Abstract: A low attenuation coaxial cable for carrying microwave energy at GigaHertz frequencies includes a center conductor, dielectric surrounding the center conductor and an outer conductor encircling the dielectric. This outer conductor is formed by a plurality of longitudinally extending conductive wire strands positioned adjacent one to another with a slight helical lay along the cable. Internal ruggedization includes a bedding layer of indentable dielectric material encircling the outer conductor with a single-layer ruggedizing winding of strong wire sufficiently tightly wound around the bedding layer for partially indenting this strong wire into the bedding layer. A protective outer jacket of tough plastic material surrounds the ruggedization layer. The helical lay of strong wire in the ruggedization layer is opposite to the slight helical lay of wire strands of the outer conductor.

Abstract: Fast-moving eyelet guide for use on a braiding machine, such as a Wardwell braiding machine having a lower carrier mounting track with a plurality of carriers movable along the track. Each carrier holds a spool of strands with a guide clamped onto the carrier. The guide includes a pair of spaced parallel guide rods with a very lightweight spool-shaped eyelet mounted for free movement up and down while remaining captured between these parallel rods. The strands are threaded through and carried by the eyelet, and thus the strands are controlled by the eyelet and are kept closely together as a controlled group during their up and down movement along the parallel guide rods which avoids separation of the strands, thereby dramatically limiting the incidence of breakage of the strands.

Abstract: An extremely low-attenuation, and extremely low radiation loss, flexible coaxial cable for microwave energy in the high gigaHertz (GHz) frequency range includes a solid single-strand, smooth, silver-plated center conductor surrounded by a flexible dielectric medium with a plurality of longitudinal, parallel, contiguous conductive strands adjacent to the low-loss dielectric medium for defining the inner surface of the outer conductor concentric about the center conductor. Each of these strands is smooth silver plated. All of these strands run parallel one to another extending longitudinally of the cable, and they are sufficiently numerous for forming at least two full layers of these strands surrounding the dielectric medium. The inner layer of strands is contiguous to the dielectric medium, and the next layer comprises strands nesting in the valleys defined by the respective neighboring strands of the inner layer.