Constant tension apparatus and method with eccentric cam to regulate tension

• US 5,101,735 A
• Filed: 08/27/1990
• Issued: 04/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matti I. Williams
• Original Assignee: Matti I. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Matti I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberleitner, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORANO IV, SAMUEL J
• Application Number:
  US07/573,832
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 104/117, 242/107, 254/277, 254/364, 254/392, 187/1 A, 267/69, 267/70, 267/73
• US Class Current: 104/117
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 25/18 Ropes; Supports, fastening or straining means for ropes ropes in general D07B; masts E04H12/00; ropes sockets F16G

Abstract

Disclosed is a tensioning apparatus and method for creating and maintaining a substantially constant tension force in a flexible cable or shaft element. The apparatus used for maintaining the flexible cable at a constant tension includes interconnected reel and camming elements joined to a resiliently acting element. The reel and camming elements cooperate to adjust a variable tension force produced by the resiliently acting element to a substantially constant tension force of selected characteristic in the flexible cable.

Claims

1. An apparatus for maintaining a suspended cable at a constant tension, said apparatus comprising:

A.) a reel means for removably and replaceably winding a first flexible cable, said reel means having a first groove means for receiving said first cable, said first groove means being oriented in a first plane and having a width equal to about the diameter of said first flexible cable, said first cable being removably and replaceably wound within said first plane;

B.) a camming means for removably and replaceably winding a first end of a second flexible cable, said camming means being connected to said reel means and having a second groove means which is oriented in a second plane, said second plane being substantially parallel to said first plane, said second groove means having an eccentric profile and a width equal to about the diameter of said second flexible cable, said second cable being removably and replaceably wound within said second plane;

C.) a bias means for producing a variable tension force characteristic in said second cable, said bias means being compressed to produce said variable tension force characteristic in said second cable and receiving a second end of said second flexible cable;

whereby said reel means and said camming means cooperate to continuously adjust the variable tension force in said second cable to a substantially constant tension force of selected characteristic in said first cable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first cable comprises a spooling portion and a working portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first cable further comprises an insulative joining means for connecting said spooling portion and said working portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reel means comprises a substantially circular spool.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said camming means comprises an arcuate cam surface integral with an external surface of said reel means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bias means comprises a compression spring.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said bias means comprises a pair of juxtaposed compression springs.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first cable is at an angle relative to said second cable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first cable and said second cable are substantially parallel.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first cable and said second cable are substantially perpendicular.

11. A method of maintaining a substantially constant tension in a first cable, said first cable having a spooling portion and a working portion, comprising the steps of:

A.) providing an apparatus comprising;

1.) a substantially flat reel means having said spooling portion of said first cable removably and replaceably wound thereon, said reel means having a first groove means for receiving said spooling portion of said first cable, said first groove means being oriented in a first plane and having a width equal to about the diameter of said spooling portion of said first cable, said spooling portion of first cable being removably and replaceably wound within said first plane;

2.) a substantially flat camming means having a first end of a second flexible cable removably and replaceably wound thereon, said camming means being connected to said reel means and having a second groove means which is oriented in a second plane, said second plane being substantially parallel to said first plane, said second groove means having an eccentric profile and a width equal to about the diameter of said second flexible cable, said second cable being removably and replaceably wound within said second plane;

3.) a bias means for producing a variable tension force characteristic in said second cable, said bias means being compressed to produce said variable tension force characteristic in said second cable and receiving a second end of said second flexible cable;

B.) providing a tension force characteristic in said spooling portion of said first cable;

C.) connecting said spooling portion of said first cable to said working portion of said first cable;

D.) permitting said reel means and said camming means to cooperate so as to adjust the variable tension force in said second cable to a substantially constant tension force of selected characteristic in said first cable.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said first cable further comprises an insulative joining means for connecting said spooling portion and said working portion.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said reel means comprises a substantially circular spool.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said bias means comprises a compression spring.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said bias means comprises a pair of juxtaposed compression springs.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising mounting said apparatus such that said first cable is at an angle relative to a said second cable.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said first cable and said second cable are substantially parallel.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said first cable and said second cable are substantially perpendicular.