Abstract: Methods for cleaning in-process wire are developed. In one embodiment a moving string loops around the wire and advances to present a clean surface to remove dirt from the surface of the moving wire.

Abstract: A continuous process for high speed fabrication of wire comprises the steps of directing wire through a first set of drawing dies to reduce the wire diameter to an intermediate diameter, applying a lubricant to the wire during the drawing process, annealing the intermediate diameter wire while it is still coated with some of the lubricant, controlling the tensile forces and elongation of the wire during the anneal, and drawing the annealed intermediate diameter wire to a desired final diameter in a second set of dies. The process is particularly well suited for fabricating fine copper wire having improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: An improved spool for wire having a barrel and frusto-conical end flanges, at least one of which is provided on its inner face with a wire protecting groove extending from the smaller diameter inner peripheral end of the one end flange to wire anchoring means at the larger diameter peripheral portion of the end flange. At the inner peripheral end of the end flange, the groove is substantially tangent with the adjacent end of the barrel and thereafter follows such a curved path to its other end which is substantially the shortest course of travel along the inner face of the end flange.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining the eventual elongation property of a copper wire which has been cold drawn with an intermediate anneal and which is to be subsequently subjected to a predetermined heat treatment by a final in-line continuous anneal. Before a sample length of such wire is elongated to its breaking point in a tensile testing device, a capacitor is discharged through the wire length to produce a heating current flow therethrough of a magnitude and duration that produces a heat treatment of the wire length which approximately simulates that which would be the result of the final in-line continuous anneal. For this purpose, the wire holding devices of the tensile testing device have contact means to establish connection of the wire length in a discharge circuit for the capacitor.

Abstract: A continuous process for high speed fabrication of wire comprises the steps of directing wire through a first set of drawing dies to reduce the wire diameter to an intermediate diameter, applying a lubricant to the wire during the drawing process, annealing the intermediate diameter wire while it is still coated with some of the lubricant, controlling the tensile forces and elongation of the wire during the anneal, and drawing the annealed intermediate diameter wire to a desired final diameter in a second set of dies. The process is partially well suited for fabricating fine copper wire having improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extruding a thin uniform coating of fluent plastic material about a continuously advancing strand wherein the fluent plastic material is directed radially toward the strand through a constricted annular feed passage. The strand with the fluent plastic material adhering thereto is then advanced through a passageway conically converging to an exit end and effective to develop hydrodynamic pressure forces which center the strand within the passageway.

Abstract: A spool for storing and transporting heavy strand material, particularly wire, includes a hollow shell with integral legs and reinforcing means in the interior of the shell. In one embodiment, the reinforcing means is a foam filling, which in a second embodiment, the reinforcing means comprises integral braces in the interior of the shell. A cap on the spool allows two or four spools to be banded together in a package assembly. The cap is also configured to permit stacking of the spools.

Abstract: A wire annealing apparatus of the type in which an annealing current resistively heats the wire to soften it. The annealing current is caused to flow as a result of a potential difference applied to a section of wire through low friction-free running contact pulleys. Each of the contact pulleys is as friction-free as possible because it is rotatably supported by a ball bearing on a shaft which is rotatably driven at or near the rotational speed at which the pulley is rotated by the wire. The annealing current path between the shaft and the contact pulley is completed through a low friction electrical connector assembly. Annealing current is provided from flowing through the supporting ball bearing.

Abstract: A speed control system for use in a continuous strip manufacturing apparatus such as a continuous casting and rolling apparatus having a plurality of work means including roll stands through which metal rod or other elongate material is continuously moved. The control system includes a function generator providing a speed control signal to the speed regulator means of one roll stand which is linearly proportional to the speed of the preceding work means and which is also linearly proportional to the sum of an operator selected arbitrary signal voltage proportional to a desired speed ratio of the one roll stand to the preceding work means and a looper signal voltage proportional to the variation from a preselected position of the position of a loop of elongate material formed between the one roll stand and the preceding work means.

Abstract: A control system and method for controlling the oxygen content in continuously cast metal. The control system includes means for sensing the oxygen content of the molten metal at a first point upstream from the casting mold, either means for measuring the rate molten metal enters the casting mold or means for supplying molten metal to the casting mold at a constant rate, oxygen addition means for adding oxygen to the molten metal before it enters the casting mold, and control means for controlling the oxygen addition means in response to both the rate metal is supplied to the casting mold and the oxygen level of the molten metal at the first point. In the method of the invention, oxygen is added to the molten metal intermediate the first point and the casting mold in response to the oxygen content of molten metal at the first point and the rate molten metal enters the casting mold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for placing magnet wire in the slots respectively defined by spaced, parallel blades of coil transfer apparatus which lie on an imaginary cylinder thereby to form a dynamoelectric machine field winding. The wire is pushed and simultaneously guided with a motion having components in at least two mutually perpendicular directions in a path having sections respectively aligned with at least two of the slots thereby to push the wire into the slots, the path also having sections respectively within and outside of the cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for placing magnet wire in slots respectively defined by the blades of coil insertion apparatus which lie on an imaginary cylinder thereby to form a circular dynamoelectric machine field winding. The wire is pushed and simultaneously guided in a circular path which overlaps the cylindrical array of blades and which is aligned with the open ends of two of the slots whereby the wire is pushed into the two slots.