AU2012216815A1

AU2012216815A1 - A cable dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2012216815A1
Application number: AU2012216815A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Scott Albert Robinson
Original assignee: LOUVIX Pty Ltd
Current assignee: LOUVIX Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-09-13
Filing date: 2012-09-13
Publication date: 2014-03-27
Also published as: AU2013201258A1; AU2013201258B2; US20140070045A1

Abstract

Abstract A cable dispensing apparatus for laying cable in a trench, said apparatus including: a support for a coil of cable; a boom assembly comprising at least one arm extending from a location fixed relative to said coil support; and at least one cable guide fixed relative to said arm at an end thereof remote from the support; wherein said guide directs cable from the coil into the trench during use.

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A CABLE DISPENSING APPARATUS The following statement is a description of the invention: 1 A CABLE DISPENSING APPARATUS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention is directed to an apparatus for conveniently laying 5 cables. BACKGROUND ART Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to 10 be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge. It is common practice to lay cables, for example heavy duty electrical power cables, data cables, telephone cables and the like, into trenches. 15 Some of these cables, for example heavy duty electrical power cables are of substantial weight per meter because they contain metal conductors of copper or aluminum. In addition, they are relatively inflexible and unwieldy to handle since the metal conductors are typically covered by a number of layers of 20 protective and insulating material. In the past one approach to laying cables into a trench has been to unfurl a reel of cable from a spool. Typically the reel of cable is unfurled from the rear of a trailer or a truck located alongside the trench and is manually pulled over 25 and inserted into the trench. It will be realized that this operation is time consuming and may present a danger to personnel involved. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a cable dispensing apparatus which addresses the above described problem or which is at least 30 a useful alternative to those apparatus hitherto known in the prior art.

2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cable dispensing apparatus for laying cable in a trench, said apparatus including: 5 a support for a coil of cable; a boom assembly comprising at least one arm extending from a location fixed relative to said coil support; and at least one cable guide fixed relative to said arm at an end thereof remote from the support; 10 wherein said guide directs cable from the coil into the trench during use. Preferably the at least one arm is pivotally connected to the support. 15 Preferably the at least one cable guide comprises a roller assembly. Preferably the apparatus includes one or more actuators coupled to the at least one arm and arranged to bring the arm from a dispensing configuration to a stowed configuration. 20 It is preferable that the apparatus be portable. For example the apparatus may be provided mounted to a vehicle, such as a truck for example. Preferably the support is arranged for an axis of the reel to be disposed 25 parallel to a long axis of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the support comprises a spool support frame supporting an axle of the spool about which the coil of cable is disposed. 30 Preferably self-guiding axle end supports are mounted to each of the opposed uprights each of said supports including surfaces converging downwards to a recess for supporting respective ends of the axle.

3 Preferably the spool support frame includes opposed uprights between which the axle is mounted. 5 Preferably the spool support frame is mounted upon a tray of the vehicle. Preferably the one or more actuators comprise one or more hydraulic rams. The hydraulic rams may be pivotally mounted between a point on the at least 10 one arm and a point on the frame for example. In a preferred embodiment of the invention boom assembly comprises two arms, each pivotally connected to the spool support frame with their remote ends joined. 15 In a preferred embodiment of the invention the remote ends are joined by a cross bar spanning therebetween. It will be realized however that in other embodiments of the invention the remote ends might join each other at an angle so that no cross bar is required. 20 Preferably the roller assembly is mounted to the cross bar. The roller assembly may include a guide support member that is mounted to the cross bar and which may be selectively slid along the cross bar in order 25 that its location thereon may be adjusted. Preferably the roller assembly includes at least two rollers for guiding the cable wherein said rollers are mounted to the guide support member. Preferably long axes of the rollers extend upward and outward from the cross 30 bar.

4 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient 5 information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: 10 Figure 1. is a view of a cable dispensing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment mounted upon a vehicle in the form of a truck. Figure 2 is a view of the cable dispensing apparatus in use. Figure 3 is a view of the rear of the cable dispensing apparatus in 15 use. Figure 3A is a view of an arrangement for supporting opposed ends of a drum axle according to a further embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 is a view of a remote end of one of the arms of the boom 20 assembly and a cable guide of the apparatus in use. Figure 5 is a plan and stylized view depicting a cable dispensing apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 25 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring initially to figure 1, there is depicted a cable dispensing apparatus 2 according to a first aspect of the present invention. In the presently described preferred embodiment of the invention the cable dispensing assembly 2 is 30 portable in that it is mounted on the rear tray 6 of a vehicle, namely a truck 3. The cable dispensing apparatus includes a frame 9, which is mounted upon the tray 6 and which includes opposing uprights 8, 11. An axle 10 of a drum or spool 12 is disposed between the uprights 8, 11. The axle 10 is captured at 5 either end by collars 51 which are mounted atop respective uprights 8 and 11. About the spool there is disposed a coil of cable 14. In a variation the collars 51 are replaced by self-guiding supports 41, as 5 shown in Figure 3A, which are instead mounted on top of the uprights 8 and 11. These self guiding supports 41 include opposed guide surfaces 45 and 47 and a rearward surface 49 all which converge downwards into a recess 43 for receiving and supporting opposed ends of the axle 10. 10 The inventor has found that this arrangement assists in speedily changing drums and is more convenient than the collars 47. A hydraulically powered wheel 40 abuts a rim of the spool 12. In use the wheel 40 is rotated so that it in turn causes the spool 12 to rotate to thereby 15 either take up or dispense cable 14. Extending outwardly from the opposed uprights 8, 11 there is a boom assembly 16 comprising a pair of spaced apart arms 18 and 20. Arms 18 and 20 are respectively pivotally connected to uprights 8, 11. For example arm 18 20 is connected to upright 8 at pivot point 34. Arm 20 is similarly connected to upright 11. A cross bar 22 interconnects remote ends of arms 18 and 20. A cable guide in the form of roller assembly 24 is fastened to the cross bar 22. In the 25 presently described preferred embodiment the roller assembly 24 comprises a member in the form of plate 25 from which paired rollers 27, 29 extend. Actuators 26, 23 (actuator 23 is visible in Figure 2) are provided to raise and lower the boom assembly 16. Actuator 26 is pivotally connected between a 30 point 30 on upright 8 and a point 32 on boom arm 18. Actuator 23 is correspondingly pivotally interconnected between boom arm 20 and upright 11.

6 In the presently described preferred embodiment the actuators 26, 23 comprise hydraulic rams which are powered by hydraulic fluid through hoses such as hose 34. Accordingly, by operating the actuators 26 and 23 the boom arm 18 may be brought from a dispensing position (shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5 4), in which it is pivoted outwardly, to a stowed position (not shown) in which it is pivoted to a near vertical attitude for transport. Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, in use the actuators 23, 26 are operated so that the boom 16 is extended out from the spool 12 in order that roller 10 assembly 24 is brought close to the edge of trench 42. Wheel 40 is then operated so that spool 12 rotates to slowly dispense cable 14. The free end of cable 14 is then threaded through the rollers of roller assembly 24 and introduced into the trench 42. 15 Truck 3, may then be driven slowly alongside trench 42 as the spool 12 is rotated to thereby dispense the cable into the trench as seen in Figure 4. Once all of the cable has been laid, or the desired amount of cable has been 20 dispensed and cut off, the actuators 26, 23 are operated to lift the boom 16 to an upright, stowed position. The truck 3 can then be driven from site. It will therefore be realised that the previously described embodiment of the invention provides a cable dispensing apparatus for conveniently laying cable 25 into trenches. Other embodiments and variations are possible which fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment that has thus far been described with reference to Figures 2 to 4, the spool 12 is supported so that 30 its axis, i.e. axle 10, is substantially parallel to the cross bar 22 and the long axis of the vehicle 3, and perpendicular to the arms 18 and 20 of the boom assembly 16.

7 In a variation of the invention, shown in plan view in figure 5, the spool is rotated 90 degrees relative to the previously described embodiment so that the cable 14 leaves the spool towards the rear of vehicle 3. However, the cable is directed about a sheave 44, which may comprise a roller for example 5 and thence through the roller assembly 24 in the previously described manner. It will however be realised that the first embodiment is preferred since it does not require the presence of redirection sheave 44. In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language 10 more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term "comprises" and its variations, such as "comprising" and "comprised of' is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described 15 comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art. Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms. Any embodiment of the invention is meant to be illustrative only and is not meant to be limiting to the invention. Therefore, it should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A cable dispensing apparatus for laying cable in a trench, said apparatus including: a support for a coil of cable; a boom assembly comprising at least one arm extending from a location fixed relative to said coil support; and at least one cable guide fixed relative to said arm at an end thereof remote from the support; wherein said guide directs cable from the coil into the trench during use. Preferably the at least one arm is pivotally connected to the support.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one arm is pivotally connected to the support.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one cable guide comprises a roller assembly.

4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims including one or more actuators coupled to the at least one arm and arranged to bring the arm from a dispensing configuration to a stowed configuration.

5. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims mounted to a vehicle.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the support is arranged for an axis of the reel to be disposed parallel to a long axis of the vehicle.

7. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support comprises a spool support frame supporting an axle of a spool about which the reel of cable is disposed. 9

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the spool support frame includes opposed uprights between which the axle for the spool is mounted.

9. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more actuators comprise one or more hydraulic rams.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the hydraulic rams may be pivotally mounted between a point on the at least one arm and a point on the frame for example.

11. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the boom assembly comprises two parallel arms, each pivotally connected to the spool support frame with their remote ends joined.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the remote ends are joined by a cross bar spanning therebetween.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the roller assembly is mounted to the cross bar.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the roller assembly includes a guide support member that is mounted to the cross bar and which may be selectively slid along the cross bar in order that its location thereon may be adjusted.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the roller assembly includes at least two rollers for guiding the cable wherein said rollers are mounted to the guide support member.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the rollers extend upward and outward from the cross bar when the boom assembly is in a cable dispensing configuration. 10

17. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein axle end supports are mounted to each of the opposed uprights each of said supports including surfaces converging downwards to a recess for supporting respective ends of the axle.

18. A cable dispensing apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3A or Figure 5.