Composite extrusion apparatus and method

Abstract

Abstract AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING NOVEL COMPOSITE EXTRUSIONS ARE PROVIDED AS ARE THE EXTRUSIONS PRODUCED THEREBY. THE APPARATUS INCLUDES MEANS FOR FEEDING AN ELONGATED MEMBER SUCH AS A METAL WIRE, WIRE ROPE, ELECTRICAL CABLE OR OTHER DEVICE THROUGH THE THROAT OF AN EXTRUSION DIE AND EXTRUDING IN SITU THEREON AN EXTRUSION MATERIAL SUCH AS A RIGID OR FLEXIBLE POLYMER. MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR VARIABLY OPERATING ONE OR MORE TOOLS TO VARY THE OPENING IN THE EXTRUSION DIE SO AS TO VARY THE CROSS SECTION OF EXTRUSION MATERIAL FORMED IN SITU ON THE ELONGATED MEMBER FED THROUGH THE DIE. IN ONE FORM, ELECTRICALLY INSULATING MATERIAL IS EXTRUDED IN SITU ON AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR SUCH AS A WIRE, STRIP OF METAL OR SERIES OF THESE ELEMENTS TO FORM A PROTECTIVE INSULATING SHEATHING THEREIN AND TOOLING IS PROVIDED TO VARY THE THICKNESS OF THE EXTRUSION MATERIAL ALONG PREDETERMINED PORTIONS OF THE LENGTH OF THE COMPOSITE ARTICLE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TOOLING MAY BE OPERATIVE TO EITHER COMPLETELY STOP THE FLOW OF INSULATING MATERIAL OR SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE SAME ALONG PREDETERMINED PORTIONS OF THE LENGTH OF THE ELONGATED MEMBER TO EITHER BARE SAID SECTIONS OF INSULATING MATERIAL OR PROVE SUCH LITTLE INSULATING MATERIAL THEREON THAT THE POST-OPERATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR STRIPPING INSULATING MATERIAL IN ORDER TO CONNECT THE ENDS OF THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR TO TERMINALS OR FURTHER CONDUCTING ELEMENTS, WILL BE ELIMINATED, IF NOT GREATLY SIMPLIFIED. A FURTHER ADVANTAGE TO BE DERIVED IS THAT THE USUAL WASTE ENCOUNTERED IN STRIPPING OR BARING THE ENDS OF WIRES AND CABLES WILL BE ELIMINATED, IF NOT SUBSTANTIALLY ELIMINATED. IN ANOTHER FORM OF THE INVENTION, AN ELONGATED MEMBER SUCH AS A FINITE SECTION OF WIRE, ROD OR TUBE IS PASSED THROUGH AN EXTRUSION DIE AND PREDETERMINATELY COATED ON ITS OUTSIDE SURFACE WITH EXTRUSION MATERIAL BY AUTOMATERIALLY CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF SAID EXTRUSION MATERIAL TO OCCUR ONLY WHEN THE ELONGATED MEMBER IS PASSING THROUGH THE DIE AND TO BE IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED UPON REMOVING THE ELONGATED MEMBER FROM THE DIE.

Inventors

• 👤 Jerome H Lemelson

Bibliographic Details