CA1172624A - Level wind regulator - Google Patents
Level wind regulatorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1172624A CA1172624A CA000390360A CA390360A CA1172624A CA 1172624 A CA1172624 A CA 1172624A CA 000390360 A CA000390360 A CA 000390360A CA 390360 A CA390360 A CA 390360A CA 1172624 A CA1172624 A CA 1172624A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- spool
- cable
- drive
- rotational power
- cable guide
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66D—CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS
- B66D1/00—Rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms; Capstans
- B66D1/28—Other constructional details
- B66D1/36—Guiding, or otherwise ensuring winding in an orderly manner, of ropes, cables, or chains
- B66D1/38—Guiding, or otherwise ensuring winding in an orderly manner, of ropes, cables, or chains by means of guides movable relative to drum or barrel
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Wind Motors (AREA)
Abstract
ROGERS, BERESKIN & PARR C A N A D A
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A power winch has a spool, a drive for rotating the spool to collect windings of cable, and a level wind to provide orderly placement of the windings. The point of receipt of cable on the spool is varied by a cable guide supported by the framework of the level wind and driven in a reciprocating fashion parallel to the axis of the spool.
The cable guide is timed from the spool drive to advance a fixed distance with each rotation of the spool. Ideally the fixed distance corresponds to the diameter of the cable, but in practice the cable diameter may vary significantly.
In such a context the invention provides a regulator which permits the level wind to accommodate variations in cable diameter. The regulator comprises an electic motor and a gear assembly which combines rotational power received from the electric motor and the spool drive and applies the rotational power so combined to the drive assembly and the cable guide to obtain the reciprocating motion. The spool drive remains the primary source of rotational power (effectively driving and timing the cable guide), and the electric motor is selectively activated to accelerate or retard the motion of the cable guide in response to observed or detected irregularities in winding placement, particularly irregularities occasioned by variations in cable diameter.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A power winch has a spool, a drive for rotating the spool to collect windings of cable, and a level wind to provide orderly placement of the windings. The point of receipt of cable on the spool is varied by a cable guide supported by the framework of the level wind and driven in a reciprocating fashion parallel to the axis of the spool.
The cable guide is timed from the spool drive to advance a fixed distance with each rotation of the spool. Ideally the fixed distance corresponds to the diameter of the cable, but in practice the cable diameter may vary significantly.
In such a context the invention provides a regulator which permits the level wind to accommodate variations in cable diameter. The regulator comprises an electic motor and a gear assembly which combines rotational power received from the electric motor and the spool drive and applies the rotational power so combined to the drive assembly and the cable guide to obtain the reciprocating motion. The spool drive remains the primary source of rotational power (effectively driving and timing the cable guide), and the electric motor is selectively activated to accelerate or retard the motion of the cable guide in response to observed or detected irregularities in winding placement, particularly irregularities occasioned by variations in cable diameter.
Description
- 2 - ~'7'~
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to power winches, and more particularly -to devices commonly known as "level winds"
which regulate the collection of windings of cable by such power winches.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Power winches are commonly used in cranes, towing and lifting devices, and in a variety o applications in which cable or rope under tension is to be wound on a spool. In most appllcations it is desirable if not mand-atory that cable be wound in an orderly fashion. To this end level winds have been developed to ensure that successive windings are not excessively spaced or tend to overlap one another (except at spool flanges).
Present day level winds generally comprise a guide member (often a pulley or paired rollers) mounted on ; 15 a drive assembly that moves the guide member in a reciproc-ating fashion paraIleI to the rotational axis of a spool.
Drive assemblies have typically comprised rocker arms, a rotating screw-threaded shaft, and hydraulically activated cylinders. A particularly sturdy and simple drive assembly has been constructed with a rotating, diamond-threaded shaft and a follower, carried by the shaft. The shaft is essentially provided with left and right-hand helical grooves which combine in a smooth fashion at either end of the shaft to pravide a continuous track ~or movement
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to power winches, and more particularly -to devices commonly known as "level winds"
which regulate the collection of windings of cable by such power winches.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Power winches are commonly used in cranes, towing and lifting devices, and in a variety o applications in which cable or rope under tension is to be wound on a spool. In most appllcations it is desirable if not mand-atory that cable be wound in an orderly fashion. To this end level winds have been developed to ensure that successive windings are not excessively spaced or tend to overlap one another (except at spool flanges).
Present day level winds generally comprise a guide member (often a pulley or paired rollers) mounted on ; 15 a drive assembly that moves the guide member in a reciproc-ating fashion paraIleI to the rotational axis of a spool.
Drive assemblies have typically comprised rocker arms, a rotating screw-threaded shaft, and hydraulically activated cylinders. A particularly sturdy and simple drive assembly has been constructed with a rotating, diamond-threaded shaft and a follower, carried by the shaft. The shaft is essentially provided with left and right-hand helical grooves which combine in a smooth fashion at either end of the shaft to pravide a continuous track ~or movement
- 3 ~ i~
of the ollower. When the shaft is rotated the follower travels back-and-forth between the ends of the shaft in a smooth reciprocating fashion. The cable guide member is secured to the follower to vary the point of receipt of cable along the winding surface of the spool.
The motion of the guide member is often timed by directly coupling the cable guide drive assembly to the spool drive according to a gear ratio which matches winding pitch with the angular velocity of the spool. Ideally the cable guide will advance a distance corresponding to the cable diametèr with each rotation of the spool to properly align windings. Clearly, opera-tion is geared for use of cable with a particular diameter, and consequently variations in cable diameter (such as those arising in manufacture or during severe loading of a cable~ can adversely affect orderly winding.
A hydraulically operated level wind has been developed to accommodate various cable diameters. Its operation is not timed by the spool drive. Instead, the fleet angle (that is the angle formed between the incoming cable and a perpendicular to the surface of the spool intersecting the cable) is detected, and the position of a cahle riding guide member secured to a hydraulically moveable lever arm is adjusted to correct the fleet angle.
The fleet angle is ideally about 1 1/2 degrees: if less, the successive cable windings will tend to overlap; if greater, the windings will tend to be excessively spaced.
A level wind powered and timed from a spool drive _ 4 ~
is still believed by the inventors to be one of the more reliable devices available. It is consequently an object of the invention to provide apparatus for regulating the operation of such a level wind to accommodate variations in cable diameter.
BRI~F SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a regulator for use with a level wind comprising a cable guide member mounted to move in a reciprocating fashion parallel to the rotational axis of a spool to vary the point of receipt of cable on the spool, and a cable guide drive assembly adapted to receive rotational power to produce the reciprocating motion of the cable guide member.
The regulator comprises a motor which provides "corrective" rotational power, and a gear assembly with first and second power paths for delivering rotational power in an ~; additive fashion to the cable guide drive assembly. In use the gear assembly receives primary rotational power from the ~` spool drive of a power winch, and transmits the rotational power along the first power path to the cable drive assembly.
The drive ratio between the spool drive and the cable guide drive assembly selected to advance the cable guide member a distance corresponding to the fixed diameter of a cable ideally wound on the spool, with each rotation of the spool.
The motor provides corrective rotational power to the cable guide drive assembly via the second power path.
; A control device which can be a s:imple switch tripped by an operator who observes the spacing o~ the windings or a more _ 5 ~ 7~
sophisticated device comprising a fleet angle detector and motor control circuitry regulates operation of the motor and transmission of corrective rotational power. In use corrective rotational power is used to increase or decrease the speed of movement of the cable guide member from that produced by the primary rotational power, thereby compensating for irregularities in the placement of windings (such as an observed tendency for excessive spacing or overlapping).
A preferred embodiment of the regulator (described below) includes a planetary gear assembly with parallel axis, coplanar ring, sun and planetary gears. A motor for providing the corrective rota-tional power is secured to the gear case of the gear assembly, and means in part internal to the gear case serves to couple the motor to the second power path. This arrangement provides a relatively compact regu]ator which can be readily mounted on an existing power winch.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a power winch incorporating a preferred embodiment o~ a level wind regulator;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partiall~ fragmented better illustrating portions of the level wind regulator;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view provi~ing an ~5 interior view of a gear assembly comprised by the level wind and, - 6 - ~1~7~6~
Fig. 4 diagrammatically illustrates a control system ~or controlling operation of the level wind.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference is made to Fig. 1 which illustrates a power winch incorporating a level wind regulator 12 constructed according to the invention. The power winch 10 comprises a spool 14 fixed to a shaft 16 rotatably mounted in the power winch framework 18. A steel cable 20 is shown wound between the spool flange 22, and a conventional spool drive (not specifically illustrated) rotates the spool 14 to gather windings of the cable 20 (or to release the cable 20).
The power winch 10 includes a conventional level wind generally indicated by the reference numeral 24. The level wind 24 has a diamond-threaded guide shaft 26 rotatably mounted in the power winch framework 18. A sprocket 28 ; is fixed to one end of the guide shaft 26 to serve as means for transmitting rotational power to the guide shaft 26. A
oable guide member 30 is constructed with a follower 32 that travels on the guide shaft 26, and paired rollers 34 that - contact and guide the cable. At a lower end, the cable guide member 30 has a pair of guide rollers 35 (only one visible in Fig. 1) which guide the member 30 along wear bars 37.
In the prior art the guide shaft 26 might be chain coupled to the spool shaft 16. The drive ratio between the spool and guide shafts 16, 26 would be selected to advance the cable guide member 30 a fixed distance corresponding to the cable diameter with each rotation of the spool 1~.
'7~
The cable gllide member 30 reverses its direction of travel at each of the spool flanges 22 to begin laying a new layer of windings. As a fixed drive ratio is provided, operation is adapted for cable of a specific diameter. With the present invention a level wind is still driven primarily by the associated spool drive according to a predetermined drive ratio (selected in part on the basis of an ideal cable diameter), but additional power is providea to compensate for variations from ideal winding (as where cable diameter varies from the ideal diameter).
The level wind regulator 12 comprises an electric motor 36 (which provides corrective rotational power for use in compensating for non-ideal winding), a worm reduction gear 38 (to effectively reduce motor rotation by a ratio of ~5 150:1), and a gear assembly 40 mounted in a narrow gear case 42. The regulator 12 receives primary rotational power from the spool shaft 16 by means of a sprocket 44 (shown in Fig.
3) coupled by a chain 46 to sprocXet 45 keyed on the spool ; shaft 16. Corrective rotational power is provided by the ;~ 20 motor 36 through means internal to the gear assembly 40.
- Rotational power received by the gear assembly 40 from all sources is transmitted to a shaft 48; and a sprocket 50 fixed to the shaft 48 together with a chain 52 meshed with the sprockets 28 and 50 serve as means for imparting this rotational power to the diamond-threaded guide shaft 26 (to obtain the required reciprocating motion of the cable guide member 30), ~ s apparent from the views of Figs. 2 and 3, the gear assembly 40 is generally epicyclic (in particular planetary). A ring or anllulus gear 54 is rotatably mounted in the gear case ~2. The ring gear 54 has a ~enerally cylindrical, radial inner toothed surface 56 common to such gears, and has also been provided with a generally cylindrical radially outer toothed surface 58 to serve as a means for use in applying rotational power to the ring gear 54. To this end a pinion gear 60 (fixed to a shaft 62 rotatable in the gear case 42, and mechanically coupled ~y the reduction gear 38 to the motor 36) meshes with the outer toothed surface 56 of 10. the ring ~ear 54.
The gear assembly 40 also includes a sun gear 64 and three planet gears 66. The sun gear 64 is fixed to a shaft 68 rotatably mounted in the gear case 42. The sprocket 44 referred to above is also fixed to the shaft 68 so that rotational power (received ultimately from the spool drive) is applied to shaft 68 and sun gear 64. The planet gears 66 are rotatably secured to shafts 70, and meshed between the sun gear 64 and the toothed inner surface 56 of the ring gear 54. The planet gear shafts 70 are fixed to a disk-shaped planet gear holder 72, and the planet gear holder 72is in turn fixed to the shaft 48 which is driven by the : gear assembly 40.
The effect of the above gear arrangement is to provide two power paths for transmitting rotational power in an additive fashion to the driven shaft 48. The first power path extends from the sun gear shaft 68 (through the sun gear 64, planetary gears 66 and the planetary gear holder 72) to the shaft 48. The second power path extends 62~
from the ring gear 54 (through the planet gears 66 and the planet gearholder 72) to the shaft 48, to apply rotational power originating with the motor 36 to the shaft 48. The drive ratio along the first path (when considered to extend from the spool shaft 16 to the diamond-threaded guide shaft 2G)is selected to advance the cable guide member 30 a fixed distance corresponding to one predetermined cable width, with each rotation of the spool 14. The manner in which the level wind regulator 12 can be operated to compensate for variations in this ideal cable diameter will be described below.
The manner of mounting of the various components of the gear assembly 40 is apparent from the drawings, but will nevertheless be briefly described. The sun gear ]5 shaft 68 is rotatably mounted in the gear case 42 by means of a bearing 74. One end of the shaft 68 is rotatably located in a recess 76 of the shaft 48 by means of another bearing 78. The sun gear 64 is secured to the shaft 68 in a con-ventional manner involving a key and keyway. The driven shaft 48 is mounted in the gear case 42 by means of bearings 80, 82. The planet gear holder 72 is welded to the driven shaft 48; the planet gears 66 are mounted with bushings 84 - to gear pins 70; the gear pins 70 are in turn held by set screws to the planet gear holder 72; and, the planet gears 25 66 are retained on the pins 70 by means of washers 88 secured by bolts to tapped holes in the distal ends of the pins 70.
The riny gear 54 is secured by screws to a cylindrical retaining riny 90, and the retaining riny 90 is mounted by a bearing 92 to a projection in the gear case 42, the 2~
remaining support for the ring gear 54 being provided by the sun gear 64 and planet gears 66. The sprockets 44, 50 are fixed to the shafts 48, 68 in a conventional manner involving keys and keyways. Additionally, the motor 36 and reduction gear 38 are both secured in a conventional manner to the gear case 42.
A major consideration in designing the level wind regulator 12 was to provide a relatively compact unit which could be easily added to an existing power winch having a level wind driven (directly or indirectly) by rotational power from a spool drive. To this end the pinion gear 60, the ring gear 54, sun gear 64 and planet gear 66 are all substantially co-planar with substantially parallel axes. Such an arrangement is particularly conducive to the construction of a very narrow gear case 42.
Fig. 4 is a blo~k diagram representation of the control system employing the reaul~tor 12 to control the operation of a level wind designated by the reference numeral 24 which is a level wind whose components have been described above. The system includes a power supply 96 for operating the motor 36 of the regulator 12. In its simplest form, the system employes a manually-operated switch 98 to direct power from the supply 96 to the motor 36. The switch 98 is normally open (and the motor 36 consequently inactive), but can be tripped by an operator into either of two states, the polarity of the supply being effectively reversed depending on the state se]ected. When the switch 98 is tripped to a ~irst state, the motor 36 rotates in a first direction, effec-tively adding rotational power to that supplied by the spool drive operating the level win 2~. The cable guide member 30 consequently moves faster, and the spacing between windings is increased.
~hen the switch 98 is tripped to the opposite state, the motor 36 is caused to rotate ln an opposite direction, and the cable guide member 30 moves more slowly, reducing the spacing between the windings.
This type of operation represents a marked advance over typical prior art systems which have employed a diamond-threaded shaft and follower as means for regulating the place-ment of cable on a spool. In such prior art systems, when windings were not being properly spaced, an operator would stop the winding process, ~-clutch the drive to the diamond-threaded shaft, and manually rotate the shaft with a hand wheel or the like to ad~ust winding spacing. This procedure would have to be repeated periodically, and tends to inter-fere generally with the winding process. It will be appre-ciated that with the level wind regulator provided by the ; invention corrections in cable spacing can be conveniently effected during winding, without stoppages or extensive involvement of the operator.
The winding operation is usually sufficiently slow that an operator can visually inspect windings, and per-iodically activate the motor 30 to compensate for various from ideal winding. Alternatively, a conventional fleet angle det-ector 100 and a motor control circuit 102 can be provided to automatically compensate for improper winding. (The basic orientation of the detectorlO0 and control circuit 102 in the .
- 12 - `
control system is shown in stippled outline in Fig. 5). If the detected fleet angle is less than an ideal angle of about l.S deg.rees (indicating a tendency for windings to overlap), the control circuit 102 provides power from the supply 96 with polarity selected to increase the speed of operation o~ the cable guide member 30. When the detected fleet angle is greater than the ideal angle (indicating excessive spacing), the motor control circuit 100 applies power with a reversed polarity to the motor 36 to slow the operation of the cable guide member 30.
In normal operation, power for rotation of the diamond-threaded guide shaft 26 is provided primarily by the spool. drive, according to a predetermined drive ra-tio which theoretically advances the cable guide member 30 a distance corresponding to one ideal cable diameter with each rotation of the spool 14. The control switch 98 or the automatic control system involving the fleet angle detector 100 and control circuit 102 effectively activates the motor 36 to provide additional power which is added or subtracted in a corrective fashion to that supplied by the spool drive. The reyulator 12 whether controlled by an operator visually examining the windinys or a fleet angle detector will tend to hunt for a proper winding orientation on the spool 14.
More elaborate control circuitry might be provided, but the operation described is considered satisfactory or most applications.
- 13 - ` ~ ~7'~62~
It will be appreciated that the size of the motor in the regulator and the reduction year ratio will affect the e~tent to which the regulator can compensate for variations from an ideal diameter. The regulator 12 was intended for use with a cable subject to a 20,000 pound load, and a three-quarter horse power motor proved satisfactory.
With a fleet angle detector and appropriate control circuitry proyided, the level wind 24 can be made to operate with ca~les of diameter generally greater or less than the predetermined ideal diameter. In such circumstances, the motor 36 would be constantly operating to compensate for the variation from the ideal diameter, and some measure of speed control might be provided.
It will be appreciated that a particular embodiment of a level wind regulator has been described and that improvements of a workshop nature may be made in the embodiment described without departing from the scope and spirit or the invention.
.
of the ollower. When the shaft is rotated the follower travels back-and-forth between the ends of the shaft in a smooth reciprocating fashion. The cable guide member is secured to the follower to vary the point of receipt of cable along the winding surface of the spool.
The motion of the guide member is often timed by directly coupling the cable guide drive assembly to the spool drive according to a gear ratio which matches winding pitch with the angular velocity of the spool. Ideally the cable guide will advance a distance corresponding to the cable diametèr with each rotation of the spool to properly align windings. Clearly, opera-tion is geared for use of cable with a particular diameter, and consequently variations in cable diameter (such as those arising in manufacture or during severe loading of a cable~ can adversely affect orderly winding.
A hydraulically operated level wind has been developed to accommodate various cable diameters. Its operation is not timed by the spool drive. Instead, the fleet angle (that is the angle formed between the incoming cable and a perpendicular to the surface of the spool intersecting the cable) is detected, and the position of a cahle riding guide member secured to a hydraulically moveable lever arm is adjusted to correct the fleet angle.
The fleet angle is ideally about 1 1/2 degrees: if less, the successive cable windings will tend to overlap; if greater, the windings will tend to be excessively spaced.
A level wind powered and timed from a spool drive _ 4 ~
is still believed by the inventors to be one of the more reliable devices available. It is consequently an object of the invention to provide apparatus for regulating the operation of such a level wind to accommodate variations in cable diameter.
BRI~F SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a regulator for use with a level wind comprising a cable guide member mounted to move in a reciprocating fashion parallel to the rotational axis of a spool to vary the point of receipt of cable on the spool, and a cable guide drive assembly adapted to receive rotational power to produce the reciprocating motion of the cable guide member.
The regulator comprises a motor which provides "corrective" rotational power, and a gear assembly with first and second power paths for delivering rotational power in an ~; additive fashion to the cable guide drive assembly. In use the gear assembly receives primary rotational power from the ~` spool drive of a power winch, and transmits the rotational power along the first power path to the cable drive assembly.
The drive ratio between the spool drive and the cable guide drive assembly selected to advance the cable guide member a distance corresponding to the fixed diameter of a cable ideally wound on the spool, with each rotation of the spool.
The motor provides corrective rotational power to the cable guide drive assembly via the second power path.
; A control device which can be a s:imple switch tripped by an operator who observes the spacing o~ the windings or a more _ 5 ~ 7~
sophisticated device comprising a fleet angle detector and motor control circuitry regulates operation of the motor and transmission of corrective rotational power. In use corrective rotational power is used to increase or decrease the speed of movement of the cable guide member from that produced by the primary rotational power, thereby compensating for irregularities in the placement of windings (such as an observed tendency for excessive spacing or overlapping).
A preferred embodiment of the regulator (described below) includes a planetary gear assembly with parallel axis, coplanar ring, sun and planetary gears. A motor for providing the corrective rota-tional power is secured to the gear case of the gear assembly, and means in part internal to the gear case serves to couple the motor to the second power path. This arrangement provides a relatively compact regu]ator which can be readily mounted on an existing power winch.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a power winch incorporating a preferred embodiment o~ a level wind regulator;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partiall~ fragmented better illustrating portions of the level wind regulator;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view provi~ing an ~5 interior view of a gear assembly comprised by the level wind and, - 6 - ~1~7~6~
Fig. 4 diagrammatically illustrates a control system ~or controlling operation of the level wind.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference is made to Fig. 1 which illustrates a power winch incorporating a level wind regulator 12 constructed according to the invention. The power winch 10 comprises a spool 14 fixed to a shaft 16 rotatably mounted in the power winch framework 18. A steel cable 20 is shown wound between the spool flange 22, and a conventional spool drive (not specifically illustrated) rotates the spool 14 to gather windings of the cable 20 (or to release the cable 20).
The power winch 10 includes a conventional level wind generally indicated by the reference numeral 24. The level wind 24 has a diamond-threaded guide shaft 26 rotatably mounted in the power winch framework 18. A sprocket 28 ; is fixed to one end of the guide shaft 26 to serve as means for transmitting rotational power to the guide shaft 26. A
oable guide member 30 is constructed with a follower 32 that travels on the guide shaft 26, and paired rollers 34 that - contact and guide the cable. At a lower end, the cable guide member 30 has a pair of guide rollers 35 (only one visible in Fig. 1) which guide the member 30 along wear bars 37.
In the prior art the guide shaft 26 might be chain coupled to the spool shaft 16. The drive ratio between the spool and guide shafts 16, 26 would be selected to advance the cable guide member 30 a fixed distance corresponding to the cable diameter with each rotation of the spool 1~.
'7~
The cable gllide member 30 reverses its direction of travel at each of the spool flanges 22 to begin laying a new layer of windings. As a fixed drive ratio is provided, operation is adapted for cable of a specific diameter. With the present invention a level wind is still driven primarily by the associated spool drive according to a predetermined drive ratio (selected in part on the basis of an ideal cable diameter), but additional power is providea to compensate for variations from ideal winding (as where cable diameter varies from the ideal diameter).
The level wind regulator 12 comprises an electric motor 36 (which provides corrective rotational power for use in compensating for non-ideal winding), a worm reduction gear 38 (to effectively reduce motor rotation by a ratio of ~5 150:1), and a gear assembly 40 mounted in a narrow gear case 42. The regulator 12 receives primary rotational power from the spool shaft 16 by means of a sprocket 44 (shown in Fig.
3) coupled by a chain 46 to sprocXet 45 keyed on the spool ; shaft 16. Corrective rotational power is provided by the ;~ 20 motor 36 through means internal to the gear assembly 40.
- Rotational power received by the gear assembly 40 from all sources is transmitted to a shaft 48; and a sprocket 50 fixed to the shaft 48 together with a chain 52 meshed with the sprockets 28 and 50 serve as means for imparting this rotational power to the diamond-threaded guide shaft 26 (to obtain the required reciprocating motion of the cable guide member 30), ~ s apparent from the views of Figs. 2 and 3, the gear assembly 40 is generally epicyclic (in particular planetary). A ring or anllulus gear 54 is rotatably mounted in the gear case ~2. The ring gear 54 has a ~enerally cylindrical, radial inner toothed surface 56 common to such gears, and has also been provided with a generally cylindrical radially outer toothed surface 58 to serve as a means for use in applying rotational power to the ring gear 54. To this end a pinion gear 60 (fixed to a shaft 62 rotatable in the gear case 42, and mechanically coupled ~y the reduction gear 38 to the motor 36) meshes with the outer toothed surface 56 of 10. the ring ~ear 54.
The gear assembly 40 also includes a sun gear 64 and three planet gears 66. The sun gear 64 is fixed to a shaft 68 rotatably mounted in the gear case 42. The sprocket 44 referred to above is also fixed to the shaft 68 so that rotational power (received ultimately from the spool drive) is applied to shaft 68 and sun gear 64. The planet gears 66 are rotatably secured to shafts 70, and meshed between the sun gear 64 and the toothed inner surface 56 of the ring gear 54. The planet gear shafts 70 are fixed to a disk-shaped planet gear holder 72, and the planet gear holder 72is in turn fixed to the shaft 48 which is driven by the : gear assembly 40.
The effect of the above gear arrangement is to provide two power paths for transmitting rotational power in an additive fashion to the driven shaft 48. The first power path extends from the sun gear shaft 68 (through the sun gear 64, planetary gears 66 and the planetary gear holder 72) to the shaft 48. The second power path extends 62~
from the ring gear 54 (through the planet gears 66 and the planet gearholder 72) to the shaft 48, to apply rotational power originating with the motor 36 to the shaft 48. The drive ratio along the first path (when considered to extend from the spool shaft 16 to the diamond-threaded guide shaft 2G)is selected to advance the cable guide member 30 a fixed distance corresponding to one predetermined cable width, with each rotation of the spool 14. The manner in which the level wind regulator 12 can be operated to compensate for variations in this ideal cable diameter will be described below.
The manner of mounting of the various components of the gear assembly 40 is apparent from the drawings, but will nevertheless be briefly described. The sun gear ]5 shaft 68 is rotatably mounted in the gear case 42 by means of a bearing 74. One end of the shaft 68 is rotatably located in a recess 76 of the shaft 48 by means of another bearing 78. The sun gear 64 is secured to the shaft 68 in a con-ventional manner involving a key and keyway. The driven shaft 48 is mounted in the gear case 42 by means of bearings 80, 82. The planet gear holder 72 is welded to the driven shaft 48; the planet gears 66 are mounted with bushings 84 - to gear pins 70; the gear pins 70 are in turn held by set screws to the planet gear holder 72; and, the planet gears 25 66 are retained on the pins 70 by means of washers 88 secured by bolts to tapped holes in the distal ends of the pins 70.
The riny gear 54 is secured by screws to a cylindrical retaining riny 90, and the retaining riny 90 is mounted by a bearing 92 to a projection in the gear case 42, the 2~
remaining support for the ring gear 54 being provided by the sun gear 64 and planet gears 66. The sprockets 44, 50 are fixed to the shafts 48, 68 in a conventional manner involving keys and keyways. Additionally, the motor 36 and reduction gear 38 are both secured in a conventional manner to the gear case 42.
A major consideration in designing the level wind regulator 12 was to provide a relatively compact unit which could be easily added to an existing power winch having a level wind driven (directly or indirectly) by rotational power from a spool drive. To this end the pinion gear 60, the ring gear 54, sun gear 64 and planet gear 66 are all substantially co-planar with substantially parallel axes. Such an arrangement is particularly conducive to the construction of a very narrow gear case 42.
Fig. 4 is a blo~k diagram representation of the control system employing the reaul~tor 12 to control the operation of a level wind designated by the reference numeral 24 which is a level wind whose components have been described above. The system includes a power supply 96 for operating the motor 36 of the regulator 12. In its simplest form, the system employes a manually-operated switch 98 to direct power from the supply 96 to the motor 36. The switch 98 is normally open (and the motor 36 consequently inactive), but can be tripped by an operator into either of two states, the polarity of the supply being effectively reversed depending on the state se]ected. When the switch 98 is tripped to a ~irst state, the motor 36 rotates in a first direction, effec-tively adding rotational power to that supplied by the spool drive operating the level win 2~. The cable guide member 30 consequently moves faster, and the spacing between windings is increased.
~hen the switch 98 is tripped to the opposite state, the motor 36 is caused to rotate ln an opposite direction, and the cable guide member 30 moves more slowly, reducing the spacing between the windings.
This type of operation represents a marked advance over typical prior art systems which have employed a diamond-threaded shaft and follower as means for regulating the place-ment of cable on a spool. In such prior art systems, when windings were not being properly spaced, an operator would stop the winding process, ~-clutch the drive to the diamond-threaded shaft, and manually rotate the shaft with a hand wheel or the like to ad~ust winding spacing. This procedure would have to be repeated periodically, and tends to inter-fere generally with the winding process. It will be appre-ciated that with the level wind regulator provided by the ; invention corrections in cable spacing can be conveniently effected during winding, without stoppages or extensive involvement of the operator.
The winding operation is usually sufficiently slow that an operator can visually inspect windings, and per-iodically activate the motor 30 to compensate for various from ideal winding. Alternatively, a conventional fleet angle det-ector 100 and a motor control circuit 102 can be provided to automatically compensate for improper winding. (The basic orientation of the detectorlO0 and control circuit 102 in the .
- 12 - `
control system is shown in stippled outline in Fig. 5). If the detected fleet angle is less than an ideal angle of about l.S deg.rees (indicating a tendency for windings to overlap), the control circuit 102 provides power from the supply 96 with polarity selected to increase the speed of operation o~ the cable guide member 30. When the detected fleet angle is greater than the ideal angle (indicating excessive spacing), the motor control circuit 100 applies power with a reversed polarity to the motor 36 to slow the operation of the cable guide member 30.
In normal operation, power for rotation of the diamond-threaded guide shaft 26 is provided primarily by the spool. drive, according to a predetermined drive ra-tio which theoretically advances the cable guide member 30 a distance corresponding to one ideal cable diameter with each rotation of the spool 14. The control switch 98 or the automatic control system involving the fleet angle detector 100 and control circuit 102 effectively activates the motor 36 to provide additional power which is added or subtracted in a corrective fashion to that supplied by the spool drive. The reyulator 12 whether controlled by an operator visually examining the windinys or a fleet angle detector will tend to hunt for a proper winding orientation on the spool 14.
More elaborate control circuitry might be provided, but the operation described is considered satisfactory or most applications.
- 13 - ` ~ ~7'~62~
It will be appreciated that the size of the motor in the regulator and the reduction year ratio will affect the e~tent to which the regulator can compensate for variations from an ideal diameter. The regulator 12 was intended for use with a cable subject to a 20,000 pound load, and a three-quarter horse power motor proved satisfactory.
With a fleet angle detector and appropriate control circuitry proyided, the level wind 24 can be made to operate with ca~les of diameter generally greater or less than the predetermined ideal diameter. In such circumstances, the motor 36 would be constantly operating to compensate for the variation from the ideal diameter, and some measure of speed control might be provided.
It will be appreciated that a particular embodiment of a level wind regulator has been described and that improvements of a workshop nature may be made in the embodiment described without departing from the scope and spirit or the invention.
.
Claims (8)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A power winch, comprising;
a cable receiving spool;
a spool drive for rotating the spool to collect cable;
a level wind for directing the placement of windings of cable on the spool, including a cable guide member mounted to move in a reciprocating fashion sub-stantially along an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the spool to vary the point of receipt of cable on the spool and including a cable guide drive assembly adapted to receive rotational power to produce the reciprocating motion of the cable guide member;
a level wind regulator, comprising (a) a motor, (b) a gear assembly with first and second power paths for delivering rotational power in an additive fashion to the cable guide drive assembly, the gear assembly being coupled to the spool drive to receive rotational power from the spool drive and coupled to the cable guide drive assembly to transmit the rotational power received from the spool drive to the cable drive assembly along the first power path according to a predetermined drive ratio, the gear assembly being coupled to the motor to receive rotational power from the motor and coupled to the cable guide assembly to transmit rotational power received from the motor to the guide drive assembly along the second power path, and (c) control means for use in regulating the operation of the motor so that the speed of movement of the guide member along the axis can be selectively increased or decreased by the motor from the speed of movement produced by rotational power supplied to the guide member drive assembly by the spool drive alone.
a cable receiving spool;
a spool drive for rotating the spool to collect cable;
a level wind for directing the placement of windings of cable on the spool, including a cable guide member mounted to move in a reciprocating fashion sub-stantially along an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the spool to vary the point of receipt of cable on the spool and including a cable guide drive assembly adapted to receive rotational power to produce the reciprocating motion of the cable guide member;
a level wind regulator, comprising (a) a motor, (b) a gear assembly with first and second power paths for delivering rotational power in an additive fashion to the cable guide drive assembly, the gear assembly being coupled to the spool drive to receive rotational power from the spool drive and coupled to the cable guide drive assembly to transmit the rotational power received from the spool drive to the cable drive assembly along the first power path according to a predetermined drive ratio, the gear assembly being coupled to the motor to receive rotational power from the motor and coupled to the cable guide assembly to transmit rotational power received from the motor to the guide drive assembly along the second power path, and (c) control means for use in regulating the operation of the motor so that the speed of movement of the guide member along the axis can be selectively increased or decreased by the motor from the speed of movement produced by rotational power supplied to the guide member drive assembly by the spool drive alone.
2. A power winch as claimed in claim 1 in which the gear assembly is generally epicyclic, comprising:
a support housing;
a ring gear rotatably mounted in the support housing, the ring gear having radially inner and outer, generally cylindrical, toothed surfaces;
a sun gear fixed to a first shaft rotatably secured in the support housing;
a planet gear holder fixed to a second shaft rotatably secured in the support housing;
planet gears rotatably secured to the planet gear holder, each of the planet gears being meshed with both the sun gear and the radially inner toothed surface of the ring gear;
the first shaft being mechanically coupled to the spool drive to receive rotational power from the spool drive;
the ring gear being mechanically coupled by means meshing with the teeth of the radially outer tooth surface to the motor to receive rotational power from the motor;
the second shaft being mechanically coupled to the cable guide drive assembly to impart rotational power to the cable guide drive assembly;
(whereby, rotational power applied to the first shaft and to the ring gear is applied in an additive fashion to the cable guide drive assembly.
a support housing;
a ring gear rotatably mounted in the support housing, the ring gear having radially inner and outer, generally cylindrical, toothed surfaces;
a sun gear fixed to a first shaft rotatably secured in the support housing;
a planet gear holder fixed to a second shaft rotatably secured in the support housing;
planet gears rotatably secured to the planet gear holder, each of the planet gears being meshed with both the sun gear and the radially inner toothed surface of the ring gear;
the first shaft being mechanically coupled to the spool drive to receive rotational power from the spool drive;
the ring gear being mechanically coupled by means meshing with the teeth of the radially outer tooth surface to the motor to receive rotational power from the motor;
the second shaft being mechanically coupled to the cable guide drive assembly to impart rotational power to the cable guide drive assembly;
(whereby, rotational power applied to the first shaft and to the ring gear is applied in an additive fashion to the cable guide drive assembly.
3. A power winch as claimed in claim 2 in which the ring gear, sun gear and planet gears have substantially parallel rotational axes and are disposed substantially in a common plane.
4. A power winch as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the predetermined drive ratio is selected to advance the cable guide so that one winding of a cable of pre-determined nominal diameter can be collected on the spool with each rotation of the spooo, with the one winding located adjacent to the immediately preceeding winding of cable, substantially unspaced from the preceeding winding.
5. A level wind regulator or use with a level wind of the type having a cable guide member mounted to move in a reciprocating fashion substantially parallel to the rotational axis of a cable receiving spool to vary the point of receipt of a cable being wound on the spool and a cable guide drive assembly adapted to receive rotational power to produce the reciprocating motion of the cable guide member the level wind regulator comprising:
a motor;
a gear assembly with first and second power paths for delivering rotational power in an additive fashion to the cable guide drive assembly, the gear assembly being adapted to be mechanically coupled to the spool drive to receive rotational power from the spool drive and to be coupled to the cable guide drive assembly to transmit rotational power received from the spool drive to the cable guide drive assembly along the first power path according to a predetermined drive ratio, the gear assembly being adapted to be coupled to the motor to receive rotational power from the motor and to be coupled to the cable drive assembly to transmit rotational power received from the motor to the cable guide drive assembly along the second power path; and control means for use in regulating the operation of the motor so that in operation the speed of movement of the guide member parallel to the rotational axis of the spool can be increased or decreased by the motor from the speed of movement produced by rotational power supplied to the guide member drive assembly by the spool drive
a motor;
a gear assembly with first and second power paths for delivering rotational power in an additive fashion to the cable guide drive assembly, the gear assembly being adapted to be mechanically coupled to the spool drive to receive rotational power from the spool drive and to be coupled to the cable guide drive assembly to transmit rotational power received from the spool drive to the cable guide drive assembly along the first power path according to a predetermined drive ratio, the gear assembly being adapted to be coupled to the motor to receive rotational power from the motor and to be coupled to the cable drive assembly to transmit rotational power received from the motor to the cable guide drive assembly along the second power path; and control means for use in regulating the operation of the motor so that in operation the speed of movement of the guide member parallel to the rotational axis of the spool can be increased or decreased by the motor from the speed of movement produced by rotational power supplied to the guide member drive assembly by the spool drive
6. A level wind regulator as claimed in claim 5 in which the gear assembly is generally epicyclic, comprising:
a support housing;
a ring gear rotatably mounted in the support housing, the ring gear having radially inner and outer, generally cylindrical, toothed surfaces;
a sun gear fixed to a first shaft rotatably secured in the support housing;
a planet gear holder fixed to a second shaft rotatably secured in the support housing;
planet gears rotatably secured to the planet gear holder, each of the planet gears being meshed with both the sun gear and the radially inner toothed surface of the ring gear;
the first shaft being adapted to be mechanically coupled to the spool drive to receive rotational power from the spool drive;
the ring gear being adapted to be mechanically coupled by means meshing with the teeth of the radially outer tooth surface to the motor to receive rotational power from the motor;
the second shaft being adapted to be mechanically coupled to the cable guide drive assembly to impart rotational power to the cable guide assembly;
whereby, in operation rotational power received by the first shaft and ring gear is applied in an additive fashion to the cable guide drive assembly.
a support housing;
a ring gear rotatably mounted in the support housing, the ring gear having radially inner and outer, generally cylindrical, toothed surfaces;
a sun gear fixed to a first shaft rotatably secured in the support housing;
a planet gear holder fixed to a second shaft rotatably secured in the support housing;
planet gears rotatably secured to the planet gear holder, each of the planet gears being meshed with both the sun gear and the radially inner toothed surface of the ring gear;
the first shaft being adapted to be mechanically coupled to the spool drive to receive rotational power from the spool drive;
the ring gear being adapted to be mechanically coupled by means meshing with the teeth of the radially outer tooth surface to the motor to receive rotational power from the motor;
the second shaft being adapted to be mechanically coupled to the cable guide drive assembly to impart rotational power to the cable guide assembly;
whereby, in operation rotational power received by the first shaft and ring gear is applied in an additive fashion to the cable guide drive assembly.
7, A level wind regulator as claimed in claim 6 in which the ring gear, sun gear and planet gears have substantially parallel rotational axes and are disposed substantially in a common plane.
8. A power winch as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7 in which the predetermined drive ratio is selected to advance the cable guide in operation so that one winding of a cable of predetermined nominal diameter can be collected on the spool with each rotation of the spool, with the one winding located adjacent to the immediately preceeding winding.
of cable, substantially unspaced from the preceeding winding.
of cable, substantially unspaced from the preceeding winding.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000390360A CA1172624A (en) | 1981-11-18 | 1981-11-18 | Level wind regulator |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000390360A CA1172624A (en) | 1981-11-18 | 1981-11-18 | Level wind regulator |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1172624A true CA1172624A (en) | 1984-08-14 |
Family
ID=4121438
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000390360A Expired CA1172624A (en) | 1981-11-18 | 1981-11-18 | Level wind regulator |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1172624A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP3819253A1 (en) * | 2019-11-06 | 2021-05-12 | Pisek - Vitli Krpan, d.o.o. | An electro-hydraulic winder of a rope onto a drum of a winch and a winch with the said winder |
-
1981
- 1981-11-18 CA CA000390360A patent/CA1172624A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP3819253A1 (en) * | 2019-11-06 | 2021-05-12 | Pisek - Vitli Krpan, d.o.o. | An electro-hydraulic winder of a rope onto a drum of a winch and a winch with the said winder |
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