Stay cable tension adjuster

Abstract

The application relates to the field of cable-stayed cable tension adjustment, and particularly discloses a cable-stayed cable tension adjuster which comprises a cable body, an anchoring unit and a cable end unit; the cable end unit comprises a first cable end seat and a second cable end seat; the first cable end seat is fixedly arranged in the interior of a cable tower, a guide rod is arranged at the center of the first cable end seat, the upper end of the guide rod is in sliding connection with the center of the second cable end seat, and a steel strand is wound in a column shape and then wound around the guide rod; the anchoring unit comprises an anchoring base which is fixedly arranged in the interior of the cable tower, a cylindrical anchoring groove is arranged at the center of the anchoring base, and the first cable end seat and the second cable end seat are both slidingly arranged in the anchoring groove; a plurality of embedding grooves are arranged on the inner wall of the anchoring groove in the circumferential direction, a first elastic piece is arranged on the inner wall of the embedding groove, a pad plate is arranged on the first elastic piece, and the pad plate can be popped out between the first cable end seat and the second cable end seat. The application aims to solve the technical problem of how to adjust the tension of the cable-stayed cable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cable tension adjustment, and specifically discloses a cable tension adjuster. Background Technology

[0002] A cable-stayed bridge, also known as a cable-stayed bridge, consists of a main tower, a bridge deck system, and cable stays. It is a type of bridge where the bridge deck system is mainly subjected to compression (dense cables) or bending (sparse cables), while the support system is mainly supported by tension from the cable stays and compression from the main tower. Due to its advantages such as large span capacity, convenient construction, and good mechanical properties, cable-stayed bridges are widely used in both highways and railways.

[0003] In traditional cable-stayed bridges, the stay cables are the lifeblood of the entire bridge. Generally, the design life of stay cables is 30 years. In some areas, stay cables are subject to wind and rain erosion, which can shorten their lifespan. At the same time, during long-term use, the prestress of stay cables gradually decreases, and the tension gradually reduces. Therefore, stay cables need to be tensioned after a certain number of years. However, existing stay cables are all fixed by anchoring devices, making it very difficult to adjust the tension.

[0004] Application No. 201821295932.3 discloses a cable-stayed bridge force adjustment device, belonging to the field of bridge construction. The aim is to provide a cable-stayed bridge force adjustment device that can sense changes in live load during vehicle movement and adjust the stress of the cable-stayed bridge to solve the problem of sudden deflection of the main beam. The key technical points are as follows: A cable-stayed bridge force adjustment device, installed on the main beam, includes: a hydraulic cylinder, a sensor, and a control device; the hydraulic cylinder is located between the main beam and the cable-stayed bridge and is fixedly connected to the main beam; the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is fixedly connected to the cable-stayed bridge through a connecting piece; the sensor is located at the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder; the hydraulic cylinder, sensor, and control device are electrically connected.

[0005] This solution allows for real-time adjustment of cable tension, i.e., tensioning of the stay cables. The solution uses hydraulic cylinders to adjust the cable tension, but installing the entire device onto the bridge beam makes it highly susceptible to damage from external forces. The hydraulic cylinder is also subject to strong tension, which can easily lead to its failure. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a cable tension adjuster to solve the technical problem of how to adjust the cable tension.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A cable tension adjuster includes a cable body, an anchoring unit, and a cable end unit. The cable body comprises a plurality of steel strands, which are intertwined to form the middle portion of the cable body, and dispersed to form the upper portion of the cable body. The cable end unit includes a first cable end seat and a second cable end seat. The first cable end seat has a plurality of first wire holes arranged along the axial direction, and the second cable end seat has a plurality of second wire holes arranged along the axial direction. The steel strands at the upper portion of the cable body pass through the first wire holes and the second wire holes. The cable is wound into a cylindrical shape after passing through a second cable hole, then unwinds and passes through the second cable hole. The anchoring unit includes an anchoring base, which is fixedly installed inside the tower. A cylindrical anchoring groove is provided at the center of the anchoring base. The first cable end seat and the second cable end seat are slidably installed in the anchoring groove. Several embedding grooves are provided circumferentially on the inner wall of the anchoring groove. A first elastic element is provided on the inner wall of the embedding groove. A pad is provided on the first elastic element. The pad is arc-shaped and can pop out between the first cable end seat and the second cable end seat. In this solution, improvements are made to the clamps at both ends of the stay cable. The upper end of the stay cable is provided with a first cable end seat and a second cable end seat. The first cable end seat is fixed inside the tower and cannot move freely. Its function is to support the entire stay cable. The second cable end seat can be moved upward by external force, thereby driving the stay cable upward. After the stay cable is tightened, its tension is increased, the tensile performance of the stay cable is improved, and its service life is further increased. In this design, since the first and second cable end seats are separate, the portion of the steel strand located between the first and second cable end seats is wound into shape. Even if the second cable end seat becomes loose, the steel strand, wound into a rope shape, can still act as a limit, preventing the steel strand from exiting from the first wire hole of the first cable end seat. When the first cable end seat moves upward, the pad embedded in the groove will pop out; the pad's function is to support the second cable end seat.

[0008] Optionally, the inner wall of the embedding groove is provided with a plurality of columnar through grooves, which penetrate the anchoring base. The plurality of columnar through grooves are arranged in an array along the circumferential and vertical directions within the embedding groove. Columnar through grooves located in the same vertical direction can be sealed with a vertical sealing plate. The columnar through grooves are used to install the first elastic element. In this solution, the columnar through grooves are used to install the first elastic element, and because the columnar through grooves penetrate the anchoring base, they can be installed from the outside, making the installation method simple and convenient. Furthermore, the columnar through grooves can be sealed with sealing plates, which can support the first elastic element.

[0009] Optionally, the first elastic element includes a resilient bellows filled with compressible gas. The bellows is positioned within a columnar groove, and a pushing post is attached to one end of the bellows. The pushing post is slidably positioned within the columnar groove and connected to the pad. In this design, the first elastic element is in a compressed state when the tension of the stay cable does not need to be adjusted. If a spring is used for the first elastic element, its elastic force will be lost under prolonged compression, resulting in insufficient elasticity when the first elastic element is needed, preventing the pad from reaching the designated position. This design uses a resilient bellows that is completely sealed and filled with gas. External compression reduces the volume of the bellows. Since the compressed gas expands rapidly until pressure equilibrium is reached when the external pressure is removed, the length of its idle time does not affect its elastic restoring force, ensuring that the pad reaches the designated position upon ejection.

[0010] Optionally, a guide post is provided at the center of the tower's interior. Several guide holes are provided on the guide post along the vertical direction, and guide wheels are installed in the guide holes. Using this solution, an external lifting device is used to pull the second cable end seat. In use, the pull rope is passed around the guide wheels and then connected to the second cable end seat, allowing the second cable end seat to be pulled.

[0011] Optionally, a lifting steel rope can be installed on the second cable end seat, and the lifting steel rope can be connected to external lifting equipment. The lifting steel rope in this solution is the aforementioned pull rope.

[0012] Optionally, an outer cover is integrally formed on the upper end of the second cable end seat. The upper part of the outer cover is a rectangular shape with an inwardly recessed portion, and the upper part of the outer cover slides in contact with the upper outer wall of the anchoring base. Using this design, the sliding connection between the outer cover and the anchoring base can serve as a limiting mechanism, preventing the second cable end seat from rotating.

[0013] Optionally, the anchoring base has a rectangular shape on its exterior, and vertical mounting grooves are provided on the four outer walls of the anchoring base. A lower groove is provided at the bottom of the mounting groove, and a locking rod is rotatably provided at the bottom of the lower groove. A single locking tooth is provided at the upper end of the locking rod. A plurality of locking grooves are provided on the inner wall of the recessed part of the outer cover. The upper part of the locking groove is a plane, and the lower part of the locking groove is an inclined surface. The plurality of locking grooves form a fixed locking tooth, and the single locking tooth and the fixed locking tooth can be engaged. In this design, the outer cover is supported by the anchoring base. Specifically, the anchoring base has an installation groove on its outer wall, and a locking rod is installed in the installation groove. The locking rod can rotate slightly. When the outer cover moves upward, the single locking tooth on the locking rod can slide outward along the lower part of the locking groove until the single locking tooth engages with the next locking groove. The top of the single locking tooth and the top of the locking groove are both flat. Therefore, when the outer cover applies downward force, the single locking tooth can support the locking groove, which is the entire outer cover. The single locking tooth and the locking rod then transmit the entire pressure to the anchoring base and the tower, thus providing support.

[0014] Optionally, a second elastic element is provided on the side of the lower groove away from the fixed tooth. The second elastic element is connected to the end of the toothed rod away from the fixed tooth, and the toothed rod is in a vertical state when the second elastic element is in its natural state. With this solution, the second elastic element can push the toothed rod to move towards the toothed groove.

[0015] The working principle and beneficial effects of this solution are as follows: In this design, the cable end mounts are modified into a first cable end seat and a second cable end seat. The first cable end seat is fixedly connected to the tower, providing initial support, while the second cable end seat is supported by an anchor base. Together, the first and second cable end seats form a support system. When the tension of the cable needs adjustment, the position of the second cable end seat is adjusted, causing the cable to stretch and thus changing the tension. During adjustment, an external lifting device is used to pull the second cable end seat. Simultaneously, shims inside the anchor base pop out and fill the gap between the first and second cable end seats, providing additional support. After adjustment, the second cable end seat will not fall downwards towards the cable under the support of the anchor base and shims. In this design, to ensure that the gasket can be smoothly ejected from the embedded groove, a first elastic element consisting of a bellows and a push column is provided. The elastic restoring force of the bellows comes from the recovery expansion of the gas. The recovery expansion of the gas is not affected by time. When the external pressure is removed, it can immediately expand back to its original volume. At this time, the bellows returns to its original shape and pushes the gasket out together with the push column. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the tower; Figure 3 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the anchor base, the first cable end seat, and the second cable end seat; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the anchor base, the first cable end seat, and the second cable end seat.

[0017] The following are the markings in the attached diagram: 1. Cable tower; 2. Stay cable; 3. Anchor base; 4. External cover; 5. Guide post; 6. Guide hole; 7. Guide wheel; 8. First cable end seat; 9. Second cable end seat; 10. Pad; 11. Limiting groove; 12. Corrugated pipe; 13. Push post; 14. Sealing plate; 15. Limiting block; 16. Mounting groove; 17. Lower groove; 18. Clamping rod; 19. Single clamping tooth; 20. Clamping tooth groove; 21. Anchoring groove; 22. First line hole. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The following detailed description illustrates the specific implementation methods: Example A cable tension adjuster for two-tension cable includes a cable body, an anchoring unit, and a cable end unit.

[0019] The cable body includes several steel strands, which are intertwined to form the middle part of the cable body, and the steel strands are dispersed to form the upper part of the cable body.

[0020] The anchoring unit includes an anchoring base 3, which is rectangular in shape and fixedly installed inside the tower 1. A cylindrical anchoring groove 21 is located at the center of the anchoring base 3. Four embedding grooves are formed on the lower inner wall of the anchoring base 3, and several horizontally aligned columnar through-grooves are formed within these grooves. These columnar through-grooves extend to the outside of the anchoring base 3. A sealing plate 14 is provided on the outer wall of the anchoring base 3, and is fixed to the outer wall by bolts. The sealing plate 14 seals the columnar through-grooves. A first elastic element is installed within the columnar through-grooves, and a pad 10 is connected to the first elastic element. The side of the pad 10 facing the anchoring groove 21 is arc-shaped, and a limiting groove 11 is formed at the upper end of the pad 10. The first elastic element includes a bellows 12 with elasticity, which is filled with compressible gas. A push post 13 is fixedly installed at one end of the bellows 12. The push post 13 is slidably installed in the columnar through groove and connected to the pad 10. The anchoring base 3 is rectangular in shape. Vertical mounting grooves 16 are provided on the four outer walls of the anchoring base 3. A lower groove 17 is provided at the bottom of the mounting groove 16. A locking rod 18 is rotatably installed at the bottom of the lower groove 17. A single locking tooth 19 is fixedly installed at the upper end of the locking rod 18. A second elastic element, which is a spring, is provided on the side of the lower groove 17 away from the fixed locking tooth. The second elastic element is connected to the end of the locking rod 18 away from the fixed locking tooth. When the second elastic element is in its natural state, the locking rod 18 is in a vertical state.

[0021] The cable end unit includes a first cable end seat 8 and a second cable end seat 9. The first cable end seat 8 is cylindrical and has several first wire holes 22 arranged along the axial direction. The second cable end seat 9 has several second wire holes arranged along the axial direction. The steel strand at the upper end of the cable body passes through the first wire holes 22 and the second wire holes. After passing through the first wire holes 22, the steel strand is wound into a cylindrical shape and then unwinds and passes through the second wire holes. Both the first cable end seat 8 and the second cable end seat 9 are slidably disposed in the anchoring groove 21.

[0022] The upper end of the second cable end seat 9 is integrally formed with an outer cover 4. The upper part of the outer cover 4 is a rectangular shape with an inwardly recessed shape. The upper part of the outer cover 4 slides in contact with the upper outer wall of the anchor base 3. Four locking grooves 20 are provided on the four inner walls of the recessed part of the outer cover 4. The upper part of the locking groove 20 is a flat surface, and the lower part of the locking groove 20 is an inclined surface. Several locking grooves 20 form a fixed locking tooth, and a single locking tooth 19 and a fixed locking tooth can be engaged.

[0023] A guide post 5 is located at the center of the tower 1. Several guide holes 6 are arranged vertically on the guide post 5, and guide wheels 7 are installed in the guide holes 6. A lifting steel rope can be installed on the second cable end seat 9, and the lifting steel rope can be connected to external lifting equipment.

[0024] The bottom of the second cable end seat 9 is provided with several limiting blocks 15, which can be inserted into the corresponding limiting slots.

[0025] In practice: Before the cable body is inserted into the first wire hole 22 of the first cable end seat 8, it is first twisted and wound into a rope shape. A protective sleeve can be installed on the outside of the cable body to reduce wind and rain erosion. The upper part of the cable body is then spread out and inserted into the first wire hole 22. Then, the upper part of the cable body above the first cable end seat 8 is wound into a rope shape again. Similarly, the uppermost end of the cable body is spread out and inserted into the second wire hole of the second cable end seat 9 for fixation. After the bridge is completed, the second cable end seat 9 is in contact with the first cable end seat 8 and is supported by the first cable end seat 8. When the bridge has been in use for a certain number of years, it is necessary to adjust the tension of the cable body, which requires adjusting the position of the second cable end seat 9. During adjustment, external lifting equipment is required, typically hoisting machinery. The lifting steel cable is looped around the guide wheel 7 near the corresponding second cable end seat 9, and then connected to the upper end of the second cable end seat 9. The lifting equipment drives the second cable end seat 9 upward, pulling the cable body as it moves, thus completing the tensioning process. During this process, when the second cable end seat 9 reaches the first height, the pad 10 is not externally supported. The gas in the bellows 12 returns to its original volume and pushes out the push column 13, which in turn pushes out the pad 10, supporting the second cable end seat 9. At this time, the limiting block 15 can engage in the limiting slot, preventing the second cable end seat 9 from moving horizontally. When the second cable end seat 9 moves, the outer cover 4 also moves accordingly. The locking groove 20 on the outer cover 4 also moves upward. At this time, the locking rod 18 will gradually pop out and lock into the next locking groove 20 until the outer cover 4 stops moving. Then the locking rod 18 can abut against the locking groove 20, and the locking rod 18 can support the outer cover 4. When the second cable end seat 9 is supported by the locking rod 18 and the pad 10, it can maintain its raised height, ensuring that the tension of the cable body is improved.

[0026] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention, and common knowledge regarding specific structures and characteristics in the solutions is not described in detail here. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the structure of the present invention, and these should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention. These modifications and improvements will not affect the effectiveness of the implementation of the present invention or its practicality.

Claims

1. A tension regulator for a stay cable, characterized in that: The cable includes a cable body, an anchoring unit, and a cable end unit. The cable body comprises several steel strands, which are intertwined to form the middle part of the cable body and dispersed to form the upper end of the cable body. The cable end unit includes a first cable end seat and a second cable end seat. The first cable end seat has several first wire holes arranged along the axial direction, and the second cable end seat has several second wire holes arranged along the axial direction. The steel strands at the upper end of the cable body pass through the first wire holes and the second wire holes. After passing through the first wire holes, the steel strands are wound into a column shape and then dispersed and pass through the second wire holes. The anchoring unit includes an anchoring base, which is fixedly installed inside the cable tower. A cylindrical anchoring groove is provided at the center of the anchoring base. Both the first cable end seat and the second cable end seat are slidably installed in the anchoring groove. Several embedding grooves are provided circumferentially on the inner wall of the anchoring groove. A first elastic element is provided on the inner wall of the embedding groove. A pad is provided on the first elastic element. The pad is arc-shaped and can pop out between the first cable end seat and the second cable end seat.

2. The cable tension adjuster according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the embedding groove is provided with several columnar through grooves, which penetrate the anchoring base. The columnar through grooves are arranged in an array along the circumferential and vertical directions in the embedding groove. The columnar through grooves located in the same vertical direction are sealed with vertical sealing plates. The columnar through grooves are used to install the first elastic element.

3. A cable tension adjuster according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first elastic element includes an elastic bellows filled with compressible gas. The bellows is disposed in a columnar through groove, and a push post is provided at one end of the bellows. The push post is slidably disposed in the columnar through groove and connected to a pad.

4. A cable tension adjuster according to claim 3, characterized in that: A guide post is provided at the center of the tower, and several guide holes are provided on the guide post along the vertical direction. Guide wheels are provided on the guide holes.

5. A cable tension adjuster according to claim 4, characterized in that: The second cable end seat is equipped with a lifting steel rope, which can be connected to external lifting equipment.

6. A cable tension adjuster according to claim 5, characterized in that: The upper end of the second cable end seat is integrally formed with an outer cover. The upper part of the outer cover is a rectangular shape that is recessed inward. The upper part of the outer cover is in sliding contact with the upper outer wall of the anchor base.

7. A cable tension adjuster according to claim 6, characterized in that: The anchoring base is rectangular in shape. Vertical mounting grooves are provided on the four outer walls of the anchoring base. A recessed groove is provided at the bottom of the mounting groove. A locking rod is rotatably mounted at the bottom of the recessed groove. A single locking tooth is provided at the upper end of the locking rod. Several locking grooves are provided on the inner wall of the recessed part of the outer cover. The upper part of the locking groove is flat, and the lower part of the locking groove is inclined. Several locking grooves form a fixed locking tooth. The single locking tooth and the fixed locking tooth can be engaged.

8. A cable tension adjuster according to claim 7, characterized in that: A second elastic element is provided on the side of the lower groove away from the fixed tooth. The second elastic element is connected to the end of the tooth rod away from the fixed tooth. When the second elastic element is in its natural state, the tooth rod is in a vertical state.

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