Abstract: Addressed herein are commutators and methods of manufacturing them. The methods permit the carbonaceous material and core of a commutator to be molded simultaneously, rather than in a two-step process, and can eliminate one of two curing procedures used in connection with other manufacturing techniques. The necessity of machining the inner surface of the commutator shell to remove undesired excess phenolic or other material additionally is avoided by use of the techniques detailed herein. Commutators formed according to these methods may have increased useful lives and provide better performance than others presently available.

Abstract: An electrical cable with a stranded central conductor encircled by insulation including a material which provides self-sealing properties to the cable present at least between the adjacent edges of the stranded conductor and the insulation. Preferably, the material is a polymeric material which is flowable at a temperature at least as low as 25° C. and has a 100 gram needle penetration value greater than 100 tenths of a millimeter at 25° C.