US2705932A - Machine tool intended for helically winding a metal strip or a wire - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1955 H. M. E. DU BOSCQ DE BEAUMONT 2,705,932 MACHINE TOOL INTENDED FOR HELICALLY WINDING A METAL STRIP OR A WIRE 3 $peets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1950 p i 1955 H. M. E. DU BOSCQ DE BEAUMONT 2,705,932

MACHINE TOOL INTENDED FOR HELICALLY WINDING A METAL STRIP OR A WIRE April 12, 1955 H. M. E. DU BOSCQ DE BEAUMONT 2,705,932

MACHINE TOOL INTENDED FOR HELICALLY WINDING A METAL STRIP OR A WIRE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 15, 1950 7 hH-urmly United States Patent MACIME TOOL INTENDED FOR HELICALLY WINDING A METAL STRIP OR A WIRE Henry Martial Emile du Boscq de Beaumont, Nazelles, France, assignor to Societe N ouvelle des Etablissements Brandt, Paris, France, a French company Application February 15, 1950, Serial No. 144,322

Claims priority, application France February 18, 1949 19 Claims. (Cl. 113-35) The present invention relates to machine tools intended for helically winding an element made of a resilient material having a certain degree of stiffness, such as a ribbon or a strip or a wire of metal, alloy or the like, in order to obtain an article of helical shape such as a profiled flexible pipe or a sheathing for an armoured cable for examp e.

Machines that enable such articles to be obtained are already known, but in these known machines which comprise a tool rotarily driven about its axis and at least one counter-tool likewise rotarily driven about its own axis which is stationary, the article delivered by the machine rotates about its axis, which is very troublesome and makes it necessary to receive said article as it is formed, either in elongated angle bars, or in special rapidly rotating containers, unless it is preferred to hold it suspended by a swivel or allow great lengths of it to hang in space.

Numerous attempts have already been made to eliminate this rotation of the article delivered at the output of the machine, but hitherto they have been unsuccessful.

Thus, it has already been proposed, for example in the case of the manufacture of metal flexible pipe, to reverse the relative rotations of the tool and the countertools which are associated therewith, i. e. hold the tool stationary and make the axis of the, or of each, countertool rotate about the axis of the tool, so as to Wind by means of said counter-tool the element to be worked about the stationary tool.

This method is based on the kinematic principle, which in the circumstances is over-simple, that since there are theoretically two relative rotations, in this case and diagrammatically that of the tool and of the counter-tool, it is possible to eliminate one of the rotations by acting in a suitable manner on the other. As a matter of fact, experience has shown that a machine constructed according to this principle, i. e. in which two and only two simultaneous relative rotations are involved, cannot deliver a product which is devoid of rotation.

This is due to the fact that, on the one hand, owing to the stiffness of the material and the thickness of the element Worked, and contingently to the profile given to it by the tool and the counter-tool (or counter-tools), the manufactured article is always of a mean diameter which is substantially larger than that of the tool on which it is constrained to wind, and on the other hand, said element always slips more or less relatively to the tool and the counter-tool.

The invention has for its object an improved machine for manufacturing an article such as a profiled flexible pipe, a helical sheath for a flexible pipe or for a cable, or the like, by helically winding an element such as a ribbon or strip or a wire between a central tool and at least one counter-tool, said machine being adapted to deliver said article absolutely devoid of any rotation.

The invention has more particularly for its object a machine which comprises in combination, a tool of revolution, a first device for rotating said tool about its axis, a support adapted to rotate about said axis, a second device for rotating said support about said axis, at least one counter-tool of revolution, the shaft of which is journalled in said support, a third device for rotating said counter-tool about its axis, these three devices being so adjusted as to produce three relative speeds such that the speed of the article delivered is zero.

Tests have in fact shown that with three suitably adjusted speeds, viz. those: of a tool rotating about its ice axis, of at least one counter-tool rotating about its axis, and of the axis of the counter-tool rotating about the axis of the tool, it is possible to obtain an article which does not rotate and which it is consequently possible to receive directly at the base of the machine, and which it is possible, if necessary, to subject to any subsidiary treatments such as cutting, winding, heat treatment, and the like, which cannot conveniently be effected on a rotating product.

In the accompanying drawing, which is given solely by way of example:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic elevational view of a machine according to the invention with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan view thereof with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on a larger scale of the essential portion of said machine;

Fig. 4 is a corresponding end view, on the side on which the manufactured article comes out;

F Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section along the line 55 of Fig. 6 is a view in longitudinal section of a modification;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of another modification.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the machine comprises, fixed on the same base 1, on the one hand a device A for continuously feeding a resilient element 2 (metal strip or ribbon of rectangular or profiled cross-section, wire of circular or other crosssection), and on the other hand, a mechanism B adapted to effect the profiling, if necessary, of said element and in any case the helical winding thereof so as to produce an article 3 such as a profiled flexible pipe, a sheath, or any other helicoid, said article being delivered by said mechanism without rotation, so that it can be directly received at the foot of the machine where it may for example coil itself about its axis, at 4.

The feed device A comprises a spool 5 on which is wound the element 2. Said spool is mounted on a universal joint in such a manner that said element 2 can simultaneously be fed in the direction of the arrow f and rotated about its axis, for example in the direction of the arrow F. For this purpose, the journals 6 of the spool are mounted loose, if desired with any known braking device, about an axis aa, in a frame 7. Said frame is provided with two journals 8 and 9 that have a common axis bb at right angles to the axis aa; these journals are mounted loose in two bearings 10 and 11 which are in turn fixed by means of bolts 12 and nuts 13 to the base 1.

The journal 9 is longitudinally bored throughout its entire length, so as to allow the element 2 to come out along the axis bb. As regards the other journal 8, the same is secured by a key 14 to the shaft 15 of an electric motor 16, the casing of which is fixed to the bearing 10 by means of a bracket 17. The supply circuit 18 for the motor 16 is controlled by means of a rheostat 19 which thus makes it possible to adjust the speed of rotation 'of the spool system 5, 6, 7 about the axis bb and, consequently of the element 2 on itself about its longitudinal axis.

The mechanism B which forms the essential portion of the machine comprises a frame 20, fixed by means of bolts 21 and nuts 22 to the base 1. To said frame 20 is secured a body 23 which therefore occupies a fixed position. In said body is provided a cavity 24 (Fig. 3) provided at its two ends with two bearing surfaces 25 and 26 which form two sections of the same frusto-conical surface of revolution about the longitudinal axis cc of said cavity. At the end of smaller diameter is provided an annular shoulder 27, while the bearing surface 26 opens directly on to the downstream face (relatively to the direction of movement of the element 2) of the body 23.

In the bearings 25 and 26 is freely journalled a support 28 of frusto-conical shape, which is held longitudinally, with a very slight play, between the shoulder 27 and an annular stop member 29 fixed to the downstream face of the body 23 by means of screws 30 (Fig. 4).

The support 28 is provided, on the upstream side, with an extension 31 on which is keyed at 32 (Fig. 3) a pinion 33 connected by another pinion 34 to the shaft 35 of an electric motor 36 which enables said support to be rotated about the axis cc in the direction for example of the arrow f (Figs. 3, 4). The speed of rotation of the motor 36 can be adjusted by means of a rheostat 37 connected in the supply circuit 38 of said motor.

Axially, the support 28 and its extension 31 are provided with a cylindrical bore 39 (Fig. 3) which extends from end to end thereof and in which can rotate freely a shaft 40. Said shaft protrudes from both the ends of the rotary support 28. On the downstream end is keyed a tool 41 which, in the case of manufacture of a profiled flexible pipe, is formed by a wheel which is itself profiled as known per se.

On the upstream side, the end of the shaft is secured to the rotor 42 of a differential electric motor M, the casing 43 of which, to which is fixed the stator 44, is fixed to the pinion 33 by welding at 45 or otherwise. The speed of rotation of the shaft 40 in the direction of the arrow f is adjusted, taking into account the rotation of the stator 44 in the opposite direction, by means of a rheostat 46 (Figs. 1, 2) which is carried by a support 47 and is connected in series in the supply circuit 48. This circuit is connected to two brushes 49 which are carried by the support 47 and are adapted to rub against two rings 50 which are supported by the casing 43 and are concentric to the axis cc.

The casing 43 of the motor M is provided with a hole 51 (Fig. 3) for the inlet of the flexible element 2. Said element passes right through the motor by passing between two of the pole pieces of the stator 44, it comes out of said motor through a hole 52 in the pinion 33 and engages in a groove 53 provided over its entire length in the frusto-conical outer surface of the support 28. Preferably rollers 54 mounted loose on spindles 55 project into the bottom of the groove so as to reduce the friction. On the downstream side, the groove 53 is of increasing depth so as gradually to bend the element 2 and deliver it at right angles to the axis cc, in a substantially radial direction. Furthermore, in the case in which the element 2 comprises a flat strip or ribbon, as shown, this downstream portion of the groove 53 is of twisted shape in such a manner that said strip, which is lying flat in the groove, reaches the outlet of said groove (Fig. 4) with its large faces at right angles to the fiat downstream end face of the support 28. This face carries a guide 57 which is fixed by means of screws 56 or otherwise (Fig. 4) and which is adapted to guide the strip or other element 2 tangentially on to the tool 41.

Said element 2 is pressed by at least one counter-tool 58 against said tool 41 in such a manner that it assumes, by permanent deformation, the profile and the curvature of which are determined by said tool. The counter-tool 58 consists of a wheel of complementary profile to that of the tool 41, taking into account the insertion of the element 2 between said tool and said counter-tool. The counter-tool is keyed on a shaft 59 of axis dd which is parallel to the axis cc. Said shaft 59 is journalled in a bearing 60 (Figs. 3 and 5) adapted to move in a groove 61 of the support 28 in a radial direction with respect to said support. Its position can be adjusted, for example by means of two screws 62 which are journalled in said support and are adapted to screw into two tapped holes 63 provided in said bearing which forms a nut (or conversely). The heads of the screws 62, which are sunk in a cavity 64 of the support 28, are accessible for a given angular position of said support, through a hole 65 provided in the stationary body 23. By means of this device, it is possible to select at will the diameter of the counter-tool 58 as will be hereinafter described.

The counter-tool 58 is subjected to two rotary movements:

One about the axis cc, owing to the rotation of the support 28 about said axis, the axis dd of the shaft 59 thus describing a cylinder about said axis, in the direction of the arrow f (Fig. 4);

The other about its own axis dd, in the direction of the arrow f, i. e. in the opposite direction to the arrow I which indicates the direction of rotation of the tool 41, this being obtained by means of the combined actions of the rotation of the support 28 and of a connection between the shafts 4i) and 59; this connection is formed,

in the example illustrated, by a pinion 66 which is keyed on the shaft 59, is housed in a recess 67 of the support 28 and meshes with teeth 68 provided on the shaft 40.

The selection of the diameter of the counter-tool 58 by means of screws 62 is made possible, within limits, with a given set of pinions 66 and gear 68, as a result of the normal tolerance in the profile of teeth in gears. However, if the desired change in diameter of the countertool 58 exceeds said tolerance, it is possible to efiect the change by temporarily removing stop member 29 and screws 62, pulling out support 28 and its dependent parts, and changing pinion 66; in certain cases, it may even be necessary to change also shaft 40, if teeth 68 are cut in said shaft. But, in all cases, screws 62 permit to change the distance between axis cc and axis dd, a requisite for using tools 41 and counter-tools 58 of various diameters.

The mechanism is completed by:

A second guide device 69 (Fig. 4) fixed by means of screws 70 or otherwise to the flat downstream face of the support 28, said device making it possible in a manner known per se, to convert into a helicoid the winding of the element 2 by the action of the tool 41 and of the counter-tool 58, without which said winding would be a spiral; and

A case 71 which is fixed by means of screws 72 to the flat downstream face of the rotary support 28 and in which is housed a hank 73 of a thread 74 of a material such as rubber, asbestos, cotton, a metal, capable of forming a joint element between the successive convolutions of the manufactured article.

The machine operates as follows:

When the three motors 16, 36 and M are supplied with current, the motor 16 drives the spool 7 in the direction of the arrow P; the motor 36 drives, by means of the gears 34, 33, the rotary support 28 in the direction of the arrow f about the axis cc and constrains the axis dd of the counter-tool to rotate about the same axis cc; finally, the rotor 42 of the motor M rotarily drives, on the one hand directly the shaft 40 and the tool 41 in the direction of the arrow f and on the other hand, by means of the gear train 66, 68, the shaft 59 and the counter-tool 58 in the direction of the arrow f about its own axis dd, the speed of rotation of said shaft and of said tool about said axis dd being proportional to the respective rotations of the shaft 40 about its axis and of the support 28 about said shaft.

The tool 41 and the counter-tool 58 feed by friction the element 2 which is supplied by the spool and then the groove 53. It should be noted that, owing to the increasing diameter of the rotary support 28 from the upstream side towards the downstream side, it is an easy matter gradually to form in said element the change of direction which enables it to be fed finally between the tool 41 and the counter-tool 58, in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis cc.

The tool 41 and the counter-tool 58 produce in the element 2 successive convolutions which the known guide device 69 converts into a helicoid, the ribs that may possibly be formed along the element 2 by the tool and the counter-tool engaging in complementary grooves of said element in the case in which the convolutions of the helicoid are to be joined to one another. Fluidtightness between the convolutions can be obtained in this case, as is known per se, by means of a sealing thread 74 which is fed, at the same time as the element 2, from the hank 73 housed in the case 71 fixed to the downstream face of the rotary support 28. Finally, the desired article 3, for example a profiled flexible pipe, is obtained at the output end of the mechanism B.

This having been explained, in order to illustrate the advantage of the invention and of its embodiment which has just been described, two restrictive assumptions concerning said embodiment will first be made.

It will be assumed in the first place that the support 28 is stationary and that the shaft 59 of the countertool 58 merely rotates in said support; this known solution would produce a rolling of the element 2 between two rollers rotating in opposite directions about their stationary axes; the article 3 would rotate about its axis.

It will now be assumed that the tool 41 is stationary and not rotary, the motor M and the rotary shaft 40 being eliminated, and that the counter-tool 58, mounted loose on its spindle 59, merely rotates about said stationary tool. Theoretically, the delivered article 3 should not rotate. As a matter of fact, according to this solution which has already been proposed without success, the work would continue to have a certain angular velocity which would depend on the diiference between the radii of curvature (see Fig. 4) of the tool 41 and of the convolution 75 formed and on the inavoidable slip ping between said convolution and the tool and the counter-tool and on the depth of the profile.

On the contrary, owing to the construction described and the three speeds of rotation-zn of the tool 41 about its axis cc, U2 of the counter-tool 58 about its axis dd, M3 of said counter-tool 58 and of its rotary support 28 about the axis ccit is possible to combine these speeds so that the delivered work does not rotate.

It is obvious that it would be possible, by means of a. previous calculation and for each specific case, to determine said speeds as a function of the dimensions of the element 2, of its nature and in particular of its stiffness, and of the diameter of the work-piece 3, thereby enabling the shaft 40 and the rotary support 28 to be driven by one and the same motor by means of suitable transmissions; however, the solution described and illustrated is simpler.

For a given article and if the speed of the motor 36 is for example given by means of a known adjustment of the rheostat 37 (which in this case acts simply as a starting rheostat), thereby determining 11 and 112, it is only necessary when the machine is being started, to act on the rheostat 46 on which the speed 111 depends, until the speed of rotation of the article 3 is zero.

It is quite evident that, conversely, it would just as well be possible to act on the rheostat 37 of the motor 36, the speed In adjusted by the rheostat 46 being taken as the basic speed.

Finally, after having adjusted the speeds I11, 112, us by means of the rheostat 46, the speed of the motor 16 is adjusted by means of its rheostat 19, in such a manner that the spool 7 rotates about the axis bb at the same speed 113 as the rotary support 28, thereby preventing, due to the rotation of said support 28, any twisting about its axis of the element 2 supplied by said spool.

In Fig. 6, a modification is shown in which the stationary frame 23a is provided with a cylindrical bore 76 with two bearing surfaces 77 and 78 which are centred on the axis cc and in which the rotary support 28 is journalled. On said support is fixed by welding or otherwise, on the downstream side thereof, a platen 79 in which the bearing of the shaft 59 of the counter-tool 53 is radially adjustable in the manner described heretofore in respect of Figs. 3 to 5.

On the upstream side, on the rotary support is also fixed an end 80 with a cylindrical extension 81 that acts at 81 as a bearing for the shaft 40. The end 80 is fixed in the cylinder 28*- at a certain distance from its upstream section so as to form a housing for a hollow ring 82 provided with lugs 83 for fixing it to said cylinder 28 by means of bolts 84 and nuts 85 or otherwise. In said ring is spirally wound the flexible element 2 which unwinds from the centre. It passes freely through a radial slot 86 of the ring 82, an opening 87 in the end 8!) and an opening 88 in the platen 79. The pinion 33 for driving the rotary support is keyed on the extension 81. As regards the motor M for driving the shaft 40 and the tool 41, its casing and its stator are stationary, said casing being fixed for example to a support 89. It is provided, as in the previous example, with an adjusting rheostat 46.

The operation of the machine is identical with that hereinbefore explained.

Finally, Fig. 7 shows another modification in which the spool 5 on which the element 2 is wound is journalled at 6 in a fork 90 which terminates a cylindrical ferrule 91 fixed to or integral with the rotary support 28 Said support 28 for example, is of cylindrical shape and is held between two flat circles 92 and 93 fixed on the two ends of the stationary body 23 v The rotary support is rotarily driven as 1n the previous examples. As regards the shaft 40b on which is keyed the tool 41, said shaft is driven by a motor M the casing 94 of which is fixed at 95 in a housing 96 of the rotary support 28*, while its rotor is keyed on the shaft 40 The supply circuit, which is controlled by a rheostat 46, is connected to two rings 97 embedded in the inner face 98 of the body 23 and against said rings are adapted to rub two brushes 99 carried by the casing 94 of the motor M (or conversely).

Naturally, the invention is in no way restricted to the embodiments illustrated and described, which have only been chosen by way of example.

It is quite obvious that the various driving mechanisms and the means for controlling the three speeds involved may be different from those illustrated.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for helically winding an elongated resilient and relatively stiff element, which comprises: acasing; a rotary support in said casing and adapted to rotate about a first axis; a first actuating device for rotating said support; a hollow passageway in said support and extending from a first radial end to the second radial end thereof; an element-shaping tool of revolution projecting from said second radial end and adapted to rotate about said first axis; a second actuating device for rotating said tool at a speed opposite in direction to that of the first actuating device; at least one shaft rotatable in said support around a second axis parallel to said first axis; an element-shaping counter-tool of revolution, adjacent said tool and secured on said shaft and adapted to cooperate with said element shaping tool to profile and wind said element; transmission means between said second actuating device and said shaft for rotating said counter-tool about said second axis; supply means for said element, said supply means being rotatively associated with said support and adapted to supply said element into said first radial end through said passageway to and through said second radial end; first guiding means associated with said second radial end and adapted to receive said element emerging from said passageway and to direct said element in a direction substantially at right angles to said first axis between said element-shaping tool and counter-tool, whereby said element is profiled and wound; second guiding means after said element shaping tool to convert said wound element into a helicoid; at least one of said actuating devices having a variable speed and comprising a speed control means whereby said variable speed is so regulated that the speed of rotation of said helicoid issuing from the machine is nil.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, in which said support and the shaft of said element-shaping countertool rotate about said first and second axes in the same general angular direction, said second axis further rotating about said first axis, and in which said element-shaping tool rotates about said first axis in an angular direction opposite said general angular direction.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said variable speed actuating device is an electric motor, and said speed control means comprise a rheostat connected in series in the supply circuit of said motor.

4. A machine for helically winding an elongated element made of a resilient material that has a certain degree of stiffness, said machine comprising in combination: a base, a frame fixed to said base and provided with a cavity of revolution about a longitudinal axis, a rotary support rotarily mounted about said axis in said cavity, means for longitudinally retaining said support in said cavity, a first shaft rotarily mounted in said support from which it protrudes at least at one of its ends and the axis of which coincides with said longitudinal axis, an element shaping tool of revolution fixed on said end of said first shaft outside said support, at least one secondary shaft rotarily mounted in said support on an axis parallel to and radially spaced a predetermined distance from said longitudinal axis, an element-shaping counter-tool of revolution fixed to said secondary shaft outside said rotary support adjacent to and facing said element shaping tool, a hollow passageway extending from one end face of said support to its other end face; supply means adapted to supply said element through said passageway, a first guiding device for continuously guiding said element to said shaping tool and counter-tool whereby said element is profiled and wound, second guiding means to convert said wound element into a helicoid, two driving devices for respectively rotating said first shaft and said support, transmission means between said first shaft and said secondary shaft, said driving devices having speeds which are opposite in direction, one at least of said driving devices being a variable speed device, and at least one speed control means connected with said variable speed driving device for adjusting the speed of said variable speed device in such a manner that said helicoid delivered by the machine does not rotate.

5. A machine for helically winding an elongated element made of a resilient material that has a certain degree of stiffness, said machine comprising in combination: a base, a frame fixed to said base and provided with a cavity of revolution about a longitudinal axis, a rotarysupport rotarily mounted about said axis in said cavity, said support having at least one opening that forms a guideway directed at right angles to said longitudinal axis, means for longitudinally retaining said support in said cavity, a first shaft rotarily mounted in said support from which it protrudes at least at one of its ends and the axis of which coincides with said longitudinal axis, an element shaping tool of revolution fixed on said end of said first shaft outside said support, a bearing adapted to move in said guideway, means for adjusting the position of said bearing'in said guideway, relatively to said axis, a secondary shaft rotarily mounted in said bearing, an element-shaping counter-tool of revolu tion fixed on said secondary shaft outside said rotary support adjacent to and facing said element shaping tool, a hollow passageway extending from one end face of said support to its other end face, supply means adapted to supply said element through said passageway, first guiding means for continuously supplying said element to said element shaping tool and counter-tool, whereby said element is profiled and wound, second guiding means located after said element shaping tool to convert said wound element into a helicoid, two driving devices for respectively rotating said first shaft and said support in opposite directions, transmission means between said first shaft and said secondary shaft supporting the counter-tool, one at least of said driving devices being a variable speed device, and at least one control means connected with said variable speed driving devices for adusting the speed of said variable speed devices in such a manner that said helicoid delivered by the machine does not rotate.

6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein said means for adjusting the position of said bearing in said guideway of said rotary support comprises at least one screw journalled in one of the two members formed by the hearing and the support, said screw being adapted to screw into a tapped hole of the other of said members.

7. A machine according to claim 5, wherein the driving device for rotating the counter-tool comprises a gear train connecting the secondary shaft to which said counter-tool is fixed to the shaft to which said element shaping tool is fixed, said gear train being housed in a recess of said rotary support.

8. A machine according to claim 5, wherein the rotary shaft to which the element-shaping tool is fixed protrudes from said rotary support at both its ends, one of said ends carrying said element-shaping tool and the other end being directly connected to the corresponding driving device whereas a gear train is arranged between said rotary support and its own drivin device.

9. A machine according to claim 8, wherein the respective driving devices for said rotary support and for said shaft to which the element shaping tool is fixed comprise two electric motors, at least one of which is a variable speed motor which is combined with an adjusting rheostat connected in series in its e ectric supply circuit.

10. A machine for helically winding an elongated element made of a resilient material that has a certain degree of stiffness, said machine comprising in combination: a base, a frame fixed to said base and provided with a cavity of revolution about a longitudinal axis, a rotary support rotarily mounted about said longitudinal axis in said cavity, means for longitudinally retaining said support in said cavity, a first shaft rotarily mounted in said support from which it protrudes at least at one of its ends and the axis of which coincides with said longitudinal axis of said cavity, an element-shaping tool of revolution fixed on said protruding end of said first shaft outside said support at least one other shaft rotarily mounted in said support on an axis parallel to and radially spaced a predetermined distance from said longitudinal axis, a counter-tool of revolution fixed to said other shaft beyond one of the end faces of said rotary support and opposite said element shaping tool, two driving devices for respectively rotating said tool-supporting shaft and said support, transmission means between said first shaft and said other shaft supporting the counter-tool, said driving devices having speeds which are opposite in direc' tion, one at least of said driving devices being a variable speed device, at least one means for adjusting the speed of said variable speed device in such a manner that the article delivered by the machine does not rotate a hollow passageway in said support and extending from one end face thereof to the other end face thereof, a supply device for continuously supplying said elongated element to be helically wound to and through said passageway and to said tool and said counter-tool, said feed device being located beyond the other end face of said rotary support, first guide means on said support for guiding said element towards said element shaping tool and counter-tool whereby said element is profiled and wound, and second guide means after said shaping tool to convert said wound element into a helicoid which constitutes said article delivered by the said machine.

11. A machine according to claim 10, wherein said hollow passageway consists of a guide groove on the outer surface of said support, said first guide means being constituted by a substantially radially directed guide fixed to the end face of said support located towards said ele ment shaping tool and counter-tool.

12. A machine according to claim 11 further comprising guide rollers mounted loose in cavities provided in the bottom of said guide groove in such a manner as to project into said groove.

13. A machine according to claim 10, wherein said supply device is rotated at the same speed as said rotary support so as to prevent said element twisting.

14. A machine according to claim 13, wherein said supply device comprises two bearings fixed to said base, the axis of said bearings being parallel to said longitudinal axis, a frame provided with two journals rotarily mounted in said bearings, the journal turned towards said rotary support being longitudinally bored from end to end for the passage of the element supplied, a spool on which said element is wound, said spool being rotarily mounted on said frame along an axis at right angles to the axis of said bearings, a variable speed motor for driving said frame, and means for adjusting the speed of said motor in such a manner that said frame rotates in synchronism with said rotary support.

15. A machine according to claim 14, wherein between said supply device and said rotary support is located a variable speed electric motor combined with an adjusting rheostat, the rotor of said motor being rotarily connected to said element shaping tool supporting shaft, whereas its casing and its stator are fixed to the rotary support, the element supplied passing through said casing and said stator into said hollow passageway.

16. A machine according to claim 10, wherein said supply device is directly attached to said rotary support.

17. A machine according to claim 16, wherein said other end face of said rotary support is fork shaped and said support is provided with a lateral cavity inside said frame, said machine further comprising a spool for continuously supplying the element to be worked, said spool being rotarily mounted on said fork shaped end of said support about an axis at right angles to said longitudinal ax1s, an electric motor housed in said cavity of said support, the casing and the stator of said motor being fixed to said support whereas its rotor is keyed on said toolsupporting shaft and means for supplying current to said motor, said means comprising two cooperating pairs of members constituted the one by two rings and the other by two brushes, one of these pairs of members being carried by said frame fixed to the base and the other pair by the casing of said motor.

18. A machine according to claim 9, in which said driving devices comprise a first and a second driving device attached to said frame on the side thereof opposite to the tool and respectively driving said support and said tool-supporting shaft, at least one of said first and second driving devices being a variable speed device, a speed controller connected with said variable speed device, said transmission means consisting of a gear-train housed in said support and connecting said tool-supporting shaft with said other shaft for said counter-tool, and in which said feed device comprises a spool of said element, unwinding from its center outwards, said spool being attached to said support at a point located between the driving device rotating said support and the end face 10 ofdthe support llaeyond whicdh said element shaping tool References Cited in the file of this patent an counter-too are ocate 19. A machine according to claim 18, wherein said UNITED STATES PATENTS first and Second driving devices comprise two electric 724,571 Greenfield Apr. 7, 1903 motors with stationary casings, at least one of them 8 796,378 Waterman Aug. 1, 1905 being a variable speed motor and being combined with 1,004,644 Gilson Oct. 3, 1911 an adjusting rheostat. 1,617,583 Fentress Feb. 15, 1927 2,406,943 Carter Sept. 3, 1946

Images