Abstract A light-weight electrical conductor comprising a plurality of at least seven longitudinally extending and closely wound strands, some of the wound strands being formed substantially of copper and the remaining strands being formed substantially of an electrically conductive grade of aluminum. Each of the strands in the conductor has an exterior surface coating of an identical electrically conductive material, preferably taken from the group of silver, nickel or tin. The conductor includes a suitable insulating material such as Teflon or the like which forms an outer cover layer for the conductor. Preferably, the conductor includes either seven or nineteen strands, the seven-strand conductor having three strands formed substantially of aluminum and the remaining four strands formed substantially of copper, and the nineteen-strand conductor having seven centrally located strands formed substantially of aluminum and twelve peripherally disposed strands formed substantially of copper.
A light-weight electrical conductor as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said exterior surface coating material for said strands is silver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
A light-weight electrical conductor as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said exterior surface coating for said strands in nickel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A light-weight electrical conductor as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said exterior surface coating for said strands is tin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A light-weight electrical conductor as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that each of said strands formed substantially of said electrically conductive grade of aluminum have an intermediate coating of copper disposed between said aluminum and said exterior surface coating, and in that said exterior surface coating is a metal taken from the group consisting of silver, nickel or tin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A light-weight electrical conductor as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said conDuctor comprises nineteen strands with seven of said strands being arranged centrally of said conductor and being formed substantially of said electrically conductive grade of aluminum, and with the twelve remaining strands being disposed around the periphery of said centrally arranged strands and being formed substantially of copper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A light-weight electrical conductor as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said strands formed substantially of copper are mixed throughout said conductor in arbitrary fashion with said strands formed substantially of aluminum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A light-weight electrical conductor as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said conductor comprises seven strands arranged with one centrally located strand and six strands disposed around the periphery of said centrally located strand, said centrally located strand and two of said peripherally disposed strands being formed substantially of said electrically conductive grade of aluminum, and the remaining four strands being formed substantially of copper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A light-weight electrical conductor as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said exterior surface coating for each of said strands has a minimum thickness of 40 micro inches.