Patent GB-666201-A (GB)
Title: Improved method of and apparatus for plaiting strands of metallic wires
IPC: D04C3/40
Filed: 1946-02-07
Abstract: 666,201. Braiding. HARMEGNIES, B. Feb. 7, 1946 [Feb. 8, 1945], No. 3935/46. Class 74 (i). Between the usual roundabout M1 and the plaiting point, wire strands being formed into a cable are divided into two series, one at each side of the centre line of the cable, the direction of each strand in the series conforming substantially to that which it will occupy in the cable, and each series is subdivided into two rectilinear groups, one at each side of the mean plane of the cable : the strands in each series move in unison during the plaiting, so that in each series, in continuous alternation, each strand is caused to occupy the place vacated by the one preceding it from the outer end of the series, the strand lying furthest towards the outer end passing between the groups situated at both sides of the mean plane and being caused to occupy the place lying nearest to the axis in the opposite series and vacated by the innermost strand of that series. The cores, if provided, occupy fixed positions in the groups. One step in the above movement of twenty-five strands within two such series is indicated in Fig. 9. The strands are maintained in such groups and given such movements by a plaiting mechanism M4 including two pairs P1, P2 and P3, P4 of chassis, bearing co-operating screws having interrupted left-hand and right-hand threads. Through slider X1, accommodated in waists in the screws, pass the cores. The chassis of each pair are alternately approximated, Fig. 25A, and withdrawn from each other, Fig. 25B, the pairs working in alternation. When the chassis P1, P2 (say) have been brought together, their screws are rotated one revolution, to move all the strands 1, 2, 3, &c. one stop outwardly, certain strands being permitted, by the presence of the waists, to pass from one screw to the other. The chassis P3, P4 are then brought together and the chassis P1, P2 separated, their strands being retained, as necessary, in the screw threads, by co-operation of the slides. The outermost strand 1, however, is freed by separation of the chassis and escapes into a position whence, by the action of an oscillating beater, it is thrust into a space between the screws of chassis P3, P4 provided by reason of a flattened part u5 formed on the unthreaded inner end of the screw of chassis P4. The screws of chassis P3, P4 are then rotated one revolution and ao on. Between the usual roundabout M1 and the plaiting mechanism M4, the strands pass through mechanisms M2, M3. In the mechanism M2 they pass through frames which are propelled by drums j3 along a sinuous path which is substantially a development, about a straight line and on a different scale. of the sinuous path which they followed in the roundabout. The mechanism M3 comprises tubular shafts k4 connected by universal joints l4 to the drums j3 and bearing notched discs m4 and plain discs m5 which present to the strands a support similar to that which would be afforded by a conical surface and guide them to the plaiting mechanism. The plaited cable passes through a guide M5 and, via a differential control mechanism M7, to a bobbin driven via a disc c5 and a co-operating roller b5. The roller is moved radially of the disc, to vary the speed of take-up, as required, by the differential mechanism, of which one gear h5 is geared to a pulley v4 over which the cable passes and another gear h<SP>1</SP>5 is geared to the vertical driving- shaft of the machine, whilst the differential shaft carries a wheel l5 which is connected to the roller b5 to control the displacement thereof. A frame L carrying each roundabout bobbin j, is borne by a structure mounted on a wheel r which rolls in the channel of a guiding rail s, and two equilibrium wheels t which roll on the lower face of a horizontal runway. The bobbin is controlled by a spring-pressed brake x.