US2479928A - Twisting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 23, 1949. E, D. HANSON ETAL TWISTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1946 m T m V N l .5. 0. HA NSO/V a. EHENN/NG 0. a. NELSON ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 23, 1949. E. o. HANSON ETAL TWISTING APPARATUS Filed on. 1a, 1946 6 WW y S E m N AMH m M HN w A EQO Aug. 23, 1949.

Filed Oct. 18 1946 E. D. HANSON ET AL TWISTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A 7' TORNEV E. D. HANSON ETAL 2,479,928

TWISTING APPARATUS Filed 001,- 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/G'Z INVENTORS 2 "a. E. 0. HANSON 15 w c. E. HENN/NG 0. cwasow ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TWISTING APPARATUS Estyle D. Hanson, George E. Kenning, and Oscar G. Nelson, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 18, 1946, Serial No. 704,132

8 Claims.

1 This invention relates to twisting apparatus and more particularly to flyer type twisting apparatus for forming multiconductor cordage of the type used extensively in communication equipment.

- Many types of multiconductor cords and cables are used in the communication field. Also it is sometimes desirable to use a plurality of insulated conductors that are twisted together into groups, usually in pairs. In the manufacture of communication cords and cables, the conductors frequently are twisted together to form a core over which is applied a suitable jacket made of a vulcanized material, such as a rubber or synthetic rubber-like compound, or of a suitable textil material, such as'a braid.

Various types of apparatus have been designed for twisting conductors together to form cordage or cores of cables, or to form groups of individually insulated conductors. It is desirable that such twisting apparatus be as compact as possible, and that means be provided therein for advancing the conductors therethrough at a uniform rate and without slippage. It is also important that the various elements of the apparatus be so designed that the desired type of twisting is accomplished. It is particularly important in twisting apparatus used to make what is known as "close spiral, flexible cordage that no slippage occurs as the conductors are being twisted together, and that the point at which the twist is given to the conductors be controlled accurately.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved twistingapparatus.

One type of twisting apparatus embodying the invention comprises a horizontal type fiyer unit rotatable about its central axis and having a twisting head thereon for twisting together a plurality of conductors to form a composite core, means for serving a textile covering around the composite core to form a core unit, a pair of driven capstans disposed within the fiyer unit for advancing the conductors to the twisting head, means on the central axis of the fiyer unit for supporting a takeup reel, and traversing means carried by the flyer unit for distributing the composite core unit in even layers on the takeup reel.

A clear understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a portion of a twistl 2 ing apparatus forming a specific embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation constituting a continuation of Fig. 1 and showing the remaining portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6.

The twisting apparatus described hereinbelow is designed to form four-conductor close spiral cordage. However, this apparatus may be modified to form various types of multiconductor cordage and cables.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted by reference to Fig. 1, that a plurality of individually insulated conductors Ill-Ill (in this case four) are being withdrawn from a suitable supply (not shown) and directed over a plurality of rotatable guide pulleys l'2-l2 forming part of a guide unit II, which pulleys direct the conductors l0l0 sharply toward a twisting head l3 provided on a rotatable flyer unit I. The twisting head I3 is rotatable with the fiyer unit I4 and twists the conductors Ill-Ill together spirally around a textile cord I! so as to form a composite core [6. The core i6 is advanced through acentral aperture provided in a serving head I! by the aid of which a textile covering is served around the composite core ii to form a textile covered core unit l8. 7

The core unit l8 next advances through an elongated bore provided in a trunnion I9 formed integrally with the flyer unit It and then is directed to apair of driven capstans 20 and II spacedly positioned in the fiyer. The core unit l8 passes alternatelyaround substantial portions of the peripheries of the capstans 20 and 2| (Fig. l) a predetermined number of times and then is directed from the capstan 20 directly to a guide pulley 22 provided on the opposite side of the flyer unit I. The core unit It passes directly from the pulley 22 to a pulley 23 rotatably mounted on a distributor nut 24, which serves to distribute the core unit I8 evenly on a reel 25 rotatably supported within the flyer unit It and along the central axis thereof.

The guide unit ll (Figs. 1 and '7) comprises a tors Ill-l approaches the twisting head |3 at a relatively sharp angle. A restraining member 29 is adjustably positioned on the central axis of vided therein for engaging the conductors |l|-||| at the point at which they are twisted together point with respect to the pulleys |2-|2 and the twisting head l3. |2-|2 close to the twisting head, the twisting head is able to twist the conductors together so that the individual spirals'of the core l6 formed thereby lay against each other throughout the core. By holding the twisting point in a fixed position, a uniform twist is imparted to the conductors throughout the core. The serving head |1 consists of a rotor 3| rotatably mounted on a hub 32 centrally secured on the base plate 21. A plurality of strand supply cops 33-33 are rotatably mounted on the rotor from which strands 34-34 are withdrawn and served spirally around the composite core l6 to form the textile covered core unit l8 when the rotor is rotated. A more complete description of the conductor guiding member II and the serving head I1 is given in copending application Serial No. 704,157, filed October 18, 1946, now Patent No. 2,475,427, July 1949, by G. E. Henning.

The flyer unit l4 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) consists of a pair of spaced end members 35 and 36 and a pair of elongated tubular support members 31 and 38, which have their extremities securely clamped to the extremities of the end members 35 and 36 to form a rigid rectangular frame. The fiyer unit I4 is rotatably mounted between a pair of spaced standards 40 and 4| provided on the frame of the apparatus by means of the hollow trunnion l9 formed integrally with the end member 25 and a hollow trunnion 42 formed integrally with the end member 36. The trunnion 42 has a sprocket. 43 keyed thereto which engages a chain belt 44 connected to a sprocket 45 keyed to a motor shaft 46 driven by a main motor 41.

The motor 41 is arranged to drive the fiyer unit l4 in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow (Fig. 4), which direction twists the conductors |l-| ll tightly together so that the spirals of the individual conductors lay against each other in the twisted core I6 and are formed in the direction shown in Fig. '7. The shaft 46 extends over and drives a change gear mechanism 50 and a variable speed reducer 5|. The speed reducer 5| is arranged to rotate the serving head rotor 3| by means of a. belt 52 and a pulley 53 keyed thereto in the same direction as the flyer unit [4, but at a rate of speed substantially greater than that of the fiyer unit thereby enabling the rotor 3| to spirally serve the strands 34-34 around the rotating core 16.

A housing 55 (Figs. 1 and 4) integrally formed on the upper end of the end member 35 has formed therein an upper circular depression 56, a lower circular depression 51 and a bore 60 in the wall section of the housing 55 between the depressions 56 and 51. A stud 6|, having a, short body por- By positioning the pulleys,

' the guiding unit I and has a conical end 36 pro- 1 stud 6| may be rigidly secured to the housing 55 so that the body portion 64 is centrally positioned within its associated depression.

The capstan 20 is rotatably mounted on the body portion 64 of the stud6| positioned in the depression 51 by a pair of annular bearings 1|-1| positioned in counterbores provided on a hub portion 12 of the capstan 20. The periphery of the capstan 20 is provided with four semicircular grooves 13-13 arranged to receive the core unit |8 as it passes around the capstans 20 and serves to hold the twisting point at a fixed tion 62, a shoulder portion 63 and a long body and'Zl on its way to the takeup reel 25. The capstan 2| is rotatably mounted on the body portion 64 of the stud 6| secured in the circular depression 56 in the same manner described above for the capstan 20. The capstan 2|, however, 'has only three semicircular grooves 16-16 provided on its periphery for directing the core unit l8 to the takeup reel 25.

The core unit I8 passes through a central bore 19 provided in a trunnion I9 of the end member 35 (Fig. 4) and enters the left hand groove l3 of the capstan 20, passes around the lower portion of this groove and then is directed under the capstan 2| and into the left hand groove 16 of the capstan 2| and around the upper portion of the groove 16. The core unit Iii is directed from the groove 16 into the second groove 13 of the capstan 20, and so on until the core unit I8 passes alternately around the lower portion of the second and third grooves of the capstan 20 and around the upper portion of the second and third grooves of the capstan 2|. The core unit l8 then.

passes from the third groove of the capstan 2| into the fourth groove provided in the capstan 20, which groove is vertically aligned with a peripheral groove provided on the pulley 22. The semicircular grooves 13-13 and 16-16 are spaced on the face of the capstans 20 and 2|, respectively, so as to prevent the various portions of the core unit l8 from rubbing against each other, as the core unit passes alternately back and forth around portions of the capstans 20 and 2 I, and to provide the maximum contacting surface between the core unit l8 and the capstans.

The capstan 20 is provided with a flange 11, which slidably engages the face of the wall of the circular depression 51 and a felt ring 18 seated in an annular groove provided in the face of the aforementioned wall. The capstan 2| is provided with a hub portion 8|, which likewise slidably engages the face of the wall of the depression 56 and a felt ring 82 positioned in an annular groove 83 provided in the wall. Thecapstans 26 and 2| are maintained on the body portion 63 of their respective studs 6l-6l by means of nuts threadedly mounted on the ends of the body portions and are thereby maintained against the felt rings 18 and 82 positioned in the walls of the depressions 56 and 51. A bevelled ring gear 66 is centrallypositioned on each of the capstans 20 and 2| (Figs. 1 and 4), and each ring gear meshes with a bevelled pinion 85 secured on the extremities of a shaft 86 rotatably mounted in the vertical bore 60 by antifriction bearings 81-81 positioned in counterbores located at opposite ends of the bore 60.

The ring gear 84 positioned on the capstan 20 also meshes with a bevelled pinion 90 positioned within the depression 51 "and secured on the end of a shaft 9| freely rotatable in the housing 55 and extending horizontally from the depression 51 so that its left end projects beyond the left side of the end member 35. A pinion 92 is secured on the left end of the shaft 9| which pinion 35. The idler gear 33 in turn meshes with a ring gear 94 rotatably mounted on the trunnion I9 between the standard 4| and the end member 35. A sprocket 95 is keyed on the hub of the ring gear 94 and engages a chain belt 98 connected to an output sprocket of the change gear mechanism 50 which receives its power from the motor 41 through the shaft 48.

The system of gears 92, 93 and 34 (Figs. 1 and 4) is arranged to cooperate with the bevelled pinion 90, which engages the bevelled ring gear 94 secured to the capstan 20, and drives the capstan 20 in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow thereon, at a constant rate of speed. The capstan 20 in turn drives the capstan 2| in a clockwise direction by means of the bevelled pinions 8585 secured on the shaft 95 and the bevelled ring gear 84 secured on the capstan 2|. .Obviously, th system of gears including the gear 93 may be arranged to rotate the capstans in the proper direction when the flyer is rotated faster or slower than the ring gear 94' driven by the change gear mechanism 50.

By virtue of the fact that the capstans are driven in the opposite directions, it is evident that the capstan 20 tends to force the core unit I8 tightly in the semicircular grooves 16-15 provided in the periphery of the capstan 2|, and likewise the capstan 2| tends to force the core unit I8 tightly within the semicircular grooves 13-13 of the capstan 20, in 'whichcase each capstan istending to aid the companion capstan in obtaining a tight grip on the core unit I8, and thus advance it through the twisting head I3 at the desired rate of speed. The alternating arrangement of the core unit I8 as it passes from capstan 20 to capstan 2| and vice versa serves to prevent the core unit from slipping in the semicircular grooves of the capstans as the flyer unit I4 twists the conductors I--|0 together to form the close spiral composite core I8.

After the core unit I8 passes back and forth over the capstans 20 and 2| in the manner described above, it is directed to the guide pulley 22 and thence to the pulley 23 rotatably mounted on the distributor nut 24, which pulley serves to lay the core unit I8 evenly on the winding surface of the takeup reel 25. The nut 24 is slidably mounted on the tubular support 38 and a rod 91 mounted parallel to the support 33 and is caused to reciprocate between the flanges of the takeup reel 25 by a traversing mechanism presently to be described.

The ring gear 94 rotatably mounted on the trunnion I8 also engages an idler gear I00 secured on the end of a shaft IOI rotatably mounted in a suitable boss provided on the end member 35 and having a pinion I02 secured on the opposite end thereof. The pinion I02 engages an idler gear I03 secured on the end of a shaft I04 rotatably mounted in the end member 35 and having an idler pinion I secured on the opposite end thereof. The idler pinion I05 meshes with an idler gear 05 rotatably mounted on the end member 35, which idler gear meshes with a gear I01 secured on the end of a traversing shaft IIO which is rotatably mounted within the tubular support 38 of the flyer unit I4. The shaft 0 is provided with an enlarged body portion III having a conventional traversing thread I I2 (Fig. 5) cut therein.

The traversing thread 2 slidably engages the arcuate-shaped end of a finger 3 (Fig. 4) secured to a cylindrical body portion I I4 of a thread follower H5. The body portion 4 is slidably positioned in a bore H5 provided in a body portion III of the distributor nut 24. The arcuateshaped end of the finger H3 is maintained in engagement with the traversing thread M2 by a spring I I8 positioned between the body I I4' and the end of a nut I20 threadedly mounted in the end of the bore 8. A pair of spaced supports |2|--|2I are formed on the body portion II'I so as to straddle the nut I20 and have horizontally aligned bores I22--|22 provided therethrough for receiving self-lubricating bushings I23I23. The bushings I23I23 slidably engage the rod 91 mounted in a parallel position with respect to the support 38 by means of a bracket I- formed integrally with the end member and a bracket I3I secured to the vertical leg of an angle-shaped support I32 formed integrally with the end member 35. The tubular support 38 has a portion of its wall cut away between the bracket I3I and the bracket I30 to provide an opening I29 in which the finger II3 rides as the follower H5 and the nut 24 are reciprocated as a result of the rotation of the shaft H0 and the traversing thread H2.

The system of gears comprising the gears I00, I02, I03, I05, I08 and I0I (Figs. 1 and 4) is arranged to rotate the shaft H0 and its traversing thread H2 at a speed which will reciprocate the distributor nut 24' at a rate which will lay a given size core unit, such as the core unit I8 being advanced at a given rate of speed by the capstans 20 and 2| evenly across the Winding diameter of the takeup reel 25. Obviously, this system of gears may be arranged to suit the particular size of the unit to be distributed on the takeupreel, and also to suit any change in the rate at which the unit is being advanced by the capstans 20 and 2|.

The system of gears mounted on the left face of the end member 35 is enclosed by a housing I33 (Fig. 1) formed integrally with the end member and a cover plate I34 removably secured to the housing. Likewise, the intermediate idler gears I02 and I03 are enclosed by a housing I35 formed integrally with the lower end member 30 and a cover I38 removably secured on the housing J35. The housings and their respective covers serve to retain. a quantity of lubricant around the gears enclosed thereby and further prevent the lubricant from flying oil the gears as the flyer unit I4 is rotated. In addition, the housing prevents the gear lubricant from getting on the 1 core unit I8 as it is advanced into the flyer unit and as it passes around the capstans 20 and 2| disposed therein.

The support I32 is provided with a hub portion I31 (Fig. l) which is aligned with the central axis of the flyer unit I4 and has a rotatable center I38 designed to engage a central tapered bore (not shown) provided in the left hand side of the takeup reel 25; The right hand side of the takeup reel 25 is supported by a tapered center I40 formed integrally with an annular flange I4I rigidly secured on the end of a reel driving shaft I42. The flange MI is provided with a spring-pressed plunger I43 which engages a hole (not shown) provided in the right hand flange of the takeup reel 25 to drive the takeup reel 25 when the shaft I42 is rotated. The shaft I42 extends horizontally through the standard 4| and has secured on the opposite end thereof a differential gear mechanism I45 (Fig. 2) whose operation is controlled by an externally disposed induction type torque motor I46. The shaft I42 is driven by the combined action of the motor 41 which drives the flyer unit I4 and the torque motor I46 which controls the operation of the differential gear mechanism I45, so that as the winding operation of the reel proceeds from the empty reel to a full reel, the speed of rotation of the reel progressively decreases so as to maintain uniform tension on the core unit I8 as it is taken up by the reel.

For a more complete understanding as to how the combined operation of the main driving motor 51 and the differential gear mechanism I45 provides constant tension on the core unit I being taken up by the reel 25, attention is directed to G. E. Henning et al. Patent 2,338,848, issued January 11, 1944. Inasmuch as the differential gear mechanism I45, included in the present disclosure, operates in a manner identical with that described in the above-mentioned patent, it is believed that further description of the operation of this ap-- paratus is not required.

It should be noted that since the core unit It is distributed on' the takeup reel 25 by the traversing thread I II and the distributor nut 26 mounted on the flyer unit, it is not necessary to reciprocate the shaft M2 in the manner described in the above-mentioned patent in order to distribute the core unit I 6 evenly on the reel. However, in order to insert an empty reel in the flyer unit I 6 or to remove a full reel from the flyer unit, it is necessary that the shaft 32 be manually reclprocable to the extent that the tapered end IdIImay be propelled or repelled sufficiently to permit such operations to be performed on the reel 25. To

I accomplish the required reciprocation of the shaft I52, a propelling and repelling mechanism I50 (Figs. 2 and 3) is rigidly secured on the end of a hub I5I provided on a member I52 forming a part of the differential gear mechanism I655.

The propelling and repelling mechanism I50 (Figs. 2 and 3) consists of a support I56 rigidly secured on the huh I 5| by means of a counterbore I55 provided on one end thereof and has a bore I51 provided therein substantially equal to the diameter of the shaft I42. A nut I60 is slidably positioned within the bore I51 and is provided with an internal thread I6I which engages a threaded stud I62 rotatably secured on the free end of the shaft I42. A ring I63 is mounted on the end of the support I56 and is provided with a bore therethrough which is substantially smaller than the bore I51, thereby causing an annular portion thereof to project inwardly beyond the bore I51 provided in the support I56, and engage a peripheral shoulder I64 formed on a tubular body portion I65 of the nut I60. The right face of the ring I63 is provided with a plurality of V-shaped teeth I66I66 designed to engage identically shaped teeth I61I61 provided on the left face of a retractable ring I10.

The teeth I61-I61 of the ring I16 are maintained in engagement with the teeth I66I 66 of the ring I63 by a plurality of springs I1I-I1I positioned between the right face of the ring I10 and the bottom of counterbores I12-I12 provided in a hub portion I13 of ahand wheel I16 keyed on the body portion I65 of the nut I60. The ring I10 may be withdrawn from engagement with the ring I63 by means of a knob I16 rotatably mounted in a bore provided in an annular flange member I11 against the outer face of the hub I13 of the hand wheel I14. The flange I11 has a, plurality of studs I80I80 secured equidistantly around its periphery which slidably engage and extend through complementary bores ISI-I6I provided in the hub I13 to horizontally aligned bores provided in the ring I10, in which the bores of the ends of the studs 80 are rigidly secured.

A ring I05 is rigidly secured in the counterbore I55 and is provided with an ear I86 which projects inwardly from the bore therethrough and slidably engages a groove I81 cut in the stud I62. The stud I62 is rotatably mounted in the end of the shaft I62 because the mechanism I50 is driven directly by the flyer unit It at a constant rate of speed while the speed of rotation of the shaft I132 must vary as the winding diameter of the takeup reel increases from an empty reel to a full reel. The ring I66 serves to prevent rotation of the stud I62 with respect to the support I56 when the nut 'I62 is rotated by a turning motion of the hand wheel I16. When the hand wheel I14 is turned in a clockwise direction, the shaft I62 and the reel engaging center I40 secured on the end thereof are moved to the left, and vice versa (Figs. 1, 2 and 3).

The teeth I65 and I61 are arranged on the faces of the rings I63 and I10, respectively, so that there will be a slipping, ratchet-action between the rings I63 and I10 when the hand wheel I16 is rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3), thereby causing the center I66 to move to the left and engage the center hole of the takeup reel 25, but will lock with each other and prevent the hand wheel from being rotated in a counterclockwise direction to retractthe center I40 from the reel 25 unless the knob I16 is first actuated to draw the ring I16 toward the hub I13 of the hand wheel against the action of the compression springs III-III. The teeth I66--I66 and I61I61 serve as a latch arrangement for the hand wheel I15 and prevent rotation thereof when the hand wheel is being rotated with the flyer unit It and the differential gear mechanism I65. This is in effect a safety feature which prevents the hand wheel from being rotated to repel the shaft I42 so as to retract the center I 60 from the reel 25 during the operation of the flyer.

Since a one-direction slipping action is provided between the support I56 and the hand wheel I14, it is believed to be obvious that when the support I56 first starts to rotate with the flyer, the hand wheel I14 possesses such mass'that it will slip and lag behind the support when it starts to rotate. Likewise, if the hand wheel is being rotated with the support I56 and the flyer and support are brought to a substantially sudden stop, the hand wheel will develop such inertia that it will continue to rotate until the slipping friction of the rings I63 and, I10 overcome the inertia thereof. In the first case, the slipping of the hand wheel will draw the reel shaft to the left and thereby disengage or partially disengage the center Hi0 from the reel. In the second case, the continued rotation of the hand wheel will drive the center I60 hard into-the reel and thereby make disengagement of the center from the reel very diflicult.

To overcome this condition, a stud I90 is threadedly mounted in a tapped bore provided in the knob I16 (Fig. 3) and has secured on the end thereof a cylindrical head I9I arranged to move freely in the tubular body portion I65. A ring I92 is secured in the end 'of the tubular body portion I65 of the nut I60 and is provided with an internally disposed ear I93 which slidably engages a longitudinal groove I94 cut in the stud I90, thereby preventing the stud I90 and the head I9I from turnin when the knob IlIi-is turned.

It is believed to be apparent from the above .de--

scription that the hand wheel I14 cannot be turned in either direction and thereforeno sllpping action can occur between the hand wheel I14 and the support I56 when the head ISI is clamped tightly against the left face of the ring I 32 by the knob I and the stud I90. This is due to the fact that when the knob I16 is turned in a clockwise direction, it draws the stud I90 to the right which causes the head [9| to abut the ring I02 and thereby clamp the flange III tightly against the hub I13 of the hand wheel I14. To place the hand wheel I14 and the ring I10 in a rotatable condition, the knob I16 must first be turned in a counterclockwise direction until the stud I90 and its head I9I are moved to the left a distance sufficient to permit the ring I10 to be retracted by the knob against the action of the springs I'll-I-II and thereby disengage its teeth I67 from the teeth I66 on the ring I63.

A spring I95 is positioned in the tubular body portion I65 between the end of the stud I62 and the head I9I and surrounds a post I96 secured to the head I9I and extending therefrom into a bore provided in the end of the stud I62. The spring I95 serves to take up any backlash in the threaded connection between the nut I60 and the stud I62.

A pair of curved supports 200-200 (Figs. 1 and 4) are spacedly positioned on the flyer unit I4 so as to engage the periphery of the flanges of the takeup reel 25. The supports are provided only as a means for temporarily supporting the reel in the fiyer during the loading and unloading of the reel therein. The curved supports are arranged to support the reel in the fiyer when the tubular members 31 and 38 are horizontally aligned with the rotating axis of the fiyer so that the central apertures of the reel 25 (not shown) are almost in line with the tapered reel supporting centers I3! and I00.

By supporting the reel in this manner, the tapered center I40, as it is moved to the left by rotation of the hand wheel I14, will engage the respective reel aperture and drive the reel to the left until the opposite central aperture properly engages the tapered center I31 whereupon the reel is automatically lifted off the supports 200-200 and becomes rotatably supported in the flyer. When it is desired to remove the reel from the flyer, the flyer mustbe positioned so the supports will be under the reel, whereupon the center I40 may be withdrawn from the reel aperture thereby letting the reel drop gradually onto the supports, from which the reel may be removed by suitable hoisting means.

The above-described twisting apparatus operates as follows:

Assuming that the reel driving shaft I42 has been repelled by t e hand wheel I14 so as' to retract the center I40 to its outermost position, an empty reel 25 is positioned on the supports 200-200 and the hand wheel is manually rotated in a clockwise direction until the reel is rotatably positioned on the supporting centers I34 and I40. It will be assumed that a plurality of conductors, such as conductors I0-I0 have been drawn from a suitable supply (not shown) and positioned over the guide rollers i2-I2, threaded through the bore provided in the twisting head I3 and the trunnion I9 together with the cord I5 to the capstans 20 and M, and passed alternately around the periphery of the capstans 20 and 2|, from the capstan 20 to the guide pulley 22 and thence to the pulley 23 angularly mounted on the dis- 10 tributor nut 24 from which the conductors Iii-I0 and the cord II are directed and secured to the takeup reel 25.

The motor 41 is then energized by suitable control means (not shown) to place the entire twisting apparatus in operation, that is, the ilyer I4, the capstans 20 and 2|, the distributing nut 24 and the serving head Il all are operating in timed relation with respect to each other. The capstans 20 and2l advance the conductors I0-I0 continuously over the guide pulleys I2-I2 positioned on the guiding member II so as to direct the conductors at an acute angle toward the twisting head I3. The twisting head I3, which rotates with the flyer l4, grips the conductors I0-I0 tightly and causes them to be twisted around the cord I5. The guide pulleys I2-I 2 are arranged adjacent to the twisting head so that the twisting action imparted to each of the conductors is checked by its respective guide pulley, thereby causing the conductors to be twisted tightly together at a point close to the twistin head.

The position of the restraining member 29 is adjusted so that its conical end 30 engages the conductors I0-I0 at the twisting point, thereby preventing the twisting point from surging back and forth between the conical end 30 and the tw sting head I3. This arrangement of the guide pulleys and the restraining member with respect to the twisting head causes the conductors to be twisted together to form the composite close spiral core I6 (Fig. 7). The speed of rotation .of the flyer unit l4 and the speed at which the capstans 20 and 2i are driven are so arranged with respect to each other, that the flyer I4 by means of its twisting head I3 will form the close spiral core I6, that is, the spirals formed by the individual conductors I0 I 0 will lay against each other throughout the entire length of the core I6.

The capstans 20 and 2I are driven by the change gear mechanism 50 at the proper rate of speed and in the proper direction to advance the core I6 to a serving head I1 by means of which the strands 34-34 are spirally served around the composite core I6 to form the textile covered core unit I8. The core unit I8 is passed alternately around substantial portions of the peripheries of the capstans 20 and 2I in order to secure good traction between the capstans and the core unit I8. The core unit I8 passes from the capstan 20 to the guide pulley 22 and thence to the pulley 23 rotatably mounted on the distributor nut 24. The traversing shaft H0 is also driven by the change gear mechanism 50 and in timed relation with the speed at which the capstans 20 and 2I are driven so that the core unit I 8 will be evenly distributed on the reel 25.

Due to the fact that the core unit I8 is being delivered by the capstans 20 and 2i and the distributor nut 24 and the reel 25 at a constant rate, it is necessary that the reel 25 be rotated at a correspondingly decreasing speed as the winding diameter of the reel increases from an empty reel to a full reel. The tension on the core unit I8 being taken up by the reel 25 must remain substantially constant throughout the winding operation .of the reel from an empty reel to a full reel. To accomplish this result, the reel driving shaft I42 is driven jointly by the flyer unit I4 and the differential gear mechanism I45, the operation of which is controlled by the induction type torque motor I46. The characteristics of the motor I46 are such that, as its speed decreases, its torque increases, and it is this characteristic of the torque motor that is utilized to maintain a constant tension on the core unit it being taken up by the reel 25.

The above-described fiyer unit possesses several distinct advantages over fiyer units in use heretofore. First, since the twisting head l3 of the fiyer unit it must grip the core unit it very tightly in .order to twist the conductors ill-i together in such manner as to form a close spiral core, it is necessary to provide a pair of driven capstans on the fiyer to obtain the pull on the core unit l8 required to advance the core unit through the bore .of the twisting head. In addition, the manner in which the core unit I8 is wrapped alternately around the peripheries of gether, means provided in the fiyer unit for rotatably supporting a takeup reel for the twisted conductors including a fixed center for rotatably supporting one side of the takeup reel, and a rotatable shaft having its free end arranged to sup port the other side of the reel and rotate the reel when the shaft is rotated, means for propelling and repelling the shaft to cause the supporting the capstans Z0 and El provides the best traction 7 obtainable from two capstans used to advance such a core unit it through the tight fitting bore of the twisting head it.

Secondly, instead .of providing externally disposed means for reciprocating a takeup reel back and forth within the fiyer unit itself, which operation necessitates the use of considerable equipment and floor space, as well as requiring considerable power, the fiyer unit it has the takeup reel maintained in a stationary position with respect to lateral movement thereof. The core unit 58 is evenly distributed over the winding surface of the reel by means of the traversing shaft and the distributor nut 2% carried on the fiyer itself. This type of fiyer unit requires a minimum amount of floor space and will eliminate the need for externally disposed apparatus for reciprocating the takeup reel.

While the above-described apparatus is particularly adapted to twisting a plurality of insulated conductors together to form a close spiral core unit, it may be readily adapted to twist together varioustypes of filamentary strands to form units suitable for many other purposes. Therefore, the invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims;

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for twisting a plurality of conductors together to form a composite close spiral core, which comprises a fiyer rotatable about its central axis, externally disposed means for rotating the fiyer at a constant rate of speed, a tubular twisting head positioned on the flyer for twisting a plurality of conductors together, means associated with the twisting means for causing the conductors to be twisted into a composite close spiral core when the flyer is rotated. means positioned adjacent to the twisting means for serving a textile covering around the composite core to form a core unit, externally disposed means for rotating the serving means about the twisting head and the composite core, means for continuously advancing the core unit through the twisting means to advance the conductors to the twisting means, means disposed along the central axis of the fiyer for rotatably supporting a takeup reel for th core unit being advanced through the twisting head including a fixed center for rotatably supporting one side of the reel and a rotatable shaft having its free end arranged to support the opposite side of the takeup reel, said shaft being provided with means adjacent the free end thereof for rotating the reel when the shaft is rotated, means for propelling and repelling the shaft along its axis to cause the supporting means and the reel rotating means to engage or disengage the reel as desired, means provided on the fiyer for distributing the core unit evenly on the takeup reel, and means for and driving end thereof to engage or disengage the reel as desired, and means for locking the propelling and repelling means when the end of the shaft is in engagement with the reel to prevent the propelling and repelling means from being operated by the rotation of the fiyer.

3. Twisting apparatus, which comprises a ro= tatable fiyer unit, means associated with the fiyer unit for twisting a plurality of conductors together, means provided on the fiyer unit for supporting a takeup reel for the twisted conductors including a fixed center for rotatably supporting one side of the takeup reel, a rotatable shaft hav= ing one end thereof arranged to support the other side of the reel and rotate the reel when the shaft is rotated, a differential gear mechanism rotatable with the fiyer and arranged to effect a variable speed drive between the fiyer and the shaft, a hand wheel mounted on the end of the differential gear mechanism and arranged to engage the other end of the shaft and cause the shaft to be propelled and repelled as desired when the hand wheel is rotated and ratchet means arranged to lock the hand wheel against rotation when the fiyer unit is being rotated.

4. In twisting apparatus comprising a rotatable fiyer for twisting a plurality of conductors to gether to form a composite core when said flyer is rotated, means provided on the fiyer for advancing the conductors to the fiyer and a takeup reel for the composite core, the improvement which comprises astationary center post for rotatably supporting one side of the takeup reel for the core produced by the fiyer, a reel drivin shaft rotatably supported on the -flyer and having its free end arranged for supporting the other side of the reel and for locking the reel to the shaft for rotation therewith, means connected to the opposite end of the shaft for imparting lateral movement to the shaft so as to cause the end thereof to move toward or away from the adjacent side of the takeup reel as desired, and means associated with the lateral movement imparting means for locking said imparting means against movement during the rotation of the fiyer.

5. An apparatus for rotatably supporting a takeup reel having a frustoconical bore at each end thereof on the central axis of a fiyer arranged to twist a plurality of conductors together when rotated about its central axis, which comprises a pair of rotatable supports spacedly positioned along .the central axis of the fiyer unit for engaging the frustoconical bores of a takeup reel for the twisted conductors, means provided on one of said supports for locking the reel for rotation therewith, means for driving the support having the locking means thereon to rotate the takeup reel at a constantly decreasing speed as the twisted conductors are taken up on the reel, and means for propelling and repelling the driven support along its axis to cause said support to engage or disengage the adjacent bore of the reel as desired.

6. An apparatus for rotatably supporting a takeup reel on the central axis of a flyer rotatable to twist a plurality of conductors together to form a composite core, which comprises a fixed center for rotatably supporting one side of the reel, a rotatable shaft havin its free end arranged to support the other side of the takeup reel, said shaft being provided with means on the free end thereof for locking the reel for rotation with the shaft, variable speed driving means for rotating said shaft to rotate said reel at a constantly decreasing speed as the core is taken up thereby, means provided on the opposite end of the shaft for propelling and repelling the shaft to cause the supporting means and locking means of said shaft to selectively engage or disengage the reel as desired, and means for locking the propelling and repelling means against movement when the flyer is rotated.

'7. An apparatus for rotatably supporting a takeup reel having a tapered bore provided on each end thereof in a flyer rotatable about its central axis to twist a plurality of conductors together to form a composite core, which comprises a fixed center for engaging the tapered bore provided in one end of the takeup reel, a rotatable shaft having means provided on the free end thereof for engaging the tapered bore provided in the opposite end of the takeup reel, means associated with the bore engaging end of said shaft for locking the reel to the shaft for rotation therewith, means connected to the other end of the shaft for propelling and repelling the shaft along its axis to cause the supporting means and locking means to engage or disengage the respective bore of the takeup reel as desired, means provided on the propelling and repelling means for preventing the shaft from being repelled when the flyer is rotated, and means provided on the propelling and repelling means for preventing the support on the end of the shaft from being driven into too tight an engagement with the respective tapered bore of the takeup reel.

8. An apparatus for rotatably supporting a takeup reel having a central tapered bore at each side thereof on the central axis of a flyer type strand twisting apparatus having means for delivering the strand to the takeup reel at a fixed rate, which comprises a rotatable center provided on one end of the flyer for engaging the central bore provided on one side of a takeup reel to be supported on the flyer, a shaft rotatably mounted at the opposite end of the flyer and having its free end arranged to engage the central bore provided in the opposite side of the reel, spring-pressed means provided adjacent to said free end of the shaft for locking the reel to the shaft for rotation therewith, means for rotating the shaft at a constantly decreasing speed as the winding diameter of the reel increases from an empty reel to a full reel, a nut rotatably mounted at the end of the shaft and threadedly engaging the end of the shaft, a hand wheel for turning the nut to propel or repel the shaft along its axis as desired, a ratchet type clutch provided between the hand wheel and the nut to permit turning of the hand wheel after the end of the shaft has fully engaged the central bore of the reel thereby preventing the end of the shaft from becoming jammed in the central bore of the reel, and means for locking the ratchet clutch after the reel is properly supported between the center and end of the shaft to prevent movement of the hand wheel when the fiyer is rotated.

ESTYLE D.'HANSON.

GEORGE E. HENNING.

OSCAR G. NELSON.

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

. I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

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