Abstract: A cable insulation eccentricity and diameter monitor comprises a revolving structure mounted coaxially with the cable, a finely collimated source of gamma particles mounted on such revolving structure for generating a beam of gamma particles, a radiation detector fixed to the revolving structure for detecting the gamma particles scattered from such beam by the cable and for generating pulses the amplitude of which is dependent on the energy of the scattered gamma particles reaching the detector, first drive means for moving the source of gamma particles so as to direct the beam at predetermined target positions corresponding to probable conductor and cable/atmosphere boundaries of the cable along a first axis perpendicular to the axis of the cable, second drive means for repositioning the revolving structure to move the source of gamma particles and the radiation detector to a position around the cable so as to direct the beam at target positions corresponding to probable conductor and cable/atmosphere bounda

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for forming a tube from a flat tape, more particularly for forming a shielding tape around a cable core, is disclosed. The tape is moved longitudinally along a straight path and simultaneously deflected laterally from a flat to a circular configuration around a mandrel, and the center of the tape is stressed over an eccentric ring attached to the outside surface of the mandrel in substantially inverse proportion to the stretch imparted to the tape during forming of the tube.

Abstract: A cable having a composite shield and armour sheath design is disclosed. The cable comprises a cable core, a sheath of corrugated laminated tape surrounding the cable core and formed by bonding a plastic coated aluminum tape to a wider steel tape with one edge of the aluminum tape registering with one edge of the steel tape, and an outer jacket of polyethylene overlying the sheath of corrugated laminated tape. The uncovered portion of the steel tape overlaps the registering edges of the laminated tape, to form a uniform unwelded overlap.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for controlling the feed of an optical fiber or a plurality of optical fibers into a tube while the tube is being formed is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of propelling one or several fibers into a tube with a sufficient force to move the fibers at a speed faster than the speed at which the tube is formed, and of regulating the excess length of fiber by restraining the feed of fiber into the tube at a predetermined ratio with respect to the speed at which the tube is being formed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for forming a tube from a flat tape, more particularly for forming a shielding tape around a cable core, is disclosed. The tape is moved longitudinally along a straight path and simultaneously deflected laterally from a flat to a circular configuration around a mandrel, and the center of the tape is stressed over an eccentric ring attached to the outside surface of the mandrel in substantially inverse proportion to the stretch imparted to the tape during forming of the tube.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for manufacturing a cable having a composite shield and armor sheath design is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of corrugating a laminated tape formed by bonding a plastic coated aluminum tape to a wider steel tape with one edge of the aluminum tape registering with one edge of the steel tape, forming the corrugated laminated tape around a cable core with the uncovered portion of the steel tape overlapping the registering edges of the laminated tape, and extruding an outer jacket of polyethylene over the corrugated laminated tape.

Abstract: A reel holder and clamping arrangement for a strander cradle is disclosed. The reel holder and clamping arrangement comprises two pintle assemblies each incuding a bearing housing, a pintle rotatably mounted in the bearing housing and means for mounting each bearing housing in axial alignment one on each side frame member. First cam means are associated with at least one of the pintle assemblies for moving its associated pintle along the axis of the reel for clamping a reel between the pintles. A reel holder engages the flanges of the reel when the reel is received within the cradle for positioning the core of the reel in alignment with the pintles of the pintle assemblies. Second cam means are associated with at least one of the pintle assemblies for moving the reel holder out of engagement with the flanges of the reel when the reel is clamped between the pintles.

Abstract: A cable assembly for detecting the ingress of water inside a cable is disclosed. The cable assembly comprises a moisture detecting tape constructed of two parallel bare conductors laminated to an insulating substrate. The tape thus constructed is applied in an open helix around the conductor core of a cable. A suitable plastic jacket is extruded over the cable core and the moisture detecting tape. A shielding tape may also be applied over the cable core and the moisture detecting tape prior to extrusion of the overall plastic jacket. The cable thus constructed with the integral moisture detecting tape is adapted for connection to a suitable sensing apparatus at one end, and should moisture enter the cable as a result of damage to same, the electrical characteristics of the detecting tape would change and such change will result in a measurable conductance between the conductors of the moisture detecting tape. The ingressing water is thus sensed prior to penetrating and compromising the cable core.

Abstract: An apparatus for stranding an outer layer of wires on an inner layer cable core is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a tubular stranding machine comprising a rotating tube within which are stationary mounted on the same axis a series of cradles each supporting a spool of wire from which are paid-off the outer wires, means for guiding said outer wires along the outside wall of said tube towards a stranding die located at the front of the stranding machine, means for guiding a cable core originating from the back of the stranding machine along the outside wall of the tube, and a wire straightener stationary mounted at the front of the stranding machine ahead of the stranding die and through which is passed the cable core to eliminate the waviness of the cable core due to rotation during traveling along the outside wall of the tube.

Abstract: A reel clamp for a cradle assembly is disclosed. The reel clamp comprises two pintle assemblies mounted in axial alignment, one of such pintle assembly being axially movable with respect to the other. Each pintle assembly includes a bearing housing, a reel supporting member rotatably mounted in the bearing housing and means for securing the bearing housing to one of the side frame members of the cradle assembly. Cam means are associated with the movable pintle assembly for moving the bearing housing of such movable pintle assembly along the axis of the reel for clamping the reel between the two reel supporting members.

Abstract: A voltage stabilized solid polyolefin dielectric composition is disclosed. The dielectric composition comprises a polyolefin containing a voltage stabilizing amount of an additive selected from the class of dyes identified in the Color Index as being of the solvent type possessing either an azo or a quinoid type structure, or having a xanthene structure exhibiting fluorescence. The solvent dyes must be soluble in or melt miscible with the polyolefin. The solvent dyes must also be stable at the processing temperature and under the conditions of use.

Abstract: Copper based substrates for use at high temperatures in oxidizing atmospheres are made up of a copper core overlaid with a protective nickel oxide barrier layer formed in situ and an external protective layer of nickel. The process for forming the protective nickel oxide barrier layer comprises the steps of subjecting the copper core to oxidation to form a cuprous oxide surface layer over the copper core, reducing the surface of the cuprous oxide layer to regenerate copper to regain conductivity, plating a surface layer of nickel over the copper layer, and annealing the coated copper core to scavenge at least some of the oxygen from the cuprous oxide layer and react it at the interface with the plated nickel layer to form the protective nickel oxide barrier layer.

Abstract: There is provided an electrocoating bath composition for depositing a coat of polymer material onto an anode. This bath composition comprises an essentially aqueous solution, emulsion or dispersion of the polymer and 0.01 by 2.0% by weight with reference to the bath composition of a compound of one of the general formulae:X -- R -- X' or R' -- X -- R -- X'whereinR and R' are each an organic radical,X is one of the following groups: -SH, -OH (phenolic or enolic), .dbd.NH, -- NH.H, andX' is a hydrogen atom or X,the groups X being in such electronic configuration with reference to the organic radical R or the organic radicals R and R' that there is always a presence of labile protons therein under operative conditions of the electrocoating bath, or of a salt of said compound, and the compound or its salt being in an at least partially disassociated state in the electrocoating bath composition and capable of proton association in close vicinity of the anode under conditions of operation.

Abstract: A method for producing a mica based insulation is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of solubilizing a poly (carborane siloxane) containing carborane moieties linked by siloxy groups in a suitable solvent at a loading varying from 20 to 50% by weight of polymer on total weight of the solution, placing a mica sheet of desired thickness on a suitable support, impregnating the supported mica sheet with the solution so as to achieve complete wetting, and curing the impregnated mica sheet by oxidative crosslinking of the polymer for a predetermined time interval and at a predetermined temperature above which oxidative crosslinking of the polymer becomes significant.

Abstract: A process for producing thin walled coatings on elongated substrates by the electrostatic application of two superimposed layers of powder material is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of applying electrostatically a first layer of fusible powder material to an elongated substrate, at least partially fusing such first layer of powder material to provide a uniform coating on the elongated substrate, holding the at least partially fused coating at an elevated temperature below the full fusion temperature of the powder material to be applied as the second layer immediately prior to the application of such second layer, applying electrostatically a second layer of fusible powder material to the first layer, and fusing the total applied coating to achieve the desired coating thickness.

Abstract: A method for electroimpregnation of paper and non-woven fabrics is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of forming an aqueous solution containing about 1-30% of an ionic material having a specific conductance lower than 0.003 mhos cm.sup.-1, in a bath provided with cathode and anode electrodes submerged in the solution, introducing a sheet of paper or non-woven fabric having a predetermined degree of porosity into the bath in contact with the cathode or anode electrode, dependent on the polarity of the ionic material, and applying a predetermined DC voltage to the electrodes so as to cause the ions of such material to impregnate the paper or non-woven fabric when such ions move toward one or the other of the electrodes and deposit within the paper or non-woven fabric as partially or totally associated molecules. The ionic material may advantageously be a polymeric material to improve the clarity, dielectric strength and moisture absorption resistance characteristics of the paper or non-woven fabric.

Abstract: A self-supporting cable, more particularly a vertical riser, borehole, dredger and mine shaft cable is disclosed. The self-supporting cable comprises a cable core, a jacket surrounding the cable core and having one or two diametrically opposed sections of increased thickness, and at least one supporting member totally embedded in each jacket section of increased thickness and disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable. The supporting member preferably consists of wire ropes made of plural elementary strands wound around a central strand, each strand comprising plural individual wires twisted together.

Abstract: An electrostatic fluidized bed coating unit is disclosed. The coating unit comprises a plenum chamber with means for ingress of a gas under a greater than atmospheric pressure, a porous plate located on top of the plenum chamber and extending to the limits of the containing walls of the plenum chamber, containing walls for powder immediately above the porous plate and forming essentially a continuation of the plenum chamber walls, a coating chamber secured to such powder containing walls, and an exhaust system for effecting a uniform fluidizing gas removal from an area essentially directly above the porous plate.

Abstract: A continuous powder feed system for maintaining an essentially uniform powder cloud above an electrostatic fluidized bed coating unit is disclosed. The continuous powder feed system comprises a powder container and discharger for continuously feeding essentially non agglomerated powder into the coating bed of the electrostatic fluidized bed coating unit, powder retaining walls for containing the bed of such coating unit during fluidization, at least one powder retaining wall having a height such as to determine the powder level in the coating bed and permit overflow of excess powder from the coating bed, and a powder collection system for retrieving the overflowing powder from the coating bed.

Abstract: There is provided an electrocoating bath composition for depositing a coat of polymer material onto an anode. This bath composition comprises an essentially aqueous solution, emulsion or dispersion of the polymer and 0.01 to 2.0% by weight with reference to the bath composition of a compound of one of the general formulae:X - R - X' or R' - X - R - X'whereinR and R' are each an organic radical,X is one of the following groups --SH, --OH (phenolic or enolic), =NH, --NH.H, andX' is a hydrogen atom or X,the groups X being in such electronic configuration with reference to the organic radical R or the organic radicals R and R' that there is always a presence of labile protons therein under operative conditions of the electrocoating bath, or of a salt of said compound, and the compound or its salt being in an at least partially disassociated state in the electrocoating bath composition and capable of proton association in close vicinity of the anode under conditions of operation.