Guiding device for multi-diameter cables

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of delivery devices used for facilitating regular winding of a cable onto a cable drum, includes a guiding device for cables, having a lower wall and two side walls defining a cable-guiding channel, a cable inlet area and an outlet area. The side walls each have a circular part, of radius of curvature R, the convexity of which is directed towards the channel. The radius of curvature and the arrangement of these circular parts are defined such that, whatever the diameter of the guided cable and whatever the orientation of the axis of the cable at the inlet of the device, the cable, when it is under tension, is always in contact with one of the walls of the device. Mounted on a delivery system, the device according to the invention makes it possible to precisely wind the guided cable onto the cable drum with which the delivery system is associated.

1 . A guiding device for multi-diameter cables, making it possible to guide a cable the diameter of which is between a value d min  and a value d max , the device having a lower wall and two side walls defining a cable-guiding channel, a cable inlet area and an outlet area, said side walls each having a circular part, of radius of curvature R, the convexity of which is directed towards the channel, these circular parts being arranged along the respective side walls such that there are two parallel straight lines T 1  and T′ 1  respectively at a tangent to one and the other of these circular parts and spaced apart by a distance d 1  greater than or equal to d max , and also two parallel straight lines T 2  and T′ 2  respectively at a tangent to one and the other of the circular parts and spaced apart by a distance d 2  less than or equal to d min . 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the radius R is defined as a function of the minimum radius of curvature that the cable assembly to be guided can support without being damaged. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the side walls are designed and arranged with respect to one another so as to define a channel at the flared ends, the cable inlet and outlet openings being defined so as to take into account a given maximum value for the angle made between the direction in which a cable enters the device and the direction in which it emerges from the device, and to ensure a minimum radius of curvature that the cable assembly to be guided can support without being damaged. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower wall which forms the base of the guiding channel has a curved profile in vertical cross section, the convexity being directed towards the inside of the channel, the curvature of the profile being determined as a function of the minimum radius of curvature that the cable assembly to be guided can support without being damaged. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein it also comprises means for fixing it to a delivery system. 
     
     
         6 . A multi-diameter cable delivery system for winding a cable having a diameter between a value d min  and a value d max  onto a cable drum, said multi-diameter cable delivery system comprising a device according to  claim 1 , the device being mounted on the delivery head so as to move laterally along an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the cable drum. 
     
     
         7 . A multi-diameter cable delivery system for winding a cable having a diameter between a value d min  and a value d max  onto a cable drum, said multi-diameter cable delivery system comprising a device according to  claim 2 , the device being mounted on the delivery head so as to move laterally along an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the cable drum. 
     
     
         8 . A multi-diameter cable delivery system for winding a cable having a diameter between a value d min  and a value d max  onto a cable drum, said multi-diameter cable delivery system comprising a device according to  claim 3 , the device being mounted on the delivery head so as to move laterally along an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the cable drum. 
     
     
         9 . A multi-diameter cable delivery system for winding a cable having a diameter between a value d min  and a value d max  onto a cable drum, said multi-diameter cable delivery system comprising a device according to  claim 4 , the device being mounted on the delivery head so as to move laterally along an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the cable drum. 
     
     
         10 . A multi-diameter cable delivery system for winding a cable having a diameter between a value d min  and a value d max  onto a cable drum, said multi-diameter cable delivery system comprising a device according to  claim 5 , the device being mounted on the delivery head so as to move laterally along an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the cable drum.