Patent Application
20130140081
Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of conductors and, more particularly, to a composite sleeve for a conductor.
Most machines employ conductors that carry signals a medium of some form from one point to another. Conductors may carry electrical currents, various fluids/gases, and or light signals, to provide power and or input to various devices. Often times, the conductors are employed in harsh environments and exposed to various external conditions that may lead to failure. Conductors may be exposed to heat, cold, chemicals, or vibration that could lead to chafing. Any one or all of the aforementioned conditions may lead to failure of the conductor. In addition, often times conductors must take complicated routs through the machine. The complicated routes may often require sharp bends that may create pinch points in the conductor.
Given all of the above, many conductors are provided with sheathing or coatings that provide protection from external elements. Electrical conductors are covered with insulation and may also be protected with various heat shrink coverings. Fuel lines, optic fibers, and other such conductors may be covered with braided sheaths formed from metal. Heat shrink tubing may be configured to resist heat and/or chemicals. Metal braided coverings provide protection from chaffing and other external forces that may act upon and damage the conductor. While numerous options currently exist, each covering possess certain drawbacks that do not meet protection requirements for many existing and future applications.
Disclosed is a composite sleeve for a conductor including a conductor having an outer surface, a first sleeve positioned about the outer surface of the conductor, and a second sleeve positioned about the first sleeve. One of the first and second sleeves is formed from a compressed amide synthetic fiber. The first and second sleeves cooperate to provide protection for the conductor from external elements.
Also disclosed is a method of covering a conductor with a composite sleeve. The method includes covering the conductor with a sleeve formed from an amide synthetic fiber impregnated with an externally activated shrinkable material, and applying an external force the amide synthetic fiber to form the first sleeve about an outer surface of the conductor.
Further disclosed is a method of covering a conductor with a composite sleeve. The method includes covering the conductor with a first sleeve formed from an amide synthetic fiber, covering the first sleeve with a second sleeve, and contracting the second sleeve to compress the first sleeve against an outer surface of the conductor.
Still further disclosed is a composite sleeve for a conductor including a compressed amide synthetic fiber impregnated with an externally activated shrinkable material.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
With reference to
First sleeve 10 is formed from a braided para-aramide synthetic fiber 20. More specifically, first sleeve 10 is formed from an amide synthetic fiber 20 having a —C(═O)N— chain. Examples of amides having a —C(═O)N— chain include polyimides such as Kapton®, and aramids including para-aramids such as poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide or Kevlar®, and meta-aramids such as Nomex®. More specifically, first sleeve 10 is formed from a high strength/high temperature material that is stronger than steel on an equal weight basis. Of course, it should be understood that other braided amide synthetic fibers having substantially similar general qualities could also be employed as discussed above. In accordance with one aspect of the exemplary embodiment, amide synthetic fiber 20 is loosely woven or braided to aid in compression and bending. That is, first sleeve 10 follows a contour of phase conductor 84 and thus is required to include multiple bends. Second sleeve 14 is formed from an externally activated shrinkable material 24. In accordance with one example, the externally activated shrinkable material 24 could take the form of heat shrinkable tubing. However, other externally activated shrinkable materials could also be employed. The term externally activated should be construed to include both temperature and light activated materials, as well as materials activated by exposure to gases or other substances.
First sleeve 10 is applied to outer surface 8 of conductor 4. Second sleeve 14 is applied over first sleeve 10. Eternally activated shrinkable material 24 is activated causing second sleeve 14 to contract about first sleeve 10 compressing the amide synthetic fiber 20. Once the amide synthetic fiber 20 is compressed, first and second sleeves 10 and 14 cooperate synergistically to provide mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, and insulation to conductor 4. That is, second sleeve 14 in addition to being formed from an externally activated shrinkable material may also be formed from a material that provide electrical and/or temperature insulation qualities. Second sleeve 14 may also be formed from a material resistant to a wide variety of chemicals that exposure to could degrade conductor 4. Composite sleeve 2 thus provides multiple layers of protection to conductor 4. That is, composite sleeve 2 allows conductor 4 to be installed in a wide array of operating environments that include harsh conditions such as temperature, exposure to vibration and chaffing, and exposure to harsh chemicals.
Reference will now be made to
In accordance with the above arrangement, first sleeve 48 is positioned about outer surface 46 of conductor 42. Once in position, externally activated shrinkable material 60 is activated causing first sleeve 48 to contract about outer surface 46 of conductor 42. Second sleeve 54 is positioned about first sleeve 48 and activated. Second sleeve 54 contracts about and further compresses first sleeve 48. In this manner, first sleeve 48 provides abrasion resistance and mechanical strength, while second sleeve 54 provides insulation and protection from external influences.
Reference will now follow to
First sleeve 88 is formed from an externally activated shrinkable material 104. In a manner similar to that discussed above, externally activated shrinkable material 104 takes the form of a heat shrinkable material. However, other activation means can also be employed. Second sleeve 92 is formed from an amide synthetic fiber 108, and third sleeve 96 is formed from an externally activated shrinkable material 112 that may or may not be similar to first sleeve 88. With this arrangement, first sleeve 88 is positioned about outer surface 86 and externally activated shrinkable material 104 is activated. First sleeve 88 contracts about outer surface 86 providing a first protective layer to conductor 82. Second sleeve 92 is positioned about first sleeve 88 and third sleeve 96 is positioned about second sleeve 92. Third sleeve 96 is exposed to an activation input and compressed about second sleeve 92 and first sleeve 88 to form composite sleeve 80.
At this point it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments describe a composite sleeve that includes a layer of compressed amide synthetic fibers. The amide fibers may be self compressed, that is compressed by an externally activated material impregnated into the amide fibers, or by an additional outer layer. Regardless, the amide fiber layer and additional layers provide mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, and/or electrical insulation, and resistance to a wide variety of external environmental conditions such as temperature, chemicals, liquids and the like. A conductor provided with a composite sleeve formed in accordance with the exemplary embodiment can be incorporated into a wide variety of applications where high mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, and/or electrical insulation as well as resistance to other external environmental factors are desired.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
