US2566973A

US2566973A - Rope winding machine

Info

Publication number: US2566973A
Application number: US126537A
Authority: US
Inventors: David J Yake
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-11-10
Filing date: 1949-11-10
Publication date: 1951-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 1968-09-04
Also published as: GB694742A

Description

Sept. 4, 1951 D. J. YAKE ROPE WINDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10. 1949 Daozallke Sept. 4, 1951 D. J. YAKE ROPE WINDINQ MACHINE 4 Shee'tS -Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10. 1949 Sept. 4, 1951 D. J. YAKE 2,556,973

ROPE WINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10. 1949 4 Sheet s-Sheet 5 p 1 I D. J. YAKE 2,566,973

ROPE WINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Patented Sept. 4, 19 51 U NI TED S TAT E55. F1 E R'OPEWINDING *MACHI'NE' .David J. Xake,.Lamber:tville, N. ,J- ApplicationLNoVember 10, 1949; serm n. 126,537

i This invention relates to the art c t-rope mak ing and more particularly toama'chinefor continuously winding a strand or a rope. v

Machines employed for winding J ither metallic wire rope or non metallic 'rop'e are commonly designated as either "*verticarstranders pr herizcntal-strandersi essentially *aturntable which marries a number of spools for the--wires -or thread's which-are le'd' through -a perforated fiange and then wound around-a cent'er eere'to' fr'm the rope. Such-averticalstrander has two not'ewofthy diSaclvam- Fir-st, whenever one of "the spoo'ls -'on theturntable becomes empty, it isnecessary to stopthe machine inorder to replenish the wire-"ontages.

n 'vertical stra-nde-r comprises 324 Claims; (Cl.;-57.6)

the spool or tmadda-filled-apool. Secondly, due V tot'he -inherent weight of-the movingparts and centrifugaL-forcesd'eveloped in a machine of this character, the maximum speed 'w ith which=rope could -be made is definitely limited.

- The horizontal -sr'a'nder representsa later die-'- velopment awh'ibh enableswa noticeable-increase inspeed over the iverticalstrander. Patent 0. 1;581,253.:toi-Connor is illustrativeofrsiicha horizontal .strand'er :and increased-speed is obtai ned due .to a the reduction in the .diameter of there volving parts. This reduction 'was. in turn achieved by. :placing zthe. spools .in amend-to end position with iaxes :paralle1s.to.:the :main-slrait'. so

that the. length; of =.the;machine isi-increasezdirather.

than the diameter .of the-turntable. :Nevertheless, horizontal stranders of tall ;knowna varieti'es must be stopped whenzitbecomesmecessaryato replenish one of..-the. individualspools.

.The .present, invention; for its primary- 10bject .the provision of a :rope .wincling machine having axially spaced wire spoolsswhichimayibe stopped independently of: thema-inshait and thus maybe replenished -.:without.=stopping the .shaft or interrupting .Ithe winding operation. 7

.A..further object. of the invention. is. to provide in a horizontal strander a plurality of wire-or strand spools, a storage drurr'iaxially positioned with resp'e'ct't'o each cfis'aid spools sotha't when the spools areheld' stationary, wireis withdrawn from the "spools and stored on the drjuin,,.and me'ansfor simultaneously replenishing'lth'e "supply -o"f-wire-onthe spool. I

A "further obj ect of the invention is 'tojprovide means "for 're'pleni's'hing the Wire on individual spools (if a horizontal "strander "which means is easyto manipulate and" which permits the wire to 'be replenished in aminimum'bf time.

Further obj eets will he apparent from the speciflcation ariddrawings in wh'ich-z Fig. 1 is atop viewer-a four strandrope Wind ing macl'iine constructed inacc'ordance with my invention;

Fig. 2-iis an enlarged-transverse section of the structure of Fig. seenat li'ne 2-4 of Fig. '1';-

1Fig. 3is an enlarged iragrnentarydetail or the structure-asseen'at S-Q=of Fig; 1 I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail as seen at 4- 4 of Fig. 3

Fig..5 is an enlargeiiatietail di the flrst or'le'fthand spooland the" replenishing apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a transverse .-.section as seen 'at "6- 6 oflFig. 5; Fig. 5a is anenlargeedetail -a --seen-'at "Ba-pi Fig.6.;

Fig. 7 is a transversesecticn-as"seen at 1- 1 of.Fi 6.;

Fig. 8 is a, ti ansverse section -as' seen at '8--"=8 OfYFig. '6

Fig. 9- shows :the structure (if-"Fig. =5 when thespool is h'el'c'l stationary;

.Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional detail as "seen at l'-0'l'0 of Fig. 5.;

Fig. 11 a partly sectioned view similar to Fig. '6,.of a modified f forin- "of reek-assembly;

.Fig... 12 is a perspective--of-the modified-transfer reel shown in Fig; 11'; p

. Fig. 13 is a perspective of the end' of the mainreel shownin Fig-.i-1 1;

Figs. 14. and 15 show:-S'teps in transferring a posed Gi a-plurality*of individiiai wires, one of which is usually-a center wire and therem'ainde'r. of which "are secondary 'wires 'iai'd b1 twisted around the center -wire:toformfiaihelix; Thefindividual-*'strands are w'oimd inuch.;the same way as theiniiividual wires off-the strand to form a 'completed'rope which has a .core .n'suallyjof hemp or-of-asma1lwire rqpeand aro'undwh'ich the strands are laid sothatthe strands ;them selves also form a'helix .a boiit'ithe. rope center.

The-present invention comprises essentially a series of axially positioned reels from which the individual wires making up a strand or the individual strands making up a rope, are fed into the bore of a hollow central shaft and from whence the wires or strands are carried to the rope forming elements of the machine. The storage spools for the wire are frictionally engaged with the main shaft but may be readily held stationary by hand or by a suitable brake. A feed eye for the wire" is rigidly secured to the central shaftand is axially spaced on the shaft with respect to the reel. The gap between the feed eye and the reel contains a storage spool which is free to rotate on the shaft or to remain.

stationary with respect to the shaft. A second feed eye between the storage spool and the reel has a frictional engagement with the reel and, in effect floats between the reel and the spool. The

fed directly into a forming die 22 mounted iii bracket 23. When the shaft is rotated on bearings I4, the individual wires are wrapped around the core It as they are drawn through die 22 by means of a power pulley 24. The completed strand or rope is wound several times around a second drum 25 in order to provide suiflcient frictional engagement between the strand and the drum. The strand is then led over a pulley 26 and onto a storage drum 21. Motor 28 drives the shaft l3 through-countershaft 29, pulleys 30, 3| and belt 32. Countershaft 29 is drivingly connected to shaft l3 by means of

pulleys

33, 54 and belt 35. Drum 24 is likewise driven from shaft 29 through belt 36 and a suitable speed reduction unit 31. It will be understood that in general, the structure described heretofore is well known in the rope manufacturing art but an imfunction of the second eye is to insure the proper tension in the wire and also to control the man ner in which thewire pays off the reel.

When a reel is stopped, theshaft and the other,

rope forming elements of the machinecontinue to operate in the usual manner but wire is drawn from the stationaryreel and wound onto the storage spool. A replenishing reel is coaxially mounted on the central shaft and is axially slidable with respect thereto. 7 Both the main reel and the replenishing reel have fingers that are inter-engaged when the replenishing reel is axially moved on the shaft. In this position, a coil of wire which has previously been wound on the replenishing reel may be transferred to the main reel, whereupon the replenishing reel is retracted and the main reel is released. As soon as the main reel turns again with the shaft, wire which has been wound on the storage spool during the replenishing operation is gradually fed into the central shaft until wire is drawn directly from the-main reel in the manner initially described.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. l of the drawings, one form of strand orrope winding machine comprises a plurality of. individual wire supply units each designated generally by the numeral 12 Q ihe drawings. For the purposes of the present description, it will be assumed that the machine shown in Fig. 1 is 'winding a strand from wire, although it will be understood that the same construction and even the identical machine, maybeused to wind rope from nominetal- P lic strands or filaments; Likewise, the machine shown in Fig. 1 is one in which six wires are being wound around a center but for th purpose of clarity, only four of the wire supply units |2 are shown. By extending the length of the machine to the left (as seen in Fig. 1) any number of .supply units l2 may be added to Wind wires or strands of any material about ,a center. However, since the individual units |2lare identical to each other, it is considered suflicient for the purposes of the-present disclosure to describe only one unit in detail, together with the feeding and winding.v

elements of the machine.

A hollow main shaft 3 is journaled in bearings l4, l4 and extends the entire length of the winding machine. Shaft 3 guides and encloses the filaments .of wire or other material designated generally at|5in Figs. 1 and 3, and also the center or core l6 which is fed into the extreme end of shaft 3 from spool IT. The opposite end of shaft l3 carries an axially perforated flang through which the wires. |5 ar threaded, after they have been withdrawn from th eyes 2|, 2| in the shaft (as shown in Fig. :4) The center |6 however, continues through the shaft i3 and is portant departure from previous practice is to feed the individual wires or strands through a hollow central shaft rather than to carry them from the flange 20.

Referring now toFigs. 5 and 6, each one of the individual spool units |2 comprises the main or pr-mary reel assembly 4|] having a central hub,

or sleeve 4| journaled on main shaft I3 by means of ball bearings 42 and 43. Hub 4| tends to rotatewith shaft l3 due to a friction element which is mounted in hub 4| and is urged against the periphery of shaft [3 by means of a spring 45- Hub 4| carrieshaving an adjusting screw 46. a plurality of radially extending webs 41, 41

to which

fingers

48, 48 are pivoted by means of

links

49, 49. Web 41, 41 are formed integrally with a lidable sleeve 5|] mounted on hub 4| which is provided with a slot 5| to clear the.

boss 52in hub 4| for the friction element 44.

Fingers

48, 48 are adapted to expand and con-- tract radially with respect'to sleeve and are.

retained-axially by means of pins53, 53 which engage the sides of a flange 54 rigidly attached' Figs. 5 and ,6 show the fingers 48' to hub 4|. in a fully expanded position in which they are retained by a latch 55 which engages a collar 56 on sleeve 50. Latch 55 is spring-loaded by means of a spring 51 secured to flange 54 by means of bolt 58. When latch 55 is raised, sleeve 50 may be moved axially to the left v(as seen in Fig. 6)

so that fingers 48 are retracted radially. The

fingers are of ii-shaped cross-section and the; outer faces 48a of the finger -may be curved or;

convex if desired, as shown in Fig. 7.

A floating eye flange 60 having an axially extending eye 6|, is frictionally mounted on hub 4|, and rotational driving force is transmitted from hub 4| to the floating eye flange 60 by means of a frictional element 62 which is adjustably spring-loaded in flange 60 by means of spring 63 and screw 64." It will thus be apparent that flange 60 tends to rotate with hub. 4| but limited relative rotation between the hub and the flange takes. place in accordance with.

the pressure of the friction element. v

A storage spool 651s freely journaled on the periphery of shaft |3 and is positioned axially adjacent the flange 60. In order toeliminate the necessity for integral flanges on the spool, the. periphery of spool 65 is axially concave or curved, as shown clearly in Fig. 6. Immediately adjacent spool 65, a fixed flange 66 is rigidly attachedto shaft |3 by means of set screw 61.-

Flange 56 i provided with an eye 68 through which wire 69 is threaded The length 6901' individual spools directly to the em -is else It stretches "between eyes 61 and 68 "across s'boo 65 as Shawn in Fig. -6) whereupon it is red llnto the bore of shaft [3 through eye .21.

The replenishing reel 10 is freely rotatable on 'shaft [3 and ijs'slidably mounted thereon at the oppos'ite end of reel "4D. Reel Hl has a hub 'Ijl'of relatively small diameter to which a radie' all'y'extending flange 12 i attached axiallyoppo= site from the reel flll. A plurality of axially extending

fingers

13, 13 are formed integrally with flange '12 and are so positioned that they may fit between the

outer faces

48a, 48a or

finger

48,48 when the reel 10 is moved-axially oh shaft "[3. The periphery of fingers l3 is -pr o'- vide'd with a'naxial taper so that the minim-um diffiiterdf the fingers is substantially less than the maximum expanded diameter of fingers '48, whereas the maxi'fiium diameter offinger 13 is edual to or slightly greater than the maximum diameter of fingers "48. A further feature of the construction of reel 10 is illustrated in Fig. 6a which shows the periphery 14 of flange 12 extending somewhat beyond the maximum diameter of fingers 13. It will be noted that a short axial distance at the base of fingers 13 has a cylindrical configuration in which there is no. taper. In practice, the width of the cylindrical portion 15 is sufficient to permit at least two or "three turn of strand or wire 69 to be wound thereon before the convolutionsare forced onto the tapering surface of fingers T3. The .purpose of this construction will be described more fully hereinafter.

The-periphery 74 of reel 1!} also is engaged between collars 80 and BI which are secured to a shaft 82 by means of

set screws

83, 83. Shaft 82 is rotatably-andslidably mounted in brackets 84 84 ;on base 85, and is provided with asuitable actuating handle 68 engageable against top 81. "A cam 88 is also mounted on shaft 82 between collars 81] and 8| so that when shaft 82 is rotated by means of handle 86, the cam 88 may be used as a, brake to'slow down or to stop reel '10 and also reel 40 when the two "reels are h'ga'ged.

"Reel '40 may be stopped while "the winding machine continues to operate, by means of a brake shoe 9% (Fig. 8) which i actuated by lifeansof lever'9l and connecting link 92. A suitable ratchet lock93 for the brake is pivoted in bracket 94 and retained in looking positionby means of spring'95.

It will be'understood that the'brakes on'eithe'r orboth of the reels "are not essential'since in many cases, and especiallyon'smaller'machines,

the reel 40 maybe man'ual'ly'stoppedand held du'ringthe transferoperation. Where the "size ofth'e machine'issu'ch that a' brake is not needed, it may "also be possible todispense with the expanding and contracting feature for the 'reel fingers d8 on'reel ie. Figs. 11-14 illustrate "such a'imodified reel construction. 7

Injthisfcas e, the main reel I535} is fo'rmedfinte'grally with'hub ii which is extended ateither endto receive bearings 62 so 1 that the reellttl is substantially solid throughout most of its length. The" outererid however, is provided with a plurality'bffingeis H12, 62 which-extend beyoncl' the enetrhub 4i. Some of the fingers Hi2 are'slottedat their ends andeariy'clogs; ie-3, Hi3 which are pivoted "on ems Hi l and-have c'ounterweights H35,

H35. A suitable; 'liiiiit-stop l "for each dog-is so fios'itioned that 'thenpper surface of the dog is permitted to be enclosed in I the slots iii '1'. Other fingers I 92 have "suitable holes H18 in-whicl'r split rt'aihing "pins l 09, [-09 nay be inserted diirin'gthe transfer operation. Likewise, the periphery 6f bdth 'r'eels'Ml and Hill may be provided withholes Hfi), H 0 adapted to receive the wire retainingpins I09.

The transfer reel 1 H used in conjunction with reel I 00 is likewise of slightly modifie'dconstruction and is provided with relatively narrow axiall-y extendingslots H2, 1 l2 in which fingers I02 may b'ejen'gaged. Slots H 2 are out into the wide fiange N3 of the transfer reel at apoint =beyond'the coil forming face H4 of theieel. Reel H2 is like"- wise'providedwith suitableholes HE-and llfion the tapered surface 1-H and the periphery of the flange 113 respectively.

I The procedure for replenishing the Wire on the transfer reel while the machine operates fis as iollo'ws: when-the amount of wireon the main reel 40 or l'llfl 'has'been substantially withdrawn, this're'el is held 'stationarybybrake shoe 99 or by hand. Inthis position, the floating disc Ell turns on sleeve '5i in accordance with the tension 6! flexible element 62 and excess wire unwound from the reel is stored on spool 65 as-shown in-=Fig. 9. The first few turns of the wire on the main re'el, as well as the friction of floating'disc fie provide the required back tension for this operation. With the main reel held stationary, the transfer reel it or I l i carrying'a new coil of Wire is-moiiei axially to the righto'n shaft +3 so that the fingers on the main and transfer reels become inter erigaged. In the case of the constructionof FigJB, the fingers 38 are-radiallyretr'acted by releasing latch '55 and sliding sleeve 41 axially to the left. With the reels interen-g-aged, the ends 1T8 oi the new coil and the end H9 of the old coil are secured together by welding or any-'othersuitable-means. "Fig. 14 illustrates the ends H 'Ban'd HS in. position just before the welding operation. As 'soon as ends l8 and H9 are secured to each other, split pins I69, H19 which hold ends H8 and i 49 on thetransier and main reels'respectively'are withdrawn. Pin I09 which-holdsthe trail-.- ing end i2!) of the new coil is transferred to one of the holes 183 in the --main reel. The transfer reel is then withdrawn to the left, as shown in Fig. 15, to complete the transfer-of thene'w ooil to-themain-reel idll.

In efiecting a transfer with the structure of Fig. 6, it will be necessary to release brake shoe before the transfer reel l0 is moved completely into a transfer position. For this purpose th'e transfer reel is may bs'inoved sufficiently to engage only the outer edge of fingers 48, whereuponbrake is released and brakeSB is rotated to contact the periphery Id of flange'lz, thus-holding both reel it? and reel '48 from turning. in this position, the reel' lfl may be further moved to theright by means of the shaft 82 until the new coil is entirely over the fingers 48. After the ends of the coils have been secured, "as described above, reel -40 is retracted andthe'n'ew coil-as wellas the remainder of the old coil, are moved axially to the right on fingers 48-to substantially the position shown in Fig. 5. This o peration may be done manually or by insertingohe or more pins 89 in holes H5, H5-of reel 10 and thenmoving the reel to theright a second tinie to "slide both coils axially on fingers 48. Wlien the new coil has been located-in the proper pdsi s ti'orr on finger*e8, the trailing end of-the-new-coh is retained by oneof'the pins I99 which is inserted many of the holes l'I-fl-in the-fingers=-48, s s shown in Fig. '5. The-fingers arethen expa-nded byinoving-"sleevefll to the right, wiiereupon it 7 ma be latched, as shown in Fig. 6. Then either or. both

brakes

88 or 90 is released and the reel 40 resumes its rotation. It will be understood that brake 90 will not be applied when the coil of wire is being moved over the portion of the fingers 48 that would otherwise be held by the brake. If it is necessary to hold the reel from turning during this operation, brake 88 may be used or the reel may be held manually. During the transfer however, the wire has built up on storage spool 65. This will gradually pay out through eye 68 until it has all been removed, whereupon the wire extends directly across spool 65, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 1 represents schematically the relative amounts of wire on the various spools of a junction with swift I 30.. As the wire is wound, onto the transfer reel, successive convolutions thereof push the previously wound convolution's to the right on the transfer reel, as shown iii'Figs. 6 and 1 Since the cylindrical portion I5 extends axially for approximately only three turns; the initial convolutions of wire become loose on the tapered portion of the transfer reel. When a sufficient supply of wire has been wound on thetransfer reel to form a new coil, the reel is stopped by disengaging drum I24 from contact with the strander and not necessarily the actual num- .ber of turns that may be present. The extreme left-hand unit I2 in Fig. 1 shows the filament stored on spool 65 and indicates the stopped position of reel 40 just prior to transfer of a coil. In actual practice, the winding of the new coil on reel l would ordinarily be completed before reel 40 is stopped.

When a transfer is made with a reel of the construction shown in Figs. 11-14, dogs I03, I03 pivot in a clockwise direction as reel I II is moved into engagement with reel I09. This permits the dogs to slide underneath the new coil of wire. When the reel I I I has been moved into nearly complete engagement with reel I00, the counterweights I on the dogs strike the walls I2I of slots II2 to pivot the dogs to a vertical position in back of the new coil (Fig. 14) so that the dogs I 03 retain the new coil on fingers I02 when reel I I I is withdrawn (Fig. 15). The-operator may, if he desires, move the entire new coil to the right on reel I00, either manually or by means of pins inserted in holes I I5 of reel I I I, or the new coil may be left on fingers I02 until it is substantially depleted. In either event, it is only necessary to move the new coil to the right a suhicient distance so that the pin I09 holding the trailing end of the new coil may be transferred from one of the holes I08 on fingers I02 to one of the holes H0 in the reel, thus avoiding interference when the next new reel is transferred.

In order to make the entire transfer, the operator leaves sufficient wire on the main reel so that he may make the transfer before all the wire has been wound on the storage spool 65.

The procedure for winding the new coil on either reel I0 or reel I I I is substantially the same and will now be described. A pulley I23 is connected to the countershaft 29 and is drivingly connected with a friction drum I through pulley I and belt I26. Drum I24 and pulley I25 are mounted on lever I2! which is pivoted to the base 85 at I28. Lever I27 may be manually pivoted to engage the periphery 14 of flange 12 with drum I24 to cause rotation of the transfer reel on shaft I3. This rotation will of course, be in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2, in order that the new coil may be wound on the transfer reel from the bottom. Each unit is provided with a swift I30 on which a supply I3I of wire is placed.

In the winding of the transfer reel, the leading end of the wire supply I3I is carried over a block I32 which guides the wire onto the cylindrical portion 15 of the transfer reels and against the vertical faces 12a and H4. The leading end of the wire is pinned in one of the holes II5 near the forward end of the reel. Desired tension in the winding operation is provided by means of a suitable tension device I33 which operates in conreel. Then the trailing end of the wire is secured by a pin I09 inserted in one of the holes H6 in the periphery 14 or II3 of the reel flange. .The wire may then be cut and the transfer rears ready for the replenishing operation as described. above. i-

It will thus be apparent that I have provided.- a continuous rope or strand winding machine, which may be attended by one operator and, which never has to be shut down for the purpose of replenishing any of the spools. The machine.- is relatively simple and easy to operate. An, especial advantage in addition to the continuous operation feature, resides in the fact that it can: handle a mill coil of wire and does not require that the wire be wound on a spool before it can feed to the machine. In all previous stranding machines, it is necessary that the wire be transferred from a mill coil to a spool before it can be used in the strander. Since the winding of the new coils on the transfer reels conditions the coil properly to be received by the strander, it is' possible to place the mill coils directly onthe swifts, thereby eliminating one operation in the process of forming wire rope.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a strander comprising a hollow central shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means carried by saidshaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core; through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end'on" said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frictionally mounted on said shaft, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to, draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool free 1y rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating. member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, and a transfer reel rotatably and slid-ably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the reel.

2. In ropemanufacturing apparatus, a strand-' er comprising a hollow central shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frictionallyv mounted on said shaft, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft. at the opposite end of the reel, a plurality of axially extending fingers on said main reel, and a. plurality of juxtaposed oppositely extending fin-. gers on said transfer reel, said fingers adapted to 'interengage each other when the transfer reel. is

through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end on said shaft, at. least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric. with and frictionally mounted on said shaft, a floating eye. member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the reel, a plurality of axially extending fingers on said. main reel, a plurality of juxtaposed oppositely extending fingers. onsaid transfer reel, said fingers adapted to interengage each-other when the transfer reel is moved axially onv the. shaft, and means on the outer periphery of the, fingers to retain the ends of a wire coil 4 mounted on said shaft, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to draw a. filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said float ing member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the reel, a. plurality of axially extending fingers on said main reel, a

plurality of juxtaposed oppositely extending fingers on said transfer reel, said fingers adapted to interengage each. other when the transfer reel is moved axially on the shaft, means on the outer periphery of the fingers to retain the ends of a wire coil thereon, and means on the end of at least one of the main reel fingers for engaging a coil of wire and retaining the coil on the main reel fingers when the transfer reel is axially moved away from the main reel.

5. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a strand- 1..

er comprising a hollow central shaft having a plurality of eyes in the periphery thereof, means for rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means and through said eyes in the shaft, a plurality of filament feeding uni-ts arranged end-to-end on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with: and frictionally mounted on said shaft,'-s

a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and. adapted to draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said Shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the: storage; spool, and a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on. said shaft at the oppositeend of the reel.

6. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a strander comprising. a hollow central shaft, means for is rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frietionall-y mounted on said shaft, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to draw a filament therefrom, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft in spaced relation to the floating eye member, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft. adjacent said floating eye member, the periphery of said storage spool having an axially concave surface, and a trans.- fer reel rotatabl yand slidably mounted on said shaftat. the opposite end of the reel.

7. In rope. manufacturing apparatus, a strander comprising-a hollow central shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means carried .by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing. said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units. arranged end-to-end on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frictionally mounted on said shaft, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to draw a filament therefrom, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft in spaced relation to the floating eye member, a storage spool freely rotatable. on said shaft between said eye members, the periphery of said. storage spool having an axially concave surface, anda transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the reel. 1

8. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a strander comprising a hollow central shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a. central core,

,means for drawing said filaments and core throughsaid last-named .means, a plurality .of

filament feeding units arranged end-to-end on ,said shaft, at least oneof said units comprising,

a first sleeve journaled on saidshaft, a second sleeve slidably but non-rotatably mounted on -t.at.ably and, slidably mounted'on said shaft at the opposite end. of the sleeves.-

9. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a strander comprising a. hollow central shaft, meansfor rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft 'for. twisting filaments around a central core,

means for drawing said filaments and core through said, last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end on said shaft, atleast one of said units comprising a firstjsleeye journaled on said shaft, a second sleeve slidably but non-rotatablymounted on said sleeve, a plurality of fingers in operatiye: association with said second sleeve, a; plurality of links for radially moving saidfingers with respect to said sleeve, means, for axially" retaining said flngers w-ith respect to said sleeve, a, floating eye member frictionally mounted on said first sleeve,friction means between said eye member and said sleeve for providing limited relative rotation therebetween, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, and a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the sleeves.

10. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a strander comprising a hollow central shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frictionally mounted on said shaft, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the reel, a plurality-of axially extending fingers on said main 'reel,

means for radially expanding and retracting said fin ers, and a plurality of juxtaposed oppositely extending fingers on said transfer reel, said fingers adapted to interengage each other when the transfer reel is moved axially on the shaft.

11. In rope manufacturing apparatus. a strander comprising a hollow central s aft, means for rotating said shaft. means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality of fi ament feeding units arranged end-to-nd on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frictionally 'monnted on said shaft, 2. floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and ada ted to draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the o posite end of the reel, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-endon said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frictionally mounted on said shaft, a brake for said reel, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to draw a filament therefrom,

a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye mem- '*ber rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, and a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the'reel.

"1 3. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a

stander comprising a hollow central shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end: on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frictionally mounted on said shaft, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the reel, and means for axially sliding said transfer reel on the shaft.

14. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a strander comprising a hollow central shaft, means for rotating aid shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frictionally mounted on said shaft, a brake for said reel, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member ri idly mounted on said shaft ad acent the storage s ool, a tran fer reel rotatablv and slidably mounted on said shaft at the o posite end of the reel, and means for axially sliding said transfer reel on the shaft.

15. In rope manufacturing a aratus, a strander comprising a hollow central shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality. of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frictionally mounted on said shaft, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the reel, a flanged periphery on said transfer reel, a cylindrical portion of smaller diameter axially adjacent to said flanged periphery, the side of said periphery and the cylindrical portion forming a wire winding surface, and a tapered storage surface contiguous to said cylindrical surface.

16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15, in which the minimum diameter of the tapered surface on the transfer reel is substantially less than the diameter of the main reel, and the maximum .diameter of the tapered surface is equal to or less than the diameter of the main reel.

1'7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15, in which the flange is slotted axially between the fingers.

18. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15, in which the fingers on the reels are provided with radially spaced apertures adapted to receive wire end retaining means.

19. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a. strander comprising a hollow central shaft.

-means for rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frictionally mounted on said shaft, a plurality of axially extending fingers rigidly attached to said main reel, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, and a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the reel.

20. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a stander comprising a hollow central shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frictionally mounted on said shaft, a plurality of axially extending fingers rigidly attached to said main reel, a plurality of pivoting members at the end of at least one of said fingers, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, and a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the reel.

21. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a strander comprising a hollow central shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-' to-end on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frictionally mounted on said shaft, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the reel, and means for independently rotating said transfer reel to wind a filament coil thereon.

22. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a strander comprising a hollow central shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising a main reel concentric with and frictionally mounted on said shaft, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said reel and adapted to. draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the reel, means for independently rotating said transfer reel to wind a filament coil thereon, and filament feeding means including a swift in operative associa tion with the transfer reel.

23. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a strander comprising a hollow central shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising an axially slidable sleeve concentric with and frictionally mounted with respect to said shaft, a main reel non-rotatably mounted on said sleeve, a floating eye member mounted adjacent said reel and adapted to draw a filament therefrom, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, and a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the reel.

24. In rope manufacturing apparatus, a strander comprising a hollow central shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means carried by said shaft for twisting filaments around a central core, means for drawing said filaments and core through said last-named means, a plurality of filament feeding units arranged end-to-end on said shaft, at least one of said units comprising an axially slidable sleeve concentric with and frictionally mounted with respect to said shaft, a main reel non-rotatably mounted on said sleeve, a floating eye member frictionally mounted on said sleeve and adapted to draw a filament from the main reel, a storage spool freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent said floating member, a fixed eye member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the storage spool, and a transfer reel rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of the reel.

DAVID J. YAKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,165,495 Cooper Dec. 28, 1915 1,513,583 Conner Oct. 28, 1924