US3852875A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High speed tandem wire drawing and insulation system
Assignee: Southwire Co LLC
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Filing: 1973-01-05
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1993-01-05
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for producing insulated wire from rod at speeds in excess of 2,500 feet per minute in a continuous in-line tandem system. The rod is drawn down into wire by combined drawing and annealing apparatus, and then conveyed directly to an in-line extruder where it is covered with a plastic coating. The coated wire is cooled in a threestage system including a cooling mist, a cooling spray, and a cooling bath.
Inventors
- 👤 K Mcamis
- 👤 L Brewton
- 👤 B Gentry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:51
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/25; B29C48/88; B29C48/90; B29C48/904; B29C48/03; B29C48/05; B29C48/06; B29C48/15; B29C48/911; B29C48/918; B29C48/9185; B29C48/919; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/4998; Y10T29/49982; Y10T29/49986; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5198; Y10T29/5199; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/532
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for continuous high-speed drawing and insulating of wire from rod comprising a rod supply means, means for drawing the rod into wire including means for substantially reducing the cross-sectional area of the rod, means for annealing the wire, means for continuously extruding an insulating coating onto the wire, means for moving the wire through said extruding means at a speed of at least 2,500 feet per minute, means for cooling the insulated wire including means for initially contacting the insulated wire with an atomized cooling mist to at least partially set the coating with substantially no deformation thereof, and means for taking up the insulated wire.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for continuous high-speed drawing and insulating of wire from rod comprising a rod supply means, means for drawing the rod into wire including means for substantially reducing the cross-sectional area of the rod, means for annealing the wire, means for continuously extruding an insulating coating onto the wire, means for moving the wire through said extruding means at a speed of at least 2,500 feet per minute, means for cooling the insulated wire including means for initially contacting the insulated wire with an atomized cooling mist to at least partially set the coating with substantially no deformation thereof, and means for taking up the insulated wire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for continuous high-speed drawing and insulating of wire from rod comprising a rod supply means, means for drawing the rod into wire including means for substantially reducing the cross-sectional area of the rod, means for annealing the wire, means for continuously extruding an insulating coating onto the wire, means for moving the wire through said extruding means at a speed of at least 2,500 feet per minute, means for cooling the insulated wire including means for initially contacting the insulated wire with an atomized cooling mist to at least partially set the coating with substantially no deformation thereof, and means for taking up the insulated wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for continuous high-speed drawing and insulating of wire from rod comprising a rod supply means, means for drawing the rod into wire including means for substantially reducing the cross-sectional area of the rod, means for annealing the wire, means for continuously extruding an insulating coating onto the wire, means for moving the wire through said extruding means at a speed of at least 2,500 feet per minute, means for cooling the insulated wire including means for initially contacting the insulated wire with an atomized cooling mist to at least partially set the coating with substantially no deformation thereof, and means for taking up the insulated wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cooling means comprises a three-stage cooling system including a cooling mist stage, a cooling spray stage and a cooling bath stage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said cooling mist stage comprises an elongated chamber having a plurality of spray stations spaced along the length thereof, each of said spray stations having nozzle means disposed therein, first conduit means connected to each of said nozzle means for conducting a cooling liquid thereto, second conduit means connected to each of said nozzle means for conducting compressed air thereto, and means associated with each of said nozzle means for mixing the cooling liquid and the compressed air and for emitting an atomized mist thereof into said chamber for cooling insulated wire passing therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said elongated chamber includes top, bottom and side walls, said spray stations being disposed in said side walls and staggered alternately along the length of said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said nozzle means are disposed at an angle of approximately 15* to the direction of movement of the wire passing through said chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for substantially reducing the cross-sectional area of the rod includes means for reducing the cross-sectional area by at least 20 percent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the step of cooling the insulated wire further comprises passing the wire through a liquid coolant spray to further cool and set the plastic coating, and then passing the wire through a liquid coolant bath to cool the coating to its final setting temperature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the coolant mist is of a density sufficient to cool the coated wire from 400* to 200* F. iN less than 0.5 seconds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the temperature of the coated wire is reduced from 200* to 150* F. as it passes through the liquid coolant spray.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as defined in claim 7 including the step of providing a 60* C. U.L. rated PVC base coating compound formulation having -25* C. rated protection, the compound including resins, plasticizers, fillers and lubricant-stabilizers, wherein the plasticizers include a low temperature plasticizer that will not volatilize at 400* F.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |