EP1795480B1 - Demountable reel for unwinding of at least a bobbin and method for mounting a reel with simultaneous arrangement of one or several bobbin(s) - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of storage, transport, handling and laying of tubes, sheaths or cables arranged in cores or coils, and used especially in the context of drinking water, gas, telecommunications or of geothermal energy. It relates more particularly to a rechargeable and removable drum.

Such a drum is described in the document US 5,934,606 .

To facilitate their installation and in particular their unwinding or unwinding, the tubes or cables are generally packaged on reels and stored and transported in this form of packaging.

However, there are therefore a number of disadvantages related to the use of existing reels.

Indeed, the empty reels must be returned to an industrial manufacturer said tubes or cables for reloading crown or coil. Thus, the manufacturer must have a stock or large fleet of reels. However, the latter are bulky, cumbersome and heavy, so the manufacturer must also have storage areas adapted to this stock, a management system of this stock and handling equipment to process this stock. In addition, said reels are transported to a position in which one of the flanges component is vertically disposed, which has the effect of limiting the number of drums that can be transported in a trailer and thus increase transportation costs.

For its part, the customer, namely the company setting up on site sites the tubes or cables pre-mounted on reels, must also have a reel management system that is delivered to him and for which he pays a handling fee. rental and immobilization, and a budget for the return transport of empty reels to the manufacturer.

Another known disadvantage is the fact that the manufacturer must provide, for each diameter of tube or sheath, a specific size of reel, so that he must have a large stock of reels whose nuclei or drums have different lengths, which further increases the storage volume required.

In addition, the known reels do not support multiple crowns or coils without appearing entanglement tubes, cables or sheaths constituting said crowns or coils.

The present invention aims to overcome at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks. For this purpose, it relates to a reelable and removable drum for unwinding at least one ring or coil of tube or cable, consisting of two flanges connected together by a core or drum, characterized in that the two flanges are detachable from the core or drum and in that the core or drum has a removable structure.

The invention also relates to a method of mounting a drum with simultaneous introduction of one or more crowns or coils tube or cable, these coils tube or cable may be different in color or in size, according to the specific need of the site.

• La figure 1 est une vue en élévation frontale d'un premier flasque du touret rechargeable et démontable selon la présente invention ;
• La figure 2 est une vue éclatée en élévation frontale du touret rechargeable et démontable selon la présente invention ;
• La figure 3 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un touret selon l'invention sur lequel sont montées deux couronnes ou bobines calées chacune contre un flasque, et
• La figure 4 est une vue schématique en élévation frontale des différentes étapes du procédé de montage d'un touret selon l'invention avec mise en place simultanée d'une ou de plusieurs couronnes ou bobines de tube ou de câble.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which refers to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

• The figure 1 is a front elevational view of a first flange of the reelable and removable drum according to the present invention;
• The figure 2 is an exploded view in front elevation of the reelable and removable drum according to the present invention;
• The figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a drum according to the invention on which are mounted two rings or coils each wedged against a flange, and
• The figure 4 is a schematic front elevational view of the various steps of the method of mounting a drum according to the invention with simultaneous implementation of one or more crowns or coils tube or cable.

As shown in the accompanying figures, the drum 1 rechargeable and dismountable for the unwinding of at least one ring or coil 11 of tube or cable, consisting of two flanges 2 and 3 interconnected by a core or drum 4, is characterized in that the two flanges 2 and 3 are separable from the core or drum 4 and in that the core or drum 4 has a removable structure.

This structure of the drum 1 according to the invention therefore allows, after unwinding of the ring or coil 11 of tube or cable, to completely disassemble, so that it occupies a limited volume. The customer can therefore store the drum 1 according to the invention in disassembled position pending receipt of one or more rings or coils 11.

Thanks to the invention, it is therefore possible for the industrial manufacturer tubes or cables to deliver said tubes or cables in the form of coils or rings 11 to be mounted by the customer on a drum 1 according to the invention. It is therefore no longer necessary to condition the tubes or cables on drums and to transport the assembly thus conditioned.

This provides several benefits. A first advantage relates to the production of crowns or coils only, instead of crowns or reels premounted on reels, which allows to increase the rates and obtain a lower cost. A second advantage is inherent in the transport cost which is reduced, since the crowns or coils alone are less bulky and especially less heavy than the assembly formed by the crowns or reels premounted on reels. In addition, this eliminates the return paths of known empty reels. Finally, the industrial manufacturer of tubes or cables is no longer subject to receipt of empty reels to start the production of its orders, which allows a shortening of delivery times.

According to a feature of the invention, the core or drum 4 may be constituted by spacers 5, 5 '"removably attached at each end 5', 5" to a flange 2, respectively 3. Disassembly the core or drum 4 thus makes it possible, in the disengaged or disassembled state of the drum 1, to obtain a flat structure that can be stacked, since the flanges 2 and 3 preferably have a flat structure. By way of example, the flanges 2 and 3 represented on the Figures 1 and 2 are of tubular constitution, in the form of wheels provided with six spokes, which reduces the weight of the drum 1 and thus facilitate handling. It is of course also possible to make the flanges 2 and 3 in the form of solid discs.

The number of spacers 5, 5 '"can be determined according to the inside diameter of the coil (s) or ring (s) 11 to be mounted on the core or drum 4 of the drum 1, or again depending on the type of tube or cable forming the said coils or crowns 11. It may, for example, be necessary to install additional spacers 5, 5 '' to increase the stiffness of the core or drum 4 in the case of mounting coils or rings 11 having a high weight. In the example shown in the accompanying figures, the core or drum 4 of the drum 1 is constituted by six spacers 5, 5 '".

In order to fix the core or drum 4 on the flanges 2 and 3, a first flange 2 may have, at its inner face 2 ', receiving members 6 of the first ends 5' of the spacers 5, 5 '", these receiving members 6 being formed as end pieces or spacer portions 5, 5 '". Fixing said first ends 5 'in the corresponding receiving members 6 can be achieved by any mechanical system providing the necessary strength, for example by screw-nut assemblies, snap, pinch or clamping. In the same way, the second flange 3 may have, at its inner face 3 ', receiving members 7 of the second ends 5' 'of the spacers 5, 5' ", these receiving members 7 being made in the form of bits or portions of spacer 5, 5 '". Fixing said second ends 5 '' in the corresponding receiving members 7 can be achieved by a quick coupling system 8, for example toggle or pin. For the flanges 2 and 3 of the drum 1 according to the invention shown in the accompanying figures, the receiving members 6 and 7 are fixed at the radii of these flanges 2 and 3.

It is thus possible to provide several sets of spacers 5, 5 '"of different lengths to achieve a drum 1 according to the invention adapting to several widths of coils or rings 11, so that the user can select the length of the spacers 5, 5 '' best suited to the crown or coils to be fitted on the core or drum 4.

However, to avoid having to have spacers 5, 5 '"of different lengths, and to allow to adapt the length of the core or drum 4 to the width of the crown or coils 11 to be mounted on said core or drum 4, the spacers 5, 5 '"may be provided with at least one means for adjusting their length and may have a telescopic structure.

Thus, and advantageously, a single set of spacers 5, 5 '"makes it possible to produce a drum 1 according to the invention that can be adapted to a large number of widths of crowns or coils 11.

Advantageously, the spacers 5, 5 '"may each consist of at least two sections fitted into each other and can be removably locked in a plurality of mutual nesting positions. It is therefore very easy to adapt the drum 1 to any width of crowns or coils 11. It suffices for this to select, on each spacer 5, 5 '", the appropriate interlocking position. between said sections can be achieved, for example, by a set of lugs and corresponding notches made in said sections.

It is also conceivable, to avoid having to have spacers of different lengths, that the drum 1 according to the invention has at least one additional removable flange 12 can be slidably mounted and locked in position on the spacers 5, 5 '" between the two flanges 2 and 3.

This additional removable flange 12 may have a structure identical or not to the flanges 2 and 3. It may for example be in the form of a disc, as shown in FIG. figure 3 , or have a tubular structure such as that of the flanges 2 and 3 shown in FIGS. Figures 1, 2 and 4 .

It thus makes it possible to separate several crowns or coils 11 or to wedge them against one of the flanges 2 and 3 when they do not occupy the entire width of the core or drum 4.

Thus, when a single ring or coil 11 is mounted on the drum 1, such an additional removable flange 12 can wedge against one of the two flanges 2 and 3, which prevents the sliding of said crown or coil 11 on the core or drum 4 and to obtain a uniform and continuous unwinding. It is also possible to provide the mounting of two additional removable flanges 12 on either side of the ring or coil 11 to achieve its centering on the core or drum 4.

In the case where two rings or coils 11 are mounted on the drum 1, it is possible to have two additional removable plates 12 on the spacers 5, 5 '"and to lock them in position so as to wedge each ring or coil 11 against a corresponding flange 2 or 3. Such an arrangement is represented on the figure 3 . It is also possible to wedge the two rings or coils 11 against each other against the flange 2 or 3.

In cases where more than two rings or rolls 11 are mounted on the drum 1, it is possible, on the one hand, to separate the latter by one or more additional removable flanges and, secondly, to wedge the crowns or end coils 11 located at the flanges 2 and 3 against said flanges 2 and 3.

This additional removable flange 12 may be locked in position on one or more cross members 5, 5 '", for example by a screw, a pin, a shim or any other similar fastening means.

To prevent the rotation of the crown or coils 11 on the core or drum 4 during unwinding and ensure uniform unwinding, a spacer 5 '"may have a device 10 for attaching one or more crowns or coils 11 of tube or cable which rotates the crown (s) or coil (s) 11 together with the core or drum 4.

The attachment device 10 may be in the form of one or more chains fixed equidistantly on the spacer 5 '"concerned, at one of their end, said chains having, at their end free, a link adapted to engage with the end of or a tube or cable forming the crown or coils 11 located on the side of the core or drum 4. The figure 2 represents, by way of example, a drum 1 for mounting three rings or coils, having such a fastener device 10 constituted by three chains intended to each retain a ring or coil 11.

1. i) fournir un premier flasque 2,
2. ii) fixer les entretoises 5, 5'" sur ledit premier flasque 2,
3. iii) disposer une couronne ou bobine 11 par emmanchement sur le noyau ou tambour 4 formé par les entretoises 5, 5'", et fixer l'extrémité du tube ou câble formant ladite couronne ou bobine 11 située du côté du noyau ou tambour 4 à l'entretoise 5'" par l'intermédiaire du dispositif d'attache 10,
4. iv) le cas échéant, répéter l'étape iii) pour chaque couronne ou bobine 11 supplémentaire devant être mise en place, et
5. v) fixer un second flasque 3 sur les entretoises 5, 5'".

The invention also relates to a method of mounting a drum 1 with simultaneous introduction of one or more rings or coils 11 of tube or cable. This method comprises the steps of:

1. i) provide a first flange 2,
2. ii) fix the spacers 5, 5 '"on said first flange 2,
3. iii) arranging a ring or coil 11 by fitting on the core or drum 4 formed by the spacers 5, 5 '", and fixing the end of the tube or cable forming said ring or coil 11 located on the side of the core or drum 4 to the spacer 5 '"via the attachment device 10,
4. iv) where appropriate, repeat step iii) for each additional crown or coil 11 to be put in place, and
5. v) fix a second flange 3 on the spacers 5, 5 '".

The figure 4 represents by way of example such a method of mounting a drum 1 with simultaneous introduction of two rings or coils 11. The method consists, in the first place, to have a first flange 2 on the ground (cf. Fig. 4A ). The spacers 5, 5 '"are then fixed on this flange 2 so as to form the core or drum 4 (cf. Fig. 4B ). It is it is then possible to insert, one after the other, on the core or drum 4 thus formed (cf. Fig. 4C and 4D ), two rings or coils 11 not integral and not necessarily identical in color and / or dimension, for example. This step does not require an automated hoist, two people can lift and set up the ring or coil 11 on the core or drum 4. To prevent the crowns or coils 11 slip on the core or drum 4 during their unwinding, after the introduction or fitting of each coil or ring 11, the ends of the tubes or cables forming said crowns or coils 11 located on the side of the core or drum 4 to the spacer 5 '"by through the attachment device 10 (step not shown) Finally, it remains to fix the second flange 3 on the spacers 5, 5 '' forming the core or drum 4 ( Fig. 4E and 4F ).

The method may also consist, in addition, in inserting and locking in position on the spacers 5, 5 '"at least one additional removable flange 12, so as to maintain in position the crown or coils 11 mounted on the core or Drum 4. As already indicated above, it is possible to position one, two or even more such additional removable plates, depending on the specific needs of the site.

The reel 1 rechargeable and dismountable according to the invention thus has a great simplicity of manual assembly and disassembly requiring no specific tool. Its completely removable structure and its relatively low weight allow, moreover, to handle it manually, without the need for a mechanical lifting device. In addition, thanks to the removable structure of the drum 1, during the damage of a part, simply replace the latter.

In addition, the drum 1 is very flexible because it is adaptable to several widths of crowns and several crowns, even of different widths or different diameter of tube or cable. Thus, it is possible to unwind several tubes or cables simultaneously.

Advantageously, the fastening device 10 according to the invention makes it possible to carry out a uniform unwinding, even in the case where several crowns or coils 11 are unwound simultaneously, so that there is no entanglement of loops. tubes or cables during reeling.

The drum 1 according to the invention is entirely removable. The flanges 2 and 3 are detachable from the hub or drum 4 and the latter is thus also completely removable.

Indeed, the spacers 5, 5 '"which compose it can be easily detached or detached from the flanges 2 and 3. Thus, when the reel is disassembled, all the component parts can be stored in a relatively small space: flanges 2 and 3 are stacked, and the spacers 5, 5 '"constituting the hub or drum 4, the latter may for example have a tubular shape.

In addition, the assembly and disassembly of the drum 1 according to the invention are easy because of the existence, on the flanges 2 and 3, receiving members 6, respectively 7, first and second ends 5 'and 5 spacers 5, 5 '", and may not require tools, depending on the type of attachment chosen.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. Rechargeable and demountable reel for unwinding of at least one bobbin (11) of tube or cable, constituted by two flanges (2 and 3) interconnected by a core or drum (4), said two flanges (2 and 3) being separable from the core or drum (4), said core or drum (4) having a demountable structure and being constituted by crosspieces (5,5"') fixed in a detachable manner at each end (5', 5") to a flange (2 or 3),
   a reel characterised in that
   a crosspiece (5"') has a device for attachment (10) of one or more bobbins (11) of tube or cable bringing about connection in rotation of the bobbin(s) (11) with the core or drum (4).
2. Reel according to claim 1, characterised in that a first flange (2) has on its internal face (2') receiving elements (6) for the first ends (5') of the crosspieces (5, 5"'), said receiving elements (6) being realised as end pieces or crosspiece portions (5,5"').
3. Reel according to any one of the claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the second flange (3) has on its internal face (3'), receiving elements (7) for the second ends (5") of the crosspieces (5, 5"'), said receiving elements (7) being realised in the form of end pieces or crosspiece portions (5, 5"').
4. Reel according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the crosspieces (5, 5"') are provided with at least a means of regulating their length and have a telescopic structure.
5. Reel according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the crosspieces (5, 5"') are each constituted by at least two sections coupled one inside the other and which can be locked in a detachable manner in a plurality of positions of reciprocal engagement.
6. Reel according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it has at least one supplementary detachable flange (12) which can be mounted slidingly and locked in position on the crosspieces (5, 5"'), between the two flanges (2 and 3).
7. Reel according to claim 1, characterised in that the attachment device (10) is in the form of one or several chain elements fixed equidistantly on the crosspiece (5"') in question at an end thereof, said chain elements having, at their free end, a link which can engage with the end of the, or a, tube or cable forming the bobbins (11) situated on the side of the core or drum (4).
8. Method for mounting a reel according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, with simultaneous installation of one or more bobbins of tube or cable, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

   i) providing a first flange (2),

   ii) fixing the crosspieces (5, 5"') on said first flange (2),

   iii) providing a bobbin (11) through coupling on the core or drum (4) formed by the crosspieces (5, 5"') and fixing the end of the tube or cable forming said bobbin (11) situated on the side of the core or drum (4) on the crosspiece (5"') through an attachment device (10), and

   iv) if appropriate, repeating stage iii) for each supplementary bobbin (11) which has to be installed, and

   v) fixing a second flange (3) on the crosspieces (5, 5"').
9. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that it also consists of inserting and locking in position on the crosspieces (5, 5"') at least one supplementary detachable flange (12).

Images