Southwire Company Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160087417 | Vibration Resistant Cable - A vibration resistant cable may be provided. The vibration resistant cable may comprise a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor and the second conductor may each have a diameter d. The second conductor may be twisted around the first conductor at a lay length determined as a function of the diameter d and may be configured to reduce relative movement of the first conductor and the second conductor that would result in bags in the vibration resistant cable. | 03-24-2016 |
20150321876 | Rotatable Cable Reel - A cable reel of the present disclosure can include two flanges and a central drum being independently rotatable from one another. The drum, which can be configured to receive a cable, can be mounted on an axle. The two flanges can be rotationally mounted on the axle at opposing distal ends of the axle. Bearings in the flanges can allow for a full rotation of the flanges about the axle. | 11-12-2015 |
20140158392 | Vibration Resistant Cable - A vibration resistant cable may be provided. The vibration resistant cable may comprise a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor and the second conductor may each have a diameter d. The second conductor may be twisted around the first conductor at a lay length determined as a function of the diameter d and may be configured to reduce relative movement of the first conductor and the second conductor that would result in bags in the vibration resistant cable. | 06-12-2014 |
20140131505 | Wire and Cable Package - Consistent with embodiments of the invention, a cable package may be provided. The cable package may comprise a cable and a chamber. The cable may comprise a winding and at least one free end. The chamber may define an internal volume containing the cable. The chamber may comprise a continuous opening. The continuous opening may comprise at least one surface arranged to apply pressure to a portion of the cable located proximate to the continuous opening. | 05-15-2014 |
20140123812 | Ultrasonic Device with Integrated Gas Delivery System - Methods for degassing and for removing impurities from molten metals are disclosed. These methods can include operating an ultrasonic device in a molten metal bath, and adding a purging gas into the molten metal bath through the tip of the ultrasonic device. | 05-08-2014 |
20140113069 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRICAL CABLE, AND RESULTING PRODUCT, WITH REDUCED REQUIRED INSTALLATION PULLING FORCE - Disclosed is type THHN cable having a reduced surface coefficient of friction, and the method of manufacture thereof, in which the central conductor core and insulating layer are surrounded by a nylon sheath. A high viscosity, high molecular weight silicone based pulling lubricant for THHN cable, or alternatively, erucamide or stearyl erucamide for small THHN gauge wire, is incorporated, by alternate methods, with the nylon material from which the outer sheath is extruded, and is effective to reduce the required pulling force on the cable during installation. | 04-24-2014 |
20140054286 | ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE - Electrical accessories and associated methods of use and manufacture are provided. In one embodiment, an electrical accessory can be provided. The electrical accessory can include a frame including two side walls in parallel relation to each other, and two end walls in parallel relation to each other, and disposed between the two side walls. The electrical accessory can also include at least one positioning arm mounted to at least one of the end walls, wherein the at least one positioning arm comprises a support leg mounted to the at least one end wall, and a prong substantially perpendicular to the at least one positioning arm, wherein a side wall portion of an adjacent electrical accessory can be positioned between the prong and at least one side wall. | 02-27-2014 |
20140054285 | ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE - Electrical accessories and associated methods of use and manufacture are provided. In one embodiment, an electrical accessory can be provided. The electrical accessory can include an electrical junction box having a first side wall. The electrical accessory can also include an adjustable bracket coupled to the electrical junction box. The adjustable bracket can include a sliding plate and a mounting plate. The sliding plate can be positioned adjacent the first side wall and can be removably coupled to the electrical junction box. The adjustable bracket can also include a mounting hole axially aligned with the mounting hole of the first side wall of the junction box. The axially aligned mounting holes can be configured to receive a screw such that rotation of the screw moves the sliding plate and electrical junction box in relation to the mounting plate. | 02-27-2014 |
20140053389 | Pulling Head Assembly Workstation - A workstation and method for the installation of a pulling head assembly onto one or more conductors of a cabling system are provided. The workstation incorporates one or more of: a conductor clamp that holds the conductors of the cabling system in place during the installation of the pulling head assembly; a cutting guide having indicia marks that indicate the lengths to which to cut the conductors in order to achieve a staggered pattern of pulling eyes attached to the conductors in the pulling head assembly; a stripping tool that is used to remove a portion of the insulation from the terminal end of each conductor so that the end of the conductor may be inserted into the pulling eye; and a crimping tool that is used to crimp the pulling eyes onto the terminal ends of each of the conductors. | 02-27-2014 |
20140048607 | Traceable and Theft Deterrent Reclaimable Product - A theft deterrent product may be provided. The theft deterrent product may comprise a jacket and a core under the jacket. In addition, the theft deterrent product may include an identification tape under the jacket. The identification tape may comprise a plurality of indicia located periodically and longitudinally on the identification tape. The plurality of indicia may respectively correspond to a plurality of unique codes. | 02-20-2014 |
20140027562 | Reel Assemblies with Customizable and Interchangeable Drums - Methods, systems, and apparatus are described herein for using reel assemblies including customizable and interchangeable drums. According to embodiments described herein, a reel assembly includes a first flange having a bolt pattern and a second flange having the bolt pattern. The reel assembly also includes a core drum having a first end and a second end. The first and second ends of the reel assembly also have the bolt pattern. The first end of the reel assembly is detachably coupled to the first flange via the bolt pattern, and the second end of the reel assembly is detachably coupled to the second flange via the bolt pattern. | 01-30-2014 |
20140020270 | LABELED ARMORED ELECTRICAL CABLE - Flexible indicia bearing labels are placed on armored electrical cable at spaced apart intervals while the cable is being moving continuously from an armoring station to a takeup reel or accumulator. A label dispenser places labels in a U shaped recess of a body which is moveable toward engagement with the cable. Opposed rollers fold one edge of the label over into engagement with the surface of the cable and the other edge of the label over onto itself in overlapping relationship. The cable is passed through a heat tunnel to shrink the labels into tight engagement with the cable. A controller monitors movement of the cable and controls actuators for applying and folding labels onto the cable at spaced apart intervals. | 01-23-2014 |
20130218325 | Integrated Systems Facilitating Wire And Cable Installations - Pulling eyes are provided with integrated wiring systems suitable for installing conductors or cables. The pulling eyes may include body portions that define interior cavities that are sized to snugly engage outside portions of the conductors or cables. The body portions are sized to be deformably crimped onto the outside portions of the conductors or cables. The pulling eyes may also include head portions joined to the body portions, with the head portions defining apertures for receiving a strength member for installing the conductors or cables. These apertures place the interior cavities in communication with the exteriors of the pulling eyes. | 08-22-2013 |
20130179079 | Real-Time Power Line Rating - Real-time power line rating may be provided. First, sensor data may be received corresponding to a conductor of a power line. The sensor data may provide real-time weather conditions for the conductor's environment. The sensor data may be received from a sensor device configured to collect the sensor data. The sensor data may correspond to the weather conditions at a location of the sensor device on the power line. Next, design limitations for the power line having the conductor may be received. The conductor of the power line may have a design ampacity based upon the design limitations and assumed weather conditions for the conductor's environment. Then a dynamic ampacity may be calculated for the power line based upon the received sensor data and the received design limitations for the power line. The power line may then be operated according to the calculated dynamic ampacity instead of the design ampacity. | 07-11-2013 |
20130160286 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRICAL CABLE, AND RESULTING PRODUCT, WITH REDUCED REQUIRED INSTALLATION PULLING FORCE - Disclosed is type THHN cable having a reduced surface coefficient of friction, and the method of manufacture thereof, in which the central conductor core and insulating layer are surrounded by a nylon sheath. A high viscosity, high molecular weight silicone based pulling lubricant for THHN cable, or alternatively, erucamide or stearyl erucamide for small THHN gauge wire, is incorporated, by alternate methods, with the nylon material from which the outer sheath is extruded, and is effective to reduce the required pulling force on the cable during installation. | 06-27-2013 |
20130062873 | Traceable and Theft Deterrent Reclaimable Product - A theft deterrent product may be provided. The theft deterrent product may comprise an outer layer, an inner portion, and a center portion. The outer layer may comprise tin. The inner portion may be inside the outer layer and may comprise copper. The center portion may be inside the inner portion and may comprise steel. A plurality of indicia may be located periodically and longitudinally on the product. The plurality of indicia may respectively correspond to a plurality of unique codes and may be etched through the outer layer and into the inner portion. | 03-14-2013 |
20130060511 | Porosity Detection - A computer executing a software algorithm may be used to detect a depression in a temperature profile. The temperature profile may be smoothed to eliminate noise. Next, the temperature profile's center may be extracted. A polynomial may be fitted to extracted data. An algorithm used to fit the polynomial may guarantee that the fitted curve's peak may be below the actual temperature data's peak. Next, residuals may be calculated by subtracting the fitted curve from the actual data. If there is a dip at the center, then the residuals in the center may be less than zero. The software algorithm executing on the computer may then make a decision based on a sign of the residuals. For example, residuals less than zero may indicate bar porosity. Residuals above zero may indicate no porosity. The magnitude of the residuals may then be used to classify a size of a detected defect. | 03-07-2013 |
20120103656 | Vibration Resistant Cable - A vibration resistant cable may be provided. The vibration resistant cable may comprise a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor and the second conductor may each have a diameter d. The second conductor may be twisted around the first conductor at a lay length determined as a function of the diameter d and may be configured to reduce relative movement of the first conductor and the second conductor that would result in bags in the vibration resistant cable. | 05-03-2012 |
20120067609 | Folded Electrical Junction Boxes and Associated Methods of Use and Manufacture - Folded electrical junction boxes and associated methods of use and manufacture. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing an electrical junction box can be provided. The method can include receiving a single sheet or roll of metal. The method can further include initiating a plurality of operations to form at least two electrical junction boxes from the single sheet or roll of metal. The operations can include forming at least one extruded threaded hole in a wall of one of the boxes; cutting the sheet or roll of metal to form a plurality of walls for the boxes; scoring a centerline in at least one surface of one of the boxes; and cutting at least one knockout in at least one wall of one of the boxes. Further, the method can include folding the plurality of walls to form at least one folded electrical junction box. | 03-22-2012 |
20120061137 | Electrical Accessories and Associated Methods of Use and Manufacture - Electrical accessories and associated methods of use and manufacture. In one embodiment, a system includes a plurality of electrical junction boxes. Each electrical junction box includes at least one wall with a pair of spaced apart holes, wherein the holes are sized and shaped to receive a pair of corresponding mounting devices. The system also includes at least one bracket. The bracket includes a pair of spaced apart mounting devices, wherein the mounting devices are sized and shaped to protrude through the pair of corresponding spaced apart holes in the plurality of electrical junction boxes. At least one of the plurality of electrical junction boxes is maintained in a relative stationary position with respect to the at least one bracket when the pair of spaced apart mounting devices protrudes through the respective pair of spaced apart holes in the wall of the at least one electrical junction box. | 03-15-2012 |
20120031642 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRICAL CABLE, AND RESULTING PRODUCT, WITH REDUCED REQUIRED INSTALLATION PULLING FORCE - Disclosed is type THHN cable having a reduced surface coefficient of friction, and the method of manufacture thereof, in which the central conductor core and insulating layer are surrounded by a nylon sheath. A high viscosity, high molecular weight silicone based pulling lubricant for THHN cable, or alternatively, erucamide or stearyl erucamide for small THHN gauge wire, is incorporated, by alternate methods, with the nylon material from which the outer sheath is extruded, and is effective to reduce the required pulling force on the cable during installation. | 02-09-2012 |
20120006086 | Providing Plastic Zone Extrusion - Plastic zone extrusion may be provided. First, stock may be placed in a chamber. Then frictional heat may be generated within the stock to heat the stock to a plastic zone of the stock in the chamber. The stock may then be extruded through an orifice in the chamber after the stock is at the plastic zone. | 01-12-2012 |
20110253414 | METAL-CLAD CABLE ASSEMBLY - A metal-clad cable assembly comprising a conductor assembly having a plurality of insulated conductors and a binder disposed around the insulated conductors. The cable assembly further includes an outer metal sheath disposed around the conductor assembly and an electrically conductive grounding foil disposed externally to the conductor assembly, the conductive grounding foil comprising a bottom planar surface and a top planar surface, the bottom planar surface engaging the binder and the top planar surface engaging an interior surface of the metal sheath to form a low impedance equipment ground path. | 10-20-2011 |
20110141648 | ELECTRICAL SAFETY DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR USE WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING, AND METHODS FOR USING SAME - Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring an electrical flat wire. An appropriate safety device is utilized to monitor the electrical flat wire. The safety device includes a line side input configured to connect a line side power source and receive an electrical power signal from the line side power source. Additionally, the safety device includes a flat wire connection configured to connect to an electrical flat wire. The safety device further includes at least one relay configured to control the communication of the electrical power signal onto the electrical flat wire. The safety device also includes a control unit configured to test the electrical flat wire for at least one of miswires, wire faults, or abnormal conditions and, based at least in part on the results of the testing, to control the actuation of the at least one relay. | 06-16-2011 |
20100314148 | FLEXIBLE CABLE WITH STRUCTURALLY ENHANCED OUTER SHEATH - A flexible cable including an outer sheath having an inner surface, the inner surface forming a channel to receive at least one conductor and a support member. At least one conductor and support member are positioned within the channel to substantially resist deformation of the outer sheath. | 12-16-2010 |
20100252299 | Armored Cable with Integral Support - A system for providing cable support may be provided. The system may comprise a conductor core, a filler that may provide integral core support, and armor. The conductor core may comprise at least one conductor. The filler may be applied around at least a portion of the conductor core. The armor may be applied around at least a portion of the filler. The applied armor may be configured to cause the filler to apply a strong enough force on an exterior of the conductor core configured to keep the conductor core from slipping down an interior of the filler due to a gravitational force. In addition, the applied armor may be configured to cause the filler to apply a strong enough force on an interior of the armor configured to keep a combination of the conductor core and the filler from slipping down the interior of the armor due to the gravitational force. | 10-07-2010 |
20100247746 | Method and Apparatus for Multi-Stream Metered Extrusion - An extrusion apparatus for extruding multiple streams of extrusion material as extruded end-products and in the coating of substrates. A flow joiner in an extrusion head combines multiple metered streams such as from a gear pump, into a uniform extrusion flow. | 09-30-2010 |
20100236811 | Electrical Cable Having Crosslinked Insulation With Internal Pulling Lubricant - Electrical power cable having a reduced surface coefficient of friction and required installation pulling force, and the method of manufacture thereof, in which the central conductor core, with or without a separate insulating layer, is surrounded by a sheath of crosslinked polyethylene. A high viscosity, high molecular weight silicone based pulling lubricant or fatty acid amide pulling lubricant is incorporated by alternate methods with the polyethylene to form a composition from which the outer sheath is extruded, and is effective to reduce the required pulling force on the cable during installation. | 09-23-2010 |
20100230134 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRICAL CABLE, AND RESULTING PRODUCT, WITH REDUCED REQUIRED INSTALLATION PULLING FORCE - Disclosed is type THHN cable having a reduced surface coefficient of friction, and the method of manufacture thereof, in which the central conductor core and insulating layer are surrounded by a nylon sheath. A high viscosity, high molecular weight silicone based pulling lubricant for THHN cable, or alternatively, erucamide or stearyl erucamide for small THHN gauge wire, is incorporated, by alternate methods, with the nylon material from which the outer sheath is extruded, and is effective to reduce the required pulling force on the cable during installation. | 09-16-2010 |
20100212932 | Electrical Cable - An electrical cable may be provided. The electrical cable may comprise a unilay core, a first outer conductor layer adjacent to the unilay core, and a second outer conductor layer adjacent to the first outer conductor layer. The first outer conductor layer may have a first lay direction. The second outer conductor layer may have a second lay direction opposite the first lay direction of the first outer conductor layer. The unilay core may comprise a center core strand and a first core layer adjacent to the center core strand. | 08-26-2010 |
20100101821 | METAL-CLAD CABLE WITH FORAMINOUS CODED LABEL - A metal-clad cable having a plurality of spaced apart labels. The labels have coded information about the cable and are conductive and/or include a plurality of openings so as to assure conductivity between an outer sheath of the metal-clad cable and a terminating assembly connector member coupled thereto. | 04-29-2010 |
20100086630 | MULTI-LAYER EXTRUSION HEAD FOR SELF-SEALING CABLE - An extrusion head may be provided. The extrusion head may include an inner flow path, an outer flow path, and at least one sealant flow path. The inner flow path may be configured to direct a flow of an inner layer around a conductor. The outer flow path may be configured to direct a flow of an outer layer around the inner layer. The at least one sealant flow path may extend to a connecting point with the inner flow path and the outer flow path. The at least one sealant flow path may be configured to direct a sealant to fill at least one sealant channel region between the inner layer and the outer layer. The connection point may be configured to cause the flow of the inner layer and the flow of the outer layer to join before the sealant fills the at least one sealant channel region. | 04-08-2010 |
20100000784 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRICAL CABLE HAVING REDUCED REQUIRED FORCE FOR INSTALLATION - Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a finished cable by a process directed to reduce the amount of force required to install the cable. The process involves the extrusion of the cable's outer sheath and the incorporation of a pulling lubricant in connection with, and prior to the completion of, the extrusion to reduce the sheath's surface coefficient of friction as well as reduce the required force to pull the cable for installation. The conductor core is coated with an extruded plastic material with which an appropriate (in amount and type) pulling lubricant is initially combined with the plastic material prior to the formation of the sheath and in which the sheathed conductor core is thereafter cooled, the lubricant either migrating to and/or permeating the sheath to be available at the surface of the sheath at the time of the cable's installation. The preselected lubricant is disclosed as either combined with the plastic material during initial pelletization, or mixed with the plastic pellets prior to introduction of the mixture into the extruding head, or introduced into the extruding head at a separate location downstream from where the plastic material is introduced into the extruding head. | 01-07-2010 |
20090300909 | LOW TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS OF FLAME RETARDANT POWER CABLE - Jacketed power cables may have a core conductor and an outermost layer of cable jacketing material that may be PVC-based or polyolefin-based, and that may contain a flame retardant additive. These jacketed power cables may have sufficient flame retardancy and cold impact strength to be installed and/or used at temperatures below 0° C. | 12-10-2009 |
20090242232 | Traceable and Theft Deterrent Reclaimable Product - A theft deterrent cable may be provided. First, a plurality of unique codes may be created. Then a plurality of indicia may be placed periodically and longitudinally on the interior of the cable that may not be viable from the exterior of the cable. The plurality of indicia may respectively correspond to the plurality of unique codes. An indicator may be placed on the exterior of the cable. In a database, the plurality of unique codes may be assigned to an organizational entity. The organizational entity may comprise a first enterprise. Next, an indication that the cable is to be transferred from the first enterprise to a second enterprise may be received. In response to the received indication, the plurality of unique codes may be assigned in the database from the organizational entity comprising the first enterprise to the organizational entity comprising a second enterprise. | 10-01-2009 |
20090229779 | Porosity Detection - A computer executing a software algorithm may be used to detect a depression in a temperature profile. The temperature profile may be smoothed to eliminate noise. Next, the temperature profile's center may be extracted. A polynomial may be fitted to extracted data. An algorithm used to fit the polynomial may guarantee that the fitted curve's peak may be below the actual temperature data's peak. Next, residuals may be calculated by subtracting the fitted curve from the actual data. If there is a dip at the center, then the residuals in the center may be less than zero. The software algorithm executing on the computer may then make a decision based on a sign of the residuals. For example, residuals less than zero may indicate bar porosity. Residuals above zero may indicate no porosity. The magnitude of the residuals may then be used to classify a size of a detected defect. | 09-17-2009 |
20090124113 | FLAT WIRE EXTENSION CORDS AND EXTENSION CORD DEVICES - Flat wire extension cords and extension cord devices are provided. A flat wire extension cord includes an elongated cord, a first connected attached to a first end of the elongated cord, and a second connected attached to an opposite end of the elongated cord. The elongated cord includes at least one electrifiable conductor for delivering electrical power, first and second insulating layers formed on opposing sides of the at least one electrifiable conductor, and first and second return conductors formed on the first and second insulating layers, respectively, such that said at least one electrifiable conductor is at least substantially entrapped by said first and second return conductors. The first connector is operable to connect the conductors of the elongated cord to a line side input, and the second connector is operable to connect the conductors of the elongated cord to a load. | 05-14-2009 |
20080302554 | Armored Cable With Integral Support - A system for providing cable support may be provided. The system may comprise a conductor core, a filler that may provide integral core support, and armor. The conductor core may comprise at least one conductor. The filler may be applied around at least a portion of the conductor core. The armor may be applied around at least a portion of the filler. The applied armor may be configured to cause the filler to apply a strong enough force on an exterior of the conductor core configured to keep the conductor core from slipping down an interior of the filler due to a gravitational force. In addition, the applied armor may be configured to cause the filler to apply a strong enough force on an interior of the armor configured to keep a combination of the conductor core and the filler from slipping down the interior of the armor due to the gravitational force. | 12-11-2008 |
20080289855 | Pushable Cable - A cable assembly may be provided. The cable assembly may comprise a conductor core and a binding element. The binding elements may be configured helically around the conductor core. In addition, the binding element may be configured to, when the cable assembly is pushed through a conduit having at least one sweep, eliminate buckling of the cable assembly. Moreover, the binding element may be configured to cause a first pushing force on the cable assembly having a magnitude less than a second pushing force on the cable assembly corresponding to pushing the cable assembly through the conduit without the binding element on the conductor core. | 11-27-2008 |
20080286399 | Multi-Layer Extrusion Head for Self-Sealing Cable - An extrusion head may be provided. The extrusion head may include an inner flow path, an outer flow path, and at least one sealant flow path. The inner flow path may be configured to direct a flow of an inner layer around a conductor. The outer flow path may be configured to direct a flow of an outer layer around the inner layer. The at least one sealant flow path may extend to a connecting point with the inner flow path and the outer flow path. The at least one sealant flow path may be configured to direct a sealant to fill at least one sealant channel region between the inner layer and the outer layer. The connection point may be configured to cause the flow of the inner layer and the flow of the outer layer to join before the sealant fills the at least one sealant channel region. | 11-20-2008 |
20080272113 | Microwave Furnace - A system for melting a substance may be provided. The system may comprise a microwave generator, at least one wave guide, a melter assembly, and at least one thermal insulator. The at least one wave guide may connect the microwave generator to at least one power transfer element. The at least one wave guide may be configured to transfer microwave energy from the microwave generator to a refractory assembly. The melter assembly may comprise the refractory assembly and the at least one power transfer element connected to the refractory assembly. The refractory assembly may comprise at least one absorption element configured to transfer microwave energy, received from the at least one power transition element, into heat energy. The at least one thermal insulator may be configured to allow the microwaves to penetrate to the at least one absorption element. | 11-06-2008 |
20080217044 | COUPLED BUILDING WIRE ASSEMBLY - A coupled building wire assembly is provided wherein more than one length of NM cable having the same or different gauges are coupled together that permits one to pull multiple lengths of cable from a single coil. The exterior surfaces of the coupled building wire assembly is also coated with a lubricant or has its outer sheaths incorporating the sufficient lubricant, which either migrates to the sheaths' surfaces or permeates such sheaths. | 09-11-2008 |