US2452255A - Spool adapter for rope layers or stranding machines - Google Patents

Description

M; M KosKY Oct. 26, 1948.

- SPOOL ADAPTER FOR ROPE LAYERS OR STRANDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 29, 1946 A 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Mic/Mel M KOg/gl "ms nrramvsy M. M KOSKY SPOOL ADAPTER FOR ROPE LAYERS OR STRANDING MACHINES .Filed Nov. 29, 1946 3-Sheet-Sheet 2 I l IN VEN TOR. N/cfiae/ M 1 1 0w H/s Afro/ME) Oct. 26, 1948. M. Mc osKY 2,452,255

SPOOL ADAPTER FOR ROPE LAYERS OR STRANPING Filed-Nov. 29, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

I M/cbd NCKOLAJ BY A M Patented Oct. '26, 1948 SPQOL 'ABAPTER FOR RGPE LAYERS R STRAN'DING MACHINES Michael McKosky,- New Haven, Conn.

Application November 29, 1946, Serial No. 713,949

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to specific features of construction and arrangement of an adapter designedly intended to fit into holes or central apertures of bobbins or spools of different-sizes so as to enable the use of different size supply spools or bobbins in cradles of a stranding machine or layer of a given standard size or type. The above and other more detailed features of the invention will be iully apparent from consideration of the following detailed disclosures and the appended claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal section through an adapter showing a preferred construction of the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are elevations of the two chief component par-ts of the adapter.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the flier of a rope-laying or stranding mach-inc of the type in'which the adapter of the present invention is Well suited for use. 1

Figure "5 is an enlarged plan view showing one *of the cradles of the stranding machine or rope layer detached from the flier and illustrating the mounting therein of an adapter embodying the present invention.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary plan of a rope stranding machine or layer showing a bobbin supporting cradle therein mounting a relatively large diameter spool or bobbin.

Figure 8 is a view of the same flier and cradle shown in Figure '7 illustrating the use of the adapter of the present invention for supporting a relatively smaller bobbin or supply reel.

It is Well known to those skilled in the art that stranding machines or rope layers frequently employ a rotatably mounted flier such as indicated at H) in Figure 4, carrying a plurality of spiderlike brackets l2, which rotatably support a plurality of cradles l4 having respective trunnion portions 16 engaging suitable bearings carried by the spiders l2.

Each cradle I4 is usually provided with an open top recess l8 forming a seat for rotatably supporting a respective supply spool or bobbin such as indicated at 20. Heretofore the cradles M have beendesigned t0 fit only a given sized bobbin. Under the present invention I provide an adapter which makes it possible to use spools or bobbins of diiierent sizes in any given cradle.

My improved adapter is shown in longitudinal section in assembled position in Figure 1 for en- I2 gagement with a spool, and the component Pants thereof are shown detail in Figures 2 and 3 The adapter consists essentially of two lcon ple mentary main elements, A and B, the lelement A having a flange 22 and a substantiallycylindrica seat portion 24 adapted to make a snug fit-with the central opening 25 of the spool or bobbin .20. Similarly, the element B is provided with a iiange 22b and a seat portion 24b to fit the -.opening 25 in the spool or bobbin. A central hub 25 extends inwardly from the flange 22 of the memberA, and is formed with internal screw threads 28, .tor adjustable engagement with external threads 30 formed on an inwardly extending portion .32 formed on the .member B. The member Airpcludes a trunnion .34, which is flanged at .36, this trunnion portion being adaptedto be received in one of the recesses Iii formed inthe cradle. The member B is formedwithasimilar trunnion portion 34b and flange .3612, and this latter trunnion portion is also adapted to .be fitted in the recess 18 of the cradle .as clearly indicated in the plan in Figure .5. It will be understood that the-diameter of portions 24 .and 24b may be varied to suit the central apertures of different size spools .or

bobbins, and it is also apparent that the flanges 36 and 36b serve to keep the adapter from slipping endwise in the cradle. The adapter will usually be equipped with a sheave-like tension control member 38 around which will be reeved a flexible cord or cable 40 which will be anchored at 42 to a suitable lug 44 formed on the cradle. The opposite end of the cord may connect with a spring or weight not shown so as to apply the usual tension for controlling the pay-01f of stranding wire from the spool or bobbin.

' In normal use, the two parts A and B will be screwed together firmly so that the flanges 22 and 22b thereof press firmly against the spool and grip it tightly. The construction and arrangement illustrated and described is such that the weight will be properly distributed in the device so that when assembled with the spool and placed in the cradle, the position of the cradle will remain horizontal in the trunnions of the layer while the flier rotates. The pay-off of wire from the spools or bobbins is such that as the wire is pulled from the spool it will tend to tighten the threaded coupling formed by the engaging threads 28 and 30 of the two component parts A and B of the adapter.

By utilization of the herein described invention, it is possible and practicable to use spools of variable dimensions in cradles of standard or uniform dimensions. One outstanding advantage of the adapter is that it can be fitted to spools prior to their insertion in the cradle of the stranding machine, thus the spools can be made ready for loading while the machine is actually running. The construction of the adapter illustrated is deemed to be advantageous since it can be placed in a cradle in such a position that as the wire or other stranding material pays off, the tension groove and cord tends to tighten the parts. Inasmuch as in many wire drawing operations the wire is drawn directly to a spool, the adapter of the present invention efi'ects a considerable monetary saving because respooling for use in various types of machines is reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, the use of the described adapter reduces the amount of handling and processing of the wire required, the number of wire joints used, and therefore, the quality of the finished cable or rope-like product is materially improved.

While I have described quite precisely a construction and arrangement of an adapter which an actual reduction to practice has demonstrated is very practicaL-it is to be understood that various modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I' claim:

1. In a stranding machine of the type having a rotary flier with a plurality of cradles trunnioned therein, the improvement comprising an adapter for rotatably supporting spools or varying sizes in a given cradle, said adapter including coacting members each having a trunnion portion rotatably supported in the cradle, a respective spool engaging flange on each member and a joint for coupling said members to one another, with provision for varying the distance between said flanges so as to accommodate and firmly grip spools of varying axial lengths.

2. In a stranding machine of the type having a rotary flier with a, plurality of pivotally mounted cradles, the improvement comprising an adapter for rotatably supporting spools of varying sizes in any one of said cradles, said adapter including 4 coacting members each having a trunnion portion rotatably supported in the cradle, a respective spool engaging flange on each member and a joint for coupling said members to one another, comprising respective internally and externally threaded portions at the inner extremities of said members adapted to vary the distance between said flanges when said members are screwed together so as to accommodate and firmly grip spools of varying axial lengths.

3. In an adapter for stranding machines, a pair of spool engaging members, each comprising an elongated hub, a, circular flange intermediate the length of said hub'and integral therewith and having a circumferential seat, and a trunnion at an end of said hub and integral therewith, the hub of one of said members having an internally threaded bore at the end opposite its trunnion, the hub of the other of said members having an externally threaded section at the end opposite its trunnion complementary to and engageably with said internally threaded bore for adiustably coupling said members, the seats on said flanges being adapted to fit within opposite ends of a spool to grip and rotatably support the spool on said trunnions, the longitudinal spacing between said flanges being variable on adjustment or the distance of coupling engagement of the threaded sections to accommodate spools of varying lengths the spool remaining longitudinally centered between the trunnions.

MICHAEL McKOSKY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 455,453 Pendleton, Jr July 7, 1891 1,949,378 Roehm Feb. 27, 1934 2,004,634 Petterson June 11, 1935 2,007,705 Briigger July 9, 1935 2,304,922 Hosfield Dec. 15, 1942

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