GB582553A - Improved method of and apparatus for wrapping a line about a pipe or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

582,553. Winding wire &c. layers on pipes. STEVENS, A. H. (Lock Joint Pipe Co.). May 24, 1944, No. 10066. [Class. 99 (ii)] [Also in Group XXII] Apparatus for wrapping a wire or other line about a pipe comprises a support by which the pipe can be rotated on its axis, a carriage travelling in a path substantially parallel .to the pipe and carrying a sheave around which passes a loop of line formed by continuations from separated winding about the pipe, a cable secured to the sheave and connected with means for maintaining tension in the cable for tensioning the line during a winding operation. To each end of the pipe to be wound are secured steel rings 11, 12, Figs. 1 and 3, connected.by bolts 13 passing through 'the pipe. By means of the rings the pipe is supported in a frame having lower rollers 14 and 15 and also rollers 16, 17 adapted to take the sideways thrust of the pipe during the winding operation. The pipe may be rotated in either direction by a motor 21 which is connected through gearing to a shaft 18 carrying a crank 19 bolted to the ring 11. A winding carriage 27 mounted on rollers running on rails parallel to the axis of the pipe may be traversed by means of a chain 43 passing round a sprocket 42 driven from the motor 21 through a clutch 25 and variable gearing 37 by which the pitch of the winding may be altered. In operation, the end of the line to be wound on the pipe is secured to an anchorage at one end of the pipe, the pipe is rotated and the carriage 27 traversed to the other end of the pipe so as to wind the wire on the pipe at a light tension. The wire is then cut, and the end passed around a sheave 55 to form a loop 57, Fig. 5, and secured to an anchorage at that end of the pipe. The sheave is mounted on a trolley 71 supported on a cantilever beam structure 31 extending outwardly from the carriage 27 and is connected to a cable 58 to which a predetermined tension may be applied. This tension is imparted to the loop 57 and the pipe is then rotated and the carriage 27 traversed, in the reverse direction so as to unwind the preliminary winding and to apply a winding in the reverse direction under comparatively high tension. Elongation of the wire under the winding tension is taken up by the loop 57, the sheave 55 moving outwards along the beam 31. If the pipe is of a readily compressible material or if a higher tension is required, the second winding may be unwrapped and re-applied at higher tension in the reverse direction and so on until the final desired tension has been attained, after which the wire is cut and anchored under tension. In order to avoid wastage of wire, the first part of the preliminary winding could comprise a length of cable secured to the end of the wire. In the ' form shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the tensioning cable 58 secured to the sheave 55 passes round a pulley 72 at the end of the beam 31 and around pulleys on the carriage to a winch 68 driven by a motor 67. Motor and winch are both mounted on beam 65 pivotally mounted at 66 and carrying a tensioning weight 70. An arm 70 depending from the beam operates a switch 78 which controls the motor 67 so as to maintain the beam in a constant position. In a modified form (Fig. 8, not shown) the tension of the cable 58 is maintained constant by means of a weight freely suspended from its end. In another form, Fig. 11, a sheave 94 is supported by a beam 91 pivoted to the winding carriage at 92 and supported at its other end on a pillar 100. The loop 97 is tensioned by means of the sheave which is urged away from the carriage by the rod 105 of a piston operating in a cylinder 103. If desired, the winding carriages could be stationary and the pipe both rotated and traversed axially.