US2199067A - Treatment tank for electric conductors - Google Patents

Description

Ap 30, 1940. M. B..BRADT TREATMENT TANK FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS Filed Sept. 22, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' 3 INVENTOR -llilillLwcm m h u. I

ATTORNEY April 30, 1940. B B ADT 2.199.067

TREATMENT TANK FOR ELE CTRIC CONDUCTORS Filed Sept. 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MERE/77 5 5/?407 BY ATTOR EY Patented Apr. 3!), 1940 eATEN OFFICE TREATMENT TANK FOR ELECTRIC GONDUC-TORS Merritt B. Bradt, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Pyro Products Corporation, Brooklyn,

a corporation of New York, Application September 22,1938, Serial No. 231,152 19 Claims. (01. 91-32) This invention relates to tanks for use in applying predetermined types and kinds of coatings toelectric conductors and particularly in employing what is termed a cradle tank for this purpose; and the object of the invention is to provide a tank of the character describedconsisting of a main tank proper and a reduced extension thereon forming an applicator portion of the tank through which one or more conductors are adapted to, be passed with means for pivotally supporting the tank in a frame so as to swing cradle-like in the frame to move the appliator portion of the tank into a raised position when not in .use to allow the coating compound to drain into the tank proper leaving the applicator portion of the tank free of the coating compound; a further object being to providemeans for retaining the tank in the rocked and inoperative position and further tothe provision of means for releasing the last namedmeans to automatically move the tank into normal or operative position; a further object being to provide means foradapting the tank to electric conductors or cables of different sizes by the substitution or replacement of. different dies or die supporting plates in connection with opposed walls of the applicator portion of the tank; and with these and other. objects in View, the invention consists .in a tank-structure of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, efficient in use, and which'is constructed as here-. inaiter described and claimed.

The invention is .fully disclosed in the fo1l'ow-' ing specification, of which the accompanying drawings form. a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and

in which: i s

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view illustrating an arrangement of treatment tanks in the treatment and coating of an electric conductor and incorporating one of the tanks formingthe subject matter of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a tank made according to the invention with parts of the construction broken away'and in section.

Fig. 3' is a transverse section of the structure shown in Fig. 1 indicating the tank in a raised and-inoperative position in dotted lines. I Fig. 4 is a plan view of a part of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and ,3 with the cover removed andv indicating the, action of the coating with respect to a conductor in passing through thetanh ductor out of the material in the tank or out of engagement with the heated material in the event Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view through one of the dies employed. a

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig, 3 showing'a modified form of tank construction; and,.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional view on the. line of Fig. 1 showing another form of wiper die which is employed.

In manufacturing insulated wire, it is customary to apply several coatings thereto and in most instances these coatings are applied hot.

In such treatment or processing of the wire with saturants and other coating materials, it

is customary to provide a tank or vat or a series thereof containing the particular material employed so that the respective materials can be maintained at'the right temperature to insure proper application thereof to the conductor.

' Heretofore it has been the customary practice tov utilize rectangular or square tanks composed of suitable material heated in numerous ways;

. and these tanks have contained suitable means or dies for controlling the passage of the wire to be treated therethrough, for example, dipping the wire. in the hot composition by passing the wire under or around one or more sheaves, at least partially submerged in the hot compound. Another method of procedure has been to pass a wire around single or duplex drums or cylinders partially submerged in. the heated material. A further method has been to ,raise the material from the tank by suitable means and slushing the same over the wire passed across the top of the tank. A still further procedure has been to pass the wire. between two flat discs revolving in the coating material'in the tank so as to pick up the material for contact with the wire passed between said discs, or to provide a trough or scrapper adjacent the discs to collect a portion of the material and pass the wire through such trough, for example in accordance with the teachings in Patent #2,034,546, issued March 17, 1936.

but in all suchcases, no means such as herein described has been provided for lifting the conof momentarily stopping. a run of the wire or in the operation of inserting or threading a wire ;to be treated through a series of tanks. It isone of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a tank which will accomplish this result. I 1

In the present practice, the use of all of. the sheaves and other mechanisms for guiding or I present invention for applying the usual or any feeding a wire through a tank are dispensed with in the present tank thus materially simplifying the tank structure.

With old tank equipment, it has been customary to operate the tanks with the material exposed to atmosphere; the material being lifted from the mass in many instances in order to provide a straight run of the wire across the tank. Here again the present tank eliminates these objectionable features, means being provided to close or seal the top of the tank thus preventing or at least materially retarding oxidation of the coating material as well as maintaining a more constant temperature of the coating material which is not possible with the present tank constructions and also eliminates fumes.

It will also appear that another advantage of the present tank construction resides in the fact that the Wire may be run with a much lower level of the material in the tank proper than would be possible with the known tank structures. Still further, it will appear that by reason of the simplicity and cleanliness of lines in the interior of the tank including the extension thereof, the

tank may be more quickly charged and thoroughly cleaned.

Another distinctive feature resides in the fact that the tank can be tipped to allow the operator to string the wire, or on the other hand, to quickly raise the wire above the material in the tank in the middle of a run so as not to leave the wire in contact with the coating material. The latter operation may be accomplished, for example, whenever it is desired to change or modify the temperature of the material in the tank. In this way apredetermined temperature may be maintained at all times. It will also appear that a tank of this construction and operation will facilitate the insertion of cold material into the tank from time to time in replacing the coating material being consumed without interfering with the continued operation of the tank, and this may be done and the tank otherwise handled without danger of subjecting an operator to burns from the hot material.

For the purpose of illustrating one of the many uses of the tank forming the subject matter of the present invention, Fig. 1 of the drawings i1- lustrates diagrammatically a general arrangement of applicator and treatment tanks for applying coatings to an electric conductor substantially in accordance with the teachings in application Serial No. 201,097, filed April 9, 1938.

In the diagrammatic illustration of Fig. 1, 90 represents a let-off reel upon which is arranged a conductor H, for example, a conductor the insulating jackets or casings of which or at least the outer jacket of which has been treated with a suitable saturant prior to passage through an applicator tank I2 made according to the desired intermediate proofing coating to the conductor. This proofing coating may consist for example of a wax base compound, a pigmented base compound, an asphalt compound, stearin pitch, a stearin pitch compound, or any other suitable flame and moisture proofing material. At this time it will be understood, however, that the tank may be utilized for the application of any suitable or desirable coating material to a conductor or other strand providing only that the nature of the material is such as to adapt it for the present intended use in a tank of the character forming the subject matter of the present'invention.

While for purposes of illustration the following specification will be applied more directly to the coating of electric conductors, cable and the like, it will of course be apparent that the same may be used for treating or coating elongated strip or strand material of any kind or class and for any purpose.

After passing from the tank l2, the conductor extends around a sheave [3 arranged in wide spaced relationship to the tank to provide a drying or setting period; the spacing being modified by the speed of operation of the strand and the particular type and kind of material employed. At l3a is shown a wiper of a twisted strand or strap for removing any irregularities that might prevail on the surface of the wire after passing through the tank I2. At I'Za is shown another applicator unit employed for applying an outer coating, such for example as a color coating, to the conductor treated as at I la. This coating applied by the unit '14 may be of any desired color including white and black in accordance with the teachings in Patents 1,887,851, granted November 15, 1932; 1,890,291, granted December 6, 1932; 1,955,424, granted April 17, 1934; 2,010,152, granted August 6, 1935; and 2,072,557, granted March 2, 1937.

The tank l2a may be of any type or kind, but I have found that a tank of the type and kind shown at [2 may be employed. However, it is preferred that in applying color coatings, a substitute for one of the dies which are used in the tank I2 is provided, and this die or wiper element is shown in detail in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

The conductor treated by the material of the tank [2a as at llb may then be passed, if desired, through a marking unit indicated for location by the dot and dash lines at IS in Fig. 1 in accordance with the teachings in the prior application hereinbefore referred to. At I6 is shown a unit for applying an outer wax coating or film or any other suitable finishing coating. At l1 is'shown a chilling and feed unit consisting of a water tank or the like through which the conductor is passed prior to extending onto a receiving drum, not shown.

The diagrammatic illustration of Fig. 1 is dealt with briefly in that it is simply illustrated to show one adaptation of the invention, and as this general structural arrangement of a coating mechanism or process is outlined in detail in the application above referred to, no further specific reference thereto is here deemed to be necessary.

In Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, is shown one form of tank similar to the unit I2. This unit consists of a suitable frame consisting of corner portions l8 joined by side plates l9 and 20, and end plates 2|, forming a substantially box-shaped frame structure. The upper end portions of the end plates have brackets 22 upon which are secured bearings 23 for stub shafts 24 for providing a pivotal or swinging mounting for a tank 25 within said frame.

In the construction shown, the tank is substantially semi-circular in form; that is to say, consists substantially of half of a tube except for the upward extension 25a at one side thereof; and in the end plates of the tank are arranged bearings 26 in which the shafts 24 are secured. The bearings 23 have removable or hinged top caps 21 to retain the tank against accidental displacement in the frame, but upon removal of the caps, the entire tank may be removed from the frame so that a number of difierenttanks proper containing difierent materials or materials of different colors may be placed in the frame from time to time in performing different runs 'or-coating operations upon-predetermined conductors or in replacing the tank when one tank is being repaired or cleaned. Secured to the protruding end of one of the shafts 24 is an operating crank or lever 28'by means of which the tank may be rotated or rocked in the'frame as later described.

- The tank has centrally of one side thereof a reduced application extension 29 which might be termed a small box-like structure protruding from one side of the cylindrical or semi-circular tank proper. The bottom wall 38 of the extension 29 preferably tapers downwardly from the bottom of the tank 25 proper so as to provide a natural drainage or flow of the material in the tank in the direction of the lower outer corner 3i of the applicator portion thereof. Arranged upon the top of the tank 25 including the extension 29 is a double cover construction consisting of acentral closure part 32 and two cover sections 33 and 34 hinged to the part 32 as at 35 and 36 respectively.

The cover section 33 is arranged over the tank 25 proper whereas the cover section 34 is arranged over the extension 29. These covers may be raised from time to time for the introduction of additional compound or for inspection, but are employed to closethe top of the tanks to maintain the heat therein as Well as to keep all foreign products from entering the tank. The tank 25 has an extending flange 31 at one side thereof over which the cover 33"passes.' This flange forms a stop to limit the rocking movement of the tank in the operation of swinging the same from the full line position shown in Fig. 3 to the dotted line position indicated in said figure. In the-latter position, the flange 3'! is arranged. beneath a spring catch device 38 pivoted to the frame'as indicated at 39, which supports the cradle tank in its raised or rocked position. The cover is recessed as seen at 33c, Fig. 2, to receive the device 88. This permits. the opening of the cover 33 when the tank is in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3.

A spring 42 serves to support the catch 38 in operative position. However, a release rod 4| is coupled with the lower end of the catch 38 as v indicated at 42 so that the operator may move the catch into inoperative position allowing the tank to drop or to be lowered into the full line position aided by the action of a spring 43 secured to the frame and to the lower part of the extension 29 as clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In fact, releasing the catch will provide automatic return of the tank toits normally operative position. Arranged within the frame longitudinally thereof and beneath the tank 25, is aburner tube 44 mounted on suitable supports 45 arranged upon brackets 26 in said frame. This burner tube will'have a suitable source of supply in one end thereof, in the usual manner, and is: employed to heat the coating materials employed when heat is necessary. In this connection it will be understood that suitable insulation may be provided in the frame to-maintain the heat within said frame for more efiicient operation of the complete unit,

but as this forms nodirect part of the present invention and is known in the art, no specific illustration thereof has been made.

The end walls of the extension 29 adjacent the lower and outer corner portion 3! are provided 'withlarge openings 41, one of which is shown in Fig; 3 ofthe drawings and also shown in section in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Mounted upon the outer surfaces of these walls are die supporting plates 48 in which one or more dies 49 are supported, It willbe understood in this connection that two or more dies may be arranged in. each plate and two or morestrands fed through the tank at one time in some uses of the invention.

In running two or more wires at one time, it will be understood thatconsiderable floor space'will be saved as well as the cost of a complete unit which would otherwise be essential in producing an output equivalent to the number of strands or it passes into and through the extension; It will serve, however, to remove any foreign particles that may be arrangedon the conductor and furtherwill operate to smooth and-maintain a more or less fixed size of the conductor fed into the extension 29. The other die 49, which is shown in detail in Fig. 5 of the drawings, is preferably provided with an inner conical portion 50 and a restricted outer discharge end portion 5| which governs or controls the lay of the coating material upon the conductor. The surplus will be removed in passing through the conical portion 50 and is returned into the tank or extension 29 thereof. The conical or flaring throat of the die will tend to pack or firmly compress the coating material on the conductor thus providing a more thoro filling of the interstices of the braid. The dies are retained in position by set screws or the like 52 which will facilitate the replacement ameters, or as will be apparent, the entire plate 48 may be removed and a new die plate substituted therefor especially in dealing with larger diameter conductors or in the treatment of cable. I

.Incorporated on the side of the casing or frame adjacent the inlet side of the extension '29 is a bracket 53 for supporting a guide roller or sheave 54' which is arranged in alinement with the admission ,die 49: so as to guide the conductor in its passage from the-let-off drum ill or other sourceof supply into andthrough the tank. It is also desirable that the conductor be drawn from the extension 29 orpthe discharge die in a substantially straightline. However, by reason of thewide spacing of the unit I2 with respect to the sheave l3," any slight variations in relative height will be of no consequence.

*small amountof the coating material or com.-

pound remains in the tank 25. In, the use of this tank on wires of small diameter drawn through the tank at a relatively high speed and when the material in the tank is at what might be termed a normal level, the passage of the Wire or conductor through the extension 29. has

a tendency to draw the more or less heavy compound across the extension to bare a part ofthe conductor'in said extension as is indicated at H0 in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

rial between'the'poi-nt X andthe die 49 through In other words, the conductor is enveloped in the coating matewhich the conductor passes in being discharged from the extension 29. In this way, the time factor of submersion of the conductor in the heated material is restricted thus preventing overheating of the conductor. However, in the use of some types and kinds of coating materials, this result would not be desirable, and in such cases, suitable bafiles may be employed to break up the whirling or whirlpool action around the conductor as above described.

It will be understood that frictional engagement of the conductor with the coating material and the speed of operation of the conductor through the material produces the drawn and whirling action upon the material. However, when the tank is filled to its normal capacity, which would be substantially full, this particular action would not be noticeable, nor would the conductor necessarily be bared in the tank. When the tank is about half full, this action would be noticeable. It will be understood, however, that the material carried with the conductor is forced into the throat 50 of the die under considerable pressure. This throat acts to compress the material upon the conductor as it enters and passes through the discharge bore. 5| which produces and controls the diameter of the coated wire discharged from the tank.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, a slight modification of the structure shown in Fig. 3 is illustrated which consists simply in adding to the one applicator extension 29 on the main tank, another supplemental extension 29a which is identical with the extension 29 except that it is made continuous with the. inclination of what might be termed the top of the extended side of the tank.

The bottom wall 39a is normally inclined upwardly but actually is inclined downwardly with respect to the bottom of the tank when the tank is rocked into a position equivalent to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3; or in other words, when the applicator extension 290. is in operative position and the extension 29 is raised to inoperative position. I

The purpose of this construction is to utilize both dies of the tank for the intermittent treating or coating of conductor wires so that no loss of time will be experienced in producing what might be termed instantaneous runs through the machine. It will be apparent that one conductor may be threaded through the raised applicator extension to prepare the same for treatment when a run has been completed through the extension which is in the lowered or operative position. With this construction a supplemental catch 38a is employed in addition to the catch 38 to support the extension 29 in its lowered position. It will be understood that the normal catch 38 will support the extension 29a in its lowered position.

With this construction the spring 43 is dispensed with and the operating release link or lever 4| is dispensed with. In this connection, it will be understood that the tank may be rocked by hand on its pivotal supports, and the catches 38 and 38a released by hand. The supplemental extension 29a will have die supporting plates 48a for supporting dies 49, the same as with the extension 29.

With the structure shown in Fig. 6, a modified form of closure is employed for the top of the tank and its extension, which consists of a central portion 55 having movable cover parts 56 and 51 hinged as seen at 58 and 59 respectively. It is understood that the entire cover or closure may be removed from the tank in the structure shown in Fig. 6 as well as in the structure shown in the other figures.

As will be. seen inuFigs. 2 and 3 of the drawings a shutter 60 is arranged to slide vertically upon the inner surface of the wall l9. Suitable guides 6|, note Fig. 2, and a spring 62 are attached to the shutter and to the bottom 30 of the extension 29 so as to hold the upper end of the shutter in engagement with the wall 39 so that the shutter will raise in the tilting of the tank to close the opening in the wall l9 normally occupied by the extension 29 so as to maintain the heat within the burner compartment of the frame, and thus prevent chilling of the material.

It will be understood that suitable means will be employed to control and indicate the temperature of the heated material, but as this forms no direct part of my invention the same is not illustrated. In this connection it will also be understood that any type of heating medium may be employed as in othertanks of this kind and class.

It will be understood that the unit Hat is similar in all respects to the unit I 2 with the exception of the substitution of the die or wiper element M for the die 49 as illustrated in Fig. 5. In Fig. 7 of the drawings, a detail illustration of the element I4 is shown, and this element in itself is described and claimed in Patent #2,036,048 and is here shown simply to illustrate the adaptation of this type of device to the tank forming the subject matter of my invention, to adapt the tank to different uses. The element 14 consists of a body portion 93 which is detachably secured to a die plate 64 substituted for the plate 48, the plate 64 being secured to the wall of the tank extension as indicated at 65. The body 63 has a central aperture 69 outwardly of which is a large recess 69a in which a flexible wiper element 61 of rubber or similar material is arranged, outwardly of which is a compression ring 98 adapted to be moved into engagement with the wiper 61 by a compression screw 69 in threaded engagement with a plate 10 secured to the body 63 as seen at 1|, the screw having a handle 12 by means of which the same may be rotated by hand. The purpose of this construction, as is taught in the patent above identified, is to increase or decrease the size of the aperture 61a in the disc 61 so as to more accurately determine the lay of a coating material upon the conductor as it is discharged from the tank unit 12a. It will of course be apparent that the wiper disc 6'! having apertures of different sizes therein may be used, and where two wires or strands are passed through the tank, the wiper or die element It will be duplicated. It is of course apparent that the screw 69 is tubular in form to permit the passage of the wire or strand therethrough after passing through the apertures 61a.

It will also be apparent that it is one of the features of my invention to facilitate the passage of the wire through material which is maintained at a lower temperature than would be otherwise possible in that the wire is passed through and maintained submerged in the material for predetermined distance which is controlled somewhat by the speed of the feed of wire. through the tank. However, it will appear that no chilling takes place from the time that the wire contacts the material until it is discharged through the outlet die. In this way, the material may be maintained at a lower temperature than would be possible in other types of tanks where the coating material is raised above the surface of the mass in application tothe conductor. It will be understood that in some instances it is desirable to provide sufiicient heat to heat undercoatings which may be arranged upon the conductor so as to establish the commingling and binding between the two coating materials, andfurther a full and perfect coverage of the coating to the wire will result.

It will also be apparent that in the treatment of wire, a series of these tanks may be used for the application of the different materials thereto. This would also apply to the treatment of other products where one or more saturants or other coatings are to be applied to an elongated strand.

By constructing a tank as herein illustrated, it will be understood that a boiler plate or other sheet of material may be easily rolled to form a substantially semi-circular shell which is then cut to form the opening for the reception of the supplemental applicator tank disposed at one or both sides thereof. It will also appear that the extension. 25a forms what might be termed a pocket to receive the material in, the tank when tilted that is to say, the material which is displaced from the applicator extension.

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

1. A tank for treating and coating strands fed therethro-ugh, said tank comprising a main. tank body, an applicator extension at one side thereof and in communication therewith, means for movably supporting the tank to raise and lower the applicator extension thereof, said extension having a bottom wall arranged substantially at the bottom of the tank proper in the normal operative position of the tank, means for guiding a strand into and through said applicator extension adjacent said bottom wall, and said last named means being arranged above the level of material in said tank when the extension is moved into raised or inoperative position.

2. A tank for treating and coating strands fed therethrough, said tank comprising a main tank body, an applicator extension at one side thereof and in communication therewith, means for movably supporting the tank to raise and lower the 1 applicator extension thereon said extension having a bottom wall arranged substantially at the bottom of thetank proper in the normal operative position ofthe tank, means for guiding a strand into and through said applicator exten the applicator extension thereof, said extension having a bottom wall arranged substantially at the bottom of the tank proper in the normal operative position of the tank, means for guiding a strand into and through said applicator ex tension adjacent said bottom wall, said last named means being arranged above the level of material in said tank when the extension is moved into raised or inoperative position, means for supporting the tank'with the extension in raised position, said last named means comprising a catch device, and means for returning thetank and in communication therewith, means for movably supporting the tank to raise and'lower the applicator extension thereof, said extension having a bottom wall arranged substantially at the bottom of the tank proper in the normal operative position of the tank, means for guiding a strand into and through said applicator extension adjacent said bottom wall, said last named means being arranged above the level of material in said tank when the extension is moved into raised or inoperative position, means for supporting the tank with the extension in raised position, said lastnamed means comprising a catch device, means for returning the tank to normal operative position upon the release of said catch device, a closure in the top of said tank and. extension, and said closure including hinged covers. I

5. A treatment or coating tank of the character described comprising a frame, a tank, at

pivot axis on the tank supported in. the frame to provide swinging movementof the tank in said frame about said axis, said tank having a ree duced applicator extension thereon at right angles to the axis of swinging movement of said tank, means comprising dies in opposedwalls. of said extension for guiding a strand to be treated through the chamber of said extension, means placing the chamber of said extension in direct communication with the tank whereby treating material arranged in the tank will extend into said extension and. maintain thereina level above the plane of movement of the strand through said extension, and. means for swinging the tank to raise the applicator extension above a normal level of the material in the tank when the feed of the strand through said extension ceases and in the operation of threading a new strand tl'ierethrough.v

6. A treatment or coating tank of the character described comprising a frame, a tank, a

' pivot axis on the tank supported in the frame toprovide, swinging movement of the tank in said frame about said axis, said tank having a reduced applicator extension thereon at right angles to the axis of swinging movement of said tank, means comprising dies in opposed walls of said extension for guiding a strand to, be treated through thechamber of said extension, means placing the chamber of said extension in direct communication with the tank whereby treating material arranged in the tank will extend into said extension and maintain therein a level above the plane of movement of the strand through said extension, means for swinging the tank to raise the applicator extensionabove a normal level of the material in the tank when the feed of the strand through said extension ceases and inthe operation of threading a new strand therethrough, and means for automatical- 1y engaging the tank when swung into inoperative position to maintain said extension in raised and inoperative position. I

7. A treatmentv or coating tank of the character described comprising aframe, a tank, a pivot axis on the tank supported in the frame to provide swinging movement of the tank in said frame about said axis, said tank having a reduced applicator extension thereon at right angles to the axis of swinging movements of said tank, means comprising dies in opposed walls of said extension for guiding a strand to be treated through the chamber of said extension, means placing the chamber of said extension in direct communication with the tank whereby treating material arranged in the tank will extend into said extension and maintain therein a level above the plane of movement of the strand through said extension, means for swinging the: tank to raise the applicator extension above a normal level of the material in the tank when the feed of the strand through said extension ceases and in the operation of threading a new strand therethrough, means for automatically engaging the tank when swung into inoperative position to maintain said extension in raised and inoperative position, and means for returning the tank to normal operative position when the last named means is released.

8. A treatment or coating tank of the character described comprising a frame, a tank, a pivot axis on the tank supported in the frame to provide swinging movement of the tank in said frame about said axis, said tank having a reduced applicator extension thereon at right angles to the axis of swinging movement of said tank, means comprising dies in opposed walls of said extension for guiding a strand to be treated through the chamber of said extension, means placing the chamber of said extension in direct communication with the tank whereby treating material arranged in the tank will extend into said extension and maintain therein a level above the plane of movement of the strand through said extension, means for swinging the tank to raise the applicator extension above a normal level of the material in the tank when the feed of the strand through said extension ceases and in the operation of threading a new strand therethrough, means for automatically engaging the tank when swung into inoperative position to maintain said extension in raised and inoperative position, means for returning the tank to normal operative position when the last named meansis released, and a burner in said frame below said tank for heating the material therein.

9. A treatment or coating tank of the character described comprising a frame, a tank, a pivot axis on the tank supported in the frame to provide swinging movement of the tank in said frame about said axis, said tank having a reduced applicator extension thereon at right angles to the axis of swinging movement of said tank, means comprising dies in opposed walls of said extension for guiding a strand to be treated through the chamber of said extension, means placing the chamber of said extension in direct communication with the tank whereby treating material arranged in the tank will extend into said extension and maintain therein a level above the plane of movement of the strand through said extension, means for swinging the tank to raise the applicator extension above a normal level of the material in the tank when the feed of the strand through said extension ceases and in the operation of threading a new strand therethrough, means for automatically engaging the tank when swung into inoperative position to maintain said extension in raised and inoperative position, means for returning the tank to normal operative position when the last named means is released, a burner in said frame below said tank for heating the material therein, and a removable closure for the top of the tank and the extension thereof.

10. A treatment or coating tank of the character described comprising a frame, a tank, a pivot axis on the tank supported in the frame to provide swinging movement of the tank in said frame about said axis, said tank having a reduced applicator extension thereon at right angles to the axis of swinging movement of said tank, means comprising dies in opposed walls of said extension for guiding a strand to be treated through the chamber of said extension, means placing the chamber of said extension in direct communication with the tank whereby treating material arranged in the tank will extend into said extension and maintain therein .a level a above the plane of movement of the strand through said extension, means for swinging the tank to raise the applicator extension above a normal level of the material in the tank when the feed of the strand through said extension ceases and in the operation of threading a new strand therethrough, means for automatically engaging the tank when swung into inoperative position to maintain said extension in raised and inoperative position, means for returning the tank to normal operative position when the last named means is released, a burner in said frame below said tank for heating the material therein, a removable closure for the top of the tank and the extension thereof, and means removably supporting the tank including said extension as a unit from the frame.

11. A cradle tank for the treatment of electric conductors and smaller strands comprising a tank of substantially semi-circular cross-section, means at the ends of the tank forming pivots upon which the tank is free to swing, an extension at one side of the tank and in communication therewith, the bottom wall of the extension being lower than the bottom of the tank to provide drainage to the bottom portion ofthe extension, means for guiding a conductor to be treated through said extension adjacent the bottom portion thereof to contact material arranged therein, one of said guiding means constituting a die controlling the application of the material to said conductor, means for normally supporting the tank to maintain the extension thereof in lowered and operative position, said tank being swingable to raise the extension to a position supporting the tank out of engagement with the material therein and in said tank, and means for retaining the tank in the last named position.

12. A cradle tank for the treatment of electric conductors and smaller strands comprising a.

tank of substantially semi-circular cross-section, means at the ends of the tank forming pivots upon which the tank is free to swing, an exten sion at one side of the tank and in communication therewith, the bottom wall of the extension being lower than the bottom of the tank to provide drainage to the bottom portion of the extension, means for guiding a conductor to be treated through said extension adjacent the bottom portion thereof to contact material arranged therein, one of said guiding means constituting a die controlling the application of the material to said conductor, means for normally supporting the tank to maintain the extension thereof in lowered and operative position, said tank being swingable to raise the extension to a position supporting the conductor out of engagement with the material therein and in said tank, means for retaining the tank in the last named position, and said guiding means comprising die supporting plates detachable with respect to said extension to provide for the passage of different diameterconductors through said extension.

13. A cradle tankfor the treatment of electric conductors and smaller strands comprising a tank of substantially semi-circular cross-section, means at the ends of the tank forming pivots upon which the tank is free to swing, an extension at one side of the tank and in communication therewith, the bottom wall of the extension being lower than the bottom of the tank to provide drainage to the. bottom portion of the extension, means for guiding a conductor to be treated through said extension adjacent the bottom portion thereof to contact material arranged therein, one of said guiding means constituting a die controlling the application of the material to said conductor, means for normally supporting the tank to maintain the extension thereof in lowered and operative position, said tank being swingable to raise the extension to a position supporting the conductor out of engagement with the material therein and in said tank, means for retaining the tank in the last named position,

said guiding means comprising supporting plates holding detachable and exchangeable dies to provide for the passage of different diameter conductors through said extension, and another small extension on the other side of said tank supported in operative position when the first named extension is in inoperative position.

14. A cradle tank for the application of compound and coating materials to electric conductors comprising a tank mounted for swinging movement upon a fixed axis in a suitable frame, an applicator extension on the tank through which a conductor is adapted to be passed, means supporting the extension to arrange the conductor passed therethrough at a point in alinement with or below the bottom of said tank to maintain a constant engagement of coating material in the tank with said conductor, and means supporting the tank to maintain the conductor above the level of material in the tank in swing-- ing the tank in its support with the applicator extension into a raised position.

15. A cradle tank for the application of compound and coating materials to electric conductors comprising a tank mounted for swinging movement upon a fixed axis in a suitable frame, an applicator extension on the tank through which a conductor is adapted to be passed, means supporting the extension to arrange the conductor passed therethrough at a point adjacent or below the bottom of said tank tomaintain a constant engagement of coating material in the tank with said conductor, means supporting the tank to maintain the conductor above the level of material in the tank in swinging the tank in its support with the applicator extension into a raised position, and said tank being substantially semi-circular in cross-sectional form and including an upwardly directed extension at the side thereof opposite said first named extension.

16. A cradle tank for the application of compound and coating materials to electric conductors comprising a tank mounted for swinging movement upon a fixed axis in a suitable frame, an applicator extension on the tank through which a conductor is adapted to be passed, means supporting the extension to arrange the conductor passed therethrough at a point submerged in the material arranged in said applicator extension to maintain a constant engagement with said material, and means supporting the tank with said extension in raised position to maintain the conductor above the level of material in the tank and said extension.

ductor above the level of material in the tank and said extension, means within the frame for heating said tank, and said frame being in the form of a casing substantially enclosing said tank.

18. An apparatus for treating and coating strands, said apparatus comprising a receptacle,

means supporting the said receptacle for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, means associated with the receptacle and in spaced relation to said axis for guiding thestrand through said receptacle, means limiting the pivotal movement of said receptacle between normal and tilted positions, the strand guiding means being arranged below the surface of coating material within said receptacle in the normal position thereof, and above the surface of said material in the tilted position of the container, and means for selectively supporting said container in each of said positions. I

19. An apparatus for treating and coating strands, said apparatus comprising a receptacle, means supporting the said receptacle for pivotal movement, about a horizontal axis, means associated with the receptacle and in spaced relation to said axis for guiding the strand through said receptacle, means limiting the pivotal movement of said receptacle between normal and tilted positions, the strand guiding means being arranged below the surface of coating material within said receptacle in the normal position thereof, and above the surface of said material in the tilted position of the container, means for selectively supporting said container in each of said positions, and said strand guiding means including an adjustable element controlling the thickness of coating material applied to the strand as it is discharged from said receptacle.

MERRITT B. BRADT.

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