Fiber insulator with fiber optic cable

Abstract

An optical fiber insulator (100) having an optical fiber cable (200) is provided. The optical fiber insulator (100) includes: an optical fiber cable (200); a ceramic sheath (120), wherein the ceramic sheath (120) is hollow and has an internal diameter (D) configured to guide the optical fiber cable (200); an insulating filler material (130) that at least partially fills the ceramic sheath (120) and is disposed between the optical fiber cable (200) and the ceramic sheath (120), wherein the insulating filler material (130) has thermal properties similar to those of the optical fiber cable (200) and the ceramic sheath (120), and wherein at least one end of the optical fiber insulator (100) is closed by at least one end cap (151, 152).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an optical fiber insulator with an optical fiber cable, which is used for a direct measurement method of medium and high voltage disconnecting switches. Background Technology

[0002] Signal and / or data transmission in controlled (indoor) high-voltage environments can already be carried out via optical fiber. Specific sheathing materials can be used to bridge significant potential differences. Furthermore, these materials are primarily used inside areas such as transformers (enclosed environments) and valve chambers (enclosed, humidity-controlled environments).

[0003] The transmission of fiber optic signals and data in medium- and high-voltage environments can be accomplished using so-called fiber optic insulators. The primary application in this field can be found in long-distance fiber optic transmissions combined with high-voltage lines. Therefore, so-called ADSS cables are used to transmit fiber optic telecommunication signals. At the start and end points of the high-voltage line, the fiber optic cable must be connected to the ground horizontally. This can be achieved via various fiber optic insulators to bridge voltages up to 1200kV. Nevertheless, these are fixed installations, meaning the insulator itself does not involve significant movement.

[0004] Further applications of fiber optic insulators can be found in medium- and high-voltage substations. Various different devices must be connected to fiber optic signal transmission. All of these applications are fixed installations and therefore cannot be moved. Such movement would affect the optical signal due to mechanical impacts.

[0005] In medium- and high-voltage areas, signals and data must be transmitted from the measurement point to the main control cabinet on the ground level via optical fiber. This can be achieved through wireless data transmission or wired signal and data transmission. Summary of the Invention

[0006] For wireless transmission, the main challenges lie in powering the sensor system and ensuring uninterrupted connectivity under all weather conditions. Another challenge is the difficulty and acceptability of self-powered systems in such high-voltage environments. Therefore, this approach has its limitations.

[0007] Due to the potential difference between the sensor and the receiving electronics (from ground level to greater than 50kV at the sensor location), standard copper-wire-based sensor solutions are not suitable. Therefore, the only option is to use fiber optic-based data and signal transmission.

[0008] Another challenge is that disconnect switches are typically located outdoors in harsh environments. Ambient temperatures can range from -50 degrees Celsius to +85 degrees Celsius. In addition, humidity, sand, mud, heavy rain and thunderstorms, air pollution, and other negative environmental factors must be considered.

[0009] Pure cable connections from ground level to a potential difference of >50kV present problems such as partial discharge, creep current, and environmental factors.

[0010] The inventors of this invention have discovered that in such an environment, almost all cables will experience partial discharge after a certain service life, mainly due to the aging of cable materials and residues / deposits caused by environmental factors (such as air pollution, moss, and others).

[0011] Cable connections can be made using so-called fiber optic insulators, which are hollow insulators made of ceramic or silicone. As described in published research, silicone insulators face several technical challenges. However, in terms of manufacturing challenges, shrinkage, etc., they are the best choice for integration with cables. To overcome these difficulties, combining traditional ceramic insulators with fiber optic feedthroughs may be the preferred option.

[0012] The third and most challenging aspect is that switches contain moving parts, particularly the isolator itself, which moves and rotates along with the connecting arm of the breaker-disconnector (BCDS) to perform its switching function. This results in significant repetitive twisting of the optical fiber when used for signal and data transmission. For ordinary cables, this twisting severely affects the optical performance of the fiber and negatively impacts sensing signals.

[0013] Based on this fact, it is necessary to develop tension-resistant and bending-resistant cables as well as connections between cables and isolators.

[0014] The inventors of this invention have developed an optical fiber insulator with an optical fiber cable to achieve reliable and high-performance transmission of signals and data suitable for the service life of medium and high voltage (isolation) switches.

[0015] The present invention solves one or more of the above-mentioned problems by means of an optical fiber insulator having an optical fiber cable as defined in independent claim 1. Specific embodiments are further defined by the dependent claims.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an optical fiber insulator with an optical fiber cable is provided, the optical fiber insulator comprising an optical fiber cable and a ceramic sheath, the ceramic sheath being hollow. The ceramic sheath has an inner whole diameter configuration configured to guide the optical fiber cable. The optical fiber insulator further includes an insulating filler material that at least partially fills the ceramic sheath and is disposed between the optical fiber cable and the outer ceramic sheath. Furthermore, at least one end of the optical fiber insulator is closed by at least one end cap configured to close at least one end of the optical fiber insulator, wherein the at least one end cap is configured such that the optical fiber cable passes through the at least one end cap.

[0017] Preferably, the at least one end cap is configured to be fixed to the outer surface or outer layer of the optical fiber cable, such as yarn covering the (hollow) tube of the optical fiber cable or a non-corrosive sheath covering the yarn, to prevent movement of the optical fiber cable along the extension direction of the optical fiber cable and / or reduce / prevent the torsion applied to the optical fiber cable from being transferred to the optical fiber of the optical fiber cable.

[0018] The insulating filler material can fill most of the hollow internal space between the optical fiber cable and the hollow ceramic sheath, preferably completely.

[0019] The ceramic sheath may have an inner diameter configured to guide the fiber optic cable. That is, the ceramic sheath may extend along the extension direction to cover a certain length of the fiber optic cable. The fiber optic cable may be fed into the hollow ceramic sheath via at least one end cap, and the fiber optic cable will be guided by the ceramic sheath along the extension direction.

[0020] The direction of extension of the fiber optic insulator / ceramic sheath may be at least partially the same as or different from the direction of extension of the fiber optic cable.

[0021] Here, when viewed along the extension direction of the fiber insulator, the end of the fiber insulator is understood as the beginning or end of the fiber insulator, and the fiber insulator can extend from one end to the other.

[0022] To achieve improved performance and isolation of optical fiber insulators in the harsh environment described above, a hollow ceramic sheath as described above is proposed, wherein the internal space of the insulator can be filled or completely filled with a filling material.

[0023] The insulating material may have thermal properties configured to compensate for the thermal properties of at least one of the optical fiber cable and the ceramic sheath. Preferably, the insulating material may have thermal properties configured to compensate for the thermal properties of both the optical fiber cable and the ceramic sheath. In other words, the insulating material may have thermal characteristics configured such that temperature changes and / or high / low temperatures from the environment of the optical fiber insulator are not transmitted to the optical fiber cable via the insulating material, thereby preventing any damage and impact of temperature changes and / or high temperatures (e.g., below 0°C or above 100°C) on the optical fiber cable or the optical fiber of the optical fiber cable.

[0024] In addition, end caps can be used to seal at least one end of the insulator, preferably both ends, to protect the filler material and enable the filling process.

[0025] The outer surface of the ceramic sheath can have a wavy shape, and the inner surface of the ceramic sheath can face the optical fiber cable. Furthermore, the inner surface of the ceramic sheath can have a smooth surface extending along the extension direction of the optical fiber insulator. This provides the technical effect that the creepage distance can be significantly increased compared to a smooth outer surface (smooth surface). A longer creepage distance contributes to the insulation level of the optical fiber insulator.

[0026] Insulating filler materials can possess thermal properties similar to those of fiber optic cables and ceramic sheaths, thereby achieving improved insulation performance.

[0027] The at least one end cap can be configured to seal the end of the insulator, thereby protecting it from environmental impacts.

[0028] Here, the sealing function has typical significance in existing sealing technologies, for example, where an opening in an insulator can be sealed to prevent fluids and / or gases from passing through the seal. Thus, the insulator can shield against fluids or gases that would otherwise pass through into or out of the insulator.

[0029] The at least one end cap may have an optical fiber cable opening. The optical fiber cable opening may be arranged such that the optical fiber cable can pass through the opening into the optical fiber insulator (and into the hollow sheath). Alternatively, the optical fiber cable opening may be configured to seal together with the optical fiber cable as it passes through the opening.

[0030] The at least one end cap may be detachably coupled to the at least one end of the optical fiber insulator.

[0031] By providing at least one end cap, filler material can be first filled into the ceramic sheath via at least one end, and after filling, the end cap can be disposed at or within at least one end to prevent the filler material from escaping from the insulator and to protect the filler material. Furthermore, by appropriately selecting the diameters of the at least one end and the at least one end cap, a more efficient filling process can be achieved compared to the case where the filler material is input via, for example, an optical fiber opening with a diameter smaller than that of the at least one end cap.

[0032] When viewed in a cross-section extending along the extension direction of the optical fiber insulator, the end of the insulator may have a near-square shape. When viewed in cross-section, the near-square shape may have a front surface and a rear surface parallel to the front surface, and the front and rear surfaces may be connected by side surfaces. When viewed in cross-section, two side surfaces connecting the front and rear surfaces may be present. Of course, when viewed in a three-dimensional mode, at least four side surfaces connecting the front and rear surfaces may be present. The optical fiber insulator may extend from the front surface of the near-square shape along the extension direction. In other words, when viewed along the extension direction, the optical fiber insulator may have a first end and a second end. The optical fiber insulator may extend from the first end to the second end. The first end may correspond to the front surface, and the second surface may be disposed between the first and second ends. Furthermore, when viewed in cross-section, the front and rear surfaces of the near-square shape may extend in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction. At least one edge formed by the side surfaces and one of the front or rear surfaces may be configured as an opening, which is arranged to receive at least one end cap. Alternatively, the near-square opening may be sealed with at least one end cap or may be capable of sealing at least one end cap.

[0033] In other words, the near-square shape can be hollow, wherein the internal hollow space can be connected to the internal space of the hollow ceramic sheath. Openings formed at the edges connect the near-square hollow space to the environment of the optical fiber insulator.

[0034] Here, the term "quasi-square edge" is used to specify the location of an opening configured to receive at least one end cap. Of course, if the edge is configured as an opening, then the edge no longer exists physically.

[0035] At least two edges of the square-shaped structure can be configured as openings, each opening being configured to receive a corresponding end cap.

[0036] Both openings can be connected to a square-shaped internal hollow space.

[0037] When viewed in cross-section, at least two openings of a near-square shape may be formed at the edges corresponding to the side surfaces connected to the front surface.

[0038] By providing at least two openings sealed by corresponding end caps, the fiber optic cable can be fed through the first end cap before the filler material has been introduced into the hollow sheath. The fiber optic cable can be arranged as needed, and the corresponding end cap seals one opening together with the fiber optic cable. The second opening can then be used to fill the filler material and can be sealed by the second end cap after at least partial or complete filling of the ceramic sheath. This simplifies the assembly of the insulator and the fiber optic cable.

[0039] The filling material can at least partially fill the hollow ceramic sheath and the square-shaped hollow space, thereby ensuring the insulation effect of the insulator used for optical fiber cables.

[0040] The optical fiber cable may include: a hollow tube extending along the extension direction of the optical fiber cable; at least one optical fiber extending along the extension direction of the optical fiber cable and disposed within the hollow tube; and a special gel disposed within the hollow tube, and, when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the extension direction of the optical fiber cable, the special gel is at least partially disposed between the at least one optical fiber and the hollow tube. The hollow tube may have at least a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the hollow tube may be disposed inside an optical fiber insulator, and the second portion may be disposed outside the optical fiber insulator. The second portion may extend away from at least one end cap (along the extension direction of the optical fiber cable). The outer surface of the second portion of the hollow tube may be covered by a highly resistant aramid yarn. The outer surface of the highly resistant aramid yarn may be covered by a polyurethane, polyethylene, or cross-linked polyethylene / flame-retardant, non-corrosive sheath.

[0041] An optical fiber cable opening or at least one end cap may be configured to secure a second portion of the hollow tube. The optical fiber cable opening or at least one end cap may be configured to be secured with highly resistant aramid yarn and / or a non-corrosion-resistant sheath. That is, the second portion of the hollow tube may have highly resistant aramid yarn and a non-corrosion-resistant sheath, and one end disposed at the optical fiber cable opening or at least one end cap may be secured to said optical fiber cable opening or said at least one end cap. In other words, the sheath and aramid yarn may be secured together with the cable gland and secured to the end of the optical fiber insulator in or at least one end cap.

[0042] Aramid yarn and non-corrosive sheath may be removed or not present in the first part because the aramid yarn may be immersed in water and become a voltage transmission medium.

[0043] By securing the second portion of the hollow tube and / or attaching the fiber optic cable opening / at least one end cap to the highly resistant aramid yarn and / or the non-corrosive sheath, for example, any tensile force applied to the fiber optic cable can be applied to the aramid yarn, the non-corrosive sheath, and the at least one end cap and / or the fiber optic cable opening of the at least one end cap, but not to the optical fiber. Thus, in applications where such force is applied or the fiber optic cable is moved, the signal quality of the fiber optic cable can be further improved.

[0044] By using a sheath made of the aforementioned materials, a fiber optic cable capable of withstanding the required environmental influences can be provided.

[0045] Furthermore, by providing high-resistance aramid yarn, the mechanical properties of the optical fiber cable can be improved. In particular, the aramid yarn improves tensile strength and skin strength, thereby greatly enhancing the tensile strength and resistance to repeated bending and torsion of the optical fiber cable.

[0046] By providing a special gel inside the hollow tube between at least one fiber and the hollow tube, the movement of the hollow tube can be attenuated or even decoupled from the movement of at least one optical fiber. Since optical signals transmitted via at least one optical fiber are highly sensitive to any movement of at least one fiber, and in order to reduce or even eliminate noise or degradation of the transmitted optical signal, a special gel can be provided between the hollow tube and at least one optical fiber. The special gel absorbs or attenuates any movement of the hollow tube without transferring the movement to at least one optical fiber. Therefore, such optical fiber cables can be used in applications where it is necessary to move the optical fiber cable without degrading the optical signal.

[0047] The hollow tube can be a loose tube. In particular, the second part of the hollow tube can be a loose tube.

[0048] The special gel may have a specific viscosity, which is configured to transmit the movement and / or rotation of the hollow tube only partially to the at least one fiber, or the specific viscosity may be configured to decouple the movement and / or rotation of the hollow tube from the movement of the at least one fiber.

[0049] Special gels may have a specific viscosity that is configured to prevent the fiber optic cable from slipping or dripping at the end of the cable, even when the fiber optic cable is positioned where it extends in a direction parallel to Earth's gravity.

[0050] In other words, the viscosity of a special gel can be set so that the fiber optic cable can be held even in the vertical direction without the special gel moving out or dripping from the end of the fiber optic cable.

[0051] Hollow tubes can be made from double-layered hollow tubes. The double layer can be polycarbonate and polybutylene terephthalate (PBPT). This allows the fiber optic cable to be used in different temperature ranges. Alternatively, the hollow tube can be made from polyamide, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene), or PBPT. PBPT is suitable as a material for mild environments such as those in Europe.

[0052] The hollow tube can be a loose-fitting hollow tube.

[0053] High-resistance aramid yarns provide the tensile, bending, and torsional properties required for fiber optic cables.

[0054] According to another embodiment of the invention, a system is provided comprising an insulator according to any aspect of the foregoing insulator. The optical fiber cable of the system, or the optical fiber cable provided in the system, can be an optical fiber cable according to any aspect of the foregoing optical fiber cable. Attached Figure Description

[0055] The disclosure of this application is explained with reference to the following accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

[0056] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber insulator according to the present invention;

[0057] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber cable according to the present invention; and

[0058] Figure 3 Cross-sectional, side, and top views of example applications of fiber optic insulators and fiber optic cables. Detailed Implementation

[0059] The following description of the accompanying drawings is for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to its specific details. Furthermore, the measurements and dimensions in the drawings do not necessarily correspond to reality, but are drawn for illustrative purposes.

[0060] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an optical fiber insulator 100 according to the present invention is shown. The cross-sectional view extends in the drawing plane. The optical fiber insulator 100 includes an optical fiber cable 200, a ceramic sheath 120, and an insulating filler material 130. The optical fiber cable... Figure 1 It has the number 200, however, Figure 1 The fiber optic cable 200 in the middle can have the same characteristics as... Figure 2 The diagram shows different configurations of fiber optic cables. Of course, the fiber optic cable can be used as a reference. Figure 2 The fiber optic cable 200 is described.

[0061] The ceramic sheath 120 is hollow and has an inner total diameter D configured to guide the optical fiber cable 200 along the extension direction of the optical fiber insulator 100 or the optical fiber cable 200. For example... Figure 1As is clearly visible, the diameter D of the ceramic sheath 120 is set to be larger than the diameter of the optical fiber cable 200 to allow the optical fiber cable 200 to pass through the optical fiber insulator 100 for feeding. Specifically, the diameter D of the ceramic sheath 120 is set such that insulating filler material 130 can be filled into the hollow ceramic sheath 120 and disposed between the optical fiber cable 200 and the ceramic sheath 120. The insulating material 130 is electrically insulating. The insulating filler material 130 has thermal properties configured to compensate for the thermal properties of at least one of the optical fiber cable 200 and the ceramic sheath 120. That is, the thermal properties of the insulating material 130 are set / configured such that it can compensate for, for example, heat transferred or absorbed by the ceramic sheath 120 that is not conducted to the optical fiber cable 200. In other words, the thermal properties of the insulating material 130 can be configured to be thermally insulating.

[0062] The insulating filler material 130 may be a material that can be initially provided in a fluid or gel-like state to be filled into the ceramic sheath 120. Once the optical fiber cable 200 and the insulating filler material 130 are provided inside the ceramic sheath 120, the insulating filler material can harden and become a long-term stable electrical and temperature insulating component of the optical fiber insulator 100. Furthermore, at least one end of the optical fiber insulator 100 is closed by at least one end cap 151, 152.

[0063] By providing insulating filler material 130 at least partially inside the ceramic sheath 120 and at least partially disposed between the optical fiber cable 200 and the ceramic sheath 120, the insulation performance of the optical fiber insulator 100 is improved and any optical signals transmitted via the optical fiber cable 200 can be shielded from destructive environmental effects such as high voltage environments.

[0064] from Figure 1 As can be clearly seen, the outer surface of the ceramic sheath 120 has a wavy shape, while the inner surface of the ceramic sheath faces the fiber optic cable 200. Specifically, the inner surface of the ceramic sheath 120 has a smooth surface to allow for simplified feedthrough of the fiber optic cable 200 and an improved filling process for the insulating filler material 130. Compared to the smooth outer surface (smooth surface), this provides an increased creepage distance, where the longer creepage distance contributes to the insulation level of the insulator 100.

[0065] In addition, from Figure 1 As can be clearly seen, the fiber optic cable 200 or its hollow tube 210 has a first portion 211 and a second portion 212. The first portion 211 is disposed within / inside the fiber optic insulator 100, particularly within the ceramic sheath 120. The second portion 212 is disposed outside the fiber optic insulator 200. Figure 1 As shown, the second portion 212 extends from at least one end cap 151 along the extension direction of the optical fiber cable 200. Figure 1The bottom. Therefore, the second part 212 extends away from at least one end cap 151.

[0066] exist Figure 1 In the first part 211, the second part 212 extends from the outer surface of at least one end cap 151. The first part 211 extends from at least the inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the at least one end cap 151 along the inside of the ceramic sheath 120.

[0067] Figure 1 Only the bottom portion of the optical fiber insulator 100 and its corresponding bottom end are shown. Of course, the optical fiber insulator 100 may have a top portion, which also has an end portion of the optical fiber insulator 100, which may be connected to... Figure 1 The bottom end shown is configured in the same way.

[0068] exist Figure 1 In the optical fiber insulator 100, at least one end has a near-square shape. Specifically, Figure 1 A rectangular shape is shown at at least one end of the fiber insulator 100. The near-square shape is hollow and connects to the internal space of the hollow ceramic sheath 120. Furthermore, in Figure 1 In the cross-sectional view, the near-square shape has a front surface, a rear surface, and two side surfaces. Of course, when viewed in three dimensions, at least four side surfaces are provided. The front and rear surfaces are connected by the two side surfaces to form the near-square shape. Furthermore, the front and rear surfaces of the near-square shape extend perpendicular to the extending direction of the optical fiber insulator 100. Figure 1 It can be clearly seen that the square-shaped front and rear surfaces extend beyond the wavy shape of the ceramic sheath 120.

[0069] In addition, when in Figure 1 When viewed in the center, the near-square shape has two openings 141, 142 formed at the lower corner / edge of the near-square shape. Each of the openings 141, 142 may be provided with an end cap 151, 152. The end caps 151, 152 may be configured to close the openings 141, 142, and alternatively, seal the openings 141, 142 to protect the insulating filler material 130 and enable the filling process. The fiber optic cable 200 passes through the fiber optic cable opening of the end cap 151. Figure 1The configuration of the fiber optic insulator allows for a simple and time-efficient construction of the fiber optic insulator 100. Specifically, the fiber optic cable 200 can be fed through the fiber optic cable opening in the end cap 151 and can therefore be easily arranged within the fiber optic insulator 100. That is, the fiber optic cable 200 can be easily passed through the end cap 151 and pulled through the fiber optic insulator 100, while the end cap 151 maintains its position at the opening 141 during the pulling of the fiber optic cable. Secondly, another opening 142 can be used before or after the arrangement of the fiber optic cable 200 for filling the insulating filler material 130. Since the opening 142 can have a larger diameter than the fiber optic cable 200 and can still be sealed or closed by the end cap 152, an efficient filling process is achieved. The openings 141 and 142 also communicate with the entire interior space, which is roughly square in shape, allowing the fiber optic cable 200 to pass through and permitting the introduction of the insulating filler material 130.

[0070] End caps 151 and 152 can be configured to seal openings 141 and 142 with or without fiber optic cable 200.

[0071] The at least one end cap 151, 152 may be configured as a plug to close at least one end of the optical fiber insulator 100. In particular, the at least one end cap 151, 152 may have a disc or similar plug shape having a radius corresponding to or slightly smaller than the radius of the openings 141, 142.

[0072] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the optical fiber cable 200 according to the present invention is shown. Figure 2 The cross-sectional view is perpendicular to Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view, specifically a cross-sectional view of the fiber optic cable 200 at the second portion 211. The fiber optic cable 200 includes a hollow tube 210 extending along the fiber optic cable's extension direction, as previously described regarding... Figure 1 As shown. The fiber optic cable 200 also includes at least one optical fiber 220 extending along the extension direction of the fiber optic cable, wherein the at least one optical fiber 220 is disposed within a hollow tube 210. Two or more optical fibers 220 may be provided inside the hollow tube 210. Furthermore, a special gel 230 is disposed within the hollow tube 210 and at least partially between the at least one optical fiber 220 and the hollow tube 210. The outer surface of a second portion 211 of the hollow tube 210 is covered with a highly resistant aramid yarn 240, wherein the inner surface of the hollow tube 210 faces the at least one optical fiber 220. Furthermore, the outer surface of the highly resistant aramid yarn 240 is covered with a polyurethane, polyethylene, or cross-linked polyethylene / flame-retardant non-corrosion sheath 250.

[0073] By arranging a special gel 230 inside the hollow tube 210, particularly between the fiber optic cable 200 and the inner surface of the hollow tube 210, any movement of the hollow tube 210 is reduced, resulting in less or no movement being conducted to at least one optical fiber 220 via the special gel 230. In other words, due to the viscosity of the special gel 230, any movement of the hollow tube 210 is decoupled from or reduced by the movement of at least one optical fiber 220. This is advantageous because any small movement or vibration applied to at least one optical fiber 220 can affect the transmitted optical signal and potentially degrade it. By reducing or even eliminating these effects, highly sensitive measurements can be performed and corresponding optical signals can be transmitted via the fiber optic cable 200 with little or no interference reception at the corresponding measurement station.

[0074] Specifically, the viscosity of the special gel 230 can be configured or set to transmit the movement and / or rotation of the hollow tube only partially to at least one optical fiber 220. Furthermore, even when the optical fiber cable 200 is positioned such that it extends in a direction parallel to Earth's gravity, the special gel 230 has a viscosity configured not to migrate or drip at the end of the optical fiber cable.

[0075] Hollow tube 210 may be made of a double-layered hollow tube, wherein the double layer is polycarbonate and polybutylene terephthalate. Alternatively, hollow tube 210 may be made of polyamide, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene, or polybutylene terephthalate. For mild environments such as in Europe, polybutylene terephthalate may be used.

[0076] Furthermore, the hollow tube 210 can be configured as a loose-fitting hollow tube. This means that the hollow tube 210 is not tensioned between the two ends of the optical fiber cable, but can be in a relaxed configuration. This is further advantageous for the movement of the attenuating optical fiber cable 200.

[0077] Now, refer to it again. Figure 1 The second portion 211 of the optical fiber cable 200, consisting of a hollow tube 210, at least one optical fiber 220, a special gel 230, a high-resistance aramid yarn 240, and a non-corrosion sheath 250, is secured to at least one end cap 151. Specifically, at least the high-resistance aramid yarn 240 and the non-corrosion sheath 250 are secured to at least one end cap 151.

[0078] By fixing only the high-resistance aramid yarn 240 and the non-corrosive sheath 250, the hollow tube 210 can be considered a loose tube. For example, the tension applied to the optical fiber cable 200 is applied to the high-resistance aramid yarn 240 and the non-corrosive sheath 250, not the loose tube, and especially not to the optical fiber 220. The tension is directed at at least one end cap 151 and may be directed at the optical fiber insulator 100. Therefore, the optical fiber 220 is protected from the external forces applied to the optical fiber cable 200, increasing the shelf life of the optical fiber cable and protecting the transmission performance of the optical fiber 220, which would otherwise be reduced or degraded.

[0079] Figure 3 Three different views are shown: a cross-sectional view, a side view, and a top view illustrating an example application of the invention. In the cross-sectional view, according to Figure 1 The fiber optic insulator 100 is shown together with the fiber optic cable 200. This side view shows the fiber optic insulator 100, with the arm 320 of the open / close disconnect switch (BCDS) positioned at the upper end of the fiber optic insulator 100. The fiber optic cable 200 connects to the measurement station 310 and passes through the lower end of the fiber optic insulator 100. The fiber optic cable 200 is guided from the fiber optic insulator 100 to the upper end and fed to the optical measurement position via the arm 320. Furthermore, as exemplarily shown in the side view, a voltage V1 is applied at the optical measurement position in the environment at the upper end of the fiber optic insulator 100. Additionally, a voltage V2 is present in the environment at the lower end. The difference between voltages V1 and V2 can be between 50 kV and 250 kV. A directional arrow T is shown as exemplarily shown in the side view, which is also seen in the top view. This optical measurement may require moving or rotating the arm 320 to another measurement or closed position. If the arm 320 is rotated as indicated by arrow T, a torsion is also applied to the fiber optic cable 200. As explained above, the optical signal transmitted via the fiber optic cable 200 can be very sensitive, and therefore such twisting can degrade the optical signal. Since the fiber optic cable 200 can be configured as such, the degrading effect of twisting can be reduced via a special gel 230. Therefore, an optical measurement device having the fiber optic insulator 100 and the fiber optic cable 200 can be moved without degraded optical signals.

Claims

1. An optical fiber insulator (100) having an optical fiber cable (200), comprising: Fiber optic cable (200); A ceramic sheath (120), wherein the ceramic sheath (120) is hollow. The ceramic sheath (120) has an inner diameter (D) configured to guide the optical fiber cable (200). An insulating filler material (130), which at least partially fills the ceramic sheath (120) and is disposed between the optical fiber cable (200) and the ceramic sheath (120), and Wherein, at least one end of the optical fiber insulator (100) is closed by at least one end cap (151, 152) configured to close at least one end of the optical fiber insulator (100). The at least one end cap (151, 152) is configured such that the optical fiber cable (200) passes through the at least one end cap, wherein the at least one end cap has an optical fiber cable opening, and Wherein, the at least one end cap (151, 152) is configured to secure the optical fiber cable (200) such that movement of the optical fiber cable (200) is prevented along the direction of extension of the optical fiber cable, and wherein the optical fiber cable (200) comprises: A hollow tube (210) extends along the direction of the optical fiber cable; At least one optical fiber (220) extending along the direction of the optical fiber cable and disposed within the hollow tube (210); and A special gel (230) is disposed within the hollow tube (210) and is at least partially located between the at least one optical fiber (220) and the hollow tube (210). The hollow tube (210) has at least a first part (211) and a second part (212). The first portion (211) of the hollow tube (210) is disposed inside the optical fiber insulator, and the second portion (212) is disposed outside the optical fiber insulator, the second portion (212) extending away from the at least one end cap along the direction of the optical fiber cable extension. The outer surface of the second portion (212) of the hollow tube (210) is covered with high-resistance aramid yarn (240), wherein the outer surface of the high-resistance aramid yarn (240) is covered with a flame-retardant and non-corrosive sheath (250) made of polyurethane, polyethylene or cross-linked polyethylene. Wherein, the optical fiber cable opening is configured to fix the second portion of the hollow tube (210), and The fiber optic cable opening is configured to be secured to the high-resistance aramid yarn and / or the flame-retardant, non-corrosive sheath (250), i.e., by securing at least one end cap (151, 152) at the fiber optic cable opening to the high-resistance aramid yarn and / or the non-corrosive sheath.

2. The optical fiber insulator (100) according to claim 1. wherein The outer surface of the ceramic sheath (120) has a wavy shape, and the inner surface of the ceramic sheath (120) faces the optical fiber cable (200).

3. The optical fiber insulator (100) according to claim 1 or 2. wherein The insulating filler material (130) has thermal properties configured to compensate for the thermal properties of at least one of the optical fiber cable (200) and the ceramic sheath (120).

4. The optical fiber insulator (100) according to any one of claims 1-3. wherein, The at least one end cap (151, 152) is configured to seal the at least one end of the optical fiber insulator (100).

5. The optical fiber insulator (100) according to claim 4. wherein The fiber optic cable opening is arranged such that the fiber optic cable (200) passes through the fiber optic cable opening and enters the fiber optic insulator (100). The fiber optic cable opening is configured to seal the fiber optic cable (200) when the fiber optic cable (200) passes through the fiber optic cable opening.

6. The optical fiber insulator (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. in, When viewed in a cross-section extending along the extension direction of the optical fiber insulator (100), at least one end of the optical fiber insulator (100) has a near-square shape. When viewed in the cross-section, the near-square shape has a front surface and a rear surface parallel to the front surface, and the front and rear surfaces are connected by side surfaces. The optical fiber insulator (100) extends from the front surface of the near-square shape along the extending direction. Wherein, when viewed in the cross-section, the front and rear surfaces of the near-square shape extend along a direction perpendicular to the extending direction, and At least one edge formed by the side surface and one of the front or rear surfaces is configured as an opening (141, 142), the opening being arranged to receive the at least one end cap (151, 152). Optionally, the square-shaped opening (141, 142) is sealed with at least one end cap (151, 152).

7. The optical fiber insulator (100) according to claim 6. in, At least two edges of the square-shaped structure are configured as openings (141, 142), which are configured to receive at least one corresponding end cap (151, 152).

8. The optical fiber insulator (100) according to claim 7. in, When viewed in cross-section, the at least two openings (141, 142) of the near-square shape are formed at the edges corresponding to the side surfaces connected to the front surface.

9. The optical fiber insulator (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8. in, The special gel (230) has a specific viscosity, which is configured to transmit only partially the movement and / or rotation of the hollow tube (210) to the at least one optical fiber (220), or wherein the specific viscosity is configured to decouple the movement and / or rotation of the hollow tube (210) from the movement of the at least one optical fiber (220), and / or The special gel (230) has a specific viscosity, which is configured so that the fiber optic cable (200) will not move or drip at the end of the fiber optic cable even when the fiber optic cable (200) is arranged in a position where the fiber optic cable (200) extends in a direction parallel to the Earth's gravity.

10. The optical fiber insulator (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9. in, The hollow tube (210) is made of a double-layer hollow tube, wherein the double layer is polycarbonate and polybutylene terephthalate, or The hollow tube (210) is made of polyamide, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene or polybutylene terephthalate.

11. The optical fiber insulator (100) according to any one of claims 1-10. in, The hollow tube (210) is a loose-fitting hollow tube.

Images