US2364984A - Strand handling machine - Google Patents

Description

1360- 1944- E. J. LARSEN ET AL STRAND HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1942 3 SheetsSheet 1 lNl/ENTORS E.J.LARSN 0. 6. NELSON A TTORNEY Dec. 12, I944. LARSEN AL 2,364,984

STRAND HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS E.J.LAR$EN 0.6.NEL5ON Patented Dec. 12, 1944 2,364,984 STRAND HANDLING MACHINE Elmer J. Larsen and Oscar G. Nelson, Baltimore, Md., asslgnors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 23, 1942, Serial No. 452,027

Claims.

This invention relates to strand handling machines, and more particularly to machines for twisting electrical conductors into cables.

Cables have been formed of pairs of insulated electrical conductors, but heretofore such cables have been made by first twisting the conductors into pairs and accumulating them so twisted on reels. Thereafter, desired groups of the pairs of conductors were intertwisted to form a cable in another machine by withdrawing the pairs from their reels.

An object of the invention is to provide a strand handling machine, and more particularly one which is highly efficient in twisting electrical conductors into pairs and twisting these pairs into a cable. 1

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises a strand handling machine having a plurality of fliers actuable in a given direction and each adapted to intertwist strands into a pair, another flier in tandem therewith and fed therefrom adapted for actuation in a reverse direction, the first fliers being driven at a speed to form an overtwist in the pairs to offset the tendency of the last mentioned flier to untwist the pairs.

Oother objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of the pair forming portion of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the remaining portions of the machine;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the supply reel units;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of one end of the reel supporting portion of one of the fliers, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the other end of the same portion shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, attention is first directed to the machine in general shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By placing these figures in numerical order side by side, their base lines will align one with the other and a view of the entire machine may be had. In Fig. 1 two flier units, indicated generally at In and II and each having two supply reels as shown in Fig. 3, are actuated to twist conductors l2, withdrawn from the reels in each unit, into pairs, the conductors receiving one twist per revolution of their respective fliers upon approaching their sheaves l4 and another twist after passing over sheaves I5 and I6 of their fliers. The fliers I0 and H are driven in like directions at speeds sufflcient to place overtwists in the pairs of conductors to offset the tendency of the structure shown in Fig. 2, from untwisting the pairs when these pairs are twisted together in an opposite direction from that of their original twist.

When leaving the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the conductors are then in twisted pairs identified by reference numerals it, these pairs passing through a hollow shaft B9 to a flier indicated generally at 20, in which a capstan 2! is disposed. The capstan M is driven counterclockwise about a shaft 2'2, to cause advancement of the conductors 62, from their respective supply reels through the fliers it and H, and the pairs It through the hollow shaft it. The pairs It are twisted together in a direction opposite their original twists to form a cable indicated at 23. The cable 23 is passed around the capstan 2|! to effect a pulling connection between the capstan and the cable, after which the cable is fed over a fixed sheave 24 and an adjustable sheave 25 to a takeup reel 26. The flier 2% is driven in a direction opposite that of the fliers it and ii, to twist the pairs together in the form of the cable 23.

.With the general understanding of the machine and what it accomplishes, attention is now directed to the detailed structure thereof. A common power means, such as a motor 28, is provided for driving the various parts of the machine, althou'gh separate speed reducing units 29 and 30 may be employed for the separate units shown in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the fliers l0 and H are disposed in a housing .32 formed to provide bearing supports for the various shafts and other rotatable structures. The fliers Ill and l I are identical in structure and a description of one will apply to well to both fliers. Consider, for example, the flier ill. There are provided spaced cylindrical heads 34 and 35 which have hub portions 36 and 31 respectively at their centers for mounting on their respective shafts 38 and 39. The shaft 38 is journalled in bearings 40 and 4| supported by the housing 32. The portion of the shaft dis-" posed in the hub 36 is grooved, at 42, to rotatably receive the sheave l4 and to allow passage of the conductors l2 therethrough and around the sheave as shown. A more detailed illustration of the inner end of the shaft 38 is shown in Fig. 4, which illustrates a conical end 43 of the groove 42 and also a die 44 with a conical aperture 45 therein. This formation permits free travel of the conductors I2 from their respective reels 46 and 41 into the shaft 88 and around the sheave I4. The sheave I4 is rotatably supported, at 48, upon a rib 49 of the head 34, the diametrically opposed rib 49 supporting a weight 58 to counterbalance the sheave. A cylindrical cover 5I disposed upon the head 34 encloses the parts therein and completes a truly cylindrical structure to eliminate windage during the high speed of retation of the flier.

A guide 52, integral with a bracket 53 mounted upon the inner side of the head '34, serves to guide the conductors I2 from the sheave I4 to a similar guide 54 of a bracket 55 mounted upon the head 35. The guide 54 guides the conductors to the head 35. The head 35 is substantially identical in structure to the head 34 except in its width, the hub 31 extending laterally beyond the head 35 to a bearing 55 which, together with a bearing 56, supports the shaft 39. One of two supporting fins 58 of the head 35 rotatably supports the sheave I5, while the other supports a weight 59 to counterbalance the sheave. A cover 68, cylindrical in contour, encloses the parts of the head 35 to complete a truly cylindrical structure to eliminate windage during rotation of the flier.

Attention at this point is directed to an aperture 6| in the head 34 and apertures 62 and 63 in the head 35 for the advancement of the conductors I2. The conductors upon passing through the aperture 63, pass over the sheave I6 which is rotatably supported, at 64, by the hub 31. The shaft 39 is grooved. at 65, for the free rotation of the sheave I6 therein, the hub 31 being similarly grooved for this purpose. In both instances heads 34 and 35 are fixed through hubs 36 and 31 to their respective shafts 38 and 39. The shaft 39 has various diameters in its outer or right hand portion of increasing sizes to accommodate a conical aperture 66 therein which communicates with the groove 65 through an aperture 61 for the diagonal travel of the conductors which are then called a pair.

Interposed between the heads 34 and 35 of the flier, is a reel supporting unit composed mainly of three portions 18, 1| and 12. The portion 18 and the manner in which it is supported by the shaft 38 is shown in Fig. 4. The portion 18 is of a fiat structure excepting the end 13, which is cylindrical to receive a bearing 14 which is mounted upon the end of the shaft 38, a cutaway portion 15 short of the end 13 permitting travel of the conductors I2 from opposite sides of the portion to enter the aperture 43 of the shaft. The supported end of the portion 12 is shown in Fig. 5, this portion being substantially flat excepting its cylindrical end 16 which is mounted upon a bearing 11, the latter being supported by the shaft 39. The central portion 1| is rigidly secured to the end portions 18 and 12 by overlapping connections and through the aid of screws 18. Attention is now directed to Fig. 3, which illustrates the. central portion H as having a projection 88 at its lower end to receive a weight or holding means 8| which is suspended between the heads 34 and 35 and serves to hold the reel supporting structure against rotation during the rotation of the shafts 38 and 39 and their respective heads.

The portion H has a circular aperture therein to receive a bearing 83 held in place by an annular plate 84. A spindle 85 has its inner end **-rotatably mounted on the bearing 83 and supports a brake member 88 which is secured thereto by means of screws 81. The brake member 88 is disc-shaped and has a friction surface 88 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Returning now to the spindle 85, attention is directed to a conical portion 89 at the inner end thereof for wedging engagement with a hub portion 98 of the reel 41. The outer end of the spindle is threaded at 8| to receive a nut 92, a conical portion 93 thereof serving to wedgingly interengage a hub portion 94 of the reel 41. With this structure the reel 41 is removable and fixedly mounted on the spindle 85 for rotation therewith on the bearing 88. Bearings 96 and 91 are disposed in the spindle 85 to rotatably support a shaft 98. Interfltting sleeves 99 and I88 are disposed concentric with the shaft 98 between the bearings 96 and 91 and serve as spacers for the bearings. A nut MI is disposed upon a threaded end I82 of the shaft, to hold the shaft against displacement. An enlarged end I83 of the shaft is rotatably supported in a central aperture of the brake member 86 and extends into a central aperture I84 of a brake member I85. The brake member I85 is similar in contour to the brake member 86 but is recessed to receive and support a brake or friction element I86 of a suitable structure. Diametrically opposed slots I81 are formed in the hub portion of the brake member I85, to movably receive a pin I89 which serves as an interengaging means between the brake member I85 and a spindle II8. the latter having an inner end, extending into the central aperture of the brake member I85, slotted at III to receive the pin I89.

The spindle H8 is formed at its inner end for mounting upon a bearing II2 through the assistance of an annular retaining member II4 secured thereto and also supported by the bearing II2 as shown in Fig. 3. The bearing H2 is supported by a plate II5 centrally apertured for the bearing, as shown, and rigidly secured to the central portion 1I through the aid of screws II6. A retaining member II1, annular in general contour and formed for retaining engagement, as at II8, with the spindle H8, is secured to the plate II5 through the aid of screws II9. A similar retaining connection is provided at I28 between the plate 84 and the spindle 85.

Means is provided, through the aid of the pin I89, to apply pressure to the brake member I85 to move the friction element I86 thereof into intimate engagement with the brake member 86. This means consists mainly of a spring IZI disposed in the spindle H8 and whose force, controlled through an adjusting screw I22, may be varied and applied to the pin I 89 through a plunger I24. The outer contour of the spindle H8 is similar to that of the spindle 85, there being provided a conical portion I26 for engagement with a hub portion I 21 of the reel 46 and a removable nut I28 threadedly mounted upon the outer end of the spindle and provided with a cone portion I29 for engagement with a hub portion I38 of the reel 46. Thus it may be observed from this structure, that each flier I8 and will be uniform due to the intermediate brakin means.

Referring now to the power means for driving the fliers Iii and II attention is directed to the motor 28 which drives the unit 29. An output shaft Iill, which may be found in Fig. 2, is, in actual structure, formed of a plurality of parts joined by couplings I32 and I33, and emtends through the housing 32 to a point short of the left end thereof. The shaft tan is journalled in suitable bearings I36.

Viewing now the portions of the shaft disposed in the ends of the housing, it will be observed that sprockets I36 and tilt are mounted thereon. These sprockets drive the shafts ti and it. re spectively, through chains I38 and their respective sprockets I3t. Through sprocket and chain connections Illi and MI, shafts it?! and t lt respectively are driven. Rotation of the shafts W2 and It?! will rotate their respective shafts i 36 and M5 through their respective gears Mt, Mill and Mt. Finally, sprocket and chain connections Mt and IN, operatively connecting their respective shafts ltd-458i and it3ii, will complete the driving means for the two fliers it) and ii. The gears Mt, Ml and M8 at each end oi the fliers are identical to cause rotation of the heads 3t and 35 of the flier Iii in synchronism one with the other, the same result being accom plished for the flier II due to the likeness of the sprocket and chain connections it, it and as.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 2, wherein the flier it is composed of heads Hi3 and Hit connected by rods its and H1. The head itii is mounted upon the inner end of the shaft it and is rotated therewith, the head its being rotatably mounted at its through any suitable means not shown.

Considering first the driving means for the capstan 2I, attention is directed to the motor it which drives the unit 38, the output shaft Hit of which is coupled at Itl to a shaft E62. The shaft M52 is rotatably supported in any suitable bear ings (not shown) and through a sprocket and chain connection I63, rotates a shaft tilt. Through a chain of gears IE5, ltd and m1, rotation of the shaft I54 will rotate a shaft ltd. A sprocket and chain connection I69 continues the driving means from the shaft wt to a sleeve or hollow shaft I10 which is free for rotation on the shaft I9 and includes a gear Ill. The gear ill drives an idler gear I12 which in turn drives a gear I13, the latter being mounted upon a shaft Md. The shaft I14, when driven, drives a bevelled gear i15 which is mounted upon the inner end of the shaft and interengages a gear H6. The gear I16 is mounted upon the shaft 22 or fixed to the capstan 2I, to cause rotation of the capstan in a counterclockwise direction through the driving means just described, linking it with the shaft I82. The flier is rotated through a sprocket and chain connection I18 connecting the shaft I62 to a hollow shaft I19. The flier is thus rotated through this means in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the fliers IO and II.

The takeup reel 28 is mounted upon a rod tilt which is movably disposed in the hollow shaft I19 and adapted, through any suitable mechanism not shown, to be reciprocated yet held against rotation so that the cable 23 may be wound on the reel during rotation of the flier. The purpose of the reciprocation of the rod I80 is to cause suitable reciprocatory movement of thereel to eflect distribution of the cable thereon.

lit

such means for reciprocating the rod and reel is shown in the copending application of 0. 6i. Nelson and 'J. A. Wagner, Serial No. 420,444, filed November 26, 1941.

Attention is directed to the sheave 2a which is supported by an arm Itt adjustable on a bracket I83 to direct the cable 23 to either side of the reel 26, depending upon the direction of rotation of the flier 2t. With this structure it is possible to direct the complete travel of the cable to either side of the reel without causing damage to the insulation on the conductors forming the cable.

Upon considering the operation of the apparatus, let it be understood that the reels it and t? of both fliers it and ii are filled with insu lated electrical conductors i2 and that the rests in each flier are mounted on their spindles so that the conductors will appear to have been wound in opposite directions. In other words, one reel, for example reel dd, is mounted on its spindle hit so that the conductor will be withdrawn from the bottom of the reel as a result of the apparent clockwise winding of the conductor on the reel, whereas the conductor on the reel ti will be withdrawn from the top as a result of the apparent winding of that conductor in a counterclockwise direction. As shown in Fig. 1, theconductors of the fliers it and it pass upon their respective sides of the portions it and enter the conical apertures til of their shafts tit. In setting up the machine for operation, the conductors of the pairs may be manually twisted together and fed through the apertures just mentioned around the sheave it through the guides 52 and at, around the sheaves it and it, through the grooves of their respective shifts, the apertures til and lit, where they merge in pairs from their fliers and then pass through the hollow shaft 'iiithrough which they are drawn from the capstan it i, and finally reach the takeup reel 36, a completed cable of the two pairs of conductors.

The common power means 28 causes simultaneous and synchronous driving of the various parts of the machine. Upon considering the structure in Fig. 1, the fliers it and II may each be considered as having three parts, the head 35 and 35 being two of the parts and the intermediate reel supporting unit the third part. The heads have their separate driving means which are linked to the common driving means and are rotated in synchronism in like directions. As the fliers it and M are rotated, the conductors are advanced in the paths previously described. The conductors in each pair upon leaving their respective reels and before reaching their sheaves It, receive one twist for each revolution of their filers. The pairs thus twisted travel to the opposite end of the fliers, where they receive another twist for each flier revolution. These twists are predetermined in number, depending upon the characteristics of the conductors and their insulating coverings, and upon the number of turns desired for a perfect lay of the conductors in each pair and the pairs in the completed cable after passing through the entire machine. To eliminate kinking and loosening of the conductors, it is important that the desired number of turns be given to the pairs as well as to the conductors forming the pairs. Furthermore, the tendency of the twisting of the pairs in the opposite direction from their original twist to intertwist the.

pairs into the cable, must also bear consideration. Therefore, the fliers I0 and II are rotated at like speeds in a given direction, to twist the conductors of their respective pairs to form an excess twist in the pairs to offset the tendency of the flier 20 to untwist the pairs during its rotation in the direction opposite that of the fliers I and I I. As a result, the correct twist of the pairs is present in the final cable due to the tendency of the fliers I0 and II to overtwist the pairs.

It is further important, in establishing uniformity, in the pairs of conductors, that the conductors travel at like speeds under like and constant tensions. This is accomplished through the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, the reel supporting portion of the fliers I0 and I I. As wa previously described, the reels 48 and 41 of each flier are caused to rotate in opposite directions as a result of the withdrawal of the conductors I2 therefrom. Therefore, the brake members 86 and I05. to ether with the friction element I 08 of the latter, are rotated in opposite directions against the frictional force existing therebetween. The friction exists between the member 86 and element I06 and its effect is determined and varied by the force of the spring I2I holding the brake member and element together. desired tension on the conductors is determined and the spring I2I set accordingly through the adjustment of the screw I22, the force of the spring being transmitted through the plunger I24 and the pin I08 to the brake member I and element I06. Thus the brake member I05 and element I08 are movable relative to the brake member 86, this movement being on a common axis of the brake members.

The removal of the conductors from their reels will cause rotation of their respective spindles 85 and H0 in opposite directions with their respec- Thus the tive brake members 88 and I05-I08 and the I braking force there created will be transmitted equally to 'the conductors leaving their reels. Therefore, with equal braking force applied in each flier I0 and II, the tension of all the conductors will be the same.

In each instance the tensions on the conductors of the two fliers may vary. This may be readily accomplished through the adjustment of their respective springs I2I. It may also be desired under such circumstances to cause rotation of the fliers I0 and I I at diilferent speeds. This maybe accomplished by changing the gears I46, I 41 and I48 for gears of different ratios, to brin about the desired variation in speed of the two fliers. In either case, the gears of each set would be identical to cause simultaneous rotation of the heads 34 and 35 of the flier I0.

During the rotation of the fliers I0 and II, it will be apparent that the mounting of the central units thereof upon their bearings, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, together with the weights 8|, will cause the central or reel supporting unit of the fliers to remain stationary during the rotation of the fliers, thus resulting in the forming. of the twists in the pairs of conductors during their advancement through the fliers.

Although specific improvements of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

What i claimed is:

l. A strand handling machine comprising a pair of supply reels for strands, a support therefor, means to advance the strands to withdraw the strands from their reels and thus cause rotation of the reels in opposite directions, braking means interposed between the reels to create equal tensions on the advancing strands, an enclosed cylindrical hollow head mounted for rotation relative to the support, and means in the head to guide the advancing strands and twist them together.

2. A strand handling machine comprising a flier having enclosed cylindrical hollow heads. separate means to support the heads for rotation, a supply unit interposed between the heads to supply strands thereto, means in the heads to successively receive the strands and twist them together, and separate means to rotate the heads in synchronism with each other.

3. A strand handling machine comprising a flier having enclosed cylindrical hollow heads, separate means to support the heads for rotation, a supply unit interposed between the heads to supply strands thereto, means in the heads to successively receive the strands and twist them together, separate means to rotate the heads in synchronism with each other, and means to hold the unit against rotation with the heads.

4. A strand handling machine comprisin a flier rotatable to twist two advancing strands together, supply reels for the strands rotatable in opposite directions by the advancement of the strands, axially aligned spindles for the reels, means interposed between the reels to rotatably support the spindle, and cooperating brake elements connected to the inner ends of their respective spindles'for rotation therewith in opposite directions to create a given brake drag divided between the spindles and reels to cause application of equal tensions on the strands.

5. A strand handling machine comprising a flier rotatable to twist two advancing. strands together, axially aligned spindles for the reels, one of the spindles being longitudinally apertured, means to rotatably support the spindles, cooperating brake elements connected to the inner ends of their respective spindles for rotation therewith in opposite directions to create a given brake drag divided between the spindles and reels to cause application of equal tensions on the strands, and means disposed in the apertured spindle to apply a variable force to the brake elements to vary the given brake drag and thus vary the tension on the strands.

ELMER J. LARSEN. OSCAR G. NELSON.

Images