[0001] This invention concerns improvements in and relating to stranding machines and more
especially to such a machine for production of cable which is of complex section and/or
large dimension at higher speed than has hitherto been possible.
[0002] In the manufacture of stranded cables or wire ropes, two systems can be used: the
"monotorsion" and the "double twist". In the first system, the elements of the cable
or rope can be fed from separate supply bobbins to a stranding head at which they
are laid up to form the cable or rope, a twist or "lay" being imparted to the cable
or rope by the rotation of an appropriate haul-off device. The fact that the cable
leaving the haul-off device is rotating about its longitudinal axis requires that
the final storage bobbin or reel upon which the cable or rope is to be wound must
be rotated at the same speed. This system has the advantage that a perfectly formed
cable can be produced. It has the corresponding disadvantage, however, that owing
to the mass of the components that must be rotated at the same speed of rotation as
the cable or rope, the stresses generated by centrifugal force correspondingly limit
the maximum speed at which the cable or rope itself can be rotated, thus limiting
the production speed of the complete installation.
[0003] In the second system, the so-called "double-twist" stranding machine, the path of
the cable is led along a rotary flyer carrying the cable to a winding bobbin which
is inside the envelope of the rotating flyer. This bobbin is rotated only about its
own axis for winding, but is otherwise stationary and thus does not cause the above
mentioned stresses and limitations due to the rotating masses. However, such double-twist
stranding machine is not applicable to the production of cables of high quality and/or
of complex section, because the second twist disorders the sectional shape of the
cable that has been formed in the first.
[0004] There is also known, see DE-A-2118967, a method and apparatus for the production
of a stranded element having the features of the precharacterising clause of Claim
1 or 2.
[0005] Such a known arrangement, however, is primarily intended for the production of relatively
fine thread or wire, and would not be applicable to the production of cable of complex
section or large dimension, of the kind initially referred to. Moreover, to the knowledge
of the present applicants, no machine having the features of the prior document referred
to has been put into successful commercial production, and thus the features of such
a machine are not well known in the art.
[0006] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved stranding
machine that is particularly applicable to the production of cable or wire rope of
complex section or large dimension at higher speed than has hitherto been possible
in practice. It is also an object of the invention to provide for an improvement in
the quality of the lay of such cable or wire rope.
[0007] In accordance with the invention these objects are achieved by the characterising
features of Claim 1 and Claim 2. Further preferred features and advantages of the
invention will become apparent from the subordinate claims taken in conjunction with
the following description and drawings.
[0008] The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which;
Fig.1 is a diagrammatic elevation of part of a cable stranding installation incorporating
a device in accordance with the invention,
Fig.2 is an elevation shown partly in section of the double-twist section of Fig.1,
Fig.3 is a view similar to Fig.1 illustrating the drive transmission to the various
stages of the device.
Fig.4 is a sectional view of a detail of Fig.2,
Fig.5 is a section on the line V-V of Fig.4, and
Fig.6 is an elevation in diagrammatic form of the rotating which it is led to the
bobbin or reel.
[0009] The invention further provides an apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention,
comprising a flyer arranged to rotate around about a predetermined axis, guide means
extending within said flyer and arranged to guide an elongate element along a path
therein and means for driving said guide means to rotate relatively to the flyer in
order to cause corresponding rotation of said element.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention the arrangement is such that said element
is transported via said flyer from an axial path externally of said flyer and about
which it is arranged to rotate, to a bobbin or reel located within said flyer, along
a path extending therein through an angle of 180°, the said guide means and the flyer
being arranged to rotate at such relative speeds that the rotation of the element
is cancelled at the point at which it is led from the flyer to the bobbin.
[0011] The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which;
Fig.1 is a diagrammatic elevation of part of a cable stranding installation incorporating
a device in accordance with the invention,
Fig.2 is a elevation shown partly in section of the double-twist section of Fig.1,
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig.1 illustrating the drive transmission to the various
stages of the device.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a detail of Fig.2,
Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V of Fig 4, and
Fig. 6 is an elevation in diagrammatic form of the rotating haul-off section of Fig.
1.
[0012] Referring to Fig.1 of the drawings, a stranding installation, for example for the
laying up of wire rope comprises a rotating haul-off device indicated generally at
1, which comprises, in known manner, a pair of driven capstans 2 and 3, which draw
the finished rope from a stranding head at the left hand end of the drawing and discharge
the rope along an axial path 4 in the direction of the arrow 5 towards a take-up device
indicated generally at 6. As will be well understood by one skilled in the art the
haul-off device 1 is driven to rotate about the axis of the path 4 at a rotary speed
to which the linear speed of the finished rope must be related in such a manner as
to introduce into the rope the desired length of lay.
[0013] The device 6 incorporates a storage bobbin or reel indicated diagrammatically at
7 which is arranged to rotate about its own axis 8 as required to take up the finished
rope, but is otherwise stationary.
[0014] The finished rope passes from its axial path 4, along which it leaves the rotating
haul-off device 1, to the reel 7 along a path indicated diagrammatically at 9, proceeding
in the direction indicated by the arrow heads 10.
[0015] The rope passes through a flyer indicated diagrammatically at 11 in Fig.1, held by
supports 23 and 24 arranged to rotate in mountings indicated at 12 in Fig.1. Considering
the path 9 of the rope it will be seen that as the rope passes through the flyer 11
it is diverted from its linear path 4 at the point 9A, passes through the flyer along
a part 9B of the path 9 radially spaced from the rotational axis of the flyer 11 and
is then turned through 180° in a region 9C before exiting from the flyer 11 at a point
9D.
[0016] At this point all of the rotation of the rope caused by the haul-off device 1 is
effectively cancelled. From that point on there is no rotation of the rope about its
own axis as the rope is fed onto the take-up bobbin or reel 7. The rope can now be
fed from the point 9D along a fixed path to a point 9E from which the rope can be
layered onto the take-up bobbin or reel 7 in a conventional manner. Although the reel
7 and the path of the rope thereto is shown only diagrammatically in Fig.1, it will
be appreciated that the bobbin 7 and an associated means for guiding and layering
the rope onto the bobbin or reel can be supported by appropriate means 11 in such
a manner that the flyer 11 can rotate around the bobbin or reel 7 whilst the latter
and the associated guide means remain stationary.
[0017] Referring now to Fig.2, the flyer 11 and the associated means for guiding the rope
will be described in more detail. The flyer 11 is of the so-called "bow" type. That
is to say that the portion of the flyer carrying the rope is formed as a flexible
strap or bow 20, ends 21 and 22 of which are anchored to hubs 23 and 24 that are mounted
for rotation in bearings 26 of the mountings 12. The bow 20 carries on its internal
surface a series of ball races 27 within which are mounted tubes 28 for supporting
guide rollers 29 for receiving the rope. The tubes 28 and the guide rollers 29 may
be free to rotate with the rope, or may be driven by means not shown to rotate at
the same speed as the rope. The bow 20 is counterbalanced by a matching bow 30 carrying
balancing weights 31 having a mass corresponding to that of the elements 27, 28, 29
of the bow 20.
[0018] The hub 23 at the left hand end of the flyer in Fig. 2 carries a first guide means
32 for the rope in the form of a shaft the left hand end 33 of which is mounted coaxially
within the hub 23 and the right hand end 34 of which is linked to the hub 23 at a
point adjacent the bow 20 in such a manner as to allow rotation of the shaft about
its own axis. The first guide means 32 is articulated by means of universal joints
in such a manner that the whole first guide means can be driven for rotation from
its left hand end, in order to transmit corresponding rotation to the rope sliding
within the shaft via rollers 35 carried in the segments of the first guide means.
[0019] The right hand hub 24 of the flyer 11 likewise carries second guides means in the
form of a hollow shaft that is articulated in a similar manner to the first guide
means 32 and which also has a series of rollers. The second guide means 36, like the
first guide means 32, is mounted in the hub 24 so that it can rotate relatively thereto
about its own axis, but its extremity 37 is nevertheless fixed to the stationary support
of the take up bobbin 7 and cannot rotate. The rope passes from the first guide means
36 to the take up bobbin along the path shown in Fig 1.
[0020] Referring now to Fig.3, the drive to the various elements of the device includes
a main drive motor 40 which is arranged to drive the haul-off device 1, the first
guide means 32 and the hubs 23 and 24 of the flyer 6 from a common shaft via gear
trains 41, 42 and 43 respectively, the ratio of the trains 42 and 43 being one half
of that of the train 41 so that the flyer 6 is rotated at the appropriate speed. A
motor 45 drives the capstans 2 and 3 in known manner. Motors 46 and 47 of a common
take-up unit, not illustrated in detail and held stationary on bearings coaxial with
the bearings of the flyer 6 by means of a counterweight, serve to rotate the bobbin
7 and to drive a traverse for layering the cable on to the bobbin.
[0021] In fig. 4. three separate elements of the articulated guide means are shown, in a
sectional view on a plane containing aforesaid guide means axis. The expert will appreciate
that they are shaped in a way so that they can be connected by consecutive cardan
universal joints, as at 48 and 49. Each element internally contains sets of rollers
50 and 51, having axes lying in planes orthogonal to the axis of the respective element.
As shown in Fig. 5. the sets of rollers are composed of couples, with the axes of
consecutive sets alternately rotated through 90 with respect to one another so as
to offer to the cable a continued support during rotation of the articulated shaft.
[0022] In Fig.6. is shown furthermore how the tendency of the cable to leavet the haul-off
capstan, due to the centrifugal force, can be prevented. A set of rollers or a pre-tensioned
continous belt 52 press the cable against the capstan; sets of rollers 53, 54 prevent
the cable moving away from the right path.
[0023] Whilst one embodiment of the invention has been described in detail above, it will
be appreciated that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from
the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
[0024] Thus although in the above arrangement the relative speeds of the flyer 11 and the
first guide means 32 are such that there is substantially no twist imparted to the
finished rope, these relative speeds could be so related as to allow a slight twist
to be imparted to the rope as it passes through the cradel, for the purpose of tightening
the lay of the cable before it is wound onto the bobbin 7.
[0025] Also, although three separate means 32, 28, and 36, are described for guiding the
rotating rope through the cradel 11, it would in principle, be possible to use only
a single guide means. For example either the first guide means 32 could be extended
over the full axial length of the cradle to point 37 and fixed at that extremity with
respect to the bobbin or the second guide means 36 could be extended to point 33 and,
at that point, be left free to rotate.
[0026] Furthermore the advantage of avoiding or reducing twist on an element passing through
a rotating cradle or bow can be obtained with machines of other types than that described.
For example in the case of a so called "skip strander" the same principle can be used
top prevent twisting of an element fed rom a supply bobbin and through a rotating
bow, in order to improve "detorsion" of the strand as required in these machines.
Also the use of any or all of the means 32, 28 and 36 on the bow of a normal double
twist stranded will greatly improve the quality of the cable produced, even if reducing
its productivity.
1. A method for the production of a stranded element such as a cable or wire rope wherein
stranded cable is fed through a driven member coaxial with an axial end of a rotating
flyer (11), is guided around the periphery of the flyer and is turned within the flyer
through 180° relatively to the axis (4) of the latter, passing through an elongate
flexible guide means (36) of which one end is fixed relatively to a stationary axis
of a take up reel (7) within the flyer and the other end is guided within the periphery
of the flyer so that it is driven to undergo a planetary motion with the stranded
element guided thereby, characterised in that the stranded element is laid up and
is driven to rotate by means located externally of said driven member, that said driven
member also comprises an elongate flexible guide means (32) extending from said axial
end of the flyer (11) to the periphery thereof and guided in said periphery for planetary
motion relatively to the axis (4) of the flyer, and that the said driven member and
the said flyer are driven at such relative speeds that a slight twist is imparted
to the stranded element during its passage from said driven member to the elongate
guide means (36) associated with the take up reel (7) in order to tighten the lay
of the stranded element.
2. A stranding apparatus comprising a flyer (11) arranged to rotate about a predetermined
axis (4), a first guide means (32) coaxial with one end of the flyer (11) and through
which a stranded element can be guided to a periphery (20) of the flyer (11), means
for driving said first guide means (32) and said flyer (11) to rotate relatively to
one another, a second guide means (36) comprising an elongate flexible guide member
of which one end is held stationary within the flyer adjacent a take up means (7)
for the stranded element and the other end is guided within the periphery of the flyer
so that it is driven to undergo planetary motion relatively thereto, the arrangement
being such that a stranded element can be guided within the flyer (11) to said take
up means (7) by said first and second guide means (32,36) whilst passing through 180°
relatively to the axis of the flyer (11), characterised in that said first guide means
(32) is arranged to receive a stranded element laid up and driven to rotate externally
of the flyer (11), that said first guide means (32) comprises a flexible elongate
member extending from said axial end of the flyer to the periphery (20) thereof and
guided in said periphery for planetary motion relatively to the axis of the flyer
(11) and that the said first guide means (32) and said flyer (11) are arranged to
be driven at such relative speeds that, in use, a slight twist is imparted to the
stranded element during its passage from said first guide means (32) to said second
guide means (36) in order to tighten the lay of the stranded element.
3. An apparatus according to Claim 2, characterised in that one or both of said guide
means (32,36) comprises a universally jointed articulated guide member having a plurality
of linked sections (48,49) each of which is mounted for rotation about an axis and
which comprises opposed guide rollers (50,51) for engaging said stranded element in
order to centre the axis of the latter upon the axis of rotation of the respective
section of said guide means.
4. An apparatus according to Claim 3, characterised in that each said section (48,49)
comprises two adjacent pairs of guide rollers (50,51) of which the roller axes are
located in planes orthogonal to the rotary axis of said section and are relatively
displaced by 90° with respect to one another.
5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4, characterised in that there is arranged
externally of said flyer (11) a rotating means (1) comprising a haul-off device for
drawing a rotating wire rope from a stranding head, and that said take up means (7)
is a take up reel onto which the wire rope is to be layered.
1. Verfahren zur Herstellung eines verseilten Elements wie beispielsweise eines Kabels
oder eines Drahtseils, wobei das verseilte Element durch ein angetriebenes Bauteil
hindurchgeführt wird, welches koaxial zu einem axialen Ende eines rotierenden Flyers
(11) angeordnet ist, um den Umfang des Flyers herumgeführt und innerhalb des Flyers
um 180° relativ zu dessen Achse (4) umgekehrt wird sowie sich durch eine langgestreckte
flexible Führungsanordnung (36) hindurch erstreckt, deren eines Ende relativ zu einer
stationären Achse einer Aufnahmehaspel (7) innerhalb des Flyers befestigt ist und
deren anderes Ende innerhalb des Umfangs des Flyers geführt ist, so daß die Führungsanordnung
zu einer Planetenbewegung mit dem von der Führungsanordnung geführten verseilten Element
angetrieben wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das verseilte Element von einer außerhalb
des angetriebenen Bauteils angeordneten Anordnung verseilt und zu einer Drehung angetrieben
wird, das angetriebene Bauteil eine langgestreckte flexible Führungsanordnung (32)
aufweist, welche sich von dem axialen Ende des Flyers (11) zu dessen Umfang hin erstreckt
und in diesem Umfang für eine Planetenbewegung relativ zu der Achse (4) des Flyers
angetrieben wird, und das angetriebene Bauteil und der Flyer mit unterschiedlichen
Drehzahlen angetrieben werden, so daß dem verseilten Element während seines Durchlaufens
von dem angetriebenen Bauteil zu der langgestreckten Führungsanordnung (36), die der
Aufnahmehaspel (7) zugeordnet ist, um den Schlag des verseilten Elements zu straffen,
ein leichter Drall verliehen wird.
2. Verseilungsvorrichtung mit einem zur Rotation um eine vorbestimmte Achse (4) angeordneten
Flyer (11), einer ersten Führungsanordnung (32), die koaxial zu einem Ende des Flyers
(11) ist und durch welche hindurch ein verseiltes Element zu einem Umfang (20) des
Flyers (11) geführt werden kann, einer Antriebsanordnung für die erste Führungsanordnung
(32) und den Flyer (11), so daß sie relativ zueinander rotieren, sowie einer zweiten
Führungsanordnung (36), die ein langgestrecktes flexibles Führungsglied aufweist,
dessen eines Ende stationär innerhalb des Flyers benachbart einer Aufnahmeanordnung
(7) für das verseilte Element gehalten ist und dessen anderes Ende innerhalb des Umfangs
des Flyers geführt ist, so daß es zu einer Planetenbewegung relativ zu dem Flyer angetrieben
ist, wobei die Anordnung so getroffen ist, daß das verseilte Element innerhalb des
Flyers (11) mittels der ersten und der zweiten Führungsanordnung (32, 36) zu der Aufnahmeanordnung
(7) geführt werden kann, während es unter einem Winkel von 180° relativ zu der Achse
des Flyers (11) geführt ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die erste Führungsanordnung
(32) angeordnet ist, um ein verseiltes Element aufzunehmen, welches verseilt und angetrieben
ist, um außerhalb des Flyers (11) zu rotieren, die erste Führungsanordnung (32) ein
flexibles langgestrecktes Glied aufweist, welches sich von dem axialen Ende des Flyers
zu dessen Umfang (20) erstreckt und in dem Umfang für eine Planetenbewegung relativ
zu der Achse des Flyers geführt ist, und die erste Führungsanordnung (32) und der
Flyer (11) angeordnet sind, um so mit relativ unterschiedlichen Drehzahlen angetrieben
zu werden, daß dem verseilten Element beim Betrieb während seines Durchlaufens von
der ersten Führungsanordnung (32) zu der zweiten Führungsanordnung (36) ein leichter
Drall verliehen wird, um den Schlag des verseilten Elements zu straffen.
3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine oder beide der Führungsanordnungen
(32, 36) ein über eine Universalgelenkanordnung angelenktes Führungsglied mit einer
Mehrzahl von gelenkig verbundenen Abschnitten (48, 49) aufweist (aufweisen), die jeweils
für eine Rotation um eine Achse montiert sind und einander gegenüberliegende Führungsrollen
(50, 51) für den Eingriff mit dem verseilten Element aufweisen, um dessen Achse auf
die Rotationsachse des entsprechenden Abschnitts der Führungsanordnung zu zentrieren.
4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jeder Abschnitt (48, 49)
zwei benachbarte Paare von Führungsrollen (50, 51) aufweist, deren Achsen in Ebenen
senkrecht zu der Rotationsachse des Abschnitts liegen und um 90° relativ zueinander
verlagert sind.
5. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine Rotationsanordnung
(1) außerhalb des Flyers (11) angeordnet ist, die eine Abzugsvorrichtung zum Abziehen
eines rotierenden Drahtseils von einem Verseilkopf (?) aufweist, sowie die Aufnahmeanordnung
(7) eine Aufnahmehaspel ist, auf welche das Drahtseil aufzuwickeln ist.
1. Procédé pour produire un élément toronné tel qu'un câble ou un cordage de câbles métalliques,
dans lequel un câble toronné est amené à travers un élément entraîné, coaxial à une
extrémité axiale d'une ailette rotative (11), est guidé autour de la périphérie de
l'ailette, et est retourné à l'intérieur de l'ailette de 180° par rapport à l'axe
(4) de cette dernière en passant à travers un moyen de guidage flexible allongé (32)
dont une extrémité est fixe par rapport à un axe stationnaire d'une bobine réceptrice
(7) à l'intérieur de l'ailette et dont l'autre extrémité est guidée à l'intérieur
de la périphérie de l'ailette de manière à être entraînée en un mouvement planétaire
avec l'élément toronné ainsi guidé, caractérisé en ce que l'élément toronné est mis
en réserve et entraîné en rotation par des moyens disposés à l'extérieur dudit élément
entraîné, en ce que ledit élément entraîné comprend aussi un moyen de guidage flexible
allongé (32) s'étendant depuis ladite extrémité axiale de l'ailette (11) jusqu'à la
périphérie de celle-ci et guidé dans ladite périphérie de manière à subir un mouvement
planétaire par rapport à l'axe (4) de l'ailette, et en ce que ledit élément toronné
et ladite ailette sont entraînés à des vitesses relatives telles qu'une légère torsion
est impartie à l'élément toronné pendant son passage dudit élément entraîné au moyen
de guidage allongé (36) associé à la bobine de reprise (7) afin de raidir le tors
de l'élément toronné.
2. Appareil de toronnage comprenant une ailette (11) agencée pour tourner autour d'un
axe prédéterminé (4), un premier moyen de guidage (32) coaxial à une extrémité de
l'ailette (11) et à travers lequel un élément toronné peut être guidé jusqu'à une
périphérie (20) de l'ailette (11), des moyens pour entraîner ledit premier moyen de
guidage (32) et ladite ailette (11) en rotation l'un par rapport à l'autre, un deuxième
moyen de guidage (36) comprenant un élément de guidage flexible allongé dont une extrémité
est maintenue stationnaire à l'intérieur de l'ailette adjacente à un moyen de réception
(7) et dont l'autre extrémité est guidée à l'intérieur de la périphérie de l'ailette
de manière à être amenée à entreprendre un mouvement planétaire par rapport à elle,
l'agencement étant tel qu'un élément toronné peut être guidé à l'intérieur de l'ailette
(11) jusqu'audit moyen de réception (7) par lesdits premier et deuxième moyens de
guidage (32, 36) tout en se retournant de 180° par rapport à l'axe de l'ailette (11),
caractérisé en ce que ledit premier moyen de guidage (32) est agencé pour recevoir
un élément toronné mis en réserve et entraîné de manière à tourner à l'extérieur de
l'ailette (11), en ce que ledit premier moyen de guidage (32) comprend un élément
allongé flexible s'étendant depuis ladite extrémité axiale de l'ailette jusqu'à la
périphérie (20) de celle-ci et guidé dans ladite périphérie pour entreprendre un mouvement
planétaire par rapport à l'axe de l'ailette (11), et en ce que ledit premier moyen
de guidage (32) et ladite ailette (11) sont agencés pour être entraînés à des vitesses
relatives telles que, en fonctionnement, une légère torsion est impartie à l'élément
toronné pendant son passage depuis ledit premier moyen de guidage (32) jusqu'au deuxième
moyen de guidage (36) afin de raidir le tors de l'élément toronné.
3. Appareil selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce qu'un moyen de guidage (32, 36)
ou les deux comprend un élément de guidage articulé à joints universels ayant une
multiplicité de sections reliées entre elles (48, 49), dont chacune est montée pour
tourner autour d'un axe et comprend des galets de guidage opposés (50, 51) pour coopérer
avec ledit élément toronné afin de centrer l'axe de ce dernier sur l'axe de rotation
de la section respective dudit moyen de guidage.
4. Appareil selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites sections
(48, 49) comprend deux paires de galets (50, 51) adjacentes dont les axes de galets
sont situés dans des plans perpendiculaires à l'axe de rotation de ladite section
et sont décalés de 90° l'un par rapport à l'autre.
5. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce qu'un
moyen rotatif (1) est disposé à l'extérieur de ladite ailette (11) et comprend un
dispositif d'extraction pour tirer un cordage de câbles métalliques tournant d'une
tête de toronnage et en ce que ledit moyen de réception (7) est une bobine de réception
sur laquelle le cordage de câbles métalliques doit être enroulé en couches.