Method and apparatus for impregnating stranded wires during stranding thereof

Claim 2

In a process for manufacturing a fully-filled cable comprising a plurality of conductive components of elongated shape surrounded by at least a water-impermeable sheath and twisted into a strand, the spaces within said sheath and between the components being filled with a water-impermeable and electrically insulating filling medium having a predetermined dropping point temperature, the method of filling and coating said components which comprises feeding said components longitudinally along a predetermined path while twisting them to form said strand at a predetermined position along said path spaced from the beginning thereof, immersing each of said components in said filling medium at a temperature above said dropping point temperature in advance of said position so that said components are each individually immersed in said bath prior to the position at which said strand has been formed, maintaining both said components and said strand immersed in said filling medium at said temperature as said components are twisted in advance of said position and as said strand is formed at said position and as the strand is fed beyond said position, cooling the filling medium on said strand to a temperature below said dropping temperature, to thereby solidify said medium, and smoothing the peripheral surface of the medium on said strand.

Claim 3

A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the filling medium in which said components are immersed during twisting is maintained at a temperature at least 5C above said dropping point temperature and said medium on said strand is cooled to a temperature at least 5*C below said dropping point temperature.

Claim 4

A process as set forth in claim 2, wherein said strand is maintained immersed in said medium at said temperature 5*C above said dropping point temperature as it is fed beyond said position and until it reaches a further position at which said medium on said strand is simultaneously cooled and smoothed to a predetermined size.

Claim 5

Apparatus for cooling and filling the spaces within a strand of elongated conductive components with a water-impermeable and electrically insulating filling medium having a predetermined dropping point temperature during the twisting of the components forming said strand comprising at least one temperature regulated tank for receiving said filling medium and maintaining said medium at a temperature above said dropping point temperature and at a predetermined level, said tank having a first wall at one end of said tank and a second wall at the opposite end of said tank, said first wall having a plate portion with a plurality of holes therethrough, one for each of said components, disposed in spaced relation to each other around the center of a circle, said holes being located below said level of said medium, said second wall having a hole therethrough approximately equal but greater in size than the periphery of said strand and said hole being located below said level of said medium, at least one stranding die in said tank between said plate and said hole for receiving said components and guiding them as they are stranded at said die, said die being located below said level of said medium, a tube connected at one end to said hole and located exteriorly of said tank for receiving and guiding said strand as it leaves said tank, said tube having an internal size approximately equal tO but greater in size than the periphery of said strand for smoothing and shaping the medium on said strand, and means for cooling said tube to a temperature below said dropping point temperature.

Claim 6

Apparatus for cooling and filling the spaces within a strand of elongated conductive components with a water-impermeable and electrically insulating filling medium having a predetermined dropping point temperature during the twisting of the components forming said strand comprising at least one temperature regulated tank for receiving said filling medium and maintaining said medium at a temperature above said dropping point temperature and at a predetermined level, said tank having a first wall at one end of said tank and a second wall at the opposite end of said tank, said first wall having a plate portion with a plurality of holes therethrough, one for each of said components, disposed in spaced relation to each other around the center of a circle, said holes being located below said level of said medium, said second wall having a hole therethrough approximately equal but greater in size than the periphery of said strand and said hole being located below said level of said medium, at least one stranding die in said tank between said plate and said hole for receiving said components and guiding them as they are stranded at said die, said die being located below said level of said medium, a tube connected at one end to said hole and located exteriorly of said tank for receiving and guiding said strand as it leaves said tank, said tube having an internal size approximately equal tO but greater in size than the periphery of said strand for smoothing and shaping the medium on said strand, and means for cooling said tube to a temperature below said dropping point temperature.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said size of said tube is greater than said size of said strand by a maximum of two millimeters.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said plate portion is mounted for rotation around an axis at said center of said circle.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a container at said first wall and exterior to said tank for receiving such portion of said medium which flows out of said tank through said holes in said plate portion, and means for discharging said portion from said container.