阅读说明：本技术 织物防电磁干扰和磨损的套筒和制造该套筒的方法 (Textile sleeve for protecting against electromagnetic interference and abrasion and method for manufacturing the sleeve ) 是由 迈克尔·努森 Y·李 丹尼尔·内夫 于 2018-04-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供了一种保护细长构件免于电磁干扰的纺织套筒和构造该纺织套筒的方法。所述套管包括具有相对的边缘的壁,所述相对的边缘在纵向上相对于在相对的两端之间的纵轴沿大致平行的方向延伸。所述相对的边缘被构造成彼此交叠以界定在所述相对的两端之间延伸的封闭腔。所述壁具有大致平行于所述纵轴的经纱丝,所述经纱丝编织有大致横向于所述经纱丝延伸的纬纱丝。所述经纱丝包括以平纹编织的形式与所述纬纱丝编织的基本上不导电的复丝和与所述纬纱丝编织的导电构件,其中,所述导电构件形成多个浮子,每个所述浮子在至少两个相邻的所述纬纱丝上延伸。(A textile sleeve and method of constructing the textile sleeve that protects an elongate member from electromagnetic interference is provided. The sleeve includes a wall having opposing edges extending in a generally parallel direction longitudinally relative to a longitudinal axis between opposing ends. The opposing edges are configured to overlap one another to define an enclosed cavity extending between the opposing ends. The wall has warp yarns generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the warp yarns being woven with weft yarns extending generally transversely to the warp yarns. The warp yarns include substantially non-conductive multifilament yarns woven in a plain weave with the fill yarns and conductive members woven with the fill yarns, wherein the conductive members form a plurality of floats, each float extending over at least two adjacent fill yarns.)

1. A textile sleeve for protecting elongate members from wear and electromagnetic interference, comprising:

a wall having opposing edges extending in a generally parallel direction longitudinally relative to a longitudinal axis between opposing ends, the opposing edges configured to overlap one another to define a closed cavity extending between the opposing ends, the wall having warp filaments generally parallel to the longitudinal axis woven with weft filaments extending generally transverse to the warp filaments, the warp filaments comprising substantially non-conductive multifilaments woven in a plain weave with the weft filaments and a conductive member woven with the weft filaments, wherein the conductive member forms a plurality of floats, each float extending over at least two adjacent weft filaments.

2. The textile sleeve of claim 1 wherein said conductive members are each metallized.

3. The textile sleeve of claim 2 wherein said metallized conductive members are each metallized multifilament yarns.

4. The textile sleeve of claim 3 wherein said metallized multifilament yarns comprise aramid metallized multifilament yarns.

5. The textile sleeve of claim 2 wherein said single metallized conductive member includes a plurality of metallized threads.

6. The textile sleeve of claim 5 wherein said metallized threads comprise metallized stainless steel wires.

7. The textile sleeve of claim 5 wherein said plurality of metallized threads each includes between about 10-30 metallized threads.

8. The textile sleeve of claim 2 wherein said metal-plated conductive member includes an outer plating of at least one of copper, nickel and silver.

9. The textile sleeve of claim 1 wherein said substantially non-conductive multifilament yarns and said conductive members are interlaced with one another in an alternating relationship.

10. The textile sleeve of claim 1 wherein said substantially non-conductive multifilament yarns comprise aramid multifilament yarns.

11. The textile sleeve of claim 1 further comprising an organic or inorganic coating bonding said warp and weft filaments together.

12. The textile sleeve of claim 1 wherein said conductive members are woven in a twill pattern.

13. The textile sleeve of claim 1 wherein said conductive members are woven in a satin pattern.

14. The textile sleeve of claim 1 wherein said floats face radially inwardly toward said cavity.

15. The textile sleeve of claim 1 wherein said weft yarns include heat-set yarns that bias said opposite edges into overlapping relation with one another.

16. A method of constructing a textile sleeve for protecting elongate members from wear and electromagnetic interference, comprising:

forming a wall having opposing edges extending in a generally parallel direction longitudinally relative to a longitudinal axis between opposing ends, the opposing edges configured to overlap one another to define a central cavity extending between the opposing ends;

forming the wall by weaving warp filaments extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and weft filaments extending generally transverse to the warp filaments; and

weaving the warp yarns, the warp yarns comprising substantially non-conductive multifilament yarns woven in a plain weave with the weft yarns and conductive members woven with the weft yarns, the conductive members forming a plurality of floats, each float extending over at least two adjacent weft yarns.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising weaving the substantially non-conductive multifilament yarn and the conductive member in a staggered alternating relationship with each other.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing the substantially non-conductive multifilament as aramid multifilament.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing the conductive member as a plated wire.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing metallized filaments comprising metallized aramid multifilament yarns.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing the plated wire comprising a plated wire filament.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing the plated wire comprising a plated stainless steel wire.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing the plated wire comprising an outer plating of at least one of copper, nickel, and silver.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising applying an organic or inorganic coating on the warp and weft filaments to bond the warp and weft filaments to each other.

25. The method of claim 16, further comprising weaving the conductive member in a twill pattern.

26. The method of claim 16, further comprising weaving the conductive member in a satin pattern.

27. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming the float to face radially inward toward the cavity.

28. The method according to claim 16 further comprising heat-setting at least some of said weft yarns to bias said opposite edges into overlapping relation with one another.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to tubular sleeves for protecting elongate members, and more particularly to braided sleeves that can protect elongate members contained therein from wear and electromagnetic interference.

Background

It is known to shield electrical wires from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and abrasion by arranging a protective textile sleeve and a separate outer wear tube around the wires. After the textile sleeve is disposed around the wires and then the wear tube is disposed around the textile sleeve, the wear tube may be heat shrunk around the textile sleeve. Thus, the inner textile sleeve provides EMI protection, while the heat shrink tubing provides abrasion resistance protection. While such textile sleeves and tubes can effectively shield EMI and provide abrasion resistance protection, they are expensive from a material and labor standpoint, and two separate sleeves must be fitted around the component to be protected. In addition, when shrinking the tube around the sleeve, the assembly becomes relatively rigid and inflexible due to the shrinking and hardening of the heat-shrunk tube, thereby complicating the ability to route around tortuous paths and corners. Furthermore, the heat shrink tubing makes it difficult, if not impossible, to access the wires without first damaging the sleeve, such as during repair.

Protective sleeves made according to the present invention overcome or greatly minimize at least those limitations of the prior art described above, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon review of the present disclosure.

Disclosure of Invention

There is provided a textile sleeve for protecting elongate members from wear and electromagnetic interference, the textile sleeve comprising: a wall having opposing edges extending in a generally parallel direction in a longitudinal direction relative to a longitudinal axis between opposing ends. The opposing edges are configured to overlap one another to define an enclosed cavity extending between the opposing ends. The wall has warp yarns generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the warp yarns being woven with weft yarns extending generally transversely to the warp yarns. The warp yarns include substantially non-conductive multifilament yarns woven in a plain weave with the fill yarns and conductive members woven with the fill yarns, wherein the conductive members form a plurality of floats, each float extending over at least two adjacent fill yarns.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, none of the substantially non-conductive warp multifilaments are gold plated and the conductive warp members are all metal plated.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the metallized conductive member may include a metallized multifilament yarn.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the metallized multifilament yarn comprises a metallized aramid multifilament yarn.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, an individual one of the metallized conductive members includes a plurality of metallized lines.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the plated wire may comprise a plated stainless steel wire.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the wires of the plurality of metallized wires of each of the metallized conductive members may be individually metallized and bonded together.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the plurality of metallized conductive members may each include between about 10-30 metallized lines.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the metal plated conductive member may include an overplate of at least one of copper and/or nickel and/or silver.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the non-gold plated warp multifilaments and the metal plated conductive warp members are interlaced with each other in an alternating relationship.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the substantially non-conductive multifilament yarn may provide a multifilament yarn comprising an aramid material.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an organic or inorganic coating may be applied over the warp and weft yarns to bind the warp and weft yarns together.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the conductive member may be woven in a twill pattern.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the conductive member may be woven in a satin pattern.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the floats of the warp-plated conductive members may be woven to face radially inward toward the cavities to both provide effective electromagnetic interference shielding and avoid wear of components outside the cavities.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, at least some or all of the weft filaments comprise heat-set filaments that bias the opposite edges into overlapping relation with one another.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of constructing a textile sleeve for protecting elongate members from wear and electromagnetic interference is provided. The method includes forming a wall having opposing edges extending in a generally parallel direction longitudinally relative to a longitudinal axis between opposing ends, the opposing edges configured to overlap one another to define a central cavity extending between the opposing ends. Further, the wall is formed by weaving warp filaments extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and weft filaments extending generally transverse to the warp filaments. Still further, weaving the warp yarns, the warp yarns comprising substantially non-conductive multifilament yarns woven in a plain weave with the weft yarns and conductive members woven with the weft yarns, the conductive members forming a plurality of floats, each float extending over at least two adjacent weft yarns.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include providing the substantially non-conductive multifilament as an unpolished multifilament yarn and providing the conductive member as a metalized conductive member.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method may further include providing the substantially non-conductive multifilament yarn as an aramid multifilament yarn.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include providing the metal plated conductive member as a metal plated multifilament.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method may further comprise disposing the metallized multifilament yarn as a metallized aramid multifilament yarn.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include providing metal-plated conductive members, each of the metal-plated conductive members including a plurality of continuous wires.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include providing the plurality of continuous wires within a metal plated conductive member that each includes a stainless steel wire.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include providing plated conductive members that are stranded together with between about 10 to 30 plated wires each.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further comprise providing the metal-plated conductive member as a metal-plated stainless steel wire.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include providing a plurality of wires within each of the metallized conductive members that are brought together.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include providing an overplate comprising copper and/or nickel and/or silver.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method may further comprise coating the warp and weft filaments with an organic or inorganic coating to adhere the warp and weft filaments to each other.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method may further include weaving the conductive member in a twill pattern.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method may further include weaving the conductive member in a satin pattern.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method may further include forming the float of the metal-plated conductive member to face radially inward toward the cavity.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method may further include weaving the non-conductive warp multifilaments and the conductive warp members in a staggered, alternating relationship such that every other warp multifilament is formed by one of the non-conductive warp multifilaments and every other warp multifilament is formed by one of the conductive warp members.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include heat-setting at least some of the weft yarns to bias the opposite edges into overlapping relation with one another.

Drawings

These and other aspects, features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a self-wrapping sleeve constructed in accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of the outer surface of the wall of the sleeve of FIG. 1 constructed according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged partial view of the outer surface of the wall of the sleeve of FIG. 1 constructed according to another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of the inner surface of the wall of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged partial view of the inner surface of the wall of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged schematic perspective view of a conductive warp member according to one aspect of the present disclosure; and

fig. 4B is a view similar to fig. 4A of a conductive warp member according to another aspect of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Referring in more detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a self-wrapping sleeve 10 constructed in accordance with one presently preferred aspect of the present disclosure. The sleeve 10 has walls 12, 12' (two different embodiments will be discussed below, the only difference being the weave pattern) with opposite edges 14, 16 extending longitudinally in generally parallel relation to a longitudinal central axis 18 and between open opposite ends 20, 22. The opposing edges 14, 16 are configured to be wrapped over one another to define a circumferentially enclosed cavity 24, with the opposing edges 14, 16 and the enclosed cavity 24 extending longitudinally between the opposing ends 20, 22, wherein the cavity 24 is sized for protectively housing one or more elongated members therein, shown by way of example and without limitation as a cable or wire harness 26. The sleeve 10 is particularly adapted to provide protection to the elongate member 26 from electromagnetic interference (EMI), Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) and/or electrostatic discharge (ESD) and from contamination and wear. The walls 12, 12' are formed from a plurality of filaments braided with one another, wherein the term filament is intended to include mono-filaments and/or multi-filaments, hereinafter specifically referring to the type of filament as desired, wherein the term "yarn" is used herein to refer to mono-filaments and multi-filaments. The walls 12, 12' include warp yarns 28 that extend parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axis 18 (generally parallel means that the threads may be smaller than truly parallel to the longitudinal central axis 18, but parallel as compared to the naked eye those of ordinary skill in the art will generally refer to the yarns as 18 extending parallel to each other and to the longitudinal central axis), the warp yarns 28 being woven with weft yarns 30 that extend generally transversely to the warp yarns 28. The warp yarns 28 include substantially non-conductive multifilament yarns 32 woven in a plain weave with the fill yarns 30 (the term "substantially" means that although the multifilament yarns 32 can conduct minimal electrical current, the multifilament yarns 32 will be considered by those skilled in the art to be "non-conductive"), and a conductive member 34 woven with a plurality of floats 36, and in one embodiment of the wall 12 is shown each such float 36 extending over at least two immediately adjacent fill yarns 30, each float 36 extending over two fill yarns 30 as best shown in fig. 2 and 3, forming a twill-like pattern of floats, or in another embodiment of the wall 12', each float 36 extending over more than two immediately adjacent fill yarns 30 as best shown in fig. 2A and 3A, forming a satin-like pattern of floats. The float 36 is shown formed radially inward along the inner surface 15 of the wall 12, 12 'toward the longitudinal central axis 18, thereby avoiding exposure of the float 36 along the outer surface 13 of the wall 12, 12' to wear from external environmental elements. Thus, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, by being able to minimize exposure of the float 36 to the outer surface 13 of the wall 12, 12', the conductive member 34 is protected from wear while being able to enhance resistance to electrically generated disturbances, such that a majority of the length of the conductive member 34 extends along the inner surface 15 of the wall 12, 12'. In this way, the combination and synergy of the different warp yarns 32, 34 and the different weave patterns formed thereby respectively enhance the protection of the elongate member 26 against wear and EMI.

Where the walls 12, 12' are formed as "open" sleeves, the opposing edges 14, 16 may be configured to self-overlap one another by providing at least one or more, including all, of the weft yarns 30 as filaments of a thermosettable polymer, such as a monofilament of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), which may be heat set at a temperature between about 200 and 225 degrees celsius. Once enclosed within the cavity 24 of the sleeve 10, the elongate member 26 is maximally protected from wear and any undesired electrically generated interference (e.g., inductive interference), thereby providing maximum operational functionality and efficiency of any electrical components (e.g., control motors) connected to the elongate member 26. In addition, the sleeve 10 prevents the bundled elongate members 26 from electrically interfering with any adjacent electrical components.

Depending on the application, the substantially non-conductive warp multifilament yarns 32 may be made of, for example, but not limited to, unplated polyester, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylic, meta-aramid (Nomex, mantex, kemel Kermel), para-aramid (Kevlar, Twaron, tacrine Technora), polyetherimide, polyphenylene sulfide, and polyetheretherketone. Meanwhile, the conductive member 34 may be provided as a metallized filament, such as a metallized multifilament selected from the multifilament types described above for the non-plated non-conductive multifilaments. Thus, for example, the unplated multifilament 32 may comprise a meta-aramid multifilament, while the metallized multifilament 34 may, for example, comprise a metallized meta-aramid multifilament. By way of example, but not limitation, the metal plating may be provided in the form of copper and/or nickel and/or silver-based metals, including pure copper and/or pure nickel and/or pure silver. Further, the metal-plated conductive member 34 may be provided as a metal-plated wire. Thus, as shown in fig. 4A and 4B, the plated conductive members 34 may each comprise a continuous rope of a plurality of plated wires 38, for example, a plurality of stainless steel wires 38 plated with a metallic plating of copper and/or nickel and/or silver-based metal (including pure copper and/or pure nickel and/or pure silver). It is contemplated herein that the number of wires 38 within each metallized conductive member 34 may range between about 10-30 continuous cords of wires 38, with exemplary embodiments including between about 15-20 wires 38, to provide, by way of example and not limitation, a diameter of the conductive warp member 34 of between about 0.005-0.009 inches. It is further contemplated that, by way of example and not limitation, the wires 38 may be first bundled, such as in a twisting or braiding process, and then plated with the selected metal, as shown in fig. 4A, or, as shown in fig. 4B, by way of example and not limitation, individual wires 38 may be first plated with the selected metal and then bundled, such as in a twisting or braiding process. The unplated substantially non-conductive warp yarn multifilaments 32 and the electrically conductive warp yarn members 34 may be interlaced with one another in alternating relationship (every other warp yarn filament 28 is a substantially non-conductive warp yarn multifilament 32 and every other warp yarn filament 28 is an electrically conductive member 34) around the entire circumference of the sleeve 10 to provide optimal protection against wear and EMI, RFI, ESD. To further enhance maintaining the desired wear resistance and EMI protection, an organic or inorganic coating 35 may be applied to the walls 12, 12' to lock or otherwise bond the wires 28, 30 to one another, thereby maintaining the gold-plated conductive members 34 in "braided" relative position to one another. In this way, the space between the conductive members 34 that are alternately plated with gold can be maintained, thus ensuring optimal protection against EMI, RFI, ESD. In addition, the coating 35 serves to resist wear and degradation of the unplated multifilaments, thereby enhancing their abrasion resistance.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of constructing a textile sleeve 10 for protecting elongate members 26 from wear, EMI, RFI and ESD is provided. The method includes forming a wall 12, 12' having opposed edges 14, 16, the opposed edges 14, 16 extending longitudinally in generally parallel relationship with a longitudinal central axis 18 and between open opposed ends 20, 22, and the opposed edges 14, 16 being configured to overlap one another to define a central cavity 24 extending between the opposed ends 20, 22. Further, the walls 12, 12' are formed by weaving warp yarns 28 extending generally parallel to the longitudinal central axis 18 and weft yarns 30 extending generally transverse to the warp yarns 28, and further, weaving such that the warp yarns 28 include substantially non-conductive multifilaments 32 as described above woven in a plain weave with the weft yarns 30 over a single (1) weft yarn 30 and undulating in a repeating manner under a single (1) weft yarn 30, and a conductive member 34 as described above woven with a plurality of repeating floats 36, each float 36 extending over at least two (fig. 2 and 3) or more (fig. 2A and 3A) of immediately adjacent weft yarns 30 and then over at least two weft yarns 30 (fig. 2 and 3) or more (fig. 2A and 3A) and so forth in a repeating manner. The method may further include weaving the float 36 to extend along the inner surface 15 of the sleeve wall 12, 12' to avoid abrasion of the float 36 and a majority of the conductive member 34 from exposure to external environmental elements, whether from debris and/or adjacent cables, support members, etc. Further, the method can include heat-setting at least some or all of the weft yarns 30 such that the opposing edges 14, 16 overlap one another to define the central cavity 24 that receives the elongate member 26. In addition, the method may include applying a coating 35 of an organic or inorganic protective material to the walls 12, 12' to enhance their wear resistance and EMI protection.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and it is contemplated that all of the features of the claims and all of the embodiments may be combined with each other so long as such combinations are not mutually inconsistent.