US3585792A

US3585792A - Method and machine for manufacturing cables

Info

Publication number: US3585792A
Application number: US796737A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilhelm Hofrichter
Original assignee: E Vornbaumen and Co
Current assignee: E Vornbaumen and Co
Priority date: 1968-02-14
Filing date: 1969-02-05
Publication date: 1971-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-22
Also published as: DE1685857A1; BE727759A; AT289601B; FR2001855A1; GB1213932A; CH490566A

Abstract

A method of and high speed machine for stranding to form ropes from filaments by feeding filaments from storage spools to a rotary stranding head. Rope issues from the machine in the opposite direction by employing deflector devices associated with guide carriers. The stranding head is rotated in the same direction but at about twice the speed as the guide carriers.

Description

United States Patent inventor Wilhelm lloirichier Bramsche near Osnabruck, Germany Appl. No. 796,737 Filed Feb. 5, 1969 Patented June 22, 197i Assignee E. Vornbaumen 8: Co.

lburg T.W. near Osnabruck, Germany Priority Feb. 14, 1968 Germany METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING CABLES 7 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

11.8. CI 57/5852, 57/59, 57/156 lnt.Ci D01h 1/10, D01h 7/86 [50] Field of Search 57/5849, 58.52,58.54,58.55,59.60, 34

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,921,429 1/ 1969 Haugwitz 57/5852 3,425,203 2/ 1969 Schillepeeckx 57/5855 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,360,663 3/1969 France 5852/ Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney-Arthur O. Klein ABSTRACT: A method of and high speed machine for stranding to form ropes from filaments by feeding filaments from storage spools to a rotary stranding head. Rope issues from the machine in the opposite direction by employing deflector devices associated with guide carriers. The stranding head is rotated in the same direction but at about twice the speed as the guide carriers.

NSQ

PATENTEU JUN22 1971 lnveniar: I WiHnelm HOFRICHTER 6} MM (9 m 141'! Afforney BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method of and high speed machine for stranding to form ropes, cores of cables, or the like, more specifically from wires or strands or threads in the form of filaments.

In a method according to an earlier proposal the filaments are individually guided from the storage spools, with a change of direction to the direction opposite to that in which they are drawn off, to a stranding head, in which they are stranded. The separate guiding of the filaments from the storage spools to the stranding head provides the advantage that during their travel from the spools to the stranding head the filaments are subjected only to the deformations resulting from changes of direction and the stresses resulting therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In contrast thereto the method according to the invention comprises the steps of feeding the filaments from the storage spools towards a uniting point, and continuously stranding the filaments into a stranded material, and deflecting the stranded material in a direction opposite to the feeding direction. This method is intended to further reduce the deformations and forces acting on the filaments on their path to the stranding point, in order to obtain double lay stranding of a high quality. This method may be applied not only to the stranding of materials having relatively low strength and elasticity'values, but also to materials having relatively high values of this type.

The high speed stranding machine according to the invention comprises a substantially stationary spool carrier disposed between two guide carriers, first drive means to rotate the guide carriers synchronously about a common machine axis, a pair of deflector devices being associated with each of the guide carriers, the deflector devices being disposed in a com-. mon plane passing through the machine axis, a stranding device axially disposed within the spool carrier, guide means for guiding the filaments from the spools to the stranding head of the stranding device, second drive means for rotating the stranding head in the same direction as the guide carriers at about twice the speed, the deflector devices being so arranged that, in use, stranded material is fed out by the machine in a direction opposite to the direction in which the filaments are fed from the spools to the stranding head. The stranding head preferably comprises a stranding nipple forming the stranding point and a roller system for guiding the stranded product in its path on leaving the nipple. Advantageously, a guide roller is associated with some of the storage spools and is so disposed in relation to the guide means that, when the machine is operative, each filament running ofi from the spools runs into the guide member at an acute angle to the common axis. The guide member may comprise a perforated and axially displaceable disc, which is axially displaceable for the purpose of adjusting the stranding angle.

Preferably, each of the deflector devices comprise a deflector segment having a guide groove. The second drive means may comprise an infinitely variable transmission.

The high speed stranding machine according to the invention has an extremely short construction and in consequence of the small rotating masses is suitable for achieving high stranding outputs at high speeds of rotation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing,

which shows a side elevation view of a high speed stranding machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, the high speed stranding machine shown comprises a spool carrier la, which is inertially mounted between guide carriers 2a and 2b, constructed as spool carrier bearings, so as to be substantially stationary in relation to said guide carriers. The guide carriers 2a, 2b are mounted in bearing supports 3 and are provided with deflector segments 120. The deflector segments I20 are disposed in pairs following one another and which are secured to the guide carriers to rotate concentrically with the latter about the machine axis 5. Each of the deflector segments, which are aligned in a common plane through the machine axis, are provided with a groove or channel for guiding the stranded material along a path thereformed;

In the spool carrier 1a there are accommodated storage spools 6 which may selectively, be disposed one behind the other, side by side, and/or one above the other. The filaments 19, which are drawn off from the storage spools during the operation of the high speed stranding machine are in each case guided over a deflector roller 4, associated in each case with a storage spool 6. The filaments 19 are fed on to a perforated plate 121 which serves as a cable guide member and which is disposed within the spool carrier la so as to be stationary and axially displaceable along the main machine axis 5. With the aid of the deflector rollers 4 the filaments 19 run into the perforated-disc at an acute angle to the axis of the latter, whereby a tensional reaction oppositely to the drawoff direction is limited. An exception hereto is a heart wire, which is preferably introduced centrally into the perforated disc 121 from a heart wire spool 18. v

The perforated disc 121 is followedby a stranding head 7 comprising a bearing sleeve which is fastened on the spool carrier 1a and in which a stranding nipple 122 is mounted to be rotatable about the main machine axis 5. The filaments 19 run into the stranding nipple 122 which does not apply any pressing action to the material being stranded or to the stranded product being formed. Stranding in the stranding nipple 122 is accomplished since on leaving the stranding nipple I22 the product passes through a roller system 123 comprising at least three rollers, which effect a temporary deflection of the product out of the main machine axis 5. These rollers, which are mounted for free rotation, rotate concentrically about the main machine axis 5 and ensure that the stranded product receives a rotational speed synchronous to the stranding head 7. The stranded material, which is completely and accurately stranded, is subsequently deflected by means of the deflector segments back past the guide carriers 2a, 2b into a direction opposite to the direction in which the material is drawn off from the storage spools and on leaving the stranding machine. It is then fed to a detwisting device (not shown) when the material to be stranded is one of relatively great strength and elasticity. After leaving the detwisting device the stranded material passes to a receiving reel (likewise not shown).

The stranding head 7 is rotated in the same direction as the guide carriers 2a, 2b, its rotational speed being approximately twice as great as that of the guide carriers 2a, 2b. Whereas the guide carriers 2a, 2b are driven through a cogged belt 111 coupled to the main machine shaft (not further shown), the stranding head 7 is driven by the guide carriers 20, 2b through

gearing

124, 125, which hasa transmission ratio such that the stranding head 7 rotates in the same direction as that of the guide carriers 2a, 2b, but at twice the speed. Alternatively, infinitely variable transmission means (not shown) may replace the gearing in the drive to the stranding head 7 for regulating the speed of the stranding head 7 relative to the guide carriers 2a, 2b. Regulation of the relative speed ratio through an infinitely variable transmission affords control of the tension within the finished stranded product.

Since, firstly, the stranding head 7 is rotated in the same direction and at twice the speed as the guide carriers 20, 2b

and secondly, the travelling direction of the stranded product is reversed by means of the deflector segments 120, the finished stranded material is not rotated. At first the stranding material rotates at the same speed as the stranding head 7. However, when after leaving the latter, it travels to the bearing 3, (on the left in the drawing) where it leaves the machine without any rotary movement about its own longitudinal axis. The stranded material, which on leaving the machine runs into a detwisting device and is then fed to a receiving reel, has a particularly high quality of stranding, while the filaments in the strand have a ready tendency to close up.

"Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, I wish to have it understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A method of stranding filaments to form ropes, cores of cables or the like, which comprises the steps of a. feeding the filaments from storage spools towards ajunction,

b. twisting the filaments into a strand at said junction by rotating said filaments at a predetermined speed in a predetermined plane and axis, and

c. deflecting the formed strand in said plane and along said axis in a direction opposite to the feeding direction while rotating the deflected strand at a speed about one-half of the twisting speed of the original rotational speed.

2. A high speed stranding machine to form ropes, cores of cables, and the like, in accordance with the stranding method set forth in claim 1, comprising in combination,

a. a pair of guide carriers rotatably mounted in said machine, and adapted to rotate about said predetermined axis,

b. a spool carrier inertially supported by said pair of guide carriers and adapted to carry a plurality of spools of filaments,

c. a pair of deflector devices associated with each guide carrier and mounted in said predetermined plane,

d. a stranding device rotatably coaxially mounted in said spool carrier, e. a guide member inertially mounted in said spool carrier for feeding the filaments to the stranding device, and,

f. driving means operatively connected to said pair of guide carriers and said stranding device and adapted to rotate the latter at about twice the speed of the former.

3. A high speed stranding machine as defined in claim 2, comprising a stranding nipple forming the stranding point of the stranding device, and further comprising a roller system for guiding the stranded product in a predetermined path on leaving the nipple.

4. A high speed stranding machine as defined in claim 2, wherein a guide roller is juxtaposed to at least some of the storage spools so disposed in relation to the guide member that, when the machine is operative, each filament running off from the spool runs into the guide member at an acute angle to the common axis.

5. A high speed stranding machine as defined in claim 2, wherein the guide member is a perforated and axially displaceable disc.

6. A high speed stranding machine as defined in claim 2, wherein the second drive means includes an infinitely variable transmission.

7. A high speed stranding machine as defined in claim 2, wherein each of the deflector devices is a deflector segment having a guide groove.

Claims

1. A method of stranding filaments to form ropes, cores of cables or the like, which comprises the steps of a. feeding the filaments from storage spools towards a junction, b. twisting the filaments into a strand at said junction by rotating said filaments at a predetermined speed in a predetermined plane and axis, and c. deflecting the formed strand in said plane and along said axis in a direction opposite to the feeding direction while rotating the deflected strand at a speed about one-half of the twisting speed of the original rotational speed.

2. A high speed stranding machine to form ropes, cores of cables, and the like, in accordance with the stranding method set forth in claim 1, comprising in combination, a. a pair of guide carriers rotatably mounted in said machine, and adapted to rotate about said predetermined axis, b. a spool carrier inertially supported by said pair of guide carriers and adapted to carry a plurality of spools of filaments, c. a pair of deflector devices associated with each guide carrier and mounted in said predetermined plane, d. a stranding device rotatably coaxially mounted in said spool carrier, e. a guide member inertially mounted in said spool carrier for feeding the filaments to the stranding device, and, f. driving means operatively connected to said pair of guide carriers and said stranding device and adapted to rotate the latter at about twice the speed of the former.