EP1237163A2

EP1237163A2 - Covering for any kind of cable to protect against animals and insects.

Info

Publication number: EP1237163A2
Application number: EP02380048A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Juan Manuel Ortega Puigoriol
Original assignee: Optral SA
Current assignee: OPTRAL, S.A.
Priority date: 2001-02-28
Filing date: 2002-02-27
Publication date: 2002-09-04
Also published as: ES2178596A1; EP1237163A3; ES2178596B1; EP1237163A8

Abstract

"COVERING FOR ANY KIND OF CABLE TO PROTECT AGAINST ANIMALS AND INSECTS", characterised essentially by the placement, on a traditional cable (1), of a cover or mesh made from conductive material (2), which will be connected permanently to a power supply (3), battery, cell or network, supplying a voltage throughout the length of the cable; and the provision, around the conductive cover (2), of an insulating cover and, optionally, an additional insulating cover (5) located between the sheath of the cable (1) and the conductive cover (2), which absorbs the effects of the latter on the data or energy being transmitted by the cable.

Description

The objective of this invention, as expressed in the statement to this descriptive report, consists of a "COVERING FOR ANY KIND OF CABLE TO PROTECT AGAINST ANIMALS AND INSECTS".
Today, the cable provides a rapid and effective medium for the passage of current and/or light in the transmission of energy or data.
A cable is basically made up of a central conductive substance (of light or electricity) covered by plastic or any other suitable type of sheath.
However, on occasions, it is susceptible to attack by animals such as rodents or insects such as termites, etc., which are capable of biting through the cable and, consequently, breaking the connection.
As a result, a new device has been developed which solves the problems that have affected cables to date.
Basically, the protective covering against animals and insects is placed around the standard cable to be protected, and is comprised of a cover, mesh or tape made from a conductive material which will be permanently connected to a power source, battery, cell or network, whose voltage depends on the length of the cable and its cross-section.
This voltage will be calculated in such a way as to generate sufficient voltage at the free end for producing a discharge arising from a potential difference.
Around the outside of the conductive cover is an insulating cover which will prevent the conductive cover from giving electric shocks to objects that come into contact with the cable or to the floor itself.
Similarly, the device may be provided, optionally, with an additional intermediary insulating cover made from, for example, fibreglass, resin or plastic, which will be determined on the basis of the electric field to be absorbed.
This innovative procedure for the protection of cables provides them with an additional defence against animals and insects which will receive low-intensity electric shocks to dissuade them from trying to nibble at or bite through the cable.
This intensity, however, is not high and, therefore, not harmful to people.
Finally, note that the use of energy by the cable is minimal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS

To illustrate everything explained so far, a page of drawings is attached to this descriptive report, forming an integral part of it and representing an example of the invention in a simplified and schematic way. These drawings are intended to be purely illustrative and are not an exhaustive representation of the practical possibilities of the invention.
In these diagrams, figure 1 provides a cross-sectional view of the different sections applied around the cable.
Figure 2 shows the different covers of the cable.
Figure 3 is a schematic view of the connection of the cable between two apparatuses with the power source of the conductor of the cable.
Figure 4 provides a cross-sectional view incorporating the additional insulating cover.

DESCRIPTION OF A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE

The protective covering against animals and insects is placed around the cable (1) to be protected and is comprised of a cover made from conductive material (2), which will be permanently connected to a power source (3), battery, cell or network, whose voltage will be determined by the length of the cable and its cross-section.
Around the outside of the conductive cover (2) is an insulating cover which will prevent the conductive cover from giving electric shocks to objects that come into contact with the cable or to the floor itself.
Similarly, there is the option of an additional interior insulating cover (5) made from a material such as, for example, fibreglass, resin or plastic, which will be determined on the basis of the electric field to be absorbed.
Having established the concept behind the invention, the note of claims is drafted next, thereby establishing the inventions that are the subject of the claims.

Claims

"COVERING FOR ANY KIND OF CABLE TO PROTECT AGAINST ANIMALS AND INSECTS", characterised essentially by the placement, on a traditional cable (1), of a cover, mesh or tape made from a conductive material (2), which will be permanently connected to a power source (3), battery, cell, network or other energy source, providing a voltage throughout the length of the cable; and the provision of an insulating cover around the outside of the conductive cover (2).
"COVERING FOR ANY KIND OF CABLE TO PROTECT AGAINST ANIMALS AND INSECTS", as per the claim above, characterised because, in the event of the severing of the cover, contact with the conducting cover or mesh will cause a small discharge to be transmitted to the animal or insect trying to nibble at the cable.
"COVERING FOR ANY KIND OF CABLE TO PROTECT AGAINST ANIMALS AND INSECTS", as per the claim above, characterised because, optionally, it may be fitted with an additional insulating cover (5) located between the sheath of the cable (1) and the conductive cover (2), which absorbs the effects of the latter on the data and energy being transmitted by the cable.