Abstract: Aerial lifting equipment having a platform, a support structure and means rotatably mounting the support structure upon the platform for rotation about a substantially vertical axis. A boom structure is mounted on the support structure for movement about a substantially horizontal axis and drive means is mounted upon the platform and the support structure for causing rotation of the support structure about the vertical axis. The drive means includes a track structure mounted in a fixed position on the platform. The drive structure has a circular track surface and at least three spaced friction members adapted to engage the drive surface. Motive means is provided for driving at least one of the friction members. The motive drive means includes planetary gearing within one of the friction members. Preloading means is provided for applying preloading forces to the one friction drive member to yieldably urge it into engagement with the circular drive surface.

Abstract: Lifting equipment having a support structure and a boom structure mounted on the support structure with a workman's platform carried by the boom structure. The boom structure includes means for electrically insulating the workman's platform from the support structure. A source of light is carried by the boom structure. A control mechanism is provided which is accessible from the workmans's platform. The control mechanism has means for receiving light from the light source. At least one light guide means is carried by the boom structure and is coupled to the control mechanism whereby upon operation of the control mechanism a light from said source can be selected and introduced into the one light guide means. Photosensitive means is provided for sensing when light is introduced into the light guide means.

Abstract: Electrical cables that carry higher voltage require insulation of greater thickness. This invention extrudes the insulation over a cable core and extrudes it in superimposed layers which fuse to one another to prevent formation of voids within the insulation. The insulation applied in each superimposed layer increases the impulse breakdown stress in volts per mil of insulation thickness. A high voltage cable for any given voltage can, therefore, have a thinner insulation if the insulation is applied in layers according to this invention instead of being applied in a single layer in accordance with the practice of the prior art.

Abstract: This invention is a cable core made of two layers of helically wound strips of metal with one layer having a right hand lay and the other layer having a left hand lay. The angle of lay is such that the diameter of the core changes at a faster rate than the length of the strips change with differences in temperature. This increase in the change of the core diameter makes the change correspond more closely to that of a plastic jacket or insulation that surround the core and thus avoids excessive stresses in the insulation as it cools and resulting cracking of the insulation in the case of substantial changes in temperature. The angle of lay of one layer is different from that of the other layer so as to set up restraint conditions that provide stability for the composite construction.

Abstract: This invention conveys full and empty bobbins between different locations in a manufacturing facility for making communication cables. Most of the manual handling of the bobbins is eliminated by having a closed loop conveyor on to which bobbins are loaded and from which bobbins are ejected at selected locations; and the invention provides lift members for automatically spacing the bobbins on the conveyor at a location between a loading station and the next ejector. The spacing is accomplished while the conveyor is in continuous motion.

Abstract: This rotational tape accumulator wraps slack tape in spirals during times that the tape is being fed to a machine for making cable or other continuous product. When the trailing end of a tape must be stopped to splice on a new length, the accumulated tape is unwound from the accumulator to maintain a continuous supply. This invention forms two reels of tape spirally wound from the same length of tape with each additional layer supplied to the inside of the reel during accumulation. This arrangement stores long lengths of tape with equipment that is more compact than other forms of tape accumulators.

Abstract: A terminal housing has top and bottom walls shaped as inverted pans, which support between them a forwardly-arched arrangement of terminal block panels providing a rear cable-connection space and a front service-connection face. A peripherally-continuous side-wall enclosure includes two doors which are hinged adjacent the rear of the panel arch and extend forward and across into overlapping relation at the front. A cap or cover having a depending peripheral flange is supported above the top wall by springs in a normally raised position in which it clears the doors and allows them to swing open. A manual actuating lever swings forward below the bottom wall and actuates linkage to move the cap downward to a closed position in which its peripheral flange overlaps the top edges of the doors to secure them closed. A latch finger on the actuating lever engages the edges of the doors to secure them closed at the bottom. The lever is padlocked in closed position.

Abstract: Power-operated tools require an adaptor for holding in place a clip while the tool projects a fastener through the clip to fasten it to a ceiling or other structure. This improved adaptor is held on the barrel of the tool by a connection that permits the clip or the tool to be rotated into the most advantageous position, and the adaptor has a simple and easily manipulated retainer for holding the clip.

Abstract: This invention is a coaxial cable with watertight compartments between the discs that hold a center conductor coaxial with a tubular outer conductor. The object of the invention is to obtain greater mechanical strength for the cable without undue increase in attenuation. Discs are connected with the center conductor by a chromate conversion coating on the copper of the center conductor; by a polyethylene tube hugging the center conductor; and by necked down regions of the center conductor. This latter construction makes the cable suitable for microwave transmission as well as TV signals. Disc bonding to the outer conductor utilizes coatings on the inside surface of the outer conductor.

Abstract: The telephone communication cable of this specification has a metal shield formed by bending a sheet of metal at one or both edges so that the portions of the sheet that are folded over one another form a shield of double thickness and the shield has one or both of its edges formed by a continuous extent of folded metal instead of a square edge or fluted edge with a burr along the side of the edge toward which the slitting instrument advanced to make the cut. Air spaces are prevented by filling any clearance between the folded areas of the shield with adhesive. The shield is applied as a D-Screen with the edges off the original strip on the curved part of the D-Screen and away from the group of pairs that are shielded by the D-Screen.

Abstract: This method of copper plating aluminum and aluminum alloy wire or strip applies an adherent and ductile plating while the wire is moving rapidly and continuously through the plating apparatus. An improved chemical zincating step followed by a copper pyrophosphate strike plating, within critical thickness limits, reduces the plating time and makes practical plating of the wire while moving at speeds of about 100 feet per minute or more in relation to the processing solution.

Abstract: This flyer bow is for a machine used for twisting together communication cable wires to make conductor pairs, or twisting together large numbers of wires. The bow has a recess into which the twisted wires can nest and be held by centrifugal force in a position away from the windage caused by the rapid rotation of the bow in an orbital path. This prevents a loop from forming in the twisted wires as sometimes occurs in machines where windage overcomes the centrifugal force and wire tension. This invention permits operation of twisting machines with lower wire tension.

Abstract: Extruded dielectric power cables installed underground have their life shortened by the formation of electrochemical trees in the insulation. Tree formation can be prevented if the insulation is initially dry and the cable construction is such that moisture cannot gain access to the insulation under operating conditions encountered during installation and underground use. This invention eliminates initial moisture and has a construction that greatly retards ingress of moisture to the insulation during installation when the cable is in service and prevents longitudinal movement of water along the cable due to accidental damage to the cable or electrical failure.

Abstract: This invention carries a power cable from a floating power plant to a fixed connection from which the power cable can transmit to a distributing system on shore. The cable support distributes the bending of the cable over a length of cable so that no deterioration of the cable occurs as the result of successive bending and unbending with the tidal motion of the floating power plant. A jointed cover protects the cable support from exposure to the weather and from icing.