Abstract:
The invention concerns a bobbin ( 1 ) for winding and unwinding a link such as a cable or similar, comprising:—a central mandrel ( 10 ) comprising two opposing faces ( 11, 12 ) perpendicular to a rotational axis ( 13 ) of the bobbin ( 1 ),—two sets of arms ( 21 ) each mounted on a respective opposing face of the central mandrel ( 10 ), each arm being in contact with an intermediate support positioned between the two ends of same,—characterised in that the bobbin comprises a plurality of adjustment elements ( 30 ) each associated with a respective arm, the actuation of an adjustment element resulting in a force being applied to the associated arm of same through the intermediate support, the application of said force tending to vary the inclination of said arm around the intermediate support in such a way as to adjust the position of said arm in a plane essentially parallel to the rotational axis of the bobbin.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the technical field of devices allowing winding and unwinding a link such as a cable, an optical fiber or the like. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Devices are known for winding and unwinding an energy transport link such as an optical fiber. Such a device conventionally includes:
       a mandrel including a cylindrical bearing surface upon which are arranged the inner turns of the link,   sets of similar side arms designed to defined the volume of the link winding and to contain it laterally, playing together the role of flanges.       
 
         [0005]    The arms of each set extend radially from the mandrel. The diameter of such a bobbin can be on the order of two meters. 
         [0006]    To allow correct winding of the link on such a bobbin, it is necessary to control the position of the arms of the sets. Particularly in the case of a single-turn winding of the link on the bobbin, it is necessary that:
       each set of arms has a rotational symmetry about an axis of rotation of the mandrel,   the distance between the proximal ends (i.e. next to the mandrel) of the arm sets is constant, and   the distance between the distal ends (i.e. remote from the mandrel) of the arm sets is constant.       
 
         [0010]    At present, there is no satisfactory means to correct the position of the side arms of the assembly. 
         [0011]    One aim of the present invention is to propose a bobbin allowing the aforementioned shortcoming to be avoided. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    To this end, a bobbin for winding and unwinding a link such as a cable or the like is proposed, including:
       a central mandrel comprising two opposite faces perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the bobbin, p 1  two sets of arms, each mounted on a respective opposed face of the central mandrel, each arm being in contact with an intermediate support positioned between its ends,   the bobbin including a plurality of adjustment elements each associated with a respective arm, the actuation of an adjustment element causing the application of a force to its associated arm thanks to the intermediate support, the application of the force tending to cause the tilt of said arm from the intermediate support so as to adjust the position of said arm in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the bobbin.       
 
         [0015]    For each arm, the adjustment element and the intermediate support facilitate the adjustment of the position of the arm by leverage. The adjustment of the position of the arm is carried out by actuating a single adjustment element, which eases assembly of the bobbin by a user. Each adjustment element can for example be a threaded rod screwed into a complementary threaded opening in the arm with which said adjustment element is associated, or any other type of adjustment element allowing displacement of its associated arm by simple manipulation of the adjustment element. 
         [0016]    Preferred, but not limiting aspects of the bobbin according to the invention are the following:
       each adjustment element is connected to the central mandrel, on the one hand, and to an arm on the other hand so as to hold said arm onto the mandrel;   each adjustment element includes:
           a body designed to cooperate with a complementary tool for displacing said adjustment element, and   an enclosure built into the body and designed to receive a portion of its associated arm, said enclosure being arranged so as to apply to its associated arm:
               a force in a first direction when the adjustment element is displaced in a first direction,   a force in a second direction when the adjustment element is displaced in a second direction,   
               said forces extending in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the bobbin;   
           the forces applied by the enclosure make it possible to cause the displacement (in one direction or the other) of its associated arm from the intermediate support; this facilitates operations for adjusting the bobbin; particularly, the manipulation of a single adjustment element is sufficient to cause displacement of its associated arm.   the body includes two opposite bases, the enclosure extending on one of the opposite bases of the body; this makes it possible to facilitate manufacture of the adjustment element and its use for assembling the bobbin.   the enclosure includes at least two facing walls, said walls delimiting a volume suited for accommodating a portion of its associated arm.   each wall can for example consist of a plurality of fingers positioned in a star shape, one finger of a first wall facing a finger of the facing wall; of course the walls can have other configurations such as annular, triangular, square, rectangular, and hexagonal configurations, etc.;   the shape of the enclosure has a rotational symmetry; this makes it possible to have a constant contact surface between the enclosure and the arm portion, no matter what the position of the adjustment element, particularly when it is displaceable by screwing a threaded rod.   the enclosure consists of a pin, particularly annular, including a throat designed to accommodate a portion of its associated arm; this makes it possible to increase the contact surface between the adjustment element and the arm on the one hand, and improves the distribution of the force applied by the adjustment element to the arm on the other hand.   each adjustment element includes a threaded axial bore passing through its body and its enclosure to allow assembling it to a threaded rod or the like.   the arm portion designed to enter the enclosure includes a notch; this makes it possible to increase the contact area between the enclosure and its associated arm.   each arm includes a proximal end and a distal end, the arm portion designed to come into the enclosure of the adjustment element including the proximal end of the arm; this makes it possible to increase the intensity of the force applied by the enclosure into the arm during displacement of the adjustment element, so as to facilitate displacement of the arm about the support.   the contact between the intermediate support and an arm is positioned at a distance from the adjustment element associated with the arm, which is less than half the length of said arm; this makes it possible to facilitate variation of the inclination of each arm about the support during application of a force thereto.   the bobbin includes a support for the coils of the link, said support extending between the two sets of arms and constituting the intermediate support of each arm.   the support is uncoupled from the mandrel and surrounds it.   the support includes a plurality of ferrules, each including a face shaped like a portion of a cylinder, said ferrules being fixed to the sets of arms so as to form a cylindrical support; this makes it possible to limit the bulk of the bobbin when it is disassembled.   the bobbin further includes at least one hoop fixed to the distal ends of the arms of a set of arms; this makes it possible to stiffen the structure of the bobbin.   the hoop consists of at least two sectors shaped like portions of a circle; this makes it possible to reduce the bulk of the bobbin when it is disassembled.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0039]    Other features, aims and advantages of the present invention will still be revealed by the description that follows, which is purely illustrative and not limiting and must be read with reference to the appended drawings wherein: 
           [0040]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are front and profile schematic representations of a bobbin, 
           [0041]      FIGS. 3 to 5  are enlarged schematic representations of a portion of an arm, 
           [0042]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are schematic representations of an arm connected to a mandrel, and 
           [0043]      FIGS. 8 to 10  are schematic representations of an adjustment element in section, from the front and in perspective. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0044]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7 , bobbin  1  as shown comprises:
       a central mandrel  10 , and   two sets of side arms  20  similar to one another, connected to the mandrel  10  through adjustment elements  30 , and each designed to play the role of a flange guiding the link in winding/unwinding.       
 
         [0047]    The bobbin also includes a support  40  extending between the sets of side arms  20  to form a surface bearing the link. 
       Mandrel 
       [0048]    The mandrel  10  includes two opposite circular faces  11 ,  12  and a side face. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the mandrel  10  has a cylindrical support surface. More precisely, the mandrel  10  is a disc with a thickness suited to the link to be wound/unwound. 
         [0049]    The mandrel  10  can comprise a tube extending along its axis of revolution and forming the axis of rotation  13  of the bobbin  1 . 
         [0050]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the mandrel  10  can comprise threaded rods  14  mounted on the periphery of each circular face  11 ,  12  to allow fixing of the side arms  20  using the adjustment elements  30 . These threaded rods  14  can be integral with the mandrel  10  or be fixed on the mandrel  10 , for example by screwing into the threaded transverse openings provided in the mandrel  10 . 
       Set of Arms 
       [0051]    Each set of arms  20  comprises a plurality of arms  21  extending radially from the mandrel  10 . These arms  21  are of metal for example. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the bobbin  1  includes thirty arms  21 . 
         [0052]    Each arm  21  includes a proximal end  22  near the mandrel  10  and a distal end  23  remote from the mandrel  10 . 
         [0053]    The arms  21  are coupled to the mandrel  10  by their proximal ends  22  using a respective adjustment element  30  which will be described in more detail hereafter. 
         [0054]    Each arm is also in contact with an intermediate support. The distance between this intermediate support and the adjustment element associated with an arm is preferably less than half the length of said arm. This intermediate support can consist of a single support part in contact with all the arms of a set of arms. As a variant, this intermediate support can consist of a plurality of members, each member being in contact with one or more arms of a set of arms. The intermediate support can be integrated into the mandrel or be remote therefrom. 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the proximal end  22  of each arm  21  can include a notch  25  designed to be inserted into an enclosure  32  of the adjustment element  30 . This makes it possible to increase the contact surface between the arm  21  and the enclosure  32  of the adjustment element  30 . 
         [0056]    The distal ends  23  of the arms  21  of each set of arms  20  are fixed to a respective hoop  26  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . This hoop can be made of metal. The hoop  26  makes it possible to reinforce the structure of the bobbin. 
         [0057]    Each hoop  26  can consist of two semicircular sectors or of more than two sectors shaped as portions of a circle and the juxtaposing whereof makes it possible to obtain the hoop  26 . The fact that the hoop  26  consists of several juxtaposable sectors makes it possible to reduce the bulk of the bobbin once it is disassembled. 
         [0058]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , the bobbin can for example include ten sectors shaped as portions of a circle. Each sector makes it possible to connect the distal ends  23  of three successive arms  21 , the different sectors being juxtaposed and fixed together to form the circle  26 . 
       Support 
       [0059]    The bobbin  1  also includes a support  40  forming a surface bearing the link, and more precisely:
       the inner turn of the link in the case of a single-turn bobbin, or   the inner turns of the link in the case of a multi-turn bobbin.       
 
         [0062]    This support  40  can be:
       integrated with the mandrel (in this case it corresponds to the side face of the mandrel), or   separated from the mandrel, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  6  and  7 .       
 
         [0065]    This support can constitute the intermediate support described above, or not. 
         [0066]    The support  40  can include a smooth cylindrical sheet metal part for accommodating the turns of the link. As a variant, the support  40  can consist of a plurality of smooth segments shaped like portions of a cylinder and the juxtaposing whereof allows the formation of a cylinder. 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the support  40  can for example consist of ferrules extending between the sets of side arms  20 . These ferrules are fixed—by screwing for example—to the arms  21 , and extend a given distance  27  from the distal ends  23  of said arms  21 . 
         [0068]    When the support constitutes the intermediate support, this distance  27  is preferably greater than half the total length of an arm  21 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the distance  27  between the distal end  23  of an arm  21  and the ferrule fixing area on the arm  21  is equal to ⅔ the total length of the arm  21 . 
         [0069]    Each ferrule consists of a sheet-metal part in the shape of a portion of a cylinder. juxtaposing the ferrules makes is possible to form a cylinder defining a smooth bearing surface on which will be positioned the inner turns of the link intended to be wound on the bobbin  1 . 
       Adjustment Elements 
       [0070]    With reference to  FIGS. 8 to 10 , an example of an adjustment element  30  used for coupling an arm  21  to the mandrel  10  and adjusting the position of said arm has been illustrated. 
         [0071]    Each adjustment element  30  includes a body  31 , a peripheral circumferential enclosure  32  and a threaded bore  36  passing axially through the body  31 . 
         [0072]    The body  31  is designed to cooperate with a complementary tool to induce the movement of the adjustment element. The body  31  includes two opposite bases and a peripheral face the shape whereof is complementary to that of a tightening tool of the adjustment element  30 . The peripheral face is hexagonal, for example. 
         [0073]    The enclosure  32  is designed to receive a portion  24  of a respective arm  21  (see  FIG. 5 ). The enclosure  32  includes at least two walls  33 ,  34  delimiting a volume  35  suited for accommodating an end portion  24  of a respective arm  21 . This enclosure  32  consists for example of an annular pin extending over one of the bases of the body  31  and including a groove on its side face. This groove is designed to accommodate a portion  24  of an arm  21 . The use of such an adjustment element makes it possible to reduce the bulk of the bobbin. More precisely, the use of such an adjustment element including a pin including a slot makes possible the manufacture of a bobbin with a small thickness, the part of the adjustment element situated between the arm and the mandrel having little thickness. 
         [0074]    As described in more detail hereafter with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the adjustment element  30  is arranged so as to apply a force F or F′ to its associated arm  21 , by means of the enclosure  32 , when the adjustment element  30  is displaced. This force F or F′ exerted by the enclosure  32  extends in a plane containing the axis of rotation  13  of the bobbin  1 . The direction of the force depends on the displacement direction of the adjustment element  30 . 
         [0075]    The application of this force F, F′ to the arm  21  brings about a displacement R or R′ of the arm  21  about its connection with the support  40 . Thus it is possible to adjust the positions of the arms  21  of the sets of side arms  20  so that:
       each set of arms has a rotational symmetry about the axis of rotation  13  of the bobbin,   the distance between the proximal ends (i.e. near the mandrel) of the sets of arms is constant, and   the distance between the distal ends (i.e. remote from the mandrel) of the sets of arms is constant.       
 
         [0079]    For example, it is possible to make the arms  21  of the sets of side arms  20  coplanar in their region located radially outside the mandrel. 
         [0080]    As a variant, it is possible to adjust the positions of the arms so that:
       the arms of each set of arms are contained in a cone with an axis of symmetry combined with the axis of rotation of the bobbin,   the distance between the proximal ends (i.e. near the mandrel) of the sets of arms is constant, for example equal to 54 millimeters, and   the distance between the distal ends (i.e. far from the mandrel) of the sets of arms is constant, for example equal to 51 millimeters.       
 
         [0084]    To this end, the adjustment element  30  includes the threaded bore  36  through which it is mounted, by screwing:
       on a screw (not shown) passing through an opening provided in the mandrel, or   on a threaded rod, integral or not with the mandrel.       
 
       Principle of Operation 
       [0087]    Thanks to the use of an adjustment element such as that illustrated in  FIGS. 8 to 10 , the assembly and more particularly the adjustment of the bobbin  1  is facilitated. 
         [0088]    Indeed, during assembly of the bobbin  1 , one of the operations that are difficult to implement relates to the adjustment of the position of the arms, for example the coplanar positioning of the sets of side arms  20 . More precisely, it is necessary to put each arm  21  of a set of arms  20  into a plane parallel to the plane containing the arms  21  of the other set of arms  20  facing it. 
         [0089]    The fact that the distances between the sets of side arms  20  are constant at their proximal and distal ends is very important for allowing correct winding/unwinding of the link, particularly in the case of a single-turn bobbin. 
         [0090]    The principle of adjustment of a bobbin  1  by actuating the adjustment elements  30  is the following. 
         [0091]    Once the arms  21  are fixed to the mandrel  10  and the support  40 , the user adjusts the distance between each arm  21  of a set of arms  20  and the arm  21  of the other set of arms  20  facing it so as for example to make the set of arms coplanar in mutually parallel planes. 
         [0092]    To do this, the user displaces by screwing the adjustment element  30  of the arm  21  to be adjusted depending on the distance between the facing arms  21 . 
         [0093]    More precisely:
       a. If the distance between the distal ends  23  of the facing arms  21  is less than the distance between the proximal ends  22  of the facing arms  21 , then the user screws the adjustment element  30  onto the threaded rod  14  mounted on the mandrel  10 .       
 
         [0095]    This induces a displacement D of the adjustment element  30  toward the mandrel  10 . As it is displaced, the enclosure  32  of the adjustment element  30  applies a force F on the proximal end  22  of the arm  21 , the direction of this force F being parallel to the axis of rotation of the bobbin  1  and the direction of this force F being the same as the direction of displacement D of the adjustment element  30  (to wit, toward the mandrel). 
         [0096]    The application of this force F has the effect of “pushing” the proximal end  22  of the arm  21  toward the mandrel  10 , which induces the displacement R of the arm  21  about its contact area with the intermediate support (the support  40  in the example). 
         [0097]    During the gradual displacement D of the adjustment element  30  toward the mandrel  10 , the distal end  23  of the arm  21  separates from the distal end  23  of the facing arm  21 . 
         [0098]    When the distance between the distal ends  23  of the facing arms  21  is equal to the distance between the proximal ends  22  of the facing arms  21 , the user stops his action on the adjustment element  30  so as to interrupt its displacement D. The facing arms  21  are then coplanar.
       b. If, on the other hand, the distance between the distal ends  23  of the facing arms  21  is greater than the distance between the proximal ends  22  of the facing arms  21 , then the user unscrews the adjustment element  30 .       
 
         [0100]    This induces a displacement D′ of the adjustment element  30 , which separates from the mandrel  10 . As it is displacing, the enclosure  32  of the adjustment element  30  applies a force F′ to the proximal end  22  of the arm  21 , the direction of this force F′ being parallel to the axis of rotation of the bobbin  1  and the direction of this force F′ being the same as the direction of displacement D′ of the adjustment element  30 . 
         [0101]    The application of this force has the effect of “pulling” the proximal end  22  of the arm  21 , which induces the variation of inclination R′ of the arm  21  about its contact area with the intermediate support (here, the support  40 ). 
         [0102]    During the gradual displacement D′ of the adjustment element  30  toward the mandrel  10 , the distal end  23  of the arm  21  approaches the distal end  23  of the facing arm  21 . 
         [0103]    When the distance between the distal ends  23  of the facing arms  21  is equal to the distance between the proximal ends  22  of the facing arms  21 , the user stops his action on the adjustment element so as to interrupt its displacement. 
         [0104]    The facing arms are then parallel. 
         [0105]    Thus the adjustment of the bobbin  1  is facilitated for the user, who does not need to manipulate several parts with difficult access to make the sets of arms  21  coplanar, in parallel planes.