Ice melting power self-adaptive 8-shaped optical cable, system, manufacturing method and control method

By adding pressure-sensitive material color bars and conductive components to the sheath of the 8-shaped optical cable, adaptive adjustment of the power of the optical cable melting is achieved, and the problems of energy consumption and ice covering failure of the existing optical cable melting system are solved.

CN120143373APending Publication Date: 2025-06-13YANGTZE OPTICAL FIBRE & CABLE CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202311700863.5
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-12-12
Publication Date
2025-06-13

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing optical cable ice melting systems consume a lot of energy during long-term operation and pose a risk of failure caused by failure to deal with ice covering in time.

Method used

Add a pressure-sensitive material color bar to the sheath of the 8-shaped optical cable as a pressure sensor, and adjust the heating current of the conductive element load through the feedback control system to achieve adaptive adjustment of the melting power.

Benefits of technology

It effectively reduces the energy consumption of the optical cable ice melting system, and reduces the risk of failure caused by ice covering by automatically adjusting the melting heating power.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention discloses an ice melting power self-adaptive 8-shaped optical cable, a system, a manufacturing method and a control method. The optical cable comprises an 8-shaped sheath, a reinforcing member and a cable core. When the cable works, the reinforcing member is arranged above the cable core. The reinforcing member and the cable core are respectively accommodated in an upper inner cavity and a lower inner cavity of the 8-shaped sheath. And the 8-shaped sheath is provided with a pressure-sensitive material color strip which extends axially and a conductive element which extends axially. The ice-melting power self-adaptive 8-shaped optical cable, the system, the manufacturing method and the control method can be used for processing and laying optical cables in low-temperature and snowy areas, communication signal faults caused by icing of the surface of the optical cable can be effectively reduced, the maintenance time is shortened, loss caused by unstable signals is avoided, and the service life of the optical cable is prolonged. And the system can be automatically adjusted to start and stop according to the accumulated snow and ice layer thickness, and energy can be effectively saved.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of optical communication, and more specifically, relates to an ice melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable, system, manufacturing method and control method. Background Art

[0002] To save construction costs and shorten the construction period, aerial optical cables are often used in long-distance secondary or lower-level lines. Since aerial optical cables are often hung on utility poles and exposed to various natural environments, they are easily threatened by natural disasters such as ice and snow, so the failure rate of aerial optical cables is generally higher than that of directly buried and duct optical cables.

[0003] To reduce failures or accidents caused by ice covering on the optical cable body, currently, the optical cable energization heating ice melting technology is used to remove the ice and snow on the cable body. However, this technology cannot be turned on all year round, otherwise it will consume a large amount of energy. Starting ice melting by manual observation also poses a risk that the optical cable is covered with ice but not processed in time. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above defects or improvement requirements of the prior art, the present invention provides an ice melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable, system, manufacturing method and control method. The purpose is to add a piezoresistive material color strip on the upper side of the figure-eight optical cable sheath, use the piezoresistive material color strip as a pressure sensor to judge the ice covering degree, and through a feedback control system, realize the heating current of the conductive element load, so as to realize the self-adaptive adjustment of the ice melting power, while avoiding the risk of damage to the optical cable due to ice covering and pressure, and saving electricity, thereby solving the technical problems that the optical cable ice melting system consumes a large amount of energy or there is a risk of ice covering.

[0005] To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ice melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable, which includes a figure-eight sheath, a strengthening member, and a cable core; during operation, the strengthening member is above the cable core;

[0006] The strengthening member and the cable core are respectively received in the upper inner cavity and the lower inner cavity of the figure-eight sheath;

[0007] The figure-eight sheath has an axially extending piezoresistive material color strip and an axially extending conductive element.

[0008] Preferably, in the ice melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable, the piezoresistive material color strip is on the upper side of the upper inner cavity.

[0009] Preferably, in the ice melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable, the conductive element is on the upper side of the lower inner cavity.

[0010] Preferably, in the ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable, the conductive elements are symmetrically arranged on both sides thereof with respect to the axis of symmetry of the figure-eight sheath, and each conductive element covers a range of 30° to 60° of the lower inner cavity on the cross-section of the optical cable.

[0011] Preferably, in the ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable, the color strip of the pressure-sensitive material is made of a pressure-sensitive characteristic material synthesized with polyethylene as the matrix and nano-graphite as the conductive filler; the conductive element is a metal wire or conductive polyethylene.

[0012] Preferably, in the ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable, the color strip of the pressure-sensitive material and the conductive element are embedded in the figure-eight sheath.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing the ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable, comprising the following steps:

[0014] When the conductive element is manufactured by extrusion molding:

[0015] Pass the strengthening member and the cable core through the extrusion head at preset positions to manufacture the figure-eight sheath, and respectively form the color strip of the pressure-sensitive material and the conductive element at the preset positions of the figure-eight sheath by a color strip machine;

[0016] When using a prefabricated conductive element:

[0017] Pass the strengthening member, the cable core, and the prefabricated conductive element through the extrusion head at preset positions to manufacture the figure-eight sheath, and form the color strip of the pressure-sensitive material at the preset position of the figure-eight sheath by a color strip machine.

[0018] Preferably, in the method for manufacturing the ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable, sheath material is extruded outside the color strip of the pressure-sensitive material and / or the conductive element and cooled and formed.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ice-melting power self-adaptive optical communication system, which is characterized in that it comprises the ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable provided by the present invention, a signal acquisition module, and a feedback control module; preferably includes an ambient temperature acquisition module;

[0020] For the ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable, its cable core is connected to the optical communication network;

[0021] Both ends of its color strip of the pressure-sensitive material are connected to the signal acquisition module, so that it bears the detection voltage and acquires the signal current;

[0022] Its conductive element is connected to the feedback control module, so that it bears the heating current, and is used to adaptively adjust the heating current according to the magnitude of the signal current, in accordance with the principle that the larger the signal current, the larger the heating current, to melt the ice on the surface of the optical cable;

[0023] The ambient temperature acquisition module is connected to the feedback control module and is used to acquire the ambient temperature and provide it to the feedback control module.

[0024] Preferably, the control method of the ice melting power adaptive optical communication system includes the following steps:

[0025] When the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature threshold, power supply to the signal acquisition module is stopped;

[0026] When the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature threshold, power is supplied to the signal acquisition module to load a detection voltage.

[0027] Generally speaking, compared with the prior art by the above technical solution conceived by the present invention, the following beneficial effects can be achieved:

[0028] The ice melting power adaptive figure-eight optical cable, system, manufacturing method and control method provided by the present invention can be used for processing and laying optical cables in areas with low temperature and heavy snowfall, can effectively reduce communication signal failures caused by ice formation on the surface of the optical cable, reduce maintenance time, avoid losses caused by unstable signals, and the system will automatically adjust start and stop according to the thickness of snow and ice layers, and can effectively save energy. Description of the Drawings

[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an ice melting power adaptive figure-eight optical cable provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an ice melting power adaptive optical communication system provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] In all the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to represent the same elements or structures, where: 1 is a pressure-sensitive material color strip, 2 is a steel strand, 3 is a figure-eight sheath, 4 is an armor layer, 5 is a central strengthening member, 6 is a loose tube, 7 is a conductive element, 8 is a temperature acquisition module, and 9 is a feedback control module. Detailed Embodiments

[0032] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention. In addition, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0033] The ice melting power adaptive figure-eight optical cable provided by the present invention includes a figure-eight sheath, a strengthening member, and a cable core; during operation, the strengthening member is located above the cable core;

[0034] The reinforcing member and the cable core are respectively received in the upper inner cavity and the lower inner cavity of the figure-eight-shaped sheath;

[0035] The figure-eight-shaped sheath has an axially extending color strip of pressure-sensitive material and an axially extending conductive element. The color strip of pressure-sensitive material is located on the upper side of the upper inner cavity, and the conductive element is located on the upper side of the lower inner cavity. The color strip of pressure-sensitive material, as a sensor for the ice-covered degree of the optical cable, is used to detect the ice-covered degree. When the ice weight is greater, the signal current obtained by the pressure-sensitive material is greater, and the power loaded on the conductive element is adjusted accordingly. The color strip of pressure-sensitive material is arranged on the upper side of the upper inner cavity where the suspension line is located, which can improve the sensitivity and adjust the ice melting heating power more accurately and timely. The conductive element, as an electric heater, generates an electrothermal effect to increase the surface temperature of the optical cable by loading a heating current, melting the ice layer covering the surface of the optical cable.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the color strip of pressure-sensitive material and the conductive element are embedded in the figure-eight-shaped sheath, reducing photoaging, mechanical wear, and electrochemical duplex, and extending the service life.

[0037] The material of the color strip of pressure-sensitive material is selected from a pressure-sensitive characteristic material synthesized with polyethylene as the matrix and nano-graphite as the conductive filler; the conductive element is a metal wire or conductive polyethylene.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the conductive elements are symmetrically arranged on both sides with respect to the axis of symmetry of the figure-eight-shaped sheath. In the cross-section of the optical cable, each conductive element covers a range of 30° to 60° of the lower inner cavity. Considering that the ice-covered position is concentrated in the upper part of the lower inner cavity, the electrothermal ice melting can be more effectively utilized.

[0039] The preparation method of the figure-eight-shaped optical cable with self-adaptive ice melting power provided by the present invention includes the following steps:

[0040] When the conductive element is manufactured by extrusion molding:

[0041] The reinforcing member and the cable core are passed through the extrusion head at preset positions to manufacture the figure-eight-shaped sheath, and the color strip of pressure-sensitive material and the conductive element are respectively formed at the preset positions of the figure-eight-shaped sheath by a color strip machine;

[0042] When using a prefabricated conductive element:

[0043] The reinforcing member, the cable core, and the prefabricated conductive element are passed through the extrusion head at preset positions to manufacture the figure-eight-shaped sheath, and the color strip of pressure-sensitive material is formed at the preset position of the figure-eight-shaped sheath by a color strip machine.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, sheath material is extruded outside the color strip of pressure-sensitive material and / or the conductive element and cooled and formed. Through two extrusion processes, the color strip of pressure-sensitive material and the conductive element are embedded.

[0045] The ice-melting power adaptive optical communication system provided by the present invention includes the ice-melting power adaptive figure-eight optical cable, a signal acquisition module, and a feedback control module; preferably, it includes an ambient temperature acquisition module.

[0046] For the ice-melting power adaptive figure-eight optical cable, its cable core is connected to the optical communication network.

[0047] Both ends of the varistor material color strips are connected to the signal acquisition module, so that it loads the detection voltage and acquires the signal current.

[0048] Its conductive element is connected to the feedback control module, so that it loads the heating current, and is used to adaptively adjust the heating current according to the magnitude of the signal current, following the principle that the larger the signal current, the larger the heating current, to melt the ice on the surface of the optical cable.

[0049] The ambient temperature acquisition module is connected to the feedback control module, and is used to acquire the ambient temperature and provide it to the feedback control module.

[0050] Its ice-melting control method is as follows:

[0051] When the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature threshold, power supply to the signal acquisition module is stopped.

[0052] When the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature threshold, power supply is provided to the signal acquisition module to load the detection voltage.

[0053] The following are examples:

[0054] Example 1

[0055] The ice-melting power adaptive figure-eight optical cable provided in this example has a structure as Figure 1 shown, and includes a suspension wire used as a strengthening member and a cable core part. The suspension wire is a steel strand or other strengthening element, and is externally coated with polyethylene or other sheath materials. The cable core part can be a tube-type, layer-stranded or skeleton-type cable core structure, externally coated with an armor layer and then coated with polyethylene or other sheath materials, or can be directly coated with polyethylene or other sheath materials. In this example, a layer-stranded cable core is taken as an example, and 6 six-core loose tube optical units are stranded outside the central strengthening member.

[0056] When the optical cable is prepared, the cable core and the suspension wire strengthening element pass through the head of the extruder, and the extrusion temperature range is 180°C to 230°C. The extruder designs through a flow dividing cone or a color bar die cover to apply color bars to the suspension wire part and the cable core part. Among them, a pressure-sensitive material color bar is applied to the suspension wire part, and the extrusion temperature is 160°C - 180°C. The pressure-sensitive color bar material is composed of high-density polyethylene and nano-graphite. To ensure good pressure-sensitive characteristics of the material, the nano-graphite content is about 3% - 7%. The pressure-sensitive color bar is located directly above the suspension wire part of the figure-eight cable, the color bar width is about 2mm, and the thickness is 0.2 - 0.5mm. Two conductive polyethylene color bars are symmetrically applied to the cable core part, and the extrusion temperature is 180°C - 220°C. The color bars are located above the cross-section of the cable core and form an angle range of 30° to 60° with the suspension belt, the width is about 3mm, the thickness is 0.3 - 0.6mm, and the resistivity is about 0.5 - 1Ω / m. Then, through steps such as water tank cooling in the production of the optical cable sheath, the first forming of the figure-eight optical cable is completed. After the first forming, the optical cable passes through the head of the extruder again and is further coated with a layer of polyethylene or other sheath materials on the outside. During the second sheathing process, prefabricated conductive elements can be applied on both sides of the cable core part and form an angle range of 30° to 60° with the suspension belt. The conductive elements can be nickel-chromium alloy wires, iron-chromium wires, constantan wires, copper-nickel wires, manganese-copper wires, etc. The resistivity of the conductive elements is 0.3 - 0.7Ω / m, and the diameter is 0.3 - 0.5mm.

[0057] Example 2

[0058] To save construction costs and shorten the construction period, aerial optical cables are often used in long-distance secondary or lower-level lines. Since aerial optical cables are often hung on utility poles and exposed to various natural environments, they are easily threatened by natural disasters such as ice and snow, so the failure rate of aerial optical cables is generally higher than that of directly buried and duct optical cables.

[0059] To solve the above problems, the present invention designs a self-supporting optical cable with a color bar formed by a pressure-sensitive material at the suspension wire position and several conductive channels formed by conductive polyethylene or prefabricated conductive elements in the cable core part. In the ice melting power adaptive optical communication system provided in this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive material color bar is connected to the control system. A controller and a power supply system are installed on every other or several utility poles of the aerial line. A temperature acquisition system is integrated on the controller to acquire the surrounding environment and the surface temperature of the optical cable. When the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature threshold (the temperature threshold is generally set to 4°C), power supply to the signal acquisition module is stopped; when the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature threshold, power supply to the signal acquisition module is provided to load a detection voltage. The detection voltage is generally 12V - 48V, and the current in the pressure-sensitive material is 1mA - 10mA. When ice or snow accumulates on the optical cable and the load increases, the pressure deformation of the pressure-sensitive color bar part intensifies, the resistance of the pressure-sensitive color bar decreases, and the current changes from I 0 to Ix. When the change in current is greater than or equal to I ΔWhen (generally set to 20%), control the heating module to be powered on. The voltage loaded by the heating module is generally 10V to 1KV. When the heating module starts, the initial voltage is 50V. For every 5% increase in the current in the varistor material, the initial voltage increases by 2%. For every 5% decrease in the current in the varistor material, the initial voltage decreases by 5%. When the change in the current in the varistor color bar is less than or equal to the threshold I Δ , the heating module stops power supply.

[0060] At the same time, the temperature acquisition system on the controller will also collect the surface temperature of the optical cable. When the surface temperature of the optical cable is greater than 40°C, the heating module will also stop power supply to avoid damaging the optical cable structure.

[0061] Those skilled in the art can easily understand that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable, characterized in that, it includes a figure-eight sheath, a strengthening member, and a cable core; during operation, the strengthening member is above the cable core; the strengthening member and the cable core are respectively received in the upper inner cavity and the lower inner cavity of the figure-eight sheath; the figure-eight sheath has an axially extending pressure-sensitive material color strip and an axially extending conductive element.

2. The ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, the pressure-sensitive material color strip is on the upper side of the upper inner cavity.

3. The ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, the conductive element is on the upper side of the lower inner cavity.

4. The ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable according to claim 3, characterized in that, the conductive elements are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the figure-eight sheath with respect to the axis of symmetry, and each conductive element covers a range of 30° to 60° of the lower inner cavity in the cross-section of the optical cable.

5. The ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, the material of the pressure-sensitive material color strip is selected from a pressure-sensitive characteristic material synthesized with polyethylene as the matrix and nano-graphite as the conductive filler; the conductive element is a metal wire or conductive polyethylene.

6. The ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, the pressure-sensitive material color strip and the conductive element are embedded in the figure-eight sheath.

7. The preparation method of the ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, it includes the following steps: When using extrusion molding to make the conductive element: Pass the strengthening member and the cable core through the extrusion head according to the preset positions to make the figure-eight sheath, and respectively form the pressure-sensitive material color strip and the conductive element at the preset positions of the figure-eight sheath with a color strip machine; When using a prefabricated conductive element: Pass the strengthening member, the cable core, and the prefabricated conductive element through the extrusion head according to the preset positions to make the figure-eight sheath, and form the pressure-sensitive material color strip at the preset position of the figure-eight sheath with a color strip machine.

8. The preparation method of the ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable according to claim 7, characterized in that, Extrude sheath material outside the pressure-sensitive material color strip and / or the conductive element and cool it to form.

9. An ice-melting power self-adaptive optical communication system, characterized in that, it includes the ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a signal acquisition module, and a feedback control module; preferably includes an environmental temperature acquisition module; For the ice-melting power self-adaptive figure-eight optical cable, its cable core is connected to the optical communication network; Both ends of its pressure-sensitive material color strip are connected to the signal acquisition module, so that it bears the detection voltage and acquires the signal current; Its conductive element is connected to the feedback control module, so that it bears the heating current, and is used to adaptively adjust the heating current according to the size of the signal current, following the principle that the larger the signal current, the larger the heating current, to melt the ice on the surface of the optical cable; The environmental temperature acquisition module is connected to the feedback control module, and is used to acquire the environmental temperature and provide it to the feedback control module.

10. The control method of the ice-melting power adaptive optical communication system according to claim 9, characterized in that, it includes the following steps: When the environmental temperature is higher than the preset temperature threshold, stop supplying power to the signal acquisition module; When the environmental temperature is lower than the preset temperature threshold, supply power to the signal acquisition module and load the detection voltage.