CA2033519A1 - Tensioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A tensioning device is provided herein for removing a strip of material from a material source and applying the strip of material under a desired tension onto an outside surface of a material user. The tensioning device includes a housing; a first roller and a second roller mounted in the housing immediately adjacent each other, the first roller and the second roller being mounted adjustably in the housing relative to the material source and the material user, the first roller being adapted non-slidingly to contact a portion of the strip of material, the second roller being mounted in the housing between the first roller and the material user, the second roller being adapted non-slidingly to contact a portion of the strip of material;
interconnection means for simultaneously rotating the first roller and the second roller in a manner that the surface of the first roller is adapted to travel at a slower tangential velocity than the surface of the second roller; a mounting upon which the housing is mounted in a manner to permit the rollers to be adjusted about their axes; support means for rotatably and adjustably supporting the material source and the housing;
revolving means for revolving the support means around the outside surface of the material user; and advancement means for advancing the support means relative to the length of the material user.

Description

2~33~9 The present invention generally relates to the wrapping of objects, e.g. pipe, with a strip of material, e.g. tape and, more particularly, it is concerned with a device for tensioning the material as it is wrapped about the object.
An object of one a~pect of this invention is to provide a tensioning device for tensioning a strip of material travelling from a material source to a material user which does not generate large amounts of heat.
An object of another aspect of this invention is to provide such a tensioning device which is not oil cooled and does not require heat transfer considerations, modifications, or additions.
An object of yet another aspect o~ this invention is to provide such a tensioning device which may contact only one side of the strip of material and therefore does not require movement of the tensioning device or threading o~ the strip of material through the tensioning device in order to install the strip of material in position for tensioning.
An object of still another aspect of this invention is to provide such a tensioning device which does not require spacial considerations to allow for movement or positioning of the tensioning device in order to install a strip of material in posltion for tensioning.
By one broad aspect of this invention, a tensioning device is provided for removing a strip of material from a material source and applying the strip of material under a desired tension onto an outside surface o~ a material user, the tensioning device comprising: a housing; a first and a second roller mounted in the 2~3~19 housing immediately adjacent each other, the first and second rollers being mounted adjustably in the housing relative to the material source and the material user, khe first roller being adapted non-slidingly to contact a portion of the strip of material, the second roller being mounted in the housing between the first roller and the material user, the second roller being adapted non-slidingly to contact a portion of the strip of material; interconnection means for simultaneously rotating the first and second rollers in a manner that the surface of the first roller travels at a slower tangential velocity than the surface of the second roller; a mounting upon which the housing is mounted in a manner to permit the rollers to be adjusted about their axes; support means for rotatably and adjustably supporting the material source and the housing; revolving means for revolving the support means around the outside surface of the material user; and advancement means for advancing the support means relative to the length of the material user.
By a general variant of the tensioning device, the first and second rollers may be adapted to contact the same side of the strip of material, while in another general variant o~ the tensioning device, the first and second rollers may be adapted to contact opposite sides of the strip of material.
By one variant of such tensioning device, the first and second rollers are of the same diameter.
By a variation thereof, the first and second rollers are adapted to contact the same side of the strip of material; while by a further variation thereof, the first and second rollers are adapted to contact opposite sides of the strip o~ material.

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By yet another variant of such tensioniny devic~, the firstroller is of a smaller diameter than the second roller. By one variation thereof, the first and second rollers are adapted to contact the same side of the strip of material. While by another variation thereof, the first and second rollers are adapted to contact opposite sides of the strip of material.
In more general terms, the tensioning device of aspects of the present invention for tensioning a strip of material travelling from a material source to a material user includes a first roller, a second roller, and interconnection means. The first roller has a rotatable outside surface positionable for non-slidingly contacting a portion of the strip of material so that the portion of the strip of material contacting the outside surface of the first roller travels at the same velocity as the tangential velocity of the outside surface positionable for non-~lidingly contacting a portion of the strip of material between the first roller and a material user so that the portion of the strip of material contacting the outside surface of the second roller travels at the same velocity as the tangential velocity of the outside surface of the second roller. The interconnection means simultaneously rotates the first and second rollers and is adapted to rotate the outside surface of the first roller at a slower tangential v210city than the outside surface of the second roller. The first and second rollers are positionable for non-slidingly contacting one side of the strip of material.

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In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a wrapping apparatus employing an embodiment of the tensioning device of the prssent invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a wrapping apparatus employing another embodiment of the tensioning device of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a wrapping apparatus employing another embodiment of the tensioning device of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a partial side view of a pipe wrapping apparatus employing the tensioning device of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6; ~:
Figure 8 i~ a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of a pipe wrapping machine employing the tensioning device of Figure 1.
Figures 1-9 present embodiments of the tensioning device, generally designated 20, of an aspect of the present invention.
Ths tensioning device is used for tensioning a strip of material 22 travelling from a material source 24 to a material user 26~
Re~erring to the example o~ Figure 8, the tensioning device may be described as being generally comprised of a first roller 28, a second roller 30, and an interconnection means 32.

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The first roller 28 has a rotatable outside surface 34 positionable for contacting a portion of the strip of material 22 so that the portion of the strip of material 22 contacting the outside surface 34 travels at the same velocity as the tangential velocity of the outside surface 34 of the first roller 28. By tangential velocity is meant the tangentially-linear velocity of a point on the outside surface 34 of the ~irst roller 28. The value of the tangential velocity can be ascertained by multiplying the angular velocity (velocity of rotation) of the first roller 28 times the radial distance from the axis of the roller to a point on the outside surface 34 of the first roller 28.
The second roller 30 has a rotatable outside surface 36 positionable for contacting a portion of the strip of material 22 between the first roller 28 and the material user ~6, as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, so that the portion of the strip of material 22 contacting the outside surface 36 of the second roller 30 travels at the same velocity as the tangential velocity (as defined above) of the outside surface 36 of the second roller 30.
Referring to the example of Figure 8, the interconnection means 32 is normally connected between the first roller 28 and the second roller 30. The interconnection means 32 should simultaneously rotate the first roller 28 and the second roller 30 and should rotate the outside surface 34 of the first roller 28 at a slower tangential velocity than the outside surface 36 of the ~econd roller 30. This resu.lts ln the desired tensioning of the strip of material 22 since the portion of the strip of ~ ~ 3 ,~ 9 material 22 in contact with the outside surface 34 of the first roller 28 is travelling at a slower velocity than the portion of the strip of material 22 in contact with the outside surface 36 of the second roller 30. Normally, the outside sur~ace 36 of the second roller 30 should be travelling at the sam~ velocity as the strip of material 22 is being used by the material user 26 and the tensioning of the strip of material 22 between the ~irst and second rollers 28, 30 will also be present between the material user 26 and the first and second rollers 28, 30.
The first roller 28 may be replaced by multiple rollers and the second roller 30 may be replaced by multiple rollers and the multiple first rollers 28 may be interconnected to the multiple second rollers 30 with one or more interconnection means 32 which simultaneously rotate the rollers 28, 30 as discussed above.
Preferably, there is one ~irst roller 28, one second roller 30, and one interconnection means 32 to simplify synchronizing the tangential and angular velocities of the rollers and to simplify the structure of the tensioning device 20, as exemplified in Figure 8.
The rollers 28, 30 may take various cross-sectional shapes, e.g., polygonal, etc. although the circular shape illustrated is preferred. The axial length of the rollers 28, 30 as well as the diameter may be tailored for a specific application, e.g., to accommodate varying widths of the strip of material 22, the axial length of the rollers 23, 30 may be adjusted; to accommodate high-tension wrapping, e.g. wrapping protective tape on pipe, the diameter and structural ~trength of the rollers 28, 30 should be increased; if the strip o~ material 22 has a r~latively low . ' 2~33~ 9 coefficient of ~riction, the diameter of the rollers 28, 30 may be increased to provide greater surface contact between the outside surface 34, 36 of the rollers 28, 30 and the strip of material 22, etc.
In order for the tensioning device 20 to function properly, the strip of material 22 can not slide freely across the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the first and second rollers 28, 30, i.e., the portion of the strip of materia~ 22 in contact with the outside surface 34 of the first roller 28 must travel at approximately the same velocity as the tangential velocity of the first roller outside surface 34 and the portion of the strip of material 22 in contact with the second roller outside surfac~ 36 ~ust travel at approximately the same velocity as the tangential velocity of the second roller outside surface 36. Preferably, there should be little or no slippage between the portion o~ the strip of material 22 in contact with the first roller outside surface 34 and little or no slippage between the portion of the strip of material 22 in contact with the second roller outside surface 36 once the material user 26, tensioning device 20, and material source 24 have reached operating speed. In the preferred embodiment, the strip of material 22 makes effectively non-sliding contact with the first roller outside surface 34 and with the second roller outside surface 36.
There are several factors which contrihute to reducing the slippage between the strip of material 22 and the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the first and second rollers 28, 30, e.g. the coefficient of friction of the surface o~ the strip of material 22 in contact with the outside surfaces 34, 36 o~ the first and ~3~19 second rollers 28, 30; the coefficient of friction of the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the rollers 28, 30; the tendency of the strip of material 22 and the outside surfaces 34, 36 o~ the rollers 28, 30 to adhere to one another; the amount or area o~ contact between the strip of material 22 and the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the rollers 28, 30, etc.
If the strip of material 22 and/or the outside surface 34, 36 of the rollers 28, 30 is highly adhesive, the desired tensioning may be achieved by tangentially contacting the strip lo of material 22 to each of the outsid~ surfaces 34, 36 o~ the first and second rollers 28, 30. Preferably, the first and second rollers 28, 30 are positionable so that the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the rollers 28, 30 effectively non-slidingly contact the strip of material 22, i.e., the amount of contact between the outside surface 34, 36 of each roller 28, 30 may be adjusted to achieve suf~icient contact and friction to limit slippage and provide the desired tensioning. In the preferred embodiment, each roller 28, 30 is positionable for making greater than tangential contact between the outside surface 34, 36 of each roller 28, 30 and the strip of material 22, as best exemplified in Figures 1~ 2 and 5. In other words, the angle or distance the strip of material 22 wraps around each rollar 28, 30 ("angle of wrap") and is in contact with the outside sur~ace 34, 36 of each roller 28, 30 is more than a tangential point or line on the outside sur~ace of the roller 28, 30. In the preferred embodiment, the position of the rollers 28, 30 may be adjusted from a position in which the outside sur~ace 34, 36 of each roller 28, 30 makes tangential contact with the strip of material 22 to a position in which the strip of material 22 wraps around and contacts approximately one~quarter of the circum-ference of the outside surface 34, 36 of each roller 28, 30.
Normally the material source 24 will provide some resistance to removal of the strip of material 22 by the material user 26.
This resistance creates a tension in the strip of material 22 which tends to force the strip of material 22 into a linear or planar strip between the material source 24 and material user 26~
As exemplified in Figures 1, 2 and 5, the greater than tangential lo contact between the outside surface 34, 36 of each roller 28, 30 and the strip of material 22 forces the strip of material 22 out of the linear or planar path, creating opposing forces between the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the rollers 28, 30 and the strip of material 22, and increasing the frictional resistance to slippage between the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the rollers 28, 30 and the strip of material 22. In many applications of the tensioning device, as further explained below, the strip of material 22 will be a pressure-sensitive material, e.g.
protective tape for pipe or other conduit, and the opposing forces (or pressures) between the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the rollers 28, 30 and the strip of material 22 cause the desired non-sliding contact. The amount of contact or angle of wrap between the outside surface 34, 36 of each roller 28, 30 and the strip of material 22 should be adjusted to minimize or eliminate slippage between the outside surfaces 34, 36 and the strip of material 22 and thereby to achieve the desired tensioning in the strip of material 22.

~3~J:~9 The material of which the outside surfaces 34, 36 o~ the first and second rollers 28, 30 is constructed should be selected to maximize friction and/or adherence between the outside surfaces 3~, 36 of the rollexs 28, 30 and the strip of material 22 while still allowing the strip of material 22 to travel freely from the material source 24 to the material user 26. In the prototype of the tensioning device 20, the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the first and second rollers 28, 30 are made of aluminum.
The outside surfaces 34~ 36 of the rollers 28, 30 may also be made of urethane or of a material having an equivalent or higher coefficient of friction than urethane to increase the coefficient of friction of the outside surfaces 34, 36.
In the preferred embodiment, referring to the example in Figures 1 and 5, the first and second rollers 28, 30 are positionable for contacting one side of the strip of material 22.
This is preferable for installing and connecting the strip of material 22 from the material source 24 to the material user 26, since the strip of material ~2 may be simply stretched across the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the rollers Z~, 30 and there is no need to move the rollers 28, 30 or thread the strip of material 22 through the rollers 28, 30. If so desired, or required by space limitations, the fixst and second rollers 28, 30 may be arranged to contact both sides of the strip of material 22, i.e , the strip of material may form a serpentine path over one roller 28, 30 and under the other roller 30, 28, as exemplified in Figure 2, in order to achieve the desired tensioning. In the preferred embodiment of Figure 1, where the fir~t and second rollers 28, 30 contact the same side of the ~trip of material 22, ~; ' ' , ..
'- ;' . , ' , ,, .- . ' ' `

11 ~t~3~ X ~
the rollers will rotate in the same direction. In the embodiment of Figure 2, where the rollers 28, 30 contact different sides of the strip of material 22 the rollers 28, 30 will rotate in the opposite directions and will therefore require modifications to the interconnection means 32 as discussed below.
The outside sur~ace 34 of the first roller 28 and the outside surface 36 of the second roller 30 define the path of travel for the strip o~ material 22 between the material source 24 and the material user 26 with the outside surface 36 of the second roller 30 being located nearest the material user 26 in the path of travel. The rollers 28, 30 should be securely mounted to withstand the foxces the strip of material 22 will place on them and the rotatable outside surfaces 34, 36 also should be sturdily constructed to withstand the forces of the strip of material 22. The rollers 28, 30 may be spaced apart, as illustrated in Figure 3, or located near together, as illustrated in Figure 6, as required by a speci~ic application.
The rollers 28, 30 may be independently rotatably mounted, as exemplified in Figures 3 and 4. In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in Figures 5-9, the first and second rollers 28, 30 are mounted in a common housing 38 immediately adjacent one another to conserve space and simplify positioning the rollers 28, 30 relative to the material source 24 and material supply 26.
Referring to the example of Figure 6, the rollers 28, 30 and housing 38 should be positionable relative to the material source 24 and material user 26, i.e., the mountings 37, 39 with which the rollers 28, 30 and housing 38 are mounted relative to the material source 24 and material user 26 should allow the position ~ ' .

2~33~ ~

of the rollers 28, 30 relative to the material source 24 and material user 26 to be adjusted. As previously discussed, the amount of contact between the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the rollers 28, 30 and the strip of material 22 may need to be adjusted to provide non-sliding contact between the strip of material and the outside surfaces 34, 36. This adjustment may be provided by something as simple as a series of holes (not illustrated) through which the rollers 28, 30 can be independently bolted to a housing (not illustrated). In the preferred embodiment, the mountings 37, 39 are independently adjustable and allow the rollers 28, 30 to be adjusted about their longitudinal, normal, and lateral axes so that both the amount and angle of contact between the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the rollers 28, 30 and the strip of material 22 may be adjusted.
The interconnection means 32 may take the form of directly interconnected gears (not illustrated), e.g., one gear mounted on each of the first and second rollers 28, 30 with the gear cogs directly interconnected, which would result in the rollers 28, 30 turning in opposite directions. If it is desired to use directly interconnected gears with the rollers 28, 30 turning in one direction it is necessary to have a third gear (not illustrated) directly interconnected between the gears mounted on each of the first and second rollers 28, 30, or equivalent connections. In the preferred embodiment, referring to Figure 8, the interconnection means 32 may be effected by a chain-like belt 40, a ~irst sprocket 42 mounted on the ~irst roller 28, and a second sprocket 44 mounted on the second roller 30 with the . ' ' .- , ~ ' ~

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belt or chain 40 connected between the first and second sprockets 42, 44 to rotate the first and second rollers 28, 30. The chain-like belt 40 may be replaced with any equivalent belt-like device and the sprockets 42, 44 may be replaced with pulleys or equivalent devices. The use of the chain-like belt 40, first sprocket 42, and second sprocket 44 or equivalents will result in the first and second rollers 28, 30 turning in the same direction if constructed and arranged as illustrated in Figure 8. Multiple chains and sprockets or belts and pulleys may be used if it is desired to rotate the rollers 28, 30 in opposite directions or to accommodate various spacial arrangements o~ the rollers 28, 30.
In another pre~erred embodiment, exemplified in Figure 6, a first sprocket ~2 is mounted on each end of the first roller 28, a second sprocket 44 is mounted on each end of the second roller 3 n, and a sprocketed timing belt 40 is connected between each set of sprockets 42, 44. Belts and sprock~ts are provided at both ends of the rollers 28, 30 so that smallex, lighter belts and sprockets may be used, i.e., rather than one larger, stronger belt with larger~ stronger sprockets. The smaller sizes of the belts and sprockets are used to accommodate limited spacial arrangements, i.e., in applications where there is not room for the larger belt and sprockets required if only one belt 40 and two sprockets 42, 44 are used.
As discussed above, the interconnection means 32 rotates the outside surface o~ the first roller 28 at a slower tangential velocity than the outside sur~ace of the second roller 30. This may be accomplished by making the first and second rollers 28, 2~3~19 30 the same size and diametrical cross-section and using the gearing ratio or drive ratio of the interconnection means 32 to rotate the first roller 28 at a slower angular velocity than the second roller 30O That is, since the first and second rollers 28, 30 are the same size and diametrical cross-section, in order to have different tangential velocities they must have different angular velocities. This may be accomplished by direct gear interconnection (not illustrated) in which case the gear of the first roller would have a larger number of teeth than the year of the second roller 30, or by chain and sprocket or belt 40 and pulley 42, 4' in which case the sprocket or pulley of the first roller would be larger than the corresponding sprocket or pulley of the second roller in order to rotate the first roller 28 at a slower angular velocity than the second roller 30. This embodiment, having rollers 28, 30 of the same size and diametrical cross-section, directly tensions the chain or belt 40 with the same tension that is placed on the strip of material 22 and is believed to place greater stress on the interconnection means 32 and therefore have a higher failure rate than the preferred embodiment discussed in the next paragraph.
In the pre~erred embodiment, the first roller 28 is smaller in diametrical cross-section than the second roller 30. The interconnection means 32 rotates the rollers 28, 30 at the same angular velocity which results in the first roller, which is smaller in diameter, having a slower tangential velocity. The slower tangential velocity of the first roller 28 results in the desired tensioning of the strip o~ material 22. Th~ effect of this tensioning is believed to be less damaging to the 2 ~ 3 ?~ ~, 3~,~

interconnection means 32 than the embodiment discussed in the previous paragraph. In ~he prototype, the first roller 28 is one and seven-eighths inches in diameter and the second roller 30 is two inches in diameter which results in approximately twelve tc fifteen pounds of tensioning per inch of width of the strip of material 22 when the strip o~ material 22 is a typical pressure-sensitive tape as used for wrapping pipeO Pipe insulating tape known by the trade-mark POLYKEN 980-25 as currently manufactured by the Kendall Corporation was used to achieve these test results with the prototype tensioning device 20.
Figures 5 and 9 exemplify typical uses o~ the tensioning device 20 of the presPnt invention. Flgure 5 typifies a manually operated pipe wrapping apparatus. Figure 9 typifies a power driven pipe wrapping apparatus. Referring to the examples of Figure~ 5 and 9, power means 46 are provided for removing the strip o~ material from the material source 24, for advancing the strip of material 22 along the path of travel defined by the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the first and second rollers 28, 30, and for delivering the tensioned strip of material 22 to the material user 26. In the embodiment of Figures 5 and 9, the material user 26 is an elongate member, e.g. a pipe, rod, control cable, conduit, etc. having an outside surface 48. The power means 46 may simply rotate the material user 26 in order to pull the strip of material 22 through the tensioning device 20 from the material source 24. The second roller 30 or both of the rollers 28, 30 also may be driven by the power means 46 to advance the strip of material 22.

Referring to the example in Figures 5 and 9, more typically, the power means 46 includes support means 50 for rotatably supportiny ~he material source 24, ~irst roller 28, and second roller 30; revolving means 52 for revolving the support means 50 and the outside surface 48 of the material user 26 relative tv each other; and advancement means 54 for advancing and positioning the support means 50 and the material user 26 relative to each other along the length of the material user 26.
As seen in Figures 5 and 9, one end of the strip of material 22, which is normally a pressure-ssnsitive tape, is applied to the material user 26, which is typically a pipe, and the support maans 50 is revolved around the material user 26, as the support means 50 is revolved, the strip of material 22 is pulled from the material source 24, which is typically a tape spool, through the tensioning device 20 and the tensioned strip of material 22 is applied to the material user or pipe 26. Normally in these types of devices, the rollers 28, 30 are not directly power driven, i.e., the strip of material 22 is pulled through the tensioning device 20 and rollers 28, 30 by its application to the material user 26. The movement of the strip of material 22 across the rollers 28~ 30 provides the power to rotate the rollers 28, 30 and the interconnection means 32 regulates the relative angular and tangential velocities of the rollers 28, 30.
Brake means 56 should be provided in the material source 24 for resisting the travel of the strip of material 22 from the material source 24 to the material user 26. The brake means 56 keeps the material source 24 from continuing to unwind or dump material if travel o~ the strip o~ material 22 throuyh the 17 2~3~ ~ 9 tensioning device is stopped suddenly. The brake means 56 also provides some tension in the strip of material 22 which helps to provide the desired non-sliding contact between the strip o~
material 22 and the outside surfaces 34, 36 of the first and second rollers 28, 30, as discussed above. The tension provided by the brake means 56 in the material source 24 is not uniform, i.e., as the circumference o~ the material source 24 decreases with removal of the strip of material 22, the tension provided by the brake means 56 in the material source 24 increases. The lo tension device 20 eliminates this non-uni~orm tension in the strip of material 22 and provides a constant tension between the tensioning device 20 and the material user 26. In other words, the tensioning device 20, when used with a pipe wrapping apparatus, provides that the strip of material 22 or tape is applied to the material user 26 or pipe at a uni~orm tension.
Typical environments and details of the tension device 20r e.g. the roller mountings 37, 39, power means 46, support means 50, revolving means 52, advancement means 54, and brakP means 56, are not disclosed in detail in this description since these are well known features of manual and power driven pipe wrapping apparatus. Examples of power driven pipe wrapping apparatus which disclose these features may be found in U.S. Patent No.
2,657,866; U.S. Patent No. 4,069,088; and and U.S. Patent No.
4,610,403. Examples of manually operated pipe wrapping machines which disclose these features may be found in U.S. Patent No.

3,470,057; U.S. Patent No. 3,547,731; U.S. Patent No. 4,113,545;
U.S. Patent No. 4,125,422; U.S. Patent No. 4,322,262; and U.S.
Patent No. 4,358,064.

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Figures 3 and 4 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment o~ Figures 3 and 4 is used ~or tensioning a strip of material 22 which, because of the fragile nature of the strip of material 22, or because o~ the material of which the strip of material 22 is made, or because of the shape of the transverse cross-section of the strip o~ material, cannot be tensioned in the embodiments preYiously discussed.
Examples of such a strip o~ material 22 include control cables, wire, strip materials too rigid to form greater than tangential contact with rollers 28, 30, etc. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, it can be seen that the first and second rollers 28, 30 are disc-shaped having peripheral grooves 5~, 59. The strip of material 22 travels through the peripheral grooves 58, 59. Pinch roller means 60, 62 are provided for holding the strip of material 22 in effectively non-sliding contact with the outside surfaces 34, 36 (or peripheral grooves 58, 59) of the first and second rollers 28, 30 as the strip of material 22 travels from the material source 24 to the material user 26.
The pinch roller means 60, 62 include a first pinch roller 60 and a second pinch roller 62. The pinch rollers 60, 62 have peripheral grooves 64, 65. When the pinch rollers 60, 62 are positioned against the first and second rollers 28, 30, as exemplified in Figures 3 and 4, the peripheral grooves 58, 59, 64, 65 adjoin one another. The peripheral grooves 58, 59, 64, 65 should be sized securely to engage the strip of material 22 against the pinch rollers 60, 62 and the first and second rollers 28, 30. Engagement means (not illustrated) may be provided for moving the pinch roller means 60, 62 between a first position ~3~
lg holding the strip of material 22 in non-slidiny contact with khe first and second rollers 28, 30 to a second position spaced away from the first and second rollers 28, 30 in order to facilitate placing a strip of material 22 in poaition for tensioning.
Interconnection means 32 are provided and operate as with the embodiments discussed æupra. As illustrated in Figure 4, interconnection means 32 may be spaced away from the first and second rollers 28, 30 and pinch rollers 60, 62 to provide room for a wrapping mechanism 68. The first roller ~8 and first pinch lo roller 60 may be spaced apart from the second roller 30 and second pinch roller 62 to provide room for the tape wrapping mechanism 68 between them. Normally, the first and second rollers 28, 30 are directly power-driven to assist in advancing the strip of material 22 from the material source 24 to the material user 26. In any of the embodiments of the tensioning device 20 where the first and second rollers 28, 30 are power driven, the interconnection means 32 may be provided by the power source ~not illustrated), i.e., the power source driving the rollers 28, 30 may simply drive the rollers 28, 30 at different tangential velocities to achieve the desired tensioning.
The tensioning device of Figures 3 and 4, is typically used for tensioning control cable to allow protective tape 70 to be applied to the control cable. Typically, tape wrapping mechanisms 68 used to apply tape to control cable are very small and the arrangement of Figures 3 and 4 is intended to accommodate the size of such a tape wrapping mechanism. Also, the arrangement of Figures 3 and 4 provides a working area adjacent the tensioned strip o~ material 22, i.e., between the ~irst and ,.:

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2~3~9 second rollers 28, 30 and eliminates the need for maintaining tension in the strip of material 22 in areas not between the first and second rollers 28, 30.

Claims (9)

1. A tensioning device for removing a strip of material from a material source and applying said strip of material under a desired tension onto an outside surface of a material user, said tensioning device comprising:
a housing;
a first roller and a second roller mounted in said housing immediately adjacent each other, said first roller and said second roller being mounted adjustably in said housing relative to said material source and said material user, said first roller being adapted non-slidingly to contact a portion of said strip of material, said second roller being mounted in said housing between said first roller and said material user, said second roller being adapted non-slidingly to contact a portion of said strip of material;
interconnection means for simultaneously rotating said first roller and said second roller in a manner that the surface of said first roller is adapted to travel at a slower tangential velocity than the surface of said second roller;
a mounting upon which said housing is mounted in a manner to permit said rollers to be adjusted about their axes;
support means for rotatably and adjustably supporting said material source and said housing;
revolving means for revolving said support means around the outside surface of said material user; and advancement means for advancing said support means relative to the length of said material user.

2. A tensioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said first roller and said second roller are adapted to contact the same side of said strip of material.

3. A tensioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said first roller and said second roller are adapted to contact opposite sides of said strip of material.

4. A tensioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said first roller and said second roller are of the same diameter.

5. A tensioning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein:
said first roller and said second roller are adapted to contact the same side of said strip of material.

6. A tensioning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein:
said first roller and said second roller are adapted to contact opposite sides of said strip of material.

7. A tensioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said first roller is of a smaller diameter than said second roller.

8. A tensioning device as claimed in claim 7, wherein:
said first roller and said second roller are adapted to contact the same side of said strip of material.

9. A tensioning device as claimed in claim 7, wherein:
said first roller and said second roller are adapted to contact opposite sides of said strip of material.