High tensile photoelectric composite cable for ship

Abstract

The application discloses a high-tensile photoelectric composite cable for ships, which comprises an outer sheath, an optical cable, an electric cable, an outer guide pipe, an inner guide pipe and a filling body. The inner side of the outer sheath is provided with the inner guide pipe, and the outer side of the optical cable is provided with the outer guide pipe. The surface of the outer guide pipe is provided with a first deformation groove and an outwardly formed outer positioning strip. The surface of the inner guide pipe is provided with a second deformation groove and an inwardly formed inner positioning strip. The end of the inner positioning strip is formed with a positioning lug for positioning the electric cable. The outer positioning strip and the surface of the positioning lug are attached with the filling body. The deformation grooves are staggered and distributed to form a buffer stress structure. The outer guide pipe and the inner guide pipe form a double-layer reinforced framework, which can improve the tensile strength of the cable, and has the flexible bending performance. Meanwhile, the double-layer reinforced framework can stabilize the position of the internal wire core, reduce the vibration wear and tear and local stress concentration, and is suitable for use in the ship and marine engineering environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of optoelectronic composite cable technology, specifically to high tensile strength optoelectronic composite cables for ships. Background Technology

[0002] Marine fiber optic composite cables are comprehensive transmission cables used in various ships, offshore platforms, and marine engineering facilities. They can simultaneously perform functions such as power transmission, equipment control, and communication transmission, and are widely used in power systems, navigation systems, and automation equipment connection scenarios. Due to the compact internal space of ships, the complex cable laying path, and the long-term exposure to vibration, swaying, and humid salt spray environments, the requirements for the tensile strength, flexibility, and structural stability of the cables are high.

[0003] Existing ship cables mostly employ a single-layer sheath with a reinforcing layer, resulting in a relatively simple stress path. Under tension, drag, or repeated bending, the outer sheath and localized reinforcing areas are prone to concentrated stress, leading to deformation, cracking, or fatigue damage. Furthermore, the added reinforcing structures to improve strength can reduce the overall flexibility of the cable, causing new bending stress concentrations during corner laying or dynamic oscillations. Simultaneously, some existing cables rely primarily on filler material for fixing the internal conductors or fiber optic assemblies. Under long-term vibration and repeated stress, the internal cores are prone to axial movement or displacement, leading to friction and wear with surrounding structures. This further exacerbates sheath damage, internal core deformation under pressure, and reduced transmission stability, ultimately affecting the overall service life and operational reliability of the cable.

[0004] In view of this, we will study and improve the existing problems to provide high tensile strength optical fiber composite cables for ships, so as to solve the current problems and improve the practical value through this technology. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention aims to solve the problems of existing ship cables having a single overall stress path, which easily leads to sheath damage and structural fatigue under tension, dragging, and repeated bending conditions. At the same time, the internal conductors or optical fiber components have insufficient positioning stability, which easily causes axial movement, friction and wear, and a decrease in transmission performance. To this end, a high tensile strength optical-electric composite cable for ships is proposed.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A high-tensile-strength optoelectronic composite cable for ships includes an outer sheath, an optical cable, an electrical cable, an outer conduit, an inner conduit, and a filler. The inner conduit is fixedly sleeved inside the outer sheath, and the outer conduit is fixedly sleeved outside the optical cable. The surface of the outer conduit has several opposing and interlaced first deformation grooves. An outer fixing strip is formed at each of the first deformation grooves, located inside the outer conduit. The cable is fixedly attached to the surface of the outer fixing strip. The surface of the inner conduit has several opposing and interlaced second deformation grooves. An inner fixing strip is formed at each of the second deformation grooves, located outside the inner conduit. One end of the inner fixing strip is bent to form a fixing lug, which is used for positioning and fixing the cable. The surface of both the outer fixing strip and the fixing lug is fixedly attached with a filler. The double-layer load-bearing structure formed by the outer and inner conduits improves the overall tensile strength and provides stable support for the internal conductors.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, both the outer and inner conduits are tubular structures extending along the cable axial direction, and the outer and inner conduits are arranged coaxially. The outer and inner fixing strips are staggered circumferentially. The coaxial fit of the inner and outer conduits and the staggered arrangement of the fixing strips allow for more balanced overall stress distribution and improved structural stability.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the configuration is further as follows: a plurality of the first deformation grooves and the second deformation grooves are formed on the surfaces of the outer guide tube and the inner guide tube respectively by a punching process, and the outer fixing strip and the inner fixing strip are integrally formed by partial punching and flipping. The use of an integral punching structure can reduce assembly steps and improve processing efficiency and structural consistency.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the surfaces of the outer conduit, inner conduit, outer fixing strip, and inner fixing strip are further configured with a roughened texture layer to improve their bonding strength with the outer sheath, cable, and filler. This roughened surface structure enhances interfacial adhesion and reduces the risk of loosening during long-term use.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the optical cable is further configured such that an optical fiber sheath fixed to the inner side of the inner conduit is provided on the outer side for buffering protection and limiting support of the optical cable. This structure helps reduce fiber compression and micro-bending loss, and improves signal transmission stability.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, both the outer and inner conduits are made of 301 stainless steel thin-walled tubing with a wall thickness of 0.15mm to 0.50mm. The 301 stainless steel, after cold rolling hardening, possesses high resilience, fatigue resistance, and salt spray corrosion resistance, enabling the outer and inner conduits to undergo elastic deformation and maintain structural stability under bending, tensile, and torsional loads. This structure balances strength and flexibility, making it suitable for complex operating conditions on ships.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the filler is further configured as follows: the filler is an injection-molded structure comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane compound and an aramid fiber reinforced skeleton incorporated within the thermoplastic polyurethane compound. The filler can fill and buffer internal voids and improve overall impact resistance.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the outer sheath is further configured such that it is made of chlorinated polyethylene elastomer material and has an axially distributed aramid short fiber reinforcement layer and a cross-linked toughening component inside. The outer surface of the outer sheath is provided with a corrugated buffer layer. This structure enables the outer sheath to have resistance to salt spray corrosion, oil stains, flexible bending, tensile strength, and crack resistance.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the cable is further configured such that it includes a conductor core, an insulation layer covering the outside of the conductor core, and a shielding layer embedded inside the insulation layer, to meet the requirements for power supply and anti-interference.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the first and second deformation grooves on the surfaces of the outer and inner conduits are further configured to be axially offset, forming a graded deformation buffer structure under tension or bending conditions. This multi-stage stress relief reduces localized stress concentration and extends service life.

[0016] The beneficial effects achieved by this invention are as follows: 1. In this invention, by setting up a double-tube bearing structure composed of an outer tube and an inner tube, a reinforced skeleton with coordinated internal and external force is formed inside the outer sheath. When subjected to tensile, dragging and repeated bending loads during ship wiring, the sheath layer can share the stress pressure, thereby improving the overall tensile strength, structural stability and service life.

[0017] 2. In this invention, by integrally punching out several outer and inner fixing strips in the axial direction, the outer fixing strips and fixing ears form a multi-point limiting and covering positioning effect on the cable, which can suppress the axial movement and displacement of the cable core under long-term vibration, swing or tension, improve the stability of the internal conductor arrangement, and at the same time reduce independent assembly processes and improve processing efficiency.

[0018] 3. In this invention, by setting an alternating deformation groove structure on the surface of the outer conduit and the inner conduit, each deformation groove can generate progressive elastic deformation and release stress when the cable is subjected to bending load, torsional load or local impact, thereby reducing the risk of metal fatigue, sheath cracking and damage to internal core wires caused by load concentration, and thus improving the cable's flexible bending performance and adaptability to complex working conditions. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the external and internal catheter structures according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the surface structure of the external conduit according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the surface structure of the inner catheter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure label: 1. Outer sheath; 2. Optical cable; 3. Cable; 4. Outer conduit; 5. Inner conduit; 6. Filler; 41. First deformation groove; 42. Outer fixing bar; 51. Second deformation groove; 52. Inner fixing bar; 53. Fixing lug. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described herein can be combined with each other.

[0022] It should be understood that these descriptions are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0023] The high tensile strength optical-electric composite cable for ships provided by some embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Combination Figures 1-4 As shown, the high-tensile-strength optoelectronic composite cable for ships provided by this invention includes an outer sheath 1, an optical cable 2, an electrical cable 3, an outer conduit 4, an inner conduit 5, and a filler 6. The overall structure adopts an optoelectronic composite arrangement, integrating signal transmission and power transmission functions simultaneously within the same cable body. A double-layer conduit support structure enhances the cable's tensile, bending, and impact resistance, making it suitable for long-term use in ship deck wiring, cabin installation, equipment connection, and high-humidity, high-salt environments.

[0025] In this embodiment, the outer sheath 1 is located on the outermost side of the overall structure. The outer sheath 1 has a continuous, enveloping cylindrical structure, with an inner conduit 5 fixedly fitted inside to form an outer protective skeleton. The outer sheath 1 is made of chlorinated polyethylene elastomer material, which has resistance to seawater corrosion, oil stains, flame retardancy, and weathering. Furthermore, the outer sheath 1 is internally reinforced with an axially distributed aramid short fiber layer and mixed with cross-linking toughening components to improve the sheath's crack resistance under continuous tension and repeated bending. The outer surface of the outer sheath 1 is provided with a corrugated buffer layer. This structure can release some surface strain when the cable is bent, reducing the risk of surface cracking and improving grip and anti-slip effect.

[0026] In this embodiment, optical cable 2 is disposed in one side of the inner cable body and is used to transmit control signals, communication data, or fiber optic network signals. An outer conduit 4 is fixedly sleeved on the outer side of optical cable 2, extending along the cable axis to form a protective structure for optical cable 2. An optical fiber sheath is also provided on the outer side of optical cable 2, fixed to the inner side of the inner conduit 5, for buffering protection and limiting support of optical cable 2, ensuring the optical fiber core maintains a stable bending radius when the cable body is bent, reducing micro-bending loss and the risk of fiber breakage.

[0027] In this embodiment, cable 3 is located in the central region inside the cable body and is used for power transmission or equipment power supply. Cable 3 includes a conductor core, an insulation layer covering the outside of the conductor core, and a shielding layer embedded inside the insulation layer. The conductor core can be formed by stranding multiple tinned copper wires to balance conductivity and flexibility; the insulation layer can be made of cross-linked polyethylene or low-smoke halogen-free insulating material; the shielding layer is used to reduce signal interference in the complex electromagnetic environment of the ship.

[0028] Combination Figures 2 to 4 As shown, both the outer conduit 4 and the inner conduit 5 are tubular structures extending along the cable axis, and the outer conduit 4 and the inner conduit 5 are arranged coaxially. The outer conduit 4 is located in the outer area of ​​the optical cable 2, and the inner conduit 5 is located in the inner area of ​​the outer sheath 1. The two form a double-layer elastic load-bearing skeleton, so that the cable body forms a multi-level support path when under stress, avoiding a single sheath bearing the entire tensile load.

[0029] In this embodiment, both the outer conduit 4 and the inner conduit 5 are made of 301 stainless steel elastic thin-walled tubing with a wall thickness of 0.15mm to 0.50mm. 301 stainless steel, after cold rolling hardening treatment, possesses high resilience, fatigue resistance, and salt spray corrosion resistance. When the cable is subjected to bending, tensile, or torsional loads, the outer conduit 4 and the inner conduit 5 can undergo controlled elastic deformation and return to their original shape after the external force is removed, thereby maintaining the overall structural stability.

[0030] Combination Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the surface of the outer conduit 4 has several relatively arranged and interlaced first deformation grooves 41, and an outer fixing strip 42 is formed at each first deformation groove 41 on the inner side of the outer conduit 4. The first deformation grooves 41 can be formed by a punching process, and the outer fixing strip 42 is integrally formed by partial punching and flipping. After the outer fixing strip 42 protrudes inward, it can form a fitting and positioning structure with the outer circumference of the cable 3, so that the cable 3 maintains a relatively stable position inside the cable body and provides radial limiting support when under force.

[0031] Combination Figure 4As shown, the surface of the inner conduit 5 has several relatively arranged and interlaced second deformation grooves 51, and each second deformation groove 51 has an inner fixing strip 52 located outside the inner conduit 5. One end of each inner fixing strip 52 is bent to form a fixing lug 53, which is used to assist in positioning and fixing the cable 3. Through the cooperation of the inner fixing strips 52 and the fixing lugs 53, the relative movement of the cable 3 can be restricted under axial tension, thereby improving the structural stability of the core wire.

[0032] In this embodiment, the outer fixing strip 42 and the inner fixing strip 52 are staggered circumferentially, and the first deformation groove 41 on the surface of the outer conduit 4 and the second deformation groove 51 on the surface of the inner conduit 5 are offset axially. When the cable is subjected to tensile load or bending load, the first deformation groove 41 and the second deformation groove 51 undergo elastic deformation in sequence, forming a graded deformation buffer structure, so that the external force is transmitted and released layer by layer, and the stress is not concentrated in a single area, thereby improving the overall tensile strength and durability.

[0033] In this embodiment, the surfaces of the outer conduit 4, inner conduit 5, outer fixing strip 42, and inner fixing strip 52 are all provided with a roughened texture layer. The roughened texture layer can be formed by sandblasting, knurling, or etching to improve the mechanical interlocking and interfacial adhesion between it and the outer sheath 1, cable 3, and filler 6, thereby reducing the risk of interlayer loosening under long-term vibration environment.

[0034] In this embodiment, filler 6 is fixedly attached to the surfaces of both the outer fixing strip 42 and the fixing ear 53. The filler 6 is an injection-molded structure, comprising thermoplastic polyurethane compound and an aramid fiber reinforced skeleton composited within the thermoplastic polyurethane compound. The filler 6 serves two purposes: firstly, to fill internal gaps, making the cable cross-section more uniformly stressed; secondly, to provide an elastic covering for the optical cable 2 and the electrical cable 3, absorbing impact and vibration energy and reducing mutual wear between internal conductors.

[0035] In a preferred example, the outer sheath 1, the filler 6, and the double-layer conduit structure can be formed into an integral cable structure using a continuous extrusion and online wrapping process to improve production efficiency and enhance the integrated bonding strength between the layers.

[0036] In practical use, when the cable is towed, reeled, or passes through ship bulkheads, the outer sheath 1 primarily bears the external friction and environmental protection. The outer conduit 4 and inner conduit 5 simultaneously bear the axial tensile force and bending load. The first deformation groove 41 and second deformation groove 51 release deformation in stages, and the filler 6 absorbs local impacts. The optical cable 2 and the cable 3 maintain a stable position and normal transmission state. Therefore, this structure not only has high tensile strength but also features flexible bending, crack resistance, corrosion resistance, and long-term service stability, making it suitable for use in the complex environment of ships.

[0037] In the description of this specification, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "specific embodiment," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0038] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A high-tensile-strength optical-electric composite cable for ships, comprising an outer sheath (1), an optical cable (2), an electrical cable (3), and a filler (6), characterized in that: The inner conduit (5) is fixedly sleeved on the inner side of the outer sheath (1), and the outer conduit (4) is fixedly sleeved on the outer side of the optical cable (2). The surface of the outer conduit (4) is provided with several oppositely arranged and intersecting first deformation grooves (41). An outer fixing strip (42) is formed at each of the first deformation grooves (41) located inside the outer conduit (4). The cable (3) is fixedly attached to the surface of the outer fixing strip (42). The surface of the inner conduit (5) is provided with several oppositely arranged and intersecting second deformation grooves (51). An inner fixing strip (52) is formed at each of the second deformation grooves (51) located outside the inner conduit (5). One end of the inner fixing strip (52) is bent to form a fixing ear (53). The fixing ear (53) is used to position and fix the cable (3). The surfaces of the outer fixing strip (42) and the fixing ear (53) are both fixedly attached with filler (6).

2. The high tensile strength optical-electric composite cable for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the outer conduit (4) and the inner conduit (5) are tubular structures extending along the axial direction of the cable, and the outer conduit (4) and the inner conduit (5) are arranged coaxially. The outer fixing strip (42) and the inner fixing strip (52) are staggered in the circumferential direction.

3. The high tensile strength optical-electric composite cable for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that, Several first deformation grooves (41) and second deformation grooves (51) are formed on the surfaces of the outer guide tube (4) and the inner guide tube (5) by a punching process, respectively. The outer fixing strip (42) and the inner fixing strip (52) are integrally formed by partial punching and flipping.

4. The high tensile strength optoelectronic composite cable for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surfaces of the outer conduit (4), inner conduit (5), outer fixing strip (42), and inner fixing strip (52) are all provided with a roughened texture layer.

5. The high tensile strength optoelectronic composite cable for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer side of the optical cable (2) is provided with an optical fiber sheath fixed inside the inner conduit (5).

6. The high tensile strength optoelectronic composite cable for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the outer conduit (4) and the inner conduit (5) are made of 301 stainless steel elastic thin-walled tubes with a wall thickness of 0.15mm to 0.50mm.

7. The high tensile strength optical-electric composite cable for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filler (6) is an injection-molded structure, comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane compound and an aramid fiber reinforced skeleton composited within the thermoplastic polyurethane compound.

8. The high tensile strength optoelectronic composite cable for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer sheath (1) is made of chlorinated polyethylene elastomer material, and its interior is composite with an axially distributed aramid short fiber reinforcement layer and cross-linked toughening components. The outer surface of the outer sheath (1) is provided with a corrugated buffer texture layer.

9. The high tensile strength optical-electric composite cable for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cable (3) includes a conductor core, an insulation layer covering the outside of the conductor core, and a shielding layer embedded inside the insulation layer.

10. The high tensile strength optoelectronic composite cable for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first deformation groove (41) and the second deformation groove (51) on the surface of the outer conduit (4) and the inner conduit (5) are offset along the axial direction, so that the first deformation groove (41) and the second deformation groove (51) form a graded deformation buffer structure under tension or bending conditions.

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