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 and with a mixture of a second plastic material and lubricating material and the coated conductor wire cooled. The cable includes at least one conductor core and at least two coatings of plastic material and incorporates a lubricating material in and/or on the outer layer of plastic material. 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 material and lubricating material for coating the conducting wire, and a reel for taking up 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 lubricating material;
providing a second plastic material;
mixing the second plastic material and said lubricating material; and
coating the first plastic coated conductor wire with said mixture of the second plastic material and lubricating material.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second plastic material are in the form of pellets.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first plastic material is polyvinylchloride.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the second plastic material is a polyamide.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the lubricating material is incorporated or mixed with the second plastic material prior to or as the second plastic material is formed into pellets.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lubricating material is introduced to and mixed with the second plastic material prior to coating the conductor wire.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of coating the conductor wire is accomplished by extruding the mixture of the second plastic material and lubricating material onto the first plastic coated conductor wire.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein a mixture of the second plastic material and lubricating material is introduced into the extruder.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the second plastic material is introduced into the extruder and the lubricating material is subsequently introduced into the extruder.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lubricating material is selected from the group consisting essentially of fatty amides, fatty acids, fatty esters, metallic fatty acids, hydrocarbon oils, plasticizers, silicone oils and mixtures thereof.
11 . A method for manufacturing an electrical cable, comprising:
providing an electrical conductor wire;
providing a first plastic material;
coating the conductor wire with the first plastic material;
providing a lubricating material;
providing a second plastic material;
mixing the second plastic material and said lubricating material;
coating the first plastic coated conductor wire with said mixture of the second plastic material and lubricating material wherein the second plastic material has a temperature of at least 85° C.; and
cooling coated conductor wire.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein during the coating step, the second plastic material has a temperature of approximately 150 degree C.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein during the cooling step, the second plastic material and the lubricating material are cooled to approximately 20 degree. C.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the lubricating material is selected from the group consisting of fatty amides, fatty acids, fatty esters, metallic fatty acids, hydrocarbon oils, plasticizers, silicone oils and mixtures thereof.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the lubricating material comprises oleamide.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the lubricating material comprises erucamide.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the lubricating material comprises mineral oil.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the lubricating material comprises silicone oil.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the lubricating material comprises dibasic esters.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the lubricating material comprises ethylenebisstearamide.