GB777667A - Improvements in or relating to machines for the manufacture of twin quads for telecommunication cables - Google Patents

Abstract

777,667. Machines for making cables; covering cores by winding. LIGNES TELEGRAPHIQUES ET TELEPHONIQUES. Sept. 8, 1955 [Oct. 21, 1954], No. 25750/55. Class 109. A machine for manufacturing twin quads for telecommunications cables (by individual simultaneous twisting of the two conductors of each of the two pairs, separate covering of each of the pair with cotton, and assembly of the two pairs into a quad, optionally, with further covering with cotton and/or paper) which, with modifications, may be used to manufacture cable pairs, comprises two rotating angularly disposed frames each carrying two conductor supply reels with auto-compensating braking systems and a cotton head, a device comprising a high-speed twisting-head, two coupled drums driven by a system of gears with differential control for drawing the twisted pairs, means for winding the quad on to a take-up reel via a right-angle deflecting member consisting of a ramp fast with the twisting head, and a support which comprises braking means for the take-up reel and is reciprocated under the control of an adjustable-speed reversible screw. In the machine shown, frames 1g, Id rotationally driven by a motor 23 through a shaft 3, gear train 4, belts 5, and pinions 6 and 7, each rotatably mount reels of conductor wire 9a, 9b each of which is controlled by a braking system comprising a pulley, as at 10, and a pulley 11 movement of which against an adjustable spring, as at 14, in response to variation in conductor tension, moves a rod, as at 15, to operate a brake, as at 16. A cotton head 20 carries two reels of cotton 21a, 21b (one reserve) by which a conductor pair being twisted by a two-hole die 22 is covered on leaving the frame. The pairs are intertwisted by a rotating die 30 carried on a hollow shaft 29 and, in passing therethrough, are covered by means of a cotton head 46 followed by a single or multiple paper head 47. The quad passes through a die 48 (which may, alternatively, effect the intertwisting of the pairs, i.e. convergence thereat of the pairs may occur, the assembly on the shaft 29 being omitted) carried on a twisting head 34 rotated at the same speed as the die 30 and on which an assembly of a pinion 40 fast with a toothed rim 41 rotates at a speed the differential of which relative to the speed of the head is transmitted by a pinion 42, bevel gears 44 and pinions 45, to driving drums 43a, 43b pulling the cable which is thus given a simultaneous rotary and translatory movement. The path of the cable around the drums and over a ramp 49a or 49b is determined according to the direction of twist, Figs. 3 and 4 (not shown). The cable is wound on a reel 50 a shaft 51 of which carries a brake drum 53 acted upon by an adjustable brake 54 and rotates in a support 52 mounted on slides 55 whereon it is reciprocated by traverse mechanism comprising a screwed rod 56 which is connected to one or other of driving pulleys 58 (constantly rotating in opposite directions) by means of a dog-clutch system 57 actuated by the impact of an extension 61 on abutments 60. The motor 23 drives a main shaft 25 which drives the shaft 29 (via sprockets 26, 27 and chain 28), the head 34 (via sprockets 31, 32 and chain 33), the pinion 40 (via gears 35, 36, 37) and the spider of a differential 62 one bevel wheel of which is driven through sprockets 63 and 64 and chain 65 at a speed proportional to that of the pinion 41 and the output bevel of which drives a secondary shaft 69 (via pinions 66, 67 and chain 68) which thus rotates continuously at a speed proportional to that of the driving drums. The shaft 69 in turn drives the head 20 (via a variable-speed gear 70, belt 71, gears 72 and belts 73) the head 46 (via pinion 74, variable-speed gear 75 and a belt 76), the head 47 (via pinion 77, variablespeed gear 78 and belt 79) and the pulleys 58 (via variable-speed gear 80, pinions 81 and belts 82). The modifications enabling manufacture of cable pairs comprise a declutching device (not shown) allowing a frame 1g or 1d to rotate independently, and the pinions 6 and 7 are replaced by pinions 83 which drive the frame in the reverse direction and at twice the speed of the head 34.