US 4,475,163 A · System for calculating and displaying cable payout from a rotatable drum storage device

Abstract

A system for sensing, computing, and displaying the length and the speed of chain or cable payout or reel in. The system employs only a single sensor which measures cable drum movement. The calculation function is accomplished by a microprocessor or minicomputer which is programmed with the basic dimensions of the cable and cable drum and with the required calculation formulae. A display gives continuous readout to the operator of the cable payout and speed values from a predetermined cable reference point. The system is directly employable in drum payout and recovery systems regardless of their application. The cable references may be of steel, rope or even chain and the system may be incorporated in helicopter or aircraft cable systems, mine hoists or elevator systems wherever a precise control or readout of cable payout is required.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A system operable in conjunction with a plurality of cable feed means of the type which includes a cable, a plurality of rotatable drum means, each drum means having a drive means and a core with a predetermined length and diameter for storing and feeding cable and having edge flanges for retaining said cable thereon in a plurality of layers each having a predetermined diameter and number of wraps per layer, for precisely measuring length of cable feed and current feed rate, the system comprising:

a drilling vessel anchored by said plurality of cable feed means;
a plurality of sensor means adapted to detect angular rotation of each of said drum means, and to provide signals corresponding to increments of rotation of said drum means;
and
a computer means, coupled to all of said sensor means and adapted to receive inputs of said signals corresponding to said incremental angular rotation of said drum means from said sensor means for providing output signals indicating current feed rate and the length of cable feed from said rotatable drum means and for controlling the length of cable fed from and the current feed rate of each of said rotatable drum means, whereby said drilling vessel is moved in a desired direction by appropriately infeeding or paying out said cable on each of said cable feed means.

1 more element

A system for feeding a plurality of cable lines and for simultaneously precisely measuring length of cable feed and current feed rate of each of said cable lines comprising:

a plurality of cables each having a predetermined diameter;
a plurality of rotatable drum means each having a core with a predetermined length and diameter for storing and feeding said cable, and having edge flanges for retaining said cable thereon in a plurality of layers each having a predetermined diameter and number of wraps per layer;
a plurality of drive means one for each of said drum means, suitably supported, for rotating a plurality of said drum means;
a plurality of sensor means adapted to detect angular rotation of each of said drum means and speed of rotation of said drum means and to provide signals corresponding to increments of rotation of said drum means;
and
a computer means, coupled to all of said sensor means and adapted to receive inputs of said signals corresponding to said incremental angular rotation from said sensor means for providing output signals indicating feed rate and the length of cable feed from said drum means and for controlling the length of cable fed from and the current feed rate of each of said rotatable drum means, whereby said cables are attached to a drilling vessel and are controllably fed so as to cause said drilling vessel to move in a desired direction.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for calculating and displaying cable payout from a rotatable drum storage device

Life of this patent

System for calculating and displaying cable payout from a rotatable drum storage device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10