US4567320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reinforced electrical cable and method of forming the cable
Assignee: Hubbell Inc
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Filing: 1983-04-26
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Granted: 1986-01-28
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Expires: 2003-04-26
Abstract
Abstract A reinforced insulated electrical cable and a method of forming the cable, which is especially useful in oil wells. The reinforcement comprises a thin tape of thermosetting material imbedded with an open-mesh fabric, the tape being spirally wrapped directly around the cable's insulation. The tape is wrapped in unvulcanized form and is then vulcanized in place over the insulation. The layer of open-mesh fabric is spaced from the outer surface of the insulation so that, during vulcanization, the insulation can radially outwardly expand without contacting and thus deforming the fabric, and at the same time the insulation can push part of the thermosetting material through the spaces in the fabric.
Inventors
- 👤 David H. Neuroth
- 👤 Armand Moscovici
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/04; H01B7/046; H01B7/08; H01B7/0869; H01B7/17; H01B7/18; H01B7/182
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of constructing a reinforced insulated conductor comprising the steps of providing a conductor having a core of conducting material and a layer of insulating material surrounding the core, said insulating material being solidified and having an outer radius R at ambient temperatures, forming a thin tape of unvulcanized thermosetting material imbedded with an open-mesh fabric defining a plurality of spaces therein, the inner side of the tape comprising a layer of the unvulcanized thermosetting material, applying the tape directly over the exterior of the solidified layer of insulating material to completely cover the exterior thereof, with the thermosetting material contacting the insulating material, heating the covered conductor for a sufficient period and at a sufficient temperature to allow the outer radius of the solidified insulating material to increase to R1 due to thermal expansion, thereby pushing the unvulcanized thermosetting material radially outwards so that at least part of it flows through the spaces in the open-mesh fabric to the other side thereof and resides there during vulcanization, and maintaining a heated condition until the thermosetting material becomes vulcanized, and cooling the covered conductor, the imbedded fabric as applied having a substantially fixed radius R2 that is equal to or greater than the outer radius R1 of the heated insulation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of constructing a reinforced insulated conductor comprising the steps of providing a conductor having a core of conducting material and a layer of insulating material surrounding the core, said insulating material being solidified and having an outer radius R at ambient temperatures, forming a thin tape of unvulcanized thermosetting material imbedded with an open-mesh fabric defining a plurality of spaces therein, the inner side of the tape comprising a layer of the unvulcanized thermosetting material, applying the tape directly over the exterior of the solidified layer of insulating material to completely cover the exterior thereof, with the thermosetting material contacting the insulating material, heating the covered conductor for a sufficient period and at a sufficient temperature to allow the outer radius of the solidified insulating material to increase to R1 due to thermal expansion, thereby pushing the unvulcanized thermosetting material radially outwards so that at least part of it flows through the spaces in the open-mesh fabric to the other side thereof and resides there during vulcanization, and maintaining a heated condition until the thermosetting material becomes vulcanized, and cooling the covered conductor, the imbedded fabric as applied having a substantially fixed radius R2 that is equal to or greater than the outer radius R1 of the heated insulation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the thermosetting material is a vulcanizable rubber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is formed of relatively non-extensible fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the thermosetting material has a Mooney viscosity measured at 212° F. of about 50 to about 130 before vulcanization.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the heating step is preceded by the step of enclosing the tape in a sheath, and the heating step includes filling any voids between the conductor and the sheath by means of the thermosetting material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the heating step includes vulcanizing the insulation on the conductor to the thermosetting material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the heating step is preceded by the step of applying a second thin tape of unvulcanized thermosetting material embedded with a second open-mesh fabric directly over the exterior of the first tape.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
228 words
A method of constructing a reinforced insulated conductor, comprising the steps of providing a conductor having a core of conducting material and a layer of insulating material surrounding the core, said insulating material being solidified, forming a thin tape of unvulcanized thermosetting material imbedded with an open-mesh fabric, defining a plurality of spaces therein, the inner side thereof comprising a layer of the unvulcanized thermosetting material, applying the tape directly over the exterior of the layer of solidified insulating material to completely cover the exterior thereof, the inner side of the tape contacting the exterior of the layer of insulating material, heating the covered conductor for a sufficient period and at a sufficient temperature to allow the radial thermal expansion of the solidified insulating material to push the unvulcanized thermosetting material radially outwards so that at least part of it flows through the spaces in the open-mesh fabric to the other side thereof and resides there during vulcanization, and maintaining the heated condition until the thermosetting material becomes vulcanized, and cooling the covered conductor, the layer of the unvulcanized thermosetting material as applied having a thickness at least equal to the amount of radial expansion experienced by the solidified insulating material during vulcanization, the imbedded fabric as applied having a substantially fixed radius that is at least equal to the outer radius of the heated solidified insulating material.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
228 words
A method of constructing a reinforced insulated conductor, comprising the steps of providing a conductor having a core of conducting material and a layer of insulating material surrounding the core, said insulating material being solidified, forming a thin tape of unvulcanized thermosetting material imbedded with an open-mesh fabric, defining a plurality of spaces therein, the inner side thereof comprising a layer of the unvulcanized thermosetting material, applying the tape directly over the exterior of the layer of solidified insulating material to completely cover the exterior thereof, the inner side of the tape contacting the exterior of the layer of insulating material, heating the covered conductor for a sufficient period and at a sufficient temperature to allow the radial thermal expansion of the solidified insulating material to push the unvulcanized thermosetting material radially outwards so that at least part of it flows through the spaces in the open-mesh fabric to the other side thereof and resides there during vulcanization, and maintaining the heated condition until the thermosetting material becomes vulcanized, and cooling the covered conductor, the layer of the unvulcanized thermosetting material as applied having a thickness at least equal to the amount of radial expansion experienced by the solidified insulating material during vulcanization, the imbedded fabric as applied having a substantially fixed radius that is at least equal to the outer radius of the heated solidified insulating material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the applying step comprises spirally wrapping the tape and includes overlapping about 5-50% of each of the previous spiral laps.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the forming step comprises applying the thermosetting material to the fabric to fill the spaces therein and applying an additional layer of the thermosetting material on one side thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the thermosetting material is a vulcanizable rubber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the fabric is formed of relatively non-extensible fibers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the thermosetting material has a Mooney viscosity measured at 212° F. of about 50 to about 130 before vulcanization.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
226 words
A reinforced insulated conductor formed by the process comprising the steps of providing a conductor having a core of conducting material and a layer of insulating material surrounding the core, said insulating material being solidified, forming a thin tape of unvulcanized thermosetting material imbedded with an open-mesh fabric defining a plurality of spaces therein, the inner side of the tape comprising a layer of the unvulcanized thermosetting material, applying the tape directly over the exterior of the layer of solidified insulating material to completely cover the exterior thereof, the inner side of the tape contacting the exterior of the layer of insulating material, heating the covered conductor for a sufficient period and at a sufficient temperature to allow the radial thermal expansion of the solidified insulating material to push the unvulcanized thermosetting material radially outwards so that at least part of it flows through the spaces in the open-mesh fabric to the other side thereof and resides there during vulcanization, and maintaining a heated condition until the thermosetting material becomes vulcanized, and cooling the covered conductor, the layer of the unvulcanized thermosetting material as applied having a thickness at least equal to the amount of radial expansion experienced by the insulation during vulcanization, the imbedded fabric as applied having a substantially fixed radius that is at least equal to the outer radius of the heated insulation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
226 words
A reinforced insulated conductor formed by the process comprising the steps of providing a conductor having a core of conducting material and a layer of insulating material surrounding the core, said insulating material being solidified, forming a thin tape of unvulcanized thermosetting material imbedded with an open-mesh fabric defining a plurality of spaces therein, the inner side of the tape comprising a layer of the unvulcanized thermosetting material, applying the tape directly over the exterior of the layer of solidified insulating material to completely cover the exterior thereof, the inner side of the tape contacting the exterior of the layer of insulating material, heating the covered conductor for a sufficient period and at a sufficient temperature to allow the radial thermal expansion of the solidified insulating material to push the unvulcanized thermosetting material radially outwards so that at least part of it flows through the spaces in the open-mesh fabric to the other side thereof and resides there during vulcanization, and maintaining a heated condition until the thermosetting material becomes vulcanized, and cooling the covered conductor, the layer of the unvulcanized thermosetting material as applied having a thickness at least equal to the amount of radial expansion experienced by the insulation during vulcanization, the imbedded fabric as applied having a substantially fixed radius that is at least equal to the outer radius of the heated insulation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A reinforced insulated conductor formed by the process according to claim 14, wherein the applying step comprises spirally wrapping the tape and includes overlapping about 5-50% of each of the previous spiral laps.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
A reinforced insulated conductor formed by the process according to claim 14, wherein the forming step comprises applying the thermosetting material to the open-mesh fabric to fill the spaces therein and applying an additional layer of the thermosetting material on one side thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A reinforced insulated conductor formed by the process according to claim 14, wherein the thermosetting material is vulcanizable rubber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A reinforced insulated conductor formed by the process according to claim 14, wherein the fabric is formed of relatively non-extensible fibers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A reinforced insulated conductor formed by the process according to claim 14, wherein the thermosetting material has a Mooney viscosity of about 50 to about 90 before vulcanization.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
98 words
An electrical cable comprising: a plurality of insulated conductors; a reinforcing layer applied directly around the exterior of each of said insulated conductors to completely cover said exteriors thereof, said reinforcing layer comprising a thin tape formed of thermosetting material imbedded with an open-mesh fabric; a force-resisting support member interposed between adjacent ones of said reinforcing layers, said support member being rigid in cross section for resisting transverse compressive forces; a sheath enclosing said insulated conductors, reinforcing layers and support member; and thermosetting material substantially filling the voids between said sheath and said reinforcing layers and support member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
98 words
An electrical cable comprising: a plurality of insulated conductors; a reinforcing layer applied directly around the exterior of each of said insulated conductors to completely cover said exteriors thereof, said reinforcing layer comprising a thin tape formed of thermosetting material imbedded with an open-mesh fabric; a force-resisting support member interposed between adjacent ones of said reinforcing layers, said support member being rigid in cross section for resisting transverse compressive forces; a sheath enclosing said insulated conductors, reinforcing layers and support member; and thermosetting material substantially filling the voids between said sheath and said reinforcing layers and support member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-27 | 1989-07-29 | 1990-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-27 | 1993-07-29 | 1994-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-27 | 1997-07-29 | 1998-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |