GB1601122A

GB1601122A - Laying up elongate members

Info

Publication number: GB1601122A
Application number: GB2181977A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Standard Telephone and Cables PLC
Current assignee: STC PLC
Priority date: 1978-05-16
Filing date: 1978-05-16
Publication date: 1981-10-28

Description

(54) LAYING UP ELONGATE MEMBERS (71) We, STANDARD TELEPHONES AND CABLES LIMITED, a British Company, of 190 Strand, London W.C.2. England, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following state ment :- This invention relates to laying-up machines, and methods of laying up elongate members, and in particular to machines for laying-up elongate members such as hoses, with or without electrical cores and other members.

Conventional laying-up machines requires that the elongate members be initially wound onto bobbins before being mounted on the laying-up machines. The elongate members may be hoses, for example, which are of such a size and/or rigidity that bobbins of enormous size would be required to carry them and lay them up together with other such hoses, or electrical cable cores or mechanical strength members etc., using a conventional laying-up techniques.

Hoses with such properties are used in umbilical cables in advanced saturation diving systems, which cables provide all the mechanical, electrical and oxygen/helium facilities required by deep-sea divers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a laying-up machine which does not require the components to be laid up together to be initially wound onto bobbins.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of laying-up a plurality of elongate members into a single assembly, which method includes supporting the elongate members so that they extend in a common direction over their entire length, drawing the members through respective separate positions in a common lay plate while the lay plate is rotated about its axis which lies in the common direction of the elongate members and while the elongate members are allowed to slide freely in and through the lay plate so that little if any twist is imparted to them, drawing the elongate members through a forming die to bring them together into a single assembly and applying a covering to the assembled elongate members to hold them together.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a laying-up machine for laying up a plurality of elongate members into a single assembly which machine includes traction means for drawing the elongate members through separate positions in a rotatable lay plate, a forming die, and means for applying a covering to the elongate members laid up by the die to hold them together, wherein the rotatable lay-plate forms all or part of support means adapted to hold the un-laid-up portions of the elongate members so that they extend over their entire length in the axial direction of the lay plate, allowing them to slide freely therethrough and to rotate about their own axes.

Preferably the support means comprises a set of tubes that extends between a set of synchronously driven lay plates, and preferably also the tubes extend through the lay plates and are freely rotatable with respect thereto.

Conveniently there is provided threading means which includes a tow line and a pair of tow-line bobbins associated with each tube, the bobbins being arranged at opposite ends of the tube.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows, schematically, a laying-up machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a side view; Figure 2 shows, somewhat schematically, an end view of a tube support disc of the machine of Figure 1 with core support tubes extending therethrough; Figure 3 shows a section through part of the tube support disc and an associated core support tube of the machine of Figures 1 and 2.

and Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative embodiment of the invention.

The laying-up machine and method of the first embodiment are based on the principle of laying out the elongate members, to be twisted together, horizontally. These are threaded through a number of lay plates spaced at predetermined intervals apart. The lay plates are rotated synchronously whilst the elongate members are drawn through the apparatus by suitable take-up means. To avoid the formation of catenaries between the successive lay plates the entire length of the elongate members can be threaded through tubes which extend through all the successive lay plates.

The embodiment of the laying-up machine shown in the drawing comprises a number of identical tube support discs 1 (lay plates) which are equispaced and extend over a distance comparable with the length of the elongate members which are to be twisted together.

The discs 1 support core support tubes 2 which extend therebetween.

As can be seen clearly from Figure 3, the core support tubes 2 are mounted in the discs 1 via bearings 3, so that the core support tubes 2 are freely rotatable with respect to the discs 1. The discs 1 are driven synchronously either by individual drive means or in groups.

At the take-up end of the machine is a take-up drum 4, a haul-through device 5, a forming die 6, a tape lapping machine with heads 7 and a forming die 10.

Associated with each tube 2 is a device for pulling an elongate member into it prior to laying-up. The device comprises tow-line bobbins 8 and 9, between which extends a tow4ine and on each of which may be wound a length of the tow-line. The ends of tow-line, are firmly secured to the respective bobbins.

Means are provided where an elongate member can be hooked onto the tow-line at the right hand (inlet) end of the machine and pulled into its respective tube by rotation of the bobbin 8 at the outlet (left hand) end of the machine.

The tow-line may alternatively be an endless belt or line passing around both bobbins 8 and 9 and provided with means for hooking on the elongate members.

When the required elongate members are positioned in their respective tubes, the lefthand ends of the elongate members are collected together and drawn through the die 10, tap lapping heads 7, die 6, haul-through device 5 to the driven take-up drum 4. Once an initial length of the cable has been collected together and attached to the drum 4, laying-up proper may begin. As the haul-through device 5 pulls the elongate members from their respective tubes, the tube support discs 1 are rotated synchronously thereby laying-up the elongate members together, the cable being guided and formed by dies 6 and 10, and the applied twist held in place by the application of tapes by conventional tape lapping heads 7.

In order to remove the twist which would thus otherwise be given to each of the elongate members, during laying-up the core tubes are freely rotatable as mentioned above. The weight of the elongate members themselves and the friction existing between them and the tubes serves to keep the elongate members in contact with the tubes so that the twist which would otherwise be induced in each elongate member by rotation of the lay plates in one direction, is negated by the rotation of the tubes in the opposite direction by virtue of their being freely rotatable. The individual elongate members are therefore themselves twist free in the laid-up cable assembly. The cable assembly emerging from the outlet end of the haul through device may, alternatively, be passed through a plastics sheath extruder or other equipment prior to being wound onto the take-up drum.

The elongate members may, for example, be hoses for oxygen/helium supply etc., electrical power cable cores, telecommunication cable cores and strength members, so that a saturation diving system umbilical cable may be laid up by the machine. The length of the tubes 2 will be dictated by various factors, the most basic being the maximum length of umbilical cable required to be laid-up on the machine. Typically the tube support discs may be 3.5m apart and the length of the tubes of the order of 500m.

In the horizontal direction a railway line would be useful in that the lay plates could be supported on the line and would be easily movable if provided with wheels running on the line.

The preferred embodiment envisages laying the elongate members horizontally with the machine likewise horizontal. However, it is within the scope of the invention to have a vertically oriented machine and for this purpose a disused mine shaft would provide the necessary space. The elongate members will not sag and so supporting tubes and several lay plates may be unnecessary. Thus all that would be required would be a single lay plate at the top of the shaft and a powerful capstan to lift the elongate members out of the shaft through the lay plate which is rotated. It might prove necessary to have some means to prevent the dangling ends of the members becoming tangled and so a second or several lay plates could fulfil this requirement.

A simple example is shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. In Figure 4 a vertical shaft 12 extends down into the ground. At the entrance 13 to the shaft is provided a rotary lay plate 14 driven by a motor 15. The lay plate has a plurality of holes and is similar to the one illustrated in Figure 2 except that the tubes 2 would not be necessary. A section through one of the holes is shown in Figure 5. A trumpet guide 16 is supported in a bearing 17 so that it is free to rotate in the lay plate 14.

Elongate members 18, 19 and 20 dangle down the shaft through the lay plate and are hauled up by a haul-through device 21 over a sheave 22 onto a take-up drum 23. As before the machine has a a forming die 24, tape lapping heads 25 and a second forming die 26.

The haul through device 21 is reversible and is also used to lower the individual hoses 18, 19 and 20 down the shaft over the sheave 22. As the haul through device hauls the hoses up over the sheave 22 the lay plate 14 is driven round by the motor 15 and the hoses are laid up and lapped with tape. Although not shown a sheath could be extruded over the laid up unit as indicated by the reference numeral 27, between the haul through device and the take-up drum.

As shown there are two lay plates 28 and 29 freely rotably mounted in supports 30 and 31 and which merely prevent the hoses becoming tangled or hitting the sides of the shaft during manufacture of the laid up unit. The lay plates could be driven in synchronism with the lay plate 14 if necessary. It is not envisaged that the rate of rotation of the lay plate 14 would be such that centrifugal force would have any significant effect on the dangling ends of the hoses although they would inevitably swing out. This is curtailed by the lay plates 28 and 29 which have corresponding holes 28a and 29a but no tubes or trumpets.

In the embodiments described we envisage laying-up flexible hoses of outside diameter up to 2 inches forming a composite unit of say 5" diameter with an extruded oversheath. If significant tensile strength is required and armouring; this can be applied after the haul off device.

Our copending application 37138/77 (Serial No. 1594702) discloses a suitable armouring arrangement. The weight of each individual hose element would be of the order of 1 Kg per metre or twice this if the hoses are wire-braided.

It is also envisaged using the embodiments described to lay up a very large number of small diameter hoses, around 1/4" diameter. Bundles of these could replace the individual hoses described above and the machine operated in the same way. Thus each elongate member would in fact comprise say 10 or more individual small hoses. These bundles would preferably already be pre-laid up so that they can be handled as a single element.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of laying-up a plurality of elongate members into a single assembly, which method includes supporting the elongate members so that they extend in a common direction over their entire length, drawing the members through respective separate positions in a common lay plate while the lay plate is rotated about its axis which lies in the common direction of the elongate members and while the members are allowed to slide freely in and through the lay plate so that little if any twist is imparted to them, drawing the elongate members through a forming die to bring them together into a single assembly and applying a covering to the assembled elongate members to hold them together.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the common direction is substantially horizontal.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the elongate members are supported to extend in a common direction by individual tubes that rotate with the lay plate, and through which the individual elongate members are able freely to slide.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein each tube is mounted in a bearing in the lay plate so that it is free to rotate in the lay plate about its own axis.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the common direction is vertical and the elongate members are drawn upwardly through the lay plate.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 5 wherein the elongate members are guided by said lay plate together with a plurality of additional lay plates, all of which lay plates are mechanically linked to rotate synchronously about a common axis.

7. A method of laying up a plurality of elongate members into a single assembly which method is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of laying up a plurality of elongate members into a single assembly which method is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A laying-up machine for laying up a plurality of elongate members into a single assembly which machine includes traction means for drawing the elongate members through separate positions in a rotatable lay plate, a forming die, and means for applying a covering to the elongate members laid up by the die to hold them together, wherein the rotatable lay-plate forms all or part of support means adapted to hold the un-laid-up portions of the elongate members so that they extend over their entire length in the axial direction of the lay plate, allowing them to slide freely therethrough and to rotate about their own axes.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein the lay-plate axis is vertical and the forming die is located vertically above the lay plate.

11. A machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein the lay plate axis is substantially horizontal.

12. A machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein the support means includes a set of tubes for individually supporting the un-laid-up portions of elongate members which tubes are rotatable with the lay plate.

13. A machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein each tube is mounted in a bearing in the lay plate so that it is free to rotate in the lay-plate about its own axis.

14. A machine as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein each tube is provided with threading means which includes a tow line and an associated pair of tow-line bobbins.

15. A machine as claimed in claim 9, 10, or 11, wherein the support means includes, together with the lay plate, a set of additional

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. 22. As the haul through device hauls the hoses up over the sheave 22 the lay plate 14 is driven round by the motor 15 and the hoses are laid up and lapped with tape. Although not shown a sheath could be extruded over the laid up unit as indicated by the reference numeral 27, between the haul through device and the take-up drum. As shown there are two lay plates 28 and 29 freely rotably mounted in supports 30 and 31 and which merely prevent the hoses becoming tangled or hitting the sides of the shaft during manufacture of the laid up unit. The lay plates could be driven in synchronism with the lay plate 14 if necessary. It is not envisaged that the rate of rotation of the lay plate 14 would be such that centrifugal force would have any significant effect on the dangling ends of the hoses although they would inevitably swing out. This is curtailed by the lay plates 28 and 29 which have corresponding holes 28a and 29a but no tubes or trumpets. In the embodiments described we envisage laying-up flexible hoses of outside diameter up to 2 inches forming a composite unit of say 5" diameter with an extruded oversheath. If significant tensile strength is required and armouring; this can be applied after the haul off device. Our copending application 37138/77 (Serial No. 1594702) discloses a suitable armouring arrangement. The weight of each individual hose element would be of the order of 1 Kg per metre or twice this if the hoses are wire-braided. It is also envisaged using the embodiments described to lay up a very large number of small diameter hoses, around 1/4" diameter. Bundles of these could replace the individual hoses described above and the machine operated in the same way. Thus each elongate member would in fact comprise say 10 or more individual small hoses. These bundles would preferably already be pre-laid up so that they can be handled as a single element. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of laying-up a plurality of elongate members into a single assembly, which method includes supporting the elongate members so that they extend in a common direction over their entire length, drawing the members through respective separate positions in a common lay plate while the lay plate is rotated about its axis which lies in the common direction of the elongate members and while the members are allowed to slide freely in and through the lay plate so that little if any twist is imparted to them, drawing the elongate members through a forming die to bring them together into a single assembly and applying a covering to the assembled elongate members to hold them together.

spaced apart lay plates, all of which lay plates are mechanically linked to rotate synchronously about a common axis.

16. A laying-up machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1,2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

17. Alaying-up machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.