US3879659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cable testing apparatus with conical reel
Assignee: HAMPTON TEDDER ELECTRIC Co Inc A CA CORP
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Filing: 1974-01-02
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1994-01-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for inspecting, and locating faults in, electrical cable, prior to reconditioning. In reconditioning a heavy power cable of the type used to feed power to an electric pump at the bottom of an oil well, for example, internal shorts or grounds are located by passing substantial electrical power through the short or ground, and marking the hot spot. When the cable is wound on a conventional drum-type reel, the hot spot may occur on an inside layer, so that it is difficult to locate. Alternatively, the cable may be laid out on a floor, but this prior method is undesirable with long heavy cables. The invention provides a large conical reel, on which a cable, e.g., a mile long, is wound in a single layer. Its entire length is exposed for inspection. Hot spots may be located unambiguously by observing the smoke, or by means of a radiation thermometer. Additionally, two or more drum-type reels may be provided on swivelling cradles adjacent the conical reel. These in combination with the novel conical reel may be used to permit cutting out an incorrect type of splice and resplicing to the opposite end of the remaining portion of the cable.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr William H Lawson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:35
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H75/00; B65H75/02; B65H75/04; G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/50; G01R31/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
Apparatus for inspecting and testing electrical cable, comprising: a conical reel of generally frusto-conical shape having a half-angle greater than about 45 degrees and having its axis substantially vertical with its apex portion upward; means supporting said reel for rotation about its axis; motor means to rotate said reel, and auxiliary reel means for said cable, said cable being windable between said auxiliary reel means and said conical reel, the entire length of said cable being substantially exposed for inspection when wound on said conical reel, and means to test said cable electrically.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus for inspecting and testing electrical cable, comprising: a conical reel of generally frusto-conical shape having a half-angle greater than about 45 degrees and having its axis substantially vertical with its apex portion upward; means supporting said reel for rotation about its axis; motor means to rotate said reel, and auxiliary reel means for said cable, said cable being windable between said auxiliary reel means and said conical reel, the entire length of said cable being substantially exposed for inspection when wound on said conical reel, and means to test said cable electrically.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus for inspecting and testing electrical cable, comprising: a conical reel of generally frusto-conical shape having a halfangle greater than about 45 degrees and having its axis substantially vertical with its apex portion upward; means supporting said reel for rotation about its axis; motor means to rotate said reel, and auxiliary reel means for said cable, said cable being windable between said auxiliary reel means and said conical reel, the entire length of said cable being substantially exposed for inspection when wound on said conical reel, and means to test said cable electrically.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus for inspecting and testing electrical cable, comprising: a conical reel of generally frusto-conical shape having a halfangle greater than about 45 degrees and having its axis substantially vertical with its apex portion upward; means supporting said reel for rotation about its axis; motor means to rotate said reel, and auxiliary reel means for said cable, said cable being windable between said auxiliary reel means and said conical reel, the entire length of said cable being substantially exposed for inspection when wound on said conical reel, and means to test said cable electrically.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: a cable-engaging element protruding from said conical reel nears its apex portion and adapted to engage an end of said cable and to define the diameter of the first turn thereof, said cable being wound onto said reel downward from the top.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising: a rule-like measuring element having a hook-like member at one end and adapted to be hooked over said first turn and to be extended along an alement of the cone of said conical reel and having graduations in terms of the length of cable according to the expression: L 2 pi sin phi /d (x - xo)2, where L is said length of cable from said first turn to any point x along said element, phi is the half-angle of said cone, d is the diameter of said cable, and xo is the slant distance from said first turn to the apex of said cone, said graduations setting forth successive values of L at successive distances x along said element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, said auxiliary reel means comprising: a first cradle for holding a drum-type cable reel and mounted to permit swivelling about a vertical axis, said first cradle being located to permit winding of cable between said drum-type reel and said conical reel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising: a second cradle generally similar to said first cradle and located to permit winding of cable between drum-type reels on said first and said second cradles, and either of said drum-type reels and said conical reel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 5, further comprising: separate manually-controllable variable-speed reversible motor drive means drivably engageable with each of the three said reels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising: a variable high-wattage power supply, and means to connect said supply to elements of said cable to produce a substantial hot spot at the location of a fault in said cable, said hot spot being unambiguously locatable when said cable is wound in a single layer on saId conical reel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising: a non-contacting radiation thermometer to locate said heat by scanning said cable on said conical reel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said power supply is capable of supplying power of the order of a few kilowatts at a maximum voltage of at least 10,000 volts.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |