Patents Assigned to Encore Wire Corporation
  • Patent number: 10666026
    Abstract: An apparatus for the movement of a barrel pack containing spooled wire or cable. The apparatus comprising a frame, a handle attached to the frame, a plurality of wheels rotatably attached to the frame, securing structures attached to the frame, the securing structures securing the barrel pack to the frame and a footage counting assembly attached to the handle. The footage counting assembly counts the amount of footage of wire or cable passing through the footage counting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Justin Abraham Hrbacek, John Lamar Rhoads, David Wayne Maxey
  • Patent number: 10654607
    Abstract: A system for applying labels to cable or conduit including at least one label and a label applicator. The label applicator including at least one guide roller, at least one tamping device comprising at least one tamping pad for applying at least one label onto the moving cable or conduit, and a guide shoe assembly. The guide shoe assembly comprises a guide shoe, the guide shoe comprises a rounding member, a plurality of springs for providing flexibility to the rounding member when the moving cable or conduit passes the at least one guide shoe, a support mount for supporting the at least one guide shoe, a plurality of pivots disposed between the rounding member and the rounding member support for adjusting the set of springs, and a fitted member for providing an anchor for the at least one guide shoe to connect with the support mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Bennett, William T. Bigbee, Jr., Stephen S. Griffin
  • Patent number: 10625974
    Abstract: An apparatus for the transportation and payoff of coiled wire and cable, the apparatus comprising a clamshell package, an inner void formed by the clamshell package, the inner void comprising a compartment within for containing coiled wire and cable during transportation and payoff of the wire and cable, a payoff port is coupled to the clamshell package, wherein the coiled wire and cable is extracted from the clamshell package through the payoff port on an axis substantially similar to the axis of the extracted wire and cable, and wherein the payoff port extends from the clamshell package through the coiled wire and cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: John L. Rhoads, William T. Bigbee, Jr., Troy D. Skidmore, Karolina Zuraw
  • Patent number: 10625975
    Abstract: A reel apparatus and method comprising an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and a bearing assembly coupled to the inner flange assemblies. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly. In another embodiment, wire is spooled from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., John L. Rhoads
  • Patent number: 10618768
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing wire or cable from a reel assembly. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly for dispensing wire from any surface. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and an external bay. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly and the external bay. The external bay is capable of freely rotation relative to the outer flange assembly and the inner flange assembly. In another embodiment, wire is dispensed from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly. In yet another embodiment, wire is dispensed from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and an external bay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., John L. Rhoads
  • Patent number: 10618211
    Abstract: An apparatus for extruding a jacket and/or insulative material onto an extruded product with one or more longitudinal stripes incorporated onto the surface of said extruded product comprising a body, a primary feed conduit for conveying a primary extrusion material, a striping die, a secondary feed conduit for conveying a secondary extrusion material, a striping die adapter, a striping feed conduit extending through the striping die adapter for conveying striping extrusion material. The striping die adapter may also include a thermocouple for maintaining the viscosity of the striping extrusion material and a thermocouple for monitoring the temperature of said striping die adapter. The striping die includes one or more striping extrusion outlets for conveying striping extrusion material onto the extruded product. The striping die may also include a wishbone-shaped trough for delivering equal amounts of striping extrusion material to said extrusion outlets for extrusion onto the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Mark D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 10607752
    Abstract: An electrical cable assembly, comprising a first electrical circuit further comprising a first plurality of insulated conductors longitudinally disposed to one another, wherein the first plurality of insulated conductors are cabled together in a bundle. The electrical cable assembly further comprises a second electrical circuit longitudinally disposed to the first electrical circuit, the second electrical circuit comprising a second plurality of insulated conductors longitudinally disposed to one another and cabled together in a bundle and a nonmetallic jacket surrounding the second plurality of insulated conductors and wherein the nonmetallic jacket isolating the first electrical circuit from the second electrical circuit. The electrical cable assembly further comprises a flexible interlocking metallic armor encasing the first and second electrical circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Troy D. Skidmore, Paul Abernathy, David W. Maxey, William T. Bigbee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10597251
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing wire or cable, the apparatus including an enclosure with a top and a bottom portion and at least three side portions of a first height, a plurality of holes located in both the top and bottom portions of the enclosure, and a core of a second height located within the enclosure, wherein the core forms an area, wherein at least one of the plurality of holes has a first hole diameter and is located in the top and bottom of the enclosure and is located within the area formed by the core, and wherein the wire or cable is placed around the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin L. Weatherford, William T. Bigbee, Jr., Clifton S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10597252
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing wire or cable, the apparatus including an enclosure with a top and a bottom portion and at least three side portions of a first height, a plurality of holes located in both the top and bottom portions of the enclosure, and a core of a second height located within the enclosure, wherein the core forms an area, wherein at least one of the plurality of holes has a first hole diameter and is located in the top and bottom of the enclosure and is located within the area formed by the core, and wherein the wire or cable is placed around the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin L. Weatherford, William T. Bigbee, Jr., Clifton S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10580551
    Abstract: A composition and method for reducing the coefficient of friction and required pulling force of a wire or cable are provided. A composition of aqueous emulsion is provided that is environmentally friendly, halogen free and solvent free. The composition is compatible with various types of insulating materials and may be applied after the wire or cable is cooled and also by spraying or submerging the wire or cable in a bath. The composition contains lubricating agents that provide lower coefficient of friction for wire or cable installation and continuous wire or cable surface lubrication thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Sheri H. Dahlke, Ronald A. Raedeke, Jason Drew Gillen, Melvin Glenn Debord
  • Patent number: 10549945
    Abstract: An apparatus for the accumulation of wire or cable, the apparatus including a collapsible reel assembly, the collapsible reel assembly including a central hollow arbor, a fixed inner support structure axially centered on and rigidly attached to the central hollow arbor, wherein the fixed inner support has a first end and a second end, a fixed flange, axially centered on and attached to the first end of the fixed inner support structure, a removable flange, axially centered on and removably attached to the second end of the fixed inner support structure opposite the fixed flange and an inner drum assembly. The inner drum assembly including a plurality of moving inner support structures movably attached to the fixed inner support structure and a plurality of inwardly-collapsible drum segments. Wherein the inwardly-collapsible drum segments collapse inward after the removable flange is removed from the collapsible reel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., John L. Rhoads, Andrew P. Hull, Benjamin L. Weatherford
  • Patent number: 10494130
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a label to a spool or reel containing wire and a wire tail extending from the spool or reel, the apparatus including a gripping mechanism, wherein the gripping mechanism engages and rotates the spool or reel, a wire tail sensor coupled to the gripping mechanism, wherein the wire tail sensor identifies the location of the wire tail protruding from the spool or reel, and a label application mechanism, wherein the labeling mechanism applies a label to the spool or reel and wherein the label does not contact the wire tail protruding from the spool or reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Clifton S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10479120
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a print head implemented on a wire and cable manufacturing line, the apparatus comprising a sleeve, wherein the sleeve has an internal portion and an external portion and wherein the sleeve forms an internal void marginally larger than the size of the print head and wherein the sleeve further comprises an elongated surface; a front surface connected to the elongated surface, wherein the front surface comprises an ink outlet opening; a rear surface connected to the elongated surface, wherein the rear surface comprises a cable opening; a channel connected to the internal portion of the sleeve, wherein the channel comprises an open side facing the internal void and wherein the channel on the internal portion of the sleeve extends from the rear to the front of the sleeve; an air inlet compartment in communication with the channel and enclosed by the rear surface; an air inlet in communication with the air inlet compartment; and an exhaust channel connected to the sleeve and extending from
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew P. Hull, Jeffrey T. Mileger
  • Patent number: 10421636
    Abstract: A reel apparatus and method comprising an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and a bearing assembly coupled to the inner flange assemblies. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly. In another embodiment, wire is spooled from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: ENCORE WIRE CORPORATION
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., John L. Rhoads
  • Patent number: 10418156
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing finished wire and cable having reduced coefficient of friction and pulling force during installation, includes providing a payoff reel containing at least one internal conductor wire; supplying the at least one internal conductor wire from the reel to at least one extruder; providing the least one extruder, wherein the at least one extruder applies an insulating material and a polymerized jacket composition over the at least one internal conductor wire, wherein the polymerized jacket composition comprises a predetermined amount by weight of nylon; and at least 3% by weight of a silica providing a cooling device for lowering the temperature of the extruded insulating material and the polymerized jacket composition and cooling the insulating material and the polymerized jacket composition in the cooling device; and, reeling onto a storage reel the finished, cooled, wire and cable for storage and distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: ENCORE WIRE CORPORATION
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Stephen S. Griffin
  • Patent number: 10374402
    Abstract: An enhanced apparatus and method for securing a wire to a pulling cable for pulling wire. Specifically, the pulling cable and wire are attached via a pulling head body. The wire is inserted into an end of the pulling head body and secured by crimping the pulling head body against the wire. Further, crimp zone indicators positioned on the outer surface of the pulling head body indicate the optimal zone of crimping to achieve substantial contact between the pulling head body and the wire. A pulling cable is secured to the pulling head body via a ball swage that comprises a tapped surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Bennett, William T. Bigbee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10361015
    Abstract: An electrical cable assembly, comprising a first electrical circuit further comprising a first plurality of insulated conductors longitudinally disposed to one another, wherein the first plurality of insulated conductors are cabled together in a bundle. The electrical cable assembly further comprises a second electrical circuit longitudinally disposed to the first electrical circuit, the second electrical circuit comprising a second plurality of insulated conductors longitudinally disposed to one another and cabled together in a bundle and a nonmetallic jacket surrounding the second plurality of insulated conductors and wherein the nonmetallic jacket isolating the first electrical circuit from the second electrical circuit. The electrical cable assembly further comprises a flexible interlocking metallic armor encasing the first and second electrical circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Troy D. Skidmore, Paul Abernathy, David W. Maxey, William T. Bigbee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10297988
    Abstract: An apparatus for the movement of a barrel pack containing spooled wire or cable. The apparatus comprising a frame, a handle attached to the frame, a plurality of wheels rotatably attached to the frame, securing structures attached to the frame, the securing structures securing the barrel pack to the frame and a footage counting assembly attached to the handle. The footage counting assembly counts the amount of footage of wire or cable passing through the footage counting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Justin Abraham Hrbacek, John Lamar Rhoads, David Wayne Maxey
  • Patent number: 10294066
    Abstract: An apparatus for the accumulation of wire or cable, the apparatus including a collapsible reel assembly, the collapsible reel assembly including a central hollow arbor, a fixed inner support structure axially centered on and rigidly attached to the central hollow arbor, wherein the fixed inner support has a first end and a second end, a fixed flange, axially centered on and attached to the first end of the fixed inner support structure, a removable flange, axially centered on and removably attached to the second end of the fixed inner support structure opposite the fixed flange and an inner drum assembly. The inner drum assembly including a plurality of moving inner support structures movably attached to the fixed inner support structure and a plurality of inwardly-collapsible drum segments. Wherein the inwardly-collapsible drum segments collapse inward after the removable flange is removed from the collapsible reel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., John L. Rhoads, Andrew P. Hull, Benjamin L. Weatherford
  • Patent number: 10296818
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the printing on wire or cable. The apparatus including a processor, a bus connected to the processor, a user input connected to the bus, a display screen connected to the user input and the bus, a first storage system connected to the bus, data stored in the first storage system and displayable on the display screen, wherein the data includes manufacturing and print information, a printer connected to the bus, wherein the printer prints the data on the wire or cable, a communication device connected to the bus, and an identification device connected to the bus, wherein identification device receives information from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., Clifton S. Thompson, Ferrin E. Gomez, Tony Ornelas, III