Braking device for winders

Abstract

A braking device for winders with automatic rewinding, particularly for wires, tubes and the like, comprises: - at least one first braking jaw (10, 11), - movement transmission means (13) for transmitting the rotational movement of a hank-carrying coil (4) of a winder to the at least one first braking jaw which is caused to rotate inside a respective braking drum (12), - the drum being mounted on a support (23) for the movement transmission means, - the at least one first jaw (10, 11), as a result of the effect of centrifugal force generated during the rotation imposed by automatic rewinding means, being suitable for moving from a non-operative rest condition to an operative position in which a friction surface of the at least one first jaw is urged against a surface (12a) of the braking drum (12), - wherein the at least one first jaw (10, 11) is mounted on a rotating body (22) which is caused to rotate by the transmission means (13) about an individual rotation axis (X"), the at least one first jaw having a pair of pin-like formations (25, 26) which are axially developed parallel with the rotation axis and which are slidingly received in respective slotted openings (32, 33, 34, 35) which are provided in the rotating body (22).

Description

[0001] Braking device for winders

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to a braking device for winders, in particular for winders with automatic rewinding for wires, tubes and the like.

[0004] The invention is further directed towards a winder with automatic rewinding for wires, tubes and the like, which is provided with such a braking device.

[0005] Technological background

[0006] Automatic rewinding winders are widely used in different operating areas, such as, for example, industrial plants, construction sites, workshops and generally anywhere where there is a need to lead at specific distances from a source location, or electric current, in order to supply eguipment items which function with electrical energy, or air or other operating fluids, compressed or not, or signals.

[0007] Winders of the type indicated are typically provided with resilient return means for automatic rewinding, which allow the tube or wire to be rewound within rapid times and without reguiring the manual intervention of the user by actuating crank members or the like.

[0008] One problem encountered in winders which are provided with an automatic rewinding system which is actuated by the above-mentioned resilient means results from the movement of the tube or wire during the rewinding phase, which movement is generally guite fast and unpredictable in terms of the return trajectories and may be dangerous, being able to strike persons or objects present near the winder.

[0009] There are known from the prior art a number of solutions for applying braking forces to the winders which are provided with automatic rewinding.

[0010] Description of the invention

[0011] A main object of the invention is to improve the prerogatives of the braking devices for winders which are provided with automatic rewinding in order to improve the capacity for braking and to effectively overcome the limitations and the problems of the known solutions.

[0012] Another object is to provide a braking device which is configured to be applied to winders with automatic rewinding which are known and already being used.

[0013] Another object is to provide a braking device which is configured to apply an effective and egual braking action when it is connected to a winder, both in one direction of rotation and in the opposite direction of rotation.

[0014] Yet another object is to provide a winder with automatic rewinding which is provided with a braking device according to the above-mentioned objectives. These objects and other objects which will be more clearly appreciated below are achieved by a braking device for automatic rewinding winders having the features defined in the appended claim 1.

[0015] The features defined in the dependent claims 2 to 13 refer to exemplary embodiments of the braking device of the invention.

[0016] Claim 14 is directed towards a winder with automatic rewinding which is provided with a braking device constructed according to the invention.

[0017] According to a first aspect of the invention, a braking device for winders with automatic rewinding, particularly for wires, tubes and the like, comprises:

[0018] - at least one first braking jaw,

[0019] - movement transmission means for transmitting the rotational movement of a hankcarrying coil of a winder to the at least one first braking jaw which is caused to rotate inside a respective braking drum,

[0020] - the drum being mounted on a support for the movement transmission means,

[0021] - the at least one first jaw, as a result of the effect of centrifugal force generated during the rotation imposed by automatic rewinding means, being suitable for moving from a non-operative rest condition to an operative position in which a friction surface of the at least one first jaw is urged against a surface of the braking drum,

[0022] - wherein the at least one first jaw is mounted on a rotating body which is caused to rotate by the transmission means about an individual rotation axis, the at least one first jaw having a pair of pin-like formations which are axially developed parallel with the rotation axis and which are slidingly received in respective slotted openings which are provided in the rotating body.

[0023] Preferably, each of the pin-like formations comprises a first pin and a second pin which are coaxial with each other and which project from respective opposite surfaces of the at least one first jaw.

[0024] Preferably, the device comprises a second jaw, the first jaw and second jaw being configured to operate inside the braking drum.

[0025] Preferably, the first jaw and second jaw are arranged in a specularly symmetrical manner with respect to a plane which contains the rotation axis of the rotating body. Preferably, the rotating body comprises a first plate and a second plate, which are axially spaced apart along the rotation axis of the rotating body, each of the plates having two pairs of the slotted openings which are provided in corresponding positions and so that the pin-like formations of each of the first and second jaws are slidingly received in the respective slotted openings of the first and second plates. Preferably, the slotted openings are in the form of through-openings through the first and second plates.

[0026] Preferably, the second plate is removably connected to the rotating body.

[0027] Preferably, the device comprises a return spring in order to urge the at least one first jaw into the non-operative rest position.

[0028] Preferably, the return spring is fixed with one end thereof to the at least one first jaw and is fixed with the other end to the rotating body.

[0029] Preferably, each of the slotted openings extends in a longitudinal direction and is delimited by a pair of opposite planar surfaces which are mutually connected at the longitudinally opposite ends of the opening.

[0030] Preferably, the at least one first jaw comprises a braking insert which is intended for frictional contact against the braking surface of the drum, the braking insert being removably connected to a portion of the at least one first braking jaw.

[0031] Preferably, the device comprises a housing and protection shell for the transmission means, the at least one first jaw and the braking drum.

[0032] Preferably, the transmission means comprise a free wheel mechanism in order to disconnect the rotational movement between the hank-carrying coil and the at least one first braking jaw in the unwinding direction of the hank from the coil.

[0033] Preferably, the transmission means comprise toothed wheels or similar transmission members which are suitable for multiplying the rotation speed of the rotating body with respect to the coil.

[0034] Preferably, the transmission means comprise a movement multiplier with parallel axes which substantially reduces the space for the same multiplication ratio with respect to a connection with two toothed wheels alone. This aspect is very advantageous in the applications to winders with great dimensions which require high braking forces, given that, in order to increase the speed of the brake, greater multiplication ratios and therefore far greater dimensions are used if they are not configured with transmissions with parallel axes.

[0035] According to another aspect of the invention, a winder with automatic rewinding for wires, tubes and the like comprises a hank-carrying coil which is hinged with the individual rotation shaft for rotation with respect to a support body, the coil being associated with automatic rewinding means of the resilient type, and a braking device according to one or more of the preceding aspects.

[0036] Brief description of the drawings

[0037] The features and advantages of the invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0038] - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a braking device according to the invention which is shown in a state applied to a winder,

[0039] - Figure 2 is an axially sectioned view of the braking device of Figure 1,

[0040] - Figure 3 is a front view of the braking device of Figure 1,

[0041] - Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of a number of details of the braking device of the preceding Figures, which are shown with partial relative assembly,

[0042] - Figure 6 is an exploded, perspective view of a number of components of the braking device of the preceding Figures,

[0043] - Figures 7 to 9 are front views of a detail of the braking device of the preceding Figures, which is depicted in different positions taken up by the device during operation.

[0044] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention

[0045] With reference to the cited Figures, there is generally designated 1 a braking device for automatic rewinding winders for wires, tubes and the like, which is constructed according to the present invention.

[0046] In Figure 1, the braking device is depicted in a state connected to an automatic rewinding winder 2 for a tube 3, which is only schematically depicted in the Figure.

[0047] The winder 2 is provided with a hank-carrying coil 4 which defines the winding seat of the tube 3 and which is fixedly joined to a rotation shaft (not depicted) which is rotatably supported about a rotation axis X by means of a pair of supports 5, 6 which extend from a base 7.

[0048] There are associated with the coil 4 automatic winding means of the resilient type, which are configured, for example, in a conventional manner per se, such as a spiral spring (not depicted) which is suitable for applying a resilient return force suitable for rotating the coil in order to cause the tube being wound on the coil to return.

[0049] The braking device 1 comprises a first and a second braking jaw which are designated 10 and 11, respectively, and which are configured to be rotated inside a braking drum 12.

[0050] There are generally designated 13 means for transmitting the movement, including a gear train which is suitable for transmitting the rotational movement of the coil 4 of the winder to the pair of jaws 10, 11. As a result of the effect of the centrifugal force generated during the rotation imposed on the coil by the automatic rewinding means, the jaws 10, 11 are caused to move from a non-operative, or rest, condition to an operative position in which a respective friction surface 10a, 11a of the respective jaw is urged against a surface 12a of the braking drum.

[0051] The gear train comprises a first pair of toothed wheels 15a, 15b, with relative engagement, wherein the toothed wheel 15a is keyed on a pin 16 which is intended to be fixedly joined to the rotation shaft of the winder in order to take the rotational movement therefrom and the toothed wheel 15b is keyed on an intermediate shaft 17 which is rotatably supported on a casing 17a of the device, about an individual rotation axis X'.

[0052] It may be observed that the braking drum 12 is structurally independent of the casing 17a and is inserted inside the casing itself.

[0053] There is interposed between the pin 16 and the toothed wheel 15a a free wheel 19 which is suitable for disconnecting the rotational movement between the pin 16 and the toothed wheel 15a in one of the rotation directions.

[0054] The gear train comprises a second pair of toothed wheels 20a, 20b, with relative engagement, wherein the toothed wheel 20a is keyed on the shaft 17 and the toothed wheel 20b is keyed on a rotating body 22 which is rotatably supported on a platelike support element 23 about an individual rotation axis X".

[0055] The support element 23 is configured to be fixed to the casing 17a, for example, with screw type fixing means.

[0056] The jaws 10, 11 are mounted on the rotating body 22 in order to be caused to rotationally move by the gear train with a predetermined transmission ratio with respect to the rotation of the pin 16, preferably with a speed multiplication ratio which is generated by the gear train of the transmission means.

[0057] The rotation axes X, X' and X" are parallel with and spaced apart from each other. As a result of the structural identity of the jaws 10, 11, only one of the jaws will be described in detail below, it being understood, for the sake of simplicity of description, that similar details of the two jaws will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Each jaw 10, 11 is provided with a pair of pin-like formations which are designated 25, 26, respectively, and which are fixedly joined to the jaw and which extend axially parallel with the axis X" and which are configured to be slidingly received in slotted openings which are provided in the rotating body 22.

[0058] Preferably, the pin-like formations 25, 26 have a cylindrical formation.

[0059] In a preferable manner, the pin-like formation 25 comprises a first pin and a second pin 25a, 25b which are coaxial with each other and which project from respective opposite surfaces 27a, 27b of the corresponding jaw. Similarly, the pin-like formation 26 comprises a first pin and a second pin 26a, 26b which are coaxial with each other and which project from the respective opposite surfaces 27a, 27b of the corresponding jaw.

[0060] Each pin-like formation 25, 26 can advantageously be formed in one piece with the jaw by diecasting.

[0061] In a construction variant, the pins 25a, 25b (similarly to the pins 26a, 26b) can be in the form of respective sections of the same pin member which is different from the jaw and which is configured to be fitted in a through-hole of the jaw, the sections thereby projecting from the respective opposite surfaces 27a, 27b of the corresponding jaw.

[0062] In greater detail, the rotating body 22 comprises a first plate and a second plate 30, 31 which are axially spaced apart from each other along the axis X", the second plate 31 preferably being removably connected to the rotating body.

[0063] The plate 30 is provided with a first and a second pair of slotted through-openings 32, 33 and the plate 31 is also provided with a respective first and second pair of slotted through-openings 34, 35. The slotted openings are arranged on the plates 30, 31 in corresponding positions in such a configuration that the pins 25a, 25b of each jaw are slidingly received in the respective slotted openings 34 and 32 which are mutually coaxial and the pins 26a, 26b of each jaw are slidingly received in the respective slotted openings 35 and 33 which are mutually coaxial.

[0064] The positioning of the slotted openings on the plates 30, 31 is symmetrical and such that the jaws 10, 11 are mounted on the rotating body 22 in a specularly symmetrical manner with respect to a plane which contains the rotation axis X" of the rotating body. Each of the slotted openings 32-35 extends so as to be elongate in a longitudinal direction and is delimited by a pair of opposite planar surfaces 40a, 40b which are mutually connected, preferably by means of curved surfaces, to the opposite longitudinal ends of the slotted opening.

[0065] As a result of the formation of the slotted openings 32-35, the pins 25a, 25b and 26a, 26b of each jaw 10, 11 are slidingly engaged in the slotted openings, allowing the jaw to be moved with a translational movement which is combined with a pivoting movement in some phases of the urging movement of the jaw against the drum as a result of the effect of the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotating body, as will be clearly appreciated in the description below.

[0066] In order to ensure the centring of the jaw with respect to the rotating body in the rest position, the pins 25a, 25b and 26a, 26b of each jaw are configured to remain in abutment against the respective surfaces 40a of the slotted openings, that is to say, the external lateral surfaces, as clearly illustrated in Figure 7. However, a lateral connection play is provided between each pin and the respective surface 40b of the slotted opening.

[0067] The longitudinal extent of each slotted opening 32-35 is further selected with dimensions suitable for allowing the movement of the jaw towards and away from the operating urging position against the friction surface of the drum.

[0068] There is designated 45, for each jaw 10, 11, a spring for the resilient return of the jaw towards the rest position which is remote from the surface of the drum.

[0069] Advantageously, the spring 45 is configured as a traction spring with one axial end thereof fixed to the corresponding jaw 10, 11 and with the other opposite axial end fixed to the rotating body 22.

[0070] In each jaw 10, 11, the friction surfaces 10a, 11a are defined on a braking insert 50 which is provided to be fixed to the corresponding jaw, preferably in a removable manner. For example, there may be provided seats 51 on the jaw which are able to be engaged, with an interlocking form-fitting connection, by reliefs 52 which are provided on the corresponding insert 50.

[0071] The casing 17a advantageously has a shell-like formation which is suitable for being closed by a closure plate below (not shown in the Figures), the shell being configured to contain all the components of the braking device, that is to say, the transmission means, the braking jaws which are mounted on the rotating body and the braking drum.

[0072] The shell-like formation which is connected to the above-mentioned closure plate promotes the containment and insulation from the external environment of the components of the brake, independently of the shape of the winder.

[0073] As a result of this formation, the braking device may be in the form of a unit which is independent of the winder, that is to say, which can be handled individually, and is provided to be applied externally to the winder, ensuring the rotational connection between the rotation shaft of the coil of the winder and the transmission means of the braking device. One possible assembly configuration is shown in Figure 1, on the basis of which the shell-like casing 17a of the braking device is secured to one of the opposite lateral brackets of the winder which are designated 5a, 6a in the Figures. The operation of the braking device is as follows.

[0074] A non-operative condition (that is to say, rest position) of the braking device occurs when the winder is not rotating or is moved in the rotation direction which allows the tube to be unwound from the coil, in this last case the rotation of the winder is disconnected via the free wheel and therefore no rotational movement is transmitted to the braking jaws.

[0075] In this condition which is shown in Figure 7, the jaws 10, 11 are retained by the respective return springs 45 in the rest position, which is remote from the braking drum 12, with the pins 25a, 25b and 26a, 26b of each jaw which are arranged centrally in the corresponding slotted openings.

[0076] In the rewinding phase of the tube on the coil of the winder, under the action of the automatic resilient rewinding means, the rotational movement of the coil is transmitted, with multiplication by way of the gear type transmission means, to the rotating body 22 of the braking device.

[0077] As a result of the centrifugal force which is induced by the rotation of the rotating body, therefore, the jaws 10, 11 are urged in the direction towards the braking drum 12.

[0078] In a first movement phase towards the drum, the jaws are subjected to a translational movement, moving away from each other, in which the pins are moved in translation along the respective slotted openings, moving near the end of the corresponding slotted opening, in which position the contact of the jaw with the drum starts. The travel limit stop of this translational movement is provided by the jaw which moves into contact with the braking drum.

[0079] This condition is shown in Figure 8, wherein the arrow R. identifies the rotation direction (counter-clockwise when looking at the Figure) of the rotating body 22.

[0080] In a subsequent movement phase, which is shown in Figure 9, with the contact of the jaws 10, 11 on the drum 12, each jaw tends to reach a balanced position with respect to the drum which correlates to the rotation direction. In other words, after contact with the braking drum, which occurs as a result of the translational movement of the pins, the slotted openings allow the freedom for the jaws themselves to find their position of equilibrium without "sticking".

[0081] This configuration, which is allowed by the dimensions and form of the slotted openings and the occurrences of connection play between the pins and slotted openings, allows the jaw to reach a balanced position, avoiding or in any case reducing the effects of the "sticking" phenomena which can be generated between the surfaces in contact of the drum and the jaw during braking.

[0082] In Figure 9, L denotes the centre distance between the pin-like formations 25, 26 of the jaw 11 (identical to that of the jaw 10), this distance having a fixed and constant dimension. Still with reference to the jaw 11, following the movement of the pin-like formation 25 in the direction of the travel limit end, which urges the pin-like formation 25 substantially to rise in the slotted opening thereof, the other pin-like formation 26 moves substantially by descending in the corresponding slotted opening thereof. This movement is permitted by the connection play which is provided between the pinlike formation 26 and the slotted openings in which it is received, which occurrences of play allow a freedom of movement of the pin-like formation 26 and consequently of the jaw 11. This movement, which is substantially a rotational / translational movement, allows the jaw 11 to reach a balanced condition, bearing on the surface of the drum, avoiding the phenomena of sticking mentioned above.

[0083] Similar behaviour can be perceived in the jaw 10.

[0084] It will be observed that, as a result of the configuration with specular symmetry of the jaws 10, 11, the same behaviour of the braking device occurs both for one rotation direction and for the opposite rotation direction of the rotating body. This allows the application of the device to the winder to be made generally independent of the rotation direction which it has during the rewinding of the coil of the winder, this prerogative making the braking device more versatile and making the installation thereof on the winder easier.

[0085] The invention thereby achieves the objects proposed, achieving the advantages set out with respect to the known solutions.

[0086] The braking device according to the invention is advantageously suitable for rapid and intuitive assembly and can be used in any working environment, ensuring a rewinding at a limited speed and under safe conditions of the tube if there is an accidental release thereof.

[0087] Furthermore, the braking device is readily applicable, the assembly being independent of the rotation direction of the rewinding. In particular, in the version of the braking device provided with a free wheel, the jaws being symmetrical, it is simply necessary to mount the free wheel in the direction suitable for obtaining the braking in the desired direction.

[0088] Again, the braking device of the invention, as a result of the configuration thereof as a distinct and independent unit, is advantageously suitable for also being applied to winders which are already known and being used.

Claims

Claims1. A braking device for winders with automatic rewinding, particularly for wires, tubes and the like, comprising:- at least one first braking jaw (10, 11),- movement transmission means (13) for transmitting the rotational movement of a hank-carrying coil (4) of a winder to the at least one first braking jaw which is caused to rotate inside a respective braking drum (12),- the drum being mounted on a support element (23) for the movement transmission means,- the at least one first jaw (10, 11), as a result of the effect of centrifugal force generated during the rotation imposed by automatic rewinding means, being suitable for moving from a non-operative rest condition to an operative position in which a friction surface of the at least one first jaw is urged against a surface (12a) of the braking drum (12),- wherein the at least one first jaw (10, 11) is mounted on a rotating body (22) which is caused to rotate by the transmission means (13) about an individual rotation axis (X"), the at least one first jaw having a pair of pin-like formations (25, 26) which are axially developed parallel with the rotation axis and which are slidingly received in respective slotted openings (32, 33, 34, 35) which are provided in the rotating body (22).

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of the pin-like formations (25, 26) comprises a first pin (25a, 26a) and a second pin (25b, 26b) which are coaxial with each other and which project from respective opposite surfaces (27a, 27b) of the at least one first jaw.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a second jaw, the first jaw and second jaw (10, 11) being configured to operate inside the braking drum (12).

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the first jaw and second jaw (10, 11) are arranged in a specularly symmetrical manner with respect to a plane which contains the rotation axis (X") of the rotating body (22).

5. A device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the rotating body (22) comprises a first plate and a second plate (30, 31), which are axially spaced apart along the rotation axis (X") of the rotating body (22), each of the plates having two pairs of the slotted openings (32, 33, 34, 35) which are provided in corresponding positions and so that the pin-like formations (25, 26) of each of the first and second jaws (10, 11) are slidingly received in the respective slotted openings of the first and secondplates (30, 31).

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the slotted openings (32, 33, 34, 35) are in the form of through-openings through the first and second plates (30, 31).

7. A device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the second plate (31) is removably connected to the rotating body (22).

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a return spring (45) in order to urge the at least one first jaw (10, 11) into the non-operative rest position.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the return spring (45) is fixed with one end thereof to the at least one first jaw (10, 11) and is fixed with the other end to the rotating body (22).

10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the slotted openings (32, 33, 34, 35) extends in a longitudinal direction and is delimited by a pair of opposite planar surfaces (40a, 40b) which are mutually connected at the longitudinally opposite ends of the slotted opening.

11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one first jaw (10, 11) comprises a braking insert (50) which is intended for frictional contact against the braking surface (12a) of the drum (12), the braking insert (50) being removably connected to a portion of the at least one first braking jaw (10, 11).

12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a housing and protection shell (17a) for the transmission means (13), the at least one first jaw (10, 11) and the braking drum (12).

13. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission means (13) comprise a free wheel mechanism (19) in order to disconnect the rotational movement between the hank-carrying coil (4) and the at least one first braking jaw (10, 11) in the unwinding direction of the hank from the coil.

14. A winder with automatic rewinding for wires, tubes and the like, of the type comprising a hank-carrying coil (4) which is hinged with the individual rotation shaft for rotation with respect to a support body, the coil (4) being associated with automatic rewinding means of the resilient type, the winder comprising a braking device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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