US3801359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Impregnation of communication cables with solid filling compound
Assignee: General Cable Corp
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Filing: 1971-12-22
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Granted: 1974-04-02
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Expires: 1991-12-22
Abstract
Abstract This invention fills communication cables with a filling compound of petrolatum mixed with some polyethylene to prevent dripping at temperatures of 80*C and below. A rapid cooling of certain compounds from above the melting point changes the characteristics of the compound so as to bring the drip temperature to this value. An impregnator apparatus is supplied with metered quantities of the compound at a rate coordinated with the speed of travel of a cable through the impregnator apparatus; and the cable is impregnated with the water repellent compound in a solid though soft condition (as opposed to liquid), and with uniform results lengthwise of the cable. The cable itself acts as the impeller for the compound in the impregnator; and the impregnator is kept full under pressure by a pump with a by-pass.
Inventors
- 👤 E Swiatovy
- 👤 F Polizzano
- 👤 S Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B13/00; H01B13/32; H01B13/322; H01B13/323; H01B13/326
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
The method described in claim 1 characterized by pumping the viscous compound toward the chamber in an amount sufficient to maintain the chamber full and to fill the cable at a predetermined speed of travel of the cable, and automatically by-passing excess compound back to the inlet side of the pumping cycle whenever the cable is travelling at a speed that does not require the full output of the pumping and the compound pumped toward the chamber rises in pressure above a predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method described in claim 1 characterized by pumping viscous compound toward the chamber and into the chamber at a predetermined pressure, advancing the cable through the chamber at a predetermined speed automatically controling the pressure of supply of the viscous compound to the chamber in accordance with changes in the speed of travel of the cable through the chamber, and withdrawing the cable from the chamber without cooling the filling compound below its temperature within the chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method described in claim 1 characterized by passing the cable through an impregnating chamber that is of substantially larger cross section than the cable with clearance on all sides of the cable, closing the ends of the chamber except for openings for entrance to and exit from the chamber for said cable, confining the clearance to prevent escape of the compound through the said clearances at the pressure and flow characteristics of the compound in the chamber, and using the cable as an impeller to move the viscous compound out of the chamber as the compound fills the cable.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
231 words
The method of filling a multi-conductor cable with water repellent compound including passing the cable in unfilled condition into a chamber, supplying to the chamber a filling compound in a viscous and flowable condition, surrounding the cable in the chamber with the filling compound in said viscous and flowable condition, maintaining the compound under an impregnating pressure sufficient to force the viscous compound into the spaces of the cable that are to be impregnated, passing the filled cable out of the chamber at an end of the chamber downstream from that at which the cable passed into the chamber, obstructing the ends of the chamber around the cable against flow of compound from the chamber when the cable is not in motion, removing compound on the cable from the chamber as the compound fills the cable, and automatically maintaining the supply of compound in the chamber under full impregnating pressure as compound is carried out of the chamber by the cable, characterized by treating the filling compound to raise the drip point temperature of the compound prior to supplying the compound to the chamber said treating including heating the compound above its melting point and then cooling the compound from a liquid condition through its solidification range with a rate of at least 1* F per minute with constant mixing during solidification and then supplyinG the viscous compound to the chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method described in claim 5 characterized by using as the filling compound a mixture of petroleum jelly and polyethylene, and then cooling the compound through its solidification range at a rate of cooling of not less than about 1* F. per minute with constant mixing during solidification.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method described in claim 6 characterized by the amount of polyethylene in the compound being about 15 percent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |