Underwater communication optical cable convenient to overhaul and maintain and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses an underwater communication optical cable convenient to overhaul and maintain and a manufacturing method thereof. The underwater communication optical cable comprises a water-blocking tape layer, a reinforcing core, a plurality of optical fiber units, an aramid fiber layer, an inner sheath and an outer sheath, the water-blocking tape layer is internally provided with an axially extending accommodating cavity; the reinforcing core comprises an air bag layer, an inner carbon fiber layer and an outer glass fiber layer, and the air bag layer forms a central air channel in a surrounding mode. The central air channel is formed in the reinforcing core, and the outer ring air channel is formed in the inner sheath, so that during use, the central air channel and the outer ring air channel are inflated, the two air pressure monitoring devices perform air pressure monitoring, and when the air pressure is monitored to be reduced, whether the surface of the optical cable is damaged or the interior of the optical cable is seriously damaged can be judged, so that quick and timely overhaul and maintenance can be performed; during overhaul and maintenance, the central air channel and the outer ring air channel can be inflated by using the inflating device, the damaged position of the optical cable can be judged by finding that bubbles continuously emerge from the water surface, and the optical cable does not need to be submerged to find, so that time and labor are saved, and convenience is brought to overhaul and maintenance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of optical cables, and in particular to an underwater communication optical cable that is easy to inspect and maintain, and a manufacturing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Optical fiber uses the difference in refractive index between the core and cladding materials to transmit light in the optical fiber, which is a major revolution in the history of communications. Optical fiber cables are light in weight and small in size, and have been adopted by the power system to transmit dispatching telephones, telecontrol signals, relay protection, television images and other information between substations and central dispatching offices. Communication optical cables are composed of a cable core and an outer sheath consisting of several (core) optical fibers (generally from a few cores to thousands of cores). Compared with traditional symmetrical copper loops and coaxial copper loops, optical fiber has much larger transmission capacity, less attenuation, longer transmission distance, smaller size, lighter weight, no electromagnetic interference, and low cost. It is currently the most promising communication transmission medium. It is widely used in signal transmission in various departments such as telecommunications, power, and broadcasting, and will gradually become the main body of future communication networks.

[0003] At present, many communication optical cables are laid underwater. Due to the complex underwater environment, the communication optical cables laid underwater are more susceptible to damage. The main structure of the current communication optical cables includes an outer sheath and an optical fiber unit arranged in the outer sheath. When the outer sheath is damaged, it is difficult to be discovered in time. It is not until the optical fiber unit is damaged and the signal transmission is interrupted that the communication optical cable is known to be damaged. In addition, the communication optical cable is relatively long, and maintenance personnel cannot intuitively and easily determine the damaged position of the communication optical cable. They need to dive underwater and find the damaged position of the communication optical cable along the laying direction of the communication optical cable, which brings trouble to the inspection and maintenance of the communication optical cable and is very time-consuming and laborious. Therefore, it is necessary to study a solution to solve the above problems. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention aims at the deficiencies in the prior art, and its main purpose is to provide an underwater communication optical cable and a manufacturing method thereof that is easy to inspect and maintain, which can effectively solve the problem of inconvenient inspection and maintenance of existing communication optical cables.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] An underwater communication optical cable that is easy to inspect and maintain, comprising a water-blocking tape layer, a reinforcing core, a plurality of optical fiber units, an aramid layer, an inner sheath and an outer sheath; the water-blocking tape layer has an axially extending accommodation cavity; the reinforcing core is arranged at the center of the accommodation cavity and extends axially; the reinforcing core comprises an air bag layer, an inner carbon fiber layer and an outer glass fiber layer; the air bag layer surrounds and forms a central airway; the inner carbon fiber layer is molded and coated on the outside of the air bag layer; the outer glass fiber layer is molded and coated on the outside of the air bag layer; The aramid layer is coated on the outside of the inner carbon fiber layer; the multiple optical fiber units are distributed on the periphery of the reinforcing core and extend parallel to the axial direction of the accommodating cavity, and the accommodating cavity is filled with water-blocking yarn; the aramid layer is coated on the outside of the water-blocking tape layer; the inner sheath is coated on the outside of the aramid layer, and the inner sheath includes an inner layer and an outer layer, the inner layer is coated on the outside of the aramid layer, the outer layer is located on the periphery of the inner layer, an outer ring airway is formed between the outer layer and the inner layer, and the outer ring airway is filled with steel wire to form a steel wire mesh support layer; the outer sheath is coated on the outside of the outer layer.

[0007] As a preferred solution, the optical fiber unit includes a sleeve and a plurality of optical fibers. The sleeve is filled with fiber paste. The plurality of optical fibers are arranged in the sleeve and embedded in the fiber paste.

[0008] As a preferred solution, there are six optical fiber units, and two adjacent optical fiber units are tightly fitted to make the structure compact and stable.

[0009] As a preferred solution, the thickness of the inner carbon fiber layer is greater than that of the outer glass fiber layer, has higher strength, and has moderate rigidity and toughness and is not easy to break.

[0010] As a preferred solution, the thickness of the inner layer is greater than the thickness of the outer layer.

[0011] As a preferred solution, the inner sheath comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 100 parts of modified polyethylene, 20-30 parts of ethylene and vinyl acetate copolymer resin, 10-20 parts of high-pressure metallocene polyethylene, 5-10 parts of unsaturated polyester imine, 1-5 parts of polyacrylonitrile, 1-2 parts of antioxidant OD, 10-14 parts of light calcium carbonate, 3-5 parts of ABS high-glue powder and 15-18 parts of kaolin powder. The inner sheath prepared by the formula of the present invention has better toughness, and is excellent in weather resistance, aging resistance and corrosion resistance. It can be immersed in water for a long time to better protect the internal structure of the optical cable.

[0012] A method for manufacturing an underwater communication optical cable that is easy to repair and maintain comprises the following steps:

[0013] (1) Making a reinforcing core: placing an airbag layer outside a mold core, wrapping an uncured carbon fiber cloth outside the airbag layer, and then wrapping an uncured glass fiber cloth outside the carbon fiber cloth, then placing it in a mold and heating it so that the carbon fiber cloth and the glass fiber cloth are respectively cured to form an inner carbon fiber layer and an outer glass fiber layer, and then the mold core is pulled out to obtain the reinforcing core;

[0014] (2) preparing a plurality of optical fiber units and a plurality of water-blocking yarns;

[0015] (3) placing a plurality of optical fiber units and a plurality of water-blocking yarns on the periphery of the reinforcing core and synchronously pulling the reinforcing core, the plurality of optical fiber units and the plurality of water-blocking yarns;

[0016] (3) During the traction process, a water-blocking tape is used to wrap the reinforcing core, the plurality of optical fiber units and the plurality of water-blocking yarns as a whole to form a water-blocking tape layer;

[0017] (4) wrapping aramid fiber outside the water blocking tape layer to form an aramid fiber layer;

[0018] (5) The aramid layer is covered with a prefabricated inner sheath, and the outer ring air channel of the inner sheath is filled with steel wire to form a steel wire mesh support layer;

[0019] (6) An outer sheath is wrapped around the inner sheath.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has obvious advantages and beneficial effects. Specifically, it can be seen from the above technical solution that:

[0021] By forming a central air channel in the reinforcing core and cooperating with the outer ring air channel formed in the inner sheath, when in use, the central air channel and the outer ring air channel are both inflated and the air pressure is monitored by two air pressure monitoring devices. When the air pressure drop is detected, it can be determined whether the optical cable is damaged on the surface or seriously damaged inside, so as to carry out rapid and timely inspection and maintenance. During inspection and maintenance, the inflation device can be used to inflate the central air channel and the outer ring air channel, and the damaged position of the optical cable can be determined by discovering bubbles that continue to emerge from the water surface. There is no need to dive into the water to search, which saves time and effort and brings convenience to inspection and maintenance.

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the structural features and effects of the present invention, the present invention is described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Description of the accompanying drawings:

[0025] 10. Water blocking tape layer 11. Accommodating cavity

[0026] 20. Strengthening core 21. Air bag layer

[0027] 22. Inner carbon fiber layer 23. Outer glass fiber layer

[0028] 201, central airway 30, optical fiber unit

[0029] 31. Casing 32. Optical fiber

[0030] 33, fiber paste 40, aramid layer

[0031] 50. Inner sheath 51. Inner layer

[0032] 52. Outer layer 501. Outer ring airway

[0033] 60. Outer sheath 71. Water-blocking yarn. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Please refer to Figure 1 As shown, it shows the specific structure of an underwater communication optical cable that is easy to inspect and maintain according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, including a water-blocking tape layer 10, a reinforcing core 20, a plurality of optical fiber units 30, an aramid layer 40, an inner sheath 50 and an outer sheath 60.

[0035] The water-blocking tape layer 10 has an axially extending accommodation cavity 11; the reinforcing core 20 is arranged at the center of the accommodation cavity 11 and extends axially, and the reinforcing core 20 includes an air bag layer 21, an inner carbon fiber layer 22 and an outer glass fiber layer 23. The air bag layer 21 is formed to form a central air channel 201, the inner carbon fiber layer 22 is molded and coated on the outside of the air bag layer 21, and the outer glass fiber layer 23 is molded and coated on the outside of the inner carbon fiber layer 22. In this embodiment, the air bag layer 21 is made of high temperature resistant plastic material, the thickness of the inner carbon fiber layer 22 is greater than the thickness of the outer glass fiber layer 23, has higher strength, and has moderate rigidity and toughness, and is not easy to break.

[0036] The plurality of optical fiber units 30 are distributed on the periphery of the reinforcing core 10 and extend parallel to the axial direction of the accommodation cavity 11, and the accommodation cavity 11 is filled with a water-blocking yarn 71 to achieve a good water-blocking effect. Specifically, the optical fiber unit 30 includes a sleeve 31 and a plurality of optical fibers 32, the sleeve 31 is filled with a fiber paste 33, and the plurality of optical fibers 32 are arranged in the sleeve 31 and embedded in the fiber paste 33. In addition, there are six optical fiber units 30, and two adjacent optical fiber units 30 are closely fitted to make the structure compact and stable.

[0037] The aramid layer 40 is coated on the outside of the water-blocking tape layer 10 to better protect the structure within the water-blocking tape layer 10 and prevent the main internal structure from being damaged; the inner sheath 50 is coated on the outside of the aramid layer 40, and the inner sheath 50 includes an inner layer 51 and an outer layer 52, the inner layer 51 is coated on the outside of the aramid layer 40, and the outer layer 52 is located on the periphery of the inner layer 51, and an outer ring airway 501 is formed between the outer layer 52 and the inner layer 51, and the outer ring airway 501 is filled with steel wire to form a wire mesh support layer 53; the outer sheath 60 is coated on the outside of the outer layer 52.

[0038] In this embodiment, the thickness of the inner layer 51 is greater than the thickness of the outer layer 52. In addition, the inner sheath 50 includes the following raw materials by weight: 100 parts of modified polyethylene, 20-30 parts of ethylene and vinyl acetate copolymer resin, 10-20 parts of high-pressure metallocene polyethylene, 5-10 parts of unsaturated polyester imine, 1-5 parts of polyacrylonitrile, 1-2 parts of antioxidant OD, 10-14 parts of light calcium carbonate, 3-5 parts of ABS high-rubber powder and 15-18 parts of kaolin powder. During production, all raw materials are mixed evenly in a high-speed mixer, then the mixed raw materials are melted in a twin-screw extruder and granulated, then the melted granulated material is cooled and cut into particles suitable for use in the extruder, then the particles are fed into the extruder to form the inner sheath 50 through a double-layer extrusion process, and the steel wire mesh support layer 53 is placed in the outer ring airway 501 while the inner sheath 50 is being formed. The inner sheath 50 prepared by the formula of the present invention has better toughness, and is excellent in weather resistance, aging resistance, and corrosion resistance, and can be immersed in water for a long time, thereby better protecting the internal structure of the optical cable.

[0039] The present invention also discloses a method for manufacturing the underwater communication optical cable that is easy to repair and maintain, comprising the following steps:

[0040] (1) Making a reinforcing core: An airbag layer 21 is arranged outside a mold core, and uncured carbon fiber cloth is wrapped outside the airbag layer 21, and then uncured glass fiber cloth is wrapped outside the carbon fiber cloth. Then, the mold is placed in a mold and heated so that the carbon fiber cloth and the glass fiber cloth are cured to form an inner carbon fiber layer 22 and an outer glass fiber layer 23 respectively. After the mold core is pulled out, the reinforcing core 20 can be obtained.

[0041] (2) A plurality of optical fiber units 30 and a plurality of water blocking yarns 71 are prepared.

[0042] (3) The plurality of optical fiber units 30 and the plurality of water-blocking yarns 71 are placed on the periphery of the reinforcing core 20 and the reinforcing core 20 , the plurality of optical fiber units 30 and the plurality of water-blocking yarns 71 are pulled synchronously.

[0043] (3) During the pulling process, the reinforcing core 20 , the plurality of optical fiber units 30 and the plurality of water-blocking yarns 71 are wrapped integrally with a water-blocking tape to form a water-blocking tape layer 10 .

[0044] (4) Aramid is wrapped around the water blocking tape layer 10 to form the aramid layer 40 .

[0045] (5) The prefabricated inner sheath 50 is coated on the aramid layer 40 , and the outer ring air channel 501 of the inner sheath 50 is filled with steel wire to form a steel wire mesh support layer 53 .

[0046] (6) The outer sheath 60 is covered on the inner sheath 50 .

[0047] The method of using this embodiment is described in detail as follows:

[0048] When in use, this product is laid underwater, and one end of the central airway 201 and one end of the outer ring airway 501 are both closed at one end of the optical cable, and the other end of the central airway 201 and the other end of the outer ring airway 501 are respectively connected to two air pressure monitoring devices (not shown in the figure) at the other end of the optical cable, and the central airway 201 and the outer ring airway 501 are inflated through the inflation device to keep the central airway 201 and the outer ring airway 501 at the set air pressure value. When the air pressure monitoring device only detects a drop in the air pressure of the outer ring airway 501, it indicates that the optical cable has surface damage and needs to be repaired as soon as possible. When the two air pressure monitoring devices detect that the air pressure of the central airway 201 and the outer ring airway 501 drops at the same time, it indicates that the optical cable is seriously damaged and needs to be repaired immediately.

[0049] During the inspection, the outer ring airway 501 or the center airway 201 is continuously inflated through the inflation device, and then the boat is driven on the water surface to check along the laying direction of the optical cable. When bubbles are found continuously emerging on the water surface, it can be determined that the optical cable is damaged here, and then the boat is dived underwater to repair the optical cable.

[0050] The design focus of the present invention is: by forming a central air channel in the reinforcing core and cooperating with the outer ring air channel formed in the inner sheath, when in use, the central air channel and the outer ring air channel are both inflated and the air pressure is monitored by two air pressure monitoring devices. When the air pressure drops, it can be determined whether the optical cable is damaged on the surface or seriously damaged inside, so as to perform rapid and timely inspection and maintenance. During inspection and maintenance, the inflation device can be used to inflate the central air channel and the outer ring air channel, and the damaged position of the optical cable can be determined by finding bubbles that continue to emerge from the water surface. There is no need to dive into the water to search, which saves time and effort and brings convenience to inspection and maintenance.

[0051] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Therefore, any slight modifications, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention are still within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. An underwater communication optical cable that is easy to repair and maintain, characterized in that: The invention comprises a water-blocking tape layer, a reinforcing core, a plurality of optical fiber units, an aramid layer, an inner sheath and an outer sheath; the water-blocking tape layer is provided with an axially extending accommodation cavity; the reinforcing core is arranged at the center of the accommodation cavity and extends axially; the reinforcing core comprises an air bag layer, an inner carbon fiber layer and an outer glass fiber layer; the air bag layer surrounds and forms a central air channel; the inner carbon fiber layer is molded and coated on the outside of the air bag layer; the outer glass fiber layer is molded and coated on the outside of the inner carbon fiber layer; the plurality of optical fiber units are distributed on the periphery of the reinforcing core and extend parallel to the axial direction of the accommodation cavity, and the accommodation cavity is filled with water-blocking yarn; the aramid layer is coated on the outside of the water-blocking tape layer; the inner sheath is coated on the outside of the aramid layer, the inner sheath comprises an inner layer and an outer layer, the inner layer is coated on the outside of the aramid layer, the outer layer is located on the periphery of the inner layer, an outer ring air channel is formed between the outer layer and the inner layer, and the outer ring air channel is filled with steel wire to form a steel wire mesh support layer; the outer sheath is coated on the outside of the outer layer.

2. The underwater communication optical cable that is easy to repair and maintain according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The optical fiber unit comprises a sleeve and a plurality of optical fibers. The sleeve is filled with fiber paste. The plurality of optical fibers are arranged in the sleeve and embedded in the fiber paste.

3. The underwater communication optical cable that is easy to repair and maintain according to claim 1 is characterized in that: There are six optical fiber units, and two adjacent optical fiber units are tightly fitted.

4. The underwater communication optical cable that is easy to repair and maintain according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The thickness of the inner carbon fiber layer is greater than the thickness of the outer glass fiber layer.

5. The underwater communication optical cable that is easy to repair and maintain according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The thickness of the inner layer is greater than the thickness of the outer layer.

6. The underwater communication optical cable that is easy to repair and maintain according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The inner sheath comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 100 parts of modified polyethylene, 20-30 parts of ethylene and vinyl acetate copolymer resin, 10-20 parts of high-pressure metallocene polyethylene, 5-10 parts of unsaturated polyester imine, 1-5 parts of polyacrylonitrile, 1-2 parts of antioxidant OD, 10-14 parts of light calcium carbonate, 3-5 parts of ABS high-rubber powder and 15-18 parts of kaolin powder.

7. A method for manufacturing an underwater communication optical cable that is easy to repair and maintain according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The following steps are included: (1) Making a reinforcing core: placing an airbag layer outside a mold core, wrapping an uncured carbon fiber cloth outside the airbag layer, and then wrapping an uncured glass fiber cloth outside the carbon fiber cloth, then placing it in a mold and heating it so that the carbon fiber cloth and the glass fiber cloth are respectively cured to form an inner carbon fiber layer and an outer glass fiber layer, and then the mold core is pulled out to obtain the reinforcing core; (2) preparing a plurality of optical fiber units and a plurality of water-blocking yarns; (3) placing a plurality of optical fiber units and a plurality of water-blocking yarns on the periphery of the reinforcing core and synchronously pulling the reinforcing core, the plurality of optical fiber units and the plurality of water-blocking yarns; (3) During the traction process, a water-blocking tape is used to wrap the reinforcing core, the plurality of optical fiber units and the plurality of water-blocking yarns as a whole to form a water-blocking tape layer; (4) wrapping aramid fiber outside the water blocking tape layer to form an aramid fiber layer; (5) The aramid layer is covered with a prefabricated inner sheath, and the outer ring air channel of the inner sheath is filled with steel wire to form a steel wire mesh support layer; (6) An outer sheath is wrapped around the inner sheath.

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