Optic Cable Ripcord with Colorant Coating for Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ripcords for optic cables face challenges in distinguishing themselves from reinforcing materials during installation and repairs, while also lacking excellent abrasion resistance and mechanical properties.
Innovation Solution
A ripcord with a coating layer containing a binder and colorant is applied to a folded and twisted yarn formed by wholly aromatic polyamide filaments, along with additional functional filaments, to enhance mechanical properties and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a ripcord is made from wholly aromatic polyamide filaments only, then excellent mechanical properties such as modulus are achieved, but poor dyeing properties and reduced dyeing intensity result, making the ripcord difficult to distinguish from reinforcing materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining wholly aromatic polyamide filaments (providing mechanical strength) with polyester filaments (providing good dyeing properties). This composite structure allows the ripcord to simultaneously achieve excellent modulus and superior dyeing intensity, solving the contradiction between mechanical properties and dyeing properties.
2Ease of manufacture
If a ripcord is made from polyester yarns only, then favorable dyeing properties are achieved, but higher denier and larger weight are needed to obtain desired mechanical properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials where polyester filaments provide the dyeing properties and wholly aromatic polyamide filaments provide the mechanical strength. This allows achieving both good dyeing properties and desired modulus without needing higher denier polyester alone.
3Reliability
If conventional coating materials such as resin or silicon oil are applied to the ripcord, then smoothness and abrasion resistance are improved, but the ripcord remains difficult to distinguish from reinforcing materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by incorporating coloring agents into the coating layer applied to the ripcord. This allows the ripcord to maintain improved smoothness and abrasion resistance from the coating while simultaneously achieving high distinguishability through vivid coloring, solving the contradiction between reliability and ease of manufacture.
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 ripcord is easily distinguishable from reinforcing materials, exhibits superior mechanical properties, and maintains strength and dyeing properties, making it suitable for efficient resin coating removal and repair processes.
Implementation Method 1
a coating layer containing a binder and a colorant dispersed in the binder, which is formed on a surface of a folded and twisted yarn
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
Disclosed are a ripcord for optic cable and a method of manufacturing the same. The inventive ripcord for optic cable has a coating layer formed by applying a coating solution, which includes a binder and a colorant dispersed in the binder, to a surface of a folded and twisted yarn formed by folding and twisting together wholly aromatic poly amide filaments. The ripcord for optic cable of the present invention is produced by applying a coating solution, which includes a binder and a colorant, to a surface of a folded and twisted yarn formed by folding and twisting together wholly aromatic polyamide filament to form a coating layer, then, drying and winding the coated yarn over a winding machine. The ripcord for optic cable of the present invention which has a coating layer including a colorant on a surface of a folded and twisted yarn formed by folding and twisting together wholly aromatic polyamide filaments can be easily distinguished from reinforcing materials of an optic cable at installation and repairs of the optic cable, thereby improving workability of the optic cable. The present inventive method can simply and sufficiently evaporate and remove a diluent portion contained in the coating layer, thus resulting in improvement of productivity while effectively preventing reduction of mechanical properties and coating fastness caused by a residue of the diluent portion.