GB729680A - Improvements in methods and machines for the manufacture of stranded wire ropes and cables - Google Patents

Abstract

729,680. Making wire ropes. BRUCE, H. E. R. Feb. 13, 1953 [Feb. 14, 1952], No. 4172/53. Class 109. In a method of stranding steel &c. wires, the individual wires from the coils as received from the manufacturers, are preformed to substantially their final shape and are thereafter stranded together during a continuous rotation of the formed cable about its axis, the speed of rotation of the cable being less than the rotational speed of the stranding process to such an extent that the stresses induced in the preformed wires by the stranding operation are substantially eliminated in the finished cable. Wires 10 from coils 29 on reels 30 are drawn off and passed with a core of jute or hemp 9 through an apertured plate 8 to a device 11 for straightening the wires, such device comprising a series of small rollers 14 (not shown). The wires then pass through adjustably spaced apertured plates 15, 17, 18, whereby they are " preformed" and thence to the jaws of a device 22 wherein cabling is effected, the cable passing about a pulley 25, balanced at 26, in a rotating frame 19. The cable 28 now passes to a rotary cage structure 32, 46, 47 supported on rollers 50, the take-up drum 39 being disposed in a frame 33 which does not rotate. The motor 40 drives the frame 19 through shaft 42 and belt 44 ; and the structure 32 through the belt 45. As the structure 32 rotates, it turns gears 52, 53, supported by the frame 33, to drive the traction pulley 38 about which the cable is passed. The various driving gears may be altered so that the speeds of the frames 19, 32 and the traction pulley 38 may be adjusted to arrange that the stresses induced by stranding are eliminated and the wires resume their preformed shapes.