Abstract: A fire retardant cable for use primarily as a riser cable in buildings has a plurality of groups of twisted pairs of conductors arranged in a "honeycomb" structure. Each conductor comprises a metallic conducting member encased in a single layer of a non-flame retardant polyolefin material such as high density polyethylene. The groups of conductors are surrounded by a jacket of flame retardant poly(vinyl chloride) material.

Abstract: A low pair count high performance, TIA/EIA 568 Category 5 plenum rated cable has a core made up of a plurality of twisted pairs of conductors, each conductor being insulated with a tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer material, and a single twisted pair of conductors wherein each conductor is insulated with a high density polyethylene material. The core is surrounded and enclosed in a jacket of a plasticized copolymer of ethylene and clorotriflouoroethylene material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for providing an electrically matched pair (20) of insulated metallic conductors (21, 21). Insulation is applied to successive portions of a length of wire-like metallic conductor (22) after which a colorant material (37) is applied to the surface of a plastic insulation material of a first portion of the length of the metallic conductor which is being moved along a path of travel. Facilities are provided for shielding a supply of the colorant material from the moving insulated metallic conductor and for then exposing a second portion of the length of the insulated metallic conductor to a different colorant material. The insulation and the colorant materials and their disposition with respect to the insulation are such that the dielectric constant of one insulated metallic conductor of the pair is substantially equal to that of the other.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for providing an electrically matched pair (20) of insulated metallic conductors (21,21). Insulation is applied to successive portions of a length of wire-like metallic conductor (22) after which a colorant material (37) is applied to the surface of a plastic insulation material of a first portion of the length of the metallic conductor which is being moved along a path of travel. Facilities are provided for shielding a supply of the colorant material from the moving insulated metalic conductor and for then exposing a second portion of the length of the insulated metallic conductor to a different colorant material. The insulation and the colorant materials and their disposition with respect to the insulation are such that the dielectric constant of one insulated metallic conductor of the pair is substantially equal to that of the other.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for applying a colorant material to the surface of a plastic insulation material which has been applied to an elongated material such as a metallic conductor (22) or an optical fiber which is being moved at any of a wide range of speeds along a path of travel. The coolant material is applied by nozzles which are staggered along the path of travel and which direct the colorant into engagement with the plastic insulation material at different radial directions. A first plurality of nozzles (46--46) each cause the colorant to be in a spray pattern (45) which is in the area of a plane. Advantageously, those nozzles cooperate to stabilize the conductor and prevent undulations thereof as the conductor is moved along its path of travel. A second plurality of nozzles (50--50) cause the colorant to be in a solid conical pattern (53).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for applying a colorant material to the surface of a plastic insulation material which has been applied to an elongated material such as a metallic conductor (22) or an optical fiber which is being moved at any of a wide range of speeds along a path of travel. The colorant material is applied by nozzles which are staggered along the path of travel and which direct the colorant into engagement with the plastic insulation material at different radial directions. A first plurality of nozzles (46--46) each cause the colorant to be in a spray pattern (45) which is in the area of a plane. Advantageously, those nozzles cooperate to stabilize the conductor and prevent undulations thereof as the conductor is moved along its path of travel. A second plurality of nozzles (50--50) cause the colorant to be in a solid conical pattern (53).