Abstract: In the manufacture of a rigid elongate member of resin bonded reinforcing elements, e.g. a resin bonded glass fibre rod, reinforcing elements are passed through an apertured guide and are secured to one of two hook means spaced one vertically above the other. Elongate loops of the reinforcing elements are formed by effecting vertical to and fro movement of the guide between the hook means, as the guide approaches each hook means in turn the guide partially rotating said hook means so that the elements are wound over it. One hook means is rotatably driven with respect to the other hook means to twist the elongate loops together to form a skein in which the twisted reinforced elements are held under tension between the two hook means. The skein is then cured.

Abstract: In effecting a fluid-tight seal between a plastics part of a cable joint or termination enclosure and the plastics sheath of an electric cable a hole is formed in the wall of said part to form a cable entry of a size appropriate to the cable and a length of the cable is passed through the cable entry so formed. A mould is assembled about the cable adjacent a surface of said part, which mould embraces the cable and has ports for the admission and discharge of molten thermoplastics material, and the mould is temporarily secured to said part of the enclosure.

Abstract: In an optical guide, for instance a flexible optical cable, comprising at least two optical fibres and, surrounding the fibres, an outer protective sheath, each of at least some of the optical fibres has a continuous coating of a metallic material, e.g. aluminium or an aluminium-based alloy, which reduces the risk of surface damage of the optical fibre and also serves as an optical screen. At least one covering layer of non-metallic protective material, e.g. resin, enamel or plastics material, may overlie the metallic coating of each metal-coated optical fibre.

Abstract: In an optical transmission system in which light being transmitted from a light-emitting device to a detector device is caused to travel along at least one path built up of at least two optical fibers connected end-to-end, the optical fibre of the interconnected fibres that is nearer the light-emitting device being of smaller cross-sectional area than the other optical fibre, the optical fibres are detachably connected end-to-end by means of a connector comprising two separately formed bodies. One body of the connector has a bore in which one of said two optical fibres is housed and from which a length of said optical fibre protrudes and the other body of the connector has a through-bore which is stepped between its ends and in one part of which the other of said two optical fibres is housed.

Abstract: Wire emerging from a manufacturing plant, e.g., an enamelling installation, is continuously wound on a succession of reels. Reels are positioned alternately in two fixed positions and driven by torque motors. At any convenient time during the filling of one reel, the wire is looped round an empty reel in the other position and it is driven by a torque motor only sufficiently to overcome windage and other frictional forces, so that the wire controls the speed of the empty reel. When the first reel is full, the wire is cut and thereupon wound on the empty reel, the torque applied by the motor being suitably increased. A mixed sequence of reels with different barrel diameters, and including some with tapered barrels if desired, can be used.

Abstract: In a rigid electromagnetic waveguide, reinforcing elements (e.g. glass fibres) or one or more layers of the reinforcing wall extend lengthwise, preferably parallel to the waveguide axis, throughout the length of the waveguide. Preferably in the outermost layer or in outer layers of the reinforcing wall reinforcing elements extend helically about the waveguide. The longitudinally extending reinforcing elements are preferably applied to a stationary mandrel, which may be arranged vertically, through an annular guide which travels to and fro along the length of the mandrel, the elements being retained at the start and finish of each pass of the guide. The resistance of the waveguide to bending when supported horizontally is increased.

Abstract: In a method of making a connection between a plastics sheathed cable and an enclosed cable joint or termination, the enclosure is opened up to expose the existing conductor joint or termination and a separately formed plastics part of the enclosure that includes an end wall is removed. A new part of plastics material including an end wall which has at least one hole of a size appropriate to a cable at said end of the existing joint or termination and which is split between said hole and the peripheral edge of said new part, is applied to the or each cable sheath at said end of the joint or termination. A length of said plastics sheathed cable is passed through a further hole in the end wall of said new part and its conductor or conductors connected to at least one conductor of at least one of the cables of the existing joint or termination.

Abstract: An optical guide comprises at least one optical fibre and, extending lengthwise of the guide and in contact with the optical fibre or fibres, a body of compressible cellular material, for instance in the form of at least one separately formed elongate member. The arrangement is such that when the guide is stressed in such a way as to subject the optical fibre or fibres to a tensile force, the optical fibre or each of said fibres can move transversely of the guide to compress the compressible cellular material with which it is in contact and thereby reduce the strain that would otherwise be imparted to the fibre or fibres. Preferably the optical fibres are assembled about and in contact a longitudinally central core member of which at least an outer peripheral layer is of compressible cellular material.

Abstract: In a neutral section of an overhead electric traction system the contact wire and at least one catenary wire of one of two adjacent sections of the overhead electric traction system are secured to one end of an elongate insulated runner and the contact wire and at least one catenary wire of the other sections are secured to the other end of said elongate insulated runner or to one end of a second elongate insulated runner. At least one metallic member is positioned between and is spaced from the ends of said insulated runner, or separates and is connected to the other ends of said insulated runners, the undersurfaces of the contact wires, said insulated runner or runners and the elongate metallic member lying in a substantially common plane.

Abstract: An enclosure is assembled about an electric cable joint or termination by applying about the cable or cables a plastics sleeve slit therethrough its length and enclosing the adjacent pair of longitudinal edges of the sleeve in a mould which has ports for the admission and discharge of molten thermoplastics material. Molten thermoplastics material that is compatible with the plastics material of the sleeve and that is at a temperature appreciably above the softening point of said material is injected into the mould through at least one port and, after a sufficient quantity of molten thermoplastics material has passed through the mould to soften the surfaces of said longitudinal edges, the molten thermoplastics material in the mould is permitted or caused to cool and make an effective bond between said longitudinal edges. The sleeve is then sealed to adjacent separately formed end parts of the enclosure.

Abstract: An insulated runner for use in an overhead electric traction system comprises at least one elongate reinforcing body of high tensile strength made wholly or substantially of insulating material, for example a rod of resin bonded glass fiber, and provided with metal terminal fittings, and at least one body of abrasion-resistant ceramic or vitreous material which is associated with, and extends lengthwise between the terminal fittings of, the reinforcing body and which provides an effective running surface. The outermost surface of the insulated runner between its terminal fittings is of an insulating material that is resistant to tracking. The abrasion-resistant body may enclose fully the part of the reinforcing body extending between the terminal fittings. Preferably, however, the reinforcing body and parts of the abrasion-resistant body are enclosed throughout their lengths by a body of a resin composition or other tracking-resistant material.

Abstract: An aluminium alloy conductor wire consists of between 97.25 and 99.4 (preferably 98.05 to 99.2) weight percent aluminium; between 0.3 and 1.0 (preferably 0.45 to 0.6) weight percent iron; between 0.22 and 0.7 (preferably 0.225 to 0.3) weight percent silicon, the ratio of Fe:Si being at least 4:3 and preferably at least 2:1; between 0.08 and 1.0 (preferably 0.2 to 0.5) weight percent copper; and trace quantities of conventional impurities. The conductor wire is especially suitable for use as a conductor of a telecommunication cable or as a component element of an overhead electric conductor.

Abstract: A method of laying a flexible member below the bed of a body of water comprising forming a trench in the bed and laying in it a line having a greater strength and/or a lower cost than the flexible member; and then in a separate second operation laying the flexible member from a cable-laying ship in substantially the same trench by submerged apparatus caused to follow the path of the line. Usually the line will be buried before the second operation commences, and the submerged apparatus then takes the form of a submerged plough which re-forms a trench, on substantially the same route as the original trench. The technique allows the flexible member to be laid on a route known to be free of obstruction.

Abstract: Wire being continuously drawn from a processing apparatus or other supply to a rotatably-driven take-up reel while the reel is being replaced is temporarily stored on a wire accumulator which is positioned, preferably temporarily, between the supply and the reel and which comprises an accumulator drum supported on a frame with one end free and means for rotatably driving the drum about its axis at any speed within a limited range of speeds. The accumulator drum carries means for continuously imparting tension to wire as wire is unwound over the free end of the drum.

Abstract: A rigid electromagnetic waveguide is manufactured in a continuous series of operations by causing an elongate mandrel, supported vertically, to travel along a predetermined path successively to a wire-winding station where a layer of closely wound helical turns of wire is applied; a station or stations where a layer or layers of resin-impregnated reinforcing elements to form a reinforcing wall is or are applied; a curing station where the resin is cured; and an extraction station where the waveguide is removed from the mandrel. Between the last of the stations where a layer of the reinforcing wall is formed and the curing station, the mandrel may pass through stations where a moisture barrier and an outer protective covering are applied. Risk of change in tension in the wires or reinforcing elements about the neutral axis of the waveguide is reduced.

Abstract: A cable core and method of forming such core is provided including a conductor having an extruded dielectric of an insulating material selected from the group of insulating materials consisting of rubber and plastics materials, a dielectric screen comprising a layer of conductive or semi-conductive material selected from the group consisting of conductive and semi-conductive rubber and plastics materials and, interposed between and bonded to the extruded dielectric and the dielectric screen throughout substantially the whole length of the core, an intermediate layer having at least in a circumferentially continuous zone of the layer a cohesive strength substantially less than the cohesive strengths of the extruded dielectric and the dielectric screen and substantially less than the strengths of the bonds between the intermediate layer and the dielectric screen such that when stripping the dielectric screen from the core over a part of its length for jointing or terminating purposes separation takes place with

Abstract: An electric insulator used as a section insulator directly inserted in an overhead contact wire comprises an elongate body of synthetic resin which is reinforced with glass fibres or other fibres of high tensile strength, and has substantially the whole of its exposed surface formed of one or more than one composition based on a cycloaliphatic resin cured with an acidic curing agent. At least one exposed resin surface (the running surface) that is continuous from end to end over at least a major portion of the length of the body is formed by a composition comprising the cured reaction product of 100 parts of a cycloaliphatic epoxy resin, 40-250 parts of an acidic hardener therefor and an effective amount of an accelerator and, dispersed in the said reaction product 50-400 parts of a mineral filler substantially wholly in the form of particles not greater in any dimension than 80 micrometers and 10-100 parts of a low-friction fluorocarbon polymer.

Abstract: An optical fibre connector comprises separately formed bodies of substantially elongate form, each having an axial bore in which an optical fibre can be fitted and, associated with the two bodies or with each pair of adjacent bodies, means for connecting said bodies together in substantially axial alignment. One of said bodies has an end, e.g. a flared socket, of such a configuration having regard to the configuration of an end, e.g. a conical plug, of the other of said bodies that as said bodies are moved axially towards one another to connect said bodies together, an optical fibre carried by one of said bodies is constrained to lie in substantially axial alignment with and to enter the bore of the other of said bodies and that when said bodies each carrying an optical fibre are connected together the neighbouring end faces of the optical fibres abut or are closely spaced apart.