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EP-4738391-A1 - CONNECTION OF SYNTHETIC FIBER REINFORCED CABLES

EP4738391A1EP 4738391 A1EP4738391 A1EP 4738391A1EP-4738391-A1

Abstract

A method for attaching a connection element (20) at an end section (14) of a synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10) comprises the steps of: a) Providing a synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10) comprising a cable core (11) surrounded by a reinforcing layer (13), whereby the reinforcing layer (13) comprises a plurality of individual synthetic fiber-based strength members (13a); b) Arranging a connection element (20) at the end section (14) of the synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10), whereby the connection element (20) is a sleeve-shaped element with an inner cavity (21), especially a conical inner cavity, which widens towards a face end (15) of the synthetic fiber cable (10); c) At the end section (14) of the synthetic fiber-reinforced cable (10) inside the connection element (20), the reinforcing layer (13) is released, with the individual strength members (13a) being spread out to form spreaded sections (13b) of the individual strength members (13a), especially so that the individual strength members (13a) are increasingly spaced apart as the distance to the face end (15) of the synthetic fiber-reinforced cable (10) decreases; d) Material bonding of the spreaded individual strength members (13a) with the connection element (20); whereby the steps a) to d) can be carried out in any order as far as possible, especially the steps a) to d) are carried out in the order a), b), c), d).

Inventors

  • HUANG, Pierre

Assignees

  • Aritec Holding AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241101

Claims (16)

  1. Method for attaching a connection element (20) at an end section (14) of a synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10) comprising the steps of: a) Providing a synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10) comprising a cable core (11) surrounded by a reinforcing layer (13), whereby the reinforcing layer (13) comprises a plurality of individual synthetic fiber-based strength members (13a); b) Arranging a connection element (20) at the end section (14) of the synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10), whereby the connection element (20) is a sleeve-shaped element with an inner cavity (21), especially a conical inner cavity, which widens towards a face end (15) of the synthetic fiber cable (10); c) At the end section (14) of the synthetic fiber-reinforced cable (10) inside the connection element (20) or to be placed inside the connection element (20), the reinforcing layer (13) is released, with the individual strength members (13a) being spread out to form spreaded sections (13b) of the individual strength members (13a), especially so that the individual strength members (13a) are increasingly spaced apart as the distance to the face end (15) of the synthetic fiber-reinforced cable (10) decreases; d) Material bonding of the spreaded individual strength members (13a) with the connection element (20); whereby the steps a) to d) can be carried out in any order as far as possible, especially the steps a) to d) are carried out in the order a), b), c), d).
  2. Method according to claim 1, whereby the spreaded sections (13b) of the individual strength members (13a) are evenly distributed in the inner cavity (21) of the connection element (20), especially the individual strength members (13a) form a hollow cone-shaped arrangement.
  3. Method according to any of preceding claims, whereby in the inner cavity (21) each of the spreaded sections (13b) of the individual strength members (13a) runs along a straight line.
  4. Method according to any of preceding claims, whereby the individual strength members (13a), especially terminal ends (13c) of the individual strength members (13a), are kept in spreaded position with a support element (25), whereby, preferably, the support element (25) is a plate-shaped element, especially a disc-shaped element, for example a circular disc-shaped element, and the support element (25) comprises recesses and/or through (25a) holes, in which the individual strength members (13a), especially the terminal ends (13c) of the individual strength members (13a) are introduced.
  5. Method according to any of preceding claims, whereby the core (11) comprises an electrical conductor, made of a metallic material, especially comprising or consisting of copper, brass and/or aluminum; and/or the core (11) comprises optical fibers that are configured for transmission of optical signals, especially telecommunication signals.
  6. Method according to any of preceding claims, whereby the core (11) is surrounded by an insulation layer (12) that is located inside the reinforcement layer (13).
  7. Method according to any of preceding claims, whereby the individual synthetic fiber-based strength members (13a) consist of synthetic fiber cords and/or synthetic fiber ropes; whereby the individual synthetic fiber-based strength members (13a) of the reinforcing layer (13) are not woven together.
  8. Method according to any of preceding claims, whereby material bonding is effected by an adhesive (30), especially a reactive adhesive, in particular an epoxy-based adhesive, a polyester-based adhesive, a polyurethane-based adhesive and/or a styrene-based adhesive.
  9. Method according to any of preceding claims, whereby the spreaded sections (13b) of the individual strength members (13a) are embedded in the adhesive (30).
  10. Method according to any of preceding claims, whereby the connection element (30) comprises a flange (23), especially a circumferential flange, preferably a ring-shaped flange, in particular with one, two or more bores (24) for connecting the flange (23) to a further object.
  11. Method for connecting two synthetic fiber reinforced cables (10, 10') comprising the steps of: (i) Attaching a connection element (20) at an end section (14) of the synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10) according to the method according to any of claims 1 - 10; (ii) Attaching a further connection element (20') at an end section of a further synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10') according to the method according to any of claims 1 - 10; (iii) Connecting the two connection elements (20, 20') of the two synthetic fiber reinforced cables (10, 10').
  12. Method according to claim 11, whereby the synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10) and the further synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10') are essentially identical in design.
  13. Method according to any of claims 11 - 12, whereby the two connection elements (20, 20') of the two synthetic fiber reinforced cables (10, 10') are connected with a screw connection (40), especially with at least two screw connections.
  14. Method according to any of claims 11 - 13, whereby the method furthermore comprises the step of connecting the cores (11, 11') of the two synthetic fiber reinforced cables (10, 10'), e.g. by electrically connecting electrical connectors in the cores (11, 11') and/or by connecting optical fibers of the cable cores (11, 11').
  15. Arrangement (100) comprising a connection element (20) at an end section (14) of a synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10), especially obtained by a method according to any of preceding claims, whereby: a) The synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10) comprises a cable core (11) surrounded by a reinforcing layer (13), whereby the reinforcing layer (13) comprises a plurality of individual synthetic fiber-based strength members (13a); b) The connection element (20) is arranged at the end section (14) of the synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10), whereby the connection element (20) is a sleeve-shaped element with an inner cavity (21), especially a conical inner cavity, which widens towards a face end (15) of the synthetic fiber cable (15); c) At the end section (14) of the synthetic fiber-reinforced cable (10) inside the connection element (20), the individual strength members (13a) are spread out to form spreaded sections (13b) of the individual strength members (13a), especially so that the individual strength members (13a) are increasingly spaced apart as the distance to the face end (15) of the synthetic fiber-reinforced cable (10) decreases; d) In the spreaded sections (13b), the individual strength members (13a) are material bonded with the connection element (20).
  16. Cable assembly (200), especially obtained by a method according to any of claims 11 - 14, comprising: (i) The arrangement (100) according to claim 15 with the connection element (20) at the end section (14) of the synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10); (ii) A further arrangement (100') according to claim 15 with a further connection element (20') at an end section of a further synthetic fiber reinforced cable (10'); (iii) Whereby the connection elements (20, 20') of the two arrangements (100, 100') are connected to each other.

Description

Technical field The invention relates to a method for attaching a connection element at an end section of a synthetic fiber reinforced cable and to a method for connecting two synthetic fiber reinforced cables. A further aspect of the present invention is directed to an arrangement comprising a connection element at an end section of a synthetic fiber reinforced cable as well as to a cable assembly comprising such arrangements. Background art With the growth of industries like deep-sea wind power, offshore oil drilling, and power transmission to remote islands, the use of deep-sea cables is becoming increasingly widespread. Deep-sea cables, also known as submarine cables, are specialized cables laid on the ocean floor to transmit data, electricity, or other resources between landmasses or offshore facilities. These cables are designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the deep sea, including high pressure, strong currents, and corrosive saltwater. There are two main types of deep-sea cables, i.e. telecommunication cables and power transmission cables. Other deep-sea cables are for example used for hoisting and construction purposes. Deep-sea cables are typically made up of several layers to ensure durability and functionality. Usually, the cables comprise a core, e.g. containing a functional element such as e.g. optical fibers (for data transmission), one or more conductors (for electricity transmission), pipes (for fluid transmission) and/or tension elements (for transmission of tensile forces). Outside the core, the cables typically comprise a reinforcement layer, e.g. made of steel wires or ropes, to protect against physical damage of the cable core caused by external tension and compression forces. Additionally, further layers can be arranged in between the core and the reinforcement layer or around the reinforcement layer. This can for example be insulation layers or corrosion protection layers. Cables with similar properties are also used to some extent in land-based applications, such as underground power supply, telecommunications and construction. Traditionally, the reinforcement layer in these kind of cables is made of steel wires. However, the heavy weight of steel significantly limits the development of these cables, especially when it comes to deeper ocean use. In recent years, advances in the synthetic fiber industry have led to a continuous decrease in fiber costs and improvements in quality. Synthetic fibers weigh only about 1/5 to 1/8 as much as steel, making high-strength fiber materials the preferred choice for reinforcing deep-sea cables and the like. Since these cables often cover long distances, reliable connections between cable sections or terminations are crucial. Steel-reinforced cables can be connected by welding the steel layers, but this method is generally unsuitable for synthetic fiber-reinforced cables. The lack of an efficient and reliable way to connect synthetic fiber cables has hindered their broader adoption and industrialization, especially in deep-sea applications. Thus, there is still a need to develop improved solutions that do not have the disadvantages mentioned above or have them to a lesser extent. Summary of the invention It is the object of the invention to provide an improved solution with respect to the connection of synthetic fiber reinforced cables with further synthetic fiber reinforced cables and/or the connection of synthetic fiber reinforced cables and further objects, e.g. termination points. The solution should preferably enable the simplest and safest possible connection of synthetic fiber-reinforced cables, which can be reliably implemented even under demanding conditions, such as for example in workplaces on the high seas. The solution of the invention is specified by the features of claim 1. Accordingly, the core of the invention is related to a method for attaching a connection element at an end section of a synthetic fiber reinforced cable comprising the steps of: a) Providing a synthetic fiber reinforced cable comprising a cable core surrounded by a reinforcing layer, whereby the reinforcing layer comprises a plurality of individual synthetic fiber-based strength members;b) Arranging a connection element at the end section of the synthetic fiber reinforced cable, whereby the connection element is a sleeve-shaped element with an inner cavity, especially a conical inner cavity, which widens towards a face end of the synthetic fiber cable;c) At the end section of the synthetic fiber-reinforced cable inside the connection element or to be placed inside the connection element, the reinforcing layer is released, with the individual strength members being spread out to form spreaded sections of the individual strength members, especially so that the individual strength members are increasingly spaced apart as the distance to the face end of the cable decreases;d) Material bonding of the spreaded individual strength members with the connection eleme