Abstract: A reel holder and clamping arrangement for a strander cradle is disclosed. The reel holder and clamping arrangement comprises two pintle assemblies each incuding a bearing housing, a pintle rotatably mounted in the bearing housing and means for mounting each bearing housing in axial alignment one on each side frame member. First cam means are associated with at least one of the pintle assemblies for moving its associated pintle along the axis of the reel for clamping a reel between the pintles. A reel holder engages the flanges of the reel when the reel is received within the cradle for positioning the core of the reel in alignment with the pintles of the pintle assemblies. Second cam means are associated with at least one of the pintle assemblies for moving the reel holder out of engagement with the flanges of the reel when the reel is clamped between the pintles.

Abstract: An apparatus for stranding an outer layer of wires on an inner layer cable core is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a tubular stranding machine comprising a rotating tube within which are stationary mounted on the same axis a series of cradles each supporting a spool of wire from which are paid-off the outer wires, means for guiding said outer wires along the outside wall of said tube towards a stranding die located at the front of the stranding machine, means for guiding a cable core originating from the back of the stranding machine along the outside wall of the tube, and a wire straightener stationary mounted at the front of the stranding machine ahead of the stranding die and through which is passed the cable core to eliminate the waviness of the cable core due to rotation during traveling along the outside wall of the tube.

Abstract: A reel clamp for a cradle assembly is disclosed. The reel clamp comprises two pintle assemblies mounted in axial alignment, one of such pintle assembly being axially movable with respect to the other. Each pintle assembly includes a bearing housing, a reel supporting member rotatably mounted in the bearing housing and means for securing the bearing housing to one of the side frame members of the cradle assembly. Cam means are associated with the movable pintle assembly for moving the bearing housing of such movable pintle assembly along the axis of the reel for clamping the reel between the two reel supporting members.