Patent ID: 6254924
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: H01B

Abstract:
A method of jacketing a plurality of electrical wires arrayed generally side-by-side in a row to thereby form a substantially flat cable, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a die having an inner surface, a first end with a first opening for receiving jacketing compound and a plurality of wires, and a second end with a second opening for exiting an electrical cable jacket;(b) providing a tip having an outer surface, a plurality of notches in the outer surface, a first end with a first opening for receiving said plurality of electrical wires, and a second end with a second opening for guiding the individual said electrical wires and for exiting said electrical wires;(c) positioning said tip within said die such that an extrusion path is created between the outer surface of said tip and the inner surface of said die and forming an exit at a junction of said second end of said die and said second end of said tip;(d) supplying a plurality of electrical wires through said first end of said die and said first end of said tip;(e) supplying jacketing compound through said extrusion path so that said jacketing compound forms a jacket with an inner wall around said electrical wires at said exit, said jacket comprising a plurality of internal ridges that are formed by said plurality of notches and that extend partially from the inner wall of said jacket to form channels, such that air gaps are left between pairs of the ridges on opposite sides of the inner wall of the jacket, whereby air is between adjacent wires; and(f) passing said cable through a quenching medium sufficient to form said cable.