Method of manufacturing electrical cable

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a finished cable by a process directed to reduce the amount of force required to install the cable. The process involves the extrusion of the cable's outer sheath and the incorporation of a pulling lubricant in connection with, and prior to the completion of, the extrusion to reduce the sheath's surface coefficient of friction as well as reduce the required force to pull the cable for installation. The conductor core is coated with an extruded plastic material with which an appropriate (in amount and type) pulling lubricant is initially combined with the plastic material prior to the formation of the sheath and in which the sheathed conductor core is thereafter cooled, the lubricant either migrating to and/or permeating the sheath to be available at the surface of the sheath at the time of the cable's installation. The preselected lubricant is disclosed as either combined with the plastic material during initial pelletization, or mixed with the plastic pellets prior to introduction of the mixture into the extruding head, or introduced into the extruding head at a separate location downstream from where the plastic material is introduced into the extruding head.