Reel carrying system fail-safe locking device

• US 4,130,985 A
• Filed: 02/16/1978
• Issued: 12/26/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ceeco Machinery Manufacturing Limited
• Original Assignee: Ceeco Machinery Manufacturing Limited
• Inventors: Varga, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Petrakes, John
• Application Number:
  US05/878,339
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 57/127.5, 57/127.7, 57/54, 57/58.32, 57/65, 57/66.5, 242/129.5-130
• US Class Current: 57/127.5
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/26 Axial shafts or spigots
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 7/06 Bearing supports or brakes for supply bobbins or reels

Abstract

An actuatable member of a pintle assembly is slidably movable along an axis for movement relative to a reel-carrying cradle support member between reel engaging and disengaging positions. Compression springs are used to urge the actuatable members of the illustrated embodiments toward the reel-engaging positions. Locking devices, which can move between locking and releasing positions, are each arranged to directly cooperate and block the movement of an actuatable member to a disengaging position thereof in the locking position of the locking device. The locking devices may include blocking elements such as rigid displaceable balls or pins, or may include cam arrangements and the like. A fluid pressure system is provided to act at least on the locking devices and release the same when fluid pressure is applied. Advantageously, the fluid pressure system also acts on the actuatable member to move the same to the reel disengaging position upon release of the locking device. The described embodiments provide fail-safe operation during reel engagement independently of the fluid pressure provided by the fluid pressure system.

Claims

1. A fail-safe locking device for reel-carrying systems, comprising an actuatable member mounted on a support member for slidable movement relative thereto along an axis;

reel engaging means mounted on said actuatable member for sharing the axial movements thereof between reel engaging and disengaging positions;

biasing means for urging said actuatable member to one of said positions;

locking means cooperating with the support member and movable between locking and releasing positions for permitting movement of said actuatable member from said one to another of said positions only in the releasing position of said locking means; and

fluid pressure means for moving said locking means to said releasing position only upon application of fluid medium under pressure with attendant movement of said actuatable member to said other of said positions, said locking means being arranged to directly cooperate and block the movement of said actuatable member to the other of said positions in the locking position of said locking means to thereby provide fail-safe operation during reel engagement independently of the fluid medium pressure provided by said fluid pressure means.

2. A locking device as defined in claim 1, comprising a first actuatable member mounted for slidable movement relative to the support member along said axis between first and second positions, said reel engaging means cooperating with said first actuatable member for securely engaging a reel on the carrying system in said first position of said first actuatable member and for releasing the reel in said second position of said first actuatable member;

first biasing means for urging said first actuatable member to said first position, said locking means cooperating with said first actuatable member and the support member and movable between locking and releasing positions for permitting movement of said first actuatable member from said first to said second positions only in the releasing position thereof;

a second actuatable member mounted for slidable movement relative to the support member between enabling and disabling positions for moving said locking means from said locking to said releasing position only in the enabling position thereof;

second biasing means for urging said second actuatable member to said disabling position, said first and second actuatable members being provided with pressure bearing surfaces, said fluid pressure means being adapted to apply a fluid medium under pressure to said bearing surfaces for moving said second actuatable member to said enabling position only upon application of said fluid medium under pressure to thereby permit movement of said locking means to said releasing position, and for subsequent movement of said first actuatable member to said second position.

3. A locking device as defined in claim 2, wherein said first actuatable member comprises a piston shaft portion at one free end of which is mounted said reel engaging means and the opposing end of which is provided with an annular lip or wall portion which defines the bearing surface of said first actuatable member.

4. A locking device as defined in claim 3, wherein said shaft portion of said first actuatable member is provided with an axial bore at said opposing end, and said second actuatable member comprises a safety plunger having at least a portion thereof defining a bearing surface received within said axial bore said hydraulic means being adapted to simultaneously apply the fluid medium under pressure to said bearing surfaces of said first and second actuatable members.

5. A locking device as defined in claim 4, wherein said first and second biasing means are arranged to urge said first and second actuatable members in a common axial direction, and wherein said bearing surfaces of said first and second actuatable members face said axial direction, whereby application of said fluid medium under pressure by said hydraulic means causes said second and first actuatable members to be successively axially shifted or displaced against the actions of said second and first biasing means respectively.

6. A locking device as defined in claim 4, wherein said first and second biasing means are arranged to urge said first and second actuatable members in opposing axial directions, and wherein each bearing surface of an associated actuatable member faces the direction of biasing by the cooperating biasing means thereon.

7. A locking device as defined in claim 2, wherein said second actuatable member comprises a safety plunger having a shaft portion cooperating with said second biasing means, and an annular lip or wall portion at one end of said shaft portion which defines the bearing surface of said second actuatable member.

8. A locking device as defined in claim 2, wherein at least one of said actuatable members is provided with an axial bore, and wherein the other of said actuatable members is at least partially received within said bore, said actuatable members being coaxially and telescopically arranged to permit changes in the overall or effective length of said actuatable members upon actuation of said hydraulic means.

9. A locking device as defined in claim 2, wherein said first biasing means comprises a helical compression spring acting between said first actuatable member and the support member.

10. A locking device as defined in claim 2, wherein said second biasing means comprises a helical compression spring acting between said second actuatable member and the support member.

11. A locking device as defined in claim 2, wherein said bearing surfaces are disposed within cavities defined by cylindrical walls, and further comprising sealing means provided between the peripheries of said bearing surfaces and said cylindrical walls.

12. A locking device as defined in claim 11, wherein said sealing means comprises O-rings.

13. A locking device as defined in claim 2, further comprising stop means for limiting the rotational movement of said first actuatable member relative to the support member.

14. A locking device as defined in claim 13, wherein said stop means comprises a longitudinal groove on said first actuatable member;

and means on the support member projecting into and adapted to ride in said groove.

15. A locking device as defined in claim 2, further comprising stop means for limiting the movement of said second actuatable member relative to the support member and preventing said second biasing means from moving said second actuatable member beyond said disabling position.

16. A locking device as defined in claim 15, wherein said stop means comprises an abutment surface on said second actuatable member adapted to abut against a portion of the support member.

17. A locking device as defined in claim 2, wherein said first actuatable member has an abutment surface, said locking means comprising a blocking member mounted for radial movement between a radially outward locking position wherein said blocking member is at least partially positioned in the path of movement of said abutment surface to block movement of said first actuatable member from said first to said second position and radially inward releasing position wherein said blocking member is removed from the path of movement of said abutment surface, said second actuatable member being in the nature of a safety plunger and provided with a radially stepped exterior surface to provide a step or recess which maintains said blocking member in said radially outward locking position in the disabling position of said safety plunger and permits said blocking member to move radially inwardly into said recess to the releasing position upon movement of said safety plunger to said enabling position.

18. A locking device as defined in claim 17, wherein said abutment surface and blocking member are arranged to abut against each other in said extended position of said first actuatable member and in said disabling position of said safety plunger.

19. A locking device as defined in claim 17, wherein said blocking member is captured to prevent axial movements thereof relative to the support member.

20. A locking device as defined in claim 17, wherein said blocking member comprises a sphere or ball.

21. A locking device as defined in claim 17, wherein said blocking member comprises a cylinder or pin.

22. A locking device as defined in claim 17, further comprising a wall portion connected to said support member and disposed between said abutment surface of said first actuatable member and said stepped exterior surface of said second actuatable member, said wall portion being provided with an opening therethrough which at least partially receives said blocking member.

23. A locking device as defined in claim 22, wherein the radial dimension of said blocking member is greater than the radial thickness of said wall portion whereby said blocking member either projects radially beyond said wall portion into abutment against said abutment surface or radially inwardly into said recess.

24. A locking device as defined in claim 17, wherein a plurality of blocking members are provided and angularly spaced from each other about said axis.

25. A locking device as defined in claim 24, wherein said blocking members are uniformly angularly spaced about said axis.

26. A locking device as defined in claim 2, further comprising limit switch means for monitoring the position of said second actuatable member relative to the support member and becoming actuated upon movement of said second actuatable member from said disabling position.

27. A locking device as defined in claim 2, wherein said fluid pressure means comprises pneumatic means adapted to apply air under pressure to said bearing surfaces.

28. A locking device as defined in claim 2, wherein said first actuatable member is in an extended position in said first position and in a retracted position in said second position.

29. A locking device as defined in claim 1, in combination with the support member which is in the nature of a cradle frame of a tubular strander capable of withstanding the centrifugal forces generated when the cradle rotates at the speed of the encircling tube of the tubular strander.

30. A locking device as defined in claim 29, wherein two pintle assemblies each including a fail-safe locking system are provided at opposing sides of said cradle frame and adapted to releasably support a reel.

31. A locking device as defined in claim 1, wherein said reel engaging means comprises a pintle adapted to be received within a bore of a bobbin or reel.

32. A locking device as defined in claim 1, wherein said reel engaging means comprises a plurality of radially movable fingers which move between radially inward bobbin releasing positions and radially outward bobbin retaining positions.

33. A locking device as defined in claim 1, comprising a first actuatable member mounted for slidable movement relative to the support member along said axis between first and second positions, said reel engaging means cooperating with said first actuatable member for securely engaging a reel on the reel carrying system in said first position of said first actuatable member and for releasing the reel in said second position of said first actuatable member;

first biasing means for urging said first actuatable member to said second position, said locking means cooperating with said first actuatable member and the support member and movable between locking and releasing positions for permitting movement of said first actuatable member from said first to said second positions only in the releasing position thereof;

a second actuatable member mounted for slidable movement relative to the support member between enabling and disabling positions for moving said locking means from said locking to said releasing position only in the enabling position thereof;

second biasing means for urging said second actuatable member to said disabling position, said first and second actuatable members being provided with pressure bearing surfaces, said fluid pressure means being adapted to apply a fluid medium under pressure to said bearing surfaces for moving said second actuatable member to said enabling position only upon application of said fluid medium under pressure to thereby permit movement of said locking means to said releasing position, and for subsequent movement of said first actuatable member to said first position.

34. A locking device as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid pressure means includes a piston cylinder plunger arranged for movement along a predetermined direction, and said locking means includes cam means for translating the movements of said piston cylinder plunger along said predetermined direction into corresponding movements of said actuatable member along said axis thereof.

35. A locking device as defined in claim 34, wherein said predetermined direction is oriented substantially 90°

from said axis.

36. A locking device as defined in claim 34, wherein said cam means comprises a passageway on one of said plunger and actuatable member and a pin on the other of said plunger and actuatable member, said passageway having ends proximate to and remote from said reel-engaging means and receiving said pin therein for movements thereof between said proximate and remote ends of said passageway with corresponding movements of said actuatable member between disengaging and engaging positions.

37. A locking device as defined in claim 36, wherein said plunger is in the nature of a generally flat planar body, said passageway comprising an arcuate slot in said flat planar body, and said pin being mounted on said actuatable member and captured within said arcuate slot for movement therein.

38. A locking device as defined in claim 37, wherein said proximate end of said arcuate slot defines a bearing surface for said pin, said bearing surface being oriented to avoid any components of force and movement of said pin within said arcuate slot toward said remote end upon application of axially outward forces on said actuatable member.

39. A locking device as defined in claim 38, wherein said bearing surface is substantially normal to said axial direction.

40. A locking device as defined in claim 38, wherein said bearing surface has a normal direction which has a component which is perpendicular to said axial direction and is directed toward said proximate end, whereby application of axial forces to said pin urges the same to remain at said proximate end and avoids movement of said pin in said arcuate slot from said locking to said releasing positions.

41. A locking device as defined in claim 37, wherein said actuatable member comprises a bifurcated cylindrical member having spaced arms to receive said flat planar body therebetween, said pin bridging said arms and being captured in said arcuate slot.

42. A locking device as defined in claim 34, wherein said predetermined direction is parallel to said axis.

43. A locking device as defined in claim 42, wherein said predetermined direction and said axis are co-extensive.

44. A locking device as defined in claim 34, wherein said biasing means is arranged to urge said actuatable member to said reel engaging position.

45. A locking device as defined in claim 34, wherein said biasing means is arranged to urge said actuatable member to said reel disengaging position.

46. A locking device as defined in claim 34, wherein said biasing means comprises a compression spring disposed within the fluid pressure means cylinder and acting directly upon said piston cylinder plunger.

47. A locking device as defined in claim 34, further comprising a bearing sleeve mounted on the support member for rotary movements about said axis and adapted to receive said actuatable member for axial movements therein, said cam means comprising a passageway on one of said bearing sleeve and actuatable member and a pin on the other of said bearing sleeve and actuatable member, said passageway having ends proximate to and remote from said reel-engaging means and receiving said pin therein for movements between said proximate and remote ends of said passageway with corresponding movements of said actuatable member between disengaging and engaging positions;

and coupling means between said plunger and said bearing sleeve for rotating said bearing sleeve in response to linear movements of said plunger.

48. A locking device as defined in claim 47, wherein said passageway comprises a segment of a helical groove on said actuatable member and a pin on said bearing sleeve captured for movements within said helical groove segment.

49. A locking device as defined in claim 48, wherein said proximate end of said helical groove segment defines a bearing surface for said pin, said bearing surface being oriented to avoid any components of force and movement of said pin within said helical groove segment toward said remote end upon application of axially outward forces on said actuatable member.

50. A locking device as defined in claim 49, wherein said bearing surface is normal to said axial direction.

51. A locking device as defined in claim 49, wherein said bearing surface has a normal direction which has a component which is perpendicular to said axial direction and is directed toward said proximate end, whereby application of axial forces to said pin urges the same to remain at said proximate end and avoids movement of said pin in said helical groove segment from said locking to said releasing positions.

52. A locking device as defined in claim 47, wherein said coupling means comprises a pinion gear on said bearing sleeve and a rack gear in mesh with said pinion gear and connected to said plunger, whereby linear movements of said plunger and rack along said predetermined direction causes said bearing sleeve to rotate about said axis with corresponding movements of said actuatable member.

53. A locking device as defined in claim 52, further comprising a keyway slot in said actuatable member and a key on the support member captured in said keyway slot to prevent relative rotation about said axis between said actuatable member and the support member.