Cable tensioning and applying apparatus

In an apparatus (16) for winding flexible elongate material (15) on a member (10) having a non-cylindrical cross-sectional shape which causes variations in the demand for elongate material being applied thereto, the apparatus including a shuttle (20), a supply (28) of elongate material (15) carried by the shuttle (20) and having tensioning means (95) for applying tension to the elongate material (15) drawn from the supply (28), the improvement comprising:

• means (30,130) for storing and paying out elongate material (15) in response to the variations in the demand for elongate material, said means (30,130) being independent of said tensioning means (95) and including
• an arm (32,132) pivotally mounted at one end portion of said shuttle and extending from said pivot mounting toward a mid portion of the shuttle,
• a housing (44,144) supported on a free end portion of said arm (32,132),
• sheave means (50,150) rotatably supported on the housing (44,144) at a location spaced from said pivot mounting,
• said arm having its longitudinal axis extending from said pivot mounting toward said mid-portion of the shuttle and approaching a radius of the shuttle to minimize centrifugal forces acting on said sheave means (50,150) as the shuttle is rotated,
• an energy-dissipating member (80,180) carried by said shuttle (20), a probe (82,182) on said energy-dissipating member (80,180) projecting toward said housing (44,144) on the side of said housing facing said supply of elongate material,
• resilient means (84,184) for urging said arm (32,132) and sheave means (50,150) about said pivot mounting away from said supply of elongate material for storing elongate material, said resilient means (84,184) being carried on said energy-dissipating member (80,180) and bearing on said housing (44,144), said resilient means (84,184) being compressed by an increase in the tension of said elongate material thereby moving said housing against said resilient means and selectively contacting the probe (82,182) of the energy-dissipating member (80,180), and
• a bumper (66,166) carried by said shuttle (20) in alignment with said housing (44,144) on the opposite side of the housing (44,144) from said resilient means (84,184), said housing (44,144) being moved by said resilient means (84,184) away from said supply of elongate material and against said bumper (66,166) upon sudden release of the tension on the elongate material (15),
• said resilient means (84,184) maintaining said elongate material under uniform tension as said elongate material (15) is pulled from said supply (28) about said sheave means (50,150) and is applied to said member (10) as the shuttle (20) is rotated about said member (10).