Cable machine for superconducting tapes or wires

Abstract

A cable machine system for winding conductive tapes or wires around a cable core includes a rotatable pickup spool for receiving and winding a cable. The system also includes a rotatable shaft having a central passage along its axial length, through which the cable core extends during a winding operation. At least one rotatable conductor spool is rotatable about a spool axis and holds a conductive tape or wire. Each rotatable conductor spool is attached to the rotatable shaft and rotatable about the axis of the rotatable shaft with rotation of the rotatable shaft. A tape or wire extends from each conductor spool to the cable core and is wound around the cable core as the rotatable shaft is rotated about its axis. At least one of the conductor spools, the rotatable shaft, and the rotatable pickup spool is coupled to a drive device through a self-locking mechanism to inhibit rotation of the at least one of the conductor spools, the rotatable shaft, and the rotatable pickup spool when the drive device is not activated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cable machine system for winding conductive tapes or wires around a cable core, the system comprising:
 a rotatable pickup spool for receiving and winding a cable;   a rotatable shaft having a central passage along an axial length of the rotatable shaft, through which the cable core may extend during a winding operation, the rotatable shaft being supported for rotation about an axis extending in the axial length of the rotatable shaft;   at least one conductor spool for holding a conductive tape or wire and having an axis of rotation supported for rotation about the axis of rotation of the conductor spool, each conductor spool being attached to the rotatable shaft and rotatable about the axis of the rotatable shaft with rotation of the rotatable shaft;   wherein upon the at least one conductor spool holding a conductive tape or wire and upon a cable core moving through the central passage of the rotatable shaft, the tape or wire may be extended from the conductor spool to the cable core and be wound around the cable core as the rotatable shaft is rotated about its axis;   wherein at least one of the conductor spool, the rotatable shaft, and the rotatable pickup spool is coupled to a drive device through a self-locking mechanism to inhibit rotation of the at least one of the conductor spool, the rotatable shaft, and the rotatable pickup spool when the drive device is not activated.   
     
     
         2 . A cable machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductor spool for holding a conductive tape or wire comprises a plurality of conductor spools, each conductor spool being attached to the rotatable shaft and rotatable about the axis of the rotatable shaft with rotation of the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         3 . A cable machine system of  claim 2 , wherein each conductor spool is coupled to a respective drive device through a respective self-locking mechanism to inhibit rotation of the conductor spool and inhibit release of tension on the conductive tape or wire when the respective drive device is not activated. 
     
     
         4 . A cable machine system of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of adjustable holders, each adjustable holder for holding a respective one of the conductor spools at an angle that is adjustable, the angle of the respective one of the conductor spools defining an angle at which the conductive tape or wire meets the cable core, upon the respective one of the conductor spools holding a conductive tape or wire and upon the tape or wire extending from the conductor spool to the cable core. 
     
     
         5 . A cable machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive device is coupled to the pickup spool through the self-locking mechanism, the drive device configured to be activated for driving the pickup spool to move the cable core through the central passage of the rotatable shaft, as the rotatable shaft is rotated, the self-locking mechanism coupled to inhibit rotation of the pickup spool and inhibit a release of tension on the cable when the drive device is not activated. 
     
     
         6 . A cable machine system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a drive device for driving the rotatable shaft for rotation about the axis of the rotatable shaft;   at least one sensor or mechanical link for sensing a speed at which the cable core is moved through the central passage of the rotatable shaft; and   a controller operatively coupled to the at least one sensor or mechanical link and the drive device, for controlling a speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft, based at least in part on the speed sensed by the at least one sensor or mechanical link.   
     
     
         7 . A cable machine system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a drive device for driving the at least one conductor spool about the axis of rotation of the conductor spool;   at least one sensor or mechanical link for sensing a tension of the conductive tape or wire held by the at least one conductor spool; and   a controller operatively coupled to the at least one sensor or mechanical link and the drive device, for controlling a speed of rotation of the conductor spool, based at least in part on the tension sensed by the at least one sensor or mechanical link.   
     
     
         8 . A cable machine system of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable holder for holding the at least one conductor spool at an angle that is adjustable, the angle of the at least one conductor spool defining an angle at which the conductive tape or wire meets the cable core, upon the conductor spool holding a conductive tape or wire and upon the tape or wire extending from the conductor spool to the cable core. 
     
     
         9 . A cable machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductor spool comprises a conductor spool coupled to the drive device configured to be activated to drive the conductor spool about the axis of rotation of the conductor spool in a first direction of rotation corresponding to a direction to dispense conductive tape or wire from the conductor spool; and
 wherein the self-locking mechanism is coupled for inhibiting rotation of the conductor spool when the drive device is not activated.   
     
     
         10 . A cable machine system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rotatable takeoff spool for supplying the cable core;   a takeoff spool drive device for driving the takeoff spool for rotation about an axis of the takeoff spool;   wherein the rotatable takeoff spool is coupled to the takeoff spool drive device through a self-locking mechanism to inhibit rotation of the rotatable takeoff spool when the takeoff spool drive device is not activated, to inhibit release of tension on the cable core when the drive device is not activated.   
     
     
         11 . A cable machine system of  claim 10 , wherein the self-locking mechanism is coupled to inhibit rotation of the conductor spool in the first direction to inhibit release of tension on the conductive tape or wire when the drive device is not activated. 
     
     
         12 . A cable machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the self-locking mechanism is a self-locking gear. 
     
     
         13 . A cable machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the self-locking mechanism is a self-locking worm gear. 
     
     
         14 . A cable machine system of  claim 1 , wherein the self-locking mechanism inhibits rotation in any direction of the at least one of the conductor spool, the rotatable shaft, the rotatable takeoff spool and the rotatable pickup spool when the motor is not activated. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a cable machine system for winding conductive tapes or wires around a cable core, the method comprising:
 providing a rotatable pickup spool on which a cable may be wound;   supporting a rotatable shaft for rotation about an axis extending in the axial length of the rotatable shaft;   extending the cable through a central passage in a rotatable shaft, along the axial length of the rotatable shaft, and to the pickup spool;   holding at least one conductive tape or wire on at least one conductor spool having an axis of rotation, each conductor spool being attached to the rotatable shaft;   coupling at least one of the conductor spool, the rotatable shaft, and the rotatable pickup spool to a drive device through a self-locking mechanism to inhibit rotation of the at least one of the conductor spool, the rotatable shaft, and the rotatable pickup spool when the drive device is not activated;   rotating each conductor spool about the axis of the rotatable shaft with rotation of the rotatable shaft, while the cable extends through the central passage in the rotatable shaft;   moving the cable core through the central passage of the rotatable shaft while rotating the rotatable shaft about the axis of the axis of the rotatable shaft and while the tape or wire is extended from the conductor spool to the cable core, to wind the tape or wire around the cable core.   
     
     
         16 . A method of  claim 15 , wherein holding at least one conductive tape or wire comprises holding a plurality of conductive tapes or wires on a plurality of respective conductor spools, each conductor spool being attached to the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         17 . A method of  claim 15 , further comprising coupling each conductor spool to a respective drive device through a respective self-locking mechanism to inhibit rotation of the conductor spool and inhibit release of tension on the conductive tape or wire when the respective drive device is not activated. 
     
     
         18 . A method of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of adjustable holders, each adjustable holder for holding a respective one of the conductor spools at an angle that is adjustable, the angle of the respective one of the conductor spools defining an angle at which the conductive tape or wire meets the cable core, upon the respective one of the conductor spools holding a conductive tape or wire and upon the tape or wire extending from the conductor spool to the cable core. 
     
     
         19 . A method of  claim 16 , wherein coupling comprises: coupling the drive device to the pickup spool through the self-locking mechanism, the drive device configured to be activated for driving the pickup spool to move the cable core through the central passage of the rotatable shaft, as the rotatable shaft is rotated. 
     
     
         20 . A method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing a rotatable takeoff spool from which the cable is dispensed; and coupling a takeoff spool drive device to the takeoff spool through a self-locking mechanism, the takeoff spool drive device configured to be activated for driving the takeoff spool to dispense the cable core to the central passage of the rotatable shaft, the self-locking mechanism inhibiting rotation of the takeoff spool when the drive device is not activated to inhibit release of tension on the cable. 
     
     
         21 . A method of making a cable machine system for winding conductive tapes or wires around a cable core, the method comprising:
 supporting a takeoff spool for rotation, for holding and dispensing a cable;   supporting a pickup spool for rotation, for receiving and winding a cable;   supporting a rotatable shaft for rotation about an axis extending along an axial length of the rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft having a central passage along the axial length, through which the cable core may extend during a winding operation;   supporting at least one conductor spool for rotation about the axis of rotation of the conductor spool, the conductor spool for holding a conductive tape or wire, each conductor spool being attached to the rotatable shaft;   coupling at least one of the conductor spool, the rotatable shaft, the rotatable takeoff spool and the rotatable pickup spool to a drive device through a self-locking mechanism to inhibit rotation of the at least one of the conductor spool, the rotatable shaft, the rotatable takeoff spool and the rotatable pickup spool when the drive device is not activated;   wherein upon the at least one conductor spool holding a conductive tape or wire and upon a cable core moving through the central passage of the rotatable shaft, the tape or wire may be extended from the conductor spool to the cable core and be wound around the cable core as the rotatable shaft is rotated about its axis.