Abstract: Extrusion apparatus and a method of extruding in which an extrusion screw terminates close to a breaker plate so that an annular passage surrounding the screw extends to the breaker plate. The breaker plate has flow apertures arranged around an edge region of the plate for direct communication with the annular passage. The flow passage arrangement decreases in cross-sectional area in a downstream direction whereby plastics materials do not become static in certain regions. Plastics degradation, particularly for PVC, is therefore avoided.

Abstract: Dual extrusion apparatus with a horizontal extruder and a vertical extruder connected to an extruder head and in which the weight of the vertical extruder is carried by a frame. The vertical material extruder is permitted to expand upwardly under temperature variations so as to minimize stress. Also, the extruder head and the vertical extruder are movable together horizontally to comply with temperature induced expansion and contraction.

Abstract: Jacket extrusion apparatus in which a core tube located within an extruder head is provided with axial projections which are spaced around the tube. The projections break down accumulated drool from the extrudate and cause it to move away as small particles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing binder from around a telecommunications cable core. The apparatus comprises a binder take-up reel, drive for rotating the take-up reel around a passline for cable core, and binder unwinding and guide mechanisms which are freely rotatable about a take-up reel station. The apparatus is economical in construction and requires only one drive motor, for the take-up reel, because rotation of the binder unwinding and guide mechanism is driven by binder tension as binder is unwound from the core. The binder unwinding and guide mechanism provides simple mechanical mechanism to control the speed of rotation of the binder unwinding and guide mechanism and the speed of rotation of the take-up reel relative to the cable core speed along the passline so that the binder is in tension as it is unwound controllably from the core.

Abstract: Method of making insulated conductor wire in which a homogeneous mixture of a dielectric carrier and magnetically permeable particles is sprayed onto the wire to deposit a layer of the mixture on the wire. The layer is then hardened to provide an insulating layer with the particles substantially uniformly dispersed therein.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for twisting conductors into a twisted pair in which the conductos are passed from two axially aligned reels and axially out of a cylinder. The conductors pass through one twist position axially at one end of the cylinder, extend around the cylinder and along the cylinder to the other end to a second twist position. The conductors are drawn along their paths during rotation of a flyer radially outside the cylinder. Speed of rotation of the conductors leaving the reels forces the conductors against the inner surface of the cylinder against which the conductors slide as they move towards the first twist position. The flyer means is provided, preferably, upon the outer surface of the cylinder.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for drying filamentary material, a duct is provided for enclosing a portion of a passline. The duct comprises two parts relatively disposed laterally of the passline. These parts are relatively movable away from one another laterally of the passline to provide a duct open position and towards one another to provide a duct closed postion. First and second guide wheels are provided for guiding the filamentary material along the passline through the duct. The guide wheels are relatively movable along the passline between the duct parts in the duct open position between a first pair of relatively close positions and a second pair of positions at opposite ends of the duct. With the duct in the duct open position and the guide wheels in the first pair of positions, filamentary material is fed over the guide wheels.

Abstract: Apparatus for changing relative positions of conductor pairs in a cable core in which each pair is moved through its individual guide movable around a substantially circular path. The guides lie in series and move independently of one another. An array forming device at the downstream end of the movable guides has a smooth convex surface for engaging the conductors and holds them in an array while enabling the pairs to change their relative positions in the array as dictated by movement of the guides. A closing die for the conductor pairs is located downstream from the array forming device.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming an insulation layer around an electrical conductor and having a die insert or core tube for guiding the conductor through a die orifice. The insert is movable to control its position and its position is controlled by two rotatable mountings. A first of the mountings eccentrically holds and is rotatable around the insert while the second mounting lies radially outside of and eccentrically holds the first mounting. A monitoring means analyzes degree of eccentricity of the conductor and operates a driving means for the mountings to move the insert in the appropriate direction for concentricity.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for coloring polymer-insulated wire, the wire is guided through a solvent reservoir to dissolve surface contaminants and etch the surface of the insulation, and passed between opposed wiping surfaces to wipe surface contaminants from the wire. The wire is then passed through a hot air duct to evaporate solvent remaining on its surface. The dried wire is guided through a solvent-based colorant reservoir to coat it with colorant and passed against a wiping surface to wipe excess colorant from its surface. The coated wire is passed through a hot air duct to evaporate some of the solvent in the colorant, and through a cold air duct to harden an outer surface of the colorant before it passes over a guide wheel. The hardened surface prevents adherence of the colorant to the guide wheel. The coated wire is passed by a spraying device which intermittently sprays solvent-based colorant on the wire to band encode it.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming an insulation layer around an electrical conductor comprising an extruder head and a die insert within the head, the insert having a feedpath for the conductor towards the die orifice. An insert holder is provided and the insert is pivotally movable within the insert by the use of a flexible mounting means which allows for movement of the insert about any plane. The mounting means may be a flange with an annular weakened section to provide the flexibility. Alternatively, the mounting means comprises spring steel annular tubes disposed between the insert and holder.

Abstract: A tube for use in apparatus for twisting wires together such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,520. The tube has an outer layer of one material and a thinner inner layer of another material which is bonded to the outer layer. There are at least two feedpaths for the wires and the inner layer surrounds each of two passages defining these feedpaths. The inner layer is abrasion resistant and is less deformable and more rigid than the outer layer while the flexibility of the tube enables it to be rotationally flexed about a longitudinal axis to torsionally twist it alternately in opposite directions.

Abstract: Changing relative positions of conductor pairs along a telecommunications cable core by passing the unstranded pairs, as they approach the core unit forming means, through individual guides which are reciprocally moved across a feedpath for the pairs, the guides being disposed in series along the feedpath with each guide aligned for unobstructed passage of its conductor unit along the feedpath. In this construction, means to reciprocate each guide overlaps those of other guides, thereby reducing the total height of the apparatus.

Abstract: Forming a core unit from telecommunications conductor units of twisted together conductors in which the units are first changed in relative positions laterally of their passline and then are passed between two rollers to form them into a curved array. The positions of the units in the array influence their final positions in the core unit as they move towards a core unit closure device. Hence as the positions in the array change because of the positional change in relative positions of the units upstream from the array, then the units change in relative positions in the core unit by extending backwards and forwards around the core unit axis.

Abstract: Forming a telecommunications cable core unit in which conductor pairs change their relative positions along the core unit. The conductor pairs, as they are fed towards a core-unit forming device, are passed through individual guides which are movable independently of each other laterally of the feedpath of the conductor pairs and within certain confines. A fluid force is used to cause this guide movement. The fluid force may be the force created by an air flow, in which case the guides are buoyant.

Abstract: Changing relative positions of conductor pairs along a telecommunications cable core by passing the pairs as they approach a core unit forming means, in an array through a flow of air which causes relative sideways movement of the pairs and continual change in their positions. The array may be arcuate, conveniently circular, and the airflow moves outwardly from within the array. Alternatively, the array is primarily planar with the airflow moving from one side of the array.

Abstract: Changing relative positions of conductor pairs along a telecommunications cable core by passing the pairs, as they approach a core unit forming means, through guides which are held in relative positions in a guide channel. The channel extends in a plurality of directions and has inner and outer channel portions which are preferably arcuate and lie upon arcs of circles. The guides are moved along the channel and from channel portion to channel portion, movement being alternately in each direction. This movement changes the positional relationship of guides in one channel portion to those in the other.

Abstract: Method of monitoring net magnetic bipolar orientation of magnetically permeable particles in a dry dielectric carrier layer around an electrical conductor by passing the layer covered conductor through a magnetic field to cause particle orientation to affect the magnetic flux strength in the field. Electromotive force or current induced in a sensing conductor placed in the field is affected by the flux strength of the field. Sensing any change in this induced property indicates a change in the net magnetic bipolar orientation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for filling a cable core unit with powder in a fluidized bed in which the unit is vibrated laterally by introducing energy pulsations into the bed, the pulses being transmitted as successive waves through the powder particles to transfer the energy to the unit and set up the vibration. In preferred constructions, the pulsations are set up by a reciprocating piston means disposed beneath the upper surface of the powder. There may be two or more piston means spaced in the feed path direction for the unit or a single piston extending.

Abstract: Cable core unit forming apparatus having a plurality of wire guide means, each for stranding wires together. The guide means are laterally spaced and each extends along a longitudinal axis to be non-rotatable about the axis at its upstream end. It is rotationally flexible to be torsionally twisted by rotatable twisting means at its downstream end. Each guide means are disposed at one of two or more twisting stations. Feedpaths for wires from other twisting stations converge to a stranding station for the core unit. Wire separation tubes prevent the wires from stranding into pairs until immediately before the stranding station. Each separation tube is rotated about its axis which is maintained curved to follow one of the converging paths and the tube is flexible to enable its curved axis position to be maintained during rotation.