Self-supporting aerial cable and method of making same

Claim 1

A communications cable, which is self-supporting when strung between two support points, said cable comprising: a core which comprises a plurality of individually insulated conductors, said core being in an undulated form and having a predetermined amplitude; an inner sheath system which comprises: a shield which is made of a first metallic material and which encloses said core; and an inner jacket which is made of a plastic material and which encloses said shield; a metallic support strand which extends longitudinally with but which is spaced from said core; and an outer sheath system which comprises: a shield which is made of a second metallic material and which encloses said inner sheath system, said shield of said outer sheath system being wrapped about said plastic jacket of said inner sheath system with longitudinal edge portions thereof forming a longitudinal overlapped unjoined seam; and an outer jacket which is made of a plastic material and which encloses said shield which is made of a second metallic material and said metallic support strand, said outer sheath system being effective to cause said inner sheath system to be in compressive engagement with portions of said core to substantially prevent relative movement of said core with respect to said inner sheath system.

Claim 7

A method of making a communications cable, which is self-supporting when strung between two support points, said method comprising the steps of: advancing a core which includes a plurality of individually insulated conductors along a path; causing said core to assume an undulated configuration; wrapping successive portions of a first metallic tape about the core to form a first shield having a longitudinal seam; enclosing said first shield in an inner jacket of plastic material; wrapping successive portions of a second metallic tape about the inner jacket to form a second shield having a longitudinal overlapped unjoined seam; while, controlling the formation of the overlapped unjoined longitudinal seam of said second metallic tape to cause compressive forces to be applied to the inner jacket and the first shield so that they contract a predetermined amount about the core and cause the first shield to engage portions of the core; advancing a metallic strand into juxtaposition with said core; and enclosing the strand and the core in an outer jacket having a portion which encloses said second shield and a portion which encloses said strand, said portions spaced from each other by a web.

Claim 8

A method of making a communications cable, which is self-supporting when strung between two support points, said method comprising the steps of: advancing a core which includes a plurality of individually insulated conductors along a path; causing said core to assume an undulated configuration; wrapping successive portions of a first metallic tape about the core to form a first shield having a longitudinal seam; enclosing said first shield in an inner jacket of plastic material; wrapping successive portions of a second metallic tape about the inner jacket to form a second shield having a longitudinal overlapped unjoined seam; while, controlling the formation of the overlapped unjoined longitudinal seam of said second metallic tape to cause compressive forces to be applied to the inner jacket and the first shield so that they contract a predetermined amount about the core and cause the first shield to engage portions of the core; advancing a metallic strand into juxtaposition with said core; and enclosing the strand and the core in an outer jacket having a portion which encloses said second shield and a portion which encloses said strand, said portions spaced from each other by a web.