method for coating and filling the spaces between the elements of an elongated flexible body, and device for implementing the procedure

摘要

1293942 Wire coating CONNOLLYS (BLACKLEY) Ltd 5 Feb 1970 [6 Feb 1969] 6450/69 Heading D1L The interstices between separate elongated elements of an elongated body, particularly a telecommunications cable formed of insulated wires, are filled in by passing the cable through a bath of filling liquid (e.g. petroleum jelly, petroleum waxes, low molecular weight polyethylene, &c) via cooled dies, the filling liquid being such that it is liquid above ambient temperatures and highly viscous or solid at ambient temperatures, this cooling of the dies being such that the liquid in the bath does not leak out during passage of the elongated body therethrough. The die through which the body passes to leave the bath has a larger aperture than that whereby it enters, this allowing for increased volume due to liquid picked up. The embodiment shown has the filling material heated by an oil jacket around the bath, this being heated by immersion heater 5. The bath is divided in two by a partition 6, the two parts being a reservoir 8 and a bath 7, the two interlinked by valve 15, which valve has a connection to a microswitch 17 such that the machine drawing the cable C through the bath is switched off when the valve is shut. The floats 24, 25 and 26 control the input of filling material to the reservoir via pipe 21, and switch off the machine drawing the cable through when the liquid level falls too low. Pump 18 can pump liquid back to the reservoir 8 from the bath 7. In this embodiment the dies are cooled by vanes (Fig. 1) but these may be replaced by, e.g., water cooling if more cooling is required.