The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 2003
Filed:
May. 02, 2002
Bobby C. Gentry, Carrollton, GA (US);
Jerry M. Hesterlee, Carrollton, GA (US);
Clinton E. Watkins, Villa Rica, GA (US);
James H. Sullivan, Carrollton, GA (US);
Southwire Company, Carrollton, GA (US);
Abstract
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.