Device for winding and unwinding a cable around a drum

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016167754-A1
Application number	US-201314436808-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 23, 2013
Priority date	Oct 18, 2012
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device for winding and unwinding a cable including a winch comprises a chassis, an electric motor for driving a drum in rotation in relation to the chassis, locking/unlocking means comprising a first induction coil and configured such as to immobilize the drum in relation to the chassis when the first coil is not being powered electrically, the device including a second induction coil that is powered electrically, dimensioned and arranged such that the magnetic field generated by the assembly formed by the first and second coils, when the first coil is powered electrically, is less than the magnetic field generated by the first coil at a point located at a distance from the winch that is greater than a predetermined threshold, the electrical energizing and de-energizing of the second coil being synchronized with the electrical energizing and respectively de-energizing of the first coil.

First claim

1 . A device for winding and unwinding a cable comprising a winch comprising a chassis, drive means and a drum, wherein the drive means include an electric motor used to drive a drum in rotation in relation to the chassis, means for locking/unlocking rotation of the drum in relation to the chassis to prevent and permit rotation of the drum in relation to the chassis, the locking/unlocking means including a first induction coil referred to as the locking/unlocking coil, the locking/unlocking means being designed to immobilize the drum in relation to the chassis when the locking/unlocking coil is not powered electrically, the device also including a second induction coil, referred to as the feedback coil, said feedback coil being powered electrically, and dimensioned and designed such that the magnetic field produced by the assembly formed by the locking and feedback coils, when the locking/unlocking coil is powered electrically, is less than the magnetic field generated by the locking/unlocking coil at a point located at a predetermined distance from the winch, the electrical energizing and de-energizing of the feedback coil being synchronized with the electrical energizing and respectively de-energizing of the locking/unlocking coil.

2 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , in which the feedback coil and the locking/unlocking coil are powered by the same generator.

3 . The device as claimed in claim 2 , in which the feedback coil is mounted in series with the locking/unlocking coil.

4 . The device as claimed in claim 2 , in which the product N1*S1 is substantially equal to the product N2*S2, in which N1 is the number of turns in the locking/unlocking coil, N2 is the number of turns in the feedback coil, S1 is the surface area of the turns of the locking/unlocking coil and S2 is the surface area of the turns of the feedback coil.

5 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , in which the feedback coil is powered electrically by a second generator, the device including means for synchronizing the electrical energizing and de-energizing of the feedback coil with the electrical energizing and respectively de-energizing of the locking/unlocking coil.

6 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , in which the feedback coil is arranged such that the first current flowing through the locking/unlocking coil and the second current flowing through the feedback coil flow counterclockwise.

7 . The device as claimed in claim 6 , in which the locking/unlocking and feedback coils are coaxial.

8 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , in which the feedback coil is dimensioned and arranged such as not to disturb operation of the locking/unlocking means.

9 . The device as claimed in claim 8 , in which the feedback and braking coils are spaced along the axis of the locking/unlocking coil.

10 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , in which the section of the conducting wire forming the winding of the feedback coil, the length of same and the material from which same is made are chosen such that the resistance of the feedback coil is at least 10 times less than the resistance of the locking/unlocking coil.

11 . The device as claimed in claim 1 , including means for at least partially compensating, at a point located away from the vicinity of the winch, for the magnetic field generated by the permanent residual magnetization of the winch resulting from the electrical powering of the locking/unlocking and feedback coils used to release the drum without exerting any braking torque on same.

12 . The device as claimed in 11 , in which the means for at least partially compensating for the magnetic field generated by the permanent residual magnetization of the winch include a permanent magnetization assembly including at least one permanent magnet.

13 . The device as claimed in 12 , including at least one permanent magnet having a north-south axis parallel to the axis of the locking/unlocking coil.

14 . The device as claimed in claim 11 , including a third coil assembled to be powered permanently by a supplementary generator able to generate a direct current, the third coil being dimensioned and arranged such as to compensate at least partially, at a point located away from the vicinity of the winch, for the magnetic field generated by the permanent residual magnetization of the winch caused by the electrical powering of the locking and feedback coils used to release the drum without exerting any braking torque on same.

15 . Mine warfare equipment including a mine warfare ship carrying a device as claimed in claim 1 , said device also including said towing cable and a mine warfare device such as a sonar or a device for simulating the magnetic and/or acoustic signature.

Assignees

• Thales Sa

Inventors

• Penven Paul
• Lossec Jean-Jacques
• Hervouet David

Classifications

• B63G9/06

  for degaussing vessels (demagnetising in general H01F13/00) · CPC title

• B63B21/66

  Equipment specially adapted for towing underwater objects or vessels, e.g. fairings for tow-cables ({paravanes for dragging fishing nets A01K73/02; } salvaging underwater vessels or objects B63C7/00; towed underwater vessels B63G8/42) · CPC title

• B63G7/06 Primary

  of electromagnetic type · CPC title

• B66D1/485

  electrical · CPC title

• B66D1/12

  incorporating electric motors · CPC title