Patent ID: 8641844
Filing Date: 2014-02-04
Classification: H01B

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a telecommunications wire having a dielectric insulator with channels around an electrical conductor, the method comprising: providing an extrusion tip and an extrusion die with an annular extrusion passageway defined therebetween, wherein the extrusion tip defines an inner passageway; providing a plurality of axial projections within the annular extrusion passageway with each axial projection defining an air passage, the plurality of axial projections configured to form the channels of the dielectric insulator; passing flowable dielectric material through the annular extrusion passageway defined between the extrusion tip and the extrusion die to form a shaped dielectric material; drawing air at atmospheric pressure into the air passages of the axial projections and directing the air at atmospheric pressure through the air passages in forming the channels; in addition to drawing air at atmospheric pressure, directing pressurized air from a source of compressed air through the air passages of the axial projections and directing the pressurized air through the air passages in forming the channels; passing an electrical conductor through the inner passageway defined by the extrusion tip; and providing a first flow path in fluid communication with the source of compressed air for providing the pressurized air into the air passages and providing a second flow path in fluid communication with atmosphere for the drawing atmospheric air into the air passages, wherein the first flow path is separate from the second flow path.