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(11) | EP 0 837 828 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH AN ACCUMULATOR OF A CABLE OR THE LIKE VERFAHREN UND ANORDNUNG MIT EINER KABELAUFWICKELEINRICHTUNG ODER ÄHNLICHEM PROCEDE ET SYSTEME RELATIFS A UN ACCUMULATEUR POUR CABLE OU ANALOGUE |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] EP-A-0 090 504 describes a spooling machine for elongate material supplied at constant speed, wherein means are provided for automatically controlling the speed of a laying guide mechanism to maintain such speed in constant proportion to the winding spoal speed.
[0002] The invention relates to a method in connection with an accumulator of a cable or the like, the accumulator being used to adjust the tension of the cable or the like during spooling, whereupon the cable or the like is made to pass around a movable wheel, preferably a movable wheel with a balancing spring, and the movable wheel provides the desired tension in the cable or the like. The invention further relates to an arrangement in connection with an accumulator of a cable or the like.
[0003] This kind of accumulators are known at present especially in the cable industry, where the accumulator is used as a device that adjusts the cable tension to the desired level for example during spooling.
[0004] Known accumulators operate in such a way that the accumulator comprises a movable wheel, which provides the cable with the desired force or tension. The force is produced in the cable either by the mass of the movable wheel or by a separate actuator, which acts on the movable wheel. The actuator may be for example a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, electric motor, solenoid or some other corresponding apparatus. In apparatuses utilizing the mass, tension can be adjusted simply by changing the position of the weight attached to the movable wheel.
[0005] The movable wheel may also comprise an associated balance system provided by means of a spring. The balancing spring is used since the mass of the movable wheel causes a certain tension in the cable with its gravity, and since the tension caused by this mass may be greater than the desired minimum tension of the cable; it is thus necessary to reduce the mass of the movable wheel for example with a spring.
[0006] Previously known apparatuses have for example such a disadvantage, however, that the inertial masses of the movable wheel produce rather considerable additional tension peaks in the cable. This means that when the position of the movable wheel changes at a certain speed and acceleration, the total force which is caused by the inertial mass and which produces tension peaks in the cable also changes. Another drawback is that the spring force of the balancing spring changes as a function of the position of the movable wheel, so that the tension produced by the movable wheel in the cable varies together with the variation of the position of the movable wheel. Due to the above-described matters, it is difficult to maintain the tension exactly at the desired level with the previously known apparatuses.
[0007] The purpose of the invention is to provide a method and arrangement by means of which the prior art drawbacks can be eliminated. This is achieved with the invention. The method according to the invention discloses the steps of first measuring the acceleration and speed of the movable wheel, then determining the additional force resulting from the inertial mass of the movable wheel at the acceleration measured, and then adding the aforementioned additional force to the force applied by an actuator of the movable wheel on the movable wheel or subtracting the aforementioned additional force from the force applied by the actuator of the movable wheel on the movable wheel. The arrangement according to the invention is in turn characterized in that the arrangement comprises first means arranged to measure the acceleration and speed of the movable wheel, second means arranged to determine the additional force resulting from the inertial mass of the movable wheel at the acceleration measured, and third means arranged to add the aforementioned additional force to the force applied by an actuator of the movable wheel on the movable wheel or to subtract the aforementioned additional force from the force applied by the actuator of the movable wheel on the movable wheel. An alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized by first measuring the position of the movable wheel, then determining the spring force dependent on the spring constant of the spring balancing the movable wheel and on the position of the movable wheel, and adding the aforementioned additional force to the force applied by an actuator of the movable wheel on the movable wheel or subtracting the aforementioned additional force from the force applied by the actuator of the movable wheel on the movable wheel. An alternative embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention is in turn characterized in that the arrangement comprises first means arranged to measure the position of the movable wheel, second means arranged to determine the spring force dependent on the spring constant of the spring balancing the movable wheel and on the position of the movable wheel, and third means arranged to add the aforementioned additional force to the force applied by an actuator of the movable wheel on the movable wheel or to subtract the aforementioned additional force from the force applied by the actuator of the movable wheel on the movable wheel.
[0008] The primary advantage of the invention is that the additional force caused by the inertial mass of the accumulator can be compensated for when the accumulator is in the accelerating state. Thus the tension caused by the accumulator in the cable or the like is also constant regardless of the acceleration of the accumulator. Another advantage is that the variable force depending on the position and caused by the balancing spring of the accumulator can be compensated for. Therefore the tension produced by the accumulator in the cable or the like is constant regardless of the position of the accumulator and the balancing force of the spring. A further advantage of the invention is its simplicity with respect to the advantages it provides, which makes the invention inexpensive to implement.
[0009] The invention will be described below in greater detail by means of a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which the only figure illustrates the characterizing features of the arrangement according to the invention.
[0010] Reference numeral 1 in the figure generally denotes an accumulator of a spooler. Reference numeral 2 denotes a movable wheel around which a cable or the like 3 is applied. The movable wheel 2 provides the cable or the like 3 with a desired tension. In the example of the figure, the force producing the tension T in the cable or the like is provided with an actuator 4, which may be for example a pneumatic cylinder. The actuator 4 is arranged in the example of the figure to act on the movable wheel 2 in such a way that the wheel moves according to the arrows marked in the figure. The level of the tension produced by the actuator 4 in the cable can be adjusted by regulating the actuator by means of a valve element 5. The force producing the tension can also be provided by means of the mass of the movable wheel 2. Reference numeral 6 denotes a spring balancing the load of the movable wheel.
[0011] The structure and the operation of the accumulator constitute fully conventional technology to a person skilled in the art, wherefore they will not be described in greater detail in this connection. It is only stated that the cable or the like 3 is guided onto the movable wheel 2 by means of suitably positioned guide wheels, as shown in the figure.
[0012] According to an essential feature of the invention, the additional force, which may result from the inertial forces of the movable wheel 2 or from the position of the movable wheel 2 and the spring constant of the spring 6, is measured. The aforementioned additional force is taken into account when determining the force that is provided in the cable or the like 3 by means of the actuator 4.
[0013] The aforementioned essential feature can be implemented by first measuring the acceleration and speed of the movable wheel 2 and by then determining the additional force resulting from the inertial mass of the movable wheel 2 at the acceleration measured. The additional force is added to the force that the actuator 4 of the movable wheel 2 applies on the movable wheel or it is subtracted from the force the actuator 4 of the movable wheel 2 applies thereon, depending on whether the additional force is positive or negative in the situation.
[0014] The essential feature of the invention can also be implemented by first measuring the position of the movable wheel 2, then determining the spring force dependent on the spring constant of the spring 6 balancing the movable wheel 2 and on the position of the movable wheel 2. The aforementioned additional force is added to the force that the actuator 4 of the movable wheel 2 applies on the movable wheel or it is subtracted from the force the actuator 4 of the movable wheel 2 applies on the movable wheel, depending on whether the additional force is positive or negative in the situation.
[0015] It is clear that when the actuator 4 is compensated, it is naturally possible to use both the additional force based on taking into account the inertial forces and the additional force based on the spring constant of the balancing spring and on the position of the movable wheel, if the accumulator has such a construction that it comprises for example a balancing spring for the movable wheel, among others.
[0016] The acceleration and speed of the movable wheel 2 can be measured by means of first means 7. The first means 7 can also measure the position of the movable wheel 2. The arrangement also comprises second means 8 that are arranged to determine the additional force resulting from the inertial mass of the movable wheel 2 at the acceleration measured above. The second means 8 can also determine the additional force, i.e. spring force, dependent on the spring constant of the spring 6 balancing the movable wheel 2 and on the position of the movable wheel 2. The arrangement also comprises third means 9 that are arranged either to add the aforementioned additional force to the force applied by the actuator 4 of the movable wheel 2 on the movable wheel or to subtract it from the force of the actuator 4, as described above. The means 8 and 9 can be positioned in a control unit 10, as in the example of the figure. The means 8 and 9 can be implemented for example by means of suitable processors and programming.
[0017] The invention provides a uniform tension of exactly the desired level within the entire operating range of the accumulator.
[0018] The above-described embodiment is not intended to limit the invention in any way, but the invention can be modified freely within the scope of the claims. It is thus clear that the arrangement according to the invention or the details thereof do not necessarily have to correspond exactly to those shown in the figure, but other kinds of arrangements are also possible. Instead of a pneumatic cylinder, the actuator may be for example a hydraulic cylinder, an electric actuator etc. The accumulator may'consist of a lever construction as in the example of the figure, or of a linear accumulator wherein the movable wheel moves rectilinearly in the vertical direction. The invention is not restricted to cables, either, but it can be used for example in connection with ropes, cable wires, wires and other similar products. Even though the invention is described above by means of an embodiment related to a cable spooler, it should be noted that the invention is not restricted in any way to spoolers, but it can also be applied in other connections.
1. A method for adjusting the tension of a cake or the like (3) during spooling using
an accumulator (1) of a cable or the like, whereupon the cable or the like (3) is
made to pass around a movable wheel (2), which produces the desired tension in the
cable or the like (3), the method disclosing the steps of: first measuring the acceleration
and speed of the movable wheel (2), then determining the additional force resulting
from the inertial mass of the movable wheel (2) at the acceleration measured, and
then adding the aforementioned additional force to the force applied by an actuator
(4) of the movable wheel (2) on the movable wheel or subtracting the aforementioned
additional force from the force applied by the actuator of the movable wheel (2) on
the movable wheel.
2. An arrangement having an accumulator (1) of a cable or the like, the accumulator (1)
being used to adjust the tension of the cable or the like (3) during spooling, so
that the cable or the like (3) is made to pass around a movable wheel (2), which is
arranged to provide the cable or the like (3) with the desired tension, said arrangement
comprising first means (7) arranged to measure the acceleration and speed of the movable
wheel (2), second means (8) arranged to determine the additional force resulting from
the inertial mass of the movable wheel (2) at the acceleration measured, and third
means (9) arranged to add the aforementioned additional force to the force applied
by an actuator (4) of the movable wheel (2) on the movable wheel or to subtract the
aforementioned additional force from the force applied by the actuator (4) of the
movable wheel (2) on the movable wheel.
3. A method for adjusting the tension of a cable or the like (3) during spooling using
an accumulator of a cable or the like, so that the cable or the like (3) is made to
pass around a movable wheel (2) with a balancing spring (6) and the movable wheel
(2) provides the cable or the like (3) with the desired tension, the method disclosing
the steps of: first measuring the position of the movable wheel (2), then determining
the spring force dependent on the spring constant of the spring (6) balancing the
movable wheel (2) and on the position of the movable wheel, and adding the aforementioned
additional force to the force applied by an actuator (4) of the movable wheel (2)
on the movable wheel or subtracting the aforementioned additional force from the force
applied by the actuator (4) of the movable wheel (2) on the movable wheel.
4. An arrangement having an accumulator (1) of a cable or the like, the accumulator being
used to adjust the tension of the cable or the like (3) during spooling, so that the
cable or the like (3) is made to pass around a movable wheel (2) with a balancing
spring (6) and the movable wheel (2) is arranged to provide the cable or the like
(3) with the desired tension, wherein the arrangement comprises first means (7) arranged
to measure the position of the movable wheel (2), second means (8) arranged to determine
the spring force dependent on the spring constant of the spring (6) balancing the
movable wheel (2) and on the position of the movable wheel (2), and third means (9)
arranged to add the aforementioned additional force to the force applied by an actuator
(4) of the movable wheel (2) on the movable wheel or to subtract the aforementioned
additional force from the force applied by the actuator (4) of the movable wheel (2)
on the movable wheel.
1. Verfahren zum Einstellen der Spannung eines Kabels oder dergleichen (3) während des
Spulens unter Verwendung eines Akkumulators (1) eines Kabels oder dergleichen, auf
dem man das Kabel oder dergleichen (3) um ein bewegliches Rad (2) laufen läßt, das
die gewünschte Spannung im Kabel oder dergleichen (3) erzeugt, wobei das Verfahren
die Schritte aufweist: zuerst Messen der Beschleunigung und Drehzahl des beweglichen
Rades (2), danach Bestimmen der aus der trägen Masse des beweglichen Rades (2) bei
der gemessenen Beschleunigung resultierenden Zusatzkraft und anschließend Addieren
der vorerwähnten Zusatzkraft zur durch ein Stellglied (4) des beweglichen Rades (2)
auf das bewegliche Rad aufgebrachten Kraft oder Subtrahieren der vorerwähnten Zusatzkraft
von der durch das Stellglied des beweglichen Rades (2) auf das bewegliche Rad aufgebrachten
Kraft.
2. Anordnung mit einem Akkumulator (1) eines Kabels oder dergleichen, wobei der Akkumulator
(1) verwendet wird, um die Spannung des Kabels oder dergleichen (3) während des Spulens
einzustellen, so daß man das Kabel oder dergleichen (3) um ein bewegliches Rad (2)
laufen läßt, das dafür eingerichtet ist, das Kabel oder dergleichen (3) mit der gewünschten
Spannung zu versehen, wobei die Anordnung eine erste Einrichtung (7) aufweist, die
dafür eingerichtet ist, die Beschleunigung und Drehzahl des beweglichen Rades (2)
zu messen, eine zweite Einrichtung (8), die dafür eingerichtet ist, die aus der trägen
Masse des beweglichen Rades (2) bei der gemessenen Beschleunigung resultierende Zusatzkraft
zu bestimmen, und eine dritte Einrichtung (9), die dafür eingerichtet ist, die vorerwähnte
Zusatzkraft zur durch ein Stellglied (4) des beweglichen Rades (2) auf das bewegliche
Rad aufgebrachten Kraft zu addieren oder die vorerwähnte Zusatzkraft von der durch
das Stellglied (4) des beweglichen Rades (2) auf das bewegliche Rad aufgebrachten
Kraft zu subtrahieren.
3. Verfahren zum Einstellen der Spannung eines Kabels oder dergleichen (3) während des
Spulens unter Verwendung eines Akkumulators eines Kabels oder dergleichen, so daß
man das Kabel oder dergleichen (3) um ein bewegliches Rad (2) mit einer Ausgleichsfeder
(6) laufen läßt und das bewegliche Rad (2) das Kabel oder dergleichen (3) mit der
gewünschten Spannung versieht, wobei das Verfahren die Schritte aufweist: zuerst Messen
der Position des beweglichen Rades (2), danach Bestimmen der Federkraft, die von der
Federkonstante der das bewegliche Rad (2) ausgleichenden Feder (6) und der Position
des beweglichen Rades abhängig ist, und Addieren der vorerwähnten Zusatzkraft zur
durch ein Stellglied (4) des beweglichen Rades (2) auf das bewegliche Rad aufgebrachten
Kraft oder Subtrahieren der vorerwähnten Zusatzkraft von der durch das Stellglied
(4) des beweglichen Rades (2) auf das bewegliche Rad aufgebrachten Kraft.
4. Anordnung mit einem Akkumulator (1) eines Kabels oder dergleichen, wobei der Akkumulator
verwendet wird, um die Spannung des Kabels oder dergleichen (3) während des Spulens
einzustellen, so daß man das Kabel oder dergleichen (3) um ein bewegliches Rad (2)
mit einer Ausgleichsfeder (6) laufen läßt und das bewegliche Rad (2) dafür eingerichtet
ist, das Kabel oder dergleichen (3) mit der gewünschten Spannung zu versehen, wobei
die Anordnung eine erste Einrichtung (7) aufweist, die dafür eingerichtet ist, die
Position des beweglichen Rades (2) zu messen, eine zweite Einrichtung (8), die dafür
eingerichtet ist, die Federkraft zu bestimmen, die von der Federkonstante der das
bewegliche Rad (2) ausgleichenden Feder (6) und der Position des beweglichen Rades
(2) abhängig ist, und eine dritte Einrichtung (9), die dafür eingerichtet ist, die
vorerwähnte Zusatzkraft zur durch ein Stellglied (4) des beweglichen Rades (2) auf
das bewegliche Rad aufgebrachten Kraft zu addieren oder die vorerwähnte Zusatzkraft
von der durch das Stellglied (4) des beweglichen Rades (2) auf das bewegliche Rad
aufgebrachten Kraft zu subtrahieren.
1. Procédé permettant d'ajuster la tension d'un câble ou analogue (3) pendant le bobinage,
utilisant un accumulateur (1) d'un câble ou analogue, dans lequel on fait passer le
câble ou analogue (3) autour d'une roue mobile (2), procédé qui produit la tension
souhaitée dans le câble ou analogue (3) et qui comprend les étapes consistant en premier
lieu à mesurer l'accélération et la vitesse de la roue mobile (2), puis à déterminer
la force supplémentaire résultant de l'action de la masse d'inertie de la roue mobile
(2) soumise à l'accélération mesurée, puis à ajouter la force supplémentaire mentionnée
précédemment à la force appliquée par un actionneur (4) de la roue mobile (2) sur
la roue mobile ou à soustraire la force supplémentaire mentionnée précédemment à la
force appliquée par l'actionneur de la roue mobile (2) sur la roue mobile.
2. Dispositif possédant un accumulateur (1) d'un câble ou analogue, l'accumulateur (1)
étant utilisé pour ajuster la tension du câble ou analogue (3) pendant le bobinage,
de façon à faire passer le câble ou analogue (3) autour d'une roue mobile (2), dispositif
permettant de donner au câble ou analogue (3) la tension souhaitée, ledit dispositif
comprenant un premier moyen (7) permettant de mesurer l'accélération et la vitesse
de la roue mobile (2), un deuxième moyen (8) permettant de déterminer la force supplémentaire
résultant de l'action de la masse d'inertie de la roue mobile (2) soumise à l'accélération
mesurée, et un troisième moyen (9) permettant d'ajouter la force supplémentaire mentionnée
ci-dessus à la force appliquée par un actionneur (4) de la roue mobile (2) sur la
roue mobile ou de soustraire la force supplémentaire mentionnée précédemment à la
force appliquée par un actionneur (4) de la roue mobile (2) sur la roue mobile.
3. Procédé permettant d'ajuster la tension d'un câble ou analogue (3) pendant le bobinage,
utilisant un accumulateur (1) d'un câble ou analogue, dans lequel on fait passer le
câble ou analogue (3) autour d'une roue mobile (2) munie d'un ressort d'équilibrage
(6) et où la roue mobile (2) donne au câble ou analogue (3) la tension souhaitée,
le procédé comprenant les étapes consistant en premier lieu à mesurer la position
de la roue mobile (2), puis à déterminer la force dépendant de la constante de rappel
du ressort (6) équilibrant la roue mobile (2) et de la position de la roue mobile,
puis à ajouter la force supplémentaire mentionnée précédemment à la force appliquée
par un actionneur (4) de la roue mobile (2) sur la roue mobile ou à soustraire la
force supplémentaire mentionnée précédemment à la force appliquée par l'actionneur
(4) de la roue mobile (2) sur la roue mobile.
4. Dispositif possédant un accumulateur (1) d'un câble ou analogue, l'accumulateur étant
utilisé pour ajuster la tension du câble ou analogue (3) pendant le bobinage, de façon
à faire passer le câble ou analogue (3) autour d'une roue mobile (2) munie d'un ressort
d'équilibrage (6) et où la roue mobile (2) permet de donner au câble ou analogue (3)
la tension souhaitée, ledit dispositif comprenant un premier moyen (7) permettant
de mesurer la position de la roue mobile (2), un deuxième moyen (8) permettant de
déterminer la force dépendant de la constante de rappel du ressort (6) d'équilibrage
de la roue mobile (2) et de la position de la roue mobile (2), et un troisième moyen
(9) permettant d'ajouter la force supplémentaire mentionnée ci-dessus à la force appliquée
par un actionneur (4) de la roue mobile (2) sur la roue mobile ou de soustraire la
force supplémentaire mentionnée précédemment de la force appliquée par l'actionneur
(4) de la roue mobile (2) sur la roue mobile.