Roll compacting of stranded conductor

摘要

An apparatus for making compacted, helically stranded cable having a circular configuration in cross-section. The apparatus comprises a first set of opposed rollers each having a peripheral concave edge and surface such that when the edges of the rollers are placed together, the concave surfaces provide an opening having a major and a minor axis located perpendicular to each other across the cross-section of the opening. A second set of opposed rollers having peripheral concave surfaces provides a second opening, the second set of rollers and opening being located downstream from the first set of rollers and in line with the first opening. The concave surfaces of the second opening have a relief along an axis that is rotated approximately 90 DEG from the major axis of the first opening. Stranded cable is compacted by the two sets of rollers in a manner that provides the cable with a circular cross-section and residual stress pattern that is substantially uniform and generally symmetrical throughout the cross-section of the cable.