Patent GB-694742-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the method of, and apparatus for, manufacture of rope
IPC: D07B3/04
Filed: 1950-10-31
Abstract: 694,742. Stranding machines. YAKE, D. J. Oct. 31, 1950 [Nov. 10, 1949], No. 26515/50. Class 109 A rope stranding machine comprises a wire supply unit which comprises a transfer reel, 70, a main reel 40, which reels are provided with interengaging surfaces and are mounted on the rotary shaft of the strander through which shaft the wires to be twisted together are drawn, means being provided to hold the main reel stationary whilst the shaft is still rotating, means for rotating the transfer reel independently of the shaft for the purpose of coiling wire thereon, means for moving the transfer reel into engagement with the main reel whilst the latter is held stationary, so that the coil of wire may be transferred to the main reel. The machine may be utilised for winding strands from individual wires or for winding ropes from twisted strands. A number of wire supply units, 12, (4 are shown in Fig. 1) are mounted on a hollow shaft 13, the wire 15 from each unit entering the hollow shaft 13 through apertures 21<SP>1</SP> and after passing through the shaft 13 emerge through apertures 21 and are drawn through a perforated plate 20, wrapped around a core 16 in a forming die 22, the core 16 passing through the entire length of the shaft 13 having been withdrawn from a reel 17. The formed rope or strands are reeled at 27 after having passed over a power pulley 24, tension drum 25 and block 26. The power pulley 24 and shaft 13 are driven through belt and pulley systems by a motor 28. Each wire supply unit 12, see Fig. 6, comprises a radially expandible feed reel 40 rotatably mounted on shaft 13 and frictionally connected thereto by an adjustable spring loaded element 44, a floating eye flange 60 similarly mounted upon the reel 40, a freely rotatable take up spool 65, a flange 66 rigidly mounted upon shaft 13, and a supply reel 70 rotatably mounted upon shaft 13. The reel 40 comprises a number of fingers 48 pivoted upon links 49 which permits radial movement of the fingers. A latch 55 engaging a collar 56 is provided to retain the fingers in their expanded position. Recesses are provided in reel 70 into which fit the fingers 49 in the engaged position. Reel 40 may be stopped by a brake 90 and reel 70 may be stopped by a brake 88 mounted upon an arm 82 which is also adapted to transmit axial movement to the reel 70. Reel 70 has a slight taper, the maximum diameter of which is slightly greater than, and the minimum diameter of which is slightly less than the fully expanded diameter of reel 40. When substantially all of the wire upon reel 40 has been exhausted, the reel is stopped. Disc 60 continues to rotate relatively to reel 40 to an extent determined by the pressure on the adjustable friction device 64 and flange 66 continues to rotate with the shaft 13. Excess of wire withdrawn from the reel 40 during this operation becomes stored on the spool 65. While reel 40 is stationary it is radially contracted and the supply spool 70 is moved to the right, the spool 70 being also held from rotating by its brake 88, so that the contracted surface of reel 40 is entered inside the supply of wire 69. The ends of the wire on reel 40 and spool 70 are then joined, reel 40 expanded to its limit and spool 70 is returned to its disengaged position. Reel 40 may then be released with its fresh supply of wire. In a modified construction, Fig. 11, the feed reel 100 is of solid construction and of diameter equal to the smallest diameter of the tapered portion of spool 70. The reel 100 has extended fingers 102 which enter corresponding slots 112 in spool 70 during the transfer operation. The transferred wire is retained upon reel 100 by dogs 103. The brakes provided upon the former construction may be omitted in the modified arrangement which is generally of smaller dimensions. The supply reel 70 is replenished from a swift 131 (Figs. 1 and 2). A pulley 125 driven from the main drive shaft 29 is connected to a friction drum 124 both being mounted on a lever 127. When reel 70 is exhausted, the reel is stopped, wire from a swift 131 is led via a block 132 to the reel 70 where it is secured by a pin 109. The - reel 70 is then caused to rotate in a counter direction to that of shaft 13 by means of a belt drive 126 to replenish the reel.