Anti-slack line handling device

• US 3,881,647 A
• Filed: 04/30/1973
• Issued: 05/06/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baron C. Wolfe
• Original Assignee: Baron C. Wolfe
• Inventors: Wolfe, Baron C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schacher, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US05/355,921
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 226/172,173,174,176 254/135
• US Class Current: 226/172
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 51/14 Aprons, endless belts, lattices, or like driven elements
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/50 for maintaining predetermined rope, cable, or chain tension, e.g. in ropes or cables for towing craft, in chains for anchors; Warping or mooring winch-cable tension control
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 3/003 using two or more cooperating endless chains
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/23 Pipe tensioning apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 174/14 having a particular cable application, e.g. winding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 174/33 Method of cable manufacture, assembly, repair, or splicing

Abstract

An anti-slack line handling device for maintaining constant tension of wire ropes and the like while being unreeled or rereeled by a standard winch device, the line handling device comprising a housing, a stationary carrier assembly secured within the housing, said carrier assembly comprising a first drive sprocket wheel rotatably secured to the housing, a second drive sprocket wheel rotatably secured to the housing and spaced from the first drive sprocket wheel, and roller chain means disposed around the outer periphery of the said drive sprocket wheels for transmitting rotation therebetween; gripping means secured along the outer periphery of the roller chain means; a movable carrier assembly reciprocally disposed within the housing directly above the stationary carrier assembly, said movable assembly comprising an elongated frame member, two spaced sprocket wheels rotatably secured to each end of the said frame member, a second roller chain means disposed around the outer periphery of the movable carrier assembly sprocket wheels and a second gripping means secured to the outer periphery of the second roller chain means for moving the movable carrier assembly to apply pressure against the stationary carrier assembly thereby gripping the wire rope therebetween and drive means secured to the housing and operably connected to the stationary carrier assembly for applying rotary power to the drive sprocket wheels of the stationary carrier assembly, and line guide means secured to the housing for guiding said wire rope into and out of the anti-slack line handling device.

Claims

1. An anti-slack line handling device for maintaining constant tension of wire ropes and the like while being unreeled or rereeled by a standard winch device, the line handling device comprising a lower housing, a stationary carrier assembly secured within said lower housing, said stationary carrier assembly comprising a first drive sprocket wheel rotatably secured to the housing, a second drive sprocket wheel rotatably secured to the housing and spaced from the first drive sprocket wheel, and endless roller chain means disposed around the outer periphery of the said drive sprocket wheels for transmitting rotation therebetween;

gripping means secured along the outer periphery of the roller chains means;

an upper housing removably connected to the lower housing, a movable carrier assembly vertically reciprocally disposed within the upper housing above the stationary carrier assembly, said movable carrier assembly comprising an elongated frame member, two spaced sprocket wheels one being rotatably secured to each end of the said frame member, a second endless roller chain means disposed around the outer periphery of the movable carrier assembly sprocket wheels and a second gripping means secured to the outer periphery of the second roller chain means;

linear actuator means secured to the upper housing and operably connected to the movable carrier assembly elongated frame member intermediate the spaced sprocket wheels thereof said linear actuator means being adaptable to apply pressure directly against the stationary carrier assembly thereby gripping the wire rope therebetween and drive means secured to the lower housing and operably connected to the stationary carrier assembly for applying rotary power to the drive sprocket wheels of the stationary carrier assembly, and line guide means secured to the lower housing for guiding said wire ropes into and out of the anti-slack line handling device.

2. An anti-slack line handling device as set forth in claim 1 and including an attachment means for connecting the upper housing to the lower housing whereby the line handling device may be assembled at any point along a wire rope.

3. An anti-slack line handling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second roller chain means comprises a plurality of chain links pivotally connected, each said chain link having a mounting plate secured to the outer surface thereof and wherein the first and second gripping means comprises a plurality of gripping blocks, one said gripping block being secured to each mounting plate and each said gripping block being provided with a longitudinally disposed recess along the outer face thereof for receiving the wire rope there along.

4. An anti-slack line handling device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the gripping blocks are constructed of a ferro cuprous binary metal having a high coefficient of friction.

5. An anti-slack line handling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the linear actuator means comprises jack screw means carried by the upper housing and engagable with the elongated frame member of the movable carrier assembly intermediate tHe spaced sprocket wheels thereof and operator means operably connected to the jack screw means for extending the said jack screw means against the elongated frame member between the sprocket wheels for forcing the movable carrier assembly directly downwardly toward the stationary carrier assembly thereby gripping the wire rope therebetween.

6. An anti-slack line handling device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the jack screw means comprises a pair of traversely spaced threaded jack screws threadedly carried by the uppeer housing, each of the said jack screws being engagable with the elongated frame member of the movable carrier assembly and wherein the operator means comprises a hexagonal head member secured to the outer end of each of the jack screws to facilitate turning thereof.

7. An anti-slack line handling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the linear actuator means comprises fluid operated piston means carried by the upper housing and engagable with the elongated frame member of the movable carrier assembly for moving the said movable carrier assembly directly downwardly toward the stationary carrier assembly thereby gripping the wire rope therebetween.

8. An anti-slack line handling device as set forth in claim 7 wherein the fluid operated piston means comprises a pair of traversely spaced fluid operated actuators, each said actuator being connected between the inner surface of the upper housing and the elongated frame member of the movable carrier assembly intermediate the sprocket wheels thereof whereby the application of fluid thereto will extend the said fluid actuators thereby moving the movable carrier assembly directly downwardly toward the stationary carrier assembly for gripping the wire rope therebetween.

9. An anti-slack line handling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the line guide means comprises a bracket means secured to the outer surface of the lower housing and extending longitudinally outwardly therefrom, grooved sheave means rotatably secured to the bracket and disposed in substantial alignment with both the first gripping means carried by the stationary carrier assembly and the second gripping means carried by the movable carrier assembly whereby the wire rope may be carried by the grooved sheave means into and out of the housing in substantial alignment with the first and second gripping means.

10. An anti-slack line handling device for maintaining constant tension of wire ropes and the like while being unreeled or re-reeled by a standard winch device, the line handling device comprising a lower housing member, the upper surface thereof being opened, a stationary carrier assembly secured within the lower housing, said stationary carrier assembly comprising a first drive sprocket wheel rotatably secured to the housing, a second drive sprocket wheel rotatably secured to the lower housing and spaced from the first drive sprocket wheel, endless roller chain means disposed around the outer periphery of the said drive sprocket wheels for transmitting rotation therebetween, gripping means secured along the outer periphery of the roller chain means, drive means secured to the lower housing and operably connected to the stationary carrier assembly for applying rotary power to the drive sprocket wheels of the stationary carrier assembly, and line guide means secured to the lower housing in substantial longitudinal alignment with the upper surface thereof;

an upper housing having the lower surface thereof open, a movable carrier assembly reciprocally disposed in the upper housing, said movable carrier assembly comprising an elongated frame member, two spaced sprocket wheels, one being secured to each end of the said frame member, a second endless roller chain means disposed around the outer periphery of the movable carrier assembly sprocket wheels and a second gripping means secured to the outer periphery of the second roller chain means, linear actuator means carried by the upper housing and operably connected to the movable Carrier assembly frame member intermediate the spaced apart wheels for moving the said movable carrier assembly toward the open surface of the upper housing, and means for connecting the lower housing to the upper housing whereby the line handling device may be assembled at any point along a wire rope.