GB2228469A

GB2228469A - Coiler

Info

Publication number: GB2228469A
Application number: GB8829616A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Berry; Raymond Eric Charles Daniels
Original assignee: EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co
Current assignee: EIDP Inc
Priority date: 1988-12-20
Filing date: 1988-12-20
Publication date: 1990-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2008-12-20
Also published as: GB8829616D0; GB2228469B

Abstract

A coiler or coiling machine particularly for coiling plastic pipes comprises a drum 20 comprising an inner core portion consisting of circular plates 22 and a floor formed of aerofoil sections 25. The drum has extending walls comprising overlapping segments 24 on the sections 25 which, in their open position form extended walls of the drum. In their closed position the segments 24 are collapsible with sections 25 into the interior of the inner core of the drum to allow removal of the coiled pipe. Means are provided to grip an inner pipe end by expansion of a section 25 against a hook, to wrap the pipe in cling film wen coiled and to strap the coil. <IMAGE>

Description

COILER This invention relates to a coiler, that is to say a machine arranged to coil wire, pipe, or other elongated material.

An object of the invention is to provide a coiler which is of simple construction but is robust and will stand up to arduous service in dealing with pipes which are very often heavy, not easily coiled, and need to be coiled at high speed.

According to the invention a coiling machine comprises a drum of which at least part of the sides of the drum are formed as two circular arrays of retractable segments, whereby the segments may be extended to form the sides of the drum to receive and form a coil of pipe or wire or the like, the segments being retracted into the central part of the drum once the coil has been formed so that the coil may be removed from the drum.

From another aspect there is a coiler comprising a drum which consists of a central core and two sets of retractable segments, means being provided to retract the segments within the core of the drum and to extend the segments so that they form extended walls of the drum.

Preferably the mechanism for operating the segments comprises an annular plate connected to the segments by over-center toggle mechanisms, the plate being adapted to be turned through the predetermined angle by means of pin and slot mechanism, the pin being turned by a lever.

Preferably the lever is movable through an angle greater than 1800 in moving the segments from their open to their closed position so as to provide an over-center locking device to lock the segments in either their open or their closed position. The operating mechanism may be operated for instance by a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder or it may be operated manually.

The number of segments on each side of the drum will depend upon the diameter of the drum but preferably there are at least four segments on each side of the drum.

The segments are preferably sector shaped and are linked by floor portions of the drum so that when the segments are in their open position there is in effect a complete floor of the drum although there may be gaps between adjacent floor sections.

The shape of the segments is preferably such that when they are extended the flow of the drum is located at a predetermined distance radially outward of the position of the segments when they are collapsed. This may be achieved by use of aerofoil section segments for the floor of the drum, the segments being pivoted at or near the greatest thickness of the aerofoil section. The floor segments are preferably designed so that drum expansion can be used to trap the end of the wire or pipe and drum collapse can be used to release the end without the need for any separate clamping mechanism. The pipe end may be trapped between one or more floor segments and a fixed clamping finger.

The machine may include an arrangement for wrapping the completed coil in cling film or similar thin film.

There may also be provision for strapping the completed coil before it is removed.

Optionally the drum includes tapered supports so that the coil may be slid off the drum, once the segments have been closed, when the coil is completely wrapped and ready for removal.

The machine is particularly adapted for coiling materials such as plastic, gas or water piping but it may equally well be used for electric cables or for conventional steel cables or hawses, it could also be used simply as a bending machine for bending pipes or other elongated object into curved form.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a coiling machine embodying the invention, much of the detail being omitted to show the principles of the machine; Figure 2 is a section in elevation through a more detailed version of the machine; Figure 3 is an elevation of the drum operating mechanism seen in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 2, the drum being shown in its closed position; Figure 4 is a similar elevation of the drum operating mechanisms with the drum open; Figure 5 is in effect a composite of Figures 3 and 4 showing the parts of the mechanism in firm line with the drum open and in dotted line with the drum closed; Figures 5a and 5b illustrate the pipe clamping mechanism; Figure 6 is an end elevation of an alternative embodiment machine which incorporates mechanism for wrapping a finished coil with a suitable wrapping film.

The coiling machine shown in Figure 1 comprises a base 10 carrying a framework 12 which supports a main shaft 14 in bearings 16 and 18. On the mainshaft 14 is mounted a drum 20 which has an inner core portion comprising a pair of circular plates 22 fixed to shaft 14.

The main shaft 14 is preferably hollow to allow for airlines or other services to run through it.

Shown in more detail in Figure 2, these plates 22 support the outer part of the drum which is made up of a series of pairs of segments 24 joined by drum floor section 25 and attached by means of collars 26 to square section segment shafts 28, the hub ends 28a of which are journalled in bearings 29 mounted on the circular plates 22. In Figure 2 the segments are shown in their extended positions to form the full sized drum. The segments are collapsible into the interior of the core of the drum in a manner which will now be described in more detail.

Journalled in the circular plates 22 is a control shaft 30 rotatable by a control arm 32 and carrying at one end a lever 34 carrying a roller 36 which engages in a slot 38 in an annular plate 40.

As seen in Figures 3 and 4 the annular plate 40 has a series of bosses 42 to which are pivotted toggle links 44. The toggle links 44 are connected to second toggle links 46 in turn attached to a square ended extension 48 of the shaft 28 shown in Figure 2. There are of course a series of these shafts 28 all around the circular plates 22.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show clearly the operation of the drum and how the segments are moved from their closed to their open position. Starting with the drum closed as shown in Figure 3 and with the roller 36 and lever 34 in the position shown in Figure 3, the control arm 32 is rotated so that the control shaft 30 turns and the lever 34 is moved through approximately 2700 from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4. It will be seen that the lever moves from one side to the other of a central position thus passing over center ensuring locking in whichever position it is left in.

As the lever 34 rotates, the roller 36 engaged in slot 38 rotates the annular plate 40 from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4.

Rotation of annular plate 40 carries with it the toggle links 44 and 46 which in turn rotates the shafts 28 which carry with them respective pairs of segments 24. Thus all five sets of segments 24 on both sides of the drum rotate together from the closed position of Figure 3 to the open position of Figure 4. Again the toggle mechanisms 44 and 46 pass over center during this operation so that the segments are retained and held in their open position once it is reached.

In their open position the segments together with the drum floor sections 25 form in effect an extension of the inner drum core to provide an outer drum portion on which can be wound a coil of wire or pipe or any other elongated material. The coil may for example be a coil of plastic pipe such as used for gas or water mains or it may be electrical cable, or metal bands or tapes or any other object of this kind.

To start off the winding of a pipe or cable on the drum one end of the pipe or cable is engaged between two floor sections 25 and a fixed clamping finger 27 (Fig. 5a) when the drum is in its closed position. The drum segments are then opened and the pipe or cable is trapped between the segments and the finger 27 (Fig. 5b). Thus the clamping and release of the pipe is achieved solely by the opening and closing of the drum without the need for any additional mechanism or levers etc. It also minimises any possible damage to the wire or pipe.

The drum is then rotated to cause the pipe to wind around the drum until the number of layers required has been reached forming a complete coil.

The drum segments are then put into their closed position so that their coil may be removed and this may be, optionally, assisted by tapered supports 50, shown in Figure 1.

The drum segments are, as seen in the drawings, made flat and fairly thin and have their edges shaped as a continuous series of three curves. This is done to enable them to be withdrawn from within a stretch film wrapped around coil without disturbing the thin film or the coil.

An important feature of the invention is the shape of the floor sections 25. As seen in Figure 5 each floor section 25 is of aerofoil cross-section and is pivoted substantially at the centre of the thickest part of the aerofoil. Thus when the floor 25 moves from open position 25A to closed position 25B the effective diameter is reduced by the amount of the gap marked X in the drawing.

In a particular machine the amount of the reduction is 40mm but the reduction in diameter will be designed according to the size of the machine, to ensure that the coil will be easily removable from the drum when the drum is collapsed. The collapse mechanism has been designed to be in perfect balance - the gravitational force on some segments tending to force them out will be balanced by the same force on other segments forcing them in. This is why it takes so little force to collapse or expand the drum.

And so the size and loading on the system for carrying out this operation (perhaps an air cylinder) can be minimised.

In Figure 6 is shown an alternative embodiment of the invention with a smaller drum having only four of the segments 24a.

This coiler is fitted with a roll of wrapping film such as cling film, a roll 52 being supported on a bracket 54. There is a guidance roller 56 and pinch rollers 58 and an arm 59 by which the cling film can be wrapped around the completed coil. To achieve wrapping the arm 59 is turned in this particular version of the machine, through 1800 about the pivot point 60. In other designs the angle of 1800 may be increased or decreased. The wrapping is carried out before the segments 24 are collapsed. The segments are then collapsed leaving the film wrapping the coil. If film is not used, straps may be put round the coil, while the drum is expanded, so that when it is removed it will not spring apart.

Figure 6 also illustrates the way in which the drum is driven by means of a motor 62 and driving pulley and belt 64, 66. At the right hand side of Figure 6 there is provision for a reciprocation area 68 and a tool cabinet 70. In the reciprocation area 68 two mechanisms will be provided to move the pipe on two axes: one will stroke the leading end of the product towards the drum for feeding it to the drum and into the clamp; the other will traverse the product sideways (for layering).

A further mechanism will be incorporated in this area to cut the pipe when the coil is ready for final wrapping.

There are two ways to change the machine to accommodate different coil sizes: fit a new set of curved segments (a possible option if the coil internal diameter and width are not changed, but the outside diameter is); replace the whole drum assembly with one of a different size (the most likely option if either the coil width or internal diameter is changed).

Either of these changes could be carried out quickly and with the minimum of tools. And there would be no need to reset or adjust parts on the drum - all sizes would be set during manufacture of the drum.

Claims

CLAIMS:-

1. A coiling machine comprising a drum of which at least part of the sides of the drum are formed as two circular arrays of retractable segments, whereby the segments may be extended to form the sides of the drum to receive and form a coil of pipe or wire or the like, the segments being retracted into the central part of the drum once the coil has been formed so that the coil may be removed from the drum.

2. A coiler comprising a drum which consists of a central core and two sets of retractable segments, means being provided to retract the segments within the core of the drum and to extend the segments so that they form extended walls of the drum.

3. A coiling machine or coiler according to claim 1 or claim 2 respectively, including mechanism for operating the segments comprising an annular plate connected to the segments by over-center toggle mechanisms, the plate being adapted to be turned through the predetermined angle by means of pin and slot mechanism, the pin being turned by a lever.

4. A coiling machine or coiler according to claim 3 in which the lever is movable through an angle greater than 1800 in moving the segments from their open to their closed position so as to provide an over-center locking device to lock the segments in either their open or their closed position.

5. A coiling machine or coiler according to any of claims 1 to 4 and in which there are at least four segments on each side of the drum.

6. A coiling machine or coiler according to any preceding claim and in which the segments are sector-shaped and are linked by floor portions of the drum so that when the segments are in their open position there is, in effect, a complete floor of the drum, although there may be gaps between adjacent floor sections.

7 A coiling machine or coiler according to any preceding claim and in which the shape of the segments is such that when they are extended the floor of the drum is located at a predetermined distance radially outward of the position of the segments when they are collapsed.

8. A coiling machine or coiler according to claim 7 and in which aerofoil section segments are used for the floor of the drum, the segments being pivoted at or near the greatest thickness of the aerofoil section.

9. A coiling machine or coiler according to claim 8 in which the floor segments are designed so that drum expansion can be used to trap the end of the wire or pipe and drum collapse can be used to release the end without the need for any separate clamping mechanism.

10. A coiling machine or coiler according to claim 9 and in which the pipe end is trapped between one or more floor segments and a fixed clamping finger.

11. A coiling machine or coiler according to any preceding claim and including an arrangement for wrapping the completed coil in cling film or similar thin film, and/or provision for strapping the completed coil before it is removed.

12. A coiling machine or coiler according to any preceding claim including tapered supports so that the coil may be slid off the drum, once the segments have been closed, when the coil is completely wrapped and ready for removal.

13. A coiling machine substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.