Cable with spring steel or other reinforcement member(s) for stable routing between support points

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9530541-B2
Application number	US-201514622497-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2015
Priority date	Feb 13, 2015
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

An apparatus includes a cable having at least one signal transport line and at least one reinforcement member. The at least one signal transport line is configured to transport one or more signals through the cable. The at least one signal transport line and the at least one reinforcement member are twisted in a common direction around a central axis of the cable, where the central axis extends in a longitudinal direction along a length of the cable. A twist rate of the at least one signal transport line substantially equals a twist rate of the at least one reinforcement member. At least part of each signal transport line is physically located between adjacent twists of each reinforcement member in the longitudinal direction of the cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a cable comprising at least one signal transport line and at least one reinforcement member, the at least one signal transport line configured to transport one or more signals through the cable;
wherein the at least one signal transport line and the at least one reinforcement member are twisted in a common direction around a central axis of the cable, the central axis extending in a longitudinal direction along a length of the cable;
wherein a twist rate of the at least one signal transport line substantially equals a twist rate of the at least one reinforcement member; and
wherein at least part of each signal transport line is physically located between adjacent twists of each reinforcement member in the longitudinal direction of the cable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one signal transport line represents two electrical conductors; and
the at least one reinforcement member represents a single reinforcement member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one signal transport line represents two electrical conductors;
the at least one reinforcement member represents two reinforcement members; and
at least part of each electrical conductor is physically located between the two reinforcement members.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reinforcement member comprises spring steel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reinforcement member is configured to provide form, support, and bending consistency to the cable.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the at least one reinforcement member as twisted is substantially equal to a diameter of the at least one signal transport line as twisted.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cable further comprises at least one of:
a shield around the at least one signal transport line and the at least one reinforcement member; and
a jacket around the at least one signal transport line and the at least one reinforcement member.

8. A system comprising:
a support structure;
a movable structure; and
a cable coupled to the movable structure and mounted to the support structure;
wherein the cable comprises at least one signal transport line and at least one reinforcement member, the at least one signal transport line configured to transport one or more signals through the cable;
wherein the at least one signal transport line and the at least one reinforcement member are twisted in a common direction around a central axis of the cable, the central axis extending in a longitudinal direction along a length of the cable;
wherein a twist rate of the at least one signal transport line substantially equals a twist rate of the at least one reinforcement member; and
wherein at least part of each signal transport line is physically located between adjacent twists of each reinforcement member in the longitudinal direction of the cable.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the at least one signal transport line represents two electrical conductors; and
the at least one reinforcement member represents a single reinforcement member.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the at least one signal transport line represents two electrical conductors;
the at least one reinforcement member represents two reinforcement members; and
at least part of each electrical conductor is physically located between the two reinforcement members.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one reinforcement member comprises spring steel.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one reinforcement member is configured to provide form, support, and bending consistency to the cable.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein a diameter of the at least one reinforcement member as twisted is substantially equal to a diameter of the at least one signal transport line as twisted.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the cable further comprises at least one of:
a shield around the at least one signal transport line and the at least one reinforcement member; and
a jacket around the at least one signal transport line and the at least one reinforcement member.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the at least one reinforcement member is not insulated; and
the at least one reinforcement member does not transport any signals through the cable.

16. A method comprising:
twisting at least one reinforcement member around a central axis, the central axis extending in a longitudinal direction along a length of a cable being formed; and
twisting at least one signal transport line around the central axis, the at least one signal transport line configured to transport one or more signals through the cable;
wherein the at least one signal transport line and the at least one reinforcement member are twisted in a common direction around the central axis;
wherein a twist rate of the at least one signal transport line substantially equals a twist rate of the at least one reinforcement member; and
wherein at least part of each signal transport line is physically located between adjacent twists of each reinforcement member in the longitudinal direction of the cable.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the at least one signal transport line represents two electrical conductors; and
the at least one reinforcement member represents a single reinforcement member.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the at least one signal transport line represents two electrical conductors;
the at least one reinforcement member represents two reinforcement members; and
at least part of each electrical conductor is physically located between the two reinforcement members.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one reinforcement member comprises spring steel.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
forming a shield around the at least one signal transport line and the at least one reinforcement member; and
Raining a jacket around the shield.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Mcmahon Roy P
• Kurek Joseph C

Classifications

• H01B7/04

  Flexible cables, conductors, or cords, e.g. trailing cables · CPC title

• H01B7/226 Primary

  Helicoidally wound metal wires or tapes · CPC title

• H01B13/26

  by winding, braiding or longitudinal lapping · CPC title

• H01B13/02

  Stranding-up · CPC title