Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/002,551, filed Jan. 2, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to tensioning apparatus for tensioning one or more ropes in a paper-making apparatus to facilitate threading a paper web through the paper-making apparatus. In order to locate a web of paper in proper position for processing through a paper-making apparatus, a web or sheet of paper is directed by means of one or a pair of endless ropes around multiple rolls located in the paper-making apparatus for processing the web into rolled paper. Although a single rope may be used in certain applications of the paper-making machine, it is more common to use a pair of parallel ropes, each carrying the paper web. The rope typically has a diameter of about one-half inch and is usually constructed of nylon, sisal or other natural fibers having sufficient strength to maintain a desired structural integrity as the rope or ropes traverse the multiple rollers in the paper-making apparatus. Because of the nature of operation of the paper-making apparatus and the construction of the ropes, the ropes stretch during operation, typically from about seven percent to about ten percent of their original length and each rope may be from approximately two hundred to about four hundred feet in length, thereby providing a significant problem of stretch over a period of time as the rope is used to support the paper web in the paper-making apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various types of rope tensioning apparatus have been utilized in the prior art to stretch one or more ropes used in supporting a paper web in a paper-making apparatus and in similar equipment requiring the tensioning of ropes or cables. Typical of these patents is U.S. Pat. No. 1,826,103, dated Oct. 6, 1931, to W. J. Trempe. The Trempe automatic compensator for traveling felt in paper-making machines includes an automatic compensator which maintains relatively constant tension in a traveling felt of variable length. The automatic compensator includes a pair of tracks, a sheave having a groove in the periphery thereof guided on the tracks, a shaft upon which the sheave is rotatably mounted and a roller over which the felt is guided, the roller being mounted on the shaft. The automatic compensator is designed to automatically vary the position of the sheave to maintain substantially constant felt tension. U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,497, dated Feb. 22, 1972, to George W. Lecompte details a “Tensile Loading Apparatus For Moving Wire”. The apparatus is designed to test the tensile strength of moving wire and includes a main pulley having a pair of grooves and a free pulley biased away from the main pulley for leading wire in a loop from one main pulley groove to the other. Guides for guiding the wire to and away from the main pulley assure a 180-degree wire wrap about each main pulley groove. This wrap facilitates a high testing tension in the loop that extends about the free pulley, while only a low tension exists prior to entering on the main pulley and after leaving it. A “Dancer Roll Assembly” is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,014, dated Sep. 8, 1981, to Jack Par Evers. The patent details a pair of dancer roll assemblies disposed in side-by-side relationship, each including an upper shaft and a lower shaft having spaced-apart sprockets which are vertically aligned. The assemblies receive a pair of belts which carry a dancer doll for vertical movement under the influence of a tensioned web passed around the dancer roll. The upper shaft is a control shaft and is connected to a pneumatic control motor which resists the rotation of the shaft and thus, the upward movement of the dancer roll. The tension on the web is controlled by controlling the air pressure in the pneumatic control motor. U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,753, dated Dec. 27, 1994, to Thomas E. Barthauer et al, details a “Tensioning Apparatus For Web Threading Endless Rope”. The rope stretcher is designed for use in a paper-making machine and includes a beam having parallel flanges forming tracks which are engaged by guide wheels supporting separate carriages. The carriages support corresponding rope sheaves for free rotation and a pair of fluid cylinders are mounted on the beam and have piston rods connected directly to the corresponding carriages. The rope sheave on each carriage has at least two peripheral grooves to receive a double loop of the rope and the frame supports a corresponding multiple groove sheave for each of the carriage sheaves and for also receiving a double loop of the rope. U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,892, dated Jan. 3, 1995, to Charles D. Kimball, discloses a fluid pressure tensioning apparatus for a web threading endless rope. The device includes a beam having a flange forming a track which is engaged by guide wheels supporting a pair of separate carriages. The carriages support corresponding rope shields for free rotation and a pair of fluid cylinders are mounted on the beam and enclose pistons connected by a corresponding piston rod directly to the corresponding carriages. Operation of the fluid cylinders is effected by a suitable fluid tension in the rope sheaves after the tensioning apparatus is installed in a paper-making machine. A serial accumulating system for filamentary material is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,264, dated May 9, 1995, to Frank W. Kotzur et al. The winding accumulator system is designed for controlling the storage of filamentary material between a source of material and a winding receptacle and includes multiple, serially interconnected accumulator units for storing the filamentary material. The movement of the filamentary material is varied between the accumulator units and the movement varying device to limit the change in tension of the filamentary material with changes in acceleration or deceleration of the filamentary material caused by a change in the input or output of filamentary material to or from the accumulator system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,266, dated Jan. 9, 1996, to Takemoto et al, details a “Paper Conveying Apparatus Having A Belt Tension Adjusting Mechanism”. The belt tensioning adjusting mechanism detailed in the patent includes a belt tension adjusting pulley, over which the endless belt is placed; a plate having multiple recesses, in which a rotary shaft of the belt tensioning adjusting pulley is received; a handle having a pin provided at one end, which pin engages the recess; and a linking member connected at one end with the rotary shaft of the belt tension adjusting pulley and connected at the other end with an intermediate portion of the handle. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved tensioning apparatus for tensioning one or more ropes carrying a paper web in a paper-making apparatus or machine, which tensioning apparatus utilizes one or more rodless cylinders and at least one cooperating pair of sheaves for each rodless cylinder, one of which sheaves in each cooperating pair is connected to the piston in the rodless cylinder for tensioning or reducing tension on the rope or ropes. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus for tensioning one or more ropes that carry a paper web in a paper-making apparatus, which apparatus is characterized in a preferred embodiment by at least one rodless cylinder fitted with a freely-rotating guide sheave and a tensioning sheave attached to the piston in the rodless cylinder for effecting tension on the rope threaded across the freely-rotating guide sheave and around the tensioning sheave. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus which is characterized in a most preferred embodiment by a pair of rodless cylinders, each fitted with a rope tensioning sheave on a corresponding piston thereof and mounted in substantially parallel relationship with a guide roller provided substantially in alignment with the rope tensioning sheave to guide the ropes over the respective guide rollers and rope tensioning sheaves and facilitate selective tensioning in each of the ropes by operation of the respective rodless cylinders. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other objects of the invention are provided in a new and improved rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus which includes at least one rodless cylinder, the internal piston of which is fitted with a rope tensioning sheave aligned with a guide sheave which freely rotates with respect to the rope tensioning sheave. The piston may be actuated in a first direction to facilitate extending a rope over the guide sheave and the rope tensioning sheave of each rodless cylinder, and the piston actuated in a second direction for tensioning the rope, responsive to operation of a preferred pneumatic control system designed for the purpose. Typical pneumatic controls include an adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain for receiving line or system air; left and right push-button valves for receiving air pressure from the adjustable pressure regulator; a distributor valve for controlling the flow of air into respective ends of the rodless cylinder and actuation of the piston in a selected direction responsive to operation of the left and right push button valves, respectively; an adjustable safety regulator that receives air from the adjustable pressure regulator and delivers air to the non-operating end of the rodless cylinder, to cushion the piston in the rodless cylinder should the tensioned rope inadvertently break; and a lever valve which also receives line air pressure and operates an air piloted flow valve in conjunction with an adjustable pressure regulator for additionally tensioning the rope in “paper thread” operation of the rodless cylinder. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus, horizontally mounted and including a pair of rodless cylinders, cooperating sliding yoke sheaves and companion entry guide rollers for use in a paper-making apparatus and tensioning one or more ropes in the apparatus; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, with the rodless cylinders oriented vertically; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a typical sliding yoke sheave, more particularly illustrating rotatable mounting of the yoke sheave on a sheave shaft in a sheave shaft bearing; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, more particularly illustrating a frame for receiving and mounting each of the rodless cylinders, as well as the entry guide rollers; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 is an end view of the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 4-6; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of a typical sheave shaft bearing for mounting on the piston yoke of a rodless cylinder and receiving a yoke sheave; 
     FIG. 9 is a bearing end view of the sheave shaft bearing illustrated in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a shaft end view of the sheave shaft bearing illustrated in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of a typical rodless cylinder fitted with a piston yoke for receiving the sheave shaft bearing illustrated in FIG.  8  and the yoke sheave illustrated in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of the rodless cylinder illustrated in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is an end view of the rodless cylinder illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the rodless cylinder illustrated in FIGS. 11-13; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the rodless cylinder illustrated in FIG. 14, more particularly illustrating an internal piston attached to the external piston yoke of the rodless cylinder; 
     FIG. 16 illustrates a right side view of a typical control cabinet housing controls used to operate the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus of this invention; 
     FIG. 17 is a front view of the control cabinet illustrated in FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 18 is a left side view of the control cabinet illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17; 
     FIG. 19 is pneumatic schematic illustrating preferred components for operating the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus under a simplified embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 20 is a pneumatic schematic illustrating operating components for operating the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus of this invention in a most preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring initially to FIGS. 1-7 and  13 - 15  of the drawings, in a most preferred embodiment the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus of this invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral  38 . The rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus  38  is characterized in a first preferred embodiment by a rodless cylinder  15 , having an elongated barrel  16  with a barrel bore  17 , as illustrated in FIG.  15 . Air supply ports  18  are provided in each of the end caps  22  of the barrel  16  and communicate with the barrel bore  17 , as further illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 15. A barrel slot  20  is provided longitudinally in the barrel  16  and communicates with the barrel bore  17  for slidably receiving a piston yoke  26 , which is attached to an internal piston  23 , positioned in the barrel bore  17  by means of a connecting plate  25 , as further illustrated in FIG.  15 . Piston seals  24  are fitted to the ends of the piston  23  for sealing the piston  23  in slidable relationship inside the barrel bore  17  of the barrel  16  and the end caps  22  close each end of the barrel  16 , as further illustrated in FIG.  14 . Referring again to FIG. 15, a pair of end cushions  21  are also typically provided in the barrel bore  17  at each end of the barrel  16  to cushion movement of the piston  23  inside the barrel bore  17  with an accompanying sliding movement of the external piston yoke  26 , as hereinafter further described. 
     As further illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2  and  8 - 10 , it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that one or more of the rodless cylinders  15 , which are the primary operating components of the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus  38 , may be horizontally (FIG. 1) or vertically (FIG. 2) oriented, to receive one or more ropes  50 , (illustrated in phantom) which are conventionally used in a paper-making machine (not illustrated) to carry a paper web (also not illustrated) in the paper-making process. Accordingly, at least one entry guide roller  47  is typically attached to corresponding rodless cylinder  15  by means of a roller shaft  49   a  and shaft bracket  49   b  to receive the respective rope(s)  50 . Furthermore, a yoke sheave  27  is mounted on a corresponding sheave shaft  28 , illustrated in FIGS. 8-10 and the sheave shaft bearing  29  carrying the sheave shaft  28  is fitted with a yoke slot  30 , for engaging and mounting on the corresponding piston yoke  26 , (FIGS. 11,  12 ,  14  and  15 ) which is slidably mounted on the rodless cylinder  15  as heretofore described. Each of the yoke sheaves  27  can therefore slide with the corresponding piston yoke  26  along the length of the rodless cylinder  15  at the barrel slot  20 , for purposes which will be hereinafter described. Furthermore, the entry rope segment  51  of the rope or ropes  50  extends around the entry guide roller or rollers  47  as heretofore described and extend 180 degrees around the corresponding yoke sheave  27 , to exit the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus  38  as an exit rope segment  52 , as further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that under circumstances where a single rope  50  is utilized in the specific paper-making apparatus in question, a single rodless cylinder  15 , with an accompanying entry guide roller  47  and a corresponding slidably-mounted yoke sheave  27  may be utilized to tension the rope  50 , in either the horizontal configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 or the vertical position illustrated in FIG.  2 . Alternatively, under circumstances where a pair of ropes  50  is utilized in the paper-making apparatus the ropes  50  may be threaded as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 around the respective pairs of entry guide rollers  47  and corresponding yoke sheaves  27  for tensioning purposes, as hereinafter further described. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4-7 of the drawings, in a most preferred embodiment of the invention the respective rodless cylinders  15  are typically installed and mounted in a frame  40 , constructed of longitudinal frame members  41 , cross frame members  42  and a central longitudinal stiffener  43 . Mount brackets  44  are also provided on the frame  40  for mounting the frame  40  in a vertical or horizontal position in the rope tensioning apparatus, as deemed necessary. Furthermore, roller bearings  49  may be provided on the frame  40  for receiving respective entry guide rollers  47  under circumstances where the entry guide rollers  47  are mounted to the frame  40  and not to the respective rodless cylinders  15 , as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus  38  illustrated in FIG. 4 thus operates in the same manner as the corresponding rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus  38  illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, either in horizontal or vertical position, wherein the respective ropes  50  are extended through the entry guide rollers  47  as entry rope segments  51  and project from the corresponding yoke sheaves  27 , becoming exit rope segments  52 , as illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     Referring again to FIGS.  3  and  8 - 10  in a most preferred embodiment of the invention the respective yoke sheaves  27  are mounted on the corresponding piston yokes  26  of the rodless cylinders  15  by means of the respective stepped sheave shafts  28 , which are journalled for rotation in the sheave shaft bearings  29 . In this installation, the yoke slot  30  of each of the sheave shaft bearings  29  is fitted over the corresponding piston yoke  26 , which is slidably mounted on each rodless cylinder  15 , and fasteners such as bolts (not illustrated) are extended through the matching bolt openings  33  and  33   a , provided in the sheave shaft bearings  29  and the piston yoke  26 , respectively, to receive corresponding bolts (not illustrated) in the installations. Each of the yoke sheaves  27  is typically shaped as illustrated in FIG. 3 to accommodate the rope  50 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 16-20 of the drawings, the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus  38  is operated by means of pneumatic control systems  45  and  45   a  which are illustrated schematically in FIGS. 19 and 20, respectively. In the control system embodiment illustrated in FIG. 19, an air source  39  is pneumatically connected by means of an air flow line  39   a , to a left two-position, two-way push button valve  6 , which is pneumatically connected to a two-position, five-way, double air piloted distributor valve  7 , at a pressure port  9   a , by means of an air signal line  90   b . A right two-position, two-way push button valve  6   a  is also connected to the air source  39  by means of an air flow line  39   a  and to the distributor valve  7  at a pressure port  9   b , by means of an air signal line  90   c . The air source  39  is also directly pneumatically coupled to the distributor valve  7  by means of an air flow line  39   d . The distributor valve  7  is, in turn, pneumatically connected to the operating end  15   a  of a rodless cylinder  15  by means of an air flow line  39   c , and to the non-operating end  15   b  of the rodless cylinder  15 , by means of an air flow line  39   b , both at the air supply ports  18 , illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. The left push button valve  6  is designed to facilitate threading of the rope  50  onto the entry guide roller  47  and the yoke sheave  27 , while the right push button valve  6   a  is designed to facilitate tensioning of the rope  50  on the entry guide roller  47  and the yoke sheave  27 . As illustrated in FIG. 17, the appropriate controls for the left and right push button valves  6  and  6   a , respectively, may be mounted in a control cabinet  31 , having air line couplings  32  as illustrated in FIG. 18 for coupling to the air lines  39   a  and typically including a cabinet lock  31   a , as illustrated in FIG. 17. A pressure gauge  34  may also be provided in the control cabinet  31  to indicate the pressure of the air source  39 . 
     In operation, and referring again to FIG. 19 of the drawings, the rodless cylinder  15  is operated to move the yoke sheave  27  linearly along the barrel  16  and thread and tension the rope  50 , as follows. For brevity, operation of the pneumatic control system  45  illustrated in FIG. 19 will be described with respect to a single rodless cylinder  15  and rope  50 . Initially, referring again to FIGS. 1,  4  and  19 , the left push button valve  6  is pressed to slidably adjust the yoke sheave  27  toward the operating end  15   a  of the rodless cylinder  15  that will allow for maximum stroke, which will be to the left, nearest the entry guide roller  47 , as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. Actuation of the left push button valve  6  facilitates flow of air from the air source  39  through the air flow line  39   a , the left push button valve  6  and air signal line  90   b , generating an air pressure signal at the pressure port  9   a , which opens an air flow port  10   a  in the distributor valve  7 . Consequently, air flows from the distributor valve  7  through the air flow port  10   a , into the non-operating end  15   b  of the rodless cylinder  15  through the air flow line  39   b . As a result, the pressurized air pushes the piston  23  inside the rodless cylinder  15 , and the attached yoke sheave  27  toward the operating end  15   a  of the rodless cylinder  15 , until the left push button valve  6  is released. At that time, the air pressure signal at the pressure port  9   a  on the distributor valve  7  is terminated and the air flow port  10   a  closes, preventing further flow of air into the rodless cylinder  15  from the air source  39  and halting travel of the yoke sheave  27 . The rope  50  is threaded around the entry guide roller  47  and 180 degrees onto the yoke sheave  27  and then spliced to define a continuous loop, in conventional fashion. The right push button valve  6   a  is then manipulated, causing the yoke sheave  27  to move in the opposite direction to tension the rope  50 , until the excess slack is removed from the rope  50 . Actuation of the right push button valve  6   a  facilitates flow of air from the air source  39  and air flow line  39   a , through the right push button valve  6   a  and air signal line  90   c , generating an air pressure signal at the pressure port  9   b , which opens an air flow port  10   b  in the distributor valve  7 . Consequently, air flows from the distributor valve  7  through the air flow port  10   b , and into the operating end  15   a  of the rodless cylinder  15  through the air flow line  39   c . The resulting air pressure exerted on the piston  23  relocates the yoke sheave  27  toward the right on the rodless cylinder  15 , thereby exerting tension on the rope  50 . The right push button valve  6   a  remains in this “run” mode during running of the rope  50  through the paper-making machine (not illustrated) and the yoke sheave  27 , as well as the corresponding entry guide roller  47  in the apparatus. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 20 of the drawings, the illustrated alternative pneumatic control system  45   a  is designed to include additional equipment for augmenting tension on the rope  50 , as well as a safety feature for protecting the rodless cylinder  15  during operation of the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus  38 . Accordingly, the pneumatic control system  45   a  illustrated in the schematic of FIG. 20 includes an adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1 , which is pneumatically coupled to the air source  39  by means of an air flow line  39   a . The adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1  further includes a pressure gauge  34 , typically mounted in the control cabinet  31  (FIG.  17 ), a water sump (not illustrated) and a sump drain (also not illustrated), for removing water from the air applied to the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1  from the air source  39 . The left push button valve  6 , which facilitates initial threading of a rope  50  on the entry guide roller  47  and yoke sheave  27  of the rodless cylinder  15  as heretofore described with respect to FIG. 19, is pneumatically coupled to the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1  by means of air flow lines  39   b , as well as to the distributor valve  7  at a pressure port  9   a , by means of an air signal line  90   b . The distributor valve  7  is, in turn, pneumatically connected by means of air flow lines  39   e  and  39   f  at an air flow port  10   b , to the operating end  15   a  of the rodless cylinder  15  for controlling flow of air under pressure from the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1 , into the rodless cylinder  15 , as further heretofore described. The distributor valve  7  is also pneumatically coupled by means of air flow lines  39   i  and  39   g  at an air flow port  10   a , to the non-operating end  15   b  of the rodless cylinder  15  through an air piloted check valve  12 . The right push button valve  6   a , which facilitates tensioning of the rope  50 , is pneumatically connected to the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1  by means of air flow lines  39   b , and an air flow line  39   h , extending from pneumatic communication with the right push button valve  6   a , terminates at the air piloted check valve  12 . An air signal line  90   c  is pneumatically coupled to the air flow line  39   h  and terminates in pneumatic communication with the distributor valve  7  at a pressure port  9   b , for purposes hereinafter further described. A two-position, three-way lever valve  3 , which controls “run” and “paper thread” system operation, is also pneumatically coupled by means of air flow lines  39   b  to the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1  and by means of an air signal line  90   a , to a two-position, three-way air piloted flow valve  5  at a pressure port  9   c . An adjustable pressure regulator  4  which regulates the “paper thread” air pressure in the system, is pneumatically connected to the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1  by means of air flow lines  39   b , and to the flow valve  5  by means of an air flow line  39   c , at an air entry port  11 . The flow valve  5  is also connected to the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1  by means of air flow lines  39   b , and to the distributor valve  7  by means of an air flow line  39   d . The flow valve  5  serves to direct air from the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1  to the operating end  15   a  of the rodless cylinder  15 , by operation of the right push button valve  6   a , as hereinafter further described. The flow valve  5  also directs air from the adjustable pressure regulator  4  to the operating end  15   a  of the rodless cylinder  15  by operation of the lever valve  3 , to augment the air pressure entering the operating end  15   a  of the rodless cylinder  15  and further tension the rope  50  in “paper thread” operation, as hereinafter further described. An adjustable safety regulator  2  is pneumatically coupled to the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1  by means of air flow lines  39   b , and to a two-position, three-way air piloted safety valve  5   b  by means of an air flow line  39   c . An air flow line  39   g  pneumatically connects the safety valve  5   b  to the non-operating end  15   b  of the rodless cylinder  15 . The adjustable safety regulator  2  is designed to maintain air pressure in the “dead” or non-operating side of the rodless cylinder  15  during “paper thread” and “run” operations of the rodless cylinder  15 . The air piloted check valve  12  is provided in the air flow line  39   i  to prevent backflow of air from the rodless cylinder  15  or adjustable safety regulator  2  to the distributor valve  7 . A two-position, three-way, air piloted actuation valve  5   a  is pneumatically connected to the distributor valve  7  by means of the air flow line  39   e  and an air signal line  90   e , and to the safety valve  5   b  at a pressure port  9   e , by means of the air signal line  90   e . The actuation valve  5   a  is further pneumatically connected to the air flow line  39   h , by means of an air signal line  90   d . The actuation valve  5   a  facilitates opening of the safety valve  5   b  during operation of the right push button valve  6   a , and flow of air under pressure from the adjustable safety regulator  2  to the non-operating end  15   b  of the rodless cylinder  15 , in the “running” and “paper threading” operations of the rodless cylinder  15 , as hereinafter further described. 
     Accordingly, referring again to FIG. 20 of the drawings, in operation, the yoke sheave  27  is initially slidably adjusted on the rodless cylinder  15  toward the non-operating end  15   a  thereof, to the point of minimum rope stretch, as heretofore described with respect to the pneumatic control system  45  illustrated in FIG.  19 . The left push button valve  6  is utilized for this purpose and, when activated, air under pressure set by the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1 , flows through air flow lines  39   b , the left push button valve  6  and air signal line  90   b , to generate an air pressure signal at the pressure port  9   a  on the distributor valve  7 . The air pressure signal opens the air flow port  10   a  in the distributor valve  7 , which now allows a flow of air under pressure set by the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1 , through air flow lines  39   b , the flow valve  5 , the air flow line  39   d , air flow port  10   a  of the distributor valve  7 , air flow line  39   i , air piloted check valve  12 , air flow line  39   g  and finally, into the non-operating end  15   b  of the rodless cylinder  15 . The pressurized. air pushes the internal piston  23  and attached yoke sheave  27  toward the operating end  15   a  of the rodless cylinder  15 , until the left push button valve  6  is released. At that time the left push button valve  6  closes and causes the air flow port  10   a  in the distributor valve  7  to close, by terminating the air pressure signal at the pressure port  9   a . As a result, the flow of air into the non-operating end  15   b  of the rodless cylinder  15  is terminated, halting leftward travel of the yoke sheave  27  on the rodless cylinder  15 . The rope  50  is then extended through the entry guide roller  47  and 180 degrees around the yoke sheave  27  and spliced, taking out maximum slack in the splicing operation. After splicing is completed and the rope  50  is in the proper position in the paper-making machine (not illustrated) and in the rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus  38 , the right push button valve  6   a  is pressed to locate the yoke sheave  27  toward the right on the rodless cylinder  15  and remove the balance of the slack in the rope  50 , as heretofore described with respect to FIG.  19 . This action maintains tension on the rope  50  during the “run” operation of the rodless cylinder  15 . After activation of the right push button valve  6   a , air under pressure from the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1  flows through air flow lines  39   b  and the opened, right push button valve  6   a , the air flow line  39   h , and the air signal line  90   c  to generate an air pressure signal at the pressure port  9   b , which opens the air flow port  10   b  in the distributor valve  7 . Air then flows under pressure set by the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1 , through air flow lines  39   b , flow valve  5 , air flow line  39   d , air flow port  10   b  in the distributor valve  7 , the air flow lines  39   e  and  39   f  and finally, into the operating end  15   a  of the rodless cylinder  15 , to locate the internal piston  23  and yoke sheave  27  toward the non-operating end  15   b  of the rodless cylinder  15 . Although the rope  50  is now in the “run” configuration, additional tension must normally be exerted on the rope  50  in order to begin threading the paper web (not illustrated) through the paper machine on the rope  50 . Accordingly, the right push button valve  6   a  remains activated and the lever valve  3  is manipulated from the “run” position to the “paper thread” position to increase the rope tension. Air under pressure from the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1  then flows through the opened lever valve  3  and air signal line  90   a , and the resulting air pressure signal at the pressure port  9   c  on the flow valve  5  opens the air entry port  11  in the flow valve  5 , which action facilitates a flow of air under pressure set by the adjustable pressure regulator  4 , through the air flow line  39   c  and into the flow valve  5 . There, air under pressure from the adjustable pressure regulator  4  joins air under pressure from the adjustable pressure regulator  1  and the combined air pressure flows through the air flow line  39   d  and air flow port  10   b  in the distributor valve  7 , and into the operating end  15   a  of the rodless cylinder  15  through air flow lines  39   e  and  39   f . The combined pressure of the air from the two regulators are thus additive in the flow valve  5 , resulting in an increased air pressure at the operational end  15   a  of the rodless cylinder  15 , to facilitate a tighter stretching or tensioning of the rope  50  than is achieved by the air flowing from the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1 , alone. Accordingly, the rope  50  is now operating at maximum tension in the “paper thread” operation to facilitate loading of a paper web (not illustrated) on the rope  50  and threading the paper web through the paper machine (not illustrated) in conventional fashion. 
     Referring again to FIG. 20 of the drawings, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the adjustable safety regulator  2  is designed to protect the rodless cylinder  15  and other components of the system from inadvertent damage should the rope  50  suddenly break. During the “running” and “paper threading” operations of the rodless cylinder  15  by operation of the right push button valve  6   a  or operation of both that valve and the lever valve  3 , respectively, the yoke sheave  27  is slidably relocated from the left to the right on the rodless cylinder  15 , as described above, thereby exerting tension on the rope  50 . Simultaneously, air under pressure set by the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1 , flows from the right push button valve  6   a  and air flow line  39   h , as heretofore described, and then through the air signal line  90   d , generating an air pressure signal at the pressure port  9   d , which signal opens the normally closed actuation valve  5   a . Because the air signal line  90   c , by operation of the right push button valve  6   a , generates an air signal at the pressure port  9   b  which opens the air flow port  10   b  in the distributor valve  7 , to allow flow of air into the operating end  15   a  of the rodless cylinder  15 , as heretofore described, air also flows from the distributor valve  7  through the air signal line  90   e  and the now open actuation valve  5   a , thus generating an air pressure signal at the pressure port  9   e , which signal opens the normally closed safety valve  5   b . Consequently, air under pressure from the adjustable safety regulator  2  flows through the air flow line  39   c , safety valve  5   b , air flow line  39   g  and into the non-operating end  15   b  of the rodless cylinder  15 . The resulting air pressure maintained in the “dead” side of the rodless cylinder  15  serves to cushion the piston  23  in the rodless cylinder  15  and prevent the piston  23  from slamming into the non-operating end  15   b  of the rodless cylinder  15 , due to the tension exerted by the rope  50 , should the rope  50  inadvertently break. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above explanation of the operation of the pneumatic control system  45  is directed to the single rope  50  threaded through a single entry guide roller  47  and corresponding yoke sheave  27 . However, in many operations, two such rodless cylinder rope tensioning apparatus  38  will be necessary, thus necessitating a second pneumatic control system  45  which is identical to the pneumatic control system  45  illustrated in FIG.  17 . Hence, referring to FIG. 16, a pair of left push button valves  6  and a pair of right push button valves  6   a  would be utilized for that purpose and all of the other components illustrated in FIG. 18 would be duplicated, with the exception of the adjustable pressure regulator with automatic water drain  1 . 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Technology Category: 2