US3704580A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for making twisted stonesawing strands and the like
Assignee: United States Steel Corp
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Filing: 1971-07-26
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Granted: 1972-12-05
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Expires: 1991-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A single strip is twisted about its axis or a plurality of strips are twisted together with the direction of twist in each case being reversed at spaced intervals such as 25 feet, 50 feet or 100 feet. An entry tensioning stand, a twister head stand and an exit tensioning stand are arranged in tandem with strip gripping means being provided on each stand. The gripping means on each tensioning stand is mounted on a longitudinally movable slide which is attached to a pair of pneumatic cylinders for urging the slide away from the twister head stand under a predetermined pressure when the strip is gripped with equal lengths on each side of the twister head. The length on one side will be twisted opposite hand to the length on the other side as the twister head rotates with a predetermined tension being applied to the strip as it is twisted regardless of change of length during the twisting operation. The strip is then released and the strip fed longitudinally until the twisted portion is just past the gripping means on the exit tensioning stand. The twisting operation is then repeated. This continues until all the strip is twisted.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond J Blanchet
- 👤 William G Stanton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 01:45
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23D; B23D65/00; B21; B21F; B21F7/00; D; D07; D07B; D07B5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
The method of making an elongated twisted object having the direction of twist reversed at intervals which comprises feeding the number of strips desired in the finished object longitudinally through a twister head in untwisted form until a substantial length of the untwisted strip is beyond the twister head, then gripping the strip at the twister head and at a substantial distance from the twister head at the entry and exit ends thereof to prevent movement of the strip with respect to the grips, then applying a resilient force to said strip at each of the entry and exit gripping positions to provide a predetermined tensioning force to said gripped strip, then rotating said twister head a predetermined number of times with the strip gripped and under said predetermined tension, then releasing said gripped strip and feeding the strip longitudinally through said twister head until a substantial length of said untwisted strip is beyond the twister head, then gripping the strip at the twister head, at the exit head adjacent the twisted portion of said strip and at a substantial distance from the twister head at the entry thereof to prevent movement with respect to the grips, and then releasing said gripped strip.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
The method of making an elongated twisted object having the direction of twist reversed at intervals which comprises feeding the number of strips desired in the finished object longitudinally through a twister head in untwisted form until a substantial length of the untwisted strip is beyond the twister head, then gripping the strip at the twister head and at a substantial distance from the twister head at the entry and exit ends thereof to prevent movement of the strip with respect to the grips, then applying a resilient force to said strip at each of the entry and exit gripping positions to provide a predetermined tensioning force to said gripped strip, then rotating said twister head a predetermined number of times with the strip gripped and under said predetermined tension, then releasing said gripped strip and feeding the strip longitudinally through said twister head until a substantial length of said untwisted strip is beyond the twister head, then gripping the strip at the twister head, at the exit head adjacent the twisted portion of said strip and at a substantial distance from the twister head at the entry thereof to prevent movement with respect to the grips, and then releasing said gripped strip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 in which the distance between the grip at the twister head and the grip at the entry end is the same as the distance between the grip at the twister head and the grip at the exit end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2 in which the grips at the entry and exit ends are free to move longitudinally as the strip is twisted while maintaining the predetermined tension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 in which a single strip is twisted about its axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 4 in which the distance between the grip at the twister head and the grip at the entry end is the same as the distance between the grip at the twister head and the grip at the exit end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 in which the grips at the entry and exit ends are free to move longitudinally as the strip is twisted while maintaining the predetermined tension.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 in which a plurality of strips are twisted together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 7 in which the distance between the grip at the twister head and the grip at the entry end is the same as the distance between the grip at the twister head and the grip at the exit end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 in which the grips at the entry and exit ends are free to move longitudinally as the strip is twisted while maintaining the predetermined tension.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for making an elongated twisted object having the direction of twist reversed at intervals which comprises an entry tensioning stand including strip gripping means, a twister head stand on the exit side of said entry tensioning stand including strip gripping means, an exit tensioning stand on the exit side of said twister head stand including strip gripping means, means for feeding the number of strips desired in the finished object through said stands, said strip being in untwisted form prior to being fed into and gripped by said strip gripping means, resilient means on each of said entry and exit tensioning stands urging their strip gripping means away from said entry tensioning stand to provide a predetermined tensioning force to the strip when clamped by all of said strip gripping means and means for rotating said strip gripping means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for making an elongated twisted object having the direction of twist reversed at intervals which comprises an entry tensioning stand including strip gripping means, a twister head stand on the exit side of said entry tensioning stand including strip gripping means, an exit tensioning stand on the exit side of said twister head stand including strip gripping means, means for feeding the number of strips desired in the finished object through said stands, said strip being in untwisted form prior to being fed into and gripped by said strip gripping means, resilient means on each of said entry and exit tensioning stands urging their strip gripping means away from said entry tensioning stand to provide a predetermined tensioning force to the strip when clamped by all of said strip gripping means and means for rotating said strip gripping means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 in which each of said tensioning stands includes guides mounted thereon, and a slide supporting said gripping means slidably mounted for longitudiNal movement in said guides, said resilient means including a pair of air cylinders having their axes substantially parallel to the path of travel of said strip and their piston rods connected to said slide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which said entry gripping means includes a pair of opposed clamp members, and an air cylinder and piston rod for moving said clamp members with respect to one another; and in which said exit clamping means includes a pair of opposed clamp members each having a beveled strip bearing surface on its inner end, a spring urging each of said clamp members inwardly toward one another, a pair of elongated grip holders on the exit side of said clamp members and one secured for movement with each of said clamp members, springs for biasing said grip holders apart, a resilient grip attached to each grip holder, and an air cylinder and piston rod associated with each grip holder for moving then together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said twister head stand comprises a twister rotor having an axial hole therethrough, and means for rotating said rotor; and said twister head stand gripping means including a pair of opposed radial clamping members one on each side of said axial hole and each having a beveled gripping surface, a roller mounted on the outer end of each radial clamping member with the axis of each roller being transverse to the axis of said rotor hole, a spring urging each clamp member outwardly, a pressure member slidably mounted on said rotor having a cup portion with an internal tapered surface for contacting said rollers and a peripheral groove, a pair of spaced rollers in said peripheral groove, a lever assembly for supporting said spaced rollers, and an air cylinder and piston rod associated with said lever for moving said pressure member to move said clamping members to clamping position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 including a pneumatic control system, said pheumatic control system comprising means for supplying air to said tensioning cylinders to move said slides to their centered position, means then operable for supplying air to said clamping cylinders to cause said clamping means to grip untwisted strip extending between said entry and exit tensioning stands, means then operable to cause air at a predetermined pressure to be present only on the side of the cylinder pistons urging said slides away from the twister head stand, and means operable after twisting of said strip to cause opposite movement of said clamping cylinders to release said strip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 including a pay-off reel at the entry end of said entry tensioning stand for supporting said strip in untwisted form, a take-up reel at the exit end of said exit tensioning stand for supporting said twisted object, and at least four foundations spaced apart between said reels for selectively receiving said stands.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 including a pneumatic control system, said pneumatic control system comprising means for supplying air to said tensioning cylinders to move said slides to their centered position, means then operable for supplying air to said clamping cylinders to cause said clamping means to grip untwisted strip extending between said entry and exit tensioning stands, means then operable to cause air at a predetermined pressure to be present only on the side of the cylinder pistons urging said slides away from the twister head stand, and means operable after twisting of said strip to cause opposite movement of said clamping cylinders to release said strip.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 in which said pneumatic control system includes four manifold pipe lines extending adjacent said foundations and having a set of sockets adjacent each foundation, a control stand having connections to one set of sockets, and flexible connections between each of said stands and the adjacent set of sockets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 including a pay-off reel at the entry end of said entry tensioning stand for supporting said strip in untwisted form, a take-up reel at the exit end of said exit tensioning stand for supporting said twisted object, and at least four foundations spaced apart between said reels for selectively receiving said stands.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |