Bend-resistant underwater cable

Abstract

The utility model belongs to underwater cable technical field discloses a kind of bending-resistant underwater cables, including conductor, insulating layer, sheath layer and protective layer, conductor is formed by multiple copper wire strands multilayer complex twisting, and the complex twisting direction of each layer copper wire strand is same, copper wire strand is formed by multiple tinned copper wire bundle twisting, insulating layer is coated in the outer periphery of conductor, sheath layer is coated in the outer periphery of insulating layer, protective layer is coated in the outer periphery of sheath layer, the material of protective layer is polyether polyurethane elastomer, shore hardness is (A80-D70).The bending-resistant underwater cable provided by the utility model has pressure resistance and flexibility simultaneously, when bending laying, it can be quickly laid, reduce the degree of difficulty of laying, simultaneously, it can effectively reduce the degree of stress concentration at bending, the risk of fracture at bending is low, and it can stably transmit electric energy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of underwater cable technology, and in particular to a bend-resistant underwater cable. Background Technology

[0002] Underwater cables are cables used to transmit electrical energy in underwater environments and are widely used in power transmission, signal transmission, and marine energy development. Because underwater cables need to withstand high water pressure, most existing underwater cables are rigid structures with poor bending resistance. However, in complex laying environments, underwater cables need to be bent to complete the laying process. This not only inconveniences the laying work but also causes existing underwater cables to break easily due to stress concentration at the bend, thus affecting the stability of power transmission.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a bend-resistant underwater cable to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a bend-resistant underwater cable that is both pressure-resistant and flexible. When laying cables in bends, it can be laid quickly, reducing the difficulty of laying cables. At the same time, it can effectively reduce the stress concentration at the bend, reduce the risk of breakage at the bend, and can stably transmit electrical energy.

[0005] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] This utility model provides a bend-resistant underwater cable, comprising:

[0007] The conductor is formed by multiple layers of copper wire strands twisted together, and the twisting direction of each layer of copper wire strands is the same. The copper wire strands are formed by multiple bundles of tin-plated copper wires twisted together.

[0008] An insulating layer that covers the outer periphery of the conductor;

[0009] A sheath layer, the sheath layer covering the outer periphery of the insulating layer;

[0010] A protective layer is provided, which covers the outer periphery of the sheath layer. The protective layer is made of polyether-type polyurethane elastomer and has a Shore hardness of (A80-D70).

[0011] As a preferred technical solution for bend-resistant underwater cables, multiple copper wire strands are twisted together in a 1+6+12+18 twisting pattern to form the conductor.

[0012] As a preferred technical solution for bending-resistant underwater cables, the diameter of the tinned copper wire is 0.18mm to 0.2mm.

[0013] As a preferred technical solution for bending-resistant underwater cables, the bundle diameter ratio of the multiple tin-plated copper wires is 25 to 30 times.

[0014] As a preferred technical solution for a bend-resistant underwater cable, the bend-resistant underwater cable further includes an elastic wrapping layer, which is placed between the insulation layer and the sheath layer, and the elastic wrapping layer is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the insulation layer.

[0015] As a preferred technical solution for bend-resistant underwater cables, the elastic wrapping layer is formed by spirally winding silicone rubber tape around the outer periphery of the insulation layer.

[0016] As a preferred technical solution for bending-resistant underwater cables, the wrapping overlap rate of the silicone rubber tape is not less than 20%.

[0017] As a preferred technical solution for bend-resistant underwater cables, the insulation layer is made of ethylene propylene rubber.

[0018] As a preferred technical solution for bend-resistant underwater cables, the sheath layer is made of chlorosulfonated polyethylene.

[0019] As a preferred technical solution for a bend-resistant underwater cable, the protective layer is fitted with a reflective ring; or, the outer periphery of the protective layer is coated with a reflective coating.

[0020] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0021] 1. By twisting the copper wire strands in each layer of the conductor in the same direction, the sliding tendency of the contact surfaces of adjacent layers of copper wire strands is consistent. This reduces the wear of individual copper wire strands caused by friction between adjacent layers. In bending underwater cables, the friction between multiple copper wire strands in the conductor is small, reducing the risk of breakage due to localized stress concentration caused by friction, thus improving the conductor's bending resistance. Compared to conductors formed by alternating stranding directions, the same-direction twisting of the copper wire strands avoids stress concentration in the conductor, reducing the degree of stress concentration at the bend and further reducing the risk of conductor breakage at the bend. The same-direction twisting of the copper wire strands between layers also increases the effective area of ​​the conductor, alleviating the skin effect. This maximizes the actual current flow area in the conductor when transmitting electrical energy, enabling the underwater cable to carry thousands of amperes of current without sacrificing bending resistance, even without increasing the conductor's cross-sectional area.

[0022] 2. Compared with other stranding methods, stranded copper wires have better flexibility, which improves the flexibility of the conductor and facilitates bending-resistant underwater laying; the tin-plated copper wire has a tin layer on its surface, which reduces the internal friction of the copper wire strands and the friction between adjacent copper wire strands, reducing the degree of internal stress concentration when the bending-resistant underwater cable is bent, and reducing the risk of conductor breakage at the bend of the bending-resistant underwater cable.

[0023] 3. By selecting polyether-type polyurethane elastomer as the protective layer material, the bending-resistant underwater cable can not only operate stably in seawater, but also, thanks to the hydrophobicity and low adhesion of polyether-type polyurethane elastomer, effectively inhibit marine organisms such as barnacles from adhering to the surface of the bending-resistant underwater cable, thus extending the maintenance cycle of the bending-resistant underwater cable. The Shore hardness of the protective layer is controlled at (A80-D70), giving the protective layer a certain degree of rigidity while also providing appropriate elasticity. When the bending-resistant underwater cable is bent, the protective layer can share a certain amount of stress, further reducing the stress concentration of the conductor at the bend, reducing the risk of conductor breakage at the bend, and ensuring the stability of power transmission in the bending-resistant underwater cable. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the bend-resistant underwater cable provided by this utility model;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the manufacturing process of the bend-resistant underwater cable provided by this utility model.

[0026] In the picture:

[0027] 1. Conductor; 2. Insulation layer; 3. Sheath layer; 4. Protective layer; 5. Elastic wrapping layer. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to the present invention, not the entire structure.

[0029] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0030] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0031] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper," "lower," "right," etc., refer to the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for ease of description and simplification of operation, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for distinction in description and have no special meaning.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown in the illustration, this embodiment provides a bend-resistant underwater cable, including a conductor 1, an insulation layer 2, a sheath layer 3, and a protective layer 4. The conductor 1 is formed by multiple layers of copper wire strands twisted together, with each layer twisted in the same direction. The copper wire strands are formed by multiple bundles of tinned copper wire. The insulation layer 2 covers the outer periphery of the conductor 1, preventing current leakage during power transmission and short circuits, thus improving the cable's safety. The sheath layer 3 covers the outer periphery of the insulation layer 2, enabling the underwater cable to withstand high water pressure and providing pressure resistance for normal operation in underwater environments. The protective layer 4 covers the outer periphery of the sheath layer 3. The protective layer 4 is made of polyether-type polyurethane elastomer with a Shore hardness of (A80-D70).

[0033] Because the copper strands in each layer are twisted in the same direction as the layer above, the sliding tendency of the contact surfaces of adjacent layers of copper strands in conductor 1 is consistent. This reduces the wear on individual copper strands caused by friction between adjacent layers. When the underwater cable is bent, the friction between the multiple copper strands in conductor 1 is low, reducing the risk of breakage due to localized stress concentration caused by friction between different copper strands during bending, thus improving the bending resistance of conductor 1. Furthermore, compared to the alternating twisting direction of conductor 1, the unidirectional twisting of each layer of copper strands avoids stress concentration in conductor 1, reducing the degree of stress concentration at the bend and improving the bending resistance of conductor 1, thereby giving the underwater cable excellent bending resistance. The unidirectional stranding of copper wires between layers increases the effective area of ​​conductor 1, alleviates the skin effect, and maximizes the actual flow area of ​​current in conductor 1 when transmitting electrical energy. This allows the bending-resistant underwater cable to carry thousands of amperes of current without increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​conductor 1, thus avoiding the loss of bending resistance due to the need to increase the cross-sectional area of ​​conductor 1 for high current. The copper wire strands are formed by multiple tin-plated copper wires bundled together. Compared to other stranding methods, this bundling method gives the stranded copper wires better flexibility, thereby improving the flexibility of conductor 1. The tin layer on the surface of the tin-plated copper wires reduces internal friction and friction between adjacent strands, decreasing the degree of internal stress concentration during bending and further improving the flexibility of the bending-resistant underwater cable.

[0034] The protective layer 4 is made of polyether-type polyurethane elastomer. Polyether-type polyurethane elastomer possesses excellent hydrolysis resistance, corrosion resistance, and chemical stability, enabling the flexible underwater cable to operate stably in seawater. Simultaneously, the hydrophobicity and low adhesion of polyether-type polyurethane elastomer effectively inhibit the adhesion of marine organisms such as barnacles to the surface of the flexible underwater cable, effectively extending its maintenance cycle. Since the Shore hardness of the protective layer 4 is controlled within the range of A80-D70, it possesses both rigidity and moderate elasticity. When the flexible underwater cable bends, the protective layer 4 can distribute some of the stress, further reducing the stress concentration of conductor 1 at the bend, lowering the risk of conductor 1 breakage, and ensuring the stability of power transmission in the flexible underwater cable. The method for adjusting the Shore hardness of the polyether-type polyurethane elastomer is a conventional technique in materials science and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0035] In this embodiment, multiple copper wire strands are twisted together in a 1+6+12+18 twisting pattern to form conductor 1. That is, conductor 1 is formed by twisting 37 copper wire strands together, and its overall tensile strength is more than 1.3 times that of a solid conductor 1 with the same cross-section, significantly improving the tensile strength of conductor 1. Furthermore, even if a single copper wire strand breaks, conductor 1 can still maintain electrical continuity and transmit power, greatly reducing the failure rate compared to a solid conductor 1. In addition, the 1+6+12+18 twisting pattern is a commonly used twisting method in cable processing. This allows for quick and stable twisting of conductor 1 during the processing of bend-resistant underwater cables, and also reduces the production cost of bend-resistant underwater cables.

[0036] In this embodiment, the diameter of the tin-plated copper wire is 0.18mm to 0.2mm. The bundle diameter ratio of multiple tin-plated copper wires is 25 to 30 times. This ensures stable forming of the copper wire strands while maintaining flexibility. Simultaneously, controlling the bundle diameter ratio at 25 to 30 times reduces the tension requirement of the stranding equipment by 30%, lowering the energy consumption of the stranding equipment and thus reducing the processing cost of conductor 1. In this embodiment, a bundling machine can be used as the stranding equipment.

[0037] In this embodiment, the bend-resistant underwater cable also includes an elastic wrapping layer 5, which is placed between the insulation layer 2 and the sheath layer 3. Specifically, the elastic wrapping layer 5 is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the insulation layer 2. Because the conductor 1 of the bend-resistant underwater cable heats up due to carrying a large current during current transmission, the conductor 1 and the insulation layer 2 will expand due to heat. When the bend-resistant underwater cable stops working, the seawater cools it rapidly. Therefore, the conductor 1 and the insulation layer 2 in the bend-resistant underwater cable will frequently experience thermal expansion and contraction. Since the deformation of the metal is relatively small, that is, the deformation of the conductor 1 in the bend-resistant underwater cable will be less than the deformation of the insulation layer 2. Therefore, gaps may occur between the insulation layer 2 and the conductor 1. By setting an elastic wrapping layer 5 between the insulation layer 2 and the sheath layer 3, the elastic wrapping layer 5 is compressed when the conductor 1 and the insulation layer 2 expand due to heat. When the conductor 1 and the insulation layer 2 cool down, the elastic wrapping layer 5 returns to its previous shape and squeezes the insulation layer 2. This ensures that the conductor 1 and the insulation layer 2 are always in close contact, solving the problem of gaps that may appear between the conductor 1 and the insulation layer 2, avoiding partial discharge damage between them, and further improving the safety and service life of the bending-resistant underwater cable.

[0038] The elastic wrapping layer 5 is formed by spirally winding silicone rubber tape around the outer periphery of the insulation layer 2. The silicone rubber tape is elastic and waterproof, ensuring that the insulation layer 2 remains in close contact with the conductor 1 while preventing seawater from seeping into the insulation layer 2, thus protecting the conductor 1. The overlap rate of the silicone rubber tape is not less than 20%. This ensures that the silicone rubber tape completely covers the outer periphery of the insulation layer 2, further guaranteeing the water resistance of the elastic wrapping layer 5.

[0039] In this embodiment, the insulation layer 2 is made of ethylene propylene rubber. Ethylene propylene rubber has high insulation, excellent temperature resistance and weather aging resistance. High insulation can effectively ensure the safety of use of the bending-resistant underwater cable. Excellent temperature resistance can enable the bending-resistant underwater cable to adapt to seawater temperature changes caused by climate change. In particular, ethylene propylene rubber can maintain good flexibility and resilience in the range of -50℃ to 150℃, does not become brittle at low temperatures and does not become sticky at high temperatures, thus ensuring the insulation performance of the bending-resistant underwater cable.

[0040] In this embodiment, the sheath layer 3 is made of chlorosulfonated polyethylene, which possesses corrosion resistance, wide temperature range adaptability, and aging resistance. Corrosion resistance ensures the flexible underwater cable is not corroded by seawater, while aging resistance guarantees its service life. Wide temperature range adaptability refers to the chlorosulfonated polyethylene material's operating range of -50℃ to 150℃; it maintains elasticity in extremely cold environments and excellent stability in high-temperature environments, enabling the flexible underwater cable to adapt to changes in seawater temperature.

[0041] In this embodiment, the protective layer 4 is fitted with a reflective ring, or the outer periphery of the protective layer 4 is coated with a reflective coating. The reflective ring or reflective coating helps personnel quickly locate the bend-resistant underwater cable underwater, enabling rapid maintenance and repair of the bend-resistant underwater cable, thereby reducing the difficulty of the work for personnel.

[0042] like Figure 2 As shown in the figure, this embodiment provides a method for manufacturing a bend-resistant underwater cable, which is used to manufacture the above-mentioned bend-resistant underwater cable. The method for manufacturing the bend-resistant underwater cable includes the following steps:

[0043] Step 1: Bundle multiple tin-plated copper wires to form copper wire strands, and prepare multiple copper wire strands. Then, successively twist these copper wire strands to form conductor 1. Specifically, use a wire drawing machine to draw copper rods into copper wires with a diameter of 0.18mm-0.2mm. Tin the copper wires to form tin-plated copper wires. Then, use a bundling machine to bundle the tin-plated copper wires to form copper wire strands, creating multiple copper wire strands. These multiple copper wire strands are then twisted together layer by layer in a 1+12+16+18 pattern to form conductor 1. The twisting direction of each layer of copper wire strands is always left-handed.

[0044] Step 2: Extrude insulating material onto the outer periphery of conductor 1 to form insulating layer 2; put the ethylene propylene rubber mixture into an extruder, the extruder heat-melts the ethylene propylene rubber mixture, and then extrudes the heat-melted ethylene propylene rubber mixture onto the outer periphery of conductor 1 to form insulating layer 2.

[0045] Step 3: Extruding sheath material onto the outer periphery of insulation layer 2 to form sheath layer 3; The chlorosulfonated polyethylene mixture is placed in an extruder, which heat-melts the chlorosulfonated polyethylene mixture, and then extrudes the heat-melted chlorosulfonated polyethylene mixture onto the outer periphery of insulation layer 2 to form sheath layer 3. The chlorosulfonated polyethylene mixture includes: 100 parts chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber, 14 parts flame retardant masterbatch, 2 parts antioxidant, 3 parts lubricant, 1 part coupling agent, 3.5 parts anti-sticking agent, 3 parts anti-scorching agent, 1 part crosslinking aid, and 75 parts filler.

[0046] Step 4: Extrude polyether-type polyurethane elastic material onto the outer periphery of the sheath layer 3 to form a protective layer 4, and make the Shore hardness of the polyether-type polyurethane elastic material (A80-D70).

[0047] Furthermore, step 20 is included between step 2 and step 3:

[0048] A silicone rubber strip is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the edge layer to form an elastic wrapping layer 5.

[0049] Obviously, the above embodiments of this utility model are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present utility model, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present utility model. Those skilled in the art can make various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions without departing from the protection scope of this utility model. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively describe all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. A bend-resistant underwater cable, characterized in that, include: Conductor (1), wherein the conductor (1) is formed by multiple layers of copper wire strands twisted together, and the twisting direction of each layer of copper wire strands is the same, wherein the copper wire strands are formed by multiple bundles of tin-plated copper wires twisted together; An insulating layer (2) is provided, which covers the outer periphery of the conductor (1); Sheath layer (3), the sheath layer (3) covers the outer periphery of the insulating layer (2); A protective layer (4) is formed on the outer periphery of the sheath layer (3). The material of the protective layer (4) is polyether-type polyurethane elastomer, and the Shore hardness of the protective layer (4) is (A80-D70).

2. The bend-resistant underwater cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multiple copper wire strands are twisted together in a 1+6+12+18 manner to form the conductor (1).

3. The bend-resistant underwater cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diameter of the tin-plated copper wire is 0.18mm to 0.2mm.

4. The bend-resistant underwater cable according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bundle diameter ratio of the multiple tin-plated copper wires is 25 to 30 times.

5. The bend-resistant underwater cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bending-resistant underwater cable also includes an elastic wrapping layer (5), which is placed between the insulation layer (2) and the sheath layer (3), and the elastic wrapping layer (5) is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the insulation layer (2).

6. The bend-resistant underwater cable according to claim 5, characterized in that, The elastic wrapping layer (5) is formed by spirally winding a silicone rubber strip around the outer periphery of the insulating layer (2).

7. The bend-resistant underwater cable according to claim 6, characterized in that, The overlap rate of the silicone rubber tape is not less than 20%.

8. The bend-resistant underwater cable according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The insulating layer (2) is made of ethylene propylene rubber.

9. The bend-resistant underwater cable according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The sheath layer (3) is made of chlorosulfonated polyethylene.

10. The bend-resistant underwater cable according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The protective layer (4) is fitted with a reflective ring; or, the outer periphery of the protective layer (4) is coated with a reflective coating.

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