Patents for January/February 2023
USPTO Wire & Cable Industry Patents as compiled by our editors
Metal-Clad Multi-Circuit Electrical Cable Assembly
US Patent 11538606 B1
Issued December 27, 2022
Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Melissa, TX, USA; Micah W. Latimer, Leonard, TX, USA; John L. Rhoads, Lewisville, TX, USA; Andrew P. Hull, McKinney, TX, USA; Troy D. Skidmore, McKinney, TX, USA; Paul Abernathy, McKinney, TX, USA; and David W. Maxey, Gunter, TX, USA
Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation, McKinney, TX, USA
An electrical cable assembly comprising a first electrical circuit comprising at least two insulated conductors, a second electrical circuit, and a conductive metallic armor encasing the first and second electrical circuits, wherein the conductive metallic armor provides a return ground path. The second electrical circuit comprising at least two control insulated conductors, a jacket surrounding the control insulated conductors and a wrap surrounding the jacket which is surrounding the control insulated conductors.
Power Cable Jacket Removal Device and Methods Of Removing a Jacket From a Cable
US Patent 11539193 B2
Issued December 27, 2022
Inventor: Adam Vernon Smith, Ponder, TX, USA
Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, WI, USA
A cable jacket removal device is used to selectively remove a sheath from a length of a sheathed cable. The cable jacket removal device includes a support frame, a drive shaft and a motor. The support frame removably couples the removal device to the cable to be stripped. The drive shaft is coupled to the support frame. The motor is coupled to the drive shaft to selectively rotate the drive shaft to cause the removal device to travel along the cable to automatically remove a cable jacket from a predefined distance of the cable.
Multi-Strand Cable with Two Layers Having Improved Penetrability
US Patent 11535982 B2
Issued December 27, 2023
Inventors: Emmanuel Clement, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Marianna Chevalley, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Alexandre Gianetti, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Stéphane Laurent, Clermont-Ferrand, France; and Rémi Pinaut, Clermont-Ferrand, France
Assignee: Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand, France
A cord (50) comprises: an internal strand (TI) comprising an internal layer (C1), and an external layer (C3); and L>1 external strands (TE) comprising an internal layer (C1′) of Q′=1 internal wire (F1′), an intermediate layer (C2′) of M′ intermediate wires (F2′) wound around the internal layer (C1′) with a pitch p2′ and an external layer (C3′) of N′ external wires (F3′) wound around the intermediate layer (C2′) with a pitch p3′. The external layer (CE) of the cord is wound around the internal layer (CI) of the cord in a direction of winding of the cord (50). Each external layer (C3, C3′) of each internal and external strand (TI, TE) is wound in the same direction of winding that is the opposite to the direction of winding of the cord (50). The external layer (CE) of the cord (50) is desaturated and 0.36≤(p3′−p2′)/p3′≤0.57.
Downhole Cables Having Extruded Aluminum Encapsulation Layers
US Patent 11536096 B2
Issued December 27, 2022
Inventors: Brett Villiger, Simpsonville, SC, USA; and Jospeh Cignarale, Greer, SC, USA
Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLC, Duncan, SC, USA
A downhole cable includes a central core. The central core includes a metal tube having a plurality of optical fibers therein or a copper wire. The downhole cable further includes an extruded aluminum tube surrounding the central core.
Wire Harness
US Patent 11538608 B2
Issued December 27, 2022
Inventors: Eiichi Tohyama, Makinohara, Japan; Takashi Tsukuda, Makinohara, Japan; and Kei Shinohara, Makinohara, Japan
Assignee: Yazaki Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
A wire harness includes an electric wire, a braided conductor covering the electric wire, a grommet having a tubular insertion portion through which the electric wire and the braided conductor are inserted, a water stop sheet sandwiched between an inner peripheral surface of the insertion portion and the braided conductor, and a fixture attached to the insertion portion so as to reduce a diameter of the insertion portion. The water stop sheet includes a base material layer having a plurality of pores communicating with each other in a thickness direction of the water stop sheet and a sealing compound layer laminated on the base material layer. The sealing compound layer is deformed so as to enter gaps between thin conductor wires constituting the braided conductor and the pores of the base material layer.
Abrasion Protected Deepwater Cable
US Patent 11531175 B2
Issued December 20, 2022
Inventors: Jeremiah A. Mendez, Bayville, NJ, USA; Marsha Spalding, Eatontown, NJ, USA; Ralph Rue, Eatontown, NJ, USA; Geraldine Paraiso, Eatontown, NJ, USA; Georg Heinrich Mohs, East Brunswick, NJ, USA; and Seymour Shapiro, Long Beach, NJ. USA
Assignee: Subcom, LLC, Eatontown, NJ, USA
An improved deepwater optical fiber cable with abrasion protection and techniques for manufacturing the same are provided. For example, the abrasion protected deepwater cable may be a modification or enhancement of an existing special application (SPA) optical fiber cable. One or more additional layers of metallic tape and jackets may be added to the outermost layer of the SPA cable. The tape and jacket layers may have different thicknesses and may be made from different materials to optimize protection against man-made objects or otherwise naturally occurring materials in deep water environments such as fish aggregation devices (FADs).
Wire Harness
US Patent 11529912 B2
Issued December 20, 2022
Inventors: Yuji Nishi, Yokkaichi, Japan; and Yuki Morimoto, Yokkaichi, Japan
Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Mie, Japan
A wire harness including: a wire; a cover that covers the wire; and a cushion provided between the wire and the cover, wherein: the cover is provided with a hole in an intermediate portion of the cover in an extension direction of the wire, and the cushion is provided between the hole and the wire in a first direction intersecting the extension direction.
Wire Tool for Stripping And Terminating Electrical Wires And Methods of Using
US Patent 11527874 B1
Issued December 13, 2022
Inventors: Thomas J. Valenti, North Kingstown, RI, USA; Leo F. Valenti, East Greenwich, RI, USA; and Gregory J. Phipps, North Kingstown, RI
Assignee: Araspeed Tool Company LLC, North Kingstown, RI, USA
A multi-purpose wire tool which is capable of slitting and cutting the outer insulation sheath of commonly used 12/2 and 14/2 gauge multi-conductor insulated electrical cabling (Romex-style cable) as well as stripping, twisting, capping and hooking the individual insulated wires for both rough-in and finish electrical trim work.
High Resolution Headline Sonar Cable
US Patent 11525212 B2
Issued December 13, 2022
Inventor: Hjortur Erlendsson, Kopavogur, Iceland
Assignee: Hampidjan hf, Reykjavik, Iceland
A production method for a headline sonar cable characterized by steps of: a. providing a first strength member (14); b. coupling to strength member (14) a conductor (122); c. forming a layer of polymeric material about the combination of strength member (14) and conductor (122) while ensuring that the conductor remains slack; d. forming a flow shield around the layer of polymeric material, thus forming an elongatable internally located conductive structure; and e. braiding a strength-member jacket layer (52) of polymeric material around the elongatable internally located conductive structure while ensuring that the conductor is slack when surrounded by the jacket layer (52). For another embodiment, an optical fibre is wrapped around the exterior of the layer of polymeric material within which is enclosed a braided conductor formed about the first strength member (14). Other embodiments employ further thermo-plastic layers and further sheaths and further conductors.
Cored Wire with Particulate Material
US Patent 11525168 B2
Issued December 13, 2022
Inventor: David L. Campana, Sr., Lorain, OH, USA
Assignee P.C. Campana, Inc., Lorain, OH, USA
A cored wire for refining molten metal includes a reactive core material that is in the form of a solid rod. A nonreactive particulate material radially surrounds the solid core material, and an exterior metal jacket radially surrounds the particulate material. The particulate material may include wood or other material that when introduced into the molten metal, undergoes thermal decomposition to release carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons or combinations thereof as a shroud around the core material.
Method of Manufacturing Electrical Cable, and Resulting Product, with Reduced Required Installation Pulling Force
US Patent 11527339 B2
Issued December 13, 2022
Inventors: Philip Sasse, Douglasville, GA, USA; Terry Chambers, Ranburne, AL, USA; Randy D. Kummer, Villa Rica, GA, USA; John Armstrong, Villa Rica, GA, USA; David Reece, Calhoun, GA, USA; and Hai Lam, Douglasville, GA, USA
Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC, Carrollton, GA, USA
Disclosed are cable types, including a type THHN cable, the cable types having a reduced surface coefficient of friction, and the method of manufacture thereof, in which the central conductor core and insulating layer are surrounded by a material containing nylon or thermosetting resin. A silicone based pulling lubricant for said cable, or alternatively, erucamide or stearyl erucamide for small cable gauge wire, is incorporated, by alternate methods, with the resin material from which the outer sheath is extruded, and is effective to reduce the required pulling force between the formed cable and a conduit during installation.
Structural Cable Having an Inner Housing
US Patent 11525225 B2
Issued December 13, 2022
Inventors: Nicolas Fabry, Antony, France; Matthieu Guesdon, Puteaux, France; Ronan Solet, Cesson Sevigne, France; Ihsan Aydin Alpman, Istanbul, Turkey; and Müslüm Güzel, Ankara, Turkey;
Assignee: Solrtanche Freyssinet, Rueil Malmaison, France
The structural cable of a construction work comprises a bundle of load-bearing tendons, a sheath within which the bundle of tendons is located, and at least one vibration module received within the sheath and configured to generate vibrations to break superficial ice or frost deposits on the cable.
Cable, Cable Shape Sensing System, Sensing System, and Cable Shape Sensing Method
US Patent 11519759 B2
Issued December 6, 2022
Inventors: Masateru Tadakuma, Tokyo, Japan; Shigehiro Takasaka, Tokyo, Japan; and Ryuichi Sugizaki, Tokyo, Japan
Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. Tokyo, Japan
A cable comprising: a plurality of optical fiber cores; and one or more optical fiber core wires including one or more of the optical fiber cores. Further, at least one of the optical fiber core wire is fixed at a plurality of positions in a longitudinal direction of the cable so as to achieve substantially no displacement in a cable radial direction, at least a pair of the optical fiber core wires are fixed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cable so as to achieve substantially no displacement relative to each other, and sensing of a strain profile in the longitudinal direction of at least the pair of the optical fiber core wires leads to achievement of sensing of a shape of the cable in the longitudinal direction.
System, Method and Apparatus for Spray-On Application of a Wire Pulling Lubricant
US Patent 11522348 B1
Issued December 6, 2022
Inventors: Mark D. Bennett, Dodd City, TX, USA; William T. Bigbee, Jr., Melissa, TX, USA; and Ramon V. Hernandez, Howe, TX, USA
Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation, McKinney, TX, USA
A system, method, and apparatus lubricating a wire or cable during manufacturing, wherein the wire is aligned with an entry to a spraying enclosure and passes through a first seal of the spraying enclosure. Lubricant is sprayed onto the wire inside of the spraying enclosure while the unapplied, but sprayed, lubricant is collected at the bottom of the spraying enclosure. The wire passes through a second seal of the spraying enclosure, is aligned, and exits from the spraying enclosure.
Optical Fiber Cable Having Rollable Ribbons and Central Strength Member
US Patent 11520114 B2
Issued December 6, 2022
Inventors: Mark A. Boxer, Pinetown, NC, USA; Jeffrey J. Bush, Duluth, GA, USA; John E. George, Cumming, GA, USA; Howard M. Kemp, Brandon, FL; and Peter A. Weimann, Atlanta, GA, USA
Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLC, Norcross, GA, USA
An optical fiber cable may include a cable jacket, a rigid tensile reinforcement member centered within the cable jacket, and a plurality of partially bonded optical fiber ribbons around the rigid tensile reinforcement member. The optical fiber cable does not include any buffer tubes but may include a cushioning layer adjacent the ribbons.
Method For Manufacturing Far Infrared Heating Wire and Far Infrared Heating Wire Manufactured Thereby
US Patent 11516888 B2
Issued November 29, 202
Inventors: Se Yeong Kim, Seoul, South Korea; and Dong Woo Kim, Seoul, South Korea
The present invention relates generally to a method of manufacturing far-infrared radiation thermal wire and far-infrared radiation thermal wire thereby, more particularly, a method of manufacturing far-infrared radiation thermal wire and far-infrared radiation thermal wire manufactured thereby, in which electric power is supplied with a predetermined resistance value. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing far-infrared radiation thermal wire comprise steps of: making microfine wire that emits far-infrared radiation as it generates heat according to the resistance value when electricity is flowed in; making one strand of thermal wire by bundling many strands of the microfine wire that are in contact of each other; and making two or more groups each of the groups having different resistance value and comprising one or more microfine wires that have identical resistance value in order to make the bundle into an effective geometric structure that well radiates electric dipole radiation while emitting far-infrared radiation.
Wire Stripping Assembly
US Patent 11515692 B2
Issued November 29, 2022
Inventor: Steve Revak, Easton, PA, USA
A wire stripping assembly includes a pair of pliers including a pair of handles and a pair of jaws. Each of the jaws has a plurality of cutting slots integrated therein. The cutting slots in each of the jaws forms a hole when the jaws are closed for having a wire positioned therein. The hole formed by each of the cutting slots has a unique diameter with respect to each other. In this way the hole formed by each of the pairs of cutting slots can accommodate a unique gauge of wire with respect to each other. The cutting slots in each of the jaws is positioned on a leading edge of the jaws thereby facilitating the pair of pliers to be pulled toward a user when the user is stripping the insulation from the wire.
Wire Rod with Excellent Strength and Ductility And Manufacturing Method Therefor
US Patent 11512365 B2
Issued November 29, 2022
Inventors: Hyong-Jik Lee, Pohang-si, South Korea; and Yum-Ho Choi, Pohang-si, South Korea
Assignee: POSCO, Pohang-si, South Korea
Disclosed are a wire rod and a manufacturing method therefor, the wire rod comprising, by weight %: 0.05-0.20% of C, 0.2% or less of Si, 5.0-6.0% of Mn, 0.020% or less of P, 0.020% or less of S, 0.010-0.050% of Al, 0.010-0.020% of N, and a balance of Fe and inevitable impurities and having a microcrystalline structure composed of two phases of austenite and ferrite, wherein the austenite has an area fraction of 15-25%.
Fluoropolymer Insulated Communications Cable
US Patent 11515060 B2
Issued November 29, 2022
Inventor: Daniel J. Kennefick, Newark, DE, USA
Assignee: Daikin America, Inc., Orangeburg, NY, USA; and Daikin Industries, Ltd., Osaka, Japan
A communications cable is provided that includes a pair of twisted pair of wires, each coated with a fluoropolymer insulator. The twisted pair of wires is configured to carry a differential signal such as a differential data signal and/or a differential power signal. The fluoropolymers are highly effective insulators and significantly reduce both the effects of internal and external electromagnetic interference while maintaining low cable attenuation, even when operating within a temperature range of −40°C to 150°C.
Compressed Stranded Conductor, Insulated Electric Wire and Wire Harness
US Patent 11515062 B2
Issued November 29, 2022
Inventor: Tomomi Hirota, Susono, Japan
Assignee: Yazaki Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
A compressed stranded conductor includes an inner layer strand having conductive wires which are twisted together, and an outer layer strand having conductive wires which are arranged around an outer periphery of the inner layer strand and are twisted together. The inner layer strand and the outer layer strand are compressed. An inner layer area reduction rate of one conductive wire of the inner layer strand is 29% or more and 32% or less. An outer layer area reduction rate of one conductive wire of the outer layer strand is 6% or more and 11% or less. A difference between the inner layer area reduction rate and the outer layer area reduction rate is 19% or more and 25% or less.
Wire for Electric Discharge Machining
US Patent 11511362 B2
Issued November 29, 2022
Inventors: Edward O. Daigle, Covington, LA, USA; and Pratheesh George, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Assignee: CAP Technologies, LLC, Denham Springs, LA, USA
A conductive electrode wire for use in an electric discharge machine (EDM) is provided, comprising a core wire comprised of one single metal or an alloy of multiple metals with a coating deposited by the electro-plasma process, wherein such coatings are alloys of zinc and nickel. A process for treating a surface of an electrically conductive workpiece, such as a core wire, is also provided.
Cables Having Buffer Elements Formed with Two-Dimensional Fillers
US Patent 11506851 B1
Issued November 22, 2022
Inventors: Bo Xu, Alpharetta, GA, USA; and Christopher W. McNutt, Woodstock, GA, USA
Assignee: Superior Essex International Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA
Cables having buffer elements formed with two-dimensional fillers are described. A cable may include at least one optical fiber, and a buffer element may be formed around the at least one optical fiber. The buffer element may be formed from a material that includes a polypropylene-containing polymeric resin, a filler added to the polymeric resin that includes a plurality of two-dimensional particles, and an amphiphilic compatabilizer. A jacket may be formed around the at least one optical fiber and the buffer element.
Aluminum Alloy for Cable Conductor
US Patent 11508493 B2
Issued November 22, 2022
Inventors: Ji Young Kim, Seoul, South Korea; Sangyum Kim, Anyang-si, South Korea; and Jee Yong Park, Seongnam-si, South Korea
Assignee: LS Cable & System Ltd., Anyang-si, South Korea
Provided is an aluminum alloy for a cable conductor. Specifically, the present invention relates to an aluminum alloy for a cable conductor, which is excellent in both mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, at room temperature and high temperatures and elongation, and electrical conductivity, is simple to manufacture at low costs, and is eco-friendly.
Copper-Coated Steel Wire and Stranded Wire
US Patent 11505856 B2
Issued November 22, 2022
Inventors: Takumi Akada, Osaka, Japan; Shinei Takamura, Osaka, Japan; Daigo Sato, Osaka, Japan; and Takaaki Enomoto, Osaka, Japan
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Osaka, Japan
A copper-coated steel wire includes a core wire made of a steel and a coating layer made of copper or a copper alloy which covers an outer peripheral surface of the core wire. The coating layer includes an intermediate layer which is disposed in a region including the interface with the core wire and has a higher zinc concentration than a remaining region of the coating layer.
Aperiodically Overlapping Spiral-Wrapped Cable Shield System
US Patent 11501896 B2
Issued November 15, 2022
Inventors: Sandor Farkas, Round Rock, TX, USA; Ching-Huei Chen, Taoyuan, Taiwan; and Bhyrav Mutnury, Round Rock, TX, USA
Assignee: Dell Products LP, Round Rock, TX, USA
An aperiodically overlapping spiral-wrapped cable shield system includes a cable having cable components such as a pair of conductors, at least one insulator surrounding the pair of conductors, and at least one drain wire. The cable also includes a cable shield that is spirally wrapped around the cable components with a varying wrap pitch that provides a plurality of overlapping cable shield portions with varying overlap areas. When signals are transmitted using the cable components in the cable, the varying overlap areas of the plurality of overlapping cable shield portions create a plurality of varying LC circuits that are configured to generate a resonance that does not exceed a signal integrity resonance threshold for a signals.
Abrasion Resistant and Flexible Cable Jacket Systems
US Patent 11501893 B2
Issued November 15, 2022
Inventors: James Carothers, Newark, DE, USA; Kim Ritchie, Newark, DE, USA; and John Dolan, Newark, DE, USA
Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, inc., Newark, DE, USA
A jacket for an elongated assembly is disclosed. The jacket, which may be a tubular shape or sheet, comprises a film layer to surround a core member of the elongated assembly, wherein the film layer has a first surface to be arranged abutting the core member in a nonbonded relationship; a braided, woven, or warp-knit layer comprising high-melt filament having a titer from 30 to 800 denier; and a bonding region between the braided, woven, or warp-knit layer and a second surface of the film layer, opposing to the first surface, to adhere at least a portion of the high-melt fibers. The jacket may further comprise an inner film layer in a nonbonded relationship with the film layer.