Abstract: Coiling and binding of strand material such as telephone cordage is accomplished by revolving cyclically spaced coiling heads mounted rotatably on a rotatably mounted turret between one position where a length of deformable tie material is preloaded on the coiling head and another position whereat a predetermined number of convolutions of cordage are wound on the coiling head such that the tie spans diametrically of and extends beyond the convolutions. The winding in the other position occurs while the tie of the previously wound cordage now in the one position is formed about the cordage such that each end portion of the tie encloses and binds together an adjacent plurality of corresponding portions of the convolutions whereafter the coiled, bound cordage is ejected from the head in the one position.

Abstract: The capacitance and diameter-over-dielectric of successive sections of a cellular plastic material are monitored continuously. The monitoring provides a continuous indication of the capacitance and the diameter with respect to the percent expansion of the cellular plastic material and the weight of the material per unit length of the conductor. This facilitates the regulation of process variables to maintain the capacitance and diameter-over-dielectric within acceptable ranges of values.

Abstract: Tandem operations for manufacturing coaxial cable units include new and unobvious methods and apparatus for laminating an outer conductor, for drawing an inner conductor, for applying plastic discs to the inner conductor and for corrugating the outer conductor. Laminating the outer conductor is accomplished by passing a copper, copolymer adhesive, steel sandwich through three pairs of heated rolls. The heated laminate is passed over a roller designed to impart a three-dimensional curvature to the laminate. Then, the laminate is advanced in the manufacturing atmosphere and over another roller to remove the three dimensional curvature while the heat is removed. This produces a laminate which is essentially stress-free although composed of dissimilar materials. The inner conductor is drawn to a final diameter by an ultrasonically vibrating drawing die within a liquid medium which acts as a lubricant and as a cleaner to form a clean, smooth inner conductor.

Abstract: A plug for terminating a cord includes an unipartite, non-hinged, dielectric housing with a free end and a cord-input aperture in the other end and with internal surfaces defining a cavity. A jacket anchoring member is formed integrally of the housing and has a surface which protrudes into the cavity slightly beyond the adjacent surface of a portion of the remainder of the housing adjacent the cord-input aperture when the anchoring member is in an initial position. Forces are applied to the anchoring member to partially disconnect it from the housing and move it into an actuated position with substantially all of the protruding surface in clamping engagement with the jacket and with a portion of another surface of the anchoring member into locking engagement with a portion of the remainder of the housing adjacent the cord-input end of the housing. Another portion formed integrally with the housing is reformed into a strain relief element in engagement with the conductors.

Abstract: A line cord of a telephone handset having individually insulated conductors is jacketed with an extrudable flexible clear flame retardant composition which includes a polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC), 10 to 55 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the PVC of a phthalate plasticizer, 3 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the PVC of a phosphate plasticizer, 2 to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the PVC of a metallic stabilizer, 0.25 to 1.0 part by weight per 100 parts by weight of the PVC of a lubricant, 0.25 to 1.0 part by weight per 100 parts by weight of the PVC of an ultraviolet absorber, 1 to 4 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the PVC of an epoxy resin, and 1 to 8 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the PVC of an epoxy plasticizer.

Abstract: A telephone service cable which runs from a distribution cable to a subscriber's premises or to a pay station is another link in a buried communications system having a water-resisting capability. A spirally quaded core comprised of individually insulated conductors is advanced through a bath of a flame-retardant, water-resistant composition prior to enclosing the core with a jacket. The interstices in the core and between the core and an inner jacket are caused to be filled with the composition which comprises a liquid system and a solid system. The liquid system includes a chlorinated paraffin while the solid system includes a polyvinyl chloride resin and a chlorinated polyethylene. An epoxy stabilizer and a phosphite stabilizer may be added to prevent thermal degradation of the filling composition.

Abstract: A retractile cord of a telephone handset having individually insulated conductors is jacketed with an extrudable flexible clear flame retardant composition which includes a polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC). A phthalate plasticizer is included to impart low temperature properties to the composition while a phosphate plasticizer is used for flame retardancy and a polymeric plasticizer for resistance to extraction of constituents of the composition by oils encountered during use. The composition also includes a metallic stabilizer, a lubricant, an ultraviolet light absorber, an epoxy resin and epoxidized plasticizing stabilizer. The extruded composition is characterized by excellent clarity as well as superior low temperature, flame-retardant and lacquer-mar properties. Equally important is the outstanding resiliency of strand material covered with the composition and wound into a helical configuration with a plurality of convolutions.

Abstract: A priorly used three layer insulation covering for conductors forming a drop wire for connecting aerial distribution cables to a subscriber's premises is replaced with a single layer insulation of a plasticized polyvinyl chloride composition.It has been found that the temperature of preheat of the conductors must fall with a critical range to control the adhesion of the composition to the conductors to be within a desired range of values. The adhesion of the composition to the conductors is important from the standpoint of the manner of installation and of strippability. The adhesion must be sufficient to facilitate support of the drop wire by a clamp customarily attached to the subscriber's premises. However, the adhesion must not be excessively high in that the forces required to strip the insulation from the conductors may damage the surfaces of the conductor.