Spliceless cable and method of forming same

The method of fabricating a spliceless longitudinally extending tapered cable structure comprising the steps of:

• a. stranding a first outer layer segment, comprising at least a first generally elongated strand wire, about a first core wire segment;
• b. butt welding a second generally elongated core wire segment, having a different diameter than the first core wire segment, to the first core wire segment;
• c. butt welding a second generally elongated strand wire, having a different diameter than the first strand wire, to each of the first strand wires;
• d. stranding the second strand wires about the welded second core wire segment as a second outer layer segment to form a continuous length of tapered strand structure;
• e. continuing the stranding and welding steps described in steps (a) - (d) until the desired length of strand structure is formed while longitudinally spacing the individual weld joints connecting each adjacent core wire and outer layer segment;
• and
• f. helically twisting a plurality of additional strand structures formed similarly to the first strand structure with the first strand structure to form a cable.

A spliceless tapered strand structure comprising:

• a. a first core wire segment having a first diameter;
• b. a second core wire segment having a second diameter which is less than the first diameter,
• 1. said second core wire segment being butt welded at a first joint to the first core wire segment;
• c. a first outer layer segment, comprising at least one strand wire stranded about the first core wire segment;
• and
• d. second strand wires butt welded at strand joints to each of the first strand wires and being stranded about the second core wire segment as a second outer layer segment to form a continuously tapered strand structure.