GB907114A - Manufacture of long haul waveguide - Google Patents

Abstract

907,114. Making waveguides; coiling. STANDARD TELEPHONES & CABLES Ltd. July 10, 1959 [July 15, 1958], No. 22594/58. Classes 83 (2) and 83 (4). [Also in Groups XXVIII and XL (b)] Process for making circular wave - guides comprises the steps of winding a helix of fine wire on to a mandrel formed of successive interlocking segments, while applying an adhesive material to bind the adjacent turns of the helix in peripheral contact, progressively removing segments of the mandrel from the forward end and replacing them at the receiving end. Wire from reels on radial arms 3 on a rotatable winding head 4 passes over ball races 6 on the head 4 and is laid on a mandrel 2 which slides axially on ball-races 12 on a fixed core 1. A plurality of wires may be laid in one or two layers and adhesive is applied to secure the turns together. Additional winding heads feed cotton and steel armouring tapes 9 to the waveguide. The mandrel 2 is formed of interlocking segments 13 and, as winding progresses, the last segment 16 is removed from the mandrel by a tool inserted through the hollow core, drawn back therethrough and reassembled at the beginning of the mandrel. On leaving the mandrel the waveguide is supported on a roller 11. The waveguide from the waveguide forming unit 29, Fig. 8, is laid in a trench 23. The unit 29 is mounted on a carriage 27 slidable on wheels 28 on a carriage 19 in turn movable on wheels 21 on rails 22 straddling the trench 23. As the waveguide is paid out from the forming unit 29 over rollers 31, 32 the carriage 27 is moved to the left until it trips a switch to move the carriage 19 quickly to the left and then stop. Alternatively the carriage 19 may be moved to the left at exactly the speed of production of the waveguide. Specifications 780,503 and 887,063 are referred to.