Apparatus for producing a continuous flexible tubular conduit

Apparatus for producing a continuous flexible tubular conduit having a plurality of helically wound reinforcing-electrical wires comprising;

• means for forming said wires into a corresponding plurality of substantially identical continuous non-rotating helical coils;
• an extruder head having an opening for receiving said coils therethrough;
• means extending into said opening for moving said coils through said opening with the coil turns of said coils coaxially aligned and alternately arranged;
• said moving means moving said coils in a rectilinear path substantially coinciding with said coaxial alignment;
• and means in said head for extruding a polymeric tube around said coils to define said conduit;
• said wire forming means comprising, a support assembly rotatably supporting a plurality of wire feed spools with their axes perpendicular to said rectilinear path, a plurality of feed wheels each having a peripheral recess therein for receiving an associated wire, means twisting said wires as they exit said feed wheels, means rotating said support assembly and feed spools about an axis substantially coinciding with said rectilinear path to assure said wires are free of entanglements during twisting thereof by said twisting means, and control means correlating the feeding of wires from said spools with said twisting means, rotating means, and moving means.