This invention relates to a rotation compensation device for a flexible link, such as a cable or the like, which can be wound on and off a rotary drum capable of making a predetermined number of revolutions in either direction about a fixed spindle, said device comprising a given length of cable wound in at least one spiral about said fixed spindle, where one end of said spiral is secured to said spindle and connected to a fixed cable and the other end is secured to said drum and connected to a cable which may be wound on said drum.

One, but not the only, particularly important use for such a device is for signal transmission cables, especially such cables incorporating or consisting of optical fibres. Where an electric, optical, etc., cable or the like, for example a pipe conveying a fluid, can be wound on and off a rotary drum so that the useful length of the cable may be varied at will, the crucial problem arises of providing a reliable and effective link between said windable cable on the drum and a cable of the same type but fixed and located upstream of the drum.

Where the cable provides a single link, this link may be made by known means generally arranged at the axis of rotation of the drum: a rotary, joint for a pipe, a rotary contact for an electrical conductor, or a rotary optical connector for a single-channel optical link (fibre-optic).

Where the cable provides a small number of multiple links, e.g. two or three, the same technological systems as cited above may still be used by increasing the number of connecting devices. Where, however, the cable provides large numbers of multiple links, it is impossible to increase the number of connectors as problems of bulk, cost and reliability arise which, in most current uses, are difficult to overcome.

In certain fields, moreover, it may be undesirable to use connectors and it then becomes desirable for the fixed cable

extending upstream of the drum and the cable wound on the drum to be merely two parts of the same integral cable. Such a condition obtains especially in the field of fibre-optic information transmission since the optical connectors inevitably result in losses which may not always be acceptable.

In an attempt to solve these problems it has already been proposed to associate with the drum, between the cable wound upon it and the fixed cable extending upstream, a rotation compensating device comprising a cable of given length wound in at least one spiral around the fixed spindle supporting the drum; one end of this spiral, e.g. its Inner one is integral with the fixed spindle and connected to the fixed upstream cable while its other end, e.g. the outer one, is integral with the drum, moves with 1t and is connected to the cable wound on the drum.

The length of cable spirally wound inside the rotation compensator thus behaves like a watch spring, with the spiral loosening or tightening as the drum rotates, depending on its direction of rotation. Although this prior art device makes it possible to solve the aforementioned problems it 1s indeed possible for all the cable (that located upstream, that wound In a spiral and that wound on the drum to be of one piece, thus rendering connectors unnecessary - it nevertheless has a further considerable drawback in the relatively small number, of revolutions through which the drum may rotate.

The essential aim of the invention is therefor to propose an improved device, making use of the cited prior art spiral cable winding, which, when inserted between the fixed cable upstream of the drum and the cable which may be wound upon said drum, permits a larger number of drum revolutions than would an Individual spiral, facilitates the adjustment of the number of revolutions in a simple manner depending on the individual intended uses, may be used with any kind of cable or the like, including fibre-optic cables which are fragile and cannot

withstand considerable tractive forces and also flat fibre-optic cables incapable of withstanding considerable torsional forces and, finally, in a special embodiment, permits any number, including infinity, of drum revolutions in whichever . direction of rotation.

To this end the invention proposes a rotation compensating device for a cable or the like, especially a signal transmission cable, which may be wound or a rotary drum capable of making; a predetermined number of revolutions 1n either direction about a fixed spindle, said device comprising a given length of cable wound 1n at least one spiral around said fixed spindle, one end of which is integral with said spindle and connected to a fixed cable and whose other end 1s connected to the cable wlndable on said drum, in which, essentially: the length of cable is wound in several successive spirals each surrounding the fixed shaft and arranged side-by-s1de, the winding direction of all said spirals being the same and the windings' being made alternately from the centre to the periphery for the spiral and from the periphery to the centre for its neighbour; the free end of the first spiral is fixed 1n relation to the fixed spindle and the free end of the last spiral is integral with the rotary drum; the other ends of the first and last spirals respectively and the ends of the intermediate spirals are integral with floating supports linking the corresponding ends of the neighbouring spirals in the vicinity of the fixed shaft for the inner ends of the spirals and at the outer periphery for their outer ends; and temporary connecting means are provided to couple a given spiral in rotation with the immediately preceding one (taking the order from the spiral secured to the rotary drum) when, during the rotation of the drum, said spiral has made a preset number of turns.

This arrangement ensures that the predetermined number of revolutions which the drum may make consists of the cumulative total of the individually preset numbers of revolutions permitted by all the spirals. In particular, if, as should be the rule with the aim of simplifying the structure and reducing the cost of the device, all the N spirals are identically constituted with the same number, of cable winding turns, the predetermined number of revolutions of the drum will be N times the preset number permitted by a single spiral. In addition, the judicious choice of the number M of spirals facilitates the adjustment of the predetermined number of drum revolutions to individual requirements. A single modular mechanical structure like the one to be described later makes such adjustment The corresponding ends of two neighbouring spirals located near the fixed spindle for the inner ends or at the outer periphery for the outer ones are very advantageously interlinked by cable sections wound in a substantially helical loop. Thus nowhere does the cable have any kinks or curves with too small a radius of curvature and such an arrangement is perfectly suitable for cables consisting of or Incorporating optical fibres, which are very fragile 1n this respect and break easily. Moreover, this arrangement is also suitable for flat cables in which torsional forces should be avoided and which are required to lie flat over their entire length, especially where such cables are flat fibre-optic ones consisting of a plurality of optical fibres (e.g. eight or ten) arranged side-by-side parallel to one another and covered with a single protective sheath. Whatever the type of transmission cable used, it is essentially inadvisable to subject it to repeated tractive forces for which most types are unsuitable. This applies particularly to fibre-optic cables. Provision is therefore made 1n the device of the invention for a spiral not to be fully unwound but to be stopped before that point to prevent any

damage to the cable's active components. To this end, temporary connecting means are associated with forward and reverse counters suitable for recording the number of turns made in either direction by a given spiral within the limits of its preset number of turns.

In view of the above, the device of the invention Is designed for the use of a unit cable, meaning that the fixed cable upstream of the drum and connected to the end of the first spiral integral with the fixed spindle, the length of cable wound in several spirals around the device and the cable which may be wound on the rotary drum form different parts of one and the same cable. This does away with the connector inserted between the fixed cable and that wound about the drum in the prior art arrangements and the drawbacks inherent in the existence of this connector (essentially losses in the optical connectors).

In a preferred embodiment, each spiral is enclosed 1n a generally disc-shaped cassette with an inner annular chamber marked out by two annular side walls and two - Inner and outer - peripheral walls, where the two side walls are a distance apart roughly corresponding to the transverse dimension of the cable and the two peripheral walls are fitted with an aperture or the like arranged to allow the cable running through it to pass freely or be stopped. To obtain a modular structure facilitating the matching of the number of spirals to the maximum unwinding length for the cable wound on the drum it 1s desirable for all the cassettes to be made up in the same way by the stacking of components which may then be mass-produced so as to reduce manufacturing costs. It is therefore important for the two side walls to mark out a chamber belonging to two separate parts mutually independent in rotation. Here it is possible for each part to have two main parallel annular surfaces constituting the side walls of two consecutive chambers. Thus, 1n a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned stack may be made up of components which are

alternately wheels rotating freely on the fixed spindle whose side surfaces are grooved to define a side and the outer peripheral walls of two chambers respectively and annular spacers fitted between two consecutive wheels and freely rotating on the fixed spindle and in relation to the two wheels on either side of it, with the spacer side surfaces forming the side walls of two consecutive chambers belonging to two different wheels.

An important feature 1s that the wheels have widened hubs butting longitudinally and each spacer surrounds the widened hubs of two consecutive wheels. Likewise, each spacer may be fitted with a hub which is thicker than its disc-shaped section and defines the inner peripheral wall of each chamber. This gives a spigot-and-socket jointed structure _. which is particularly compact and helps reduce the size of the device.

In the spigot-and-socket jointed structure thus defined it is possible to insert sleeves between the co-operating hubs of the spacers and wheels and for the hub of each spacer and each associated sleeve to be mutually designed to define between them an annular cavity into which open the two cable apertures in the inner peripheral walls of two chambers on either side of the same spacer, with the cable extending between both said apertures Into said annular cavity in a helical loop or a length thereof. Thus radii of curvature are defined at all points on the cable which are adequate to prevent damage to the cable and/or permit its proper operation.

Advantageously, the outer surface of each wheel has a helical groove, extending between the two apertures or the like passing through the outer peripheral walls of the two consecutive chambers defined by said wheel. Each wheel is then preferably surrounded by a protective ring covering the groove and integral with the wheel.

In a simple embodiment, the means for indexing the number of turns of a wheel in relation to the next higher one comprises an indexing component and a control component therefor respectively

supported by the spacer and the wheel adjacent thereto. It is also possible to consider a progressive drive for all the wheels on the rotation of the drum; to this end, the incremental and decremental counting means also comprise reduction gearing arranged so that a spacer is driven by the next lower wheel at a lower speed than that of the latter. In one embodiment, the reduction gears are arranged in the following manner: the protective wheel rings are externally toothed, and each spacer supports two toothed wheels in mutual engagement and either side of the spacer to form a differential coupling in which the spacer rotates at a lower speed in a predetermined ratio than the wheel driving it.

Finally, the compensator of the invention is .of special importance in that it makes it possible to consider the compensation not only of a predetermined number of drum turns but also of any indeterminate number, however great, in either direction. Such a device may be useful, for example, when the cable which may be wound on and off the drum is very long and when a device arranged as described above incorporates a large number, of spirals, entailing prohibitive bulk and costs.

To this end, the invention proposes a rotation compensating device for a cable or the like, especially a signal transmission cable which may be wound on and off a rotary, drum capable of making an indefinite number of turn in either direction about a fixed spindle, in which there are: two primary rotation compensating devices, each made up as described above and designed to compensate for a predetermined number of turns of the drum, said two devices being fitted on the fixed drum spindle; first joining means to connect the fixed cable upstream of the drum to the free ends of the first two fixed spirals respectively belonging to the two primary devices; second joining means to connect the cable wound on the drum to the free ends of the last two spirals driven by the drum and belonging respectively to the two primary devices;

two removable joining components to connect the two cables from the first joining means to the two corresponding spirals; two motor devices capable of rotating the two primary devices; and means of control arranged so that, when the drum is being turned at a rotation speed in excess of the compensating capacity of one of the primary devices, they:

* disconnect the connecting component of this primary device at the same time as that of the outer primary device is connected to ensure the continuity of the circuit;

* while the other primary device is compensating the drum rotation, actuate the motor device of the primary device which has reached the end of its travel to bring it back to its maximum compensation capacity, taking account of the direction of rotation of the drum;

* reverse the operations when the other primary device reaches its extreme compensation capacity in its turn; * and continue, alternately actuating one and then the other primary device whilst the inoperative one is taken back to its initial position.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of certain preferred embodiments, given solely by way of non-restrictive example. The description is given with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an overall diametric cross-section of a rotation compensating device of the invention; Figure 2 is a larger-scale view of a part of Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 are diagrammatic perspective views on an even larger scale showing details of the constitution of the device of Figures 1 and 2; Figures 5 and 6 are still larger-scale diagrammatic perspective views of other details of the constitution of the device of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing part of the device of figure 1 with those of the structural details shown on Figures 5 and 6 in position; and Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of the invention. Referring to Figure 1, a flexible link 1 of variable effective length is associated with a rotary drum 2 so as to be capable of being wound on or off 1t. The drum is fitted to rotate about a fixed spindle 3 integral with a supporting structure 4. Drum 2 may be rotated either by associated motor devices or simply by a tractive force exerted on the free end of flexible link 1 if the latter's mechanical strength so permits. In the device shown in its entirety on Figure 1, drum 2 may be heavy (around 300 Kg), requiring a mechanically stout fitting. Therefore drum 2 is not supported by spindle 3 about which 1t rotates but via an annular ball or roller bearing X by fixed structure 4 (only part of annular bearing X is visible on Figure 1). A fixed flexible link 5, running, for instance, inside spindle 3 which is hollow or tubular, may be connected to cable 1 and is preferably integral therewith. The rotation compensating device of the Invention, referred to overall as 6, is inserted between drum 2 and spindle 3 to perform this function.

In the following description it will be assumed that the flexible link is a cable and, more especially, a fibre optic cable, particularly a flat one for, in view of the mechanical and optical features of the fibres, it seems that the device of the invention is especially suitable and advantageous therefor. Nevertheless, it will be understood that the arrangements: of the invention are not designed solely for this specific type of cable and that the device of the invention may perfectly well be used for electric and combined electric and optical cables and

even for pipes or conduits for fluids in pneumatic and hydraulic lines.

As will be seen from Figure 1, rotation compensating device 6 essentially consists of a stack of alternately adjacent wheels 7 and spacers 8 coaxial with spindle 3 which supports them.

As will be seen better from Figures 2 and 3, each wheel 7 comprises a wide hub 9 (not shown Figure 3). a wide rim 10 and an intermediate narrower web 11 defining two annular cavities on either surface of the wheel. Together with the surface of the adjacent spacer, these cavities constitute annular chambers 12 with parallel walls (formed by the bottom wall of the cavity and the surface of the spacer), in each of which is housed a length of the cable 13 wound spirally as will be shown later.

Web 11 of each wheel has a thinner annular part 14 near hub 9 which acts as an axial stop and defines radial locating shoulders for sleeves 15. These sleeves surround the widened parts of hubs 9 and are of such a length as to maintain a suitable distance between two successive wheels so that a spacer disc 8 maybe fitted between them without resulting in any significant friction.

It will be noted that bearings 16, e.g. needle-roller bearings, are inserted between hubs 9 and spindle 3 which they surround, while other bearings 17, e.g. ball bearings, are inserted between hubs 9 of the wheels and sleeves 15. As shown on Figures 1 and 2, each spacer 8 has the general shape of a parallel-sided disc 18 fitted with a widened hub 19 surrounded by and supported on sleeve 15, with the length of hub 19 being substantially the same as that of the sleeve.

Moreover, the annular co-operating surfaces of sleeve 15 and hub 19 are arranged to define between them an annular housing 20 extending axially to a point vertically below the two chambers 12 located on either side of said spacer. In order to create such a housing 20, the outer surface of sleeve 15 has, for example, an annular groove and hub 19 of the spacer bears of the edges laterally defining said groove (see Figure 2).

Finally, as will be seen better on Figure 2 and especially on Figure 3, the wall of hub 19 of each spacer 8 has two through apertures 21 (e.g. two slots) opposite the two chambers 12 and causing them to communicate with annular housing 20. these two apertures 21 may be substantially mutually aligned.

It will be noted here that the width of chambers 12 - in other words, the distance between the plane opposite surfaces belonging to the base of each cavity in wheels 78 and to spacers 8 - is slightly larger than the transverse dimension of cable 13 so that the cable 1s kept spirally wound within the chambers.

As will be seen on Figure 3, the outer peripheral surface of rims 10 of wheels 7 has a helical groove' 22 around approximately one turn of a helix. At the ends of this groove are two apertures 23 passing through the thickness of rim 10 and bringing groove 22 Into communication with the two chambers 12 defined on either side of web 11 of said wheel.

Finally, wheels 7 and spacers 8 are mutually coupled to form a crown 24 secured to it by a cotter 25. The inner surface of this crown fits closely on the outer surface of rim 10 and thus closes helical groove 22. In addition, the outer surface of crown 24 1s toothed (at 26); the teeth are preferably distributed over two toothed rings 26 separated by an annular protection 27. Likewise, near its outer periphery, each spacer 8 is fitted with a pair of pinions 28 supported by the spacers is shown in Figure 6, these pinions 28 are housed in an aperture in spacer 8 and are mutually staggered so that, while mutually engaging, they also engage with toothed ring 26 located respectively on the two wheels 7 arranged on either side of the spacer. Figure 7 is a diagram of such a differential device consisting of a stack of three wheels 7 and two spacers 8, coupled together by two pairs of pinions 28.

Such an arrangement sets a rotation ratio between the wheels and the spacers such that, when one wheel rotates a given number

of times (e.g. 24) in relation to the neighbouring wheel, the spacer separating them is caused to make a fixed number of revolutions (e.g.12) in the same direction.

Returning now to Figure 1, it will be noted that the first 5 wheel 7A of the device (the the on the left on Figure 1) is secured to and, for example, rendered Integral with spindle 5 by a cotter system 34. At the other end, the last wheel 7B (the one on the right on Figure 1) is integral in rotation with drum 2. In the embodiment illustrated on Figure 1, this wheel 7B is

10 secured by one or more connecting bolts 35 to a disc shaped flange Y rendered integral in rotation with drum 2 in a way and for a purpose to be described later.

In order to set the rotation of each wheel in relation to the adjacent spacer at the intended maximum- number of

15 revolutions there are temporary coupling means facilitating a transfer of the rotary movement in cascade as the successive spirals have been completely wound or unwound, depending on the direction of rotation. To this end, each spacer 8 is fitted with a stout index wheel 2g and a counter and end-stop mechanism

2030 actuated by a radially projecting pin 31 (which may, in fact, be an extension of said cotter 25) fitted on annular projection 27 of the adjacent wheel 7 (see Figure 7). Each time said pin 31 passes in front of index wheel 29, pin 31 acts together with an index 32 thereon and causes it to advance by one step. After

25 a predetermined number of passes and hence rotation steps of index wheel 29 (e.g. 12 in the foregoing embodiment) in the same direction, mechanism 30 is locked, rendering the wheel-spacer pair integral with the following pair. This stop mechanism must therefore be of sufficiently robust construction to be able to

30 transmit the driving forces; once the device is almost fully wound, the stop mechanism of the first wheel-spacer pair drives all to other pairs and thus transmits all the rotary driving force, overcoming all the accumulated frictional forces.

For safety's sake disc-shaped flange Y Is secured to drum 2

35 via a coupling device including a force detector 33; the driving

force making it possible to overcome the friction in the rotating device is measured by said force detector 33 which is associated with a switch inserted in the electric power supply line to the motor mechanism causing the cable to unwind and/or with an alarm. If the driving force exceeds a predetermined level, the drum drive 1s halted and/or the alarm 1s triggered.

In the structure which has just been described the cable is arranged in the manner below.

Fixed part 5 of the cable is taken into compensation device 6 via the Inside of fixed spindle 3 which is hollow (tubular) and, via apertures 36 and 37 made respectively in spindle 3 and a flange 38 of a casing 39 protecting compensation device 6, enters annular chamber 12 opposite the first wheel 7A which is fixed (see Figure 1). Via the corresponding aperture 23, in which it is also locked to prevent it from moving longitudinally, the cable (section 13) passes along helical groove 22 and then enters the neighbouring annular chamber 12 in which it is spirally wound with a predetermined number, of turns (see Figure 3) from the outer periphery of the chamber to Its central wall. There, cable 13 passes via the corresponding aperture 21, in which it is also locked to prevent it from moving longitudinally into annular housing 20 Inside hub 19, within which it forms a helical loop, leaving again via the neighbouring aperture 21 in which it is also locked (see Figure 4). Thence it enters annular chamber 12 of the neighbouring wheel 7 on the other side of spacer 8 integral with the aforementioned hub 19. Here section 13 of the cable is spirally wound from the inside to the outside of the chamber, which it leaves via aperture 23 (see Figure 3), and soon as far as the last wheel 7B which is secured to drum 2 and which the cable leaves in the form of a connecting section 40 secured, for example, to the drum structure to be connected to cable 1 wound on the drum.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the device of the Invention makes it possible on the one hand to ensure the

rotation of drum 2 in relation to fixed spindle 3 through a predetermined number of revolutions without damaging the cable and, on the other, to use a single cable by integrating part 1 wound on the drum, connecting length 40, section 13 inside compensating device 6 and fixed section 5; this is particularly advantageous for fibre-optic cables since it eliminates the need for optical connectors which adversely affect the quality of the signals transmitted.

Furthermore, the compensating device of the invention also makes it possible to design more elaborate equipment capable of permitting the drum to rotate in relation to the fixed spiral through any, including an infinite, number of revolutions in a given direction.

Such a device, referred to overall by 41 on Figure 8 (on which the same components as those of Figures 1 to 7 bear the same references), comprises two compensation devices 6a and 6b (shown very diagra matically) arranged one after the other on spindle 3. As described above, the respective end wheels 7B of the compensating devices are mechanically integral with drum 1. The opposite wheels 7A, however, are no longer integral with fixed spindle 5 but can rotate, freely upon it and are respectively connected to motor devices 42; for example, each wheel 7A is integral with a pulley 43 driven by motor 42 via a belt or chain 44. Cable 1 wound on the drum is linked to a connecting section 40 connected in turn to a junction box 45 of type 2 ^• * 1 whose two opposite links are connected respectively to the two wheels 7B of devices 6a and 6b by connecting sections 40a and 40b.

With the opposite wheels 7A are associated two connectors 46a and 46b integral with fixed spindle 3, of the axial coupling type, for example, which are linked via fixed cables 5a. and 5i_ to a junction box 47 of type 2 _ 1, the other single terminal of which is connected to fixed cable 5 secured to the surrounding fixed structure. It will be noted that connectors 46a= and 46b= are arranged for the dual purpose of mechanically connecting

wheel 7A to fixed spindle 3 and connecting the cables to ensure the continuity of the transmission line.

The operating principle of device 41 involves running one of the two devices 6a., 6& while the other is kept on stand-by and prepared to take over from the first if the number of revolutions made by the drum exceeds its capacity; the device is sequentially controlled by means not shown on the drawings.

Thus, in the configuration shown on Figure 8, compensating device 6a 1s operating (with connector 46a in the connecting position and motor 42a not excited) and capable of compensating a predetermined number of revolutions of the drum in a given direction. Meanwhile, compensating device 6b_ is inoperative (with connector 46b disconnected) whereas, if necessary, motor 42i2 is excited and drives the corresponding wheel 7A so that device 6i is ready to take over compensation in the same direction as device 6a.

Once device 6a comes towards the end of its compensating capacity, motor 42b is de-excited and connector 46b is activated, thus starting up device 6b. while connector 6a is deactivated, thus disconnecting device 6a from spindle 3. Whilst device 6& now compensates the rotation of drum 2, device 6may be returned by motor 42a to Its initial position, ready to take over from device 6b if necessary.

The equipment may be suitably sequentially controlled by an electronic management unit (not shown), the structural details of which do not fall within the context of this invention and may easily by produced by one skilled in the art in the basis of the foregoing.

It will be obvious, and in any event arises from the foregoing, that the invention is by no means limited to the embodiments and uses described in detail above but rather covers all variants.