GB1368148A - Wire rope suspension system and rope connector for rotary dryers and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

1368148 Coupling ropes G P HURST 7 Dec 1971 [4 Jan 1971] 56825/71 Heading D1T [Also in Division F4] A suspension system for supporting and rotating a generally horizontally disposed tube 1, Fig. 3, comprises upper sheaves 4, 4 and a plurality of separate rope loops 2, 3 that extend over the sheaves 4, 4 and under the tube 1, each loop including coupling means 27 or 74 that join the loop ends together, there being means for tensioning or relaxing each loop. Each loop. 2 is a load supporting loop and extends across two co-planar sheaves 4, 4 and then under the tube 1. The rope loops 3 are anti-sway loops some of which extend over a left-hand sheave and the others of which extend over a right-hand sheave. The coupling means 27 is shown in greater detail in Fig. 4. It includes a bridge piece 64 having cross-over channels through which the rope ends 2 extend. The rope 2 has ferrules 51 swaged on its ends and passes through cap screws 61 threaded into nuts 58. When a shaft 48 is rotated, gears 50 that are secured to the ferrules 51 are also rotated and this causes the rope 2 to rotate about its axis. Rotation of the ferrules 51 also causes the two cap screws 61 to rotate jointly and so shift the rope 2 axially relatively to the bridge piece 64. This twin action of rotating the rope about its axis and at the same time shifting it longitudinally relatively to the bridge piece 64 changes the points of flexure where the rope 2 enters the connector 27. The sheaves 4, 4 are mounted on sliding blocks 6, the setting of one block 6 being by screw and nut means 15, 16 and the setting of the other block 6 is determined by a compression spring acting through a rod 10 to tension the rope loops 2. Guide strips 67, 68 control the settings of the connectors 27 and prevent them from turning sideways. To this end rollers 66 on the connectors 27 press against the guide strips 67, 68. The coupling means 74 is shown in greater detail in Fig. 16. The ends of the rope 3 pass through cross-over channels 77 in the body 74 and terminate in ferrules 51 that are rigid with the rope. By turning the cap screws 81 relatively to the nuts 82 the length of the loops 3 can be varied. The rollers 88 bear against guide strips 90, Figs. 3 and 15, to prevent the coupling means 74 from turning onto its side. The tube 1 has annular channels 22, Fig. 15, in which the ropes 2, 3 and their coupling means 27, 74 run.