US1887851A - Insulated conductor and the method of applying colored surfaces thereto - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 15, 1932. A. P. HINSKY 1,887,851

INSULATED CONDUCTOR AND THE METHOD OF APPLYING COLORED SURFACES THERETO Filed Feb. 11, 1932 I I'll I 6 IN V EN TOR.

A TTOR%Y.

Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTHONY I. HINSKY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ABSIGNOB TO I. T. TBOTTER & CO., 01 BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0] NEW YORK INSULATED CONDUCTOR AND THE METHOD 0] AEPLYING COLORED SURFACES THERETO Application filed February 11, 1932 Serial No. 592,849.

This invention relates to insulated conductors, cables or the like, and particularly to the provision of two or more coatings to the fabric casing or jacket of products of this class; and the object of the invention is to provide a conductor, the fabric jacket of which is first treated with a weather-proof and flame resisting compound which impregnates or saturates said jacket and upon which is placed another colored compound containing a wax base, the latter compound producing a coating or film of predetermined color which conceals the undercoating or saturant which is usually of a different color; a further object being to provide a method of producin insulated electric conductors of the class escribed, upon which different colored coatings may be applied on the different conductors of a multiple conductor cable so as to distinguish one conductor from the other, thus simplifying electrical installations and insuring the electricians selection of circuit wires of proper polarity as well as correct circuits; a further object being to provide a color compound having a wax base, which when applied to the conventional black saturant will not only produce the desired color jacket or enclosure, but will also partially adhere to the saturant to prevent, in the flexure of the conductor, what is known as chipping, cracking or flaking; a still further object being to provide an electric conductor of the class specified, in connection with which a final or third coating of colored wax may be employed, the latter being of a color consistent with the color of the wax base compound applied directly upon the saturant; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a conductor and the method of producing the same, which is more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view indicating one method of applying a saturant to an insulated wire as well as an optional method of applying a powdered substance thereto.

Fig. 2 is a. diagrammatic view illustrating a method of applying a colored compound to the insulated wire treated with the saturant, and illustrating a method of chilling and polishing the colored compound coating, and,

Fig. 3 is a detail view of an electric conductor indicating the applications of coatings thereon.

For the purpose of illustrating one method of carrying m invention into effect, I have diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing, apparatus for applying the several coatings to an insulated conductor. In Fig. 1, I have indicated at 5 a reel of an insulated conductor strand consisting, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing, of a wire 6, a rubber jacket 7 and a fabric jacket 8 in the form of a cotton braid or any other desired structure.

The conductor passes from the reel 5 into a tank 9 containing a saturant 1O passin around two sheaves 11 and 12 disposed in sai tank and over uide rollers 13 at opposite ends of the tanl The tank 9 is heated by burners 14 or any other suitable heating element to maintain the saturant at the desired temperature.

The saturant 10 is in the form of a compound having the usual weather-proof and flame resisting characteristics and is preferably black in color but may be produced in other colors if desired. However, it is preferred to use the black saturant by reason of its economy and practicability. After passing through the tank 9, the conductor 5a treated with the saturant may be passed directly onto a receiving reel 15, or if desired, may be passed into and through the tank 16 later described. However, in Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have shown the treated conductor passing into a container 17 in which is placed a powdered substance 18, such for example as sodium bicarbonate, sodium tungstate, sodium carbonate or a similar substance or combination of substances, or in fact, a so lution such as sodium silicate may be used. The conductor passes around a sheave 19 in the container 17 and then upwardly around it passes may be passed directly into and through the tank 16 containing a colored compound 21. However, in the construction shown in Fig. 2, the treated conductor 5a extends from the reel 15a, Fig. 2, which may be the same as the reel 15, and passes around a sheave 22 which submerges the conductor in the compound 21 so as to apply .a coating of the compound to the conductor. Inpassing from the sheave 22, the conductor 51) treated with the compound 21 passes through a wiper 23 disposed over the tank 16 which removes all surplus compound and leaves thereon a relatively thin coating or film, the treated conductor 57) then passingbeneath a water spray 24 disposed above a tank 25 for the purpose of. chilling and hardening the compound coating 21 arranged on the-conductor, afterwhich the conductor passes over a guide pulley or roller 26, then between polishing or finishing rollers 27 and onto a receiving reel or spool 28. The compound 21 in the tank 16 is maintained at the proper temperature by a suitable heater indicated at'29. The water discharged from the spray 24 is controlled by a valve 30 in a supply pipe 31, which may be in circuit with the drain or discharge pipe 32 of the tank 25 or from another source of water supply, in which event the drain 32 will merely constitute-a discharge.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown the various coatings applied to the fibrous casing or jacket 8 of the insulated wire, the saturant being indicated at 10, the powdered or other coating at 18, the colored compound at 21, and at 33 I have indicated another or final coating which is an optional coating that may be ap lied with the apparatus shown in Fig.

2 or y means of a spray. The coating '33 consists of wax containing a color pigment consistent with the color of the compound 21,

although the shade of the final coating may be lighter or darker than the compound coating 21 as desired.

It will be understood that theapplication of the saturant to the fabric jacket of. an'insulated wire is old in the art, and my present invention does not deal with the specific characteristics of this saturant other than the requirement of a saturanthaving weatherproof and fire or flame resisting properties. This saturant impregnates the fibres of the jacket 8, and is such as to meet the tests and requirements of the fire underwriters- At this time, it will be understood that while my inventionis not limited to the use of the application of the powdered or other substance 18 to the saturant, if used, this substancewill also preferably-have the flame resisting characteristics and will facilitate the application oi the compound 21 to the conductor treated with the saturant, and will eliminate to a large degree the possibility of the black saturant showing through the color compound, althou h'I have found in practice, that the colore compound will completely or substantially completely cover and coat the saturant, producing the desired color in the compound,

The colored compound which forms the basic feature of my invention in its combination with a saturant, is composed primarily of a wax base and a pigment of the color desired in the resultingproduct. In compounding this coating which may be regarded as a color filament or jacket, I prefer to use parafiin wax,-with which is combined relative 1y small percentages of carnauba wax and synthetic wax, and if desired, a small amount of synthetic resin may be included. It will be understood, however, that the various ingredients will be modified and varied in their proportions and uses, depending upon the particular type and consistency of the saturant employed on the conductor and the color pigment used in the compound, and still further in acquiring in the resulting film or jacket a coating which will withstand bending or flexure of the conductor, without danger of cracking or flaking, it being understood at this time, that by employing the wax base appearance, and in the contrasting colors desired in the many electrical uses.

The polishing rollers 27 or other means em ployed serve, in addition to the characteristics of the compound,.to give a polished glossy appearance to the finished conductor. It will be understood that my improved compound may be produced in white and the va-.

rious shades of blue, green, brown, yellow, orange, gray, etc. soas to produce in a multiple conductor cable, decided color contrasts between the conductors employed to clearly distinguish one from the other.

In some instances, and especially when light colors are employed in the compound 21 and the same is used upon the black satv urant, the black background-of .the saturant may tend to darken the colors. Accordingly, the compounds will be prepared to meet this condition. However, if the outer coating 33 of colored wax be employed, this color, being of the same ground color as the compound 21, will produce the lighter shade in the resulting product. Whenused, the outer coating 33 serves to fill in an voids in the layer of the colored com oun which maly occur due to mechanical efects in its app lcation, and produces a smoother and more finished appearance to the entire product, but for all practical purposes, this final coating is found not to be necessar and in view of the increased cost, woul not be commercially desirable, except in specific cases.

It will also be understood that I may include with the colored compound, substances which would render the same flame-proof or flame resisting to some degree, thus increasing the flame retarding properties of the complete product. For example, chlorinated naphthaline may be used, it being well known that when heated, the applied chlorine gas is liberated from the chlorinated product which has a tendency to smother inflammable gases which are usually given off by the rubber insulation and which usually burn freely until finally consumed.

It will be understood that an insulated con ductor treated inaccordance with the method herein set forth and by the use of the colored opaque compound, can be produced at a very nominal production cost, and yet the finished product has distinct advantageous features over other known methods of applying lacquer coatings to insulated wires. While I have shown and described certain types of apparatus for applying the various coatings to the insulated conductor and have set forth certain ingredients in the compound, it will be understood that my invention is not limited in these respects, and various changes in and modifications of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The process of treating the fibrous covering of an insulated electric conductor which comprises first applying a black, flame retarding saturant to said covering, then applying another substance having flame retarding characteristics upon the saturant, and then applying a color composition containing a wax base upon said substance so as to cover and mask the black saturant and commingle therewith.

2. The herein described method of producing colored insulated conductors, which comprises first treating the outer fibrous jacket of the conductor with a flame retarding saturant of predetermined color, and then applying a compound of contrasting color and having a wax base upon the fabric jacket treated with the saturant to provide in the resulting product a finished coating commingling with the saturant and of a color contrasting to and concealing the color of the saturant.

3. The herein described method of roducing colored insulated conductors, w 'ch comprises first treating the outer fibrous jacket of the conductor with a flame retarding saturant of predetermined color, then applying a compound of contrasting color and havin a wax base upon the fabric 'acket treated w1th the saturant to provide in the resulting product a finished coating comminglin with the saturant and of a color contracting to and concealing the color of the saturant, and then applying to the compound coating a final coatin of paraflin containing a color pigment conslstent with that of the color of said compound.

4. The method of treating an electric conductor having a fibrous jacket, which comprises first impregnating the jacket with a flame retarding saturant, and then applying a coating conslsting of an opaque color compound to and forming a covering masking the saturant, the com ound having a melting point substantially similar to or higher than thap1 of the saturant and commingling therewit 5. The herein described method of producing a flame resisting insulated electric conductor which comprises first applying a flame resistant and water roof saturant to the insulation of the con uctor and then applyin a colored flame resistant opaque compoun over said saturant to form a cover masking and partially commingling with the saturant.

6. The process of treating the fibrous covering of an insulated electric conductor which comprises first applying a black saturant to said covering and then applying to the covering thus treated a colored opaque composition having a wax base to commingle with and and adhere to the saturant and forming a colored covering masking the saturant.

7. The process of treating the fibrous covering of insulated electric conductors which comprises first applying a saturant to said covering, then applying a colored opaque compound containing a wax base over said saturant, the compound commingling with the saturant when applied thereto and also forming a covering masking the saturant with the color value of the compound.

8. The process of treating the fibrous covering of insulated electric conductors which comprises first applying a saturant to said covering, then applying a colored apaque compound containing a wax base over said saturant, the compound commingling with the saturant when applied thereto and also forming a covering masking the saturant with the color value of the compound, and then applying to the product a final coating of wax containing a color pigment consistent with the ground color of the compound employed.

9. The process of treating the fibrous-covering of insulated electric conductors which comprises firstapplying a saturant to said covering, then applying a flame resisting powdered substance to said saturant, then applying a colored opaque compound contain ing a wax base over said saturant, the compound commingling with the saturant when I applied thereto and also forming a covering masking the saturant with the color value of the compound.

10. The method of providing a predetermined finish coating to an electric conductor having its fabric jacket impregnated with a black saturant, which. comprises-applying over the saturant an opaque composition having-awax base and including a color pigment contrasting to that of said black saturant, the saturant and the compound being substantially of the same melting point to provide a commingling therebetween.

11. In the art of electric installation, an electric wire including rubber insulation upon which is a fabric jacket, said jacket being treated with a fire resisting saturant, and an outer coating of opaque colored wax covering and masking the saturant and producing a predetermined color on the insulation of the wire and said coating commingling with the saturant without destroying the color value thereof.

12. In the art of electrical insulation, a fabric jacket for electric conductors having a coating of a flame retarding substance, another coating applied to and eommingling with the first coating. both of said coatings being of substantially the same melting point, and the last named coating comprising an opaque colored compound having a wax base forming on the first coating a colored mask enveloping the insulated wire.

13. In the art of electrical insulation, a fabric jacket for electric conductors having a coating of a flame retarding substance, another coating applied to and commingling with the first coating, both of said coatings being of'substanti ally the same melting point,

the last named coating comprising an opaque colored compound having a waxbase forming on the first coating a colored mask enveloping the insulated wire, and a flame retarding substance applied to the first coating before the application of the second coating.

14. In the art of electrical insulation, a fabric jacket for electric conductors having a coating of a flame retarding substance. another coating applied to and commingling with the first coating, both of said coatings being of substantially the same melting point, the last named coating comprising an opaque colored compound having a wax base forming on the first coating a colored mask enveloping the insulated wire, a flame retarding substance applied to the first coating before the application of the second coating, and a

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