Patent GB-832917-A (GB)
Title: Machines for twisting together electric conductors
Inventor: STARK WILLIAM HARRY CHARLES
IPC: H01B13/02
Filed: 1956-11-08
Abstract: 832,917. Stranding machines. SOUTHERN UNITED TELEPHONE CABLES Ltd. Nov. 15, 1957 [Nov. 8, 1956], No.34205/56. Class 109 In a machine for twisting together electric conductors to form a strand or bunch, reels carrying the conductors are arranged co-axially with each other and with a frame which rotates about a vertical axis, and the reels are mounted in the frame in such a way that the only rotation of a reel which takes place with respect to the frame is brought about by the tension in the conductor as it is drawn off the reel in its passage from the reel, through a shaping device, to a take-up device, this rotation being resisted by a frictional force which is dependent on the weight of the reel and its contents. Electric conductors 1 from supply reels 6 mounted on support platforms 5 in a frame 4 pass over guides 12 and 14 and with a core string 2 from a supply cop enter a bell-mouth 15 and lay plate 8 from which the stranded conductor passes through dies 10 and whipping head 16, over a capstan 17 and is traversed on to a reel 25 by mechanism driven by a shaft 26 through gearing 18 from an electric motor 19. The capstan 17, and frame 4 through change speed gearing 20, 21 are driven by the motor 19, so that the lay of the cable can be varied whilst take-up speed is maintained constant. The support 7 for the string cop is hinged and can be pulled down to facilitate replacement of the cop. Preferably each reel 6 is mounted on a carrier 11 secured to a member having lugs slidable in grooves in the supporting platform 5 and pivoting at the end of the grooves so that the member assumes an inclined position, facilitating replacement of the reels 6. In one embodiment, Fig. 2, the reel 6 is placed over a tubular extension 29 of a reel carrier 30, and a stud 33 ensures driving connection between the two. The carrier 30 rotates on roller bearings 32 about a spindle 31 fixed to a supporting member 37 and its axial movement is limited by a retainer 39. A ring 34 of polished steel on the carrier 30, which may be the outer race of the bearing 32, bears on a friction ring 36 on the member 37 secured to the platform 5, Fig. 1. The resistance between the members 34 and 36 is thus dependent on the weight of the reel. In a second embodiment a resilient coupling is provided between the reel and the friction device. The upper part of the reel carrier is provided with depending radial lugs, the polished steel member with upwardly directed radial lugs and connected to alternate lugs are compression springs which avoid "snatching" in the take-up of the conductors. In a third embodiment, Fig. 5, part of the weight of the reel 6 mounted on a carrier 49 is carried by a thrust bearing 50, the lower cage of which is secured to a splined fitting 51 movable relatively to a member 52, under the action of a spring 53. A polished steel surface 54 on the carrier 49 presses against a friction ring 55 on a splined fitting 56 movable vertically under the action of a spring 57, the springs 53, 57 being so chosen that the friction device takes a varying proportion of the weight of the reel 6.