`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`May 1, 1934.
`
`L. O. REICHELT
`METHOD OF MAKING ELECTRICAL CABLES
`Filed Sept. ll, l929
`
`1956,730
`
`
`
`arraN
`RRSSR
`s
`
`RS
`
`Nazi As
`th t s
`IUST 2. 3S
`t
`SE
`22 45
`2.
`(7.
`22 SN
`SSW6
`is CNE f 3. S3
`S
`N3A, as
`...
`a Saray
`
`22
`
`Pe.
`1.
`
`2
`
`By
`
`SF
`
`y
`
`
`
`47
`
`y/
`
`//
`
`
`
`37 47
`
`77
`
`46
`
`43
`ae,
`
`2a3
`
`22 44
`43
`
`
`
`S%ls
`SNNNNNNNNNNN
`
`is
`
`r
`
`
`
`CLC
`
`N
`
`/7p1a/7/2/1
`Zes/2/1 a 1272%
`
`2 #4/azzi. 4%
`
`

`

`Patented May 1, 1934
`
`1956,730
`
`f
`
`PATENT OFFICE
`UNITED STATES
`1956,730
`METHOD OF MAKING ELECTRICAL CABLEs
`Lester O. Reichelt, Cranford, N.J., assignor to
`Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New
`York, N.Y., a corporation of New York
`Application September 11, 1929, serial No. 391,719
`(CI. 117-59)
`3 Claims.
`This invention relates to electrical cables and
`drum or strand Supply carrier 10 adapted to Sup
`a method of making the same, and more particu
`port a plurality of rotatable spools or reels 11,
`larly to multi-conductor cables of the type emi
`each containing a twisted pair of individually
`ployed for the transmission of intelligence elec
`insulated electrical conductors 12, hereinafter
`trically.
`called strands. The supply reels 11 are mounted
`Objects of the present invention are to im
`with their individual axes parallel to and Spaced
`prove the construction, reduce the cost, and ex
`from the longitudinal axis of the machine and are
`pedite the manufacture of multi-conductor cables.
`arranged with suitable tension controlling arms
`In accordance with the above objects, one em
`14, 14 provided at their extremities with suitable
`bodiment of the invention contemplates the pro
`sheaves or pulleys over which the strands 12
`vision of an improved method of forming multi
`drawn from the supplies are guided through a
`conductor cables of the type employed for tele
`stationary distributor plate 15 mounted in a hub
`phone communication, wherein a plurality of
`portion 16 of the carrier 10. The distributor plate
`twisted pairs of individually insulated electrical
`15 is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures
`conductors are assembled and stranded or twisted
`for guiding the individual strands and for de
`70
`together into a compact group or cable unit in
`termining their ultimate relative positions in the
`finished cable unit.
`such manner that a predetermined surplus length
`of certain of the individual conductors is present
`A flier 18 comprising a pair of spaced intercon
`in the unit thus formed. A plurality of these
`nected annular disks 19 and 20 and reduced
`units are thereafter assembled and stranded to
`tubular end portions 22 and 23 is rotatably sup
`gether into a compact cylindrical composite or
`ported in suitable pedestals or standards 24-24.
`cable of the desired size in such manner that the
`Mounted within the tubular portion 22 of the
`surplus length of the conductors in the individual
`flier so as to be rotatable therewith is a sizing
`units is absorbed or removed so that the individ
`die 26 through which the strands are drawn after
`ual conductors in the finished cable are of the
`passing through the distributor plate 15. The
`80
`exact length to constitute a so called "dead'
`sizing die 26 is designed to assemble the strands
`cable. The cable thus formed is usually covered
`into a single compact group or bundle 27 of cir
`with a protective sheathing of lead or other Suit
`cular cross-section, the assembled group 27 there
`able material.
`after passing through a sleeve 28 coaxial with
`It is believed that the method will be clearly
`the sizing die. 26 and rotatable therewith. A
`85
`understood from the following detailed descrip
`supply cop 30 of cotton or other suitable binding
`tion when read in conjunction with the accom
`material is mounted upon the sleeve 28, and it
`panying drawing, wherein
`will be understood that the binding material is
`Figs. 1 and 2 are schematic views of apparatus
`drawn from the cop 30 and spirally wrapped
`by means of which the improved method may be
`around the assembled group of strands as it
`practiced, and .
`emerges from the end of the sleeve 28. In this
`Fig. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section,
`manner the assembled group of strands is tightly
`of a multi-conductor cable produced in accord
`bound together with the individual strands
`ance with the method of the present invention, a
`maintained in their proper relative positions as
`portion of the cable being shown partially disas
`predetermined by the distributor plate 15.
`sembled in order to more clearly illustrate the
`The bound group of strands is drawn over a
`improved construction.
`guide sheave 31 rotatably carried by the left hand
`As described above, the first step in the method
`tubular portion 22 of the flier and disposed tan- ;
`of the present invention consists in assembling
`gentially with respect to the longitudinal axis
`and twisting a plurality of twisted pairs of indi
`of the fier. From the sheave 31 the bound group
`vidually insulated electrical conductors into a
`of strands passes through suitable guide aper
`single compact group or so called cable unit in
`tures 32-32 in the annular disks 19 and 20 of the
`such manner that a predetermined amounts of
`flier and then around guide sheaves 33 and 34
`surplus material is introduced in the unit. A
`rotatably carried by the right hand tubular por
`preferred form of apparatus by means of which
`tion 23 of the flier. It will be observed that the
`this step of the method may be practiced is fully
`sheave 33 is disposed tangentially with respect
`illustrated and described in U. S. Patent 1,813,197,
`to a line extending through the center of the
`granted to me July 7, 1931.
`guide apertures 31, and the sheave 34 is disposed
`As illustrated Sche
`matically in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing,
`tangentially with respect to the longitudinal axis
`this apparatus comprises a normally stationary
`of the fier.
`
`O
`
`5
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`75
`
`90
`
`95
`
`00
`
`05
`
`10
`
`

`

`80
`
`85
`
`95
`
`100
`
`105
`
`2
`1956,730
`A capstan 37, preferably of the caterpillar or
`to an electric motor 73. In the operation of the
`tractor type, is provided for drawing the bound
`apparatus the paper ribbon 66 is drawn from the
`group of strands over the guide sheaves 31, 33,
`supply reel 65 and spirally wrapped around the
`and 34 and for delivering the finished cable unit
`assembled bundle of cable units as it emerges from
`to a take-up reel 38. The capstan 37 comprises
`the end of the sleeve 62. This is for the purpose
`a pair of endless conveyor chains 39-39 which
`of retaining the compact formation imparted to
`are arranged to engage opposite sides of the cable
`the assembled bundle of cable units by the sizing
`unit. The conveyor chains are adapted to travel
`die 60. The paper wrapping 66 also Serves to
`around spaced rollers or sprocketS 41 and 42, the
`maintain the relative positions of the individual
`Sprockets 42 being positively driven through bevel
`cable units 54 as predetermined by the distributor
`gears 43-43, a shaft 44, and bevel gears 45-45
`plate 55.
`from a main drive shaft 46 connected to an elec
`The bundle of cable units after being bound
`tric motor 47. The take-up reel'38 is also driven
`passes through a central aperture 75 in the cap
`from the main drive shaft 46 through a pair of
`stan supporting plate 58, and it will be observed
`bevel gears 48-48.
`that the capstan 56 is so mounted that the receiv
`The annular disks 19 and 20 of the fier 18
`ing portion thereof is tangentially disposed with
`are provided on their peripheries with gear teeth
`respect to the axis of rotation of the Supporting
`50-50 which mesh with pinions 51-51. Secured
`plate 58. The capstan plate 58 is rotatably jour
`to the main shaft 46 whereby the flier is rotated
`naled in a bearing 76 and is provided On itSpe
`at a predetermined relative speed with respect
`riphery with gear teeth 77 designed to mesh
`to the capstan 37 and take-up reel 38. By means
`with a pinion 78 keyed to the main shaft 72,
`of planetary gearing arrangements, designated
`whereby the plate 58 together with the capstan
`generally by the reference numerals 52 and 53,
`56 is revolved around an axis of rotation coincid
`the strand supply carrier 10 is suspended be
`ing with the longitudinal axis of the moving cable.
`tween the annular disks 19 and 20 of the flier
`The capstain 56 is driven through the rotation of
`and is held stationary during the rotation of the
`the annular supporting plate 58 by bevel gears 80
`fier in the manner described in detail in my
`and 81, the gear 81 being keyed to a shaft 84
`copending patent above referred to. A detailed
`rotatably carried by the plate 58. A gear 85 keyed
`description of these gearing arrangementS has
`to the shaft 84 meshes With a stationary gear 86
`been omitted in this application since it is not
`fixed to the bearing 76. By this construction it
`believed to be essential to a complete understand
`Will be understood that the shaft 84 is driven
`ing of the present invention.
`-
`through the rotation of the capStan plate 58 and
`Through the rotation of the flier 18 the assem
`the shaft 84, in turn, drives the capstan 56
`bled group of strands is carried bodily around
`through the gears 80 and 8.
`the strand supplies and the individual strands
`By revolving the rotating capstan in the man
`are thereby twisted or stranded together in a
`her above described, the assembled bundle of
`Well known manner, the cable unit 54 thus formed
`cable units 54 is stranded or twisted into a cable
`being drawn from the flier by the capstan 37
`having a lay of a definite length as determined
`and delivered to the take-up reel 38. The take-up
`by the relative rotative speeds of the capstan 56
`reel 38, when loaded, may be removed and re
`and capstan plate 58. This stranding or twisting
`115
`placed by an empty reel, and the loaded reel may
`occurs between the stationary distributor plate
`be placed in storage for future use or may in
`55 and the revolving capstan 56. The cable 88
`mediately be transferred to a cabling machine
`thus formed, after making Several turns around
`wherein the cable unit 54 is assembled with other
`the capstan 56, is delivered to a take-up reel 90
`similar units into a cylindrical composite or cable
`removably mounted in a rotatable cradle 91. The
`of the desired size.
`cradle 91 comprises a pair of Spaced annula) rings
`A preferred form of apparatus for assembling
`92-92 supported upon spaced rollers 93-93 and
`and stranding a plurality of individual cable
`rigidly interconnected by cross pieces 94-94.
`units 54 into a cylindrical composite or cable
`The annular rings 92 are provided With fianged
`is fully illustrated and described in the copending
`peripheral portions formed with gear teeth 95
`25
`application of H. J. Boe, Serial No. 395,031, filed
`95 which mesh with pinions 96-96 keyed to the
`Sept. 25, 1929. As shown schematically in Fig.
`main shaft 72 whereby the cradle 91 and take-up
`2 of the accompanying drawing, this apparatus
`reel 90 are revolved at the same Speed as the
`comprises a stationary distributor plate 55
`capstan 56 and capstan plate 58 and around an
`through which a plurality of cable units 54 are
`axis of rotation coinciding with the axis of rota
`130
`drawn from rotatable supply reels 38 by means
`tion of the capstan plate 58. Consequently, there
`of a capstain 56 mounted upon a rotatable annular
`is no additional twisting between the capstan and
`supporting plate 58. The distributor plate 55
`the take-up reel. The take-up reel is rotatably
`is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures
`mounted in the cross pieces 94 of the cradle and
`for guiding the individual cable units and for
`may be driven from the capstan drive shaft 84
`predetermining their ultimate relative positions
`through friction wheels 98 and 99.
`in the finished cable.
`When practicing the invention by the use of
`After passing through the distributor plate the
`the above described apparatus, the flier 18 and
`cable units are drawn through a sizing die 60
`the capstan 37 (Fig. 1) are driven at such rela
`designed to assemble and compress the individual
`tive speeds that the individual Strands of the
`140
`cable units 54 into a compact cylindrical com
`unit 54 are twisted or stranded together With a
`posite or bundle 61 of substantially circular cross
`lay of a definite predetermined length. It will be
`section, the bundle thus formed thereafter passing
`understood that two twists in the same direction
`through a guide sleeve 62 coaxial with the sizing
`are introduced in the strands for each rotation
`die 60. A paper serving head 64 is rotatably Sup
`of the fier 18. The first of these twists occurs
`145
`polted upon the sleeve 62 and carries a rotatable
`between the stationary distributor plate 15 and
`Supply reel 65 of paper ribbon 66 or other suitable
`the guide sheave 31 and the second twist occurs
`wrapping or binding material. The serving head
`between the guide sheave 33 and the capstan 37.
`64 may be driven through a belt 68 and pulleys
`The length of twist or lay in the finished unit is
`69 and 70 from a main drive shaft 72 connected
`determined by the relative speeds of the flier 18
`
`10
`
`20
`
`35
`
`10
`
`20
`
`30
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`o
`
`

`

`10
`
`5
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`50
`
`55
`
`80
`
`85
`
`LESTER, O, REICHELT.
`
`1,956,730
`and capstan 37. These speeds may be varied in
`ing the exact length of the individual conductors
`any well known manner in accordance with the
`required in the finished cable, but has also ex
`length of lay desired.
`pedited production considerably, since it is ob
`The assembled unit of strands is bound Suf
`vious that the unitS may be made up in large
`ficiently tight at the point of the first twist to
`quantities and placed in storage for future use
`prevent relative longitudinal movement of the
`and readily and quickly assembled into cables
`individual strands, and consequently, the amount
`of the desired size in accordance with each par
`of material or, in other words, the lengths of the
`ticular future requirement.
`individual strands in a given length of the fin
`It is to be understood that the apparatus here
`ished unit are predetermined at the point of the
`in illustrated and described is merely representa- 85
`first twist and correspond to the length of the
`tive of one type of apparatus by means of which
`lay produced by the first twist. Thus, upon in
`the method may be practiced and does not in any
`troducing the second twist the individual strands
`way limit the scope of the present invention as
`must adjust themselves to a lay which is one
`defined by the appended claims.
`half the length of the initial lay or of that for
`What is claimed is:
`which there is sufficient material in the unit.
`1. The method of making multi-conductor
`This causes a tightening of the outer strands and
`cables, which consists in assembling alld twist
`a resulting corresponding reduction in the over
`ing a plurality of individually insulated Con
`all length of the unit which results in a surplus
`ductors into a single unit with a lay of a definite
`length of material in the inner strands. This
`length, applying a binder around the unit of con
`Surplus manifests itself by a bulging or kinking
`ductors to retain the relative positions of the in
`effect of the inner layers of the unit. In assemi
`dividual conductors, twisting the bound unit of
`bling these units into the cable by the apparatus
`conductors to reduce the overall length of the
`shown in Fig. 2, they are twisted together in a
`unit and thereby introduce surplus conductor
`direction opposite to that in which the strands
`lengths in the inner layers of the unit, and then 100
`of the individual units were twisted and with a
`stranding a plurality of units together in a direc
`lay of twice the length of the final lay in the units.
`tion opposite to the direction of the conductor
`Therefore, each lay placed in the cable removes
`twists in the unit and With a lay of Such length
`exactly one lay in the strands of the individual
`as to absorb the Surplus conductor lengths' in
`units, and the final lay within the units when as
`the unit.
`Sembled in the cable is the same length as that
`2. The method of making multi-conductor
`of the cable and is also the exact length for the
`cables, which comprises assembling and binding
`material in the unit. Thus, the surplus length
`a plurality of individually insulated electrical con
`of material in the inner strands of the unit is
`ductors into compact unit, twisting the conduc
`absorbed and the finished cable contains just
`tors of the unit to introduce surplus lengths there- 110
`sufficient material to constitute a so-called
`of in the unit, and assembling and stranding a
`'dead' cable.
`plurality of said units into a cable with a lay
`A multi-conductor telephone cable embodying.
`contour opposite to that of the conductor twists
`the features of and produced in accordance with
`to partially untwist the conductors of the units
`the present invention is shown in Fig. 3 with a
`and thereby remove a portion of the surplus con- 115
`portion thereof disassembled in order to illustrate
`ductor lengths.
`the improved construction. Cables of this type
`3. The method of making cables, which com
`are usually provided with a protective sheathing
`prises assembling a plurality of strands into a
`101 of lead or other suitable material. It has been
`single group, applying a binder around the group
`found that the individual strands or conductors
`of strands, twisting the bound group of strands 120
`of a cable embodying the present invention are of
`to reduce the over-all length thereof and there
`the correct length for the lay of the cable and
`by introduce surplus strand material therein, and
`therefore are free from abnormal tensions or
`then stranding a plurality of groups together in a
`strains which tend to curl or kink the cable
`direction opposite to the direction of the strand
`when unwound from a reel.
`twists so as to absorb a portion of the Surplus 125
`In the manufacture of telephone cables, the
`strand material.
`method of the present invention has not only
`resulted in a saving of material by predetermin
`
`(
`
`9 5
`
`105
`
`130
`
`135
`
`140
`
`145
`
`50
`
`