APPARATUS FOR UNRAVELLING WIRE ROPES

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for unravel-ling wire ropes (3), which are made up of a complex of different materials, having a peeling device (1) with an opening (5), through which a core (9) of the wire rope (3) passes along a through-feed axis (D) and a through-feed direction (Z), while an outer portion (10) is separated, said peeling device (1) comprising a mandrel (4) through which the opening (5) passes axially, with at least one rotatable cutting wheel (12) being provided next to the mandrel (4), which wheel has on the circumference thereof at least one blade (13) and the axis of rotation (R) of which wheel is substantially transverse to the through-feed axis (D), characterized in that a cut-ting profile (6) of the blade (13) or a common cutting profile (6) of the blades (13) is concave in form.

Claims

1. Device for deconstructing wire cables (3) made of a combination of different materials, comprising a peeling mechanism (1) having an opening (5), through which an inner portion (9) of the wire cable (3) runs along a pass-through axis (D) and a pass-through direction (Z), while at least part of an outer portion (10) is cut off, said peeling mechanism (1) having a mandrel (4), through which the opening (5) extends axially, wherein provided next to the mandrel (4) is at least one rotatable cutting wheel (12), which has at least one blade (13) on its circumference and the axis of rotation (R) of which is substantially transverse to the pass-through axis (D), characterized in that a cutting profile (6) of the blade (13) or a joint cutting profile (6) of the blades (13) is of concave shape.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that an individual blade (12) has a concave cutting profile (6).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting profile (6) is U-shaped or V-shaped.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one blade (13) has a cutting edge with a base portion (17) which is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation (R) of its cutting wheel (12), and in that the cutting edge has at least one side portion (18) which is at an angle to the axis of rotation (R) of its cutting wheel (12).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one side portion (18) is arranged on each side of the base portion (17).

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting profile (6) partially engages around the inner portion (9) during operation of the device.

7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the peeling mechanism (1) has a plurality of cutting wheels (12) which are arranged evenly around the pass-through axis (D).

8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the blade (13) or the blades (13), during operation of the device, describe a path which passes an outer surface (11) of the mandrel (4) at a small gap (S) therefrom.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the gap (S) is smaller than 2 mm and preferably is smaller than the diameter of the individual wires of the outer portion (10).

10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mandrel (4) has an outer surface (11) with a frustoconical portion (21) and an adjoining cylindrical portion (22).

11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mandrel (4) has, at least in the transition region from the frustoconical portion (21) to the cylindrical portion (22), an annular element (19) which is preferably made of steel.

12. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting wheel (12) is arranged at the cylindrical portion (22) and the gap (S) presents itself between the path of the blades (13) and the transition region from the frustoconical portion (21) to the cylindrical portion (22).

13. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the peeling mechanism (1) has two cutting wheels (12) which are arranged opposite one another around the pass-through axis (D), and in that the cutting profiles (6) substantially encircle a cross-section of the outer surface (11) of the mandrel (4).

14. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has, downstream of the mandrel (4), at least one coiling mechanism for winding up the inner portion (9).

15. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has a pulling mechanism (16) for exerting a pulling force on the wire cable (3), preferably on the inner portion (9) of the wire cable (3) that has passed through the opening of the peeling mechanism (1).

16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the pulling mechanism (16) is arranged upstream of the mandrel (4).

17. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that an adjusting mechanism for controlling and adjusting the speed of the pulling mechanism (16) is connected to the pulling mechanism (16).

18. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has at least two peeling mechanisms (1) which are arranged in series one behind the other along the wire cable (3), and in that a first, upstream peeling mechanism (1) has a larger opening (5) than a second, downstream peeling mechanism (5).

19. Method for deconstructing wire cables (3), in which a wire cable (3) is conducted through a peeling mechanism (1) having a mandrel (4), wherein an inner portion (9) is conducted through an opening (5) along a pass-through axis (D) in the mandrel (4) and at least part of an outer portion (10) is peeled away by an outer surface (11) of the mandrel (4), characterized in that an outer portion (10) is cut off via an outer surface (11) of the mandrel (4) by at least one blade (13) of at least one cutting wheel (12) having an axis of rotation (R) transverse to the pass-through axis (D), which blade forms a concave cutting profile (6).

20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that a plurality of blades (13) form a joint cutting profile (6), which is substantially concave.

21. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that the inner portion (9) is pulled through the mandrel (4) by a pulling mechanism (16) downstream of the mandrel (4).

22. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that the wire cable (3) is moved by a pulling mechanism (16) upstream of the mandrel (4).

23. Method according to claim 22, characterized in that the pulling speed of the pulling mechanism (16) is controllable.

24. Method according to claims 19, characterized in that the cut-off parts of the outer portion (10) are cut to an average length which is smaller than 70 mm and which is preferably smaller than 60 mm.

25. Method according to claims 19, characterized in that the cutting wheel (12) is driven at a rotational speed which is greater than 500 min.sup.−1 and which is preferably greater than 550 min.sup.−1, particularly preferably around 600 min.sup.−1.

26. Method according to claims 19, characterized in that all the cutting wheels (12) in the region of the wire cable (3) rotate in the direction of a pass-through direction (D) of the inner portion (9).

27. Method according to claims 19, characterized in that the inner portion (9) of the wire cable (3) is wound up on a coiling mechanism downstream of the mandrel (4).

28. Method according to claims 19, characterized in that firstly an outer part of the outer portion (10) is peeled away by a first peeling mechanism (1) and then an inner part of the outer portion (10) is peeled away by a second peeling mechanism (1).

29. Method for maintaining or removing a power line, in particular a high-voltage line, wherein a wire cable (3) or part of a wire cable (3) is released from its anchorages, for example anchorages to an overhead line mast, is pulled off, is deconstructed by a method according to claim 19, and the inner portion (9) is rolled up on a coiling mechanism.

30. Method according to claim 29, characterized in that the pulling-off and the method for deconstructing the wire cable (3) or part of the wire cable (3) and rolling it up on the coiling mechanism is carried out in one operation.

31. Method according to claim 29, characterized in that the wire cable (3) or part of the wire cable (3) is made movable from the anchorages of an overhead line mast and is stored in the region of the anchorages, preferably on rolls, and is pulled off.

32. Method according to claims 29, characterized in that a new wire cable is attached to the side of the wire cable (3) or part of the wire cable (3) that is remote from the peeling mechanism (1), before the wire cable is pulled off.

Description

[0042] The present invention will be explained in greater detail below on the basis of the non-limiting embodiment variants shown in the figures, in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention in a first embodiment in a schematic sectional view;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a detail view of the mandrel with part of a cutting wheel in a sectional view normal to the outer surface of the mandrel;

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the mandrel;

[0046] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment in a schematic sectional view.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention which has a mandrel 4, through which a wire cable 3 is conducted. The device has a peeling mechanism 1 with a housing, to which the wire cable 3 is fed via two feed rollers of a feeding mechanism 2 through an opening concealed by rubber flaps. The mandrel 4 is arranged within or above the tub 1, said mandrel having an opening 5 which extends in the axial direction. Wheels 15 and a coiling mechanism (not shown) are arranged downstream of the tub 1, with the exposed inner portion being rolled up on a coiling block of the coiling mechanism.

[0048] The wire cable 3 consists of an inner portion 9 and an outer portion 10, which coaxially encircles the inner portion 9. The opening 5 of the mandrel 4 is designed such that it is suitable for receiving the inner portion 9 with play, so that only the inner portion 9 passes through the mandrel 4 along a pass-through axis D and ultimately is wound up on a coiling block of a coiling mechanism. In contrast, the outer portion 10 of the wire cable 3 is peeled away at the outer surface 11 of the mandrel 4, which tapers conically towards the front, whereby a certain degree of splitting into individual wires takes place. After the conical, frustoconical portion of the outer surface 11, said outer surface has in the downstream direction a substantially cylindrical portion, wherein the frustoconical portion merges into the cylindrical portion via an edge. Two driven cutting wheels 12, which are rotatable about axes of rotation R, are arranged immediately adjacent to the mandrel 4, said cutting wheels being provided with a plurality of blades 13 at their outer circumference. Each cutting wheel 12 has a cylindrical outer surface 14. During the rotation of the cutting wheels, a radially outermost surface of the cutting wheel 12 is defined by the cutting edges of the blades, said outermost surface defining in section a cutting profile 6. The gap S between the cutting profile 6, defined by the blades 13, and the edge between the portions of the outer surface 11 of the mandrel 4 is very small and is for example 0.8 mm. A total of three blades 13 per cutting wheel 12 are arranged radially evenly on the outer surface 14. The cutting wheels 12 are arranged at the same height as the mandrel 4, wherein it may be provided that they are arranged offset to one another.

[0049] Two motorized wheels 15 of a hydraulic pulling mechanism 16 are arranged downstream of the mandrel 4 and outside of the tub 1, said wheels clamping the exposed inner portion and pulling it along a pulling direction Z. Each cutting wheel 12 is assigned a motor that drives it, the speed preferably being kept substantially constant during operation. During operation, the cutting wheels 12 rotate in opposite directions and such that the parts of the cylindrical outer surface 14 facing towards the wire cable 3 rotate in the pulling direction Z. The cutting wheels 12 thus rotate in the same direction as the wheels 15 located in each case on the same side of the wire cable 3.

[0050] The rotational impulse exerted on the wire cable 3 by the cutting wheel as the latter rotates at speeds of about 600 min.sup.−1 ensures that the outer portion is cut through completely.

[0051] The present invention makes it possible to provide a device of simple structure which ensures that high-quality recyclable materials are recovered.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein in each case one blade 13 of each cutting wheel 12 is shown at the mandrel 4. Here, the cut is made at the point on the pass-through axis D at which the blades 13 come closest to the mandrel 4 as they rotate. In this embodiment, this is the transition region between the frustoconical region and the cylindrical region. In this embodiment, this is at the cylindrical portion of the outer surface 11, as a result of which said cut is normal to the pass-through axis D. If the blades 13 come closest to the outer surface in the conical region, two cuts would be necessary for the two cutting wheels 13, each of said cuts being normal to the outer surfaces 11 in the region of the cutting wheels 13. It can be seen here that the gaps S between the outer wall 11 of the mandrel 4 and the blades 13 is very small. Each blade 13 has a cutting edge which defines a cutting profile 6 that is of concave shape, is U-shaped, and thus is substantially adapted to the shape of the outer wall of the mandrel 4. As the blade rotates past the mandrel, a large part of the outer portion 10 moving over the outer surface 11 is cut off by the blade 13. The blades 13 thus encircle at least three-quarters of the circumference of the mandrel 4. Each cutting profile 6 has a base portion 17 and a side portion 18 on each side of the base portion 17, wherein in this embodiment the base portion 17 merges directly into the side portions 18. Alternatively, edges or pronounced changes in slope may be provided in the transition region between the portions 17, 18.

[0053] It is advantageous if the cutting profile 6 corresponds to the contour of the outer surface 11 of the mandrel 4. A particularly large part of the outer portion 10 can thus be cut away.

[0054] The structure of the mandrel 4 can be seen in FIG. 3. In the region of the edge on the cylindrical part, the mandrel 4 has an annular element 19 which serves as a reinforcing element and is made of steel. Here, the annular element forms the last part of the frustoconical region, the transition region, and also part of the cylindrical region. During the rotation, the peeled-away parts of the outer portion 10 are pressed against the edge and the annular element 19 by the blades 13 and are cut off. This part of the mandrel 4 is thus subjected to considerable mechanical stress. The annular element 19 can be re-sharpened as required in order to enable a clean cut. Provided in the cylindrical part of the annular element 19 is an indentation 20 which can serve as an indication of the extent to which the annular element can be further sharpened.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment, in which two peeling mechanisms 1 are arranged one behind the other. Here, the wire cable 3 is firstly conducted through a first peeling mechanism 1, and in the course thereof is conducted through an opening 5a of a first mandrel 4a of larger cross-section. In the process, an outer part of the outer portion 10 is peeled away and is cut off by first cutting wheels 12a. Part of the outer portion 10 and the inner portion 9 is conducted through the first opening 5a. A second mandrel 4b of a second peeling mechanism 1 is arranged along the pass-through axis D of the first peeling mechanism 1, said second mandrel having a second opening 5b of smaller cross-section. The wire cable 3 is conducted from the first peeling mechanism to the second peeling mechanism, as a result of which these are arranged in series. There, only the inner portion is conducted through the second mandrel 4b, and in the process the remaining outer portion 10 is peeled away and is cut off by second cutting wheels 12b.

[0056] A pulling mechanism 16, which is motorized by an electric motor 25, is shown downstream of the second peeling mechanism, with a coiling mechanism 24 which coils up the inner portion being arranged downstream of the pulling mechanism 16. The inner portion 9 is thereby automatically placed in a circular shape in a metal drum.