Patent ID: 6078712
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A cable for connecting control units of powered supports to each other to prevent simultaneous movement of two adjacent powered supports in underground mining, said cable comprising:a) plug housings, each of which containing a chamber and having an electric plug-in coupling for connecting to the control units;b) at least one optical waveguide having ends with light entry and light exit surfaces;c) connecting elements arranged at said ends of said at least one optical waveguide and arranged in said chamber in a respective plug housing of said plug housings;d) optoelectric transducers connected to said connecting elements and arranged in said chamber in said respective plug housing of said plug housings for transmitting data between the control units; ande) potting filling said chamber in said respective plug housing of said plug housings and encasing said connecting elements and said optoelectric transducers for assuring substantially 100% exclusion of air which prevents all kinds of dust, dirt, and moisture, which are present to a great extent in underground mining, from penetrating into said optoelectric transducers and contaminating said light entry and said light exit surfaces of said at least one optical waveguide which assures reliable data transmission, and further reliably locking said optoelectric transducers and said connecting elements in said chamber in said respective plug housing of said plug housings.