Water blocking cable tape and methods for making same
US6899776B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 2003 |
| Grant date | May 31, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 19, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T442/681
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
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. A substantially consistent swell height permits a tape to serve as a reliable water barrier to prevent damage and degradation of a cable and its components. Ultrasonic bonding of the multilayer tape eliminates the need and use of adhesives and bonding agents to form the tape that can have inhibiting effects on a swelling action…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.