Southwire Company, LLC

Clinton E Watkins

Bobby C Gentry

Jerry M Hesterlee

James H Sullivan

Thomas N Wilson

Jeffrey D Herrin

Steven R Campbell

Tom Stephens

Emory Barber

Hai T Lam

Bobby A Rowland

Donald R Phillips

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.

Method for producing aluminum rod and aluminum wire

A method of and an apparatus for making twisted electrical cable, such as 600 volt secondary distribution (UD) cable, and the twisted cable product are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first plurality of stationary payoff reels each wound with a length of stranded bare wire conductor. The stranded conductors are simultaneously payed off the reels to a pay out accumulator for accumulating a portion of the stranded conductors during replacement of spent pay out reels. An extruder apparatus arranged downstream of the accumulator applies a plastic insulation material to a respective stranded conductor as it passes through the extruder. A cooling trough through which water is flowed cools the plastic insulation. A take-up accumulator arranged downstream of the cooling trough accumulates a portion of each insulated conductor during changeover of the take-up arranged downstream of the take-up accumulator. The take-up is rotated about a first axis to twist each insulated conductor about its longitudinal axis and to simultaneously twist the insulated conductors about one another to form a twisted electrical cable. The take-up is also rotated about a second axis for taking up the twisted electrical cable. The twisted electrical cable product made according to the method of the invention comprises a plurality of insulated conductors each twisted about its longitudinal axis by the apparatus of the invention and twisted about one another.

Method of and apparatus for making twisted cable and the cable produced thereby

A method of and an apparatus for making twisted electrical cable, such as 600 volt secondary distribution cable, and the twisted cable product are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first plurality of stationary payoff reels each wound with a length of bare wire conductor. The conductors are simultaneously payed off the reels to a pay out accumulator for accumulating a portion of the conductors during replacement of spent pay out reels. At least one extrusion process arranged downstream of the accumulator applies a plastic insulation material to a respective conductor as it passes through its respective extrusion process. A cooling and/or curing trough through which water is flowed cools and/or cures the plastic insulation. A take-up accumulator arranged downstream of the cooling and/or curing trough accumulates a portion of each insulated conductor during changeover of the take-up reel arranged downstream of the take-up accumulator. The take-up reel may be rotated about a first axis to twist each insulated conductor about its longitudinal axis, and may additionally simultaneously twist the insulated conductors about one another to form a twisted electrical cable. The take-up reel may also be rotated about a second axis for taking up the twisted electrical cable.

Method of and apparatus for making twisted cable and the cable produced

Apparatus for stress relieving multistranded cable includes a rotatable cradle of a double twist strander which carries a plurality of guide sheaves, a dual wheel capstan, and a take-up reel and a pay-off reel arranged to substantially reduce the length of the path of travel of the advancing cable and to impart stress relieving rotation and tension to the advancing cable. After the cable has been payed off of a stationary pay-off reel, it is advanced to a pair of metering sheaves to fix the starting point of the stress relieving process. From the metering sheaves, the cable advances to the dual wheel capstan mounted for rotation with the take-up reel on the cradle of the strander.

Method of and apparatus for stress relieving multistranded cable

An expert system having a computer which can receive input data and from stored data to produce an optimized die draft schedule for a given wire drawing machine. The system is adaptable to store data for a plurality of die drawing machines, producing an optimized die draft schedule for a range of input and output rod/wire sizes on each drawing machine for which the system has stored operating parameters. Alternatively, operating parameters for additional drawing machines can be entered, enabling generation of optimum die draft schedules for most wire drawing machines. An enhanced mode may be made available to enable comparison of computed values and operator estimated values.

Die draft optimizing system

A method of and an apparatus for applying a moisture block compound to a stranded electrical conductor using a double twist buncher apparatus are disclosed. An oil, such as drawing oil, is applied to the outer layer of wires to prevent 'rolling' of the moisture block compound to the exterior of the stranded conductor. An improved applicator is also disclosed for applying the moisture block compound to the core of the stranded conductor in a coating having a precisely controlled thickness.

Method of and apparatus for producing moisture block stranded conductor

A method and apparatus for the application of moisture blocking compound to the interstitial spaces of a stranded conductor. The application of the compound is accomplished through the use of a cone die which regulates the amount of compound applied to the conductor.

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Villa Rica, GA, United States of America

Clinton E Watkins