AU597236B2 - Electric fence reel - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 59vl"7 23 6 COMPILETE

SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged! Accepted, Published; Priority o 9Related Art: 00 IThis d0cum7ntcontain; the aniendmen(,s Made jV Section 49 anfd is correct tc.

printing.

0 0 APPLICANT'S REF.: laes)of Applicant(s)-, -ARTHUR YATES COi LIMITED- DS 680026 04 Address(es) of Applicant( Actual Inventor(s): s:2-70 Neilson Street,, ~Onhuna,.Auckland., -NEW ZEALAND~ Malcolm Stewart Brian O'Brien

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Address for Service is; PHILLIPS, ORMONDE AND FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia, 3000 Complete Speciication for the invention entitled:, ELECTRIC FENCE REEL The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method, of performing it known to applicant(s): F1I9/3184

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II I U I~II~mq~ -~t~~Th.303b0~4 while any gearing is a real advantage over reels at present used and availiable. it is considered that a vparinv cnf fv-nm 994, 9 99 9 9 9.

44 o 9; a a 49r -2- BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION This invention relates to an electric fence reel for wire or strip used in electric fencing. In particular the invention relates to an electric fence reel which is provided with gearing, so as to assist the farmer or operator in using the reel.

Up until this time, various reels have been used and available for use in electric fencing, particularly for electric fence wire or strip.

For example one arrangement that has been disclosed and published, and which has been available on the market, is a plastic reel for electric fence wire, subject of New Zealand patent specification No. 180213/182145.

This arrangement discloses a plastic fence reel, which 15 is formed basically in two parts, each part having a drum portion and an outwardly extending flange portion, the drum portions being stepped relative to each other and thereafter glued and interfitted to form a complete reel.

20 In addition, there is available on the market a fence reel which includes an' elongate drum and end flanges extending outwardly therefrom, the drum being mounted on a shaft and having a crank or handle at one end thereof, this reel also having a crank or handle at one end thereof, this reel also having a substantially invertrd shaped handle or mounting member, which is mounted at its free ends to the axle and which then extends over and about the reel. This enables the reel r i I r cl un*-

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*49* -3to be held by an operator at the same time as the crank or handle is being turned. Alternatively, it allows the fence reel to be mounted to appropriate posts or upright, by securing means such as bolts and the like passing therethrough and into the post or upright.

For the purposes of description and definition, the reel of the present inventio: will be hereinafter referred to as "an electric fence reel".

The electric fence reels used up'until this time have all suffered from the problem that they take an amount of time and effort to use, and as the lengths of wire or strip being used to form the electric fence or barrier are often substantial, a correspondingly substantial amount of effort is required to wind the wire or strip in and out onto and from the reel. This often becomes tiring and particularly time consuming. It is particularly tiring if, as well as rotating the electric fence reel, a farmer or operator must hold with the other hand, the support frame or bracket. This is not uncommon, in that electric fences are often formed as "'breaks" 20 in agricultural land, such as by one or two lengths of wire or strip being set out across a predetermined area of agricultural or horticultural land. It is also often common .o carry reels of electric fencing wire or strip from place to place, while setting up electric fence breaks and thus it is particularly tiring if, after having carried the reel, a substantial amount of effort has to be spent in winding the wire or strip in and out, relative to the reel.

Up until this time, no real effort has been made to overcome this problem and therefore the present invention 9 4* otr

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i sets out providing the public and industry with a useful choice.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides a reel for electric fence wire or strip comprising: i. A rotatable handle or crank; ii. An elongate drum to accommodate there around in use the electric fence wire or strip; iii. Gearing having a ratio higher than 1:1 connecting said handle or crank with said drum; iv. Said gearing being provided internally of the said reel and comprising first, second and third gear means; v. Said first gear means being driven by said S* handle or crank to engage with said second v c\ Sanc SMcLO-n 0e[ -cr VoVrvs Sgear meansj engages with said third gear 40 means, so that said third gear means rotates 2' the drum, wherein one of said gear means comprises a hub, and another of said gear means comprises one or more idler gears provided on a planetary frame.

S0 a 4 t I T I 1 l -4- 1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention will be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1: is a partially exploded fron view of an electric fence reel i 5 according to one form of the present invention.

Figure 2: is a partially exploded side view of an electric fence reel accoidfng to one form of the invention.

Figure 3: is an exploded view of Section shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Figure 4: is a further enlarged view of Figure 3 of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS It should be appreciated that up until this time it has been known to provide various reels, such as for example hose reels, reels for electric cable, wire and the like, which have incorponrted some form of gear control. For example, it was disclosed in New Zealand patent specification number 37838 in 1916, that an electric cable drum or reel could be provided which was formed with a gearing arrangement. It should be appreciated however, that the gearing arrangement of New Zealand patent zpeci f icat ion i 4 jv -4sets out providing the public and industry with a useful choice.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a reel for electric fence wire or strip, including an elongate drum and at least two spaced apart end flanges; an elongate axle shaft being located within said drum; a handle or crank being provived at one end of said shaft; gearing being provided within said drum and being engagable with said axle, substantially within said drum.

According to a further aspect of this invention there is provided a reel for electric fence wire or strip, including an elongate drum having at least two spaced apart end flanges; o an elongate axle shaft extending through said drum, and o i having a handle or crank provided at a first end of said o a drum; gearing being provided within said drum and being ae engaged with said shaft substantially within said drum, at or adjacent a second end of said drum; said gearing including a planetary frame fixedly mounted to said elongate shaft, and mounting one or more idler gears; an inner pinion member being freely mounted about and relative to said shaft and in juxtaposition with said planetary frame, such that at least part thereof engages and meshes with said one or more idler gears; said inner pinion member being connected or linked to an inner surface of said drum; the arrangement being such that on rotation of said crank and said shaft, the fixedly engaged planetary frame is caused to rotate in substantially the same direction as the shaft; said one or more idler gears mounted relative

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r ur-- qa-~- 0000 0 44 94 0 004 400 thereto meshing with said pinion member, such that said rotational moment is imparted via said pinion member and link(s), to said drum; an outer hub being provided and engaged within the second end of said drum, such that the shaft is able to freely rotate within said hub; an inner side surface of said hub being provided with means on an inner surface thereof, such as to mesh and engage with said one or more idler gears of the planetary frame; the gearing having a ratio of from between 2:1 to 3:1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention will be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1: is a partially exploded front view of an electric fence reel according to one form of the present invention.

Figure 2: is a partially exploded side view of an electric fence reel according to one form of the invention.

Figure 3: is an exploded view of Section "A" shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Figure 4: is a further enlarged view of Figure 3 of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS It should be appreciated that up until this time it has been known to provide various reels, such as for example hose reels, reels for electric cable, wire and the like, which have incorporated some form of gear control.

For example, it was disclosed in New Zealand patent specification number 37838 in 1916, that an electric cable drum or reel could be provided which was formed with a gearing arrangement. It should be appreciated however, that the gearing arrangement of New Zealand patent specification B 4 99 #09 9 9 to *1 4 0 00 4490 440r ~ooj.; It -6number 37838, was substantially outside the drum so that it was subject to rust, dirt, abrasion, contact and the like. In addition, the arrangement was in no way applicable to electric fence wire or strip.

An arrangement for coiling hoses, involving a "planet" gear, was disclosed in New Zealand patent specification number 145294 (Bates) but in that arrangement the gearing was also provided outside or exterior the drum, so that the gearing was subject to dirt, weather, contact, rusting and the like.

It is considered that electric fence reels of the present invention will be particularly popular and useful in agricultural and horticultural areas, where it is often desired to erect and later bring down S° 15 electric fence breaks and the like such as for the C"O control of stock on farms, orchards and the like. Thus, where elect-ic fence reels are used in such areas, it is likely that they will be subject to dirt, all elements of the weather, heat, sun, and foreign bojects. It is thus particularly desirable that a fence reel be provided wherein gearing is incorporated into the reel, while at the same time, the gearing is as far as possible, protected from such influences and elements. In addition, where gearing is provided, there is always a risk that hands and fingers might be caught in the gears, during operation thus causing injury. Thus, by incorporating gearing into an appropriate housing or part of a reel, this is also avoided or at least minimised. The problems that might well arise from catching fingers or hands in r I

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-7parts of exterior gearing, will be appreciated in particular from the exterior gearing arrangement disclosed in New Zealand patent specification number 145294.

Referring therefore to the present invention, the electric fence reel 1 includes an elongate drum 2 which is preferably formed of a plastics material, the drum preferably being closed at one end 3 and substantially open at the other end 4. If desired, the drum 2 can be open at both ends however. The drum is preferably a unitary moulding, although if desired, the present invention can have application to a drum formed in separate parts, such as for example as described and claimed in New Zealand patent specification number 180213/ 182145. Outwardly and radially extending end flanges 6 are 15 provided at each end of the drum 2. Preferably, the oo* ,I flanges 6 are integrally formed with the drum, but if desired, they can be formed separately and attached to the ends of the drum 2. Preferably, the end flanges 6 are substantially circular and concave. The closed end 2 of the drum is preferably formed with a bore therethrough, having 0; an appropriate bearing surface, through andagainst which an elongate axle shaft 7 passes, the end 7a of the shaft 7 being formed into or attached to, a handle or crank 8.

The shaft 7 extends through the drum 2 to exit from the other side or end thereof.

The shaft 2, is, in one preferred (but not essential) form of the invention, of a substantially square cross section.

Within the drum 2, appropriate gearing 20 is provided, G .1 q r I'it -8and which is mounted within the drum 2, so that it can be enclosed therewithin. The gearing 20 is connected to both the shaft 7 and drum 2, such that there is geared rotation of the drum 2 relative to the shaft 7.

In the preferred form of the inventicn, the gear components are formed of a plastics material, while the shaft 7 can be constructed of a plastics material, an appropriate metal material, or any other desired material, It will be appreciated that it is desirable to have the gear components of a plastic material, and in particular the contact components of a plastic material, so that this will, as far as possible, avoid and minimise the need for lubrication.

A planetary gear frame 10 is provided, and has a base portion with a bore 11 therethrough, through which the S, elongate shaft 7 passes, the shaft 7 and planetary frame being fixedly engaged one with the other, so that they are incapable of free movement or rotation relative to each other. Preferably, in one form, the bore 11 can be of a substantially circular or round cross section so as to frictionally engage with a shaft 7 of substantially square, angled or rectangular cross section. Other means Sof engagement the.ebetween can however be used. The engagement is such that the shaft 7 and planetary gear member 10 will rotate in substantially the same direction.

Thus on rotation of the shaft 7, the planetary frame 10 will rotate with it and in the same direction.

The planetary frame 10 is in one form of the invention, provided with an elongate base portion 10a through which -9the bore 11 passes, and with an upstanding, substantially portion lOb, the upstanding portion lOb having one or more bosses 12 extending inwardly thereof, the one or more bosses 12 rotatably mounting one or more idler gears 14.

A plurality of such bosses 12 are preferably provided, which so mount idler gears 14, that teeth of the idler gears 14 mesh with teeth provided on an adjacent lower portion of the base 10a of the planetary frame 10, as extending about the shaft 7 (and through which base the bore 11 of the planetary frame passes).

In order to enclose the gearing 20 within the drum 2, a cover hub 15 is provided, the cover hub 15 having a central poration 16 defining a bore 17 therethrough which too* is adapted to engage over the end of the shaft 7, and o 0 0 15 thereafter having angled sides 18 which extend outwardly o *0 oo0 at an angle from the central portion 16. The angled sides 18 a o are then stepped into outwardly extending engagement lug or arm portions 19, the outer surfaces of which locate within the open end 4 of the drum 2 and allow for free movement and/or rotation of an inner surface of the drum thereagainst, or are attached to, (in any appropriate ma':ner), an inner surface 4a of the open end 4 of th4 drum 2. The inner surface 19a of the engagement portion 19 is formed or provided with teeth or ribs, which are able to mesh with teeth on the one or more idler gears 14, mounted for rotation on the one or more bosses 12 of the planetary frame The central portion 16 of the cover hub 15, (as indicated), has a bore 17 extending therethrough, and the bore 17 is engaged over the end of the base of the planetary i lacs~l-*l frame 10, so that the shaft can rotate within the bore 17 of the cover hub The cover hub 15 does not therefore rotate with or relative to the drum 2, while the rotation of the planetary frame 10 (on rotation of the shaft 7) causes the planetary frame 10 (and in particular the base 10a thereof) to move and rotate within the bore 17 of the cover hub 15, while the one or more idler gears 14 mounted on the one or more bosses 12 of the planetary frame 10 will mesh with the inner surface of the engagement arm 19 of the cover hub The arrangement also provides for an inner pinion to be provided, for free rotation about the inner base e portion 10a of the planetary frame 10, this being provided o K 15 with teeth or ribs an outer surface thereof, so that these o, teeth of the inner pinion 25 will mesh with the teeth of the idler gear(s) 14, thus causing rotation of the inner 0 pinion The inner pinion 25 is connected in any appropriate manner to an inner surface of the drum.

In a preferred form of the invention, the inner pinior 25 is integrally formed with one or more webs or l links 26 leading to the inteior surface of the drum 2, or alternatively is connected by some other appropriate means 25 to the internal surface of the drum 2.

SFor example, the inner pinion 25 can be connected to a link 26 extending from an inner surface of the drum 2, such as by a square drive connection. Other means of connection can however be used to advantage.

3 U -11- The inner pinion 25 is therefore driven by the idler gears 14, mounted about the planetary frame 10, so that the inner pinion 25 rotates in the same direction as the shaft 7. The inner pinion 25 also is caused to bear against and run on the planetary frame 10, which gives an alignment bearing.

It will be appreciated therefore, that on rotation of the handle 8, the shaft 7 will be caused to rotate, this in turn rotating the planetary frame 10, while the cover hub 15 remains substantially fixed or stationary. The rotation of the planetary frame 10 causes meshing of the idler gears 14 with the inner surface of the arm 19 of the cover hub 15, this causing meshing also between the idler gears 14 and the inner pinion 25, which inner pinion 25 is connected to, or meshed with (in some appropriate manner), the drum 2 (and preferably in particular an inner surface thereof).

It should be appreciated that in the preferred form of the invention, the outer cover hub 15, which can be formed of a plastics material, serves to substantially enclose the gearing 20 within the drum 2, so as to prevent the entry of extraneous matter which might detract from the efficient operation of the gearing and to prevent as far as possible the entry of dirt, the elements, and the like. It also prevents as far as possible, injury to hands and fingers and the like.

The outer hub 15 is preferably mounted by a square cap or connector 35, on to the outer and, substantially shaped carrier/mounting frame 30, which is mounted about and relative to the shaft 7, so that rotation of the outer hub is prevented.

1 -12- As referred to hereinbefore, the substantially shaped frame 30 allows for the reel to be connected to a post or upright, or alternatively allows for the reel to be carried from place to place. The arms 31 of the frame 30 are attached to ends of the shaft 7.

The above arrangement of gearing is by way of example only, and it should be appreciated that any appropriate gearing can be used to advantage, so long as the gearing is located within the drum 2 and relative to the shaft 7 of the drum, to enable the reel 1 to be appropriately geared in operation. It is also particularly advantageoous, as pointed out hereinbefore, for the reel 1 to be geared for use in electric fencing, and for the gearing to be provided within the drum, so as to be sealed/ S 15 covered from dirt and extraneous matter.

In experimentation, it has been found that various gear ratios can be used to advantage, but it has been found that a gearing ratio of about 3:1 is probably most satisfactory. 'Ihis provides for appropriate winding in and out and prevents "looping" of wire or strip, as might occur if the reel is being wound in too quickly. It is felt however, that perhaps a more appropraite ratio might be 2.5:1. In use, and experimentation, it has been found that while a ratio of 2:1 is an improvement over a non-geared reel, it is perhaps too slow for efficient Cperation. At the same time, a ratio of 4:1 has been found to be basically too fast, in that the reel is rotated at such a rate that "looping" of wire or strip occurs, and it will be appreciated that this will cause fouling of the mechanisms. Thus, -13while any gearing is a real advantage over reels at present used and available, it is considered that a gearing of from between 2:1 to 3:1 (with the preferred ratio being 2.5:1) is most advantageous. These are however by way of example only, and as stated above, it should be appreciated that any form of geared reel for use with electric fence wire or strip is a substantial improvement and advance over that available at this point in time.

This invention has been described by way of example only, and it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements may be made to the invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. A reel for electric fence wire or strip comprising: i- A rotatable handle or crank; ii. An elongate drum to accommodate there around in use the electric fence wire or strip; iii. Gearing having a ratio higher than 1:1 connecting said handle or crank with said drum; iv. Said gearing being provided internally of the said reel and comprising first, second and third gear means; v. Said first gear means being driven by said handle or crank, to engage with said second gear means, Aengages with said third gear means, so that said third gear means rotates ^the drum, wherein one of said gear means comprises a hub, and a 5$ another of said gear means comprises one or more idler j 1 2 gears provided on a planetary frame.

2. A reel as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said idler gear(s) are engageable with said hub, and the other of said gear means comprises a pinion member engageable with said idler gear(s). A reel as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said pinion member comprises said third gear means and is connected with, to rotate, said drum.

4. A reel as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein said another gear means comprises a planetary frame provided with a plurality of said idler gears. A reel as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein said hub is positioned at an end of said drum and has teeth or ribs which mash with teeth provided on said idler gear(s).

6. A real as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein said ratio is between 2:1 and 3:1.

7. A reel as claimed in Claim 6 wherein said ratio is 2.5:1. 39 -14- VHF

8. A reel as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein said rotatable handle or crank is provided at a first end of said drum and said gearing is provided at a second end of said drum, said handle or crank being connected to said first gear means by a shaft extending through said drum.

9. A reel as claimed in Claim 8 when dependent on Claim 4 or any one of Claims 5 to 8 when dependent on Claim 4 wherein said planetary frame is fixedly mounted on said shaft and said pinion member is freely mounted about and relative to said shaft and in juxtaposition with said planetary frame. A reel as claimed in Claim 9 wherein end of said shaft extend outwardly from said first and second ends of said drum and have mounted thereon spaced apart arms of a carrier bar mounting frame. S. 11. A reel substantially as hereinbefore described ooo. with reference the accompanying drawings. DATED: 15 March 1990 ot PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: O'BRIEN PLASTICS LIMITED l e ft 39 VHF