GB1602004A

GB1602004A - Reel covers

Info

Publication number: GB1602004A
Application number: GB10377/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-03-18
Filing date: 1978-03-16
Publication date: 1981-11-04
Also published as: IT7867600A0; FR2383846B1; NL7802852A; FR2383846A1; ES245901U; ES245901Y; LU79247A1; BE864999A; DE2811608A1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO REEL COVERS (71) I, ROBERT NAKACHE, a French citizen, of 4, due de l'Atlas, 750119 Paris, France, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a cover for the protection and the packing of a cylindrical reel.

Reels such as sheet-metal reels are usually subjected to numerous stresses and impact on handling and require efficient protection during transport from the place of manufacture to the place of use. Mechanical protection units for the reels must in addition be able to act as packing so as to protect the reels in particular from the weather during open air transport or during storage. Moreover, it is a necessary practical requirement that a protection and packing unit for a reel should be at the same time of simple and inexpensive manufacture, and easy to instal.

Finally, protection assemblies must be able to be adapted to reels of different diameters.

According to the invention, there is provided a cover for the protection and the packing of a cylindrical reel having a cylindrical outer border whose diameter is not greater than a predetermined maximum diameter and an inner cylindrical bore or hub of a predetermined radius, said cover comprising a fiat part and an outer cylindrical border made from a metal plate or sheet of relatively small thickness, the fiat part being composed of at least three independent sectors each substantially separated from the other, each solid with the cylindrical border and each extending from the cylindrical border up to a circle defined by the inner end edges of the sectors which extend from the cylindrical border to a point short of the imaginary central axis, thereof, the radius of said circle being slightly greater than the radius of the hub or bore of the reel to be protected, the diameter of the cylindrical border being slightly greater than the predetermined maximum outer dismeter of the reel to be packed, and tne border of the cover being slit throughout its thickness at the zone of one of the separations between sectors of the flat part.

Further according to the invention, there is provided a cover for protecting a lateral end face and end edge of a cylindrical reel having a cylindrical outer border, said cover comprising a flat part and an outer cylindrical border of flexible strip-like form, the flat part being composed of at least three independent sectors each substantially separated from the other, each integral with the cylindrical border and each extending from the cylindrical border up to a circle defined by the inner end edges of the sections which extend from the cylindrical border to a point short of the imaginary central axis thereof, and the border of the cover being slit throughout its thickness at the zone of one of the separations between sectors of the flat part to enable the effective outer diameter of the cover to be varied by over lapplng the ends of the ends of the border defined by the slit.

The cover thus constitutes a single part which is easy to fit into place by fitting together, which permits protection both of the external edge of a lateral face of the reel and also of the lateral face, and is easily adapted to reels of different diameters by overlapping, at the same time, the two ends of the cylindrical border and of the various sectors of the flat part.

Preferably, the various sectors of the flat part of the cover are identical. The sectors may vary in number according to applications.

This number is advantageously comprised between three and ten.

A protection and packing unit includes at least two covers of the type defined hereinabove and intended to be fitted respectively on each of the lateral flat faces of the reel to be protected.

Preferably, the protection and packing unit comprises in addition, two internal plugs associated respectively with each cover, each plug comprising a closed cylindrical portion having a diameter slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the hub or bore of the reel to be protected and an annular flange perpendicular to the cylindrical portion, outwardly directed, and having an external diameter equal to, or greater than the diameter of the circle defined by the inner end edges of the flat sectors of the cover with which the plug is associated.

It is advantageous that a cover and the associated plug should be made from the same piece of metal, the cover being made from an external annular portion of the metal piece and the plug being formed from an internal annular portion contained in the central portion of the metal piece, internal to the external annular portion. This limits material wastage during manufacture and leads to a reduction of the cost price.

With a view to facilitating the use of standard strapping intended to hold the protection elements in position, at least one annular rib is preferably made on the cylindrical border of the covers. Similarly, the application of the annular flange of the plug against the face of the reel, or the sectors of the flat portion of the cover, is facilitated if a stiffening rib is formed on the annular flange of the internal plug at a short distance from its external edge.

When placing the protection elements, first of all a cover is engaged on a lateral face of the reel, the corresponding plug being engaged in the hub or bore of the reel only afterwards and coming then to cover the end of the sectors of the flat portion of the cover.

Moreover, an external protective metal sheet for the cylindrical portion of the reel not covered by the cylindrical borders of the protective covers for lateral protection may be added in standard manner to the protection unit constituted by two covers and two plugs of the type defined hereinabove, so as to make a packing covering the entire surface of the reel.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cylindrical reel provided with a protection unit; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a plug and of a cover when placed on a reel; Figure 2a is a cross-section along line 11A--11A of Figure 2; Figures 3 and 4 are views from above and in elevation respectively showing the cover with its two ends overlapping; and Figure 5 is an axial cross-section of the.

plug.

With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a cylindrical reel 1, for example a sheet metal reel of small thickness provided with a protection unit comprising two covers 2, 2'. Each cover 2, 2' is fitted to a respective end of the cylindrical portion 13 of the reel and covers the external edge of the reel as well as the lateral flat end face of the reel. Each of the covers 2, 2' comprises a flat portion and an external cylindrical border 21, 21' of flexible, strip-like form, made from a metal sheet or plate of small thickness. The flat portion of each cover is composed of several sectors 27 which, in the position of Figure 1, overlap laterally at their adjacent side edges and are connected each to the cylindrical border 21, 21'.The circular covers 2, 2' are slit each along a radius throughout their width, at the level of one of the divisions between sectors 27 of the flat portion, thereby creating free ends 22, 23, and 22' 23'. When the covers 2, 2' are held in position on the reel by ties 40, 41, 42, 43 of the strapping 4, the two free ends 22, 23 and 22', 23' respectively of each cover 2, 2' overlap.

An internal core plug 3 in the form of a sleeve of small thickness and of angle section comprising a closed cylindrical portion 31 and an annular flange 32 perpendicular to the portion 31, is engaged in the bore of the reel 1 or its hub. The annular flange 32 of the plug 3 is directed outwards and covers the inner end of the sectors 27 of the flat portion of the cover 2. The ties 41, 42, 43 of the strapping which hold the covers 2, 2' in place also ensure a firm application of the plug 3 associated with the cover 2 and of the identical plug, not visible in the drawings, associated with the cover 2', against the lateral faces of reel 1 or the ends of the flat sectors of covers 2, 2'.

The cylindrical borders 2l, 21' of the covers 2, 2' are advantageously each provided with a pair of moulded ribs 24, 25, 24', 25' respectively, parallel with the edges of the cylindrical border and facilitating strapping. The cylindrical portion 13 of the reel 1 may itself possibly be covered with a cylindrical protective metal sheet held in position by the strapping 4, in such a manner that the entirety of the reel 1 is protected and packed by means of the assembly of elements constituted bv the two covers such as 2, the two plugs such as 3, a cylindrical metal sheet (not shown), and strapping 4.

The advantages of the protective assembly and particularly of a cover such as 2 will be apparent from the following description given with reference to Figures 2 to 5.

A cover 2, slit throughout its thickness along a radius at the level of a separation between two sectors 27 has two free ends 22, 23 which, at the time of placing the cover on a reel 1 (Figure 2) may be abutting or slightly spaced each from the other. In this condition the edges 28, 29 of two adjacent sectors 27 of the flat portion of the cover 2 are either abutting or slightly spaced each from the other. When the ends 22, 23 of the cover 2 are abutting, the cover 2 has, at the level of the border 21, a diameter slightly greater than the maximum external diameter of the reel 1 to be packed, and the sectors 27 connected to the cylindrical border 21 each extend inwardly from the cylindrical border 21 to a position which is slightly greater than the radius of the hub of the reel 1 or of the central bore of the reel 1.Thus, the free ends 26 of the sectors 27 define, when the edges 28, 29 of the various sectors are abutting, a circle having a radius slightly greater than the radius of the internal edge 11 of the reel 1. The cover 2 fits easily on the lateral face 12 of the reel 1, as, when overlapping of its ends 22, 23, and, consequently, any overlapping of the edges 28, 29 of the sectors 27, is prevented, the cover 2 has always a diameter greater than the outside diameter of the reel to be protected. Once placed on the face 12, the cover 2 may be tightened onto the reel 1 and adapted to the diameter of the latter. It will be sufficient for this purpose to effect a mere overlapping of the ends 22 and 23 of the cover (Figures 1 and 3, 4), the end 23 passing, for example, over the end 22.At the level of each separation between adjacent sectors 27, the side edge 29 of a sector will similarly cover the nearest side edge 28 of the following sector. A total covering of the external edge of the flat face 12 of reel 1 as well as of the flat face 12 itself is thus ensured. Indeed, in the overlapping position of the sectors 27, the free ends 26 of the sectors 27 define substantially a circle whose diameter is almost equivalent to, or slightly greater than the diameter of the internal edge 11 of reel 1.

Each slit separating two adjacent sectors 27 is advantageously made for example by cutting out with shears in such a manner that a light swaging is made in the sheet metal and produces a slight staggering in height of the side edges 28 and 29 each relatively to the other (Figure 2a). Consequently, the various sectors 27 assume, in their portion adjacent to the separation slits, a slight inclination with respect to the overall plane of the cover defined by the substantially circular connection edge of the cylindrical border 21 and of the sectors 27. Thus, when positioning the cover on a reel, at the level of each separation between adjoining sectors 27, the side edge of one sector, such as the edge 29, which is slightly higher than the corresponding edge 28 of the adjacent sector, can cover the latter without difficulty and enable the overlapping of the sectors 27.

The plug 3 has a substantially cylindrical portion 31 whose diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the internal edge 11 of reel 1, and engages easily at the centre of reel 1. The engagement of the plug 3 is further facilitated if the cyilndrical portion 31 is slightly conical, the free end of the portion 31 having the smaller diameter.

The annular flange 32 of the plug 3, has an outer diameter equal to, or greater than the diameter of the bore circle defined by the radially inner edges 26 of the flat sectors 27 of the cover 2 when the ends 22, 23 of the latter are abutting. This flange covers the radially inner ends 26 of the sectors 27 which, in overlapping plosition, define a circle whose diameter is close to that of the edge 11, and thus smaller than the outer diameter of the flange 32 of the plug 3. Thus, the assembly of the cover 2 and plug 3 ensures total protection for the lateral face 12 as well as for the inner and outer edges 11 and 14 of the lateral face 12 of the reel.The inner edge 11 will usually be constituted by the hub of the reel and will have a fixed diameter, in such a manner that the diameter of the cylindrical portion 31 of the plug 3 can correspond exactly to the di mensions of edge 11. On the other hand, the outer diameter of the reel 1, that is to say the diameter of the edge 14 will vary depend ing upon the amount of material wound in the reel. The cover 2, as a result of the flexibility inparted to it by sectors able to overlap, can adapt itself to various outer diameters of reels 1.

The sectors 27 of the flat portion of the covers 2 are preferably identical. The flat part of the cover 2 may comprise, for example, six sectors of 60 each, or four sectors of 90 .

The number of sectors 27 is preferably comprised between 3 and 10. According to an alternative embodiment, the two sectors 27 situated on both sides of the slit defined by the edges 22, 23 may have an angular extent which is less than that of the other sectors to which each of the sectors 27 corresponds, so as to reduce the coming away of the sector limited by this border 23 relative to the sector overlapped limited by the border 22 as these two sectors are of smaller width.

The ribs 24, 25 provided on the cylindrical border of cover 2 as well as a rib 33 formed on the annular flange 32 of the plug 3 facilitate the placing of the ties 40 to 43 of the strapping 4. The rib 33 permits in particular a stiffening of the flange 32 and facilitates its application against the cover 2, or the face 12 of the reel 1 in the event of the plug 3 being engaged on the reel before cover 2, the radially inner ends 26 of sectors 27 of the cover then covering partly the flange 32 of the plug 3.

The cover 2 and its associated plug 3 may be made in simple and inexpensive manner.

In particular, the plug 3 may be made from the same piece of metal or blank as cover 2, which must be perforated at its centre. In this case cover 2, perforated at its centre, is made from an outer annular portion of the blank, while the internal plug 3 is made from an internal annular portion contained in the central portion not used.

The reel protection and packing unit particularly described, is inexpensive, easy to place, and ensures very good protection against impact and weather, while being able to adapt itself to reels of different diameters.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A cover for the protection and the packing of a cylindrical reel having a cylindrical outer border whose diameter is not greater than a predetermined maximum diameter and an inner cylindrical bore or hub of a predetermined radius, said cover comprising a flat part and an outer cylindrical border made from a metal plate or sheet of relatively small thickness, the flat part being composed of at least three independent sectors each substantially separated from the other, each solid with the cylindrical border and each extending from the cylindrical border up to a circle defined by the inner end edges of the sectors which extend from the cylindrical border to a point short of the imaginary central axis thereof, the radius of said circle being slightly greater than the radius of the hub or bore of the reel to be protected, the diameter of the cylindrical border being slightly greater than the predetermined maximum outer diameter of the reel to be packed, and the border of the cover being slit throughout its thickness at the zone of one of the separations between sectors of the flat part.

2. A cover according to claim 2, wherein the sectors of the flat part are substantially identical.

3. A cover according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the number of sectors of the flat part is below ten.

4. A cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cylindrical border is provided with at least one annular rib.

5. A protection and packing unit for a cylindrical reel, comprising two covers according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and intended to be fitted respectively on each of the lateral flat faces of the reel to be protected.

6. A protection unit according to claim 5, further comprising a respective plug associated with each cover, each plug comprising a sub stantiäüy cylindrical portion of a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the reel to be protected and a flat annular flange perpendicular to the cylindrical portion, said flange being directed outwards, and having an outer diameter equal to, or greater than the diameter of the circle defined by the inner end edges of the flat sectors of the cover with which the plug is associated.

7. A protection unit according to claim 6, wherein a rib is formed on the flange of each plug at a small distance from the outside flange.

8. A protection unit according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein each respective cover and its associated plug are made from one and the same piece of metal, the cover being formed from an outer annular portion of the metal piece and the plug being formed from an internal annular part contained in the central portion of the metal piece, internal to said external annular portion.

9. A cover for protecting a lateral end face and end edge of a cylindrical reel having a cylindrical outer border, said cover comprising a flat part and an outer cylindrical border of flexible strip-like form, the flat part being composed of at least three independent sectors each substantially separated from the other, each integral with the cylindrical border and each extending from the cylindrical border up to a circle defined by the inner end edges of the sections which extend from the cylindrical border to a point short of the imaginary central axis thereof, and the border of the cover being slit throughout its thickness at the zone of one of the separations between sectors of the flat part to enable the effective outer diameter of the cover to be varied by overlapping the ends of the ends of the border defined by the slit.

10. A cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A protection unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. place, and ensures very good protection against impact and weather, while being able to adapt itself to reels of different diameters. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A cover for the protection and the packing of a cylindrical reel having a cylindrical outer border whose diameter is not greater than a predetermined maximum diameter and an inner cylindrical bore or hub of a predetermined radius, said cover comprising a flat part and an outer cylindrical border made from a metal plate or sheet of relatively small thickness, the flat part being composed of at least three independent sectors each substantially separated from the other, each solid with the cylindrical border and each extending from the cylindrical border up to a circle defined by the inner end edges of the sectors which extend from the cylindrical border to a point short of the imaginary central axis thereof, the radius of said circle being slightly greater than the radius of the hub or bore of the reel to be protected, the diameter of the cylindrical border being slightly greater than the predetermined maximum outer diameter of the reel to be packed, and the border of the cover being slit throughout its thickness at the zone of one of the separations between sectors of the flat part.