GB2217425A - Communication network resistant to E.M.P. damage - Google Patents

Communication network resistant to E.M.P. damage Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2217425A
GB2217425A GB8908667A GB8908667A GB2217425A GB 2217425 A GB2217425 A GB 2217425A GB 8908667 A GB8908667 A GB 8908667A GB 8908667 A GB8908667 A GB 8908667A GB 2217425 A GB2217425 A GB 2217425A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
conductors
pipe
communication
pipes
pipe wall
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB8908667A
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GB2217425B (en
GB8908667D0 (en
Inventor
Robert James Redding
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
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Publication of GB8908667D0 publication Critical patent/GB8908667D0/en
Publication of GB2217425A publication Critical patent/GB2217425A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2217425B publication Critical patent/GB2217425B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/46Processes or apparatus adapted for installing or repairing optical fibres or optical cables
    • G02B6/50Underground or underwater installation; Installation through tubing, conduits or ducts
    • G02B6/508Fixation devices in ducts for drawing cables
    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4439Auxiliary devices
    • G02B6/4459Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01BCABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
    • H01B7/00Insulated conductors or cables characterised by their form
    • H01B7/0072Electrical cables comprising fluid supply conductors
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01BCABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
    • H01B7/00Insulated conductors or cables characterised by their form
    • H01B7/30Insulated conductors or cables characterised by their form with arrangements for reducing conductor losses when carrying alternating current, e.g. due to skin effect
    • H01B7/306Transposed conductors

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Pipeline Systems (AREA)

Abstract

A method of communication comprising the use of two or more metal conductors 3-8 embedded in or attached to underground pipes 1 fabricated from an insulating material. The pipes 1 may be of a polyolefin and the conductors are copper or plated copper. The conductors 4, 6, 8 may be located on the outer surface of the pipe 1, one conductor 6, 8 may be located on the outer surface of the pipe 1 and another 5, on the inner surface of the pipe 1 or the conductors 3, 7 may be embedded under the surface of the pipe 1. Preferably the conductors are in the form of wires 3 or strips 4 which may be 4mm wide and 0.5 mm thickness spaced 2 mm apart and 1 mm below the outer surface of the pipe wall. Signal bandwidths up to 10 MHz are possible. Coupling means (12, Fig 2 not shown) may be used to connect lengths of pipe which provide a fluid-tight seal and connect the conductors carried by the pipes. The conductors (14, 15) may be transposed by the coupling means. The communication method provides protection from electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and a reliable method of monitoring supplies of gas, water, etc. <IMAGE>

Description

COMMUNICATION NETWORK RESISTANT TO E.M.p. DAMAGE This invention relates to a communication network which is substantially immune to EMP damage.
A high altitude nuclear explosion emits an electro-magnetic pulse, commonly called EMP, which causes rapid and severe damage to unprotected electrical equipment. Experimental evidence concerning the damage caused by such explosions was provided by test explosions carried out in the Pacific area in the 1950's. Equipment using semi-conductor devices is particularly prone to damage as overload conditions normally lead to catastrophic failure. It is estimated that over half the radio receivers in the United Kingdom and the majority of the televison receivers would cease to be operational in the event of a high altitude nuclear explosion.
EMP damage is generally believed to be caused by radiant energy picked up by electrical conductors associated with electrical equipment. These conductors act as aerials and pass the engergy they receive to the associated equipment.
While it is possible to 'harden' equipment and re-introduce thermionic valves this alternative is costly.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of communication comprising the use of two or more metal conductors embedded in or attached to undergound pipes fabricated from an insulating material.
Insulating pipes are widely used for the distribution of gas, water and sewage. Such pipes are located underground at a depth regulated in many cases by statute. In some cases a single conductor is embedded in the pipe to enable it to be located by metal detectors when repairs are necessary or to prevent damage by neighbouring excavations.
The pipes may be fabricated from any insulating material but those having a low dielectric loss at high frequencies, 1 to 40 MHz, are preferred. Suitable materials include polyolefins, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyallomers and mixtures, which are widely used for the manufacture of pipes by extrusion. Other materials which have been approved for use include polyvinyl chloride and polyacetals.
The conductors are preferably copper or a copper alloy, the conductors may be plated with tin, silver or other metals to reduce corrosion. Other conductors such as aluminium may be used.
The conductors may be embedded as wires of circular or other cross section or as strips. The two or more conductors may be embedded in or attached to the pipe wall or located on the surface of the pipe wall. Alternatively one conductor may be located on the outer surface of the pipe wall and another on the inner surface of the pipe wall. The conductors embedded within the wall may be incorporated in the pipe at the time it is extruded while those flush with the surface may be applied to the pipe wall after extrusion. Conductors attached to the surface of the pipe are preferably in strip form.
In a preferred embodiment the wall of the pipe contains two copper strips 4 mm wide and 0.5 mm thickness spaced 2 mm apart about 1 mm below the outer surface of the pipe wall.
The initial dimensions can be varied by 50% at least. In production however there should be as little variation as possible so that the electrical impedance from batch to batch of pipe remains substantially constant and electrical mismatches do not occur at joints. The wall thickness and diameter of the pipe is chosen to suit the pressure and flow rate require for the fluid carried by it. Pipe diameters from 12 mm to 250 mm are commonly used Joints between pipes must perform two functions, they must form a fluid-tight seal between the two pipe sections and also a low resistance electrical connection between the conductors carried by the pipe. Preferably the pipes are coupled using preformed coupling units which are attached to the ends of the pipe sections using simple tools, adhesives or welding.
The communication system using twin conductors, as described above. can be self-powered avoiding the need for individual power supplies at the various connection points.
Electricity supplied at a potential of not more than ten volts can power a large number of modems connected to the system. This potential is electrically safe and when switched is virtually free from sparks. The modems may carry signals from metering devices, sensors, communication circuits including data, audio and television sources. An average consumption of a metering device, such as a COHMOD gas meter, is 1 mA at 5 volts. The modems used may be of the self-powered type type described in GB-A-2 135 854.
The main circuit components of such a modem can be provided in a single semi-conductor integrated circuit (chip) In the preferred form of the invention using electrical conductors in the form of copper strips, so-called 'strip line' construction, bandwidths of up to 10 MHz are possible. Pipes of this nature could carry gas, water, electricity and other metering services, together with several voice and video communication channels. Local cable television distribution networks together with telephone networks could use the system reducing the number of existing individual communication means and simplifying maintenance. The communication system is capable of interfacing with other systems such as the telephone network, optical fibre communication lines, satellite communication systems.Metering data from a group of houses can be multiplexed at a node and transmitted to the relevant supply organisations to enable them to monitor the supply and integrate individual consumption for billing purposes.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a series of cross sectional views of pipes carrying electrical conductors that may be used in the communication system of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a linked pipe system showing periodic reversal of the conductor pairs.
Pipes suitable for the communication system according to the invention, see Figure 1. consist of an outer wall 1 fabricated from an insulating material, preferably a polyolefin, with a hollow central core for carrying a fluid such as gas or water. The pipes carry pairs of electrical conductors which are attached to them. The electrical conductors may consist of a pair of wires 3, see Figure 1 (a), embedded in the wall. In an alternative embodiment, not shown. the wire 3 may be embedded in the surface of the wall after extrusion of the pipe.
The electrical conductors may alternatively comprise a pair of strips 4, see Figure 1 (b), embedded in the surface of the wall 1 or, not shown, adhesively attached to the surface. In this form the bandwidth of the communicatlon system is increased. Further improvement in the bandit of the system may be achieved, see Figure 1 (c), by means of and inner strip conductor 5 located within the inner surface of the wall 1 and a parallel outer strip conductor 6. The dielectric spacing between the conductors is formed by the wall 1 of the pipe. An arrangement of this nature could provide a communication channel having up to 10 MHz bandwidth.
In a further embodiment, see Figure 1 (d), an inner strip 7 has an associated outer strip 8 which is extended around the periphery of the wall 1 providing some screening effect.
Joints between pipes are preferably made by means of a moulded coupling, see Figure 2, consisting of a tube 12 which forms a fluid tight joint with an outer wall 11 of a pipe and has an interior cavity 13 which ensures a continuous even bore for the jointed pipes. Each pipe carries a pair of conductors 14 and 15 which end in terminations 16 which are adapted to engage co-operating terminations in the coupling. To reduce pick-up of unwanted signals and noise the coupling contains a pair of wires 17 which are crossed so that the connections between the wires 14 and 15 are transposed at each pipe junction.
It will thus be seen that the above described communication system is capable of providing a local, national or transnational communication network. Existing supply facitilies need minor alterations which can be carried out whenever pipe replacement is required. In this manner vital communications can be maintained in the event of a nuclear or other energy release.

Claims (15)

1. A method of communication comprising the use of two or more metal conductors embedded in or attached to undergound pipes fabricated from an insulating material.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pipes are fabricated from a polyolefin.
3. The method as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the conductors are copper or plated copper.
4. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein two or more conductors are located on the outer surface of the pipe wall.
5. The method as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 3 wherein one conductor is located on the outer surface of the pipe wall and another on the inner surface of the pipe wall.
6. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the conductors are embedded under the surface of the pipe wall.
7. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 5 wherein the conductors are embedded flush with the outer surface of the pipe wall.
8. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the conductors are in the form of strips.
9. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 3 wherein the conductors are attached to the pipe wall surface.
10. The method as claimed in claims 6 and 8 wherein the conductors are in the form of strips 4 mm wide and 0.5 mm thickness spaced 2 mm apart and 1 mm below the outer suface of the pipe wall.
11. The method of communication as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the conductors are in pairs providing a bandwidth of up to 10Mhz.
12. The method of communication as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the coupling means are used to connect lengths of pipe which provide a fluid-tight seal and connect the conductors carried by the pipes.
13. The method of communication as claimed in claim 12 wherein the conductors are in pairs which are transposed by the coupling means.
14. Methods of communication as claimed in claim 1 and as herein described.
15. Methods of communication as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB8908667A 1988-04-18 1989-04-17 Communication network resistant to emp damage Expired - Lifetime GB2217425B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB888809070A GB8809070D0 (en) 1988-04-18 1988-04-18 Communications network to resist e m p

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8908667D0 GB8908667D0 (en) 1989-06-01
GB2217425A true GB2217425A (en) 1989-10-25
GB2217425B GB2217425B (en) 1992-11-25

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Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB888809070A Pending GB8809070D0 (en) 1988-04-18 1988-04-18 Communications network to resist e m p
GB8908667A Expired - Lifetime GB2217425B (en) 1988-04-18 1989-04-17 Communication network resistant to emp damage

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB888809070A Pending GB8809070D0 (en) 1988-04-18 1988-04-18 Communications network to resist e m p

Country Status (1)

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GB (2) GB8809070D0 (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2312726A (en) * 1996-05-01 1997-11-05 Stephen Mcdermott Plastics pipes
EP0881730A1 (en) * 1997-05-30 1998-12-02 REHAU AG + Co Flexible bundle of tubes
WO2014011583A1 (en) * 2012-07-13 2014-01-16 R. Hashimshony Engineering Ltd. Smart pipe system
DE102017207587A1 (en) * 2017-05-05 2018-11-08 Steinzeug-Keramo GmbH Use of a buried pipe with longitudinal wall channels
DE102017210251A1 (en) * 2017-06-20 2018-12-20 Fränkische Industrial Pipes GmbH & Co. KG Tube with at least one electrically conductive strand-like element
EP3614402A1 (en) * 2018-08-23 2020-02-26 The Esab Group, Inc. Cable hose with embedded features

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB668206A (en) * 1948-09-18 1952-03-12 American Phenolic Corp Improvements in or relating to multiple lead transmission cables
US3927351A (en) * 1973-03-26 1975-12-16 Rasmussen As E Insulated pipe systems with moisture detecting means
US3928714A (en) * 1973-09-24 1975-12-23 Walter E Matchett Simultaneous oil and electric transmission system and method for fabricating same
GB2124728A (en) * 1982-07-01 1984-02-22 Micro Consultants Ltd Cable television transmission
GB2129627A (en) * 1982-09-22 1984-05-16 Water Res Centre Installation of communications cables
GB2154808A (en) * 1984-02-21 1985-09-11 Water Res Centre Installation of communications cables
GB2190457A (en) * 1986-05-17 1987-11-18 Stc Plc Hydraulic cable installation system
GB2197705A (en) * 1986-11-07 1988-05-25 Aker Eng As Transportation conduit

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB668206A (en) * 1948-09-18 1952-03-12 American Phenolic Corp Improvements in or relating to multiple lead transmission cables
US3927351A (en) * 1973-03-26 1975-12-16 Rasmussen As E Insulated pipe systems with moisture detecting means
US3928714A (en) * 1973-09-24 1975-12-23 Walter E Matchett Simultaneous oil and electric transmission system and method for fabricating same
GB2124728A (en) * 1982-07-01 1984-02-22 Micro Consultants Ltd Cable television transmission
GB2129627A (en) * 1982-09-22 1984-05-16 Water Res Centre Installation of communications cables
GB2154808A (en) * 1984-02-21 1985-09-11 Water Res Centre Installation of communications cables
GB2190457A (en) * 1986-05-17 1987-11-18 Stc Plc Hydraulic cable installation system
GB2197705A (en) * 1986-11-07 1988-05-25 Aker Eng As Transportation conduit

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2312726A (en) * 1996-05-01 1997-11-05 Stephen Mcdermott Plastics pipes
EP0881730A1 (en) * 1997-05-30 1998-12-02 REHAU AG + Co Flexible bundle of tubes
WO2014011583A1 (en) * 2012-07-13 2014-01-16 R. Hashimshony Engineering Ltd. Smart pipe system
US9468163B2 (en) 2012-07-13 2016-10-18 R. Hashimshony Engineering Ltd. Smart pipe system
DE102017207587A1 (en) * 2017-05-05 2018-11-08 Steinzeug-Keramo GmbH Use of a buried pipe with longitudinal wall channels
DE102017210251A1 (en) * 2017-06-20 2018-12-20 Fränkische Industrial Pipes GmbH & Co. KG Tube with at least one electrically conductive strand-like element
CN109099227A (en) * 2017-06-20 2018-12-28 法兰克工业管道有限两合公司 Pipe at least one conductive linear device
EP3614402A1 (en) * 2018-08-23 2020-02-26 The Esab Group, Inc. Cable hose with embedded features
US11545280B2 (en) 2018-08-23 2023-01-03 The Esab Group Inc. Cable hose with embedded features

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2217425B (en) 1992-11-25
GB8908667D0 (en) 1989-06-01
GB8809070D0 (en) 1988-05-18

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
746 Register noted 'licences of right' (sect. 46/1977)

Effective date: 19921208

PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19940417