GB1430181A - Apparatus for use in the manufacture of electrical wire-cable - Google Patents

Abstract

1430181 Making electric wires KOBE STEEL Ltd and SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES Ltd 7 March 1973 [7 March 1972] 11077/73 Heading B3A Apparatus for use in wire manufacturing to be positioned after a wire drawing machine 1 and before an extrusion coating arrangement comprises first means to heat the wire (e.g. a preheater 25 and a softening device 9, 10) means 35 to determine the tension of the wire leaving the first heating means, a second heater in the form of a re-heater 13, 14, a capstan 15, 17 and second tension determining means 37, the two tension determining means controlling the drives of the machine so that the tensions in the wire passing through the first and second heaters are maintained at predetermined values. Control of tension.-The wire which may be of hard copper passes over a capstan 3, through the heat treatment, and over a second capstan 15, 16. By means of a sheave 12 the wire supports a block 35 carrying weights (76, Fig. 7, not shown). If the tension is incorrect the block 35 slides up or down on guide rails 73, and by means of a cam 81 operates a detector (77) which controls the speed of the wire-drawing machine 1 and the capstan 3, independently of the speed of the capstan 15, 16. The tension during subsequent operations is similarly controlled by movement of a block 37 carrying weights (125, Fig. 10, not shown) or by movement of a lever (200, Fig. 13, not shown) acting against a spring (203). In either case any movement operates a detector (126) to control the speeds of the capstan 15, 16 and of preceding parts. Heat treatment.-The main heating takes place inside a casing 66 having chambers 67, 67<SP>1</SP>, chamber 67 containing an anti-oxidation agent, e.g. water vapour, water or inert gas and chamber 67<SP>1</SP> containing coolant, e.g. water. The front wall 65 of the casing 66 is hinged at 69. The wire is heated to softening point by current flowing from sheaves 8 to sheave 9. Connections to the sheaves are made through rotating rings (50, 59, Fig. 5, not shown) and brushes (54, 60). Current also flows from sheave 8 to sheave 4 to pre-heat the wire, the amount of pre-heating being adjusted by moving a guide roller 7 to change the length of wire between sheaves 4 and 8. The wire is re-heated by current flowing between sheaves 13 and 14. The second tension controlling device and the capstan 15, 16 are enclosed in a thermally insulating case 150 through which passes hot air from a blower (146, Fig. 10, not shown) and a heating element (148).