Apparatus producing constant cable tension for intermittent demand
- Lafayette, CA
The disclosed apparatus produces constant tension in superconducting electrical cable, or some other strand, under conditions of intermittent demand, as the cable is unreeled from a reel or reeled thereon. The apparatus comprises a pivotally supported swing frame on which the reel is rotatably supported, a rotary motor, a drive train connected between the motor and the reel and including an electrically controllable variable torque slip clutch, a servo transducer connected to the swing frame for producing servo input signals corresponding to the position thereof, a servo control system connected between the transducer and the clutch for regulating the torque transmitted by the clutch to maintain the swing frame in a predetermined position, at least one air cylinder connected to the swing frame for counteracting the tension in the cable, and pressure regulating means for supplying a constant air pressure to the cylinder to establish the constant tension in the cable, the servo system and the clutch being effective to produce torque on the reel in an amount sufficient to provide tension in the cable corresponding to the constant force exerted by the air cylinder. The drive train also preferably includes a fail-safe brake operable to its released position by electrical power in common with the servo system, for preventing rotation of the reel if there is a power failure. A shock absorber and biasing springs may also be connected to the swing frame, such springs biasing the frame toward its predetermined position. The tension in the cable may be measured by force measuring devices engageable with the bearings for the reel shaft, such bearings being supported for slight lateral movement. The reel shaft is driven by a Shmidt coupler which accommodates such movement.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4504023
- OSTI ID:
- 865367
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
producing
constant
cable
tension
intermittent
demand
disclosed
produces
superconducting
electrical
strand
conditions
unreeled
reel
reeled
thereon
comprises
pivotally
supported
swing
frame
rotatably
rotary
motor
drive
train
connected
including
electrically
controllable
variable
torque
slip
clutch
servo
transducer
input
signals
corresponding
position
control
regulating
transmitted
maintain
predetermined
air
cylinder
counteracting
pressure
means
supplying
establish
effective
produce
amount
sufficient
provide
force
exerted
preferably
fail-safe
brake
operable
released
power
common
preventing
rotation
failure
shock
absorber
biasing
springs
measured
measuring
devices
engageable
bearings
shaft
slight
lateral
movement
driven
shmidt
coupler
accommodates
predetermined position
rotatably supported
pivotally supported
pressure regulating
input signals
apparatus comprises
electrical power
input signal
measuring device
air cylinder
amount sufficient
signals corresponding
lateral movement
electrical cable
force exerted
air pressure
drive train
rotary motor
superconducting electrical
apparatus comprise
measuring devices
servo control
electrically controllable
disclosed apparatus
power failure
conducting electric
intermittent demand
produces constant
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