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US 11,124,919 B2Granted
System for fabricating stranded cable and control therefor
AssigneeTensor Machinery Ltd.
InventorsRaymond Coe, Allan Browne, Krasimir Ivanov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A strander apparatus includes a disk and a plurality of cradles, each of the cradles includes a reel and a cradle shaft, the cradle shaft extending in an axial direction from the disk. Each reel dispenses cable. The strander includes a main shaft, wherein the cradles are disposed on the cradle shafts radially about the main shaft. Planetary gears are disposed between the main shaft and the plurality of cradle shafts. The strander operates in one of a planetary mode and a rigid mode. In the planetary mode, while the main shaft rotates, the planetary gears are engaged to rotate each of the plurality of cradles on the respective cradle shafts. In the rigid mode, the planetary gears are disengaged.
Claims45
A strander apparatus, comprising:
- a disk;
- a plurality of cradles, each of the cradles comprises a reel and a cradle shaft, the cradle shaft extending in an axial direction from the disk, wherein each reel dispenses cable;
- a plurality of loadcells associated with the plurality of cradles and disposed proximal to the cradle shafts;
- a plurality of cradle controllers, wherein each of the plurality of cradles further comprise one or more motors controlled by the respective cradle controller of the plurality of cradle controllers;
- a main shaft, wherein the cradles are disposed on the cradle shafts radially about the main shaft;
- and
- planetary gears disposed between the main shaft and respective cradle shafts, wherein the strander operates in one of a planetary mode and a rigid mode, wherein in the planetary mode, while the main shaft rotates, the planetary gears are engaged to rotate each of the plurality of cradles on the respective cradle shafts, and wherein in the rigid mode, the planetary gears are disengaged.
4 more elements
A strander apparatus, comprising:
- a disk;
- a plurality of cradles, each of the cradles comprises a reel and a cradle shaft, the cradle shaft extending in an axial direction from the disk, wherein each reel dispenses cable;
- a main shaft, wherein the cradles are disposed on the cradle shafts radially about the main shaft;
- and
- planetary gears disposed between the main shaft and respective cradle shafts, wherein the strander operates in one of a planetary mode and a rigid mode, wherein in the planetary mode, while the main shaft rotates, the planetary gears are engaged to rotate each of the plurality of cradles on the respective cradle shafts, and wherein in the rigid mode, the planetary gears are disengaged;
- wherein each cradle comprises:
- a reel motor;
- a dancer;
- a dancer motor;
- a loadcell;
- and
- a cradle controller, wherein the reel motor and the dancer motor are controlled by the cradle controller, and wherein the strander apparatus further comprises:
- a main shaft;
- a cradle motor;
- and
- a main controller, wherein the cradle motor rotates the main shaft and the plurality of cradles which are disposed thereabout, and wherein the respective cradle controllers and the cradle motor are wirelessly controlled by the main controller.
13 more elements
A strander apparatus, comprising:
- a disk;
- a plurality of cradles, each of the cradles comprises a reel and a cradle shaft, the cradle shaft extending in an axial direction from the disk, wherein each reel dispenses cable;
- a main shaft, wherein the cradles are disposed on the cradle shafts radially about the main shaft;
- and
- planetary gears disposed between the main shaft and respective cradle shafts, wherein the strander operates in one of a planetary mode and a rigid mode, wherein in the planetary mode, while the main shaft rotates, the planetary gears are engaged to rotate each of the plurality of cradles on the respective cradle shafts, and wherein in the rigid mode, the planetary gears are disengaged;
- wherein the strander apparatus further comprises:
- at least one controller;
- a plurality of loadcells associated with the plurality of cradles and disposed proximal to the cradle shafts, wherein each loadcell of the plurality of loadcells includes at least one sensor in wireless communication with the at least one controller;
- and
- wherein each reel is wirelessly controlled by the at least one controller in response to the at least one sensor of the loadcells.
7 more elements
A method of producing stranded cables, comprising:
- rotating a main shaft of a first strander with a plurality of cradles disposed thereabout wherein each cradle comprises a reel motor, a dancer, a dancer motor, a loadcell, and a cradle controller, wherein the reel motor and the dancer motor are controlled by the cradle controller;
- dispensing first cable from respective reels disposed on each of the plurality of cradles;
- and
- operating the first strander in one of a planetary mode and a rigid mode, wherein in the planetary mode, planetary gears engage the plurality of cradles such that the cradles are rotated coincident with the main shaft, and wherein in the rigid mode, the planetary gears are disengaged and the plurality of cradles is maintained in a same orientation relative the rotating main shaft.
1 more element
A stranding system, comprising:
- a main shaft;
- at least one cradle disposed along the main shaft, each cradle includes:
- at least one reel and reel motor;
- at least one load cell and sensor;
- at least one dancer assembly including a dancer motor;
- and
- at least one wireless module, wherein the at least one wireless module is associated with at least one of the cradle, reel, load cell, and dancer assembly;
- and
- at least one controller;
- wherein the controller communicates with the at least one cradle, the at least one reel, or the at least one dancer assembly with the associated at least one wireless module, and wherein the controller operates at least one of the reel motor and the dancer motor.
7 more elements
A strander, comprising:
- one or more cradles, each cradle comprising:
- a reel;
- a reel motor;
- a dancer;
- a dancer motor;
- a loadcell;
- and
- a cradle controller, wherein the reel motor and the dancer motor are controlled by the cradle controller;
- a main shaft;
- a cradle motor;
- and a main controller, wherein the cradle motor rotates the main shaft and the one or more cradles which are disposed thereabout, and
- wherein the respective cradle controllers and the cradle motor are wirelessly controlled by the main controller.
9 more elements
A control system for a strander, comprising:
- at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller further comprises a plurality of cradle controllers and a main controller, wherein the plurality of cradle controllers wirelessly communicate with the main controller;
- a plurality of wireless modules;
- a plurality of cradles disposed about respective cradle shafts;
- a plurality of loadcells associated with the plurality of cradles and disposed proximal the cradle shafts, wherein each loadcell of the plurality of loadcells includes at least one sensor in wireless communication with the at least one controller;
- and
- a plurality of reels disposed on respective cradles of the plurality of cradles;
- wherein the plurality of reels are wirelessly controlled by the at least one controller in response to the at least one sensor of the loadcells;
- and
- wherein the control system further comprises a plurality of motors controlled by each of the plurality of cradle controllers.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.