US3481126A - Method and apparatus for stranding flexible materials - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for stranding flexible materials Download PDF

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Publication number
US3481126A
US3481126A US739752A US3481126DA US3481126A US 3481126 A US3481126 A US 3481126A US 739752 A US739752 A US 739752A US 3481126D A US3481126D A US 3481126DA US 3481126 A US3481126 A US 3481126A
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Prior art keywords
strand
accumulator
bucket
speed
capstan
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Expired - Lifetime
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US739752A
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English (en)
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Peter Harvey
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Balfour Beatty PLC
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BICC PLC
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01B—CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
    • H01B13/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing conductors or cables
    • H01B13/02—Stranding-up
    • H01B13/0235—Stranding-up by a twisting device situated between a pay-off device and a take-up device
    • H01B13/0242—Stranding-up by a twisting device situated between a pay-off device and a take-up device being an accumulator

Definitions

  • One preferred method in accordance with the inven tion comprises feeding a group of wires into a first variable capacity accumulator which rotates unidirectionally about the axis of the group and twists the group of wires in one direction, withdrawing the strand thus formed from the first accumulator in the same diretcion as the group of wires was fed into it at a linear speed which is varied at intervals and feeding the strand at the same varying speed into a second variable capacity accumulator which rotates unidirectionally about the strand axis in a direction opposite to that of the first accumulator and twists the strand in the opposite direction to the twist initially applied to it as it entered the first accumulator, and withdrawing from the second accumulator in the same direction as the stand was fed into it a strand having a reversing lay.
  • the method can be applied to a pretwisted group of wires, in which case the function of the first accumulator is to vary the twist in one direction as the group enters the accumulator and in the other direction as the strand leaves the accumulator.
  • the wires will be twisted together or the strand will be twisted about its axis, with a lay length dependent on the relationship between the longitudinal speed of the wires or strand and the speed of revolution of the bucket, and as the strand leaves the bucket it will be twisted in the opposite direction to an extent dependent on the relationship between the longitudinal speed of the wire and the speed of rotation of the bucket.
  • a strand or group of wires which enters the bucket at a speed greater than that at which it leaves the bucket will be given an overall twist in one direction and a strand or group of wires which enters the bucket at a speed less than that at which it leaves the bucket will be given an overall twist in the other direction.
  • the invention further provides apparatus for carrying out the method above described.
  • FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic drawing of apparatus in accordance with the invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a partly sectional elevation of a bucket type accumulator suitable for use in the construction of apparatus in accordance with the invention.
  • FIGURES 3 and 4 together form a diagram showing in outline an arrangement suitable for the control of apparatus in accordance with FIGURE 1.
  • FIGURE 1 The apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 will be described in detail with reference to its use for twinning plastics insulated telephone conductors moving at a linear speed equal to the speed of extrusion of the installation on to the conductors.
  • the two insulated conductors 40 to form the twin are guided from the extruders 41 to a single input capstan 42, in the form of a single capstan wheel of the belt type, rotating at a speed such that the input speed of the wires is equal to the extrusion speed, namely 20 metres per second (4,000 feet per minute).
  • a tubular guide 43 forming the axial inlet of a first bucket accumulator 44 of 90 cm. (3 ft.) circumference mounted in bearing 45 and driven at a constant speed of 6,000 revolutions per minute in a clockwise direction as seen from the approach direction of the Wires.
  • the two wires are thereby twisted together with a right hand lay of 3.8 turns per metre (1.16 turns per foot), and the strand thus formed is distributed helically within the bucket.
  • the extruder capstans can be relied on to feed the wires towards the bucket and the centrifugal force in the bucket will pull the group of wires into the bucket but when this method is used the output speeds of the extruders must be very carefully matched.
  • an axial outlet guide 46 through which the strand is withdrawn from the bucket by means of another capstan 47 (the intermediate capstan) driven by a programmed or manually controlled variable speed mechanism 48 in such a way as to give the strand a linear speed varying periodically between 40 metres per second (8,000 feet per minute) and 13.5 metres per second (2,666 feet per minute).
  • the preferred form of intermediate capstan comprises a single capstan wheel 49 and a pressure belt 50, with the axis of the wheel obliquely inclined to the plane of the strand engaging it. This enables the belt to engage the wheel over a large arc and, by passing under the strand (as seen in the drawing) to be guided by only two auxiliary pulleys 51.
  • the capstan 47 drives the strand at the lower speed limit an anticlockwise twist equivalent to 6.25 turns per metre (1.91 turns per foot) will be induced in the strand so that, on entering the capstan it will consequently have a resultant left hand lay of 2.45 turns per metre (0.75 turn per foot).
  • an anticlockwise twist of 1.35 turns per mitre (0.41 turn per foot) will be induced in the strand so that it will, on entering the capstan, have a resultant right hand lay of 2.45 turns per metre (0.75 turn per foot).
  • the strand passes through the axial inlet guide 52 of a second bucket accumulator 53 which is driven at a constant speed of 6,000 revolutions per minute in an anticlockwise direction seen from the direction of approach.
  • the intermediate capstan 47 is driving the wire at the lower speed limit (and as already explained the strand has a left hand lay of 2.45 turns per metre (0.75 turn per foot) on leaving the capstan and entering the second bucket accumulator) it will be given a further left hand twist equivalent to a lay length of 6.25 turns per metre (1.91 turns per foot).
  • the strand is guided from the open end of the second bucket through an axial output guide 54 to an output capstan 55 similar to the input capstan 42 which drives it linearly at 20 metres per second (4,000 feet per minute) and withdrawal at this speed will induce in the strand a twist equivalent to a right hand lay of 3.8 turns per metre (1.16 turns per foot).
  • the emergent twin conductor is taken up on a reel 57.
  • each bucket will always contain a suflicient number of turns of strand to ensure that the strand or group of wires is twisted at the input and output ends of the bucket to an extent dependent on the relationship between the linear speed of the strand or group and the speed of rotation of the bucket.
  • the helical turns of strand contained in the bucket move progressively along the bucket in the general direction of strand movement and this movement will be ensured by appropriately relating the coefficient of friction between the wires and the bucket walls to the speed of rotation of the bucket and the linear speed of the wire and appropriately shaping the bucket wall as above described. In some cases lubrication of the walls may be necessary.
  • An inexpensive construction of bucket accumulator comprises a plain cylindrical metal rotor carrying a shaped wooded insert having a lining of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which forms the strand-engaging wall of the bucket.
  • PVC polyvinyl chloride
  • the part of the wall adjacent the inlet is tapered, and merges smoothly with a part adjacent the outlet which part is of uniform diameter.
  • a bucket of this construction having a maximum diameter of 30 cm. (11.75 inches) and a taper angle of 16 degrees operated at 4,000 revolutions per minute was found to have a capacity of about 75 metres (250 feet) of twinned cellular-polythene-insulated wire having a cross-section of 0.20 square mm. (6 /2 lbs.
  • twin conductor is found to occupy about 4 cm. (1% inches) of the part of uniform diameter and to build back up the tapered part about 2.5 cm. (1 inch).
  • the wall of the bucket should be lubricated by a continuous fine spray of water.
  • FIGURE 2 An alternative and more durable form of bucket accumulator is shown, together with certain associated apparatus, in FIGURE 2. As a matter of convenience, this figure will be described in relation to the second bucket 53 of FIGURE 1; but bucket 44 may be of identical construction.
  • the bucket 53 is supported from the framework 65 of the machine in bearings 64 coaxially surrounding the inlet guide 52 and is driven by a belt 66 from the main shaft 67, itself driven by a further belt 68 from an electric motor (not shown in this figure).
  • the bucket is of polished steel and is similar in shape and size to that already described, except that, because of the different coefiicient of friction, the taper angle a, is about 13 degrees.
  • Bearing 64 is lubricated and cooled by oil circulating through pipes 69. Water is introduced into the inlet guide 52 through valve 70 and, after serving to lubricate the walls of the bucket, escapes through apertures 71 to drain 72.
  • a guard 73 surrounds the rotating bucket, and the outlet guide tube 54 is mounted axially in the end-wall 74 of the guard, which is of transparent material. Light passing through the end-wall and through transparent inserts 105 activates a bank of photoelectric detectors 75 to give an indication of the amount of strand accumulated in the bucket.
  • a master control signal from the latter.
  • This signal may be applied to the control circuit at 76.
  • a first manually preset potentiometer 77 supplies a proportion of this signal to a first servo amplifier 78 whose power stage 79 controls a first variable speed motor 80 driving the main shaft 67 and thus the buckets 44 and 53.
  • a tacho generator 81 provides feedback regulation.
  • a second manually preset potentiometer 82 similarly applies a proportion of the master control signal via a second servo amplifier 83, 84 to a second variable speed motor 85 with associated tachogenerator 86.
  • Motor 85 drives the input capstan 42 and ofl'tput capstan 55 through a gear box 87 incorporating a differential to which a small manually controlled motor 88 is also coupled.
  • a fine adjustment of the relative speed of the two capstans can be obtained by varying the speed of the motor 88.
  • Third and fourth preset potentiometers 89, 90 in conjunction with an electronic switching device 91 provide at 92 alternative signals proportioned to the master control signal which are utilised to control the speed of the transfer capstan in a manner to be described, one of these signals corresponding to the desired high transfer speed, and the other to the low transfer speed. Switching between these two alternative signals is normally effected by an arithmetic device 93 which computes the length of strand contained in the first accumulator 44 from the output of electronic revolution counters 94 and 95 associated with the input capstan and with the transfer capstan. This control may be overridden if one of the banks of photoelectric detectors 75 indicates that its associated accumulator contains an amount of strand outside a predetermined range.
  • the signal appearing at 92 is fed to a servo amplifier 96 controlling a servo valve 97 which controls the swash plate position of a variablecapacity hydraulic pump 98 driven by constant speed electric motor 99 and supplying hydraulic motor 100 which drives the transfer capstan 47.
  • Tacho generator 101 feeds back to the servo amplifier 96 signals representing the position and angular velocity and angular acceleration of the transfer capstan, while a detector 102 supplies a signal indicating the swash-plate position.
  • the extruders must be started up first, as the bucket type of accumulator will not operate at very low speeds.
  • the wires to be twisted together are then threaded through the apparatus with the input and output capstans in inoperative positions, so that the transfer capstan acts as a haul-off.
  • the input capstan is made operative and the speed of the transfer capstan reduced to form a loop in the first accumulator and gradually to fill it.
  • the output capstan is then made operative and the transfer capstan is speeded up, transferring the accumulated strand to the second accumulator.
  • the apparatus may then be run up to full speed under the control of the master control signal from the extruders, though it will usually be preferable for the speed of the transfer capstan to be manually controlled during the first few cycles.
  • a lapping head or an adhesive applicator may be provided if required.
  • variable capacity accumulator capable of rotating about the strand axis so far described is the bucket type accumulator
  • other types of rotating variable capacity accumulator can be used, for example the type of accumulator in which the capacity is varied by moving two pulleys or groups of pulleys about which the strand is looped towards and away from each other.
  • this form of accumulator is rotated, it is preferable that the relative movement of the pulleys or pulley groups should be along the strand axis.
  • a method of forming from a group of wires a strand in which the direction of lay is reversed at spaced intervals along the strand comprising feeding the group of wires into a first variable capacity accumulator which rotates unidirectionally about the axis of the group and twists the group of wires in one direction, withdrawing the strand thus formed from the first accumulator in the same direction as the group of wires was fed into it at a linear speed which is varied at intervals and feeding the strand at the same varying speed into a second variable capacity accumulator which rotates unidirectionally about the strand axis in a direction opposite to that of the first accumulator and twists the strand in the opposite direction to the twist initially applied to it as it entered the first accumulator, and withdrawingfrom the second accumulator in the same direction as the strand was fed into it a strand having a reversing lay.
  • Apparatus for forming from at least two wires a strand of the kind in which the direction of lay is reversed at spaced intervals along the strand comprising two variable capacity accumulators, means for unidirectionally rotating the first accumulator about an axis, means for feeding a group of wires axially into the first variable capacity accumulator and for withdrawing the strand thus formed from the first accumulator in the same direction as the group of wires was fed into it at a linear speed which is varied at intervals and feeding the strand at the same varying speed axially into the second variable capacity accumulator, means for rotating the second variable capacity accumulator in such a direction that it rotates unidirectionally with respect to the strand in a direction opposite to that of the first accumulator, and means for withdrawing the strand from the second accumulator in the same direction as it was fed into it.
  • each accumulator is of the bucket type.
  • Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means for withdrawing the strand from the first accumulator and for feeding it axially into the second accumulator comprises a transfer capstan driven by a hydraulic motor itself driven by a variable-capacity swash-plate pump and wherein switching means is provided for varying the capacity of the pump at intervals.
  • the means for feeding the group of wires axially into the first accumulator comprises an input capstan and the means for withdrawing the strand from the first accumulator and for feeding it axially into the second accumulator comprises a transfer capstan driven by a hydraulic motor itself driven by a variable-capacity swash-plate pump and wherein there is provided for varying the capacity of the pump at intervals switching means controlled by a programmed arithmetic device which computes the length of strand contained in the first variable capacity accumulator from signals received from electronic revolution counters associated with the input capstan and with the transfer capstan.
  • each accumulator is of the bucket type, comprising means for supplying lubricant to the strand-engaging wall of each bucket.
  • DONALD E. WATKINS Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5758.52, 156

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
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US739752A 1967-06-30 1968-06-25 Method and apparatus for stranding flexible materials Expired - Lifetime US3481126A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB30338/67A GB1182128A (en) 1967-06-30 1967-06-30 Method of and Apparatus for Stranding Flexible Materials

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US (1) US3481126A (de)
CH (1) CH488859A (de)
DE (1) DE1752664A1 (de)
FR (1) FR1570357A (de)
GB (1) GB1182128A (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3851454A (en) * 1972-09-30 1974-12-03 Philips Corp Method of and device for the manufacturing of electrical conductors
US3945182A (en) * 1974-11-19 1976-03-23 General Cable Corporation Twisting machine flyer bow
CN111945258A (zh) * 2020-08-19 2020-11-17 黄山市信达丝线有限公司 一种捻丝工艺

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8522405D0 (en) * 1985-09-10 1985-10-16 Bicc Plc Stranding apparatus

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2998694A (en) * 1957-01-17 1961-09-05 Delore Sa Geoffroy Cable twisting system
US3169360A (en) * 1962-07-02 1965-02-16 Anaconda Wire & Cable Co Stranding apparatus and method
FR1468382A (fr) * 1966-02-16 1967-02-03 Sumitomo Electric Industries Procédé et dispositif pour toronner plusieurs fils isolés et nouveaux produits ainsi obtenus
FR1470269A (fr) * 1966-03-01 1967-02-17 Fujikura Ltd Procédé et installation de fabrication de câbles de transmission
GB1095434A (de) * 1964-06-26 1967-12-20
US3367097A (en) * 1966-06-16 1968-02-06 Anaconda Wire & Cable Co Reverse twist strander, stranding method, and strand
US3373550A (en) * 1965-06-10 1968-03-19 Western Electric Co Methods of and apparatus for alternate-reverse twisting of indefinite lengths of strand material
US3373549A (en) * 1965-06-10 1968-03-19 Western Electric Co Methods of and apparatus for alternate reverse twisting of indefinite lengths of strand material
US3402544A (en) * 1967-06-26 1968-09-24 Western Electric Co Method and apparatus for forming alternate reverse twists in a strand

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2998694A (en) * 1957-01-17 1961-09-05 Delore Sa Geoffroy Cable twisting system
US3169360A (en) * 1962-07-02 1965-02-16 Anaconda Wire & Cable Co Stranding apparatus and method
GB1095434A (de) * 1964-06-26 1967-12-20
US3373550A (en) * 1965-06-10 1968-03-19 Western Electric Co Methods of and apparatus for alternate-reverse twisting of indefinite lengths of strand material
US3373549A (en) * 1965-06-10 1968-03-19 Western Electric Co Methods of and apparatus for alternate reverse twisting of indefinite lengths of strand material
FR1468382A (fr) * 1966-02-16 1967-02-03 Sumitomo Electric Industries Procédé et dispositif pour toronner plusieurs fils isolés et nouveaux produits ainsi obtenus
FR1470269A (fr) * 1966-03-01 1967-02-17 Fujikura Ltd Procédé et installation de fabrication de câbles de transmission
US3367097A (en) * 1966-06-16 1968-02-06 Anaconda Wire & Cable Co Reverse twist strander, stranding method, and strand
US3402544A (en) * 1967-06-26 1968-09-24 Western Electric Co Method and apparatus for forming alternate reverse twists in a strand

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3851454A (en) * 1972-09-30 1974-12-03 Philips Corp Method of and device for the manufacturing of electrical conductors
US3945182A (en) * 1974-11-19 1976-03-23 General Cable Corporation Twisting machine flyer bow
CN111945258A (zh) * 2020-08-19 2020-11-17 黄山市信达丝线有限公司 一种捻丝工艺

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DE1752664A1 (de) 1971-05-06
CH488859A (de) 1970-04-15
FR1570357A (de) 1969-06-06
GB1182128A (en) 1970-02-25

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