Abstract: A process and apparatus for fabricating an optical fiber communication cable are described herein. The optical fiber cable has a cable core including a metal containment tube and at least one optical fiber within the tube. The containment tube preferably is formed by drawing a strip of metal through at least one forming die. In a first aspect of the present invention, smooth operation of the forming die is promoted by first passing the metal strip through a shaving die to remove any shearing burrs along the strip edges and to maintain the width of the strip within a desired tolerance.In a second aspect of the present invention, various approaches for effectively sealing the containment tube are described. In a first embodiment, the tube is sealed using a wave soldering approach wherein a flow of moving molten solder is used to substantially fill a seam in the tube.

Abstract: A flexible shielded cable. The cable includes an elongate flexible metal conductor and a layer of a flexible dielectric material disposed about the conductor. The cable has a flexible metallic shield positioned about the dielectric with the shield including a copper foil having overlapping edges and a copper braid about the foil. A layer of metal bonds together the overlapping edges, bonds the braid and the foil and closes the openings of the braid. A method of forming a metallic shield is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing a powder-filled tubular welding electrode, whereby a metallic band while being fed is formed to a gutter (16) and thereupon to a tube (21), whereby the edges of the gutter are welded together and welding powder is supplied via a conduit (18, 19) to the welded tube, and the welding powder free space of the tube being filled with a protective gas. The object of the invention is to provide a method for continuous production of a tubular welding electrode, especially a tubular welding electrode for welding without external supply of protective gas.

Abstract: The strength members of the optical fibre cables to be jointed comprise inner and outer layers of high-tensile wires (9, 10; 9', 10') arranged on respective pressure-resistant tubes (5; 5'), each containing an optical fibre package (not shown). The strength members are jointed by trapping the wires between a quill (15) and a ferrule (16) pressed towards the quill. The quill (15) is of a relatively hard steel and serves to partially reinstate the pressure tube between the ends of the cables, whereas the ferrule (16) is of a relatively soft steel. For jointing of two dielectric covered elements the ferrule is subsequently encapsulated in a dielectric moulding (27). A thin-walled reinstatement tube (17) is arranged between the quill (15) and one tube (5'). The cavity in the reinstatement tube (17) is larger in diameter than the cavity in the tubes (5 and 5').

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fiber-reinforced metal matrix composite including the steps of mounting of a braided fiber tube on a substrate, wrapping a braze foil about the braided fiber tube to form an assembly that is encapsulated by a metal capsule which is creep collapsed onto the assembly at a temperature below the braze foil flowpoint. The encapsulated assembly is subsequently heated to a temperature sufficient to induce flow of the braze foil alloy and later cooled to allow solidification and annealing of the resulting fiber reinforced metal composite.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing powder-filled tubular welding electrodes made from a continuously fed metallic gutter (16) in which the powder is introduced through a powder conveyor (17) opening in the gutter, which conveyor via a filling conduit (19) arranged inside the gutter will transfer the powder past a welding station (23) for welding the longitudinal edges (25) of the gutter which is formed to a tube (21). The purpose of the invention is to provide a method and a device for manufacturing powder-filled tubular welding electrodes without the powder damaged when it passes the welding station and that the filling of a tube is made under controlled conditions thus that the tube is completely filled concurrently with its feeding through the welding station.

Abstract: An individually armored fiber optic core assembly having a diameter less than about 0.050" is provided as well as a process for making same. A fiber optic core comprising a fiber optic element and a surrounding protective layer is encased within a drawn metal sheath having a generally longitudinally extending seam. The ratio of the outside diameter of the fiber optic core to the inside diameter of the metal sheath is at least about 0.6:1.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for fabricating an optical fiber communication cable are described herein. The optical fiber cable has a cable core including a metal containment tube and at least one optical fiber within the tube. The containment tube preferably is formed by drawing a strip of metal through at least one forming die. In a first aspect of the present invention, smooth operation of the forming die is promoted by first passing the metal strip through a shaving die to remove any shearing burrs along the strip edges and to maintain the width of the strip within a desired tolerance.In a second aspect of the present invention, various approaches for effectively sealing the containment tube are described. In a first embodiment, the tube is sealed using a wave soldering approach wherein a flow of moving molten solder is used to substantially fill a seam in the tube.

Abstract: A strip (56) of non-metallic material and one (59) of a metallic material are wrapped simultaneously about an advancing cable core (32) to enclose partially the core. Then longitudinal edge portions (71, 72) of the strip of non-metallic material are separated by a shoe (150) which permits movement of the edge portions in a direction circumferentially of the core. One longitudinal edge portion (72) of the non-metallic strip becomes confined in a guideway (118) of a tool (99) and longitudinal edge portions (73, 74) of the metallic strip (59) are guided along guideways (117, 118) of the tool as the strips are moved through a converging passageway (103). This controls the relative circumferential movement between the edge portions as the strips are moved through the passageway to form a core wrap (33) and a shield (34).

Abstract: A cable shielding method and apparatus are disclosed wherein adhesive 42 is applied to a strip 40 of shielding material within a shield forming die 20 as the strip 40 is being formed about a cable core 10 with an overlapped shield seam.

Abstract: Controlling the bending of an overlapping edge portion of a metal shield of a cable core by supporting one side of an edge portion at a position along its feed path and applying pressure against the edge portion immediately downstream of and in a direction opposite to the support. Bending of the edge portion occurs immediately it has passed the support while the support dampers resiliency in the edge portion to prevent or lessen springback. Apparatus for bending is placed immediately upstream of the overlapping die and preferably includes means to vary the applied pressure. Hence, the desired orientation of the bent edge portion is obtainable by varying the pressure dependent upon the actual orientation as the overlapped shield leaves the die.

Abstract: A metal rod is supplied to a pair of bonding rolls provided with peripheral grooves forming a substantially circular roll pass that also receives at opposite sides of the rod a pair of metal strips of a different metal than that of the rod. The rolls press the strips against the rod and pull all three together through the roll pass, with the strips bent around the rod to enclose it. Before the strips reach the pass, an electric current passes through a length of each one to heat it to a solid-phase bonding temperature and to burn off contaminants. Also, before the rod reaches the rolls, it is heated to a solid-phase bonding temperature by means of an electric induction coil encircling it while it is passing through an enclosure maintained full of a gas providing a controlled atmosphere around the heated portion of the rod. The diameter of the roll pass is small enough to reduce the diameter of the product therein and simultaneously cause solid-phase bonding together of the heated strips and heated rod.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved wireline that comprises one or more insulated conductors contained within a smooth walled metal sheath; which improved wireline is satisfactory to perform all of the normal wireline operations in an earth borehole and particularly in very deep boreholes; and in which the sheath material of the wireline is a metal having a high yield strength to weight ratio, and the sheath is swaged into intimate contact with the inner insulated conductor or conductors, such that the weight of the inner conductor or conductors and insulation is effectively supported by the sheath.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and apparatus for manufacturing flexible, shielded coaxial cable exhibiting improved magnetical screening capabilities wherein a tubular outer conductor is concentrically formed about an inner conductor with spacer means being disposed in the annulus between conductors. Accordingly, about the inner conductor including spacer means therefore, there is formed an inner component tube of a conductive material by the continuous forming in a lengthwise direction of a metal band into a tube having longitudinal edges welded together in a continuous, longitudinal welded joint. Concurrently, at least one further component tube is formed concentrically about the inner component tube by the lengthwise deformation of a second metal band of a ferromagnetic material into a second tube having opposed longitudinal edges which are also welded in a longitudinal direction in a continuous, longitudinal welded joint.

Abstract: A method of producing a conductor for a superconducting cable or the like is disclosed. The conductor is made up of at least niobium and copper of which the copper is an electrically normal-conducting metal. The method includes heating a niobium carrier to a temperature between 150.degree. and 800.degree.C in a vacuum having a residual gas pressure of at most 10.sup.-.sup.4 Torr, and evaporating copper unto the niobium carrier to form a tightly adhering copper layer thereon. If required, the conductor can be produced to include other electrically normal-conducting metals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing continuous lengths of coaxial products, such as coaxial cable, having concentric inner and outer conductors or other members, and an intermediate layer of dielectric or insulating material between the inner and outer members. A continuous length of the inner member is continuously advanced while a concentric layer of insulating material is continuously formed on the outer surface of the inner member, with the radial thickness of the insulating layer increasing in the machine direction in a predetermined zone traversed by the continuously advancing inner member. A continuous flat metal strip is continuously advanced alongside the inner member and is formed into an outer member surrounding the inner member, after which the longitudinal edge portions of the rolled strip are joined before the insulating material reaches its maximum radial thickness.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the instant invention, techniques for the manufacture of flexible metal tubing and metal tubing made thereby are set forth wherein a plurality of thin walled metal tubes are concentrically formed one about the other and subsequently corrugated to form continuous lengths of flexible metal tubing capable of withstanding substantial pressures. This is achieved in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention by forming an inner component tube from the continuous forming in a lengthwise direction of a metal band into a tube having longitudinal edges which are welded together to form a continuous, longitudinal welded joint. Concurrently, at least one further component tube is formed concentrically about the inner tube by a lengthwise deformation of a second metal band into a second tube having opposed longitudinal edges in close proximity to each other.