Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Coil holder or support – Spool or core
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-04
2001-10-23
Mansen, Michael R. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Coil holder or support
Spool or core
C242S118600, C242S608800, C242S614100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305639
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a reel for supporting optical fibres. A further aspect of the present invention also relates to a method for controlling the deformations experienced by the said reel as at least one optical fibre is wound onto it.
During production of optical fibres, the fibre being made is neatly collected by winding it onto a suitable support reel at the end of the production cycle or of a given intermediate stage thereof.
These reels essentially comprise a cylindrical winding drum having two radial containing flanges which extend circumferentially from around its opposite end edges and whose function is laterally to contain the fibre coil wound onto the drum.
Housed coaxially inside the winding drum is a central core which is also tubular and is used to engage the reel on a shaft or other support means installed in the fibre winding station. The central core is connected to the drum by a pair of interconnecting flanges which each essentially extend along a plane between an end edge of the central core and the corresponding end edge of the winding drum.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,203 discloses a reel for optical fibres or cables that comprises a cylindrical drum which has two discs at its opposite axial ends for containing the fibres wound onto the drum. This drum has a central core positioned inside it and a plurality of spokes that extend radially out from the said core to the drum. At least one of these spokes has a notch for gripping the end of the cable or fibre inside it. The drum has an aperture to allow the end of the fibre to begin to be wound onto it.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,145 discloses a spool for winding a conductor comprising a tubular core and two identical plates, each of which is joined to one of the lateral ends of the said core. The peripheral part of both plates forms a flange for containing the wound conductor, the internal side of which is smooth and the external side of which has a peripheral ring and an intermediate ring between which there are a plurality of radially extending spokes. These rings and spokes give the reel rigidity and strength.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,438 discloses a reel for winding an optical fibre comprising a circular hub and a first and second frustoconical flange attached to the opposite ends of the circular hub, with the smaller diameter nearest the hub. Each of the flanges has a notch in which to insert an optical fibre. On the outside of one of the two flanges there is a fastening means which receives the beginning of the fibre to be wound and comprises a recess defined by the flange and by an external cylindrical surface. The recess communicates easily with the notch so that the end of the optical fibre can be inserted into the hub on which it will be fully wound. The utility model DE4946879 discloses a reel made in a plastic material for winding on it metallic wires. The reel comprises a winding drum, a pair of containing flanges each of which is positioned close to one of the end edges of the said drum, and interconnecting flanges composed by a hub element, a conical element and a wall element. A filling material is inserted into containing flanges to provide a protection for the same flanges.
The applicant has observed that the flanges or spokes that connect the drum to the core or hub of a reel constitute the most critical point of the reel structure, allowing the latter to withstand centrifugal forces and thereby limiting deformation of the said drum, and of the reel in general, as it rotates; the best deformation resistance allows problem-free winding of the fibres onto the drum at higher speeds.
It has been found, therefore, in accordance with the present invention, that it is possible to limit—or at all events control—the deformations experienced by the containing flanges and the drum of the reel as a result of centrifugal forces if the said interconnecting flanges are positioned at an angle between the drum and the core of the reel, so as to form a frustoconical element.
Moreover, if the point at which the interconnecting flanges are attached to the drum is set axially outside the point at which the corresponding containing flange joins the drum, the advantages are even more apparent, especially when the reel is rotated at high speed.
In short, the reel is endowed with greater structural strength to withstand the stresses generated by centrifugal forces, and it simultaneously becomes possible to reduce the amount of material used to make the reel and, therefore, its cost.
More specifically, one aspect of the present invention relates to a reel for supporting optical fibres comprising a winding drum having a tubular cylindrical shape, a pair of containing flanges, each of which is positioned close to one of the end edges of the drum, a central core positioned coaxially inside the winding drum, and at least one pair of interconnecting flanges positioned either side of a transverse median plane of the reel, each of which extends from the central core to the winding drum, characterized in that the interconnecting flanges are at least partially frustoconical in shape and are joined directly to the winding drum with their frustoconical part at an attachment point and to the central core at an anchor point, the anchor point being positioned closer to the transverse median plane of the reel than is the attachment point so as to form a given angle, between the interconnecting flange and the core, of amplitude such as to limit deformation of the containing flanges during rotation.
Advantageously, each of the containing flanges is secured to the winding drum at a junction point positioned closer to the transverse median plane of the reel than is the attachment point.
In particular, the points at which the interconnecting flanges are attached to the winding drum are located between 3 and 10 mm away from the junction points of the corresponding containing flanges.
This given angle is preferably between 35° and 55°.
More specifically, the interconnecting flanges are frustoconical in shape and are positioned as mirror images of each other.
In a preferred embodiment, the interconnecting flanges are joined to the central core at essentially a common point.
In accordance with possible variants of the invention, the interconnecting flanges are joined to the central core at anchor points set a certain distance apart, or are joined to the central core by means of a disc-shaped connecting portion which extends radially out from the central core along the transverse median plane of the reel.
According to a further preferred feature of the invention, each containing flange has a containing wall positioned along a diametric plane of the reel and a plurality of radial reinforcing ribs distributed around the circumference of the containing wall, on the external side of the reel.
The longitudinal length of the above-mentioned ribs is preferably essentially equal to the distance between each of the junction points and the corresponding attachment point.
In a preferred embodiment, the reel in question also comprises a pair of disc-shaped closure elements, each of which is fixed to one end of the central core and carries means for gripping one end of an optical fibre wound on the reel.
Each of the disc-shaped elements is advantageously attached to one of the interconnecting flanges by means of a frustoconical outer edge which bears against the said interconnecting flange.
Further in accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for controlling the deformation of a reel for supporting optical fibres comprising a cylindrical winding drum, radial containing flanges on each end of the said drum, and a central core positioned coaxially inside the winding drum, the method being characterized in that it limits the degree to which the junction zone between the containing flanges and the drum rotates towards the median plane of the drum by securing an attachment point of said interconnecting flanges on the winding drum to an anchor point of said interconnecting flanges on the central core forming a structural bond which opposes this rota
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Mansen Michael R.
Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.p,A.
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