US3191374A

US3191374A - Forming die

Info

Publication number: US3191374A
Application number: US159704A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ege Sigmund
Original assignee: Anaconda Wire and Cable Co
Current assignee: Ericsson Inc
Priority date: 1961-12-15
Filing date: 1961-12-15
Publication date: 1965-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-29

Description

June 29, 1965 s. EGE

FORMING DIE Filed Dec. 15, 1961 WQEEE a INVENTOR. SIGMUND EGE of... my,

United States Patent 3,191,374 FORMING DIE Sigmund Ege, Hastings on Hudson, N.Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Anaconda Wire and Cable Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 159,704 8 Claims. (Cl. 57-138) My invention relates to strand forming dies and particularly to said dies for forming strand sealed with pasty filler.

In the manufacture of electric cables of the type which may be exposed to pressurized fluids it is desirable to seal the cable with a putty-like filler material which will effectively prevent any fluid from passing down the cable length. The more effective filling compounds have a very viscous, putty-like consistency and for that reason it is dilficult or impossible to force them into completed cables but, rather, it is necessary to introduce the compound along with the strands during the cabling operation. p

' As normally practiced, the operation of cabling consists of the continuous twisting of a plurality of strands around a central core or around each other while they are simultaneously advancing forward and the stranded cable is taken-up on a reel or similar device. In order that the strands be twisted uniformly and the cable have a smooth outer surface of the desired diameter the strands are passed through a forming or closing-in die with a bore diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the desired cable. It is known to relieve the entrance termination of the die bores to prevent cutting or shaving of the strands and when filling compound is introduced during the stranding operation the entrance relief becomes filled with compound that is forced back by the constriction of the die bore. I have found that although sufficient compound may be introduced into the strands during the cabling operation to thoroughly fill all the interstices, when conventional dies are used, so much of the compound is squeezed back by the die that the finished cable is insufiiciently filled. I have also found that if the relieved portion of the die is extended back for the proper distance, within narrow limits, the bank of compound accumulated in the entrance offers sufficient resistance to back flow to assure that the cable is properly filled. Unfortunately, however, it is seldom possible to tell in advance of the actual cabling operation just how much die relief area is needed for a particular cable construction. This is due to the fact that the area required depends in a manner, the mathematical details of which are not known, on such factors as the compressibility of the cable strands, the temperature coefiicient of viscosity of the compound, the tension on the strands, etc. Consequently a die must be selected by trial and error. Once the stranding operation has been started, however, it is not possible to change dies without at least leaving an oversize or irregular lump in the cable which for many critical types of cables is intolerable.

I have overcome the aforementioned difiiculties by the use of a split collar that can be changed at will to increase or decrease the die relief without disturbing the main bore of the die. My strand forming die comprises a block with an internal bore and a replaceable split collar with a tapered aperture and preferably with a counterbore fitting over the .block. The bore of my block is relieved by a tapered relief, preferably conical and preferably having an included angle of approximately 90". The tapered aperture of the collar is also preferably of truncated conical shape and preferably has an included angle of approximately 90. The aperture has a wide entrance and a reduced outlet that matche the relief and my apparatus includes means for connecting 3,191,374 Patented June 29, 1965 the collar to the block with the aperture in registration with the bore or bore relief. A'more complete understanding may be obtained by studying the drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side view in section of a die made in accordance with my invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end View of the die of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing the die, indicated generally by the numeral 10 is comprised of a block 11, and a collar 12. The block has a cylindrical bore 13 with a conical relief 14 forming an included angle a of Although I have shown the block 11 in its preferred form of a unitary member it will be understood that split blocks can also be used within the scope of my invention but a unitary block has an advantage in cost and simplicity. The block 11 will preferably be hardened steel or tungsten carbide or of similar wear resistant construction but may also be nylon or even wood. I prefer to make the collar 12 of hardened steel. The bore 13 has an exit relief 16 of usual design for which no novelty is claimed. Although I prefer an inclined angle of 90 and a straight-walled conical shape for the relief 14 I do not wish these features to be limiting.

The collar 12 is split into matching halves 17, 18 (FIGURE 2) which can be locked together by means of machine screws 19 with heads 21 that abut against shoulders 22 in the half 18 while the screws are threaded into tapped holes 23 in the half 17. A tapered aperture 24 in the collar 12 has a wide entrance 26 and a reduced outlet 27 which matches an entrance 28 to the relief 14. A set screw 29 threaded in a tapped hole 31 in the side .18 of the collar 12 serves to lock the collar 12 to the block 11. t In the operation of my die, cable strands and filling compound enter the die through entrance 26 and the stranded cable emerge from the relief 16. In a very short length of time a bank of the compound builds up within the entrance formed by the relief 14 and aperture 24. This bank is continually urged forward by the forward motion of the strands and it resists the back pressure of compound wiped off by the restricted bore 13. The amount of compound retained in the entrance can be changed by changing the length L of the collar 12 and if inspection of the cable indicates that an insulficient quantity of compound is being retained the collar 12 is removed by loosening the screws 21 and another collar with a longer length L is substituted. It is a feature of my invention that this change can be done without the break in operation which would be occasioned by removal or change of the die block 11.

I have invented a new and useful article of manufacture for which I desire an award of Letters Patent.

I claim:

1. In. an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the type wherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstream entrance of a strandforrning die the combination with said apparatus of a strand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore, a split collar replaceable around said strand having a tapered aperture for retaining said bank, said aperture having a wide entrance and a reduced outlet, said outlet matching said bore and means for connecting said collar to said block with said outlet in registration with said bore.

2. In an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the type wherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstream entrance of a strandforming die the combination with said apparatus of a strand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore and a tapered relief providing an entrance to said bore, a split collar replaceable around said strand having a tapered aperture for retaining said bank, said aperture having a wide entrance and a reduced outlet, said outlet matching said relief and means for connecting said collar to said block With said outlet in registration with said relief.

3. In an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the type wherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstream entrance of a strandforming die the combination with said apparatus of a strand-forming die comprising a block-having an internal bore, a split collar replaceable around said strand having a tapered aperture for retaining said bank and a counterbore fitting over said block, said aperture having a Wide entrance and a reduced outlet, said outlet matching said bore and means for connecting said collar to said block with said block entering said counterbore and said outlet in registration with said bore.

4. In an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the type wherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstream entrance of a strandforming die the combination with said apparatus of a strand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore and a tapered relief providing an entrance to said bore, a split collar replace-able around said strand having a tapered aperture for retaining said bank and a counterbore fitting over' said block, said aperture having a wide entrance and .a reduced outlet, said outlet matching said relief, and means for connecting said collar to said blockwith said block entering said counterbore and said outlet in registration with said relief.

5. In an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the type wherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstream entrance of a strandforming die the combination with said apparatus of a strand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore and a conical relief providing an entrance to said bore, a split collar replaceable around said strand having an aperture for retaining said bank in the form of a truncated cone, said aperture having a wide entrance and a reduced outlet, said outlet matching said relief, and means for connecting said collar to said block with said outlet in registration with said relief, said relief and said aperture combining to form an enlarged conical entrance to said bore. 6. In an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the type wherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstream entrance of a strandforming die the combination with said apparatus of a strand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore and a conical relief providing an entrance to said bore, a split collar replaceable around said strand having an aperture for retaining said bank in the form of a truncated cone and a counterbore fitting over said block, said aperture having a wide entrance and a reduced outlet, said outlet matching said relief, and means for connecting said collar to said block with said block entering said counterbore and said outlet in registration With said relief, said relief and said aperture combining to form an enlarged conical entrance to said bore.

7. In an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the type wherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstream entrance of a strandforming die the combination with said apparatus of a strand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore and a conical relief providing an entrance to said bore, said relief having an included angle of approximately a split collar replaceable around said strand having an aperture for retaining said bank in the form of a truncated cone, said aperture having a Wide entrance and a reduced outlet, said outlet matching said relief, said truncated cone having an included angle of approximately 90, and means for connecting said collar to said block with said outlet in registration with said relief, said relief and said aperture combining to form an enlarged conical entrance to said bore.

8. In an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the type wherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstream entrance of a strandforming die the combination with said apparatus of a strand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore and a conical relief providing an entrance to said bore, said relief having an included angle of approximately 90, a split collar replaceable around said strand having an aperture for retaining said bank in the form of a truncated cone, and a counterbore fitting over said block, said aperture having a Wide entrance and a reduced outlet, said outlet matching saidrelief, said truncated cone having an included angle of approximately 90, and means for connecting said collar to said block with said block entering said counterbore and said outlet in registration with said relief, said relief and said aperture combining to form an enlarged conical entrance to said bore.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 910,814 1/09 He'llrnich 205-26 X 1,667,387 4/28 Kinnear 205-25 X 2,952,245 3/34 Garner 205-26 X 2,222,505 11/40 Ford et al. 205-25 X 2,333,238 11/43 Finnie 205-26 X 2,715,256 8/55 Siegrist 25-17 2,751,320 6/56 Jacobs et al. 156-441 XR 2,770,014 11/56 Nordlin et al. 264-210 X 2,852,425 9/58 Shobert 156-180 2,863,171 12/58 Von Bergen 18-13 7 2,874,411 2/59 Berquist 18-14 2,887,721 5/59 Blanchi et al. 18-14 3,109,663 11/63 Phillips 205-25 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,069,192 7/54 France.

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Primary Examiner, ROBERT F. WHITE, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND STRANDING A CABLE STRAND OF THE TYPE WHEREIN A BANK OF PUTTY-LIKE FILLER MATERIAL IS RETAINED AT THE UPSTREAM ENTRANCE OF A STRANDFORMING DIE THE COMBINATION WITH SAID APPARATUS OF A STRAND-FORMING DIE COMPRISING A BLOCK HAVING AN INTERNAL BORE, A SPLIT COLLAR REPLACEABLE AROUND SAID STAND HAVING A TAPERED APERTURE FOR RETAINING SAID BANK, SAID APERTURE HAVING A WIDE ENTRANCE AND A REDUCED OUTLET, SAID OUTLET MATCHING SAID BORE AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID COLLAR TO SAID BLOCK WITH SAID OUTLET IN REGISTRATION WITH SAID BORE.