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US 6,223,511 B1Granted
Apparatus for helically assembling at least two filaments
AssigneeLefebvre Frères Limitée
InventorMichel Brazeau
Life of this patent
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AssigneeLefebvre Frères Limitée
InventorMichel Brazeau
Estimating the term…
An apparatus (310) for manufacturing stranded cables comprises a supply spool assembly (320, 322) having filaments wound thereon, and a flyer (316) mounted for rotation about a central axis for imparting a rotational movement to the filaments, while guiding them axially through the apparatus (310). The filaments are wound together as they pass a gathering point centrally disposed to the central axis and downstream of the flyer (316). A filament advancing assembly (16) is provided downstream of the gathering point to impart an advancing speed to the filaments. A control system allows for the control of the number of revolutions of the flyer (316) per unit length of filaments advancing through the gathering point to ensure that a constant helical pitch is obtained. The tension in the filaments is controlled by creating an adjustable opposition to the pulling action of the filament advancing assembly (16) on the filaments thereby ensuring the production of a high quality stranded cable.
A supply spool and flyer assembly for an apparatus adapted to helically assemble a pair of filaments about a central axis as said filaments are passed through a gathering point, said supply spool and flyer assembly comprising first supply spooling means having a first filament wound thereon, flyer means disposed between said first supply spooling means and the gathering point, said flyer means being mounted on axle means for rotation therewith about said central axis, said flyer means being provided with first guide means for guiding said first filament along said flyer means, wherein said first guide means and said first supply spooling means are configured to cause said first filament to pass by said central axis and then onto said flyer means where said first filament is deviated off-axis before being returned to said central axis at the gathering point, and second supply spooling means disposed within an envelope defined by a rotational movement of said flyer means about said central axis, said second supply spooling means having a second filament wound thereon, said axle means being provided, downstream of said second supply spooling means relative to a filament supply direction of said second filament, with second guide means configured to cause said second filament to rotate with said axle means about said central axis as said second filament is moved through said second guide means, wherein said second guide means and said second supply spooling means are configured to cause said second filament to pass by said central axis and then to said second guide means where said second filament is deviated off-axis before being returned to said central axis at the gathering point.
A supply spool and flyer assembly for an apparatus adapted to helically assemble a pair of elongated flexible elements about a central axis as said elongated flexible elements are passed through a gathering point, said supply spool and flyer assembly comprising first supply spooling means having a first elongated flexible element wound thereon, flyer means disposed downstream of said first supply spooling means relative to a filament supply direction of said first elongated flexible element and upstream of the gathering point, said flyer means being mounted on axle means for rotation therewith about said central axis and defining a first guide path for said first elongated flexible element, whereby rotation of said flyer means will cause said first elongated flexible element to rotate about said central axis as said first elongated flexible element is moved through said first guide path, and second supply spooling means disposed within an envelope defined by a rotational movement of said flyer means about said central axis, said second supply spooling means having a second elongated flexible element wound thereon, said second elongated flexible element being moved through a second guide path extending through said axle means and to the gathering point so as to deviate off-axis said second elongated flexible element at a location comprised between said envelope and the gathering point, whereby rotation of said axle means will cause said second elongated flexible element to rotate about said central axis such that when said first and second elongated flexible elements return to the central axis at the gathering point, said first and second elongated flexible elements will be helically assembled together.
A supply spool and flyer assembly for an apparatus adapted to helically assemble a pair of filaments about a central axis as said filaments are passed through a gathering point, said supply spool and flyer assembly comprising first supply spooling means having a first filament wound thereon, flyer means disposed between said first supply spooling means and the gathering point, said flyer means being mounted on axle means for rotation therewith about said central axis, said flyer means being provided with first guide means for guiding said first filament along said flyer means, and second supply spooling means disposed within an envelope defined by a rotational movement of said flyer means about said central axis, said second supply spooling means having a second filament wound thereon, said axle means being provided, downstream of said second supply spooling means relative to a filament supply direction of said second filament, with second guide means configured to cause said second filament to rotate with said axle means about said central axis as said second filament is moved through said second guide means, wherein said first and second filaments are respectively twisted with respect to first and second fixed points located on said central axis, said first and second filaments being offset from said central axis when said first and second filaments respectively move out of engagement from said first and second guide means.
A supply spool and flyer assembly for an apparatus adapted to helically assemble a pair of filaments about a central axis as said filaments are passed through a gathering point, said supply spool and flyer assembly comprising first supply spooling means having a first filament wound thereon, flyer means disposed between said first supply spooling means and the gathering point, said flyer means being mounted on axle means for rotation therewith about said central axis, said flyer means being provided with first guide means for guiding said first filament along said flyer means, and second supply spooling means disposed within an envelope defined by a rotational movement of said flyer means about said central axis, said second supply spooling means having a second filament wound thereon, said axle means being provided, downstream of said second supply spooling means relative to a filament supply direction of said second filament, with second guide means configured to cause said second filament to rotate with said axle means about said central axis as said second filament is moved through said second guide means, wherein said second guide means include a passage defined in a downstream portion of said axle means for said second filament to pass through to access the gathering point, said passage having an entry substantially centrally disposed relative to said central axis and an exit offset from said central axis.
A supply spool and flyer assembly for an apparatus adapted to helically assemble a pair of filaments about a central axis as said filaments are passed through a gathering point, said supply spool and flyer assembly comprising first supply spooling means having a first filament wound thereon, flyer means disposed between said first supply spooling means and the gathering point, said flyer means being mounted on axle means for rotation therewith about said central axis, said flyer means being provided with first guide means for guiding said first filament along said flyer means, and second supply spooling means disposed within an envelope defined by a rotational movement of said flyer means about said central axis, said second supply spooling means having a second filament wound thereon, said axle means being provided, downstream of said second supply spooling means relative to a filament supply direction of said second filament, with second guide means configured to cause said second filament to rotate with said axle means about said central axis as said second filament is moved through said second guide means, wherein said second guide means include a passage defined in a downstream portion of said axle means for said second filament to pass through to access the gathering point, said passage and said central axis being substantially coaxial.
A supply spool and flyer assembly for an apparatus adapted to helically assemble a pair of filaments about a central axis as said filaments are passed through a gathering point, said supply spool and flyer assembly comprising first supply spooling means having a first filament wound thereon, flyer means disposed between said first supply spooling means and the gathering point, said flyer means being mounted on axle means for rotation therewith about said central axis, said flyer means being provided with first guide means for guiding said first filament along said flyer means, and second supply spooling means disposed within an envelope defined by a rotational movement of said flyer means about said central axis, said second supply spooling means having a second filament wound thereon, said axle means being provided, downstream of said second supply spooling means relative to a filament supply direction of said second filament, with second guide means configured to cause said second filament to rotate with said axle means about said central axis as said second filament is moved through said second guide means, wherein said axle means include upstream and downstream shafts respectively supporting first and second opposed ends of said flyer means, said upstream shaft defining a first passage which is substantially coaxial to said central axis for said first filament to pass through to get onto said flyer means at a point which is substantially located on said central axis, and wherein said second guide means include a second passage which is defined in said downstream shaft for said second filament to pass through to access the gathering point.
A supply spool and flyer assembly for an apparatus adapted to helically assemble a pair of filaments about a central axis as said filaments are passed through a gathering point, said supply spool and flyer assembly comprising first supply spooling means having a first filament wound thereon, flyer means disposed between said first supply spooling means and the gathering point, said flyer means being mounted on axle means for rotation therewith about said central axis, said flyer means being provided with first guide means for guiding said first filament along said flyer means, and second supply spooling means disposed within an envelope defined by a rotational movement of said flyer means about said central axis, said second supply spooling means having a second filament wound thereon, said axle means being provided, downstream of said second supply spooling means relative to a filament supply direction of said second filament, with second guide means configured to cause said second filament to rotate with said axle means about said central axis as said second filament is moved through said second guide means, wherein said first and second supply spooling means are mounted for rotation about respective axes, said axes being transversal to said central axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.