US4017228A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for monitoring cellular dielectric material
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1975-06-02
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Granted: 1977-04-12
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Expires: 1995-06-02
Abstract
Abstract The capacitance and diameter-over-dielectric of successive sections of a conductor having a layer of cellular plastic insulation extruded thereon are monitored continuously. The monitoring provides a continuous indication of the capacitance and the diameter with respect to the percent expansion of the cellular plastic insulation and the weight of the insulation per unit length of the conductor. This facilitates the regulation of process variables to maintain the capacitance and diameter-over-dielectric within acceptable ranges of values.
Inventors
- 👤 Manuel Ramon Cereijo
- 👤 Timothy Stephen Dougherty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:31
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B13/00; H01B13/06; H01B13/14; B; B29; B29C; B29C44/00; B29C44/20; B29C44/32; B29C44/322; H01B7/00; H01B7/17; H01B7/28; H01B7/282; H01B7/285; H01B7/2855; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02A30/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for monitoring the application of a cellular dielectric material to an elongated material, which includes: means for advancing an elongated material; means upstream of the advancing means for covering the elongated material with at least a layer of a cellular dielectric material; means effective subsequent to the covering means covering the elongated material for measuring the capacitance and the associated thickness of the dielectric material; and means responsive to the measuring means measuring the capacitance and associated thickness of the dielectric material for generating electical signals related to the measured capacitance and associated thickness of the dielectric material; and means responsive to the generation of the electrical signals for displaying the signals while relating the displayed signals to the weight of dielectric material per unit length of the elongated material and the percent of voids in the cellular dielectric material to control the weight of dielectric material per unit length of the elongated material and the percent of voids in the cellular dielectric material to maintain the capacitance and associated thickness within a specified range of values.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for monitoring the application of a cellular dielectric material to an elongated material, which includes: means for advancing an elongated material; means upstream of the advancing means for covering the elongated material with at least a layer of a cellular dielectric material; means effective subsequent to the covering means covering the elongated material for measuring the capacitance and the associated thickness of the dielectric material; and means responsive to the measuring means measuring the capacitance and associated thickness of the dielectric material for generating electical signals related to the measured capacitance and associated thickness of the dielectric material; and means responsive to the generation of the electrical signals for displaying the signals while relating the displayed signals to the weight of dielectric material per unit length of the elongated material and the percent of voids in the cellular dielectric material to control the weight of dielectric material per unit length of the elongated material and the percent of voids in the cellular dielectric material to maintain the capacitance and associated thickness within a specified range of values.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for displaying the signals includes a chart-recording device having an indicator which is moved in coordinate directions in response to the strength and intensity of electric energy, the means for measuring capacitance and associated diameter having energy outputs responsive to variations in the conditions being monitored, the outputs being connected to the chart-recording device to control the movement of the indicator in a different coordinate direction.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for monitoring the application of an insulation, which includes a layer of cellular insulation, to an elongated conductive material, which includes: means for advancing an elongated material; means upstream of the advancing means for applying at least a layer of the cellular insulation material to the elongated material; means downstream of the applying means for measuring continuously the capacitance and the associated diameter of the insulated elongated material; means responsive to the measuring means measuring the capacitance and associated diameter of the elongated material for generating electrical signals related to the measured capacitance and the associated diameter of the elongated material and transforming these signals into other signals related to the weight of insulation per length of elongated material and the percent of voids in the cellular insulation material; and means responsive to the generation of the other signals for regulating at least one process variable to maintain the capacitance and associated diameter within a specified range of values.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for monitoring the application of an insulation, which includes a layer of cellular insulation, to an elongated conductive material, which includes: means for advancing an elongated material; means upstream of the advancing means for applying at least a layer of the cellular insulation material to the elongated material; means downstream of the applying means for measuring continuously the capacitance and the associated diameter of the insulated elongated material; means responsive to the measuring means measuring the capacitance and associated diameter of the elongated material for generating electrical signals related to the measured capacitance and the associated diameter of the elongated material and transforming these signals into other signals related to the weight of insulation per length of elongated material and the percent of voids in the cellular insulation material; and means responsive to the generation of the other signals for regulating at least one process variable to maintain the capacitance and associated diameter within a specified range of values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus for controlling the application of a cellular insulation material to the elongated material as monitored by the apparatus of claim 3, wherein the means for regulating at least one process variable includes: means for regulating the percent expansion of the insulation material in accordance with the other signals to maintain the capacitance and the associated diameter substantially at preslected values.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus for controlling the application of a cellular insulation material to an elongated material as monitored by the apparatus of claim 3, wherein the means for regulating at least one process variable includes: means for regulating the weight of the cellular insulation material per unit length of the elongated material in accordance with the other signals to maintain the capacitance and the associated diameter at preselected values.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the percent expansion is regulated by varying the temperature within the means for applying the insulation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for monitoring the application of an insulation, which includes a layer of cellular insulation, to an elongated conductive material, which includes: means for advancing an elongated material; means upstream of the advancing means for applying at least a layer of the cellular insulation material to the elongated material; means downstream of the applying means for measuring continuously the capacitance and the associated diameter of the insulated elongated material; means responsive to the operation of the measuring means for generating electrical signals related to the measured capacitance and the associated diameter of the elongated material and transforming these signals into other signals related to the weight of insulation per length of elongated material and the percent of voids in the cellular insulation material; means downstream of the applying means for cooling the elongated material; and means responsive to the other signals for varying the distance between the applying means and the cooling means to regulate the percent expansion of the insulation material in accordance with the other signals to maintain the capacitance and the associated diameter substantially at preselected values.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for monitoring the application of an insulation, which includes a layer of cellular insulation, to an elongated conductive material, which includes: means for advancing an elongated material; means upstream of the advancing means for applying at least a layer of the cellular insulation material to the elongated material; means downstream of the applying means for measuring continuously the capacitance and the associated diameter of the insulated elongated material; means responsive to the operation of the measuring means for generating electrical signals related to the measured capacitance and the associated diameter of the elongated material and transforming these signals into other signals related to the weight of insulation per length of elongated material and the percent of voids in the cellular insulation material; means downstream of the applying means for cooling the elongated material; and means responsive to the other signals for varying the distance between the applying means and the cooling means to regulate the percent expansion of the insulation material in accordance with the other signals to maintain the capacitance and the associated diameter substantially at preselected values.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for monitoring the application of an insulation, which includes a layer of insulation capable of having at least an equivalent percent expansion, to an elongated conductive material, which includes: means for advancing an elongated material in a downstream direction; means upstream of the advancing means for extruding at least a layer of insulation capable of having at least an equivalent percent expansion over the elongated material; means downstream of the extruding means for measuring the capacitance and associated diameter of the elongated materia; means, connected to the measuring means for forming lines of constant insulation weight per unit length of the conductive material and lines of constant percent expansion, for providing a coordinate display of capacitance versus diameter of the outwardly facing surface of the insulation; means responsive to the measuring means for generating electrical signals related to the measured capacitance and the associated diameter of the elongated material; and means connected to the generating means and causing the signals to be shown continuously on the means providing a coordinate display for transforming the capacitance and diameter into the insulation weight and the at least equivalent percent expansion to facilitate the control of the at least equivalent percent expansion and insulation weight by adjusting process variables to maintain the capacitance and diameter at nominal values.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for monitoring the application of an insulation, which includes a layer of insulation capable of having at least an equivalent percent expansion, to an elongated conductive material, which includes: means for advancing an elongated material in a downstream direction; means upstream of the advancing means for extruding at least a layer of insulation capable of having at least an equivalent percent expansion over the elongated material; means downstream of the extruding means for measuring the capacitance and associated diameter of the elongated materia; means, connected to the measuring means for forming lines of constant insulation weight per unit length of the conductive material and lines of constant percent expansion, for providing a coordinate display of capacitance versus diameter of the outwardly facing surface of the insulation; means responsive to the measuring means for generating electrical signals related to the measured capacitance and the associated diameter of the elongated material; and means connected to the generating means and causing the signals to be shown continuously on the means providing a coordinate display for transforming the capacitance and diameter into the insulation weight and the at least equivalent percent expansion to facilitate the control of the at least equivalent percent expansion and insulation weight by adjusting process variables to maintain the capacitance and diameter at nominal values.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus for controlling the application of expanded insulation material to an elongated material as monitored in claim 8, which also includes: means responsive to the coordinate display of the signals for regulating the percent expansion of the insulation covering material in accordance with the coordinate display to maintain the capacitance and the associated diameter substantially at preselected values.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for controlling the application of expanded insulation material to an elongated material as monitored by the apparatus of claim 8, which also includes: means responsive to the coordinate display of the signals for regulating the weight of the insulation material per unit length of the elongated material in accordance with the coordinate display to maintain the capacitance and the associated diameter within a range of preselected values.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for monitoring the application of cellular insulation, to an elongated material, which includes: means for advancing an elongated material; means upstream of said advancing means for covering the elongated material with at least a layer of a cellular insulation material; means effective subsequent to the covering means covering the elongated material with at least a layer of cellular insulation material for measuring the capacitance and the associated diameter of the insulated elongated material; means responsive to the measuring means for generating electrical signals related to the measured capacitance and associated diameter of the elongated material; and means responsive to the generating means for utilizing the signals to control the weight of insulation per length of elongated material and the percent of voids in the cellular insulation material to maintain the capacitance and associated diameter within specified ranges.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for monitoring the application of cellular insulation, to an elongated material, which includes: means for advancing an elongated material; means upstream of said advancing means for covering the elongated material with at least a layer of a cellular insulation material; means effective subsequent to the covering means covering the elongated material with at least a layer of cellular insulation material for measuring the capacitance and the associated diameter of the insulated elongated material; means responsive to the measuring means for generating electrical signals related to the measured capacitance and associated diameter of the elongated material; and means responsive to the generating means for utilizing the signals to control the weight of insulation per length of elongated material and the percent of voids in the cellular insulation material to maintain the capacitance and associated diameter within specified ranges.
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) | 1980-04-11 | 1980-10-11 | 1981-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-11 | 1984-10-11 | 1985-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-11 | 1988-10-11 | 1989-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |