Abstract: A closure which is particularly useful to seal a container of material that is used in a process for the manufacture of preforms from which fiber lightguides are drawn includes an annular seal having a tapered opening therethrough. The annular seal is supported in engagement with an outwardly facing surface of a flared neck of a container by a shelf of an annular retainer which is held about the neck by an adjustable clamp which is disposed about the retainer. The neck opens to an external surface of the container which is covered by a stepped cap made of plastic material that is clamped in engagement with a ring seal positioned in a groove formed in the external surface by an outer clamp plate. A smaller diameter portion of the cap is received in a centrally disposed opening of the outer clamp plate which is connected to the retainer by a plurality of circumferentially disposed fasteners.

Abstract: A capstan having surfaces which are faced with elements that are capable of interlocking with each other is used to advance a strip of interconnected, miniature articles which have a configuration susceptible to deformation, or a strip having a surface finish which is easily narred. In one embodiment, the capstan includes a first belt having a plurality of flexible, resilient hooking elements attached to a surface thereof. A second belt has a plurality of looping elements made of flexible, resilient material attached to a surface thereof and which are capable of interlocking with the hooking elements of the first belt when the belts are pressed together and of becoming disengaged from the hooking elements when the belts are peeled apart. The belts are sufficiently flexible so that when they are pressed together they are capable of gripping an elongated material therebetween.

Abstract: An adapter (11) for connecting each of two telephone cords (12) to a wall terminal (14) includes a housing (16) having two stacked cavities (54-54') at one end, with each cavity being capable of receiving a modular plug (13) that terminates one of the cords and each communicating with a plug portion (17) that extends from an opposite end of the housing and that is insertable into the wall terminal. The adapter includes a plurality of wire-like contact elements (20) with each having a retroflexed portion for electrically engaging a contact (34) of the wall terminal when the plug portion is inserted thereinto, and each having free ends that extend into the cavities at the one end of the housing to engage blade-like terminals (21) of the modular plugs which are inserted into the cavities.

Abstract: In order to react gases and/or vapors to deposit optically suitable layers of doped silicon dioxide on an inner wall of a glass substrate tube to produce a preform from which optical fibers are drawn, the glass tube is heated by a mixture of combustible gases. The combustible gases are directed along passageways in a housing of a torch assembly which confines a portion of the length of the tube and then out of the passageways to produce a flame that engages the confined portion of the length of the tube. The housing and walls that define ends of the passageways adjacent the tube are cooled to an extent which substantially eliminates oxidation of the material from which the housing and the walls of the passageways are constructed.

Abstract: Telephone cords (13--13) which are terminated with modular plugs (11--11) having an array of spaced blade-like terminals (17--17) are tested for continuity and for test voltage breakdown by simultaneously engaging the terminals in the plug at each end of the cord with an array of spaced test probes (30--30) in which adjacent probes are staggered along the lengths of the terminals. In a four conductor cord, alternating ones of the terminals at each end of the cord are engaged by test probes which connect the terminals in an isolated series loop of a test circuit (40) in which a first one (41) of the loops is connected to a secondary winding (86) of a test voltage input transformer (85) with the secondary winding also being connected through a primary winding (91) of an output detector transformer (90) and then to a second one (60) of the loops.

Abstract: Selected, relatively inaccessible, areas of surfaces (28) which define openings (21) that extend through a strip, which is being advanced at a relatively high velocity along a path through a closed plating cell, are electroplated with a minimum required thickness of metal. The strip (11) is cathodically charged and is masked along a portion of a path to expose at least the surfaces which define the openings. A flow passage for an electroplating electrolyte (41) is established from a source (42) past a charged anode (101) in a direction through the openings (21) and includes a linear portion extending substantially normal to the strip on each side thereof. The anode extends along the portion of the path, parallel to and spaced from the strip (11), and focused on the areas to be plated. The charged anode (101) and the exposed areas of surfaces of the strip (11) are contacted with the electrolyte (41) to charge the electrolyte and pass an electric current therethrough to plate the exposed areas of the surfaces.

Abstract: Paper pulp insulation of uniform weight per unit length is formed simultaneously on each of a plurality of advancing electrical conductors (21--21) by the use of a dual zone headbox (23) which cooperates with a forming cylinder (24). In one zone of the headbox, the average velocity of a pulpous mixture flowing in a channel (54) is controlled by a first velocity control member (58) after which the pulpous mixture is split into a plurality of streams to form a pulp ribbon (29) below each of the conductors on the periphery of the forming cylinder. In the other zone, the pulpous mixture is passed through a channel (57) prior to being split into individual streams that are deposited as ribbons (31--31) above the conductors. The average velocity of the pulpous mixture in the channel (57) in the other zone is controlled by a second velocity control member (66) having a plurality of discrete individually adjustable sections which are aligned with the streams.

Abstract: In the manufacture of cordage (25), at least two groups (28, 29) of individually insulated, flexible conductors (21--21) which comprise a planar array (40) are moved through a core tube (71) of an extruder (27) in adjacent paths. As the groups are moved out of an exit portion of the core tube where they are spaced apart a predetermined distance and along converging paths to a die, a first plastic material is flowed about the array to enclose it and to be formed into a jacket by the die. Portions of the first plastic material flow between the groups to achieve an equilibration of pressure in the plastic material about each group, which controls the direction and magnitude of lateral movement of each group within the plane of the array, and to form a web (41) which is integral with the jacket and which may vary in thickness along its length to compensate for changes in the outside diameter of the insulated conductors.

Abstract: A coating (28) is applied over an advancing electrical conductor (21) and partially dried by exposing it to a first temperature for a predetermined time. This renders the coating substantially insoluble in water so that it is retained on the conductor as the conductor is moved through apparatus (34) which forms a ribbon (35) of pulpous material longitudinally with the conductor. The ribbon is reshaped into an insulative cover (41) concentrically disposed about the coated conductor, after which the pulp-insulated conductor is exposed for a predetermined length of time to a second temperature which is substantially greater than the first temperature. This reduces substantially the moisture content of the pulpous material and simultaneously tackifies the coating which cause the pulp insulation to have excellent crush resistance and adheres the pulp insulation to the conductor to form an insulation cover having substantial integrity.

Abstract: In the manufacture of cordage (25), at least two groups (28, 29) of individually insulated, flexible conductors (21--21) which comprise a planar array (40) are moved through a core tube (71) of an extruder (27) in adjacent paths. As the groups are moved out of an exit portion of the core tube where they are spaced apart a predetermined distance and along converging paths to a die, a first plastic material is flowed about the array to enclose it and to be formed into a jacket by the die. Portions of the first plastic material flow between the groups to achieve an equilibration of pressure in the plastic material about each group, which controls the direction and magnitude of lateral movement of each group within the plane of the array, and to form a web (41) which is integral with the jacket and which may vary in thickness along its length to compensate for changes in the outside diameter of the insulated conductors.

Abstract: A slotted beam contact element for an electrical connector is constructed by forming an opening in a metallic strip and applying forces to at least one portion of the strip adjacent the opening to reshape said portion. Then a bifurcated beam is formed in the strip with at least portions of the furcations of the beam encompassing the opening after which the furcations are moved toward each other to cause the portions encompassing the opening to define a slot of predetermined width characteristics suitable for receiving an insulated conductor and for establishing electrical contact between the conductor and the furcations. For some uses of these kinds of contact elements, selected portions of the furcations may be coated or plated and/or heat treated prior to moving the furcations to their final closed position.

Abstract: One end of a cable (12) is assembled to a connector (11) which is supported in a housing (10), and extends along a path through a cable entrance end (32) of the housing. The housing includes two mateable portions (25, 26) with one portion having a base (31) which includes a plurality of posts (50--50) projecting therefrom in a predetermined pattern between the connector and the cable entrance end to provide a plurality of cable paths through the housing. Each cross-sectional size cable within a range has an associated path with posts along the path engaging the cable to provide suitable strain relief therefor. Advantageously, the posts not only provide suitable strain relief for any cable within a range of cross-sectional sizes, but they also cooperate with openings (70--70) in the other portion of the housing to secure the two portions together.

Abstract: An insulation comprising a polyether polyester thermoplastic copolymer obtained by reacting 1,4 butane diol terephthalate with terephthalate esters of polytetramethylene glycol is coated over an irregularly configured conductor, such as for example, a tinsel conductor, suitable for use in telecommunications cordage by moving the copolymer through an extruder and along a flow path formed between a core tube and wall of a die cavity. The die cavity adjacent to the throat of the die has a frustoconical portion formed with an approach angle of sufficient magnitude to minimize the pressure drop through the extruder to extrude the copolymer at a temperature slightly above the melting point of the copolymer.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for supporting rotatably a reel (27) of cable so that it may be turned, for example, to render ends of the cable accessible for connectorization, includes a pair of spaced, parallel cradle rolls (30, 31), which in rest positions are in engagement with a support surface of a base plate (51). A reel is moved so that its flanges are supported on a reference surface (43) which extends between the cradle rolls and which is generally coincident with a factory floor surface that is spaced above the base plate. An actuating member (60, 60') associated with each cradle roll is moved from an unoperated position toward its associated cradle roll to cause wedges (69-69) extending from the actuating member and between the cradle roll and the base plate to cam the cradle roll upwardly along inclined surfaces of the wedges and vertical surfaces of bearing blocks (56--56) adjacent one side of each cradle roll in which passive satellite rollers (53--53) are mounted rotatably.

Abstract: Paper pulp insulation of uniform weight per unit length is formed simultaneously on each of a plurality of advancing electrical conductors (21--21) by the use of a dual zone headbox (23) which cooperates with a forming cylinder (24). In one zone of the headbox, the average velocity of a pulpous mixture flowing in a channel (54) is controlled by a first velocity control member (58) after which the pulpous mixture is split into a plurality of streams to form a pulp ribbon (29) below each of the conductors on the periphery of the forming cylinder. In the other zone, the pulpous mixture is passed through a channel (57) prior to being split into individual streams that are deposited as ribbons (31--31) above the conductors. The average velocity of the pulpous mixture in the channel (57) in the other zone is controlled by a second velocity control member (66) having a plurality of discrete individually adjustable sections which are aligned with the streams.

Abstract: A device (80) for sealing a furnace (50) which is used to draw a fiber (52) from a rod-like preform (51) includes a housing (82) having a cavity (121) for receiving a disc (111). The disc (111) is suspended for movement in the cavity in a plane lateral to the preform that extends through a center opening (116) in the disc and into the furnace. An inert gas is supplied to the cavity and directed inwardly through radially disposed passageways (118--118) in the disc (111) to impinge on the preform and split into two streams which move along the preform in opposite directions to prevent the entry of ambient air into, as well as the escape of gas from within, the furnace. The inert gas also causes the disc to be moved within the cavity to compensate for irregularities in the preform or for its misalignment from a vertical axis of the furnace, and provides a cushion so that contact between the disc and the preform is avoided.

Abstract: Capacitance unbalance-to-ground between conductors of a twisted pair, each of which may be insulated with at least a layer of cellular plastic insulation, is maintained within acceptable limits by controlling the extrusion of the insulation to maintain the measured coaxial capacitance and associated outside diameter of the insulated conductors within a range of values which correspond to acceptable capacitance unbalance-to-ground values.

Abstract: An opening in a jacket (15) of a cable (16) is detected as the jacketed cable is moved from an extruder (14) through a probe (21) which is positioned in a cooling trough (17) and which comprises first and second aligned, spaced sensors (24, 26) with each of the sensors being connected to an arm of a bridge transformer (37). Electrical circuitry is designed to cause an unbalance voltage in a secondary (43) of the transformer (37) in response to conductance unbalance as the opening in the jacket (15) is advanced through the first sensor (24) and to cause an unbalance voltage of opposite polarity in the secondary (43) in response to conductance unbalance as the opening in thejacket (15) is advanced through the second sensor (26). Logic circuitry (66) tests the unbalance voltages for threshold and peak values to discern jacket holes despite the presence of extraneous signals such as those which are caused by noise.

Abstract: A seal is used to prevent the escape of gas from a gas pressurized plastic-jacketed, multi-conductor cable where the conductors of an unjacketed portion of the cable enter a cabinet of a terminal which is exposed to temperature cycling. The seal includes a sleeve made of an elastomeric material having one end which engages an end section of the cable jacket with the conductors of the unjacketed portion of the cable extending through the other end of the sleeve into the cabinet. The seal also includes a metallic tube which is disposed about the elastomeric sleeve with one of the end portions of the tube which is aligned with the cable jacket being in compressive engagement with the sleeve and jacket. A plugging compound in the other end portion of the tube and which is compliant with the sleeve material encapsulates the conductors and the other end of the sleeve which extends into the plugging compound.

Abstract: A cable comprises a plurality of insulated conductors enclosed in a corrugated metallic shield jacketed with a plastic material. As a corrugated metallic tape is wrapped longitudinally about the core to form the shield, overlapping longitudinal edge portions of the shield are intentionally spaced apart radially. When the plastic jacket is extruded over the shield, a portion of the plastic material extends between the overlapped but spaced apart longitudinal edge portions. This prevents lock-in of the corrugations along the overlapped edge portions and provides the cable with an additional degree of freedom of movement so that the cable can withstand placement stresses caused by sharp radius bending during installation without shield separation or cracking.