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The Book of Terms

The Book of TermsThe WJI Book of Wire & Cable Terms: an interactive experience of learning and sharing
This book, written by industry volunteers and containing more than 5,000 entries, is an asset for newcomers to wire and cable.

At the same time, it also represents an opportunity for industry veterans to give back by either updating or adding to the more than 5,000 entries. This is an honor system process. Entries/updates must be non-commercial, and any deemed not to be so will be removed. Share your expertise as part of this legacy project to help those who will follow. Purchase a printed copy here.


 

0-9   A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Wire Rope, Half-Lock

The outer layers are made up of shaped wires with grooves so formed as to permit the insertion of a fixed diameter cylindrical wire between two grooves during rope fabrication, This, together with the lay, exerts a semi-locking action and prevents fractured wires within the layer from drifting out of lock. Note: this is an uncommon design.

Wire Rope, Hard Laid

Rope formed from large wires. Also known as coarse laid rope.

Wire Rope, Lang’s Lay

Wire rope in which the wires in the strands and the strands in the rope are laid in the same direction, providing a better wearing surface.

Wire Rope, Lay Conductor or Cable

A conductor composed of a central core surrounded by one or more layers of helically laid groups of wires used in portable cables. This kind of cable differs from a concentric-lay conductor in that the main strands are themselves stranded. In the most common type of rope-lay conductor or cable, all wires are of the same size, and the central core is a concentric-lay conductor.

Wire Rope, Lay Strand

A conductor made of multiple groups of filaments. For example, a 7+19 rope lay strand has 19 wires laid into a group and then seven of those groups laid cabled into a conductor.

Wire Rope, Locked Coil

Smooth surfaced rope com­posed of concentric layers of wires with the exterior layer being shaped wires. Interior layers are of shaped or round wires around a center of round wires. The outer layers are made up of wires so shaped as to form a full lock with similar connecting units. It is fabricated with up to four locking layers. This form of rope has a very high density, and compared with other round ropes, permits the diameter to be reduced by as much as 20 percent. Splicing is more difficult as is detection of internal faults after use.

Wire Rope, Ordinary Lay

Wire rope in which the wires in the strands and the strands in the rope are laid in opposite directions.

Wire Rope, Preformed

Wire rope in which the strands are permanently shaped to the helical configuration they assume in the wire rope.

Wire Rope, Seale Construction

Equal lay wire rope in which the strands are fabricated with an outer and inner layer of an equal number of wires, the outer being laid in the interstices formed by the inner.

Wire Rope, Selvage

A rope in which the wires are arranged parallel to each other and sewn with yarn, etc., to keep them together and keep out moisture.

Wire Rope, Unilay

A group of stranded conductors assembled in a unilay manner. The direction of lay of the unilay rope is left-hand. See Unilay.

Wire Skid

An outer layer of wires applied to a cable to lessen mechanical friction and provide protection during installation.

Wire Stop

A design feature at the end of a terminal wire barrel that prevents wire from passing completely through the barrel in such a way as to interfere with the function of contact.

Wire Stripping Tools and Equipment

Tools that are used to remove the insulation from a wire or cable. For wire stripping, a variety of hand-operated electrically operated and bench-mounted electric- or air-powered units are available. Stripping actions include cutting (blades and knives), thermal abrasion, lasers, etc. When used for the proper application, they can provide quick, clean cutting of insulation. They are safeguarded to prevent cutting into the wire and are recommended for production work. Such equipment includes include rotary strippers, suitable for PTFE, nylon, vinyl and similar insulations; and centrifugal force strippers, which can use counterbalanced knives that close around the wire and strip off the insulation by centrifugal force.

Wire Walker

A reciprocating guide mechanism that continually moves wire back and forth across the width of the replaceable band during the annealing operation. This is accomplished to evenly distribute wear on the band caused by the micro-arcing as the wire is pulled tight on the shiv at the same time the electrical power is imparted to the wire.

Wire Wrapping

Method of connecting a solid wire to a square, rectangular or v-shaped terminal by tightly wrapping or winding it with a special automatic or hand operated tool. Also called wrap type.

Wire, Black Annealed

Wire that is annealed without a protective atmosphere or with the protective atmosphere removed at sufficiently high temperature to form a dark scale surface finish.

Wire, Blue Annealed

1) A condition that occurs when steel wire becomes oxidized during the annealing process when it is exposed to air and/or steam and subsequently takes on a blue temper color. 2) The condition produced by continuously passing the wire through a lead bath in the stranded condition, which results in different colors on the wire surface according to the temperature and speed used. This may be desirable for flattened wire and flat band.

Wire, Bright Annealed

Wire annealed in a protective atmosphere and cooled to less than 93°C (200°F) to prevent oxidation of the surface. Also known as white annealed wire.

Wire, Building

Class of wire and cable, usually rated at 600V, which is normally used for interior wire of buildings.

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