Cable Marking Support for Fire-Resistant Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical cables lack effective identification and tracing methods, especially after theft or vandalism, which complicates their recovery and maintenance, particularly when markings are destroyed by fire.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a marking support with a repeating identification part and an iterative part along the cable length, allowing unique identification of cable zones, and using a database to associate marking information with geographical positions for precise location and tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cable marking methods are used, then cable identification is possible during installation, but the markings are destroyed by fire or vandalism making traceability impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The marking support is nested within the cable structure itself, integrated into the cable manufacturing process. The support contains marking information that is embedded within the cable, allowing the marking to survive even when external identifiers are destroyed. This nesting ensures the marking support remains with the cable portion throughout its lifecycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The marking support with unique identification information is installed in the cable during the manufacturing process, before the cable is deployed. This preliminary action ensures that the marking information is already in place and protected within the cable structure, ready for future traceability operations even after events like fire or theft.
2Loss of information
If no marking system is implemented, then cable installation is simpler, but cable portions cannot be identified or located after theft or displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The marking support serves multiple functions: it provides unique identification of cable portions, enables traceability after theft or displacement, facilitates maintenance operations, and supports database correlation with geographical locations. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering comprehensive cable management capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The marking information on the support is copied and stored in a database system, creating a digital replica of the physical marking data. This allows the information to be preserved and accessed even if the physical marking becomes difficult to read, and enables rapid retrieval of cable location information during traceability operations.
3Productivity
If manual recording of cable information is used, then equipment costs are lower, but the process is time-consuming and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
Manual mechanical recording processes are replaced with optical reading systems that automatically capture marking information from the cable. Optical readers scan the marking support and extract data without human intervention, while mobile terminals with cameras provide alternative optical capture capabilities, significantly improving installation speed and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The marking support is designed to be self-reading through optical recognition systems. The marking information is structured to be automatically captured and processed by optical readers or mobile terminal cameras, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reducing human error while maintaining low operational complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The method involves introducing a marking support (2) e.g. ribbon, that is regularly distributed along a length of a communication network or power cable. The support is provided with a marking (3a) in which an information identification portion is arranged. An identification marking (3b) is provided with a barcode (3c) such as datamatrix code, on different portions of the cable. The markings and the barcode are associated with a physical location of the cable and are stored in a database. The database is queried so as to locate the physical position of the cable. The ribbon is made of polymer. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a loadable application (2) a communication network or power cable.