Electrical cable having a surface with reduced coefficient of friction
The present invention includes a cable having reduced surface friction and the method of manufacture thereof including steps in which a conductor wire is coated with a first plastic material, optionally coated with a second plastic material and the coated conductor wire then cooled, and includes a step in which a lubricating material is applied to the surface of the cooled, coated cable. The cable includes at least one conductor core and at least one coating of plastic material and incorporates a lubricating material on the exterior coating. The equipment for the manufacturing of the electrical cable includes a reel for supplying a conductor wire to an extruding head, which is connected to tanks containing plastic materials for coating the conducting wire, a reel for taking up the cable, and a device for the application of a lubricating material onto the surface of the cable.
1 . A method for the manufacture of an electrical cable including:
providing an electrical conductor wire;
providing a first plastic material;
coating the conductor wire with the first plastic material;
providing a second plastic material;
coating the first plastic coated conductor wire with the second plastic material;
cooling the coated conductor wire; and
applying a lubricating material to the surface of the cooled, coated conductor wire.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the applying step is carried out between the step of coating the conductor wire with the second plastic material and the step of cooling the coated conductor wire.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the applying step is carried out after the coated conductor has cooled.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lubricating material is selected from the group consisting essentially of substituted amides, substituted sulfonamides, cyclic amides, alkyl amines, and mixtures thereof.
5 . An electrical cable including at least one conductor core and at least one coating of plastic material having a lubricating material incorporated on the exterior coating of the plastic material.
6 . The cable according to claim 1 , wherein the lubricating material is applied by spraying.
7 . The method for manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 1 wherein the lubricating material is applied onto the second plastic material, the second plastic material having a temperature of at least 85° C.; and cooling the second plastic material after the lubricating material is applied thereon.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein during the coating step, the second plastic material has a temperature of approximately 150 degree C.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein during the cooling step, the second plastic material and the lubricating material are cooled to approximately 20 degree C.
10 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the lubricating material comprises a lactam.
11 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the lubricating material comprises a phosphate.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the lubricating material comprises caprolactam.
13 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first plastic material is polyvinylchloride.
14 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the second plastic material is a polyamide.
15 . A method for the manufacture of an electrical cable including:
providing an electrical conductor wire;
coating the conductor wire with a plastic material;
cooling the plastic material; and
applying a lubricating material to the surface of the cable.
16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the applying step is carried out between the step of coating the conductor wire with plastic material and the step of cooling the material.
17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the applying step is carried out after the plastic material has cooled.
18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the lubricating material is selected from the group consisting essentially of substituted amides, substituted sulfonamides, cyclic amides, alkyl amines, and mixtures thereof.
19 . The cable according to claim 15 , wherein the lubricating material is applied by spraying.
20 . A method for manufacturing an electrical cable, comprising:
providing an electrical conductor wire;
coating the conductor wire with a plastic material;
applying a lubricating material onto the plastic material, the plastic material having a temperature of at least 20° C.; and
cooling the plastic material after the lubricating material is applied thereon.
21 . A material for reducing the friction between the outer surface of a cable and a structure which the cable contacts selected from the group consisting of substituted amides, substituted sulfonamides, cyclic amides, alkyl amines, and mixtures thereof.
22 . A composition of matter comprising a lubricating material mixed with a plastic material, said lubricating material selected from the group consisting of substituted amides, substituted sulfonamides, cyclic amides, alkyl amines, and mixtures thereof.
23 . The method of claim 4 wherein the lubricating material comprises a sulfonate.