Low smoke, zero halogen self-regulating heating cable

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10966290-B2
Application number	US-201815885270-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2018
Priority date	Feb 1, 2017
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

A low smoke, zero halogen self-regulating heating cable includes a semi-conductive heating core and two conductive wires embedded within and separated by the semi-conductive heating core. The cable also includes a primary jacket surrounding the semi-conductive core, a braid surrounding the primary jacket, and a final jacket surrounding the braid. At least one of the primary jacket and the final jacket includes a low smoke, zero halogen material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A self-regulating heating cable comprising:
a semi-conductive heating core;
two conductive wires embedded within and separated by the semi-conductive heating core;
a primary jacket surrounding the semi-conductive core and comprising a first low-smoke, zero halogen (LSZH) material;
a braid surrounding the primary jacket and providing a ground path; and
a final jacket surrounding the braid and comprising a second LSZH material;
at least one of the first and second LSZH materials comprising polyolefin flame-retarded with inorganic hydrated mineral fillers.

2. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic hydrated mineral fillers include at least one of aluminum trihydrate and magnesium hydroxide.

3. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 1 , wherein the first LSZH material is cross-linked and the second LSZH material is not cross-linked.

4. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 1 , wherein the first and second LSZH materials are configured to have respective thermal conductivities that enable the self-regulating heating cable to produce a power output of 10 Watts per meter (W/m), 15 W/m, 26 W/m, or 31 W/m when at 5 deg C.

5. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 1 , wherein the first and second LSZH materials are sufficiently flame-retardant that at least 60% of light incident upon smoke emitted by burning the self-regulating heating cable of a smoke density defined in International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 61034 is transmitted through the smoke.

6. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 1 , further comprising a barrier layer separating the primary jacket and the braid and protecting the primary jacket, the core, and the wires from ingress of water and fire.

7. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 6 , wherein the barrier layer comprises aluminum foil.

8. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 1 , wherein the semi-conductive heating core comprises a solid material comprising one or more polymers mixed with conductive carbon.

9. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 1 , wherein the conductive wires are made of nickel-coated copper.

10. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 1 , wherein the primary jacket is about 0.033 inches thick.

11. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 1 , wherein the braid comprises a tinned-copper braid.

12. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 1 , wherein the final jacket is about 0.021 inches thick.

13. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 1 , wherein one of the semi-conductive heating core, the primary jacket, and the final jacket are cross-linked.

14. A self-regulating heating cable comprising:
a heating core comprising a positive temperature coefficient material;
two conductive wires embedded within and separated by the heating core;
a primary jacket surrounding the heating core and comprising a first low-smoke, zero halogen (LSZH) material;
a braid surrounding the primary jacket and providing a ground path; and
a final jacket surrounding the braid and comprising a second LSZH material;
the first and second LSZH materials being selected so that:
when burned, the self-regulating heating cable emits smoke that permits at least 60% of light transmittance; and
the self-regulating heating cable is rated for a power output, measured at about 5 degrees Celsius, of about 10 Watts per meter (W/m), about 15 W/m, about 26 W/m, or about 31 W/m.

15. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 14 , wherein one or both of the first and second LSZH materials comprises polyolefin flame-retarded with inorganic hydrated mineral fillers.

16. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 15 , wherein the inorganic hydrated mineral fillers include at least one of aluminum trihydrate and magnesium hydroxide.

17. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the heating core, the primary jacket, and the final jacket are cross-linked.

18. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 17 , wherein the primary jacket is cross-linked and the final jacket is not cross-linked.

19. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 14 , further comprising a barrier layer separating the primary jacket and the braid and protecting the primary jacket, the core, and the wires from ingress of water and fire.

20. The self-regulating heating cable of claim 19 , wherein the barrier layer comprises aluminum foil.

Assignees

• Pentair Flow Services Ag
• Nvent Services Gmbh

Inventors

• Jenkins Sirarpi Bicakci
• Jones Jonathan

Classifications

• H05B2203/02

  Heaters using heating elements having a positive temperature coefficient · CPC title

• H05B3/56 Primary

  Heating cables · CPC title

• H05B3/04

  Waterproof or air-tight seals for heaters · CPC title

• H05B3/02

  Details · CPC title

• H01B7/295

  using material resistant to flame · CPC title