Abstract: A power transmitting elongate assembly transmits electrical or fluid power in a manipulative robot. At least one power transmitting elongate element has a longitudinal axis. Each elongate element is configured as an electrical cable or a fluid hose. A protective sleeve is wrapped completely around the at least one elongate element. The protective sleeve has a length and two opposite sides. Each side is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. At least one fastener couples the protective sleeve to the at least one elongate element. Each fastener is wrapped around and/or attached to the protective sleeve. Each fastener includes two interconnecting components which interconnect with each other.

Abstract: A composite distribution cable for connection to a customer's premises has a fiber optic cable, twisted voice band pairs, copper power cables, and a coaxial cable within a common sheath. Water blocking members within the cable fill the voids between the conducting members and the sheath upon contact with water or other liquid.

Abstract: An installation 10 comprising a line 12 extending between and suspended from a plurality of spaced apart aerial suspension locations 14 defines a passage for an optical fiber unit. The line comprises a plurality of elongate tensile resistant tubes 18 connected end-to-end by respective connectors 20. The line is secured to each suspension location by respective securing means 22 which are secured to said line at two spaced apart locations 28, 30 thereon such that the portion 26 of said line between these locations is untensioned and includes a connector 20. The securing means 22 is adapted to allow tensioning of the portion 26 of said line when the tensile load on the line adjacent thereto on either side of said suspension location reaches a first predetermined amount, and the connector 20 is adapted to cause the end-to-end connection of the tensile resistant tubes 18 connected thereby to break when the tensile load on said portion reaches a second predetermined amount.

Abstract: A tube sheet is formed by integrating a plurality of tubes into the form of a sheet. The tube sheet is constricted in junction portions of the respective tubes so that the tube sheet is deformed in these junction portions. At least one such tube sheet is disposed around a center member to form a tube-aggregated cable.

Abstract: An optical cable for use in an overhead optical transmission system in which the cable is supported along the route of the system by means of towers, masts or other upstanding supports that are also employed to support electrical power cables, includes one or more optical fibers and an electrically insulating jacket (8). The cable includes an array of elongate conductive elements (10, 12) each of which extends along a portion of the cable, adjacent conductive elements axially overlapping each other with overlapping portions circumferentially spaced apart to form a composite conductive path that extends along the cable and is interrupted when the cable is dry. Adjacent conductive elements (10, 12) are resistively coupled to each other when the surface of the cable is wet to form a continuous electrically conductive path along the cable. Such a form of cable has the advantage that the dry-band arcing under wet conditions is reduced by disrupting the geometry that allows such bands to form.

Abstract: A high-speed data communications cable has concentric groupings of twisted pair wires. A first grouping is formed about a filler and enclosed within a thermoplastic jacket. A secondary grouping is formed in a single layer about the thermoplastic jacket of the first grouping. A third grouping may be formed about the jacket of the second grouping. Secondary fillers are used with the twisted pair wires for placement control. A minimal number of lay lengths is used in each grouping.

Abstract: A shell structure for a collinear coaxial element array antenna is made of electrical conducting material and includes first and second circular sections separated by a web. The first circular section has an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of an inner conductor in a coaxial line element of the array antenna, while the second circular section has an inner diameter that is equal to that of an outer conductor of a coaxial transmission line element. The separations of the centers of the first and second circular sections are established by the wed to be equal to the distance between the centers of two adjacent coaxial transmission line elements in the array antenna. The inner conductor of a coaxial transmission line element is inserted in the first circular section and is electrically connected thereto.

Abstract: An aerial self-supporting fiber optic cable includes a pair of longitudinal strength members extending along respective opposite sides of a core, and a jacket surrounding the core and strength members, wherein the jacket has a generally elliptical outer cross-sectional shape. A major transverse axis of the generally elliptical jacket is generally aligned with an imaginary line defined between the pair of longitudinal strength members. The cable core includes at least one elongate buffer tube and at least one optical fiber disposed within the buffer tube. The strength members has a predetermined tensile strength to support the fiber optic cable between adjacent vertical supports. The jacket may have a generally elliptical shape with an enlarged central lobe surrounding the core, and a pair of relatively smaller lobes on opposite sides of the central lobe and surrounding respective longitudinal strength members.

Abstract: A unitary cable closure for telecommunication cables includes a tubular housing having a seamless top that provides a weather-tight enclosure for telecommunication cable splices and repair openings. The closure is hinged along a top edge so that its bottom edges can be swung open to expose the interior of the closure. The closure is suspended from a support strand by hanger brackets that are also of hinged construction so that the closure can be opened along its hinges without obstruction. The hanger brackets are adapted to permit adjustment of the vertical spacing between the closure and the support strand. The opposing bottom edges of the closure are permanently interlocked in a first embodiment and releasably interlocked in a second. The opposite ends of the closure may be cut off to adapt it to cables of progressively larger diameter and to adapt it to receive a second cable as well. The closure includes a termination port through which access to the cable conductors can be obtained.

Abstract: An aerial service wire (20) includes a jacket (40) having a generally rectangularly shaped cross section and comprising a polyvinyl chloride plastic material. Enclosed by the jacket are two groups of strength members (36--36) each of which includes a plurality of filaments and each of which is impregnated with a material which is compatible with that of the jacket. The strength members are disposed along axes (52,54) of the cross section which are normal to an axis (42) which passes through a geometric center through which a longitudinal axis (50) of the jacket passes. Conductors (30--30) which are individually insulated are disposed adjacent to the longitudinal axis with each strength member being disposed between the conductors and the outer surface of the jacket.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for six-phase distribution of high voltage electrical power. The invention provides new six phase distribution wiring, using coaxial conductors, that is configured to reduce fringing electric and magnetic fields when used either as part of an overhead distribution system, or when buried underground.

Abstract: An aerial cable (20) includes a transmission portion and a supporting portion. The transmission portion includes a core (21) comprising at least one transmission medium enclosed in a relatively flexible dielectric wrapping material (23). The wrapping material is enclosed by two metallic shields (31, 40) between which is interposed a layer (42) of a waterblocking material. An outer one (40) of the shields is formed with overlapping longitudinal edge portions at least one of which is turned inwardly toward the core. A cavity (44) between those edge portions is provided with a waterblocking material which inhibits the longitudinal flow of water. The supporting portion includes a longitudinally extending strand material (60) capable of supporting a length of the cable which is supported by poles, for example, at ends of the length. A plastic jacket (45) encloses the supporting portion and the transmission portion.

Abstract: A cable for use as aerial service wire having a core of conductors and a load carrier in the form of a plurality of spaced apart tensile reinforcing members spaced from the core as a group laterally on one side of the core. Part of the jacket surrounds the core and is interconnected to another jacket part surrounding the group of filaments. The jacket part surrounding the filament group has a width greater than its thickness so that it may fit within a wedge clamp for stringing purposes. The two parts of the jacket are capable of being separated between the filament group and the core to allow a wedge clamp to be fitted. For this purpose, the cable may be fitted with a non-adherent tape inside the jacket and between the jacket parts with the jacket parts interconnecting around edges of the tape.

Abstract: A method for making an improved all-dielectric, self-supporting (ADSS) fiber optic aerial cable with improved mechanical coupling between the primary and secondary strength elements. The method includes calculating the required degree of mechanical coupling (Kc) between the primary and secondary strength elements in order to avoid relative slippage therebetween and then selecting suitable cable elements so as to make the fiber optic cable with a degree of mechanical coupling at least equal to the calculated Kc value.

Abstract: A metal-free optical cable has a cable core with a plurality of optical fibers in a sheath, which is surrounded by a carrier member in the form of at least one ply of a high-strength film material. The improvement characterized by the filament material being held together by an externally applied winding of a filament forming an armoring layer with the filament being of a shorter length of lay than the filament material for the carrier member and being of a material exhibiting electrical properties that are substantially the same as the material of the filament forming the carrier member.

Abstract: An optical telephone wire comprising an optical conductor having a first covering of rectangular cross-section and a messenger cable having a second covering of rectangular cross-section with one set of sides of the two sets of parallel sides of the second covering being longer than one set of sides of the two sets of parallel sides of the first covering and with the first and second coverings being integrally juxtaposed along their longitudinal axes so that one side of the other set of parallel sides of each of the coverings forms together a common surface and one side of the one set of two sets of parallel sides of each of the coverings are offset from each other in a step like manner.

Abstract: A metal free self-bearing optical cable is provided for use as an overhead cable in the field region between phase wires of a high-tension power line. The cable core is formed of slightly electrically conductive material having series resistances of between 10.sup.5 .OMEGA. cm and 10.sup.10 .OMEGA. cm.

Abstract: An optical transmission cable with messenger being of an all-dielectric construction particularly suitable for use in aerial optical communication applications and comprising a figure-eight optical transmission cable with a messenger having a fiber reinforced plastic rod bonded to a polyethylene jacket with an adhesive layer of ethylene acrylic acid in order to prevent relative movement between the messenger rod and the polyethylene jacket.

Abstract: An aerial service wire (20) includes a jacket (40) having a generally rectangularly shaped cross section and comprising a polyvinyl chloride plastic material. Enclosed by the jacket are two strength members (36--36) each of which includes a plurality of filaments and each of which is impregnated with a material which is compatable with that of the jacket. The strength members are disposed along an axis (42) of the cross section which passes through a geometric center through which a longitudinal axis (50) of the jacket passes. Conductors (30--30) which are individually insulated are disposed adjacent to the longitudinal axis with each strength member being disposed between the conductors and the outer surface of the jacket.

Abstract: A composite overhead cable structure for electric and optical transmission comprising a pipe, at least one layer of stranded metallic elongated conductor surrounding the outer periphery of said pipe in close contact with said outer periphery, and an optical fiber cable tightly disposed within and extending throughout the length of said pipe through the medium of a packing comprised of at least one double packing layer of a non-metallic soft packing layer and a non-metallic rigid packing layer, thereby providing fixed package of said optical fiber cable in said pipe through said packing so that said optical fiber is unmovable relative to said pipe. With such a structure, the optical fiber cable is effectively prevented from not only occurrence of local bending or, but also from suffering excessive lateral forces, which leads to elimination of a danger that the optical fiber be damaged, thereby enabling the optical transmission properties to be stably maintained.

Abstract: In an overhead electric and optical transmission system in which at least one of the overhead electric conductors incorporates an optical guide, the overhead electric conductor is mechanically secured to a tower or other rigid support structure by a mechanical connection in which an end of the overhead electric conductor is mechanically secured to and is electrically insulated from the tower or other rigid support structure by an elongate tension insulator having at least one throughbore, the optical guide of the conductor passes from the conductor through the throughbore of the tension insulator to an optical guide joint remote from the insulator, and the electric conductor is electrically connected to another electric conductor.

Abstract: An end assembly for connection to a ground wire incorporating an optical fiber cable therein includes a tubular compression sleeve of a plastically deformable material, a protective sleeve received in the compression sleeve and having a bulged portion intermediate opposite ends thereof, and a filler member interposed between the compression sleeve and the protective sleeve. The ground wire comprises a protective tube, an optical fiber cable housed in the protective tube, and a plurality of ground wire elements helically wound around the protective tube. The wire elements are unwound from the protective tube at the end of the ground wire to provide an exposed end portion thereof. The protective sleeve is adapted to be fitted on the exposed end portion of the protective tube with the unwound end portions of the wire elements interposed between the protective sleeve and the filler member.

Abstract: Modern synthetic fibers, e.g. made of aromatic polyamides of high tensile strength have not achieved their potential for use as heavy-duty cables because of their smooth surface which gives rise to considerable difficulties in the transfer of high tensile forces, since they slip out of the clamping sleeves, and other force-transfer means based upon static friction, before reaching their ultimate tensile strength. This problem was solved in the invention by applying to the force-transmitting region thereof an impregnating material which breaks down into powder in the area to which the stress is applied, when the compressive or flexural stress exceeds the ultimate stress limit of the impregnating material. Particularly suitable for this purpose are natural resins, more particularly colophonium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a buoyant cable. The cable sheath (3) is divided into two portions (4 and 5) whereby the cable conductor (1) is placed in one (4) of the portions and the cable float (2) in the other portion (5). Thus, the cable conductor is substantially in communication with the surrounding water only through the conductor insulation (14) and the cable sheath (3).

Abstract: In an inexpensive and simple method of effecting a joint between two overhead electric conductors incorporating optical fibres or between an overhead electric conductor incorporating an optical fibre and an optical cable extending to a sub-station or other location, at least a part of each or the overhead conductor is introduced into a metal sleeve extending from a wall of a metal housing and the sleeve is compression jointed to the conductor to effect a mechanical and electrical joint between the conductor and the housing. The part of the conductor protruding into the housing is cut back and a joint is effected between the optical fibres of the two overhead conductors or between the optical fibres of the overhead conductor and the optical cable that has been introduced into the housing. The housing is sealed to render it fluid tight and is preferably filled with petroleum jelly.

Abstract: A communication wire of flat construction has two or more pairs of communication gage polyolefin insulated wires, twisted along their length, disposed in groups on opposite sides and parallel to a conductive steel wire. The steel wire may be galvanized or copper clad. All of the foregoing are embedded in a PVC jacket with the PVC material bonded to the steel wire but unbonded to the insulated communication gage wires. Weakening lines permit separation into central and side parts with an intact PVC jacket on each part. When used as telephone drop wire the steel wire provides both physical support and electrical conductivity for supplemental or primary grounding. The wire shape and size permits use of existing hardware for installation. Alternatively, a group of wires on at least one side is replaced either by a coaxial cable or by one or more polyolefin jacketed optical fiber conductors.

Abstract: In known overhead telephone cables comprising two individual encased and stranded conductors, each consisting of a plurality of copper wires for the transmission of signals, and steel wires for load bearing purposes, the problem of relatively high susceptibility to corrosion at leakage points in the casing due to water penetration is solved by replacing the steel wires with bundles of stretch-resistant synthetic fibres, e.g. aromatic polyamide fibres, and the tendency of spirally wound synthetic fibres, or bundles of fibres, to shift towards the center of the conductor when the cable is under tension, and thus allow the cable to elongate is prevented by arranging the copper wires and bundles of fibres so that they position themselves mutually. The coherency of the bundles of fibres required for this purpose may be obtained, for example, by stranding or twisting the fibres in the bundle or impregnating the bundle with a resin, preferably colophony.

Abstract: The tendency of modern high strength synthetic fibres, e.g., made of aromatic polyamides, when utilized for tension load-carrying purposes in association with an overhead cable arranged parallel thereto within a common protective covering to slip under load out of the clamping members connected thereto before the load reaches its ultimate tensile strength is overcome by impregnating a bundle of such fibres with an impregnating material capable of breaking down into particles when subjected to sufficient compressive stress which is broken down into such particles by the application of the clamping member, the resultant particles exerting within the clamped region a wedging action between the individual fibres and at the exterior of the bundle as a whole upon the application of the tension load to the bundle. Particularly suitable impregnating materials are natural resins, especially colophonium.

Abstract: A self-supporting aerial cable includes an undulated core enclosed in an aluminum, inner shield, a plastic inner jacket enclosed in a steel, outer shield having an unjoined longitudinal overlapped seam, and a plastic outer jacket. The outer plastic jacket includes a first portion which encloses the steel shield and a second portion which encloses a steel support strand that extends longitudinally but which is spaced from the first portion, said first and second portions of the outer jacket being connected by a web. The unjoined seam of the outer shield allows forces which are imparted to the steel shield by its formation to be transferred to the inner jacket and the inner shield which causes the inner shield to engage portions of the core to maintain the core coextensive with the inner and the outer jackets.

Abstract: An electrical cable of the self-floating type for use in marine environments is provided with elements for taking up mechanical tractive forces. The electrical conductors of the cable are surrounded by an inner friction layer with a low friction coefficient. Around this layer a force equalizing layer of metallic material is provided and this layer is surrounded by a tube of plastic material showing a number of circumferentially situated grooves. An outer friction layer of the same material as the inner friction layer surrounds the hollow strands and the whole system together with the elements for taking up the tractive forces is embedded by a cable mantle of rubber-like plastic material.

Abstract: An electrical cable of the self-floating type for use in marine environments is provided with elements for taking up mechanical tractive forces. The electrical conductors of the cable are surrounded by an inner friction layer with a low friction coefficient. Around this layer a force equalizing layer of metallic material is provided and this layer is surrounded by hollow strands of soft plastic material. An outer friction layer of the same material as the inner friction layer surrounds the hollow strands and the whole system together with the elements for taking up the tractive forces is embedded in a cable mantle of rubber-like plastic material.