Bundle of cables, a method of laying cables and use of a securing means

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016254653-A1
Application number	US-201315027416-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 21, 2013
Priority date	Nov 21, 2013
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bundle of cables includes at least two underwater cables and a fastener for fastening the underwater cables together. The fastener is water-soluble, biologically decomposable and/or chemically decomposable. A method of laying at least two underwater cables simultaneously from a vessel and a method of using a water-soluble, biologically decomposable and/or chemically decomposable fastener to fasten at least two underwater cables together to form a bundle of cables are also described.

First claim

1 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . A bundle of cables, comprising:
at least two underwater cables; an underwater power cable; and a fastener for fastening the underwater cables together, wherein the fastener is water-soluble, biologically decomposable by bacterial or fungal action and/or chemically decomposable by hydrolysis.

19 . The bundle of cables according to claim 18 , wherein the bundle comprises an underwater fiber optical cable.

20 . The bundle of cables according to claim 18 , wherein the fastener is an adhesive tape.

21 . The bundle of cables according to claim 18 , wherein the fastener is a strand, cord, belt or rope.

22 . The bundle of cables according to claim 18 , wherein the fastener is woven.

23 . The bundle of cables according to claim 18 , wherein the fastener is non-woven.

24 . The bundle of cables according to claim 18 , wherein the fastener is wrapped around the bundle of cables.

25 . The bundle of cables according to claim 18 , wherein the fastener is braided or interweaved with the cables to form a structure in which the cables are fastened together such that there is a gap between adjacent cables which corresponds to the thickness of the fastener.

26 . The bundle of cables according to claim 18 , wherein the fastener is a clamp.

27 . The bundle of cables according to claim 18 , wherein the fastener comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

28 . The bundle of cables according to claim 27 , wherein the fastener comprises polyglycolic acid.

29 . The bundle of cables according to claim 18 , wherein the fastener has a predetermined rate of dissolution, chemical decomposition or biological decomposition.

30 . A method of laying at least two underwater cables comprising an underwater power cable simultaneously from a vessel comprising the steps of:
providing the at least two underwater cables in storage facilities; drawing or unwinding the underwater cables from the storage facilities and bringing the underwater cables together; fastening the underwater cables together by means of a fastener which is water-soluble, biologically decomposable by bacterial or fungal action and/or chemically decomposable by hydrolysis to form the bundle of cables as defined in claim 18 ; guiding the bundle of cables overboard into the water; and laying the bundle of cables on a desired position on the sea bed.

31 . The method according to claim 30 , wherein the step of fastening further comprises the step of helically wrapping the bundle of cables by means of the fastener along the length of the bundle of cables.

32 . The method according to claim 31 , wherein the wrapping is performed such that at least two fasteners are wrapped around the bundle of cables helically in opposite directions to provide a counter-helical structure for the fastener.

33 . The method according to claim 30 , further comprising the step of burying the bundle of cables into the sea bed.

34 . A method comprising the step of using of a water-soluble, biologically decomposable by bacterial or fungal action and/or chemically decomposable by hydrolysis fastener to fasten at least two underwater cables comprising an underwater power cable together to form a bundle of cables.

35 . The bundle of cables according to claim 19 , wherein the fastener is an adhesive tape.

36 . The bundle of cables according to claim 19 , wherein the fastener is a strand, cord, belt or rope.

37 . The bundle of cables according to claim 19 , wherein the fastener is woven.

Assignees

• Abb Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Worzyk Thomas

Classifications

• G02B6/506

  Underwater installation · CPC title

• H02G1/10 Primary

  in or under water · CPC title

• H02G9/02

  laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile · CPC title

• G02B6/4471

  Terminating devices (demountable connectors G02B6/3807); Cable clamps · CPC title

• H01B11/22 Primary

  Cables including at least one electrical conductor together with optical fibres · CPC title