US1691337A - Stranding machine - Google Patents

Description

' Nw. '13,' 192s. l 1,691,337

l E. A. CONN'ER STRANDING MCHINE original Filed July 25, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 1 www f www:

hantoz' @M Nov. 13, d' 928.

E. A. coNNER STRANDING MAGHINE- original Filed July 25, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 2 @61ml @Wm N'vn 1.928."

E. A. CONNER STRANDING MACHINE 'origini-Filed July 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. I3, 1'928. 1,691,337

E. A. coNNER STRANDING MACHINE Original Filed July 25, 1925 4 Sheets-'Sheet 4 Swoon to:

Patented Nov. 13, 192.8.

UNITED STATES 1,691,337 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. coNNEn, or s'rnazrronn, comcrrcv'r, Assronon 'ro Anuman ont.:

. COMPANY, nro., A CORPORATION or 71:nT..A'111rAm1-.

u' s'rmnmo nomma.

I Application med Jury a5, 1925, sei-1111 This invention relates to stranding, by which is meant the formation of a plurality of Wires into a strand, or the formation of a plurality Iof such strands into a wire rope,

the expression stranding being herein used generically to designate either of the above operations, .or the subsequent formation of va plurality of wire ropes into a cable, so that it is not intended to use the expression stranding with any technical limitation to the formation of a single layer of Wires laid -together with or without a core.

An object of the present invention is to provide a stran'ding machine with a non-rotating head having means to lay the several component wires or strands in a strand, vrope or cable, as the strand components arecaused to pass through the head. Another obj ect of the invention is to combine with the stationary head in such a machine means for conveniently holding a set-of supply reels containing the individual wiresused as stock for feeding the head, and for substituting rewound reels for the reels that `become depleted. As

Ain vertical longitudinal section on the line 80 the head vis Irion-rotating, these reels need have no movement bodily around the stranding axis of the machine'but rotate about indivi-dual axesin vfixed position and may be spaced at distances from each other and from the stranding axis suitable to permit the provision of desirably large supplies of the strand components, thus permitting unusually long `continuous operation of the machine without replenishment of the supplies, so that the product is free from -splices anduniform in .A further object of the invention is to provide a liyer rotating about the stranding axis, having means actuated positively Vto draw the strand components through the head and acting to 4deliver the completed-product to a reel mounted to rotate bodily with the flyer,

and adapted to wind up the productV under yielding tension.

The inventi embodied in a machine or carrying out the process forming the subject of, andV described in, United States Patent No. 1,513,583, granted Oct. 28, 1924, said process being char- 'acterized'by the fact that, prior to' laying,

the component wires or strands are formed into helices of suitable dimensions, so that When the finished 4product is severed, the component Wires or strands arfesubstantially free from tendency to separate, a strand, rope ical components p on'is of particular utility when A110. 45,970. Renewed January 21, 1928.

or cable of this character being sometimes cable.

To this end, a further object ofthe invention is to provide a, non-rotating head with ao preforming means comprising a set of nozzles or dies mounted on the head in spaced relation around the strani axis and each adapted to act upon one of e strand component wires to form the same into a helix,

the preforming nozzles delivering these helperly to lay them in a strand, rope or cable. Y

Other objects of the invention will appear in the description of the machine of the pres- 'l0 ent application and its functions and mode of operation.

Describing the drawings, y Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a stranding machine embodying the invention. u

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in plan of part of the above machine, showing also means for feeding a core thereto continuousl Fig. 3 isa detail view on an enlarged scale,

III-IH Of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical-section Of the preforming unit, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view in plan, a5

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section on the 90 irregular line VI-VI of Fig. 5. Flg. 7 is a view in vertical section on the une vri-vn of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view in vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on Y the une vm of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail view of a diagrammatic character, 1n vertical section, taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 5. l

the base 3 of the machine, and to which thef In the embodiment illustrated, the part Si designated by the reference character 1 is a individual component wires'o; strands 4 are' 105 led over guide pulleys 5 supported by suitable brackets 6, from redls, or other suitable sources of supply 7 'mounted rotatably in standards 8 bolted to the base. Y- Y In the form shown in Fig. 3, the preform ug 45 shaft 26, as shown in Fig. 7.

ing head 1 comprises aymember 11 having a helical grooves 14 through which the wires -4---are drawn simultaneously and consequently formed into helices s before being wrapped about the centrally disposed core l5 to constitute component parts of a complete strand. These devices, therefore, constitute six dies or nozzles spaced equally about the central bore 16 through which the core 15 is led from a suitable source of supply 17 (see Fig. 2) around guide pulleys 18 and 19, and preferably the member llvis of integral formation, for the sake of compactness and strength, and isshown as embraced by a bushing 20 to which the member 11 is bolted at 2 1, this bushing being utilized as the support for the brackets 6 which carry the guide pulleys 5 for the wires 4. A cap is shown at 22 bolted to the standard 2, for the purpose of retain'- ing the above described parts removably in assembled position. v

When the strand components 4 have been acted upon by the preforming devices l2, they emerge in the helical form indicated at s, and

are laid together around the core 15 to form a complete strand, wire orcable, such as that' shown at S, which constitutes the completed product, and this product is preferably drawn .by suitable means, which may take any convenient form.

Ihave 'shown' asthe preferred means for the above purpose` a liyer designated by the reference character F which in pursuance of my invention comprises a frame 24 having hollow trunnions 25 and 26 journalled in suitf ' able vbearings 27 and 28 carried by standards 29 and 30 bolted to the base 3, provision being made for'rotation ofthe flyer by suitable means shown as gears 3l, 32, and 33, the

last gear mentioned being mounted upon the shaft of an electric motor 34. The gear 31 is splined at 35 upon the hollow trunnion or As the completed productS passes from the preforming head l, it is drawn through the hollowtrunnion 25 by a series o'f grooved pulleys 36 and 37 mounted .on transverse shafts 38 and 39 supported rotatably in the frame 24 and connected for co-rotation by a link belt or. driving chain 40, which insures positively co-rotation of the pulleys 36 and 37 at the same speed, and the shaft 38 is driven positively by means of bevel gears 41 and 42, the latter being fast upon a shaft 43 carried lengthwise of the frame 24 in bearing brackets 44 and 45, having its other \end mounted rotatably in suitable bearings 46 at the opposite endpof the frame, where the shaft is provided with a gear 47 which meshes with a gear, 48 fast upon a shaft 49 which extends through the central bore 50 of the hollow trunnion 26, and is secured in fixed position Vby a flange 51 bolted to thel bearing 28 oi' the standard 30. When the frame 24 is rotating, the gear 47 tracks upon -the gear 48 and is caused to rotate, with the result that, the shaft 43 is run at proportionate speed and drives the pulleys 36 and 37 positively for drawing-off the completed product S, and thus. for vdrawing the strandl components 4 through the preforming devices l2.

The product S, in pursuance of my invention, is wound upon aV reel R under a yielding tension, and this reel is ada ted to be turned end-ovenendby the rotation of the flyer 24, around an axis coinciding with that of the strand under formation, which may be termed the stranding axis, for the sake of brevity, thereby laying the strand at the rate of one complete set of convolutions for each rotation ofthe flyer, Lwhich rotation corresponds to the period occupiedin drawing through each of the preforming devices 12 the length of material reouired to form a com plete helical convolution, the rotation of the flyer 24 and of lthe reel R being timed and f ries also a spur gear 58 forming one of a train with gears 59 and 60, the latter meshing with the stationary gear 48 upon the fixed shaft 49, which as already described is the one upon which the planetary gear 47 runs to drive the shaft 43, so that proportional rotation of the reel R is thus insured.

The shaft 52 carries a sleeve shaft 62 mounted loosely thereon between the hub 63 of the bevel gear 55 and a collar 64 fast upon tthe shaft 52, and upon this sleeve is splined the barrel 65 of the reel R, being held in place removably by a collar 66 at one end, secured thereto by a set screw 67, and at the other end by a fiange 68, extending from the sleeve shaft- 62. yThis flange 68 constitutes one member of a friction clutch which comprises also a strap 69 connected to a post 7 0 on the flange 68 and engaged with the hub 63, the latter serving as the actuating member of the friction clutch, to cause co-rotation of the reel R with the shaft 52. The reel is thus rotated endover-end with the .shaft 52 by rotationof the flyer 24, to lay the helical strand components in a strand, rope or cable, and the .product thus laid is wound-up on the reel R by the act-ion of the friction clutch just dcscribed, which 'permits slippage of the reel as the diameter of the wound-up product S increases.

A suitable distributing device may be provvided as indicated at 7l, which may be of the conventional character shown, mounted upon a distributing shaft 72 j ournalled at.

73 in bearings carried by the frame 24:, and the lactuationl of Which is provided for by bevel gears 75and 76, the latter heilig mounted upon the counter-shaft 77 carried -in bearings 78 upon the frame 24, and having a bevel gear 7 9 engaged with teeth 80 upon the pe- 10 ripliery of Lthe iiange 68, so that the distribut-` ing device is driven at a speed proportionate with the speed of the lr'eel The supply reel 17 for the core is pretera'bly rotated bodily in a frame 87 j ournalled in suitable bearings 88 mounted on an eXtension 8.9 of the base 3, and this frame may de "strand components through said preforming -means and lay vthe helical components and at the same time rotate'the product at a speed.4

coordinate With the speed of formation of the helices. p 'Y v .Y 2. In a stranding machine, a non-rotating head provided with a plurality of preforming nozzles adapted to form. into helices 85 strand components passing through said nozzles priorto laying said strand components, and means to draw said strand components through said preforming nozzles and lay the helical components and at the same time ro- 40 tate .the product at a speed coordinate with the speed of formation of the helices.

3. Inl a stranding machine, a non-rotating head provided with a plurality of preforming'nozzles arranged about the strand` ing axis', said preforming nozzles being adapted to form into-helices strand components passing therethrough. f 4. In a stranding machine, a non-rotating head provided with means for individual helical preformation of theseveral strand components prior...to laying the same, and means to lay said helical components in a strand, rope or cable and rotate the completed product on its axis relatively to said head.

5. In a stranding'machine, a non-rotating head provided with means to formthe strand components into helices prior to laying said strand compone-nts, a'support for a plurality of reels-containing individual supplies of said strand dompo-nents; and means to mdravv said strand components through said y preforming means and laythe helical components andI at the Isaine time rotate the product at a speed coordinate with the speed of formation'of the helices.

claim 6. In a stranding machine, a non-rotating head provided with means to form the strand components into helices prior to laying said strand components, a non-rotating support for a plurality of reels containing individual 'i0 supplies of said strand components; and means to diaw said 'strand com nents through said .preforming means and ay the helical components and'at the same time rotate the product at a speed coordinate with the speed of formation of the. helices.

7. In a stra-riding machine, a non-rotating head provided with means to lay the strand components in helical relation; a support for aplirality of reels containing the individual 30 supplies of 'said strand components; and a flyer mounted to rotate relatively to said support and head, exerting formative traction upon said several strand components, drawlng )dthem' simultaneously through. the'laying 85 8. In astranding machine, a non-rotating head provided; with means for individual helical preformationof the several strand components prior to laying said strand components, and a .flyer provided with means to vvind up the finished product, rotating the same about its axis.

9. In a stranding machine, a non-rotating head provided with means for individual helical preformation of the several strand components prior to laying said strand componente, and a flyer provided with means to Wind up the iinished product, rotating the same about its axis, and a series of reels to contain individual supplies of said strand components, one of said reels being adapted to contain a supply of core material and vhaving 'means to rotate said core at a speed co-ordinate with the speed of rotation of said flyer. 10. In al stranding machine, a head provided with means for individual helical preformation of the several strand components prior to laying them; a rotatable flyer having a reel mounted to rotate about'anaxis Atransversely disposed upon said flyer, and sharing also the body rotation of said flyer with said product about the strimding axis; and means to cause said several rotative move- 115 ments of said iiyer .and reel respectively, whereby Asaid flyer exerts a formative traction upon said strand components, drawing them respectively through said preforming meansA from individual sources of supply and winding said product on said reel. l

11.In a stranding machine, a head provided With means for individual helical 'pre. formation of the several strand components prior to laying theme; a rotatable ilyerhaving-a reel mounted to rotate about an ."axis 'transversely disposed upon said flyer, and sharing also the body rotation" of said flyer -With said product about the axis;

and means to cause said'several rotative 13 movements of said flyer and reel respectively, whereby said flyer exerts a formative traction upon said strand components, drawing them respectively through said preforming means from individual sources of' supply and Winding said product on said reel without rotation of said product relatively to said reel.

12. In a stranding machine, 'a head provided with means Ifor individual helical preformation of the several stranding components preparatory to laying said st-randing components; a flyer having a reel mounted to rotate about an axis transversely disposed upon said flyer, and sharing also the bod)7 rota-tion of said flyer, and means to cause said several rotative n'ioven'ients of said flyer and reel respectively, said flyer being also provided with devices actuated positively to exert a constant formative traction upon said strand components and-to deliver the completed product to said reel.

13. In a stranding machine, ahead provided with means for helical preformation of the strand components preparatory to laying the same; a flyer having a'reel mounted to rotate about an axis transversely disposed upon said flyer, and sharing also the body rotation of said flyer, and means to cause said several rotative movements ot' said flyer and reel respectively, whereby said flyer exerts a formative traction upon said strand components, drawing them respectively through said preforming means from individual 4sourcesof supply and winding said strand on said reel without rotation of said strand relatively to said reel, said flyer bev-ing also provided with auxiliary devices actuated positively to exert a constant formative tension upon said product and to deliver it to said reel, and being provided also with means tov lay said product in regular convolutions upon said reel, said means for :rotating said reel upon its proper axis comprising a device to conform the speed of such rotation with the increasing diameter of said convlutions, by permitting slippage of the reel. i

14. In a stranding machine,ia head provided with means for helical preformation of the stranding components, preparatory to laying th same; a flyer journalled in a suitable support, said flyer having a reel mounted to rotate about an axis transversely disposed upon said flyer, and sharing also the body rotation of said flyer, and means to cause said several rotative movements of said flyer and reel respectively, comprising a gear on said flyer, a fixed gear mounted coaxially with said flyer upon 'the support therefor, a gear rotatable -co-axially with said reel, and connected frictionally with said reel, and ygearing connecting said reelactuating' gear with said fixed gear, whereby said reelis rotated at a speed' proportionate laying the same; a flyer journalled in a suitable support, said flyer having a reel mounted to rotate about an axis transversely disposed upon said flyer, and sharing also thel 4 body rotation of said Hyer, and means to cause` said several rotative movements of said flyer and reel respectively, said means comprising a gear on said flyer, in mesh with a fixed gear mounted eo-axially with said flyer upon the support therefor, a gear rotatable coaxially with said reel, and connected frictionally with said reel, and gearing connecing said reel-actuating gear with said fixed gear, whereby said reel is rotated at a speed proportionate to that of said flyer, 'and at the saine time is permitted to slip and compensate for-the increased diameter of the product laid thereon; said flyer being also provided with a set of grooved pulleys connected together and geared to said fixed gear whereby said pulleys are actuated positively to exert a constant formative traction upon said cable and to deliver it to said reel.

16. In a stranding machine, a head provided with means for helical preformation of the strand components preparatory to laying, a support, and a flyer mounted on said support rotatively with relation to said head and adapted to draw said strand components through said head as the same are laid in a strand, rope or cable, said flyer having devices actuated positively toexert said formative traction upon said product, and means acting to wind said product up under yielding tension. l

17. In a stranding machine, a stationary head provided with means for helical preformation of the strand components preparatory tolaying, a support, and a flyer mounted on said support rotatively with relation to said head and provided with means acting to wind said product up under yielding tension.

18. In a stranding machine, a rotatable I 'stranded product and to deliver it to said reel, and being provided also with means to vlay said product in regular convolutionsA upon said reel, said means for rotating said ,"cel upon 1ts proper axis comprlsmg a de- Leones? vice to conform the speed o such rotation with the increasing diameter of said convolutions, by permitting slippage of the reel. 19. A machine of the class describedcom- 5 prising,y in combination, a base member, means thereon for spiralling and rotating a group of strands, a die for assembling the strands for movement in a common path, rotary devices for pulling the strands through the die and subsequently tensioning them arranged to revolve about the axis thereof, means 'for revolving the devices at the speed of rotation 'of the strands, means vfor rotating the devices, and a rotary Wind-up reel arranged to revolve with the said devices.

20. A machine of the class `described comprising, a base, means thereon for spiralling and rotating a group of Wire strands, a die for assembling the strands t-o move in a com- 20 mon path, rotary devices for pulling the strands through the die and subsequently tensioning them arranged to revolve about the axis thereof, a wind-up reel also revoluble about the axis of the die, and means for revolving the devices and the reel at substantially the speed of rotation of the strands. i 21. A machine of the class described com` jprising, a base, meansvthereon for spiralling .and rotating a group of Wire strands, a die 30,' for assembling the strands to move in a common path, rotary devices :torl pulling the strands through the die and subsequently tensioning them arranged to revolve abouti lthe axis thereof, a wind-up reel also revoluble about the axis of the die, means for revolving the devices and the reel at substantially the speed of rotation of the strands, and means for actuating the rotary devices.`

22. The combination of a plurality of supply ree'ls for Wire, a device for simultaneously forming the Wires into spirals and rotating such wires on tlieir longitudinal axes, an means for bringing the spiralled and rotating wires together to form a cable.

23. A process of'manufacturing cable from 45 a plurality7 of straight Wires, comprising spiralling and simultaneously rotating the Wires on their longitudinal axes, and bringing the rotating Wires together so that the spirals Will intertwine to form, the cable.

24. A process of manufacturing cable from a plurality'- of Wires, comprising spiralling and simultaneously rotating the Wires on their longitudinal axes, bringing the rotating wires together so that the spirals'will intertwine, and stretching the Wires to cause the spirals to hug each other closely in cable form.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

EDWARD A. CONNER.-

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