Apparatus for coating a filiform element

An apparatus for freeze-coating a filiform element with thermally fusible material, comprising:

• a vessel provided with a lateral nozzle and adapted to be filled to a level above said nozzle with said thermally fusible material, said nozzle having a lower wall portion and an upper wall portion respectively provided with a tubular inlet and an annular outlet vertically aligned and coaxial with each other, said inlet having a diameter substantially equal to that of a filiform element to be coated, said outlet having a diameter ranging between substantially two and three times that of said inlet and being formed from a substance which is substantially nonwettable by said thermally fusible material;
• said inlet comprising a tube adjustably seated in an aperture of said lower wall portion and long enough to reach said outlet in an elevated position;
• an enclosure extending upwardly from said upper wall portion and forming a chamber aligned with said outlet, said chamber being connected to a source of protective gas under pressure;
• heating means at said vessel and at said nozzle in the vicinity of said inlet and outlet for maintaining said thermally fusible material therein in a molten state;
• feed means for axially advancing said filiform element in an upward direction by way of said inlet, outlet through said thermally fusible material and through said protective gas and enclosure;
• and
• cooling means disposed above said enclosure in the path of said filiform element and comprising a deflecting member engageable by said filiform element and a source of cooling fluid trained upon said member.