US2893296A - Apparatus for winding tubes - Google Patents

Description

y 1959 J. 'r. YOVANOVICH 2,893,296

APPARATUS FOR wmomc TUBES Filed May 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Shoat 1 3 INVENTOR.

JOEPH T. YOVANOVICH ATTORNEYS y 7, 1959 J. 'r. YOVANOVICH 2,893,296

APPARATUS FOR WINDING TUBES 4 Filed May 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JO SEPH T. YOVANOVICH ATTOR NE nited States Pat;

This invention relates to tub winding apparatus and, more particularly, to an improved mandrel around which a plurality of strips of material may be wound in overlapping helical convolutions to form a tube.

Heretofore, in the production of spiral wound tubes an endless belt has been positioned with one turn around the tube being formed and with the belt passing around drive rollers positioned on each side of the tube being formed. This arrangement has not been entirely satisfactory for the reason that there occurs slippage of the belt on the drive rollers and/ or slippage of the belt on the tube being formed resulting in uneven rates of advance of the tube being formed and uneven and irregular winding of the strips of material into the tube frequently involving interruption of the winding process as the result of buckling, tearing or other malformation occurring among the strips being wound. Furthermore, slippage of the belt over the surface of the tube being formed frequently results in the formation of gathers or ripples in the adhesive softened strips of material out of which the tube is being formed and, under some conditions, slipping of the belt gives rise to scoring, scorching and other surface deformation of the tube being formed.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a mandrel around which a plurality of strips of material are wound in overlapping helical convolutions to form a tube in which the mandrel is provided with longitudinally moving outer surface forming means and rotated around its longitudinal axis as strips are helically wound thereon. It will be evident that with this mandrel there is involved substantially no relative motion between the surface of the mandrel and the convolutions of the inner strip of material being helically wound thereon.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a rotating mandrel having a longitudinally moving surface in which the relative rates of the longitudinal surface motion and the rotation may be adjusted in order that the helix angle of the convolutions may be adjusted to permit the formation of strips of various widths into a tube of a given diameter.

These and other objects of the invention relating particularly to the construction thereof will become evident from the following description when read in con junction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a partially cut-away vertical section taken along the longitudinal axis of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 in a disassembled condition; 4

Figure 3 is a partially cut-away end view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 taken from the left-hand end thereof; and

Figure 4 is a showing of strips of material being 'helically wound in superimposed relation on the mandrel inbearings 12 and. Thebearing 12 is mounted in "ice drive chain 26 and serves-to rotate thehousing 10 on thebearings 12 and 14.

Extending to the left of thehousing 10 and aifixed thereto is a mandrel indicated generally at 28 in Figure l. The mandrel is acylindrical member 30, as shown in Figure 2, which is provided with eight evenly spaced longitudinally extending radially positionedexternal ribs 32 terminating at the right-hand end of the mandrel in enlargedwebs 34mounting pads 36 adapted to be bolted to thehousing 10 by means of an annular array ofbolts 38. The longitudinal axis of themandrel 30 is coincident with the axis of rotation of thehousing 10. w'

Thecylindrical member 30 is provided at its left-hand end, as viewed in Figure 1, with mountingarms 40 and 42 which are affixed to the inside surface of thecylinder 30 and extend outwardly from the left-hand end thereof. Thearms 40 and 42 are positioned between theradial flanges 32 and fourshort arms 42 are provided and fourlong arms 40 are provided in alternative arrangement. The outermost end of each of thearms 40 and 42 is provided with abore 44 through which there is passed a pin 46 on which there is mounted belt supporting rollers 48.

A plurality of endless belts pass around the rollers 48,belts 50 passing around rollers on the ends ofarms 40 andbelts 52 passing around rollers on the ends ofarms 42. The inner reach of each of the belts extends inside thecylindrical member 30 and the outer reach of each of the belts extends exteriorly of the cylinder 3%) between and outwardly of theribs 32. The belts extend back into the interior of thehousing 10.

Thehousing 10 is provided with inwardly extendingpads 54 to which there are afiixed mountingarms 60 supportingshafts 62 rotatably mountingdrums 64. The

drums 64 lie on longitudinally extending planes inter-' secting the longitudinal axis of the apparatus and the right-hand ends 66 of theendless belts 50 and 52 pass around thedrums 64. Brackets 7t? mount guide rollers 72 around which the outer reaches of the belts pass between the right-hand end of thecylindrical member 30 and the radially outer portions of thedrums 64.Tension rollers 74 are provided in order to adjust the belt tensions and may be positioned by means of slottedbars 76 bolted in position against thehousing 10 by means ofbolts 78. J

As will be evident from Figure 3, eightdrums 64 are provided in radial array to carry the endless belts in thehousing 10.

Each of thedrums 64 has affixed to its face abevel gear 80 which is driven by amating bevel gear 82 mounted on a shaft 84 rotatably mounted in thehousing 10 and extending through the housing. Spur gears 86 are mounted on the right-hand most ends of shafts 84 and mesh with a ring gear 88 affixed to a sleeve 90 rotatably mounted on the stub shaft 18 for rotation independently of thehousing 10. The sleeve 90 carries a sprocket gear 92 which is driven through achain 94 by the output of a speed reducer 96 which is shown as being driven by themotor 24 but which may, if desired, be driven independently of thechain 26.

In operation, each of the eight belts, four belts-50- Patented July 7, 1959 thev speed reducer. 96.. At. the same, time. that the longitudinal motion of the belts is being provided, the entire assembly is rotated as the result of driving ofmotor 24. It: will be noted that: the arrangement of the-beltsis such that there is an overlapping of the. belts 59; nside, of thebelts 52 and that the outer surfaces of the belts and; 52 extend radially outwardly of thesurfaces of theribs 32; Theribs 32 are, however, of suchheight as to retain the outer reaches of the belts in parallel longitudinally extending relation.

When a, tube is to be formed" on; the; tube forming apparatus, a plurality of individual. strips of material, such, as paper or other suitable fibrous material, are fed tov the mandrel in. partial overlapping relation. such as that of. the strips. 100, 102., 104-; and 106: shown; in, Figure 4;. These strips,. which are; gummedf on otherwise provided with an adhesive; coating on. their; eugagingi cea. are. wound around: the,- mandrel; 2.8: in. overlapping hel cal cunvolutions' producing a tube which, is? moving to: the left as indicated by. thearrow l idin Fignres t. Thev mandrel 28: is being rotated1to turn: downwardly toward the viewer in Figure. 4 and the belts; on the mandrel are moving to the left as viewed. in Figure, 4. Itwillbe evident that this arrangement-providesfor substantially no relative motion between the. outer surfaces of; the belts and the convolutions oftheinner stripof material 106. Thus the strips maybe wound with a degree'of tightness depending upon the; tension provided: by the strips 106-466 and with no undesirable slip'pinggathering, bunching,. etc. taking placeon the; exterior surface of the tube such as would otherwise occur if anexternal drivebelt were employed to form.- the convolutions and to rotate and. drive the finished tube. Furthermore, this arrangement of internal winding mandrel avoids the necessity of employing a fixed: internal. mandrel. which isgenerally employed in connection With external belt winding apparatus. When a fixed mandrel-and exterior winding belt are used, the convolutions of theinnermost strip must slide over and around. the mandrel. In my apparatus, the mandrel is rotatingand the surface. of the mandrel is moving to the left; as. shown. in Figure 4, at a speed identical to thespeed of the tube 103'.- Thus there is no relative motion between the' surface of the.

mandrel 28 and the convolutions oftheinnermost strip 106. It follows, therefore, that thefriction andother power losses normally encountered. in tube winding. are reduced to a minimum.

In Figure 2 the wall of the cylinder 30' is. shown as having aslot 31. This slot is provided for theentry of molded endless belts. In place of molded'endless belts, chain beltsor other types of belts maybeemployed, and if; belts. are employed. which may be joined after their installation, the provision of this slotis not necessary. It,will' be evident that varioustypesiof belts-may be employed. Hereinafter, the words endless belts are intended to refer to any ofthese. types ofJbeIts. The word housing as employed hereinafter: is intended to mean any. type of housing orframe assembly suitable for mounting the belt drive rollers andxn'randrellcylinder.

Itwill be evident that.variousarrangements. of motors and speed reducers may be employed to provide independent speed control for. the speed of rotation of the mandrel and for the speed of linearmovement of the belts. While the mandrel disclosed. herein a. generally octagonal by virtue of .the eight belts I-employedthereon it willbe evident that by the employment'of'various numbers of belts, square, rectangular orsubstantially cylindrical mandrelsrcan be providedr Hereinafter, when reference is made to an elongated mandrel or to an elongated member extending from the housing it will be evident that the member may provide a mandrel of square, round, cylindrical or other desired form. It will be evident that these and various other mechanical modifications may be made in the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein without. departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in'the following claimsv What isclairned is:

1. Tube winding apparatus comprising means forming a mandrel, means providing longitudinally movable outer surfaces on; said mandrel means mounting; said mandrel for rotation around its longitudinal axis, means driving said movable surface forming means; means rotatably mounting said mandrel, said mandrel rotating while overlapping strips of material are helically wound thereon and the helically wound strips forming a tube moving longitudinally over; said: mandrel: said longit iu ily moving surfaces. and: means: for adjusting. the; relative speeds of said. movahle'surtfacezandj rotating mandtel. for adjusting the helix;- angle; of}. the strips: being: W'Ollild into atube.

2. Tube winding apparatus comprising anf elongated. mandrel, means mounting; said. mandrel for: rotation: around its longitudinal axis, a plurality ofparallel longitudinally extendingbeits: mounted externally and movable longitudinally of said. mandrel; providing-g longitudinally movable external surfaces, drivingmeans; including a gear rotatable coaxially with: said mandrel; for rotating. said. mandrel, driving-means: including; a'-. second gear rotatable'coaxially; with; said; mandrel for moving said belts, said mandrel andtbeltm rotatingtwhiler overlapping strips. of material; are: heii'cally: wound: thereon and the helicallywound stripsforming a; tubemoving longitudinally over saidmandrelon said longitudinally moving surfaces; and means:driving. said gears andtincluding meansfor adjusting: the:r.elativei speed thereof to; adjust therelative speeds of-said movablef belts and said rotating mandrel for adjusting. the: helix angle of the strips being wound intoatube;

3. Tube winding apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted housing,.an elongated mandrel: afiixedto and extending from said housing with: the longitudinal: axis of the mandrel lying on the axis: of; rotation: of. the housing, a pluralityv of" endless: belts inparallel arrange ment extending longitudinally, of-and: around thewallof said mandrel and extending into said housing. means mounted :in annular arrayswithin'said housing anda: gear rotatablecoaxially with: said mandrel for driving: said belts for movement' longitudinally 'ofzsaidmandrcl; means including a, second gear; rotatable: ooaxially. with: said mandrel forrotating said: rotatahlei-housing and el0ngated mandrel and ibe'lts .supportedthereby, saidrelon gate-u" mandrel and. belts rotating; whilei overlapping. strips of material are; helically wound thereon and the-helically wound strips forming atubemovingdongitudinallyof :said mandrel on; said longitumnally nroving: belts;v and 1' means for driving said gears and includingmeans for: adjusting.

the relative speeds the act: top adjust thei'relativeispeeds of said rotating housing andflongitudinally movingxbelts' for adjusting: the helix: angie of "the: strips bieingtwound into atube.

References ..Cited in the file. of .thispatent.

UNITED STATES. PATENTS 549,667Denney Novi 12, 1893 1,580,369 Brake et al Apr. 13; 1926 2,777,501 Fischer Ian; 15,

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