Cable tension roller
OwnerGeorge P. Hurstinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cable suspension system for a rotary drum is disclosed which includes cable tension adjustment features providing dynamic load equalization, traction control and variable load distribution. The system includes an endless cable and at least one set of axially aligned support sheaves suspending the drum at its dynamic center of gravity. The system further includes devices for connecting wire rope in endless loops which incorporate load bearing, adjustment, and flexure features minimizing wear of the wire rope.
Claims10
The combination with a horizontally extending hollow cylindrical drum for bearing material therein for processing, comprising:
- a plurality of sheaves spaced over said drum and spaced from each other along an axis parallel with the central axis of said drum for rotation;
- means connected to said sheaves for supporting and rotating said sheaves;
- a connecting cable means extending around below said drum and around over said sheaves for rotating said drum upon rotation of said sheaves;
- means mounted laterally of and abutting to said drum for carrying a laterally directed load;
- and
- means mounted to abut to said drum at a position on said exterior above and substantially opposing the center of mass of material along the interior side wall within said drum when said drum is rotating for selectively loading said drum, wherein said selective loading means comprises an idler arm overlying said drum;
- roller means for riding said drum;
- and bias means coupling said idler arm and said roller means for pressing said roller means against said drum to increase traction between said drum and said cable.
The combination with a horizontally extending hollow cylindrical drum for bearing material therein for processing, comprising:
- a plurality of sheaves spaced over said drum and spaced from each other along an axis parallel with the central axis of said drum for rotation;
- means connected to said sheaves for supporting and rotating said sheaves;
- a connecting cable means extending around below said drum and around over said sheaves for rotating said drum upon rotation of said sheaves;
- means mounted laterally of and abutting to said drum for carrying a laterally directed load;
- and
- means mounted to abut to said drum at a position on its exterior wall above and substantially opposing the center of mass of material along the interior side wall within said drum when said drum is rotating for selectively loading said drum, wherein said selective loading means is mounted for confronting said drum on its upper margin generally aligned with a plane through said central axis and the center of gravity of a rotating drum carrying a load, wherein said sheaves are disposed along a single horizontal axis and wherein said sheave axis is laterally offset from the vertical plane through the central axis of said drum such that the center of gravity of said load material when said drum is turning is substantially along said vertical plane to increase traction between said drum and said cable.
In combination, a horizontally extending cylindrical drum for bearing a material for processing, a plurality of sheaves spaced above and supported over said drum for rotation about an axis parallel with the central axis of said drum, said sheaves comprising a continuous load bearing surface adjacent both sides of an outwardly opening V-shaped circumferential groove, wire ropes extending around said drum and sheaves in a manner suspending said drum from said sheaves for rotation of said drum and sheaves together, each of said ropes terminating in opposite end portions, a wire rope connector for coupling said opposite end portions of each rope in an endless loop, said connector comprising first and second mating pieces defining body means through which end portions of said wire rope are coupled, means for aligning said wire rope and adapted to align said wire rope to be received in said outwardly opening groove of said sheaves, load bearing surfaces laterally adjacent said aligning means, said load bearing surfaces of said body means being adapted to abut and mate with the sheave along said sheave load bearing surfaces for maintaining a neutral axis of said rope system.
In combination with a horizontally extending cylindrical drum for bearing a material for processing, a plurality of sheaves spaced above and supported over said drum for rotation about an axis parallel with the central axis of said drum, wire ropes extending around said drum and sheaves in a manner suspending said drum from said sheaves for rotation of said drum and sheaves together, each of said wire ropes terminating in opposite end portions, a wire rope connector for coupling said opposite end portions of each rope in an endless loop, said connector comprising a housing for maintaining said end portions of said wire rope substantially fixed relative to one another;
- a body piece coupled to said housing and translatable relative to said wire rope in alignment with said wire rope;
- and longitudinal recesses in alignment with said body piece for accommodating the passage of said wire rope therethrough and for maintaining said wire rope in alignment with said sheave and a hydraulic shifting mechanism for reciprocally translating said body piece relative to said housing and said wire rope upon periodic engagement between said connector and said sheaves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.