Multiplex cable insulation fault locator system with electrical

Abstract

A fault locator system for multiplex cable, which includes a bare wire and three insulated wires stranded together. The system includes the separation of the bare conductor from the insulated conductors on a rewind line and the applying of an electric field (electromagnetic field) or dielectric field around the insulated conductors so that one can, by a signal or a bell, alarm, buzzer or the like, locate the fault and stop the rewind line at the fault location. The apparatus of the system includes a rotating disc structure which contains electrical conducting guides through which each insulated strand of the multiplex cable passes and is tested for insulation holes or faults. A high voltage signal is placed on the electrical conducting guides for the insulated strands by means of a brush electrode, which sets up an electrical field surrounding the portion of the insulated strand in the guide. By means of a spark tester connected to each insulated strand, a fault in the insulation is detected as it passes through the surrounding electromagnetic field. The rotating disc, which is synchronized with the cable pull-out capstan or take-up machine, untwists the cable on the entry side and retwists it on the exit side. The apparatus of the present invention thus separates the insulated, plexed cables, checks continuously for faults as the cable passes through it, and then puts the cable back into its plexed state. In one embodiment (FIGS. 1-3) the rotating wheel or disc is free floating and is driven by the cable as the cable is drawn through it, while in the second embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 5), the disc structure is positively driven by an internal drive mechanism.