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.
Claims20
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 communicate with the main controller;
- 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 communication with the at least one controller;
- and
- a plurality of reels disposed on respective cradles of the plurality of cradles;
- and
- wherein the plurality of reels are 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.
A strander apparatus, comprising:
- a disk;
- a plurality of cradles each comprising a reel and a cradle shaft, wherein each reel dispenses cable;
- a main shaft, wherein the plurality of cradles are disposed radially about the main shaft;
- planetary gears disposed between the main shaft and respective cradle shafts, wherein the strander apparatus 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;
- and
- a plurality of cradle controllers each configured to control a motor associated with the one or more of the plurality of cradles.
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 communicate with the main controller;
- 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 communication with the at least one controller;
- and
- a plurality of reels disposed on respective cradles of the plurality of cradles;
- and
- wherein the plurality of reels are controlled by the at least one controller in response to the at least one sensor of the loadcells, wherein one or both of the control system and strander are configured to control tension on a cable within the strander, wherein a dancer assembly and at least one of the loadcells are configured along a at least one of the cradles for dispensing cable, wherein the dispensed cable is operatively coupled to a dancer motor, wherein the cable is passed over one or more pulleys of the dancer assembly, wherein the cable is passed over one or more pulleys of at least one of the load cells, wherein the at least one loadcell is configured to sense cable tension, and wherein the dancer motor is configured to be adjusted according to the sensed cable tension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.