Segmented Floodant Coaxial Cable Moisture Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coaxial drop cables in outdoor aerial applications are prone to moisture ingress due to abrasions and rodent damage, leading to corrosion and shorting issues, as existing floodants either fail to prevent water flow or create messy conditions during connectorization.
Innovation Solution
A coaxial drop cable design featuring a non-flowing, Amorphous Polypropylene floodant applied in a segmented manner between the conductive foil layer and the jacket, which circumferentially seals the space to prevent moisture migration while allowing easy identification of floodant locations for clean preparation and connectorization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flowing floodant is used to seal openings in the jacket, then moisture protection is improved, but the floodant flows into connectors and equipment causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The floodant is applied in segmented locations along the cable length rather than continuously. This segmentation allows the floodant to remain at specific positions and prevents it from flowing into connectors and equipment while still providing moisture protection at critical points.
Solution Approach 2:
The floodant is applied selectively at specific locations where moisture protection is most needed, such as near potential entry points. This localized application provides targeted protection without the risk of the floodant flowing into equipment throughout the entire cable length.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a non-flowing floodant is used to prevent equipment damage, then connectorization safety is improved, but moisture flow is not stopped effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The non-flowing floodant is applied in segmented locations along the cable. This segmentation allows the floodant to effectively block moisture flow paths at critical points without creating a continuous barrier that would cause messiness during connectorization.
Solution Approach 2:
The floodant is applied at specific locations where moisture entry is most likely to occur. This localized approach provides effective moisture protection while maintaining clean conditions during connectorization at other cable sections.
3Reliability
If a thick tar-like floodant is used to fill voids and coat braid, then moisture protection is improved, but the cable becomes messy during connectorization
Solution Approach 1:
The floodant is applied in segmented sections rather than continuously along the cable. This segmentation ensures that floodant is present only where moisture protection is critical, leaving other sections clean for easy connectorization.
Solution Approach 2:
The floodant is extracted from continuous application and placed only at specific segmented locations. This removal of floodant from unnecessary areas eliminates the messiness problem during connectorization while retaining protection where needed.
4Reliability
If floodant is applied continuously along the cable, then moisture protection is maximized, but identification of floodant locations becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous floodant application is segmented into discrete sections. This segmentation creates distinct, identifiable locations where floodant is present, making it easy to locate during installation and connectorization while still providing comprehensive moisture protection.
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
Effectively prevents water flow and corrosion within the cable, maintaining the coaxial circuit integrity while avoiding messy residue during installation, thus enhancing reliability and ease of handling.
Implementation Method 1
The non-flowing floodant is configured to circumferentially seal a space between the foil layer and the jacket at the plurality of first areas
Implementation Method 2
Two consecutive ones of the plurality of first areas are configured to contain moisture in the second area between the two consecutive ones of the plurality of first areas
Data Source
AI summary
A cable includes a core having a length, a jacket coaxially surrounding the core along the length, and a non-flowing floodant between the core and the jacket. The non-flowing floodant is disposed circumferentially and in a segmented manner such that the coaxial drop cable is configured to include a plurality of first areas, separated from one another along the length, that include the non-flowing floodant, and second areas, separated from one another along the length by a respective one of the first areas, having a space between the jacket and the core without the non-flowing floodant. The non-flowing floodant is configured to circumferentially seal a space between the core and the jacket at the plurality of first areas. Two consecutive ones of the plurality of first areas are configured to contain moisture in the second area between the two consecutive ones of the plurality of first areas.