US 4,428,787 AGranted

Wrapping of cable core units

AssigneeNorthern Telecom Limited

InventorsAli Pan, John R. Ellwood

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Abstract

A device and method for wrapping a wrapping material to form S-shaped shields around a cable core of two side-by-side core units in which two tubes are provided for passage of the core units. A space between the tubes accepts the thickness of a central region of the wrapping material which has side portions extending away from the central region. Concave turning surfaces extend partially around the tubes and approach each other as they extend towards an outlet end of the tubes. The core units pass along the tubes and the wrapping materials passes along between the tubes while the turning surfaces progressively turn the side portions inwardly towards and around the tubes whereby the side portions are turned around the core units when these emerge from inside the tubes. In a practical arrangement, the turning surfaces are formed by the inside surface of a frusto core.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A device for wrapping a metal strip material lengthwise along two side-by-side core units of a cable core comprising:

two tubes each having an inlet end and an outlet end, the two tubes being relatively disposed with their outlet ends located closely adjacent and facing in the same direction, the tubes being spaced sufficiently to accept between them the thickness of a central region of wrapping strip material;
material turning means for turning longitudinally extending side portions of the wrapping material around and out of intimate contact with the core units, said turning means comprising turning surface portions of concave configuration in a cross-section normal to the length of the two tubes, the turning surface portions extending partially around the tubes, one to each tube, with the turning surface portions facing across the tubes towards each other, and the turning surface portions extending along the tubes and approaching each other to become close to but spaced from the tubes at the outlet ends;
and
a closing die downstream of the tubes and of the material turning means and having a die surface defining a passage of smaller cross-section than the turning surface portions to draw the side portions of the material into close intimate contact with the core.

1 more element

A method of wrapping a metal strip material lengthwise along two side-by-side core units of a cable core, the units devoid of jackets and comprising a plurality of pairs of twisted conductors stranded together, in which a central region of the strip material is located between the core units and side portions of the strip material are provided to extend laterally of the central region, one at least partly around each of the core units, said method comprising:

(a) passing the two core units, one down each of two tubes which are relatively disposed with outlet ends closely adjacent and facing in the same direction;
(b) moving the strip material in the same general direction as the core units with said central region located between the tubes and the side portions projecting laterally from between the tubes;
(c) turning the side portions around the tubes, one around each tube, by urging the side portions inwardly towards the tubes while displacing longitudinal edges of the strip material angularly around the tubes;
(d) passing the core units side-by-side downstream from the outlets of the tubes while passing the strip material downstream from around the tube outlets with the central region of the strip material disposed between the core units and the side portions wrapped around but not in intimate contact with the core units;
and
(e) suddenly closing the side portions against and into intimate contact with the core units.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.