Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
10824;~5
~he invention relates to methods of apparatuses fcr
producing multiple-core power current cable~ or conductors.
Although it has been know~ for a long time to lay
the cores of telecommunication caOles with reversing
stro~e, wherein the thus laid core groups or bundle~ are
fixed in the intended laid position by means of a wound-on
thread, the said kind of l~ying has hardly been practised
heretofore in power current cable manufacturing because of
the difficulties to be overcome. ~hese difficulties reside
' 10 on the one hand in the fact that su~stpntiall~ higher force~I tha~ in the tele¢ommunication cable manufacturing technique
must be provided, in order to deform the bending-resistant
conductors or cores of power current cables in accordance
i with the rope-forming process, and even more in the
1 15 dif~iculty in retaining the power current cable cores laid
with reversing stroke la~tingly in the desired laid position
..
I without expen~ive additional measures in suc~ a manner
that they retain their laid position even under tension
, stresses which ma~ occur. ~herefore this laying technique
J, 20 wa~ used ~or power current cableQ on~y in special casesS
such as the manufacture of exténsible cables, as i8 clear
e.g. from DR-PS 481 822. ~his specification teaches to
twi~t, in an e}ectrical extensible cable, the core~ o~
mu~tiple con~uctor ca~le~ together in successive sections
o~ a production length with the t~ist direction alt~rnati~g,
in order to allow the cable to extend under appropriate
te~ion loading, in that the opposite twist stro~eQ unwind
successively. In the extreme case, this leads to the comp}ete
h
108;~4;~5
straightening of the cores which then run parallel to the
cable axis without mutual lay. It i8 just this, however,
which must be aYoided under any circumstance~ with the
normally employed cables.
HoweYer, a single or m~ltiple core power c~rrent cabl-e
with concentrically disposed laying position with wires,
threads or tapes, in particular with a concentric protective
conductor, is also know~ (D~-GM 1 875 570). The outer
concentric rope-forming layer serving in particular as
protective conductor, i8 laid with a covering layi~g direction
which reverses at intervals, wherein however the cable cores
themselve~ are laid with the same twist direction. But in
this case also, it i9 necessary to guide the cable provided
with the protective conductor reversingly cable-laid thereon
~n a guide nipple until a copper bandage haq been attached,
in order to prevent reverse twisting of the individual
stroke length. ~he atta¢hment of the copper bandage, which
occurs in a known manner by means of a tape spinner or the
like, must be effected in a separate working step, whereby the
advantages of the product-on technique aimed at are reduced
in a not inconsiderable manner. ~he es~ential adYantage o~
the reversing laying o~ the protective conductor of such
cables, which has experienced wide propag~tion, resides in
particular in the fact that the protecti~e conductor need
~ot be cut a~y more ~or the attachment of branches, but,
~fter remova~ o~ the cable Jacket, the in~ividual wires of the
protective co~ductor are ~ifted off the coxe insulation in the
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, . . .
~ .
108~4;~5
region of the branching sleeve by untwisting two ad~acent
stroke length~ làid with different twist direction. After
the attachment of the branches, the wires can be placed ~ack
on the insulation again by re-twisting or can be grouped
together even untwisted in bunches. In crder to simplify
the production it has admittedly been tried already to press
the concentric protective conductor directly during winding
into and ~dhesi~e plactic mass previously deposited on the
surface of the cable core, in order to prevent the automatic
untwisting of the protective conductor wires. However, it
has been found that this measure alone is insufficient ~or
rendering superfluous the attachm~nt of a tape fixing the
reversingly laid protective conductor ~ires.
Finally an electrical conductor is know~ which consists
f a plurality of cores laid with reversing stroke in a
bundle and a cover surrounding the cores, for example as
feed l~ne for electrical apparatus (D~-OS 24 03 047),
wherein the individual cores are twisted with reversing
stroke of at least 360 degrees, preferably three times 360
; 20 degrees, and are held by a cover ~reely extruded therearound.
Under certain circumsta~ces, a so-called inner ~ac~et of
highly filled material may be disposed between the freely
extruded covsr a~d the conductor bundle. For producing
this know~ electrical conduc~or the individual cor6s are
~.:
~' laid reYersingly a~ter passing through a per~orated disc,
.
which rotate~ successively at least once in each direction,
~; and are su~sequentl~ coiled. ~he rotatable per~orated
disc is driven by a so-called disc running motor~ the shaft
: -- 3 --
- 108'~4;~5
of which is bored in the direction of the cores passing
therethrough and serves as ~uide for the cores and for
this purpose may be provided with a particularly long bush
di~posed in the core Or the shaft. The bu~h guides the
individual cores laid with reveræing stroke additionally
oYer a long path. ~he particular advantage of such a laying
bush widened or extended in the axial direction lie~ in
the fact that the lay produced is held over the entire motor
length in order to avoid an unwinding thereof and, in
consequence Or the clampi~g effect of the laying bush, under
certain circumstauces even an untwisting of the laid section,
to a large extent.
This known electrical conductor of cores laid with re-
versing stroke al~o comprises obviously conductors with a
relatiYely small cross-section similar to the telecommunication
cable ¢ores referred to above or even the previously discussed
wires o~ the protective conductor cable lQyer deposited with
reversing stroke on power current cables. ~hese conductors
can bs deformed during la~ing beyond their elastic limit
with relati~ely small Qxpenditure of force in such a manner
that, in particular after travelling through the elongate
la~ing bush which compresses them or clamps them tight in
the cable-~orming layer, they retain largely the shape
imposed on them and can thereore be coiled and provided wlth
the coYer extruded there~xound in a ~ubse~uent completely
; ~eparate wor~ing step. ~ known method, however, cannot
bs employed for the core~ of power current cables the
conductors of which are constructed mostl~ a~ solid conduGtors,
:'
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. . . . . . .
10~3~435
in particular segment conduetors, and have, e~en in the low
voltage range, cross-sections of more than 1.5 mm2, since
they are only partly plastically deformed during laying
because of their increased strength. Also, because of their
elasticity, they tend to untwist again immediately after the
laying for partial return to their original straight sha~e,
so that coiling the cabled structures is impossi~le without
previously tak~ng ~uitable measurec, such as spinning there-
around a tape retaining the cores in the laid position. Also,
it i8 regarded as disadvantageous that the previously
mentioned known conductor~ are laid and extrusion coYered
in ~eparate working steps, wherein the coiling, still not
quite without its problems, of the cores laid with reversing
stroke is unavoidable and a steady continuous msnufacture
of the conductor is excluded.
A¢cording to one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of producing multiple-core power current
cables or leads, wherein the conductors or cores drawn off
stationary stores, for example coils or drums, are laid,
u~der certsin circumstances after application of the core
insulation, continuously with reversing stro~e to a bundle
a~d are finally extrusion coated commonly with a thermo-
plastic or in the final state elastomeric insulating material,
characteri~ed in that the cores are gu~ded together at the
laying point and are extrusion coated simultaneously or in
the immediate vicinity thereof, subsequently cooled a~d
~inally coiled or drawn off as cable or core.
:
-- 5 --
108;~4;~5
According to another aspect of the i~vention there
i8 provided a method of producing multiple-core power
cables comprIsing guiding tbe cores together at a laying
point, laying the cores continuousl~ with reversing stroke
to a bundle at the laying point, and forming an insulating
¢oating common to the cores b~ extrusion at or adJacent
the laying point, the coating comprising a thermoplastic
or a material whose properties a~ter extrusion are elastomeric.
~he preferred method allows continuous production of a
power curre~t cable, the cores of which are laid with
reversing stroke and are commonly surrounded by a sleeve
extruded therearound which retains the core~ in the desired
laid position in ~uch a mPnner that special measures for
this are necessary.
~he ¢ores are not only guided together at the laying
~oint, but ~early simultaneously are also extrusion covered
in the immediate vicinity thereof~ A power current cable or
a cable core or a power current conductor may ~hus be formed
in a uniform continuous process, in which the cores laid
with reversing stro~e are fixed in the desired laid position.
In comparison with all methods which bave become known
hexetofore, there results a considerabl~ sim~lified and
t~us more cost-erfective a~ space-saving production Or
these cables, wherein these may involve all usual ~inds of
cab}es intended in particular for use in the low voltage
range.
In a preferred embodiment an outer ~acket is attached
; on the commonly extrusion covered cores in a continuous passa$e.
. .
~ - 6 -
~08;~435 `
~hus, for coatin~ the cores in or at the laying point an
insulating material which is particularly well suited for
this purpose, in particular a rapidly hardening insulating
material, can be used, for example on the basis of an
unvulcanised ru~ber provided with appropriate additi~es or
filler substance~, terpolymers, or thermop~astic. For the
outer jacket, for instance, an appropriately resist~nt, wear-
resistant, for example cross-linking ~y~thetic resin, which
is resistant to influences of the outer environment and
humidity and under certain circumstances e~en elevated
temperatures, ma~ be used and may thereafter be treated in
the required manner.
In a further embodiment, the cores are individually
drawn off the stationary store~ over-head and are fed to a
laging de~ice by way of reversing or guide rollers or
' cylinders. When using previously individually isolated
; conductors as cores, this imports the advantage of a uniform
withdrawal thereof with low expenditure of force from the
~tatio~ary stores, si~ce these need not be moved in this
aa~e, as well as a predetermined ~lignment of the cores in
relation to the laying disc twisting them and thus the
pro~ision of a twisting and untwi~ting region located in
~ront thereof. But the possibilities exi~ts also to
produce a power curre~t cable in a single passage, starting
with bare conductor material, wherein the conductors are
first individually extrusio~ coated, under certai~
oircumstances cooled and then proçessed further i~ the
previously described manner preferably by way of an
~ -- 7 --
`
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108~435
intermediate store or a draft device which ensures a
uniformity of the conductor movement.
Advantageously, the cores are laid with a stroXe
length between 150 and 2000 mm, preferably betwee~ 250 and
500 mm, and a two to te~ fold convolution. ~he cores may
be extrusion coated at a spacing of less than 100 mm beyond
the laying point, with an effecti~e laying ratio, i.e. the
ratio of effective laying disc diameter to-spacin~ of the laying
point from the laying disc, or between 1:2 and 1:10,
preferably between 1:3 and 1:7. It has been found that the
conditions stated are optimum a~d continuous operation
able to few-dis-turba~ces with high production speed can
be achieved, thus providing the greatest possible economy,
in order to produce various kinds of qualitatively
substantially perfect power current cables which satisfy
the highest dema~ds.
A¢cording to a further aspect o~ the inventionj there
i~ provided a~ ap~aratus for performing the method according
to the i~vention, comprising a laying disc dri~able period-
ically with different sense of rotation Pnd associated
with stationarily di~posed core stores, and an extruder
disposed at a predetermined dist~nce of less than 10~0mm
in the direction of moYement of the cable cores o~ the same
axis behi~d the laying disc, the extrusion head being
~itted with a guide msndrel utilisable as lsying ~ipple.
According to ~et another aspect of the in~ention there
i8 provided an apparatu~ according t~ the inYention, including
a laying disc which is drivable periodically in alternate
- 8 -
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,~ .
,~. .,, .,,,;~ . ,
iO 82 435
directions of rotation, and an e~truder disposed less tha~
1000 mm ~rom the laying disc in the direction of movement
of the core~, and on the rotational axis of the laying
disc, the extruder including an eætru~ion head having a
guide m~ndrel arranged to act as a laying nipple.
In such a combined laying and e~trusion coating
de~ice, the guide ma~drel of the extrusion head which per
~e i8 provided for centrally guiaing the conductor to be
coated auring the ex*rusion process and for pre~enting
extrusion material from moving away through the conductor
inlet opening, i8 used simultaneously also ~ laying
nipple. In thi~ case, the provision of a separate laying
nipple for each laying disc or other laying device which
was previously regarded as iudispensable by all egperts and
was usual in all laying device~ unnecessary.
In a preferred embodiment, the guide mandrel include~
a trumpet-like outwardly enlarging inlet opening, qhich
fQcilitates the guidance together of the cores to the laying
point and reduce~ friction thereof in thi~ region.
In a ~urther preferred embodiment, the guide mandrel
is provided with an interchangeable inlet bush ~i~able in
the inlet opening thereof and with an interc~angeable nipple
at the outlet end, ~o that the device can be quic~ly
converted for the production of di~ferent cables or the
processing of different core~ with little effort. ~or
this purpo~e a number o~ differentl~ dImen~ioned and pro-
~ ~ .
filed inlet mouthpieces or outlet end nipples ma~ be kept
in stock and ma~ be fixed, e.g. ~ittingl~ inserted or
~- _ 9 _
~ .
, .
. . . . . . . . .
108~ 435
screwed in, to the respective end~ of the guide mandrel
in the ~ame m~nner~ in accor2ance with the different
production reguirements. In order to ~acilitate the
interchange of the inlet bush, this ma~ be ass~mbled from
pre~erably two part~ with separating gaps e~tenaing ~n the
axial direction. Since with simultaneous reversing
la~ing thereof, owing to the oscillating rotary moveme~t~
of the laying disc tra~ersed by the cores a~a disposed at
a spacing from this opening~ the guiding together of the
individual cable cores in the inlet opening or bush of the
guide mandrel occurs at a la~ing point which falls within
the bore of the guide mandrel, the dimensio~s of the guide
mandrel, in particular the cros~-section of its bore in the
region of the inlet and outlet openi~g which, moreover, upon
reversal of the laging direction rixes also the tuxning
point of the lay~ and the ¢lear width o~ the inserts or
attachment~, such as bush or nipple, at the respecti~e
locations, are of ~ignificance for the desired function and
thus the trouble-free operat~on of the preferxed apparatus.
Preferably, the laying disc i3 displaceably arran~ed
in the direction of the lo~gitud~n~l aYis of the guide
mandrel, so that it is po~ible for simple conversion of
the apparatus for lay ~ w~th different stro~e length.
Advan~ageously, the la~ing disc, is dri~able with
~ 25 selectively di~ferent spaed ana i8 mounted at the free end
`~ of an arm, which c~n be swung in front of the inlet opening
,:~
~ of the extrusion head and which can ~e fixed i~ a pre-
.
~ - lQ _
4,
' ' '
108~ 4~5
determined s~ g position, in which the laying disc ~g
centred on the guide mandrel axi~, ana in a remote 8WUIlg
pogition. ~hi8 arrangement permits a co~pact manner of
construction of the apparatu~, ensures an attachment or
mounting o~ t~e laying disc com~ensurate ~or the forceæ to
be supplied for the laying. ~here is also pro~ided ~ood
accessibilit~ of the extruder ~or servicing and conYersion
thereof as well as the possibility of its usual use for
extrusion coating elongate articles for which simultaneous
laying is not required.
~he la~ing di~c may be drivable by a motor which is
laterally di~posed with respect to the guide mandrel axis
and which rotate~ always in the same direction, by way of
a~ automatic gear change and a power transmis~ion device,
e.g. chai~, belt, or a toothed bslt. ~his allows optimum
utilisation Or the ~pat$al po~sibilities so that a co~troll-
able drive of the la~ing ai5c~ controllable in respect of
the required hi~h output as well as the respective required
rotary speed~ is provided in the highest possible space-
savi~g, simple and thus cost-saving manner.
~he la~i~g disc may be releasably attached in a
conce~tric arrangement to a rotatabl~ mounted driven d~sc
oonstructed e~g. as gear wheel or sproc~et wheel. ~hiæ
may be effected i~ such a manner that the layin~ disc i8
~langed to the dri~ing disc. ~he laying disc may be
inæertable directly by way of a central attachment in a
cylindrical or slightly conical bore of the driving disc.
~, - 11-
:
108Zd~S
With stock-keeping of different laying discs of dif~erent
effective diameters or different number of magnitudes of the
laying apparatus or slots, this permits the simplest
conversion of the apparatus for the production of different
kinds of power cl~rent cables.
Advantageously, the rotatable laying disc has formed
therein radial elongate slots open towards the peripher~ and
is associated with a corresponding perforated guide di~c
whic~ is immovably fixed i~ front of the former in a
concentric relative position. This form of con~truction is
well suited for the reversing laying with long stroke or
multiple embracing, or for special purposes such as the
~imultaneous laying and extrusion coating of a large number
of cores and/or a plurality o~ cable-forming layers.
~he preferred methods and the apparatuses defined herein-
before perform very well in the production of multiple core
power current cables having a single laid leyer, which i8
usually the case for power current cables which have a small
number, for example four, of ca~le cores disposed in a laid ~ -
. 20 layer. However, there exists also a demand for power current
cables,for example control cables or cables whic~ are required
for energy distribution to different consumers which must be
supplied separately, such as perhaps di~ferent driving,
regulating and controll~ng motors or differently controlled
heater elements of an industrial or finishing plant connected
as a whole to the energy lletwor~, ~or example a cable
production train. In this case, it is re~uired to com~ine
`
- 12 -
' . .
,.
1(~8~ 5
.
a large number of cables to form a unitary cable, wherein
it is desirable for reasons of production comprises to
produce such cables in the previously described manner.
~he laying disc may comprise a laying combination
comprising three ring discs concentrically disposed and
rotatably mounted inside each other, the ring disc being
arranged to perform simultaneous laying of a plurality of
cable cores in separate laying layers. This embodlment
allows multiple-core cables to be produced in the described
manner with the cores arranged in two or more layers.
In consequence of the arrangement of this laying
combination immediately before the extrusion head of the
extruder and in axial alignment with the guide mandrel
thereof, there results the possibility of an extremely
economical production of re~ersingly laid multiple-core
special cables. ~he laying combination may be built into
the apparatus in place of the previously described laying
disc, or may be constructed as a separate apparatus and be
disposed on a base plate which, under certain circumstances,
may be common with the extruder. The construction of the
laying combi~ation as separate apparatus pro~ides the
possi~ilit~ of ref-tting an existing cable producing train
for the production of such special cables by appropriate
- modification of the extrusion head of the extruder as well
as the assOciatiQ~ of the laying combination.
Prefera~ly, each of an inner disc and a~ -
intermediate ring disc of the said ring discs of the laying
combination includes a plurality of core guide bores disposed
- 13 -
.~ .
1~8~435
uniformly on at least one hole circle, the inner ring disc
having a central reGess to allow passage of a heart
core of the cable alo~g the direction of the longitudinal
axis of the guide mandrel, the outer and the intermediate
ring discs being provided with peripheral drive devices,
and the inner ring disc being arranged to be driven from
the outer ring disc by means of at least one pl~net wheel.
With this co~struction or arrangement of the ring discs,
the desired reversing laying in conjunction with the
~imultaneous extrusion-coating of the laid structure can
be performed with the use Or relatively simple technical
means and in an operatively extremely reliable man~er.
- In particular, when the laying combination is separate
from the apparatus, the laying combination ma~ be rotatably
mounted in a locally fixed ring casing of a stand which is
disposed on a common base plate of the laying device and
which is displaceable in the direction of the longitudinal
axis thereof.
~he apparatus including the laying combination provides
the possibility of producing multiple-cored cables having
cores laid in a plurality of layers and reversingly laid in
- the same or opposite sense with different stroke lengths, in
an extremely economical manner by the nearly sim~ltaneous
laying and extrusion-coat~ng of the laid cores. ~he layin~
combination may be arran~ed for this purpose for simultaneous
lsying ~nd extrusion-coati~g o~ mu}tiple-core power current
cables a~d may be disposed at the ~ree end o~ an arm
14 -
~ .
.. , . . . . " - . . .
108;~`4;~5
æwingable in fro~t of the inlet opening of the extrusion
head of the extruder. The drive of-the laying combination
i8 effected by a continuously rotating motor which is
disposed laterally in relation to the guide mandrel axis,
by way of an automatic change gear and a power transmission
device, e.g. a chain or belt.
The invention will be further-described, by way of
example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 is a view from above of a production train
for producing power current cables, arranged to perform a
preferred method;
Figure 2 is a simplified view of a preferred apparatus;
~igure 3 is a l æger illu~tration partly in section
!: 15 of the apparatus of Figure 2;
.. . .
Figure 4 is a front view of a laying diæc of the
apparatus of Figure 2;
~igure 5 is a cross-section of a modification of the
apparatus of Figure 2; and
Figure 6 iæ a diagram of a drive arrangemen~ for uæe
~` wi-th the modification of Figure 5.
Aæ illustrated in Pigure 1, in a preferred method of
producing a power current cable, individual cable cores 14
are drawn off stationarily disposed stores 17, e.g. coils
disposed upright, prefera~ly in an overhead manner and are
~; . . ,
pulled ~y a system, indicated here merely schematically,
of reversing and/or guide rollers 18 and under certain
.. , .. ,. , . . . . , :
108;~4~5 `
circumstances further guide cylinders or other guide devices,
e.g. an appropriately perforated upright guide disc 13, and
by means of a belt withdrawal device 28 through a layi~g
disc 2 and an extruder 1 cooperating with the latter in a
sensible ma~ner, the cores being laid with reversing stroke
and at the same time being extrusion coated as a bundle.
As will be explained below in detail with refere~ce to
Figure~ 2 to 4, because the extrusion coating of a cable-
like bundle 16 occurs nearly simulatneously with the laying
of the cores 14, the cable-forming point 15 thereof being ini-
the interior Or a guide mandrel 4 of an extrusion head 3
of the extruder 1, any further measure for fixing the cores
14 in the laid position is unnecessary. Thus these cores
leave the extruder 1 as a finished laid and extrusion coated
core bundle 16 which is ready for use even in this form
(under certain circumstances after cooling and/or an
additional heat treatment or the like in appropriate de~ices
~2). However, in the same through-travel, it may be pulled
through a ~acket extruder 27 disposed therebeyond at a
spacing in its movement direction and provided thereby with
a resistant outer jacket, be~ore it is wound on a winder 29.
~he apparatus 20 illustrated in the drawings for
simu~taneous reversing laying and extrusion coating of a
~umber of electrical conductors or insulated cores 14 for
producing an electrical power current ca~le or the core
thereo~ consisting of the commonly extrusion coated
conductors 16 comprises as essential parts an extruder 1
, ~, . . .
~ - 16 -
` 1082435
and a laying disc 2 which is disposed on a common base
plate 21 at a spacong in front of an inlet opening 5 of the
extruder extrusion head 3 in the direction of the
longitudinal axis of its guide mandrel 4, and which is
rotatable and drivable alternatingly with different
direction of rotation. The drive of the laying disc 2,
which in the embodiment illustrated is mounted at the free
end of an arm 7 which can be s~ng into the operative
position of the disc and is retainable in this position,
is effected by means of an automatic change gear 9 and
appropriate power transmission device 24, such as chain,
toothed belt or the like, by a drive motor 8 preferably
fixed to the casin~ of the change gear 9. The extruder is
constructed as a usual transverse head extruder the
extrusion head 3 of which is fitted with all devices usual
therefor for plasticising and guiding the extrusion material
through cavities 23 betwee^n the guide mandrel 4 and the
body of the extrusion head 3 to the extrusion mouth 22
which determines the external shape of the extruded product.
qhe centre of the mouth 22 is su~plied with the article to
be extrusion coated, in the present case the cable core~ 14
; : ~ which are already laid at this point, through the guide
mandrel 4, as may be seen best from Figure 3.
~ For accurately ad~usting the spacing required, for
-;~ 25 the respective desired stroke length, between the laying
disc 2 and the inlet opening 5 of the extrusion head guide
: ma~drel 4, the swing arm 7 carrying the laying disc 2, and
. ~. ,
.
108Z435
hence the laying disc 2, is arranged to be displaceable in
the movement direction of the cable cores 14. ~or example,
there may be provided a head member not illustrated which
embraces a rail attached with small spacing to the casing
o~ the change gear 9. Alternatively, in the simplest manner,
there may be provided an end plate which may be screwed to
predetermined different locations of the gear casing.
A driving disc 10, which has a central bore 11 and
which is constructed in accordance with the selected form of
drive, e.g. as a chain wheel or gear wheel, is peripherally
mounted in a bearing 26 in the region of the free end of
the arm 7 in such a manner that it runs exactly centrall~
; around the extended longitudinal axis 25 of the guide mandrel
4 which is simultaneously the laying and extruding axis. As
illustrated in Figure 4, the laying disc 2 is provided with
for example ~our elongate slots 12 open towards the periphery,
of predetermined depth which, in each laying disc 2, determine
the effective diameter thereof which, in any case, is
dimensioned smaller than that o~ the bore 11 of the driving
disc 10. Corresponding to the re~pective requirements,
either the laying disc 2, which is centrally, releasably
attached to the driving disc 10 (e.g. flanged thereto or in
an~ other effecti~e manner) or alternatively the releasably
connected (e.g. likewise flanged) end region of the arm 7
~ o~ which the driving disc 10 inclusive of its bearing 26 is
disposed, may ~e interchanged. ~hus the possibi~ity of a
very comprehensive adjustment to different production demands
18 -
~ ~ .
:,,' '.'~ . ' . '
.. . .
- . ., - -- - . . . . : " .. ..
, ~ . - . . ... .
108Z4~5
is provided, in particular si.nce the power of the motor
8 rotating in the same sense is transmitted to the laying
disc 2 practically without loss by way of the automatic
change gear 9 because of the small travelling masse~ and a
very far-reaching control of the number of revolutions of
the l~ying disc in each direction as well as the rotary
speed thereof is provided.
As already stated, the cable-forming point 15 is
placed in the interior of the extruder extrusion head 3,
in particular in an outlet-near end region 30 o~ the bore
31 of its guide mandrel 4 in such a ma~ner that, in this
regio~, there occur the laying proper of the cores 14 into
a bundle 16, which leaves the outIet-end opening of t~e
guide mandrel 4 in the desired.laying position, and the
extrusion coating thereof fixing the same in the extrusion
mouth 22 with a suitably selected thermoplastic material
or a material which i8 elastomeric in the final state,
immediately after the exit of the bundle from the guide
mandrel 4. ~his process can be controlled very accurately
by an sppropriate construction of the guide mandrel 4 itself
or by the arrangement of attachments or inserts adjusted
to the respective cable production at the inlet or outlet
opening thereof, respectively. ~hus either the inlet
opening 5 of the guide mandrel 4 may be constructed ~Jith
trumpet shape in cross-section and the bore 31~ which i~
narrowed i~ the region of the outlet-near end, of the guide
m~drel 4 wi~h an end sectio~ 30 circular-cylindrical in
¢ro'ss-section.
9 -
.- ` ` . ` - - - . . . . . . . . ` .
.
1082~35
In order to.increase the adjustability of the guide
mand~el 4 for the production of different cable types and to
increase its life b~ the interchangeabilit~ of it~ parts
exposed to the greatest wea~ and inlet bush 6 is provided
at the inlet opening 5 of the mandrel consisting of a
particulæ abrasion-resistant work material or coated with
such material. ~he bush 6 qerves to collect together the
cores 14, which are pulled throu~h the guide mandrel 4
after pasqage through the layi~g di~c 2 and which are moved
in circular paths by the laying disc 2~ in such a m~n~er
that they are united into a bundle at t~e laying point 15.
~he interchangeability of the inlet bush 6~ which is
preferably divided in the longitud~nal ce~tre plane, permits
I the use of different.inlet bu~hes 6 optimally dimensioned
~ 15 for the re~pective core or cable diameter with the same
I . guide mandrel 4. ~imilarl~ there is pro~ided an inter-
changeable nipple ~9 at the outlet-~ear end of the guide
mandrel 4 Or substantially conical configuration ~nd rigidly
~orewed to the substantially cylindrical portion of t~e
guide mandrel 4. Similar to the previously described
po~ible ¢onstruction o~ the guide mandrel 4 itself~ the
nip~le 19 comprise~ in this case a bore which in subst~nce
. . tapers co~ic~ with a~ approximatel~ c~lindrical end
ection 30 the diam~ter o~ w~ich is adausted to that of the
: ~ .
25~:: ¢ore ~undle to be laid~ Diameter and length of the
c~lindrical end ~ection 30 of the bore 31 of the guide
mandrel 4 depend upon the respe~tive reguirements of the
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production. ~he length ma~ however alternatively amount
over a part to a multiple of the diameter of the cylindrical
bore section 30. The wall of the guide mandrel 4 or the
nipple 19 is surrounded by the cavity 23 serving for the
supply of the extrusion material. ~he wall of the cavity
merges into the bore of the shape-giving extrusion mouth 22
surrounding the outlet-near open~ng of the bore 31 of the
guide mandrel 4 or the nipple 19, from which mouth issues
the core bundle 16 in a state laid with reversing stroke
and commonly extrusion coated, as finished power current
cable or conductor, or as a cable core, respectively. The
cable, conductor or core may then be provided with an outer
~acket in an immediately following jacket extruder 2~.
~inally, the product may be guided in the same passage
through corresponding cooling or heat treatment devices 32,
for instance a cooling groove or steam tube.
Figure 5 shows a laying combination 40 which can be used
in place of the laying disc 2 and driving disc 10 in the
apparatus of Figures 2 and 3 for producins cables having
a plurality of cores in two layers. ~he laying combination
40 is provided with an inner ring disc ~3, an outer ring
disc 34 and an intermediate ring disc 35. In the embodiment
illustrated in Figure 5, the laying combination 40 iæ
rotatably mou~ted in a loc~lly stationary ring casing 46
w~th a stand 4~. ~he stand 45 may be disposed on a
~a~e plate 21 which, under certain circumst~ces, may be
common with the extruder 4 of the laying apparatus 20,
preferably in such a manner that it is displacea~le in the
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~08Z435
direction of the longitudinal axis 25 of the combined
apparatus 20 and is fixable at a desired optimum distance
from the inlet opening 5 of the extruder extrusion head.
In a similar embodiment of the invention not illustrated
here, the ring casing 46 together with the whole laying
combination 40 i8 insertable at the end of the pivot arm
7 illustrated in Fi~ure 1, in place of the laying disc 2
and the driving disc10 illustrated therein, the drive of
the various laying discs being effected in a manner
described below in detail.
~he inner ring disc 33 and the intermediate ring disc 35
of the laying combination 40 each include a number of core
guide bores 37 and 36, respectively, uniformly arranged on
at least one respecti~e hole circle for the cable cores 14
to be laid in at lesst two layers 14a and 14b. In this case,
the outer ring disc 34 and the intermediate ring disc 35
are provided for direct drive thereof with peripheral drive
devices 38 and 39. ~hese drive devices 38 and 39 may, for
example, be V-belts, toothed belts or chain drives and
corresponding peripheral configurations, for example a belt
profile or toothed crown on the outer and intermediate ring
discs 34 and 3~. ~he inner ring disc 33 however, i8 arranged
for indirect drive. ~he inner ring disc 33 comprises a
central recess 48 which may serve for leading therethrou~h
a heart rope or core or a heart core bunch o~to which are
`- laid the cable cores 14 in two or more layers with reversingstro~e. ~he stroke length of each layer is adiustable as
desired and may have the same or different magnitude and~or
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108Z435
stro~e direction as that of the other layer. ~oth layers
are simultaneously extrusion-coated as a laid structure and
thus are fixed in the predetermined layin~ position. For
the manner of functioning of the apparatus the presence of a
heart rope or core is immaterial, and cables without such
a rope or core can also be produced with advantage by this
apparatus in the same manner.
In order to perform, the layer-wise laying the outer
ring disc 34 and the intermediate ring disc 35 are driven
directly at a different rotary speeds, the drive of the
inner ring disc 33 occurring indirectly by way of at least
one planet wheel 41 which on the one hand meshes with an
inner toothed crown 42 of the outer ring disc 34 and, on the
other hand, with an outer toothed crown 43 of the inner ring
disc 33, these devices together providing indirect drive of
the inner ring disc 3~. Preferably at least two planet wheels
41 are provided, and the or each planet wheel 41 is rotatably
mounted in an arrangement which takes the spacing of the
core guide bores 36 appropriately into account, at or in the
intermediate ring disc 35 and are thus tied to the rotary
movement thereof. For this purpose the core guide bores 36
are disposed at a uni~orm pitch division between the
individual planet wheels 41 but also with corresponding
con~truction thereof, in the rotary centre thereof.
2~ ~he devices for providing indirect dri~e of the inner
ring di~c 33 include the outer toothed crown 43 of the ring
disc and as the inner toothed crown 42 of the outer ring
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disc. As shown in ~igure 5, the planet wheels 41 may be
rotatably mounted on pins ~'44 which are disposed in a
preferably uniform distribution on the single or central
hole circle of the core guide bores 36 Or the intermediate
ring disc 35. ~hese pins 44 may under certain circumstances
each be provided with an axial t~rough bore h~ving the same
diameter as the core guide bores 36 and may be attached to
the intermediate ring disc 35 in a position in which its
axial bore is exactly aligned with at least one of the core
guide bores 36. ~hus there exists the possibility of
providing the core guide boreæ 36 of the intermediate rin~
disc or even the core guide bores ~7 of the inner ring disc
in a preferably uniform distribution at always one or -
preferably in a mutually offset position - even on a plurality
of hole circles. ~his may be effected - referred to the
intermediate ring disc - ~etween the planet wheels 41,
taking into account the position thereof, or even in such a
manner that the cable cores to be laid can be guided through
the rotary centre of the planet wheels, in order to provide
laying possibilities for a plurality of cable cores to be
laid in a plurality of laid layers.
As may-be seen from the diagrammatic illustration of
igure 6, drive is effected by the motor 8 by way of an
automatic change-gear 9 which effects a periodic change of
the rotary direction of the drive of the power tra~smission
drive devices 38 ~nd 39, on the one hand directly by w~a~ of
the device 39 to the intermediate ring disc 35, and ~y w,ay of
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108Z435
a controldrive 47 and the device 38 to the outer ring
disc 34. In consequence of this arrangement, different
relative rotary speeds of the outer and intermediate laying
ring discs 34 and 35 can be effected by means o~ the control
drive 47, and thus also of the inner ring disc 33 by way
of the ind~rect transmission device with the planet wheels
41 with simultaneous periodic reversal of the absolute or
relative rotary speeds of the individual ring discs.
~he manner of functioning of the apparatus is explained
below in detail with reference to the example of the
. production of a twenty four core cable of three-layered
construction, having layer~ of two, eight, and fourteen
cable cores. For this purpose, prior to the start of
production, there are guided around the longitudinal axis
25 of the apparatus or around hearth cores? which, in this
example, extend length-wise of the apparatus through the
central recess 48 of the inner ring disc ~3, but which are
~ot absolutely necessary, eight non-laid cores 14 of the first
or, taking the hearth core~ into account, the second laying
layer 14a and the fourteen cores of the outer laying layer
14b, likewi~e in a concentric arrangement and corresponding
distribution, through the core guide bores 36 of the
intermediate ring disc 35 and the extrusion head of the
ying location 15 provided in the extruder 4.
. 25 When the intermediate ring disc 35 i8 mo~ed by the power
;: transmission device drive 39, the planet whee~ 41 or wheels
41 roll a~ong the inner toothed crown 42 of the outer ring
` disc 34, this movement being transmitted to the inner ring
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108Z43S
.
disc 33 by way of the outer toothed crown 43 of the latter.
Since the periphery of the inner ring disc 33 in the region
of its toothed crown 43 is smal~er than the periphery of
the outer ring disc 34 in the region of its inner toothed
crown 42, the rotary speed of the inner ring disc 33 in
consequence of the direct drive by w~y of the planet wheels
41 is larger by this difference of periphery than that of
the intermediRte ring disc 35. ~hereby a smaller stroke
length is produced for the inner laying layer 14a than that
of the outar laying layer 14b independently of the respective
direction which is changed periodically by the change gear
9-
By controlled changes of the rotary speed of the outer
ring disc 34 by mean~ of the control drive 47, for effecting
an increased or reduced rotary speed relatively to that of
the intermediate ring disc 35, an increase or a reduction
of the rotary speed can be obtained for the inner ring disc
33 or even a reversal of the sense of rotation of this ring
disc 33, whereby oppositely running laying directions can be
obtained with simultaneous periodically reversing laying of
the whole system. At the same time the bindi~g of the laying
band thus formed is effected-by the common core coating in the
extrusion tool serving as laying nipple of the associated
extruder.
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