material are formed by folding a single sheet of material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/429,229 filed on Jun. 3, 2019, which
claimed priority of from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 62/681,744 filed on Jun. 7, 2018, which is incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to a fabric enclosed cable and the
method of assembling a cable with a fabric sleeve so that the cable
may be easily inserted into a communications conduit.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Positioning cables in underground communication conduits
which extend for several thousand feet has long been a problem.
Such is particularly true when it is desired to position an
additional cable or cables into a conduit that already has a cable
in it. That cable, particularly because of its plastic jacket,
provides a great deal of friction to the new cable as it is being
inserted into the conduit. As a result, the new or the existing
cable may be damaged due to that friction. Such is particularly
true when the cable in the conduit is ungulating which causes the
cable being introduced to take a sinuous, fraction-laden path.
[0004] An extremely successful solution to this problem is a fabric
innerduct sold under the trademark MAXCELL.RTM. by TVC
Communications, LLC and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,371 which is
incorporated herein by reference for whatever details may be
necessary to understand the present invention. This innerduct is
first positioned in a conduit and divides the conduit into
longitudinally extending compartments. A cable can be positioned in
one of the compartments, and a pull tape or rope can be positioned
in another compartment which can later be utilized to pull a second
cable into that compartment. Because there is fabric between the
cables, the friction is not on the cable jacket but on the fabric
which makes installation easier.
[0005] However, a problem can exist when using these innerducts in
small diameter conduits which extend long distances. In these small
conduits, the fabric innerduct takes up much of the space in the
conduit and the tape or rope may tend in lock up in the innerduct
thereby impeding the ability to pull in a cable.
[0006] As a result, a fabric encased cable was designed as shown in
U.S. Pat. No. 9,054,507 which is incorporated herein by reference
for whatever details may be necessary to understand the present
invention. While such represents a vast improvement in the art, an
improved cable and a simple manner in which to attach the fabric to
the cable has not yet been developed.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is thus an object of one aspect of the present invention
to provide a method of attaching a fabric to a cable.
[0008] It is an object of another aspect of the present invention
to provide the attachment utilizing an adhesive.
[0009] It is an object of an additional aspect of the present
invention to provide a wrapped cable with wings extending outwardly
therefrom.
[0010] These and other objects of the present invention, as well as
the advantages thereof over existing prior art forms, which will
become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by
the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.
[0011] In general, a method of attaching a fabric material to a
cable includes the steps of positioning an adhesive on opposed
layers of fabric, positioning a cable between the layers, and
attaching the adhesive of one layer to the adhesive of the other
layer to confine the cable between the layers.
[0012] The wrapped cable formed by this method includes a fabric
encased cable having at least one wing extending outwardly from the
cable.
[0013] Preferred methods to make a fabric encased cable with wings
are depicted in the accompanying drawings without attempting to
show all the various forms and modifications in which the invention
might be embodied, the invention being measured by the appended
claims and not by the details of the specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a cable positioned between two
layers of fabric material.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a sectional view like FIG. 1 but showing the
layers wrapped around the cable.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a fragmented top plan view of that which is
depicted in FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment to
that shown in FIG. 1, and showing a cable positioned between two
layers of fabric material.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a sectional view like FIG. 4 but showing the
layers wrapped around the cable.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of yet another embodiment
depicting two opposed layers of material.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing that which is shown in
FIG. 6 wrapped around a cable.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a fragmented top plan view of that which is
depicted in FIG. 7.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0022] A conventional communications cable is indicated by the
numeral 10 in the drawings. Cable 10 traditionally includes core of
wires covered by a plastic sheath. Such cables are usually stored
on a roll, which may carry 2500 feet or more of cable.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, in order to wrap a cable 10 with a
pliant material, such as a fabric with a lower coefficient of
friction than the sheath of the cable, a first sheet assembly,
generally indicated by the numeral 11, and a second sheet assembly,
generally indicated by the numeral 12, are provided. Sheet assembly
11 extends longitudinally along the length of cable 10 and includes
a fabric layer 13 having an adhesive layer 14 attached thereto.
Similarly, sheet assembly 12 extends longitudinally along the
length of cable 10 and includes a fabric layer 15 having an
adhesive layer 16 attached thereto.
[0024] In order to create the fabric wrapped cable 17 shown in FIG.
2, assemblies 11 and 12 are positioned as shown in FIG. 1 such that
adhesive layers 14 and 16 are opposed to each other with the
conventional cable 10 being positioned between layers 14 and 16.
Then assemblies 11 and 12 are wrapped around cable 10 with adhesive
layers 14 and 16 engaging cable 10 to form wrapped cable 17. The
lateral edges of assemblies 11 and 12 form wings 18 when the
lateral edges of adhesive layers 14 and 16 engage each other. The
wings 18 extend radially outwardly from generally diametrically
opposed sides of cable 17. Such wings 18 tend to add strength to
the cable 17, and they can be utilized to pull the cable into a
conduit. That is, a pulling device can be attached to, or otherwise
grasp, the wings of a cable to insert it into a conduit.
[0025] The wrapped cable 17 can be created by longitudinally moving
cable 10 together with sheet assemblies 11 and 12 and providing a
folding station. When the cable 10 and assemblies 11 and 12 pass
through that station, assemblies 11 and 12 are wrapped around cable
10 as previously described. Such can be accomplished at the
manufacturing site of the cable, or such can be provided at the
site where the wrapped cable 17 is to be installed in a conduit. In
that instance, a roll of cable 10 and rolls of sheet assemblies 11
and 12 can be provided and fed through a device which will wrap
cable 10 as the resultant cable 17 is being installed in a
conduit.
[0026] An alternative manner in which to wrap a cable 10 is shown
in FIGS. 4 and 5. There, a first sheet assembly 21 and a second
sheet assembly 22 are provided. Sheet assembly 11 includes a fabric
layer 23, which can be identical to fabric layer 13. Sheet assembly
23 also includes an adhesive layer which is formed of two small
layers 24 located at the lateral peripheries of fabric layer 23.
Similarly, sheet assembly 22 includes a fabric layer 25 which can
be identical to fabric layer 15. Sheet assembly 22 also includes an
adhesive layer which is formed of two small layers 26 located at
the lateral periphery of fabric layer 25.
[0027] In order to create the fabric wrapped cable 17 shown in FIG.
5, assemblies 21 and 22 are positioned as shown in FIG. 4, the
adhesive layers 24 and 26 being opposed to each other with cable 10
being positioned between sheet assemblies 21 and 22. Then
assemblies 21 and 22 are wrapped tightly around cable 10 and
adhesive layers portions 24 engage adhesive layer portions 26, as
shown in FIG. 5 to form wings 28. It is also contemplated that the
embodiment of FIG. 5 will satisfactorily create a cable 17 if only
one of the sheet assembles 23, 25 is provided with an adhesive
portion 24 or 26. Thus, the remaining adhesive portion would be
attached directly to the opposed sheet assembly. In either event,
the resulting plan view of FIG. 5 is identical to FIG. 3. The
resulting fabric wrapped cable 17 can be manufactured in the same
manner as described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS.
1-3.
[0028] Another cable wrapping version is shown in FIGS. 6-8. There,
one continuous sheet of fabric material, generally indicated by the
numeral 30, is folded to form a first fabric layer 33 having a
small adhesive layer 34 at the end thereof, and forms a second
fabric layer 35 having a small adhesive layer 36 at the end
thereof. When material 30 is manufactured, a release sheet 37 is
positioned on each adhesive layer 34, 36. When it is desired to
create the fabric wrapped cable 17 shown in FIG. 7, a cable 10 is
positioned between layers 33 and 35 by extending it through the
opening between adhesive layers 34 and 36. Then the release sheets
37 are removed from adhesive layers 34, 36, and layers 33 and 35
are tightened around cable 10 to form a wrapped cable 17 with the
adhesive layers 34, 36 being attached to each other to form a wing
38. When the cable 10 is encased by the fabric 30, as shown in FIG.
7, the adhesive of layers 34 and 36 does not contact cable 10 such
that the fabric 30 is not adhesively bonded to the cable.
[0029] In view of the foregoing, it should thus be evident that any
of the disclosed options for creating a wrapped cable will
accomplish the objects of the invention and otherwise substantially
improve the art.
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