Patents Assigned to Southwire Company
  • Rotatable Cable Reel
    Publication number: 20170029237
    Abstract: A cable reel of the present disclosure can include two flanges and a central drum being independently rotatable from one another. The drum, which can be configured to receive a cable, can be mounted on an axle. The two flanges can be rotationally mounted on the axle at opposing distal ends of the axle. Bearings in the flanges can allow for a full rotation of the flanges about the axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Juan Alberto Galindo Gonzalez, James Phillip Tuggle, Franklin Clarence Calhoun
  • Conductor Guide System
    Publication number: 20170012415
    Abstract: A conductor guide system for guiding one or more conductors is disclosed. The conductor guide system can include a first base section and a second base section. A joint can be used to assemble the first base section and the second base section in series. The conductor guide system can further include a roller assembly for holding one or more conductors. The roller assembly, when mounted on one of the first base section or the second base section, holds the one or more conductors off of the one of the first base section or the second base section to which the roller assembly is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph R. Gerardo, Andrew M. Gilmore
  • Ultrasonic probes with gas outlets for degassing of molten metals
    Patent number: 9528167
    Abstract: Ultrasonic probes containing a plurality of gas delivery channels are described, as well as ultrasonic probes containing recessed areas near the tip of the probe. These probes can be used in ultrasonic devices, and the ultrasonic devices can be used in molten metal processing operations to reduce the amount of dissolved gasses and impurities in molten metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventor: Victor F. Rundquist
  • Hybrid conductor core
    Patent number: 9490050
    Abstract: An electric conductor may be provided. The electric conductor may comprise a conductor core and a plurality of conductor strands wrapped around the conductor core. The conductor core may comprise a plurality of core strands comprising an overall number of strands. The plurality of core strands may comprise a first portion of core strands and a second portion of core strands. The first portion of core strands may comprise a first number of strands. The first portion of core strands may comprise steel. The second portion of core strands may comprise a second number of strands. The second portion of core strands may comprise a composite material. A ratio of the first number of strands to the overall number of strands and a ratio of the second number of strands to the overall number of strands may be optimized to give the conductor core a predetermined characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventor: Mark A. Lancaster
  • Pulling head assembly workstation
    Patent number: 9484722
    Abstract: A workstation and method for the installation of a pulling head assembly onto one or more conductors of a cabling system are provided. The workstation incorporates one or more of: a conductor clamp that holds the conductors of the cabling system in place during the installation of the pulling head assembly; a cutting guide having indicia marks that indicate the lengths to which to cut the conductors in order to achieve a staggered pattern of pulling eyes attached to the conductors in the pulling head assembly; a stripping tool that is used to remove a portion of the insulation from the terminal end of each conductor so that the end of the conductor may be inserted into the pulling eye; and a crimping tool that is used to crimp the pulling eyes onto the terminal ends of each of the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Juan Galindo, Jeremy Harris, Frank Calhoun
  • Method for producing aluminum rod and aluminum wire
    Patent number: 9440272
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for the production of aluminum rods from aluminum bars, aluminum wires from aluminum rods, and aluminum wires from aluminum bars are disclosed and described. Annealing steps are not needed or required in the disclosed methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Herrin, Thomas Noell Wilson, Clinton E. Watkins, Emory Barber, Tom Stephens
  • Electrical transmission cables with composite cores
    Patent number: 9443635
    Abstract: The present invention discloses electrical cables containing a cable core and a plurality of conductive elements surrounding the cable core. The cable core contains at least one composite core, and each composite core contains a rod which contains a plurality of unidirectionally aligned fiber rovings embedded within a thermoplastic polymer matrix, and surrounded by a capping layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Daniel, Paul Springer, Yuhsin Hawig, Mark Lancaster, David W. Eastep, Sherri M. Nelson, Tim Tibor, Tim Regan, Michael L. Wesley
  • Method of manufacturing electrical cable, and resulting product, with reduced required installation pulling force
    Patent number: 9431152
    Abstract: Disclosed is type THHN cable having a reduced surface coefficient of friction, and the method of manufacture thereof, in which the central conductor core and insulating layer are surrounded by a nylon sheath. A high viscosity, high molecular weight silicone based pulling lubricant for THHN cable, or alternatively, erucamide or stearyl erucamide for small THHN gauge wire, is incorporated, by alternate methods, with the nylon material from which the outer sheath is extruded, and is effective to reduce the required pulling force on the cable during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Philip Sasse, Terry Chambers, Randy D. Kummer, John Armstrong, David Reece, Hai Lam
  • Rotatable cable reel
    Patent number: 9403659
    Abstract: A cable reel of the present disclosure can include two flanges and a central drum being independently rotatable from one another. The drum, which can be configured to receive a cable, can be mounted on an axle. The two flanges can be rotationally mounted on the axle at opposing distal ends of the axle. Bearings in the flanges can allow for a full rotation of the flanges about the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Juan Alberto Galindo Gonzalez, James Phillip Tuggle, Franklin Clarence Calhoun
  • Armored cable with integral support
    Patent number: 9396838
    Abstract: A system for providing cable support may be provided. The system may comprise a conductor core, a filler that may provide integral core support, and armor. The conductor core may comprise at least one conductor. The filler may be applied around at least a portion of the conductor core. The armor may be applied around at least a portion of the filler. The applied armor may be configured to cause the filler to apply a strong enough force on an exterior of the conductor core configured to keep the conductor core from slipping down an interior of the filler due to a gravitational force. In addition, the applied armor may be configured to cause the filler to apply a strong enough force on an interior of the armor configured to keep a combination of the conductor core and the filler from slipping down the interior of the armor due to the gravitational force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Randy D. Kummer, Richard M. Temblador, David Mercier, John Armstrong, Paul H. White
  • Ultrasonic device with integrated gas delivery system
    Patent number: 9382598
    Abstract: Methods for degassing and for removing impurities from molten metals are disclosed. These methods can include operating an ultrasonic device in a molten metal bath, and adding a purging gas into the molten metal bath through the tip of the ultrasonic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Niobium as a protective barrier in molten metals
    Patent number: 9327347
    Abstract: Devices may be in contact with molten metals such as copper, for example. The devices may include, but are not limited to, a die used for producing articles made from the molten metal, a sensor for determining an amount of a dissolved gas in the molten metal, or an ultrasonic device for reducing gas content (e.g., hydrogen) in the molten metal. Niobium may be used as a protective barrier for the devices when they are exposed to the molten metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill
  • Microwave furnace
    Patent number: 9258852
    Abstract: A system for melting a substance may be provided. The system may include a crucible insulated with fused silica, a microwave generator configured to supply microwaves, and at least one burner probe extending into the crucible. The at least one burner probe may include a wave guide. The wave guide may be configured to receive microwaves from the microwave generator and transmit the microwaves. The at least one burner probe may further include an absorber. The absorber may have a geometry configured to cause a minimal amount of microwave energy to be reflected back into the wave guide. In addition, the absorber may include a one piece cast of silicon carbide configured to dissipate heat along an exterior of the absorber. The absorber may be further configured to receive the microwaves from the wave guide and convert energy from the microwaves into the heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, William J. Gregory, Kevin S. Gill
  • Microwave furnace
    Patent number: 9253826
    Abstract: A system for melting a substance may be provided. The system may comprise a microwave generator, at least one wave guide, a melter assembly, and at least one thermal insulator. The at least one wave guide may connect the microwave generator to at least one power transfer element. The at least one wave guide may be configured to transfer microwave energy from the microwave generator to a refractory assembly. The melter assembly may comprise the refractory assembly and the at least one power transfer element connected to the refractory assembly. The refractory assembly may comprise at least one absorption element configured to transfer microwave energy, received from the at least one power transition element, into heat energy. The at least one thermal insulator may be configured to allow the microwaves to penetrate to the at least one absorption element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, William J. Gregory, Kevin S. Gill
  • Wire stripper
    Patent number: D749391
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventor: John Lawrence Payne
  • Coaxial cable preparation tool
    Patent number: D750943
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventor: John Lawrence Payne
  • Scissors
    Patent number: D755599
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventor: John Lawrence Payne
  • Wire cutter and stripper
    Patent number: D759453
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventor: John Lawrence Payne
  • Tone tester
    Patent number: D760099
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventor: John Lawrence Payne
  • Impact punchdown tool
    Patent number: D760567
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventor: John Lawrence Payne