US2000104A - Stranding machine - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1935. w. E. SOMERVILLE STRANDING MACHINE 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1954 No mu Q m. y 0 N v ii L May 7, 1935.'

w. E. SOMERVILLE STRANDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1934 72 72 for:

Mlliavz .j'omerfi'lle Patented May 7,' 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in stranding machines for forming a plurality of wires into a strand or the formation of a plurality of such strands into a wire rope, as well as the subsequent formation of a plurality of wire ropes into a cable, and therefore the terms stranding and strands as are here used, are to be construed broadly to include all of such products.

Heretofore in stranding machines rotating heads have been employed and through which heads a central wire or core has been fed and separate strands or wires have also been fed through the head to be wrapped around the core.

In such operations the strands have been wrapped around the core wire by the rotation of such head so as to form helices or convolutions in the strands, but the rotation of the head and the manner in which the wires or strands are fed to the core creates torsion in the strands, tending to twist them in laying up-the strands or wires in the cable.

This is accentuated by reason of the fact that the strands are fed to the core in a general direction lengthwise of the core.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide in a machine of this character a non-rotating head having means whereby the wires or strands will be fed to the core at substantially right angles to the axis of the core, at the point of contact of the strand with the core and at the point where the coiling of the wires about the core commences, thereby allowing the wires or strands to be rolled or coiled into position about the core in laying up the wires or strands in the rope or cable.

A further object is to provide in a stranding machine of this character a haul off, and a take up mechanism which will 'be entirely separate from each other, thereby reducing the amount of weight, resulting in a perfect balance, and at the same time reduce to a minimum the diameter of the machine, allowing greater speed with less power.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shownyin the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and in which Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation, partly in section, with parts broken away and parts omitted, of a machine of this character constructed .journaled in suitable bearings l1.

in accordance with the principles of this invention. I

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the machine showing the strander head.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view, with parts 5 I omitted, as taken on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view, with parts omitted, and on an enlarged scale, as taken. on line 4-4, Figure 1. 2 v Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view 10 of the strander head.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view, with parts omitted, and as taken on line 6--6, Figure 5. Figure '1 is a detail sectional view, with parts omitted, and as taken on line 1-1, Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional View of one end of the spindle shown in Figure 5, through which the core wire passes. 5

Figure 9 is a modified form of the invention.

' Referring more particularly to the drawings, the 20 numeral I0 designates a supporting structure upon which a shaft i l is mounted, and connected to the shaft is a yoke if in which a reel I3 is journaled and wound upon the reel I3 is a strand or wire M, which constitutes the-core wire. The 25 yoke l2 carrying the reel I3 is adapted to be rotated by means of a suitable motor l5, and connected to the shaft of the motor is a shaft IS A sprocket wheel is carried by the shaft I6 and over which 3 sprocket wheel a sprocket chain l8 passes, the chain also passing over a sprocket wheel I 9 secured to the shaft ll.

Arranged in advance of the reel l3 are supporting frames 20, any number of which may be 35 provided, and removably journaled in these frames are spools or reels 2!, any number of which may be provided, and these spools or reels are preferably arranged on each side but in advance of the reel I3. Theselspools or reels 2| have'wound 40 thereupon the strands or wires 22 which are coiled about the core H to produce the finished product.

A supporting structure 23 is arranged adjacent the spools 2| and a shaft 24 is mounted upon 45 the structure 23 in a manner to beheld against rotation, but so that it may be adjusted lengthwise of its axis and when adjusted may be held in its adjusted position by means of a fastening device 25, such as a set screw or the like. The shaft 24 is hollow as shown more clearly in Figure 5, and through this shaft the core wire 14 loosely passes.

Secured to the end of the shaft 24 is a head 26, and to this head is secured asuppOrting frame fere with the free rotation thereof.

21 of any desired construction. The members of the frame 21 may be of any desired length and to the free extremities thereof is secured another member 28 within which a. member 29 carrying a die 30 is rotatably mounted. This member 29 may be removably secured in position by means of suitable fastening plates 3l32 and is preferably provided with a worm gear 33 about its periphery. The member 29 is provided with openings 34 through which the strands or wires 22 pass in a manner to be later described.

Mounted upon the member 28 in any suitable manner is a worm gear 35 which meshes with the worm 33, and connected to the worm gear 35 is a shaft 36, the extremity 31 of which is preferably angular in cross section, so that by the application of a crank or toolto the end of the shaft the worm 35 may be rotated to impart a rotary movement to the member 29 so as to pre-form the wire into coils or helices 3B and to vary the length of the lap and lay of the coils or helices.

Supported also by the frame 21 is another member 39 having a portion 40 shaped to form a die. This member is adapted to be laterally adjusted toward and away from the member 28 pref erably by means of a screw 4i threaded into the member 39 and journaled in the member 28, the extremity 42 of the screw 4| being exposed and projecting beyond the outer face of the member 29 and preferably angular in cross section to receive a tool or wrench so that by rotating the screw 4! the member 39 may be moved towards or away from the member 28 to vary the length of the lap or lay of the wires 22 about the core l4 between the members 28 and 39.

The central portion of the member 39 is preferably cut away or recessed as at 43 and radial openings 44 communicating with such space 43, opening through the periphery of the member 39. These openings 44 are arranged at substantially right angles to the axis of the member 39 and adjacent each of the openings 44, any number of which may be provided, and rotatably supported by the periphery of the member 39 are pulleys 45, over which the strands or wires 22 pass as the strands or wires pass through the openings 24 to be coiled about the core.

The opening 46 at the center of the member 39 and through which the core wire l4 passes, is of a diameter considerably greater than the diameter of the core'wire, and a tubular member or spindle 41 freely rotates in such opening. One end of this spindle 41 projects beyond the front face of the member 39 and is journaled as at 48 I in the die 38, the opening in the spindle registering with the opening 49 in the die 30 and member 29. A roller thrust bearing 50 may be provided at the end of the spindle 41 so as not'to inter- The spindle is of such a length as to project for a considerable distance beyond the other, face of the member 39 so that no matter what position the member 39 may assume with respect to the member 28, the spindle 41 will not be detached therefrom.

The core wire 14 is fed through the shaft 24 to the spindle 41, and through the member 28 and is advanced in a manner to be described. The strands or wires 22 are fed from the reels 20 which are held in a fixed position rotatable only about their own axes, and the wires pass over the pulleys 45 through the openings 44 at right angles to the axis of the core l4, and at the point of contact of the wires with the core. At this point any desired number of convolutions or helices 38 are formed by rotating the member 29 with respect to the member 39, which may be accomplished preferably by threading the wires or strands 22 through the openings 34 in the member 29 to any desired extent, and then rotating the latter, or the convolutions38 may be formed between the members 28-39 in any other desired or suitable manner. After the strands or wires pass through the openings 34 they are directed around the core' Hi to form the completed strand or product P, and this is accomplished by reason of the fact that the core l4 with the wires or strands 22 wrapped therearound beyond the member 28, is rotated, causing the pre-formed coils or helices to layproperly upon the core in the finished product. As the product P is advanced the strands or wires 22 will be drawn through the openings 23 in the member 29 and this will cause the pre-formed coils or convolutions'38 to be unwrapped, while at the same time they will retain their shape which they assume in the finished product. As the convolutions 38 are being unwound and by reason of the grip of the convolutions upon the spindle 41, the latter will be rotated and as the strands or wires 22 are fed to and at right angles to the axis of the spindle, it will be manifest that these wires or strands will be wound or coiled about the spindle without creating any torsion or twist in the wires or strands.

.The product P passes through a hollow shaft 5| rotatably supported upon an upright frame 52, the shaft 5| being rotated by means of a sprocket chain 53 which passes over a sprocket wheel 54 secured to the shaft and over a sprocket 55 secured to the shaft it, which latter is journa'led in bearings 56 in the supporting structure 52.

To the end of the shaft 5| is secured a flier 51 which is also connected to a shaft 58 at its other end, the latter being journaled in a suppor ng structure 59. Mounted upon the flier 51 is a haul 01f mechanism comprising a series of drums or pulleys 60-6 I, over which the product P is wound any desired number of times, and from the pulleys 6| passes over a pulley 62 on the flier and through the tubular shaft 58. I

The pulleys 606| are rotated by means of a sprocket chain 62' passing over a sprocket wheel 63 on one of the pulleys and a sprocket wheel 64 on the other pulley. A beveled gear 65 is connected to the shaft of one of the pulleys and with which beveled gear 65 a beveled gear 86 carried by a shaft 81 meshes. The shaft 61 is journaled in the flier and has connected to it a gear wheel 68 that meshes with a gear wheel 69 on a rotatable collar or sleeve 10 which surrounds the shaft 58. A sprocket chain 1| passing over a sprocket wheel on the,sleeve 19 also passes over a sprocket wheel 12 on a shaft 13 also journaled in the supports 59, and this shaft 13 has connection with a speed reduction gear 14 (diagrammatically illustrated) and to which speed reduction gear is also connected a shaft 15 having a sprocket wheel over which a sprocket chain 18 passes, and this sprocket chain 16 also passes over a sprocket wheel 11 secured to the shaft 58 so that when the flier 51 is rotated, the shaft 58' will be rotated, and the rotation of the shaft 58 will, through the medium of the sprocket chain 16, rotate the shaft 15 and the shaft 15 through the medium of the reduction gear 14 will rotate the shaft 13.- The rotation of the shaft 13 will through the medium of the sprocket chain II rotate the sleeve I9, 'and this in turn will rotate the gear 89 and the gear 68 will rotate the shaft 61 and thereby cause the sprocket 62 to rotate the pulleys or draw off mechanism 68-6I, thereby imparting a rotary movement to the finished product P,'causing the core wire I4 as well as the strands 22 to be advanced. From the haul off mechanism the strand passes through the shaft 58 into a hollow portion 18 of a shaft 18. To this shaft 18 is connected a head 88 which is supported by means of rollers 8| for free rotation and the head 88 is provided with an arm 82 projecting laterally therefrom. Other arms 88 may be provided on the head, if desired, for counterbalancing purposes. Extending into the shaft 18 isone end of a shaft 84 and the shaft is adapted to be moved lengthwise of its axis. 1

The other end of the shaft passes through a sleeve 85 supported by a supporting structure 88.

The shaft 84 is keyed to the sleeve 85 for rotation therewith, but for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, and mounted upon the shaft 84 is a reel 81 secured to the shaft in any suitable manner, such as by resting against a collar 88 at one end and by means of a fastening device 81* at the other end, so that the reel 81 and shaft 84 will rotate together. the hollow end 18 of the shaft 18 passes under a pulley 88, thence over a pulley 8| on the head 88 and over a pulley 82 on the arm 82 to be directed to the reel 81 to be wound therearound. The winding of the cable P upon the reel 81 rotates the latter and the rotation of the reel rotates the shaft 84.

Connected to the sleeve 85 is a sprocket wheel over which a sprocket chain 83 passes and this chain also passes over a sprocket on a shaft 84. The shaft 84 through a transmission gear 85 rotates a shaft 86 which is connected by means of a sprocket chain 81 to a shaft 88 having av double screw thread feed construction 88 formed thereon. A similar double feed screw I88 is connected by means of a sprocket chain I8l to the feed screw 88, and a yoke I82 is connected to the shaft 84 by means of a latch 84. When the shaft 84 is rotated the sleeve 85 will be rotated, and this will actuate the sprocket chain 88 to rotate the shaft 86, and the sprocket chains 81-I8I will rotate the feed screws 88-I88 to move the shaft 84 longitudinally and shift the reel 81 forwardly and backwardly with respect to the roller 82, so that the cable or strand P may be wound anism will cause a reverse direction of movement of the shaft 84 longitudinalb'to move the reel 81 in the opposite direction so that a reciprocating movement may be given to the reel 81.

If desired and in order to cause a tension to be exerted upon the cable P being wound upon the reel 81, a suitable brake device 88 may be used in connection with the shaft 88 and which brake mechanism is of the usual pulley and band type which acts automatically. I

With this improved construction it will be manifest that the haul off mechanism embodying the filer 51 and the take up mechanism, embodying the member 88, will be separate and distinct from each other so that it will not only be possible to reduce the diameter of the machine, but

The cable P passed into one being separate from the other a perfect balance of the mechanism may be obtained, and at the same time a reduction in the weight carried by each of these parts will be produced, with the further result that a greater speed of rotation may be obtained with less power.

It will also be manifest that by reason of the wires or strands being fed to the core at right angles to the axis of the core and at right angles separate from a temporary core I85, which latter is supported by one end in an opening I86 in the die member I81, corresponding to the die member 38, a thrust bearing I88 being provided for one end of the temporary core. One extremity of this temporary core is preferably enlarged as at I88, while the other extremity passes freely through the opening H8 in the member III, corresponding to the member 88.

An opening H2 is provided in the die I81 (see also the die 88) through which the core I84 may be passed, when the form of the invention shown in Figure 9 is employed, otherwise this form of the invention operates in the same manner as that shown in Figure 5.

While the preferred forms ofthe invention have been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the-scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a stranding machine a non-rotating preforming head provided with means for feeding the strand components to a core to be temporarily wound therearound, at substantially right angles to the axis of the core at the point "of contact of the strand components with the core, the said core embodying a freely rotatable spindle about which the helices are formed.

2. In a stranding machine a non-rotating preforming head provided with means for feeding the strand components to a core to be temporarily wound therearound, at substantially right angles to the axis of the core at the point of contact of the strand components with the core, the said core embodying a freely rotatable spindle about which the helices are formed, and an end thrust ball bearing for the spindle.

3. In a stranding machine a non-rotating preforming head provided with means for feeding 1 the strand components to a core to be temporarily wound therearound, at substantially right angles I to the axis of the core at the point of contact of the strand components with the core, the said core embodying a freely rotatable hollow spindle aboutwhich the helices are formed, and through which spindle a core wire is fed, and about which core wire the strand components arellaidbeyond the spindle.

4. In a wire twisting machine, the combination of a stationary head, a plurality of supply reels for wire strands, said reels mounted for rotation about their individual axes but maintained against bodily rotation, means for supplying a core wire, stationary means adjacent said head for feeding the strands to the core wire at substantially right angles to the axis of the core to be wound about the core, and means for axially rotating the core .of a stationary head, a plurality of supply reels for wire strands, said reels mounted for rotation about their individual axes but maintained against bodily rotation, means for forming a coil from said strands, the said means embodying stationary means in proximity to said head for feeding the strands to the coil at substantially right angles to the axis of the coil, and means for axially rotating and advancing the coil, whereby the individual strands will be maintained against twisting about their individual longitudinal axes as the strands are fed to and wrapped or laid about the core.

6. In a wire twisting machine, the combination of a plurality of rotatable but nonrevoluble supplies oi. wire strands, 'a core wire, a stationary head through which the strands are fed to the core, and means for causing the wire strands to be coiled about the core and thereafter advanced, the said means embodying passages through the head 'at substantially right angles to the axis 01 the core and through which passages the strands are fed to the core whereby the individual strands will be maintained against twisting about their individual longitudinal axes as the strands are fed to and wrapped or laid about the core.

WILLIAM E. SOMERVILLE.

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