Fire-Resistant Cable Connection Using Cementitious Composite
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for connecting fire-resistant cables are costly, inefficient, and lack effective thermal protection, particularly during fires, as they often require replacing entire cables and do not adequately protect the connection zone from extreme temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A fire-resistant cable connection using a cementitious material layer that matches the cables' structure and provides thermal protection, combined with a metallic element for permanent connection and a heat-shrinkable material for additional protection, ensuring the connection remains intact up to 1000°C.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fire-resistant connection boxes are used to connect cables, then cable connection is achieved, but the connection zone lacks adequate thermal protection during fires and the boxes are bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining cementitious material (providing fire resistance and thermal protection) with polymer material (providing adhesion and flexibility). This composite structure creates a protective envelope that adheres to the cables and provides both thermal insulation and structural integrity during fires, resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and thermal protection.
2Reliability
If fire-resistant safety cables are replaced entirely when damaged or extended, then fire resistance is maintained, but the solution becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fire-resistant protective function from the entire cable assembly and applies it selectively only to the connection zone using a cementitious-polymer composite envelope. This allows the majority of the cable system to be reused while providing targeted fire protection where it is most needed, significantly reducing material costs compared to replacing entire cables.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing enhanced fire-resistant protection specifically at the connection zone rather than uniformly along the entire cable length. The protective envelope is applied locally where thermal damage risk is highest, optimizing resource allocation and reducing overall cost while maintaining system-wide fire resistance.
3Reliability
If existing protective casings are used, then some fire resistance is provided, but they have large footprint and are difficult to install at connection zones with varying diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using a flexible polymer material as the base of the protective envelope that can dynamically adapt to different cable diameters and connection zone geometries. This flexible base layer conforms to the specific shape and size of each connection zone, making the protective system easy to install on cables of varying dimensions while maintaining fire-resistant properties.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for efficient and quick connection of fire-resistant cables while maintaining their fire-resistant properties, preventing degradation of insulating layers and ensuring the connection remains secure and functional during extreme temperatures, meeting stringent fire resistance standards.
Implementation Method 1
A fire-resistant cable connection uses a cementitious material layer that matches the cables' structure and provides thermal protection
Implementation Method 2
a heat-shrinkable material for additional protection, ensuring the connection remains intact up to 1000°C
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a fire-resistant cable connection, the use thereof, a cable connection method using such a fire-resistant connection, and a line of fire-resistant cables comprising such a fire-resistant connection.