US2691864A

US2691864A - Wire rope making machine

Info

Publication number: US2691864A
Application number: US204033A
Authority: US
Inventors: Russell F Delp
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-01-02
Filing date: 1951-01-02
Publication date: 1954-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1971-10-19

Description

Oct. 19, 1954 R. F. DELP WIRE ROPE MAKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2, 1951 ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1954 R. F. DELP WIRE ROPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1951 II IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR IYUSSEZL E DELI:

ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1954 DELP 2,691,864

WIRE ROPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 fiaxiu F. mu;-

1 N VENTOR BY I ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1954 R. F. DELP WIRE ROPE MAKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 2, 1951 INVENTOR I ll. mln

ATTORNEY Patented Get. 19, 1954 UNITED S'l'A'lEd OFFICE 4 Claims.

-or twisted together to provide an elongated strand, the invention being adaptable to the. manufacture of strands of extremely small lateral dimension or .heavy wire cable.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a stranding machine involving new and improved means for regulating or determining the lay in the completed strand, to automatically vary the speed of the wind-up bobbin to synchronize the lay to the speed of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein the twisted strand is drawn through the machine in such manner as to he at all times visible to inspection in the formation ofthe strand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine involving the usual rotating twisting die in which the strand is formed by a pulling or draw operation, and wherein the speed of rotation of the twisting die is maintained at the same rotational speed as the wind-up bobbin unit.

A further and important object of the invention is to provide a Wire rope making machine embodying a rotating twisting die for forming the wires into a strand and wherein the formed strand is drawn through the die and wound upon a wind-up drum having speed rotation equal to the speed of rotation of the die, and wherein the automatic synchronizing means is provided to equalize the speed of rotation of the windmp bobbin with the speed of travel of the strand through the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wire rope making machine embodying the use of a positively driven rotating die through which the wires are drawn and twisted into a finished. cable drawn through the machine by a wind-up drum, and wherein means are provided to retard or lessen the speed of rotation of the windup drum due to the gradually increasing diameter thereof in the wind-up operation toautomatically slow down the speed of rotation of the bobbin in order that the finished strand may be drawn through the machine at uniform speed.

A further object is to provide a wire ropemaking machine of that type which involves a twisting die rotating at uniform speed, and a wind-up bobbin to draw the finished strand through the die, and means interposed between the die and the wind-up bobbin whereby to automatically slow down the speed of rotation of the wind-up bobbin in order that .a constant and uniform speed of travel of the wires and strand through the twisting die is maintained at all times.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a wire rope making machine constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing the intermediate unit, in part, of the machine,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the part shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the selective gear assembly,

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary sectional view of diagrammatic nature showing the flow of power from shaft 39 to flier shaft II? of the wind-up bobbin, and

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the mounting of the slidable head on the jack shaft.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, [0 represents a plurality of feed wire bobbin frames arranged in spaced parallel relationship, rotatably supported at their ends in suitable bearings indicated at I l and each having rotatably supported therein and transversely thereof a wire bobbin l2. The wires [3 from each of the bobbins I2 pass through the hollow trunnion at the forward end of each of the frames 10 and are drawn in converging relationship into a conventional type of rotating twisting die Hi after first passing through a separating or dividing device indicated at 55. The die- M is attached to the die spindle represented generally at I6, which spindle is hollow throughout its length in order that the twisted strand indicated at I! may be drawn from the die in its finished or twisted form. The strand ll continues in a straight line beyond the twisting die and is ultimately wound upon the wind-up bobbin l8 rotatably mounted in the wind-up bobbin frame l9 rotatably supported in bearings 20.

The mechanism for bringing about the operations thus far briefly described and the mechanism hereinafter more fully described receives its power from the main power source 2|, which may be an electric motor or any other prime mover. This motor drives belt 22 which passes over a pulley 23 affixed to main power shaft 24 of the machine, which shaft is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings as shown. Affixed to the shaft 24 is a sprocket wheel 25 over which passes chain 26 engaged over sprocket 2'! carried by, a'trunnion of one of the wire feed bobbin frames [0. The remainder of the frames may be driven by belt or chain connections 28-29 in the manner shown clearly in Fig. 1. This power drive assures positive rotary movement of the various feed bobbin frames at uniform speed.

The die spindle H3 is driven from the main shaft 24 by a. sprocket chain 36 passing over a sprocket wheel 3| affixed to the said shaft 24 and also passing over the compound idler sprocket 32, from which sprocket chain 33 passes over a suitable sprocket 34 affixed to the die spindle.

The wind-up bobbin frame I9 has been described as being rotatably supported by hollow trunnions in bearings 25], and this frame is positively driven by a sprocket chain 35 which passes over a sprocket wheel 35 affixed to one of the trunnions of the said bobbin cradle and also over a sprocket 37 aihxed to a jack shaft 38 which is positively driven by a chain 39 passing over sprockets 4-0 and 4| secured respectively to the jack shaft 38 and the main power shaft 24. The chain drives between the main power shaft 24 and the twister die and the wind-up bobbin cradle rotate the die and cradle at the same or at uniform speeds to produce a cable of the type here under consideration, but it will be understood that these rotative speeds may be varied if occasion demands.

Arranged in conjunction with this machine is a standard fluid controlled variable speed mechanism which obtains its power from the main drive shaft 24 through the instrumentality of a drive chain 42 which passes over a sprocket 43 affixed to the shaft 25 and also over a sprocket M affixed to the main drive shaft 45 of the variable speed regulator. The main shaft 45 has aflixed thereto the opposed cones 46 accommodating between them the belt 41 which also passes over opposed and adjustable cones 48 carried by the jack shaft 49 of the variable speed mechanism. The variable speed mechanism here shown is of standard well known construction and operation and a detail description thereof may therefore be dispensed with, it being sufficient to say that the drive shaft arms 55 upon their pivots is brought about by suitable fluid pressure mechanism contained within the housing 53 and the proper degree of pressure is maintained by the motor 54. Operation of this variable speed mechanism is controlled by lever 55 which governs the direction of liquid pressure by operation of valve 56 as will be understood.

Affixed to the die spindle H5 is a spur gear 51 in mesh with a compound intermediate idler 58 rotatably supported as at 59, which idler is in driving connection with gear 60 mounted upon sleeve 6| through which passes supporting shaft 62 rigidly secured at one end by the nut 63 to a strut or part of the frame of the machine indicated at 64. Also mounted upon the sleeve GI are a plurality of gears of varied sizes indicated at 65, the innermost or largest of the said gears being separated from the main gear by the spacer B5. The gears 65 are held in proper frictional and locking engagement with one another by a nut 67 threaded upon the outer end of sleeve 5| and maintained in firm gear clamping relationship by means of the Washer 6-8 secured in place by a cotter pin 69 passing through the end of supporting shaft 62. It will be seen from this construction that the main gear and the gang of gears 6-5 are rigidly secured together as a unit upon the sleeve 6| which in turn is rotatably supported upon the fixed shaft 62. The construction is such that the gang of gears is positively driven by the spur gear 51 which is affixed to the die spindle I6.

Arranged beyond the shaft 62 and rotatably supported at its ends in suitable bearings in the frame or strut 6A is a jack shaft Ill upon which is splined a gear H. This gear rotates positively with the shaft 10 but is capable of sliding longitudinally thereon by means of a key engaged in a keyway I2 as shown in Fig. 2. The gear H is confined between the arms 13 of a' rocker arm 14, the outer ends of which are rotatably engaged upon the shaft 10. The rocker arm 14 also rotatably supports upon the shaft 15 an idler gear 15, the said gear being in constant mesh with gear 'H. It will be observed that the rocker arm is mounted in such position that the idler gear HS may be brought into intermeshing engagement with the teeth of any one of the-several gears of the gang 55, the sliding connection of the outer end of the rocker arm with the jack shaft Ill permitting this selectivity. The inner end of rocker arm 14 is provided with a threaded stud l! to engage selectively within openings 18 in plate 19 attached to the frame of the machine. The construction is such that the drive ratio between the die spindle I6 and the jack shaft 10 may be varied as desired by moving the rocker arm 14 to engage the idler gear 16 with a gear of the gang 65 of the proper ratio, to determine the lay of the twisted strand.

Mounted upon the shaft 10 and capable of travelling longitudinally thereon is a housing represented generally at 80. This housing is of substantially cylindrical shape and has mounted in its opposite ends bevel gears 8| which are provided with threads to engage with the threads 82 on the shaft HI. A spacer sleeve 83 is arranged within the housing and is interposed between the bevel gears 8|, while anti-friction means 84 are arranged within the housing to permit of the bevel gears and the spacing sleeve 83 rotating independently thereof. The housing 85 is rigidly secured to the head 85 carried by arm 86 disposed horizontally across the machine and confined within a guide or keeper plate 81 afixed to the machine frame adjacent to the path of travel of the strand I1 and transversely thereof. The end of the arm 86 has arranged thereon a roller or reel 88 to which is attached one end of a wire or cord 89, which cord is attached to valve operating lever 55 of the variable speed regulator heretofore described. The free end of the cord or wire 89 has secured thereto a weight 90, the wire or cord 89 passing over a guide roller 9|.

The head 85 has rotatably mounted thereon a pair of shafts 92, each of which has secured to the outer ends thereof a bevel gear 93 in mesh with the adjacent bevel gear 8| carried by the housing as heretofore described. One of the shafts 92 has secured thereto one end of a universal coupling indicated at '94, which coupling is connected to one end of an extensible shaft indicated at 95. The opposite end of the shaft 95 is connected by a similar universal connection 96 to a spindle 91 to which is attached a regulator wheel 98. The spindle 91 is suitably mounted in proper bearings for rotation in the frame of the machine, and maintains the regulator wheel in such position that the strand I 1 moving from the twister die to the windup bobbin passes directly over the periphery thereof, frictional contact between the strand I! and the regulator wheel 88 being assured by rollers 89 rotatably secured to the lower ends of shafts IE8 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings i'tl secured to the frame. These shafts are mounted for vertical sliding movement in the bearings WI and expansion Springs Hi2 encircling the shafts and bearing at one end against collars m3 affixed to the shafts and against the uppermost of the bearings I (H maintain the rollers 99 in yielda'ble contact with the strand Ill passing over the regulator Wheel 98.

From this construction it will be clear that rotative movement of the twister die will be transmitted from spur gear 5? through compound idler gear 58 to main gear cs through the selected gear of the gang 65 to idler gear Hi to gear H causing the threaded shaft '59 to rotate. The speed of rotation of the shaft 30 will be determined, of course, by the gear of the gang 55 which has been selected. As the strand Il passes from the twister die it travels over a part of the periphery of the regulator wheel 98 thus imparting rotative movement to the said wheel, which movement is transmitted to shaft Bl which is connected by telescopic shaft 95 to shaft 92 carrying bevel gear 93 in mesh with bevel gear 8! threadedly engaged with the threads 82 of the shaft H3.

The main power shaft 2Q has affixed thereto a sprocket I 04, over which passes a chain I05 which in turn engages a sprocket I05 afiixed to a countershaft an suitably mounted in bearings I03 and disposed parallel to the axis of the wind-up cradle or frame I9, The shaft Ifl'l has secured thereto a head 109 to which are secured spindles IIIl upon which are idler bevel gears H I forming a component part of a familiar differential. Mounted for rotation upon the shaft I07 are complementary driving and driven bevel gears H2 and I I3 respectively, which bevel gears are in mesh with gears III. The driven gear I I3 has affixed thereto a sprocket wheel l I4, over which passes a chain II5 also engaged with a sprocket wheel H6 secured to the outer end of a shaft II'I passing longitudinally through the hollow supporting trunnion N3 of one end of the wind-up frame or cradle E9. The shaft Ml extends through to the interior of the frame or cradle I9 and has a gear I2fl affixed thereto. This gear is in mesh with a gear I2! affixed to one end of a shaft 22 mounted in suitable bearings longitudinally of the cradle Hi. The opposite end of this shaft has attached thereto a bevel gear I23 which is in mesh with a similar gear I24 secured to one end of the bobbin supporting shaft I25. The bevel gear 12s is in mesh with a similar gear I25 affixed to the inner end of a shaft I2! mounted in suitable bearings at the side of the cradle or frame I9 and parallel to the axis thereof. The opposite end of shaft I21 has secured thereto a bevel gear 528 in mesh with a similar gear I29 affixed to one end of a cam drum I3I having a cam groove I32 therein to be engaged by a guide or traveller I33 slid- 6 ably carried by a bar 434 disposed transversely within the frame and directly above the cam drum II. It will be understood that the traveller I 33 is equipped with an eye through which passes the strand Ill and that the follower I33 is given reciprocatory movement by its engagement within the groove I32 in the drum I31.

Referring back to the variable speed mechanism, it will be observed that the driven shaft 49 thereof is disposed substantially parallel with the axis of the Wind-up bobbin frame, and is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings I35. This shaft has secured thereto a sprocket 3 6 over which passes a chain I3'I in turn passing over a sprocket I33 affixed to the driving bevel gear II2.

In operation, the several mechanisms referred to derive their power from the main power source 2! through the instrumentality of the main power shaft 2d. The wires I3 pass through the guide plate It and through the rotating twister die id where they are twisted into the strand I1, and this strand I'I passes over and in frictional contact with wheel 98 and from thence to the windup drum iii. The wind-up drum obtains its rota'tive power from main shaft 24 through sprocket chain Hi5 and the associated sprockets, shaft till through the differential gears -I if, HI and H3, sprocket H4, chain H5, sprocket iIEi, shaft ill, gear Iii}, gear I2l, bevel gear 23 and similar gear lid affix-ed to the transverse supporting shaft of the wind-up bobbin. It will be observed that the driven variable speed shaft 49 is in positive driving connection with bevel gear II2 of the differential mechanism through the instrumentality of chain I3l and sprockets I3Ei I38. As long as the speed of rotation of the Windup bobbin exerts a linear pull upon the strand Il' commensurate with the speed of operation of the twister die I i, the drive of the wind-up b0b= bin will remain as described. However, as the Wind-up bobbin fills there will be a tendency of the strand IT to increase linear speed. This increase in linear speed is detected by Wheel 98, and this increased speed influence is transmitted through shaft to bevel gear 93 and to bevel gear BI. This differential causes the gears 8i to move longitudinally upon shaft 82 due to their threaded connection therewith, whereupon arm 86 moves to draw the wire or cord 89 to operate lever 5d controlling the hydraulics of the variable speed regulating mechanism. This immediately varies the speed regulating device to compensate for the change of speed, whereupon the operated shaft 49 of the variable speed regulating mechanism immediately reflects this variation of speed in the differential bevel gear Il2 through the instrumentalit'y of chain l3? and sprockets I36 ltd. The bevel gear IIZ thereupon transmits this speed variation to the cooperating gears of the differential bringing about the desired variation in the driving speed of the chain II5. As the strand continues to wind upon the bobbin and thus increases its circumference the tendency for the strand I? to increase its linear speed continues, and the speed ratio is in the manner described automatically and progressively compensated for.

When the wind-up bobbin has become filled the machine is brought to rest and the bobbin removed to be replaced by an empty spool. The new end of the cable is attached to this spool, whereupon the wheel 98 is manually rotated to reset the automatic regulating device on the threaded shaft 82 to its initial position, whereupon the operation above described is repeated with the same results.

I claim:

1. In a wire rope making machine, a main power source, a twisting die, means operated by said power source to rotate said die at constant speed, a rotatable bobbin frame, a wind-up bobbin in said frame, means operated by said power source to rotate said bobbin to draw a plurality Of wires into a twisted strand through said die, a jack shaft, a drive connection between said die and said jack shaft, a head slidable longitudinally upon said jack shaft, means governed by the linear speed of said strand for moving said head on said jack shaft, and means interposed in said bobbin rotating means governed by the sliding movements of said head for varying the speed of said bobbin rotating means.

2. In a wire rope making machine, a main power source, a twisting die driven from said power source at a constant speed, a rotatable bobbin frame, a wind-up bobbin rotatable in said frame, means operated by said power source to rotate said bobbin to draw a plurality of wires into a twisted strand through said die, a jack shaft, a drive connection between said die and said jack shaft, a head slidable on said jack shaft, means governed by the linear speed of said strand for moving said head on said jack shaft, variable speed mechanism in said bobbin rotating means, and means governed by the sliding movements of said head on said jack shaft for operating said variable speed mechanism to maintain the lay of said strand.

3. In a wire rope making machine, a main power source, a twisting 'die driven from said power source at a constant speed, a rotatable bobbin frame, a wind-up bobbin rotatable in said 8 frame, means operated by said power source to rotate said bobbin to draw a plurality of wires into a twisted strand through said die, a jack shaft, a variable speed drive connection between said die and said jack shaft, a head slidable on said jack shaft, means governed by the linear speed of said strand for moving said head on said jack shaft, a variable speed mechanism in said bobbin rotating means, and means governed by the sliding movements of said head on said jack shaft for operating said variable speed mechanism to maintain the lay of said strand.

4. In a wire rope making machine, a main power source, a twisting die driven by said power source at a constant speed, a rotatable bobbin frame and means for driving the same from said power source, a wind-up bobbin rotatable in said frame, a variable speed mechanism interposed between said power source and said bobbin to rotate the latter to draw a plurality of wires into a twisted strand through said die, and means governed by the linear speed of said strand to operate said variable speed mechanism independently of the speed of rotation of said bobbin frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,171,993 Reichelt Sept. 5, 1939 2,287,708 Reynolds et al June 23, 1942 2,349,882 Reichelt May 30, 1944 2,360,783 MacCreadie Oct. 17, 1944 2,484,178 MacCreadie Oct. 11, 1949 2,526,247 Lewis Oct. 17, 1950 2,546,977 Clary, Jr. et al Apr. 3, 1951