US 6,982,383 B1
Outer casing structure and fabrication method for cable sections and navy buoyant antennas
Charles D. Spellman, Rocky Hill, Conn. (US); Edward H. Dzwilewski, Niantic, Conn. (US); and Thomas S. Ramotowski, Tiverton, R.I. (US)
Assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C. (US)
Filed on Jul. 30, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/631,221.
Int. Cl. H02G 15/02 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 174—74R 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cable section assembly of a type having a range of outer diameter between about 0.5 and 0.75 inches and whose length is limited by the size of practical clamshell overmolding apparatus, said cable section assembly comprising:
a core structure;
a casing for adding stiffness to the cable and for preventing damage to said core structure during handling and deployment, said casing surrounding said core structure and being formed from a thermoplastic heat shrinkable tubing;
said core structure being of the type whose outer surface which presents itself to the bore surface of said heat shrinkable tubing is formed of at least one longitudinally extending member made of molded polyurethane-based material;
a layer of thermoplastic adhesive material between said core and said casing, said adhesive material bonding said core structure with said casing;
said thermoplastic heat shrinkable tubing has a predetermined tube wall thickness so chosen to adapt the tubing to exert sufficient constrictive forces upon said adhesive layer to cause the exterior of the assembly to be uniformally formed throughout its length; and
said predetermined thickness is about 1/16th of an inch.