Cable guide device for multi-diameter cables

A computer program product stored in a memory of a control unit comprising computer-readable instructions which, when loaded and executed on the control unit, perform a method for guiding multi-diameter cables onto a drum by means of a cable guide device, the cable guide device comprising a guiding means translationally moveable along a linear actuator, wherein the guiding means has an opening with a minimum spacing in a direction along an orientation of the linear actuator that is larger than a maximum cross-section of a cable to be guided inside the opening of the guiding means, and wherein the cable, during use, is, most of its operational time, contacting at least one of at least two barriers, wherein the at least two barriers constitute at least part of a confinement of the opening in the orientation of the linear actuator, the method performed for each complete winding period comprising:

• setting an initial guiding means velocity in a first direction of the guiding means at a first position monitored along the linear actuator, wherein the first direction is defined from a first position towards a second position;
• maintaining the initial guiding means velocity between the first position and the second position along the linear actuator;
• setting a temporal guiding means velocity of the guiding means at the second position;
• maintaining the set temporal guiding means velocity between the second position and a third position along the linear actuator;
• resetting the guiding means to the initial guiding means velocity at the third position;
• maintaining the set initial guiding means velocity between the third position and a fourth position along the linear actuator;
• resetting the guiding means to the initial guiding means velocity at the fourth position in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
• and
• maintaining the set initial guiding means velocity between the fourth position and the first position at least partially along the linear actuator,
• wherein all settings of translational movements of the guiding means are performed by a motor connected to the cable guide device, and
• wherein the second position, the third position, and the temporal guiding means velocity are chosen to ensure rapid contact recuperation after loss or near loss of cable contact on one or more of the at least two barriers.

A cable guide device comprising:

• a velocity and position controlling linear actuator;
• a guiding means translationally moveable along the linear actuator,
• wherein the guiding means has an opening with a minimum spacing in a direction along an orientation of the linear actuator that is larger than a maximum cross-section of a cable to be guided inside the opening of the guiding means, and
• wherein the cable, during use, is, most of its operational time, contacting at least one of at least two barriers, wherein the at least two barriers constitute at least part of a confinement of the opening in the orientation of the linear actuator;
• a motor connected to the cable guide device enabling controlled movement of the guiding means along the linear actuator;
• a control unit in communication with the motor for enabling control of a guiding means velocity along the linear actuator;
• and
• a computer program product stored in a memory of the control unit that comprises computer-readable instructions that, when loaded and executed on the control unit, perform a method for each complete winding period comprising:
• setting an initial guiding means velocity in a first direction of the guiding means at a first position monitored along the linear actuator, wherein the first direction is defined from a first position towards a second position;
• maintaining the initial guiding means velocity between the first position and the second position along the linear actuator;
• setting a temporal guiding means velocity of the guiding means at the second position;
• maintaining the set temporal guiding means velocity between the second position and a third position along the linear actuator;
• resetting the guiding means to the initial guiding means velocity at the third position;
• maintaining the set initial guiding means velocity between the third position and a fourth position along the linear actuator;
• resetting the guiding means to the initial guiding means velocity at the fourth position in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
• and
• maintaining the set initial guiding means velocity between the fourth position and the first position at least partially along the linear actuator,
• wherein all settings of translational movements of the guiding means are performed by the motor connected to the cable guide device, and
• wherein the second position, the third position, and the temporal guiding means velocity are chosen to ensure rapid contact recuperation after loss or near loss of cable contact on one or more of the at least two barriers.