Termite-proof self-repairing sustainable cable
The cable design, featuring a multi-layered structure and self-healing technology, solves the problem of traditional cables being susceptible to termite infestation, achieving efficient and environmentally friendly termite prevention while reducing cable maintenance costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ANHUI SUNWAY CABLE CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-26
AI Technical Summary
Traditional cables are susceptible to termite infestation in tropical and subtropical regions. Chemical termite repellents have a pungent odor and a short effective period. Their structural design fails to effectively prevent termite invasion, affecting power and communication stability and increasing maintenance costs.
The cable adopts a multi-layer structure design, including a termite-proof filling layer, a wrapping tape layer, a metal armor layer, inner and outer sheaths, and a fault monitoring layer. It utilizes natural plant extracts, nanoparticles, and self-healing microcapsule technology, combined with distributed fiber optic strain sensors and conductive polymer sensors, to achieve intelligent monitoring and repair.
It significantly improves termite prevention performance, reduces maintenance costs, meets environmental protection requirements, achieves long-lasting termite prevention, intelligent monitoring and early warning, and reduces harm to humans and the environment.
Smart Images
Figure CN224287813U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model mainly relates to the field of cable technology, specifically a termite-proof, self-healing, and sustainable cable. Background Technology
[0002] In tropical and subtropical regions, termites are abundant and cause significant damage to cable infrastructure. Traditional cables often use sheath materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene (PE), which are insufficient to withstand termite attacks. Once the sheath is penetrated by termites, the internal insulation layer and conductor are exposed, resulting in a decline in insulation performance and a high risk of short-circuit faults. This not only severely affects the stability of power supply and communication, but also significantly increases maintenance costs and complexity.
[0003] Currently, some termite-proof cables rely on chemical termite repellents added to the sheath. However, these repellents are volatile and have a short shelf life, gradually weakening their effectiveness over time. Furthermore, during production and installation, these chemical repellents emit pungent odors, harming the health of construction workers and polluting the surrounding environment, contradicting the principles of green environmental protection and sustainable development. In addition, the structural design of some cables fails to adequately consider the infestation paths and methods of termites, making it impossible to fundamentally prevent termite damage to the cable's internal structure. Therefore, developing a long-lasting, environmentally friendly, and structurally optimized termite-proof cable is imperative. Utility Model Content
[0004] This utility model provides a solution that is significantly different from existing technologies, addressing the problem that existing technical solutions are too simplistic. It mainly provides a termite-proof, self-healing, and sustainable cable to solve the technical problem mentioned in the background that traditional cables are easily damaged by termites.
[0005] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows:
[0006] A termite-proof, self-healing, sustainable cable includes a conductor, an insulation layer covering the outer wall of the conductor, a filler layer disposed outside the insulation layer, a wrapping tape layer wrapped around the filler layer, an inner sheath disposed outside the wrapping tape layer, an armor layer disposed outside the inner sheath, a fault monitoring layer disposed outside the armor layer, and an outer sheath disposed outside the fault monitoring layer.
[0007] More preferably, the filling layer material is a termite-proof filling material, which prevents termites from penetrating deep into the cable through the filling layer and improves the overall termite-proof performance.
[0008] More preferably, the wrapping tape layer material is made of high-strength polyester fiber material, and its surface is coated with a nano-level anti-termite particle coating. The high-strength polyester fiber provides good mechanical strength, enhances the overall tensile and abrasion resistance of the cable, and protects the internal structure of the cable from termite infestation.
[0009] More preferably, the armor layer is a metal armor isolation layer made of stainless steel strip or copper strip, which can prevent termites from further invading and make it difficult for termites to penetrate into the insulation layer and conductor inside the cable.
[0010] In a further preferred embodiment, both the inner and outer sheaths are made of insect-repellent nylon, and both the inner and outer sheaths contain several anti-termite microcapsules containing a repair agent. Nylon has excellent wear resistance and mechanical strength, and its hardness is much higher than that of traditional sheath materials, which can effectively resist termite bites. When the cable surface is slightly bitten by termites, the microcapsules rupture and release the anti-termite components, forming a protective film at the damaged area to prevent termites from continuing to bite.
[0011] More preferably, the fault monitoring layer is a spirally wound distributed optical fiber strain sensor or a conductive polymer sensor strip, used to detect exposure or deformation of the armor layer.
[0012] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:
[0013] This termite-proof, self-healing, sustainable cable, through the synergistic effect of its inner sheath, outer sheath, armor layer, filler layer, wrapping tape, and self-healing termite-proof microcapsule technology, significantly improves termite resistance compared to traditional cables. It also solves the problems of strong odor and significant health hazards during production and installation, aligning with modern environmental protection concepts and sustainable development requirements. In particular, the natural plant extracts added to the inner and outer sheaths not only enhance the termite-proof effect but also add green and environmentally friendly attributes to the product. Furthermore, the fault monitoring layer combined with self-healing microcapsule technology enables "monitoring-repair-early warning-location," reducing cable maintenance costs.
[0014] The present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Attached Figure Description
[0015] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the present invention.
[0016] Numbering on the map:
[0017] 1. Conductor; 2. Insulation layer; 3. Filler layer; 4. Wrapping tape layer; 5. Inner sheath; 6. Armor layer; 7. Fault monitoring layer; 8. Outer sheath. Detailed Implementation
[0018] To facilitate understanding of this utility model, a more comprehensive description of the utility model will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show several embodiments of the utility model. However, the utility model can be implemented in different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described in the text. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of the utility model more thorough and comprehensive.
[0019] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this document are for illustrative purposes only.
[0020] Please refer to the appendix carefully. Figure 1 A termite-proof, self-healing, sustainable cable includes a conductor 1, an insulation layer 2 covering the outer wall of the conductor 1 to form a core wire, three core wires twisted together to form a wire bundle, a filler layer 3 on the outside of the wire bundle, a wrapping tape layer 4 wrapped around the filler layer 3, an inner sheath 5 on the outside of the wrapping tape layer 4, an armor layer 6 on the outside of the inner sheath 5, a fault monitoring layer 7 on the outside of the armor layer 6, and an outer sheath 8 on the outside of the fault monitoring layer 7.
[0021] In this embodiment, as Figure 1 As shown, the filling layer 3 is made of termite-proof filling material, which is mainly made of natural fibers (such as jute fiber / sisal fiber). The outer side of the jute fiber / sisal fiber is coated with environmentally friendly termite-proof additives. The environmentally friendly termite-proof additives contain natural plant essential oil components that have the effect of repelling and inhibiting termites, such as peppermint oil and eugenol. These components are continuously and slowly released, forming a deterrent environment for termites inside the cable, preventing termites from penetrating the cable through the filling layer 3 and improving the overall termite-proof performance.
[0022] In this embodiment, as Figure 1 As shown, the wrapping tape layer 4 uses high-strength polyester fiber as the base material and is coated with a special coating containing a large number of nano-level anti-termite particles. The nano-level anti-termite particles are made of inorganic materials that are harmless to the human body, such as nano zinc oxide and nano titanium dioxide. After special treatment, they have a large specific surface area and strong activity, which have a strong physical barrier and inhibition effect on termites. When termites try to pass through the wrapping tape layer 4, the nanoparticles will destroy their mouthparts and body surface structure, making it difficult for them to continue gnawing. At the same time, the high-strength polyester fiber base material of the wrapping tape layer 4 provides good mechanical strength, enhances the overall tensile and abrasion resistance of the cable, and further protects the internal structure of the cable from termite infestation.
[0023] In this embodiment, as Figure 1As shown, the armor layer 6 is a metal armored isolation layer made of stainless steel or copper strips, which can effectively prevent termites from further invading and make it difficult for termites to penetrate into the insulation layer 2 and conductor 1 inside the cable. In addition, when the cable is subjected to external mechanical impact, the metal armored isolation layer can protect the internal insulation layer 2 and conductor 1 from damage. Moreover, the isolation layer has an electromagnetic shielding function, which can reduce the impact of external electromagnetic interference on the cable transmission signal, improve the overall performance of the cable, and does not involve any chemicals harmful to the human body, making it safe and reliable.
[0024] In this embodiment, as Figure 1 As shown, the inner sheath 5 and the outer sheath 8 are both made of high-strength nylon 66 or nylon 12. Nylon has excellent wear resistance and mechanical strength, and its hardness is higher than that of traditional sheath materials, which can effectively resist termite bites.
[0025] During the manufacturing of the nylon sheath, a coating of natural plant active ingredients that are safe for human use—neem oil and lemon eucalyptus oil—is applied sequentially to the outside of the nylon sheath. Neem oil contains azadirachtin, which exerts a food-repelling effect by interfering with termite molting hormone receptors, while lemon eucalyptus oil contains limonene, which produces a deterrent effect by inhibiting termite olfactory receptors.
[0026] Nylon materials are chemically stable and not easily decomposed by termites. No irritating chemical additives are added during the manufacturing process, ensuring that they are harmless to the human body during production, installation and long-term use.
[0027] Furthermore, termite-resistant microcapsules are added to the nylon material. When termites gnaw on the cable surface, the self-healing termite-resistant microcapsules pre-dispersed in the nylon sheath rupture due to mechanical stress, releasing the internally encapsulated two-component repair agent (such as epoxy resin prepolymer and curing agent). These two components undergo rapid free radical polymerization reaction after contact with air, forming a three-dimensional cross-linked network structure.
[0028] Simultaneously, fragments of the microcapsule shell material (such as urea-formaldehyde resin) are mixed with the repair agent, further enhancing the mechanical strength of the protective film. The heat released during the reaction accelerates curing, ultimately forming an elastic composite protective film with a thickness of approximately 50-100 micrometers at the damaged area. Its hardness can reach Shore hardness D80 or higher, effectively resisting continuous termite gnawing.
[0029] According to microcapsule release kinetics experiments, the initial curing time of the protective film is approximately 3-5 minutes, at which point the repair agent has formed a continuous film layer that prevents termites from penetrating. Complete curing takes 24 hours, at which point the tensile strength of the protective film reaches its maximum (approximately 15 MPa), and the bonding strength with the nylon substrate exceeds 5 N / cm. This process requires no external energy trigger; the repair mechanism is initiated solely by the mechanical energy generated by termite bites.
[0030] In this embodiment, as Figure 1As shown, the fault monitoring layer 7 is a spirally wound distributed fiber optic strain sensor (DOFS) or conductive polymer sensor strip, used to detect exposure or deformation of the armor layer 6. The distributed fiber optic strain sensor employs Raman scattering, with an accuracy of ±20με and a positioning accuracy of ±1m, suitable for long-distance cable monitoring. The conductive polymer sensor strip is made of PEDOT:PSS conductive polymer. When the armor layer 6 is exposed, causing damage to the sensor strip, a sudden change in resistance triggers an alarm (response time <100ms). When the cable is subjected to mechanical force or termite damage, causing the armor layer 6 to be exposed or deformed, the sensor detects a sudden change in strain (threshold set >500με) or a sudden increase in resistance (>10kΩ) and sends an alarm to the monitoring center via fiber optic or wireless module (such as NB-IoT). Simultaneously, it locates the damage point based on optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) or electrical resistance tomography (ERT) technology (error <2m).
[0031] The sensor strip adopts a double-layer structure: the inner layer is a PDMS elastic matrix (0.3mm thick) with embedded distributed optical fibers or conductive polymers; the outer layer is a silicone rubber protective layer (0.2mm thick) with an anti-termite coating (containing neem oil and lemon eucalyptus oil) to prevent the sensor itself from becoming a target for termite attacks.
[0032] The specific operating procedure of this utility model is as follows: When termites attempt to invade the cable from the external environment, they first come into contact with the high-strength nylon 66 / 12 material of the outer sheath 8. The outer side of the nylon sheath is coated with neem oil and lemon eucalyptus oil. The azadirachtin contained in the neem oil can interfere with the termite molting hormone receptors, producing a feeding repellent effect; the limonene in the lemon eucalyptus oil forms a deterrent by inhibiting the termite's olfactory receptors. Under the dual effect, the termite's willingness to bite is significantly reduced. If the termites continue to bite, the pre-dispersed self-healing anti-termite microcapsules in the outer sheath 8 rupture due to mechanical stress, releasing epoxy resin prepolymer and curing agent. After contact with air, they quickly cross-link to form an elastic protective film with a thickness of 50-100 micrometers and a hardness of Shore D80 or higher. It initially cures in 3-5 minutes to prevent penetration, and after 24 hours of complete curing, the tensile strength reaches 15MPa, and the bonding force with the nylon substrate exceeds 5N / cm, effectively repairing the damage and resisting subsequent biting.
[0033] If termites breach the outer protective layer 8, the distributed fiber optic strain sensor (based on Raman scattering principle, accuracy ±20με) or conductive polymer sensor strip (PEDOT:PSS material) in the fault monitoring layer 7 will immediately start monitoring. If the armor layer 6 is exposed or deformed due to termite bites, the sensor will detect a sudden change in strain (>500με) or a sudden increase in resistance (>10kΩ), and send an alarm to the monitoring center via fiber optic or NB-IoT wireless module (response time <100ms). It will also use OTDR or ERT technology to locate the damage point (error <2m) to achieve immediate early warning.
[0034] If termites penetrate the fault monitoring layer, the metal armor layer 6, with its physical strength of stainless steel / copper strips, will prevent termites from penetrating further. At the same time, its electromagnetic shielding function can reduce the impact of external interference on internal signals. Even if the armor layer 6 is partially damaged, the high-strength nylon material of the inner protective layer 5 will continue to block termites through plant extracts and self-healing mechanisms.
[0035] When termites reach the wrapping tape layer 4, the nano-scale anti-termite particles on its surface (such as nano zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) destroy the termite's mouthparts and body structure due to their large specific surface area and strong activity, preventing them from continuing to bite; the high-strength polyester fiber substrate provides mechanical support, enhances tensile and abrasion resistance, and slows down the termite invasion speed.
[0036] Ultimately, if termites break through the wrapping tape layer, the environmentally friendly termite-repellent additives (peppermint oil, eugenol, etc.) in the filling layer 3 will continuously release repellent components, forming a low-concentration essential oil environment inside the cable, inhibiting termite activity from the source and protecting the insulation layer 2 and conductor 1 from damage.
[0037] Throughout the entire process, all materials used are formulated with environmentally friendly and non-toxic ingredients (such as natural plant essential oils, inorganic nanoparticles, and nylon substrates). The production and use process is harmless to the human body, achieving multiple goals of efficient ant prevention, intelligent monitoring, and safe operation.
[0038] It should be noted that the distributed fiber optic strain sensor (DOFS) or conductive polymer sensor strip used in this utility model are existing technologies, and their specific functional characteristics and working principles will not be elaborated here. In addition, the application materials involved in this utility model (including neem oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, jute, sisal, peppermint oil, eugenol, urea-formaldehyde resin, epoxy resin prepolymer, curing agent, etc.) are all mature materials that already exist in the prior art, and their functionality has been verified through practical application and has practical effects.
[0039] The present invention has been described above by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the specific implementation of the present invention is not limited to the above-described manner. Any non-substantial improvement made by adopting the inventive concept and technical solution of the present invention, or the direct application of the inventive concept and technical solution of the present invention to other occasions without modification, shall be within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A termite proof self-healing sustainable cable comprising a conductor (1) characterized in that: The outer wall of the conductor (1) is covered with an insulating layer (2), a filling layer (3) is provided on the outside of the insulating layer (2), a wrapping tape layer (4) is wrapped around the outside of the filling layer (3), an inner protective layer (5) is provided on the outside of the wrapping tape layer (4), an armor layer (6) is provided on the outside of the inner protective layer (5), a fault monitoring layer (7) is provided on the outside of the armor layer (6), and an outer protective layer (8) is provided on the outside of the fault monitoring layer (7).
2. A termite resistant self-healing sustainable cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The filling layer (3) is made of termite-proof filling material to prevent termites from penetrating the cable through the filling layer (3).
3. A termite resistant self-healing sustainable cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wrapping tape layer (4) is made of high-strength polyester fiber material, and its surface is coated with a nano-level anti-termite particle coating to protect the internal structure of the cable from termite damage.
4. The termite-proof, self-healing, sustainable cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The armor layer (6) is a metal armor isolation layer made of stainless steel strip or copper strip, used to block termite invasion.
5. The termite-proof, self-healing, sustainable cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner sheath (5) and outer sheath (8) are both made of insect-repellent nylon. Both the inner sheath (5) and outer sheath (8) contain several anti-termite microcapsules, and the anti-termite microcapsules contain a repair agent. When the cable surface is slightly bitten by termites, the microcapsules rupture and release the anti-termite ingredients, forming a protective film at the damaged area to prevent termites from continuing to bite.
6. The termite-proof, self-healing, sustainable cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fault monitoring layer (7) is a spirally wound distributed optical fiber strain sensor or conductive polymer sensor strip, used to detect the exposure or deformation of the armor layer (6).