A Method of and Apparatus for Manufacturing Flexible Metal Sheathed Electrical Conductors.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date, of Application, 20th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th June, 1890-Accepted,. 13th Sept:, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by FREDERICK WALTON, of Hotel Römerbad, Baden
Weiler, Germany, Manufacturer.]
A Method of and Apparatus for Manufacturing Flexible Metal
Sheathed Electrical Conductors.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of London, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows
Flexible metal tubes have been formed by winding belically continuous strips of
sheet nietal corrugated in such a manner that the lip of each convolution interlocks
with that of the next so as to prevent the convolutions from separating, whilst at the
same time the tube thus formed has great flexibility.
This invention relates to means of applying a tube of this kind as a sheathing for.
insulated electrical conductors, such a sheathing being not only protective, but also
available as a return conductor as well as a defence against induced.currents.
The tube above referred to is formed, by winding the metal strip on a revolving
mandril while it is pressed by three or more rollers arranged around the mandril.
In carrying out my invention I employ in this manner a tubular mandril, and I
arrange behind it a vessel to which insulating material such as caoutchone, gutta-
percha, oxidised oils or compounds of these is supplied in a semi fluid or pasty
condition under pressure. The tubular mandril passes through a stuffing box in the
front of this vessel. Behind the vessel I mount in a frame carried. on trunnions in
the line of the mandril a reel of conducting wire, which may either he fare wife or
wire already covered with insulating material. I pass this wire through the front
trunnion of the reel frame, through a hole in the back of the vessel above referred to,
and along the axis of the tubular mandril..
20
The mandril and reel frame being caused to revolve at the same angular speed,
while the metal strip is wound on the mandril, the conducting wire issues from the: "
front of the mandril along with the pasty insulating material, which, being discharged...
under pressure along with the wire, fills up the annular space in the tube as it isaa
forined. The sheathed conductor thus produced may itself be used as the wire tot
receive a second insulating covering and sheathing.
ar
Datel this 20th day of September 1889.
E1
.
"
11.
4 15.4%
17
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant...
COMPLETE. SPECIFICATION.
1.
**
T
A Method of and Apparatus: for Manufacturing Flexible Metal..
Sheathed Electrical Conductors.
1.I, OLIVER IMRAY; of No. 28:Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane, in the County
of London, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to lie performed to be particularly.
described and ascertained in and by the following statement
1
Flexiblo metal tubes have been forined by winding helically, continuous strips of
sheet metal corrugated in such a manner that the lip of each convolution interlocks
with that of the next so as to prevent ille convolutions from separating, whilst at the e
same time the tube this formed lías great flexibility“
^

page_text: The tube above referred to is formed by winding the metal strip on a revolving
mandril while it is pressed by three or more rollers arranged around the mandril.
In carrying out my invention I employ in this manner a tubular mandril and 1
arrange behind it a vessel to which insulating material such as caoutchouc, gutta-
percha, oxidised oils or compounds of these 'is supplied in a semi fluid or, pasty con-
dition under pressure. The tubular mandril passes through a stuffing box in the front
of this vessel. Behind the vessel mount in a frame carried on trunnions in the line of
the mandril a reel of conducting wire which may either be bare wire or wire already
covered with insulating material. 1 pass, this wire through the front trunnion of the
reel frame through a hole in the back of the vessel above referred to and along the
axis of the tubular mandril.
The mandril and reel frame being caused to revolve at the same angular speed
while the metal strip is wound on the mandril the conducting wire issues from the
front of the mandril along with the pasty insulating material which being discharged
under pressure along with the wire fills up the annular space, in the tube as it is
formed. The sheathed conductor thus produced may itself be used as the wire to
receive a second insulating covering and sheathing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
1
In the several figures ilie same letters of reference indicate the corresponding
parts.
1
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the machine, partly in section.
Fig: Il a front view taken on the line C D.
Fig. III the side elevation and Fig. V is the plan of a reel.
Fig. IV is a plan taken on line A B of Fig. 1.
Fig. VI is a side elevation of a winding machine.
Fig. VII is a front elevation of the bracket m of Fig. VI.
Fig. VIII represents on an enlarged scale the longitudinal section of a mandril.
Fig. IX is a front view of the mandril.
Fig. X is an end view of a smaller mandril.
15
The machine shewn in Fig. I represents in its general features the machine
for making flexible metallic tubes described in the previous Specification No: 7906
of 1889.
To the said machine for the purpose of applying it to manufacture flexible metal
sheathed electrical conductors the following additions and alterations are made.
On the bed is mounted a block M bored for the insertion of a strong tube or hollow
spindle Q.
This block M has an annular channel a which communicates with a cylinder Labove
it, and it is traversed by the tube Q which passes through stuffing boxes N, and has a
number of holes opening from the channel a.
To the spindle Q are screwed the tubular spindle P and a tube d on which is
screwed the mandrile. Within the mandrile there is a smaller tubef with a shoulder
abutting against the tube d. At the front end the tube is closed by a cover
through which are drilled hole's according to the number of wires to be insulated or
covered as shewn in Figs. VIII and 1X representing holes for five wires and
openings for the emission of the insulating material. Fig. X shews the front view of
a.mandril and inside tube: for a single wire either already insulated or intended to be
insulated.
As shewn in Fig.VIII the shoulder of the tube ƒ is provided with steady pins
which enter holes in the end of the tube . At cinside the shaft P is inserted a disc
which has through, it the same number of holes as at the end of the tube f..
The cylinder L is steam jacketted and has at the topia funnel shaped opening 1.
On a
shaft H are fixed in the cylinder-a. screw K, and in the funnel inclined
arms. J.
1
5
The shaft His driven from a countershaft E by gearing F and G. O is the
bead of a flexible tube making machific such as is described in the Specification above 5
referred to.

page_text: The shaft P is driven by the wheels R and R' from the pulleys S. On the same
driving shaft is mounted the pulley T which drives by a cross belt a pulley T on the
shaft V; from this shaft, V by a pulley U is driven the reel W by pulley U which
is mounted on a hollow shaft. The reel W turns in a frame X. From the shaft V
by the pulley Y is driven a pulley Y' mounted on a hollow shaft Z Fig. VI. This
shaft carries another frame y provided likewise with a reel. The shaft of the reel
is provided with a wheel, which is driven by a pinion k on a sleeve turning on a
studi which sleeve carries also a pulley connected by a ban running over guide
rollers n to a step pulley o which does not turn but is fastened by a bracket p to the
bearing which carries the shaft of the frame g.
The reels W and I make the same revolutions as the shaft P and prevent the
twisting of the wire or wires as they traverse from W through shaft P from the
reel W to reel 1. The reel in Fig. VI winds the covered wires up gradually as
the covering is progressing on the mandril e. The speed of this winding up is
regulated either by the step pulley o or by a change of the pulley h.
When it is desired to sheath with flexible tubing a wire or set of wires already
insulated the parts of the machine for supply of insulating material are dispensed
with or removed, and the insulated conductor is simply led through the tubular
mandril p and its continuatione to be covered with tubing by the head O.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described manufacture of flexible metal sheathed electrical conductors
by passing the conducting wires through a tubular mandril in which they can
receive a covering of insulating material and as they issue from the mandril
coiling metal sirip on the insulated conductors so as to enclose them within flexible
inetal tubing.
2. For the manufacture of conductors in the manner above referred to apparatus,
substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of June 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.