US2246143A

US2246143A - Method of and apparatus for forming coils

Info

Publication number: US2246143A
Application number: US306459A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edgar P Patton
Original assignee: Western Electric Co Inc
Current assignee: AT&T Corp
Priority date: 1939-11-28
Filing date: 1939-11-28
Publication date: 1941-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1958-06-17

Description

June 17, 1941. PATTON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING COILS Filed Nov. 28, 1959 INVENTOP E. P. PATTON A TTORNEV Patented June 17, 1941- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING COILS Application November 28, 1939, 'Serial No. 306,459

20 Claims.

This invention relates to a method 01' and apparatus for forming coils, and more particularly to a method of and-apparatus for forming coils of the cross wound type with intermediatelooped taps.

In forming certain cross wound coils the relationship of the transverse motion of the distributor, used in laying the turns, to the rotary speed of the spindle, on which the coils are wound, is usually accurately controlled to maintain pattern symmetry necessary to stack the windings. By so forming the coils the layers of the windings are interlaced and the coils are thus self supporting. However, anything which disturbs this symmetry may cause the windings to collapse and for this reason care must be taken in forming intermediate looped taps.

Objects of the invention are to provide a simple, efficient and practical method of forming coils with intermediate looped taps and an apparatus by means of which the method may be practised.

With these and other objects in view, one embodiment of the invention comprises a method of forming coils including the steps of winding a desired number of turns of wire to form a portion of a coil, forming a loop in the wire with a leg portion of the loop extending in the direction of the winding from the point of winding, securing the loop against displacement, forming another loop with one leg portion thereof extending in the direction 01 winding to the point of winding, securing this loop against displacement, and continuing the winding of the wire until the coil is completed.

Another embodiment of the invention comprises an apparatus by the aid of which the method may be practised, the apparatus including a spindle removably mounted for rotation to removably receive tubular elements, upon which coils may be wound, held for rotation with the spindle by spacing members, the latter having radially projecting pins about which looped taps may be wound at desired intervals during winding of the coils.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary froi." elevational view of the apparatus, portions thereof being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary perspective views illustrating difierent steps in the method of forming a looped tap.

The apparatus consists mainly of a spindle, indicated generally at I0, having an end portion removably connected, as at l2, to a rotary chuck or head stock IS. The chuck l3 may be the part of any suitable mechanism (not shown) for rotating the spindle at a predetermined speed in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2), the machine also including a chuck or tail stock H for removably receiving the other end of the spindle. The end portion H is apertured, at l5, to receive a central portion l6 of the spindle, these portions being fixed together by the aid of suitable means, such as a pin H. A set of radially projecting pins 20 is mounted adjacent the inner end of the end portion l| about which wires may be twisted in forming taps in coils, as will hereinafter be described. The coils are'wound upon tubes 2|, formed of any suitable insulating material, and removably disposed upon the central portion I6 of the spindle. Each tube has a notch 22 formed at each end thereof for receiving retaining lips to hold the tubes for rotation with the spindle. To accomplish this purpose a lip 23 is formed on the end portion H.

Spacing members 25 are removably disposed upon the central portion l6 of the spindle and are provided with lips 28 on opposite sides thereof receivable in the notches 22 of the tubes'to hold the latter for rotation with the spindle. It will be noted, by viewing Fig. 2, that the central portion It of the spindle has fiat sides. Pins 29, with flat inner ends, are rigidly mounted in the spacing members and positioned to engage one of the fiat surfaces of the central portion l6 of the spindle to hold their respective spacing members against rotation relative to the spindle and align the lips thereof for registration with the notches 22 of the tubes 2|. The spacing members are each further provided with radially extending pins 30 disposed adjacent each end thereof and extending in the same directions as the pins 20 of the end portion II.

The end of the spindle opposite the end portion I I has a removable end portion 3| apertured, for a portion of its length, to receive the adjacent end of the central portion I 6 and having its outer end conical in shape for removable engagement with the chuck M. A pin 32, fixedly carried by the end portion 3|, ls receivable in a longitudinally extending-slot 33 in the-central portion IE to secure the end portion 3| against rotation relative to the central portion It. The end portion II is also provided with a retaining lip 35 and radially extending pins 40 positioned simiiarly to the

pins

20 and 30.

A stationary frame or support 42 extends parallel with the spindle and for the full length thereof, only a fragmentary portion of this frame being shown in the drawing. A reciprocating member 43 slidable in a groove 44 in the frame 42 is operatively connected by suitable means (not shown) to the mechanism for rotating the chuck it. Such means and mechanism are not believed of sumcient importance to show in detail in the drawing and describe in the specification, as any conventional means may be employed to drive the spindle and the reciprocating member in desired sequence.

A distributor, indicated generally at 46, is mounted on the reciprocating member 43 adjacent each coil forming section of the spindle, that is, adjacent each tube 2|. Only one distributor is shown in the drawing, this being sufilcient, it is believed, to illustrate the invention. The distributor 45 includes a sheave 50 for directing strand material, such as wire 5|, to be wound into a coil on the adjacent tube 2|, the wire passing beneath a resiliently supported button 52. The sheave 50 is freely rotatable on a shaft 53, the latter being supported by a bracket 54 to allow the sheave to move laterally. as the path of the wire varies during its removal from a supply reel (not shown).

In the present illustration the relative speed of rotation of the spindle and reciprocatory movement of the distributor is such that a cross wound coil i s formed. one having a pattern of definite design formed by windings transversing the coil forming area in a few turns, for example, two, each turn lying against a previous turn and forming a shoulder leading around the coil forming portion from end to end adjacent to which a subsequent turn will be laid.

To condition the apparatus for operation and for carrying out the method the spindle Ill is assembled. By this it is meant that the tubes 2| are disposed on the central portion l6, and interlocked with the lip of the spacing member 25, interposed therebetween, and the end portions H and II. 'The assembled unit'or spindle is then disposed in place between the chucks l3 and 14.

'The wires to be wound into coils on the various tubes are fed beneath their respective sheaves 50, their respective buttons 52, and beneath or partially around their respective tubes, where the ends of the wires are secured to a selected pin, for example, one of the pins 20 of the end portion H, one of the pins 30 of an adjacent spacing member 25 and/or one of the pins 40 of the end portion 3|. coil is shown being formed and it should be understood that other coils may be formed simultaneously on the remaining tubes 2 I.

The apparatus is now in condition for operation and the spindle is rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) and through the same mechanism (not shown) the distributor 48 is set in motion to distribute the turns on the coil forming portionsof the tube in such a manner that the wire in a few numbers of turns will pass from end to end of the coil in a definite helical path, causing an interlacing of the turns of winding to build up a coil structure of a design which will be self-supporting, providing the design is maintained, that is, providing the turns continue to be laid one adjacent the other, crossing In the present embodiment only one previous turns and providing shoulders against which subsequent turns are laid. When a desired portion of the coil has been formed the operation oi the apparatus may be stopped where it is desired to form taps for the coils.

In forming taps for the coil attention is first directed to Figs. 2 and 3. The wire 5| is removed from the sheave 50 and a sumcient quantity of the wire is withdrawn from the supply spool (not shown) to form a loop of sufficient length to pass beneath the right end of the tube 2 I, on which the coil is being formed, and twisted about the pin 40 at the rear of the end portion (Fig. 3). In passing. the loop beneath the end of the tube the leg of the loop coming from the button 52 is laid adjacent the shoulder formed by a previous turn of the wire and in the same path or position it would have been laid had the winding of the coil been continued. This leg of the loop, therefore, continues in the direction of the distributed turns until it reaches the end of the coil, at which point the wire passes from the coil and is secured to the desired pin 40. The purpose of positioning the

pins

20, 30 and 40 about their respective supports, namely the end portions and spacing members, is to enable the operator to lay the wire on the coil or partially formed coil in the distributed path adjacent a previous turn of the wire and secure the wire against displacement during further winding of the coil without disturbing the pattern or formation of the coil, The formation of the tap has thus far been only partially com.-

pleted. It is necessary to return the wire from the supply spool to the button 52 so that the coil may be completed and the design maintained and to eliminate the possibility of the coil collapsing. Additional wire is then drawn from the supply to form another loop, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and the wire leading from the supply is passed beneath the button 52 and laid in the correct position for the button to continue the formation of the coil. The leg of the loop extending downwardly from the button 52, and back of the coil thus far completed, is laid adjacent a shoulder formed by a previous turn of the'wire and passed around the coil'in the definite path adjacent the shoulder, crossing the portion of the wire forming the first loop at a point indicated at (Fig. 5) and continuing in the path adjacentthe shoulder until the shoulder meets the adjacent end of the coil. The loop is continued in the same general spiral direction to the most convenient pin 40 in the path thereof, where the loop is placed over the selected pin. The wire is then drawn sufllciently tight, under approximately the same tension that the wire is under when being distributed, so that the leg of the loop lying on the coil thus formed will lay undisturbed thereon, the slack being taken up by rotating the supply spool (not shown). The tap has beencompleted and the coil'may-be completed or continueduntil it is desirable to form another tap by again placing the spindle in rotation and causing the wire to be distributed to continue the laying of the turns in definite paths.

Theiormation of the coil is substantially the same throughout and it should be understood that more than one tap can be formed upon either or both sides of the coil in substantially the same manner as the previously described tap was formed. The abutting shoulders of previous contern of the coil and without interrupting or varying subsequent turns which might cause the coil to collapse. The taps are, therefore, formed without varying any portion of the structure of the coil, that is, without causing any of the turns or portions of turns to extend other than in the positions in which they would have been laid by the distributor had'the taps not been formed.

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is illustrative only and may be widely modified and departed from in many ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as pointed out in and limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. A method of forming coils comprising winding a strand in a definite helical path travelling back and forth between spaced positions to form a coil with its ends disposed at the said positiors stopping the winding of the strand prior to tl completion of the coil, removing a portion of the strand from one end of the partially completed coil in the direction of the helical path to form taps, returning the strand to the partially formed coil in the direction of the helical path, and completing the winding of the coil.

2. A method of forming coils comprising winding a wire on a support in a definite helical path travelling back and forth between spaced positions on the support to form a coil with its ends disposed at the said positions, stopping the winding of the wire prior to the completion of the coil, removing a portion of the wire from one end of the partially completed soil in the. direction of the helical path to form taps, securing the portion of the wire against displacement during completion of the coil, returning the wire to the partially formed coil in the direction of the.

helical path, and completing the winding of the coil.

3. A method of forming coils comprising winding a wire on a support in a definite helical path travelling back and forth between spaced positions on the support to form a coil with its ends disposed at the said positions, stopping the winding of the wire prior to the completion of the coil,'removing a portion of the wire from one end of the partially completed coil in the direction of the helical path to form taps, returning an-' other portion of the wire to the partially formed coil in the direction of the helical path and across the first mentioned portion, and completing the winding of the coil.

4. A method of forming coils comprising winding a wire on a support in a definite helical path travelling back and forth between spaced positions on the support to form a coil with its ends disposed at the said positions, stopping the winding of the wire prior to the completion of the coil, forming a loop in the wire with one leg of the loop extending from the partially completed coil in the direction ofthe helical path, securing the loop against displacement, and completing the winding of the coil.

5. A method of forming coils comprising winding a wire on a support in a definite helical path travelling back and forth between spaced positions on the support to form a coil with its ends disposed at the said positions, stopping the winding of the wire prior to the completion of the coil, forming a loop in the wire with one leg of the loop extending from the partially completed coil in the direction of the helical path, securing the loop against displacement, forming another loop in the wire with one leg thereof returning to the partially completed coil in the direction of the helical path, and completing the winding of the coil.

6. Amethod of forming coils comprising winding a wire on a support in a definite helical path travelling back and forth between spaced positions on the support to form a coil with its ends disposed at the saidpositions, stopping the winding of the wire prior to the completion of the coil, forming a loop in the wire with one leg of the loop extending from the partially completed coil in the direction of the helical path, securing the loop against displacement, forming another loop in the wire with one leg thereof returning to the partially completed coil in the direction of the helical path, securing the last mentioned loop against displacement, and completing the winding of the coil.

'7. A method of forming coils comprising winding a wire on a support in a definite helical path travelling back and forth between spaced positions on the support to form a coil with its ends disposed at the said positions, stopping the winding of thewire prior to the completion of the coil, forming a loop in the wire with one leg of the loop extending from the partially completed coil in the direction of the helical path, securing the loop against displacement, forming another loop in the wire with one leg thereof extending around the partially formed coil in the direction of the helical pathand across the leg of the first loop on the partially formed coil, and completing the winding of the coil.

8. A method of forming coils comprising winding a wire on a support in a definite helical path travelling back and forth between spaced positions on the support to form a coil with its ends disposed at the said positions, stopping the winding of the wire prior to the completion of the coil, forming a loop in the wire with one leg of the loop extending from the partially completed coil in the direction of the helical path, securing the loop against displacement, forming another loop in the wire with one leg thereof extending around the partially formed coil in the direction of the helical path and across the leg of the first loop on the partially formed coil, securing the last mentioned loop against displacement, and completing the winding of the coil.

9. A method of forming coils comprising winding a wire on a support in a definite helical path travelling back and forth between spaced positions on the support to form a coil, stopping the winding of the wire, removing a portion of the wire from one end of the coil in the direction of the helical path to form taps, and returning the wire to the coil in the direction of the helical path.

10. A method of forming coils comprising winding a strand in a definite helical path travelling back and forth between spaced positions to form a coil, stopping the winding of the strand, removing a portion ofv the strand fromone end of the coil in the direction of the helical path to form taps, and returning another portion of the strand to the coil in the direction of the helical path and across the first portion of strand.

11. A method of forming coils comprising winding a wire on a support in a definite helical path travelling back and forth between spaced positions on the support to form a coil, stopping the winding of the wire, forming a loop in the wire with one leg of the loop extending from the coil in the direction of die helical path, and the other leg of the loop returning to the coil in the direcof winding to form taps, and returning the wire to the coil in the direction of winding.

13. An apparatus for forming coils comprising a rotary support, means to distribute a strand in a helical path back and'forth on the support to form a coil, and means disposed adjacent the support to which the strand extending from the coil in the direction of the helical path may be secured to form a tap.

14. An apparatus for forming coils comprising a rotary support, means to distribute a wire in a helical path back and forth on the support to form a coil. and a projection disposed adjacent the support to which the wire extending from the coil in the direction of the helical path may be secured to form a tap.

15. An apparatus for forming coils comprising a rotary spindle, a tubular support removably disposed on the spindle, means to distribute a wire 'in a helical path back and forth on the support to form a coil, and means carried by the spindle to which the wire extending from the coil in the direction of the helical path may be secured to form a tap.

16. An apparatus for forming coils comprising a rotary spindle, a tubular support removably disposed on the spindle, means to distribute a wire in a helical path back and forth on the support to form a coil, and an, element removably mounted on the spindle to hold the support against displacement and having a projection to which the wire extending from the coil in the direction of the helical path may be secured to form a tap.

17. An apparatus for forming coil-s comprising a rotary spindle, a plurality of tubular supports removably disposed on the spindle, means to distribute a wire in a helical path back and forth on each of the supports to form coils thereon, and elements disposed'at the ends of the supports and having projections to which the wires extending from their coils in the directions of their helical paths may be secured to form taps.

18. An apparatus for forming coils comprising a rotary spindle, a plurality of tubular supports removably disposed on the spindle, means to distribute a wire in a helical path back and forth on each of the supports to form coils thereon, and elements removably disposed on the spindle at the ends of the supports to hold supports against displacement and having projections to which wires extending from their coils in the directions of their helical paths may be secured to form taps.

19. An apparatus for forming coils comprising a rotary spindle, a plurality of tubular supports removably disposed on the spindle, means to distribute a wire in a helical path back and forth on i each of the supports to form coils thereon, and

' a rotary support, means to distribute a wire in a helical path back and forth on the support to form a coil, and an element disposed adjacent the support and having projections to one of which the wire extending from the coil in the direction of the helical path may be secured to form a tap and to another of which the wire extending back to the coil in the direction of the helical path may be secured.

EDGAR P. PA'I'ION.