Transfer device for maintaining an electrical or optical connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12304772-B2
Application number	US-201917297444-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2019
Priority date	Dec 4, 2018
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

A transfer device for limiting a twisting of a link between an end of the fixed link with respect to a fixed part and an end of the fixed link with respect to a revolving part that can revolve with respect to the fixed part about an axis of rotation, the transfer device for a link includes a composite drum comprising a set of drums aligned on the axis of rotation about which the link can be wound, the set of drums comprising a fixed drum intended to be secured to the fixed part in rotation about the axis of rotation, a revolving drum intended to be able to revolve about the axis x with respect to the fixed part and a set of at least one loose drum interposed between the fixed drum and the revolving drum, each loose drum being free to rotate about the axis of rotation with respect to the revolving drum and the fixed drum and having a height on the axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transfer device for limiting the twisting of a set of at least one link between a first end of the link, configured to be secured to a fixed part of a rotary device, and a second end of the link, configured to be secured to a revolving part of the rotary device, the revolving part being able to revolve with respect to the fixed part about an axis of rotation (x), the transfer device comprising:
a composite drum comprising a set of drums aligned on the axis of rotation (x) about which the link can be wound, the set of drums comprising a fixed drum intended to be secured to the fixed part in rotation about the axis of rotation x, a revolving drum intended to be able to revolve about the axis x with respect to the fixed part and a set of at least one loose drum interposed between the fixed drum and the revolving drum, each loose drum being free to rotate about the axis of rotation (x) with respect to the revolving drum and a fixed drum and having a height on the axis (x),
transfer means comprising at least one transfer assembly, each transfer assembly being configured to transfer a link of the set of at least one link, when it is wound around the composite drum, between the fixed drum and the revolving drum, to the revolving drum when the revolving drum revolves in a first direction about the axis of rotation (x), and in reverse when the revolving drum revolves in the reverse direction,
wherein the transfer means are configured so as to allow all of a useful winding (U) to be transmitted from the set of at least one link produced continuously around the fixed drum and each loose drum, to the revolving drum so that the useful winding (U) is produced around the fixed drum and each loose drum continuously, when the revolving drum revolves in the first direction, and in reverse when the revolving drum revolves in the reverse direction.

2. The transfer device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each transfer assembly is configured to allow a link of the set of at least one link to be transferred from a first point (p 1 ) to a second point (p 2 ) that are separated, along the axis of rotation (x), by a predetermined first distance D, greater than the height h of each loose drum.

3. The transfer device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one transfer assembly comprises a set of at least one return pully intended to receive a transfer loop (B) of a link of the set of at least one link extending between the fixed drum and the revolving drum when the link is wound around the composite drum to tend to transfer the link between the fixed drum and the revolving drum.

4. The transfer device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the return pulley has a median radial plane substantially parallel to the axis x so as to transfer the link from a first point to a second point that are separated, along the axis of rotation x, by a predetermined first distance D, greater than the height h of each loose drum, the first distance D being substantially the diameter of the pulley.

5. The transfer device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the transfer assembly comprises:
a support supporting the set of at least one pulley,
a revolving guide secured to the support in rotation about the axis of rotation x, the support being mounted to slide with respect to the composite drum on an axis substantially parallel to the axis x, the support being free in translation along the revolving guide with respect to the composite drum,
the revolving guide being coupled to the revolving drum so as to revolve with respect to the revolving drum about the axis of rotation (x) at a defined angular speed so that, when the link is wound around the composite drum and the loop is received by the set of at least one pulley, the link is transferred, between the fixed drum and the revolving drum, to the revolving drum when the revolving drum revolves in a first direction about the axis of rotation (x), and in reverse when the revolving drum revolves in the reverse direction.

6. The transfer device as claimed in claim 5 , comprising coupling means coupling the revolving guide to the revolving drum in rotation about the axis x, the coupling means comprising a link tension device making it possible to ensure that the link is kept taut.

7. The transfer device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one set of at least one return pulley comprises several return pulleys.

8. The transfer device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transfer means comprise several transfer assemblies.

9. The transfer device as claimed in claim 1 , comprising the set of at least one link, each link of the set of at least one link being wound around the composite drum.

10. The transfer device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the set of at least one link forms a winding around the composite drum, the winding having a height greater than a height of the fixed drum and greater than a height of the revolving drum so that at least one loose drum receives a part of the winding of the link.

11. A rotary device comprising the transfer device as claimed in claim 1 , the rotary device comprising the fixed part and the revolving part, the fixed part being secured to the fixed drum in rotation about the axis (x) and the revolving part being secured to the revolving drum in rotation about the axis (x).

Assignees

• Thales Sa

Inventors

• Lagadec Jean
• Cadalen François
• Doukhan Marc
• Bendelac Steve

Classifications

• B65H54/2836

  with a rotating guide for traversing the yarn · CPC title

• B66D1/39

  by means of axially-movable drums or barrels {(pivotably mounted drums or barrel B66D1/365)} · CPC title

• B66D1/38

  by means of guides movable relative to drum or barrel · CPC title

• B21F3/00

  Coiling wire into particular forms · CPC title

• B66D1/7415

  Friction drives, e.g. pulleys, having a cable winding angle of less than 360 degrees · CPC title