Abstract: The invention provides a water blocking tape for use in a variety of cable designs, such as power cable, data communications cable and telecommunications cable. A water blocking tape according to the invention includes layers of lightweight nonwoven fabric with one or more swellable water blocking compounds, such as water absorbent polymers, disposed between the layers. The nonwoven fabric layers are bonded in a pattern using an ultrasonic bonding technique. The bonding pattern helps to contain and to restrain movement of the water blocking compounds between the layers. The bonding pattern compartmentalizes the water blocking compounds to prevent pooling of the compounds and to facilitate a substantially consistent distribution of the compounds between the layers such that when a tape contacts water, the tape achieves a substantially consistent swell height.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and methods for applying a material to a cable or into a conduit. The apparatus includes a hinged housing for coupling to a portion of a cable and/or a conduit. The apparatus is configured as a portable housing that is particularly suited for use in the field to apply a material to an existing underground cable or conduit or to a new or relocated cable or conduit during installation. The hinged housing permits the apparatus to couple to a portion of a cable or a portion of a conduit without splicing the cable or the conduit or removing the cable. When coupled to a cable or a conduit, the housing defines a chamber into which a material is inserted. Compressed air is supplied to the chamber to force the material into an innerduct of the conduit and to pull the material therethrough, applying the material to the cable and/or the conduit.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and methods for applying a material to a cable or into a conduit. The apparatus includes a hinged housing for coupling to a portion of a cable and/or a conduit. The apparatus is configured as a portable housing that is particularly suited for use in the field to apply a material to an existing underground cable or conduit or to a new or relocated cable or conduit during installation. The hinged housing permits the apparatus to couple to a portion of a cable or a portion of a conduit without splicing the cable or the conduit or removing the cable. When coupled to a cable or a conduit, the housing defines a chamber into which a material is inserted. Compressed air is supplied to the chamber to force the material into an innerduct of the conduit and to pull the material therethrough, applying the material to the cable and/or the conduit.

Abstract: The invention provides a composite wrapping and shielding tape for use in cable manufacture. Embodiments of the composite tape comprise a single tape configuration to separate and shield individual pairs of insulated conductors housed within a cable such as a high-speed data communications cable. The single tape configurations of the invention are multifolded and assembled from foil/film laminates to form a plurality of longitudinal channels or grooves to accommodate one or more pairs of insulated conductors and a variety of cable designs. During cable manufacture, one or more pairs of insulated conductors is wrapped within a continuous shield provided by each longitudinal channel or groove, thereby separating and shielding each pair of insulated conductors and, hence, isolating or at least substantially reducing crosstalk between pairs of insulated conductors contained within the cable. The invention also provides methods for making a multifolded composite tape.

Abstract: A nonmetallic, nonconductive strength member for use in a cable or as a component of a strength reinforcement system of a cable is provided. The strength member is constructed of low cost materials and includes multiple glass fibers coated with a coating composition. The strength member provides flexibility and high tensile strength. The strength member exhibits low smoke generation and low flammability properties. The coating composition includes at least a lubricant that imparts a substantially smooth surface and a low coefficient of friction to the glass fibers to help facilitate processing of the strength member(s) during cabling and stranding procedures. The coating composition also includes at least an adhesive component that helps to substantially adhere the glass fibers together and helps to form the glass fibers into the strength member. The strength member can be configured as a yarn or as a strand for incorporation within a cable and/or for arrangement with one or more cable components.

Abstract: The invention provides a water blocking tape for use in a variety of cable designs, such as power cable, data communications cable and telecommunications cable. A water blocking tape according to the invention includes layers of lightweight nonwoven fabric with one or more swellable water blocking compounds, such as water absorbent polymers, disposed between the layers. The nonwoven fabric layers are bonded in a pattern using an ultrasonic bonding technique. The bonding pattern helps to contain and to restrain movement of the water blocking compounds between the layers. The bonding pattern compartmentalizes the water blocking compounds to prevent pooling of the compounds and to facilitate a substantially consistent distribution of the compounds between the layers such that when a tape contacts water, the tape achieves a substantially consistent swell height.

Abstract: A detectable woven tape having multiple metallic conductors for use in detection of underground dielectric communications cable is provided. The tape provides low electrical resistance at a range of frequencies to help to permit detection of buried cable in different field conditions using commercially available detection equipment. In particular, the tape helps to provide detection of buried cable over a long distance or over a long span of conduit. The tape is lightweight and flexible and suited for use in detecting and installing fiber optic communications cable.

Abstract: The invention provides a composite wrapping and shielding tape for use in cable manufacture. Embodiments of the composite tape comprise a single tape configuration to separate and shield individual pairs of insulated conductors housed within a cable such as a high-speed data communications cable. The single tape configurations of the invention are multifolded and assembled from foil/film laminates to form a plurality of longitudinal channels or grooves to accommodate one or more pairs of insulated conductors and a variety of cable designs. During cable manufacture, one or more pairs of insulated conductors is wrapped within a continuous shield provided by each longitudinal channel or groove, thereby separating and shielding each pair of insulated conductors and, hence, isolating or at least substantially reducing crosstalk between pairs of insulated conductors contained within the cable. The invention also provides methods for making a multifolded composite tape.

Abstract: The invention provides a composite wrapping and shielding tape for use in cable manufacture. Embodiments of the composite tape include a single tape configuration to separate and shield individual pairs of insulated conductors housed within a cable such as a high-speed data communications cable. The single tape configurations of the invention are multifolded and assembled from foil/film laminates to form a plurality of longitudinal channels or grooves to accommodate one or more pairs of insulated conductors and a variety of cable designs. During cable manufacture, one or more pairs of insulated conductors is wrapped within a continuous shield provided by each longitudinal channel or groove, thereby separating and shielding each pair of insulated conductors and, hence, isolating or at least substantially reducing crosstalk between pairs of insulated conductors contained within the cable. The invention also provides methods for making a multifolded composite tape.

Abstract: A water blocking composite for use in cables which includes an article selected from the group having one or more strengthening members and buffer tubes impregnated with or coated with a mixture of a thermoplastic resin and a water-swellable particulate material.

Abstract: A shielding tape for use with communication wiring susceptible to cross talk and electromagnetic interference includes a protective component having a metallic layer for shielding and protecting the communication wiring from cross talk and electromagnetic interference, and a structural component having a layer of reinforcing material disposed between two layers of polyethylene terephthalate ("PET").

Abstract: A shielded electrical cable includes a central conductor wire, a dielectric core over the conductor wire, a metallic foil shielding tape over the dielectric core and an insulated outer jacket over the shielding tape. The shielding tape is wrapped on the dielectric core so that one edge portion of the tape overlaps the opposite edge portion thereof, and it includes a metallic layer and a waterproof adhesive layer on the inner side of the metallic layer. The adhesive layer extends over only preselected portions of the inner side of the metallic layer in the overlapping edge portion of the tape so that a plurality of spaced contact pads are provided on the inner side of the tape wherein the metallic layer is exposed. The adhesive layer bonds and seals the overlapping edge portions of the tape together, and metal-to-metal contact is effected between the inner and outer sides of the metallic layer in the contact pads to reduce radiation leakage between the overlapping edge portions of the tape.

Abstract: A strength element for a fiber optic transmission cable is integrally formed from a fiber reinforced resin material and it comprises a longitudinally extending central portion and a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs which project substantially radially outwardly from the central portion and define a plurality of substantially longitudinally extending grooves for receiving and positioning optical fibers around the strength element. The ribs are preferably formed in outwardly tapered configurations, and the outer terminal ends of the ribs and the inner extremities of the grooves between the ribs are preferably formed in rounded configurations to increase the resistance of the strength element to breakage during bending.

Abstract: An electrical shielding tape comprises a polyester backing layer, and a metallic layer having an adhesive on the exposed surface thereof, the adhesive being disposed in an interrupted layer which defines both exposed open patches, or contact pads, and coated bonding areas thereon. The tape is constructed for use in a shielded cable of the type having at least one conductor wire and an uninsulated drain wire, wherein the tape is wrapped around the conductor and drain wires with the metallic surface of the tape facing inwardly and with the tape adhesively secured to the conductor and drain wires by means of the adhesive on the metallic surface thereof. Effective electrical contact between the tape and the drain wire is achieved in the open patches, or contact pads, which contact the drain wire, and therefore the tape can be grounded to achieve the desired shielding effects simply by connecting the drain wire to a ground terminal.

Abstract: A high-strength fibrous tape and clamping device therefor to effect the termination and/or splicing thereof. The device comprises a cylindrical body portion and a pair of semicircular plug halves which are retained proximal to the body portion and which cooperate to securely grip the tape in a gradual arcuate path without the use of excessive clamping pressures that would normally cause substantial reductions in the tape's tensile strength. The plug halves have opposed generally flat mating surfaces and oppositely disposed convex arcuate surfaces. The halves are retained proximal to the body portion with the mating surfaces thereof in generally aligned relation by means of spaced bolts which extend generally perpendicularly through the mating surfaces into the body portion.