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Title: Apparatus producing constant cable tension for intermittent demand

Abstract

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 bymore » 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.« less

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Lafayette, CA
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
865367
Patent Number(s):
US 4504023
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC03-76SF00098
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
apparatus; 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; /242/254/

Citation Formats

Lauritzen, Ted. Apparatus producing constant cable tension for intermittent demand. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
Lauritzen, Ted. Apparatus producing constant cable tension for intermittent demand. United States.
Lauritzen, Ted. 1985. "Apparatus producing constant cable tension for intermittent demand". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865367.
@article{osti_865367,
title = {Apparatus producing constant cable tension for intermittent demand},
author = {Lauritzen, Ted},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/865367}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}