Method of and apparatus for balancing the load of a cabling apparatus

Apparatus for dynamically balancing a varying load of a cabler system, comprising:

• a cabler frame having a rotational axis;
• a plurality of cradle means for supporting a plurality of supply bobbins in said cabler frame;
• drive means for driving said cabler frame about the rotational axis thereof, and
• balancing means supported by a selected one of said cradle means for dynamically balancing the cabler frame, said balancing means including a counterweight and means for varying a position of said counterweight relative to the rotational axis when said cabler frame is rotated about the rotational axis thereof, wherein said selected cradle means is non-rotatably fixed to said cabler frame, and another cradle means being rotatably mounted to said cabler frame and means connected to said drive means for rotating said other cradle means in a planetary manner about the rotational axis of the cabler frame.

Apparatus for dynamically balancing a varying load of a cabler system, comprising:

• a cabler frame having a rotational axis;
• a plurality of cradle means for supporting a plurality of supply bobbins in said cabler frame;
• drive means for driving said cabler frame;
• about the rotational axis thereof;
• and
• balancing means supported by a selected one of said cradle means for dynamically balancing the cabler frame, said balancing means including a counterweight and means for varying a position of said counterweight relative to the rotational axis when said cabler frame is rotated about the rotational axis thereof, wherein said balancing means further includes support arms supported by said one cradle means, said counterweight being adjustably mounted to said support arms, drive screw means connected between said counterweight and said one cradle means for incrementally moving said counterweight along said support arms, and means for positioning said support arms relative to the rotational axis of the cabler frame.

A method of balancing a load of a cabler system for making a stranded cable from two or more strands, said cabler system having a cabler frame rotatable about a first axis, a plurality of cradles mounted to said cabler frame, a bobbin wound with a strand supported in one of said cradles, at least one of said remaining cradles having no bobbin, comprising the steps of:

• supporting a counterweight in one of said remaining cradles at a first position relative to the first axis;
• rotating said cabler frame about the first axis;
• paying out said strand from said bobbin;
• and
• moving said counterweight to a second position nearer to the first axis than the first position as said strand is payed out from said bobbin to thereby maintain the dynamic balance of the cabler frame.