# US 2018/0322987 A1 · Bulk wire bend radius manager

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- Number: US 2018/0322987 A1
- Document ID: US20180322987A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/589,048
- Filed: 2017-05-08
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-08
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Paul W. SCHAEFER; Sandra J. SHIRK/HEATH
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180322987A1

## CPC

- H01B 13/145: {Pretreatment or after-treatment}
- B05D 1/265: {Extrusion coatings}
- B05D 7/20: to wires (for insulating electric cables H01B13/16)
- H01B 13/14: by extrusion {(extrusion in general B29C48/00)}
- H01B 7/184: {Sheaths comprising grooves, ribs or other projections}
- H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K})
- B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02)

## Abstract

A particular method includes using a helical forming tool to make helical grooves on an insulating jacket of a conductive length, such as a wire. A gear may rotate a forming mechanism, such as a protrusion, around the insulating jacket to form the helical grooves. The helical grooves are formed to limit bending of the insulated wire.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
coating a conductive length with insulating material; and
forming a plurality of grooves in the insulating material as the coated conductive wire is extruded.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein forming the plurality of grooves further includes forming a plurality of helical grooves.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein forming the plurality of grooves further includes rotating a forming mechanism around an outer diameter of the insulating material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising using at least one gear to rotate the forming mechanism.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the conductive length includes a single wire.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the conductive length includes a bundle of wires.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the insulating material includes a dielectric material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a desired bend radius.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a desired bend radius based on an outside diameter of the insulating material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising using a motor to rotate a forming mechanism used to form the plurality of grooves.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising using a ball bearing to support a rotation of a forming mechanism used to form the plurality of grooves.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising advancing the conductive length through a forming mechanism configured to form the plurality of grooves.

### Claim 13

An apparatus comprising:
an extrusion mechanism to apply an insulating jacket to a conductive length; and
a groove forming mechanism to form a plurality of grooves on a surface of the insulating jacket.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a groove forming mechanism.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the groove forming mechanism is configured to rotate around an outer diameter of the insulating jacket.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of grooves are helical.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of gears.

### Claim 18

An apparatus comprising:
a conductive length; and
an insulating jacket covering at least a portion of the conductive length, wherein the insulating jacket includes a plurality of helical grooves formed on a surface of the insulating jacket.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of helical grooves restrict a bend radius of the conductive length.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a number of the plurality of helical grooves is determined as a product of an outer diameter of the insulating material.