US 12,131,839 B2
Method for injecting strand-blocked cable
James Steele, Seattle, WA (US); David C. Busby, Midland, MI (US); Weston Philips Chapin Ford, Seattle, WA (US); Wayne J. Chatterton, Bellevue, WA (US); Kevin Laux, Kent, WA (US); and Nathanael Laurie, Burien, WA (US)
Assigned to NOVINIUM, LLC, Kent, WA (US)
Filed by Novinium, LLC, Kent, WA (US)
Filed on Aug. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/459,877.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/191,877, filed on May 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0375656 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. H01B 13/32 (2006.01); H01B 3/46 (2006.01); H01B 13/00 (2006.01); H01B 7/28 (2006.01); H01B 7/285 (2006.01)
CPC H01B 13/322 (2013.01) [H01B 3/46 (2013.01); H01B 13/0016 (2013.01); H01B 7/2813 (2013.01); H01B 7/285 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for rejuvenating a longitudinally strand-blocked cable having a conductor comprised of a plurality of conductor strands with interstitial volume therebetween longitudinally blocked by a PIB-based strand-block mastic, the conductor being surrounded by a polymeric cable insulation, comprising:
a. installing injection adapters that seal the cable ends of the longitudinally strand-blocked cable and are usable to inject fluid into the interstitial volume between the conductor strands of the cable;
b. heating the cable to a temperature above ambient to decrease the viscosity of the PIB-based strand-block mastic, and elastically expanding the polymeric cable insulation through the application of pressure to the interstitial volume between the conductor strands of the cable; and
c. injecting at least one injection fluid into the interstitial volume between the conductor strands of the cable in which the PIB based mastic is mostly insoluble, wherein the conductor temperature is above ambient during the injection, wherein the injection fluid maintains a viscosity of under 10 cSt throughout the course of the injection, and wherein a longitudinal flow path is established through the cable between the conductor strands of the cable.