GB2080243A

GB2080243A - Reel lifting device

Info

Publication number: GB2080243A
Application number: GB8023949A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Pirelli General Cable Works Ltd; Pirelli General Cable Works
Current assignee: Pirelli General Cable Works Ltd; Pirelli General Cable Works
Priority date: 1980-07-22
Filing date: 1980-07-22
Publication date: 1982-02-03
Also published as: GB2080243B

Abstract

A lifting device for a reel 10 for electrical wire. The device is insertable into the hollow tapering barrel 13 of the reel through a central aperture 11a in an upper flange 11 of the reel, the device having a hand nut 2 manually operable from the exterior of the reel to act through mechanical coupling (links 5, 9) to expand shoes 8 of the device so as to press against the wall of the barrel and wedge the device against withdrawal. The device further comprises a lifting ring 1a (accessible from the exterior of the reel) to enable the device, and hence the reel, to be lifted. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Reel lifting device This invention relates to a device for lifting a reel of electrical wire or the like, intended for example for electrical machines.

A standard type of reel for electrical wire comprises a plastics construction having a hollow barrel tapering upwards and provided with upper and lower flanges, between which the wire is wound around the barrel. In paying-offwire from the barrel, the reel is disposed in its upright position and wire is simply pulled from above the reel in an upwardly direction generally along the axis of the reel, without rotation of the reel.

The reels are loaded with wire in a wire-making or wire-enamelling factory, and are then transported to a factory where the wire is to be used. Transport of the wire within either factory is required. Because the loaded reel is heavy and cumbersome to move, a convenient means for moving it is desirable. One means used hitherto involves gripping the reel at the underside of its lower flange, but this is not always convenient. Another means involves inserting a lifting hook into the hollow barrel through a circular aperture provided in the centre of the upper flange: however, the weight of the loaded reel is then borne by the upper flange itself, where it is engaged by the lifting hook, and the upper flange is accordingly liable to break with the risk of danger to operating personnel.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a reel lifting device, insertable into a hollow tapering barrel of a reel through a central aperture in an upper flange of the reel, the device having a manually operable means which in use lies exterior of reel and which is effective through a mechanical coupling to expand shoes of the device now disposed within the reel so as to press against the wall of the barrel and wedge the device against withdrawal, the device further comprising means exterior of the reel to enable the device, and hence the reel, to be lifted.

An embodiment of invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is side elevation of a lifting device shown inserted into a reel, which reel is shown in section and by dotted lines.

In the drawing, a reel on which the device is used is shown in its usual upright position by dotted lines and referenced 10, and comprises upper and lower flanges 11,12 at the top and bottom of a barrel 13 which tapers linearly towards the top. The upper flange 11 is formed with a central circular aperture 1 la of a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the barrel. The reel is of a standard design and is constructed of plastics material. Wire (not shown) is wound onto the barrel in the wire-forming or wireenamelling factory, and then the loaded reel is transported to a wire-using factory in which wire is paid-off from the reel by pulling the wire from above in an upwardly direction generally along the axis A-A of the reel, without rotation of the reel.

The reel lifting device is shown inserted into and engaged with the reel, and comprises a central shaft 1 provided with a lifting ring la at its upper end, a hand nut 2 threaded onto a threaded top portion 1b of the shaft, and a locating boss 4 slidably disposed on the shaft, with a thrust bearing 3 disposed between the hand nut 2 and the locating boss 4. A cross-bar 1c is secured to the bottom end of the shaft 1, and to its opposite ends the free ends of respective links 9 are journalled.The other ends of the links 9 are journalled to the ends of respective further links 5, the other ends of which are journalled to posts 4a fixed and depending downwards from a top circular flange of the boss 4, which further comprises a cylindrical skirt 4b also depending from its flange and encircling the shaft 1 and the posts 4a. The device further comprises a pair of generally rectangular shoes 8, profiled according to the circular internal periphery of the barrel and provided with central lugs by which they are journalled to the respective links 5,9 at the respective journals between these links. A tension spring 7 acts between the two shoes, adjacent their upper ends, and a collar 6 is secured to the shaft 1 to limit radially inwards movement of the diametrically opposed pairs of links 5 and 9.

The drawing shows the lifting device engaged with the reel for lifting the reel. In order to remove the device from the reel, hand nut 2 is turned by hand in the direction permitting shaft 1 to descend so that the two pairs of links 5,9 move radially inwards towards each other. Spring 7 exercises an inwards force on the top edges of shoes 8. The shaft 1 descends to the extent permitted by the axial movement of the hand nut 2. Firstly the shoes are brought out of contact with the wall of the barrel and eventually they are sufficiently close together to enable them to pass through the aperture 1 la of the reel, so that the device can be raised by a hoist from which it is suspended, and removed from the barrel.

In order to apply the device to a reel to be lifted, the device in collapsed condition (i.e. nut 2 raised and the shoes 8 approached to the shaft) is lowered and inserted into the barrel through the aperture 1 la until the flange of the boss 4 sits on the flange 11 of the barrel. Then the nut 2 is turned by hand to move the shaft 1 upwards, thus moving the shoes 8 radially outwards, under the action of links 5 and 9 and against the tension of spring 7. Eventually the shoes 8 bear against the wall of the barrel at diametrically opposite regions, pivotting about their journals so as to become inclined according to the inclinations of the barrel wall regions against which they are pressed. Because the barrel tapers towards the top of the reel, the reel may now be lifted by way of the lifting ring la, the shoes wedging against the barrel wall.

The cylindrical skirt 46 of the boss is sufficiently long to ensure that it will not withdraw from the aperture 1 la (in the upwards direction) upon any upwards slippage of the device relative to the reel upon initial application of the shoes to the barrel wall. The collar 6 prevents excessive inwards movement of the links 5,9 (upon collapsing the device), to ensure a permanent over-centre arrangement so that downwards movement of the boss 4 will always lead to outwards radial movement of the links and shoes. It will be appreciated that, when lifting the reel using the device shown, the reel will be loaded with wire wound around its barrel: the radially outwards force exerted by the shoes 8 on the barrel wall is countered by the wire wound around the barrel, thus preventing radially outwards deformation of the barrel wall.

It is envisaged that the lifting device might be modified to provide the quick-release feature for rapidly collapsing the device to enable its rapid removal from the reel.

Claims

1. A reel lifting device, insertable into a hollow tapering barrel of a reel through a central aperture in an upper flange of the reel, the device having a manually operable means which in use is manually operable from the exterior of the reel and which is effective through a mechanical coupling to expand shoes of the device now disposed within the reel so as to press against the wall of the barrel and wedge the device against withdrawal, the device further comprising means accessible from the exterior of the reel to enable the device, and hence the reel, to be lifted.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said manually operable means comprises a hand nut threaded on an upright shaft, rotation of the hand nut in one direction causing the hand nut to exert a force on said mechanical coupling such as to expand said shoes as aforesaid.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which said mechanical coupling comprises a set of links pivotally connected to said shaft and to a member which is slidable along said shaft upon rotation of said hand nut, the links carrying at least one said shoe.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said member is arranged to locate within the central aperture of said upper flange of the reel.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which said member comprises a flange from which a cylindrical wall portion depends.

6. A device as claimed in claim 3,4 or 5, in which said links comprise at least one pair of links with first ends pivoted together and to a said shoe and second ends pivotally connected to said shaft and to said member, respectively.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an abutment on said shaft for limiting radially inward movement of said pair of links beyond an over-centre position.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7, resilient means tending to urge upper ends of at least one shoe radially inwards.

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8, further comprising a thrust bearing arranged bet ween said hand nut and said member.

10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9, in which said lifting-enabling means comprises a lifting ring with which said shaft is provided.

11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, provided with a quick-release facility for rapidly con tractingthe shoes away from the wall of the reel barrel to enable rapid removal of the device from the reel.

12. A reel lifting device as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. Creel lifting device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 25.9.81.

Superseded claims 1,12.

New or amended claims:

1. A reel lifting device inserted into a hollow tapering barrel of a reel through a central aperture in an upper flange of the reel, the reel being loaded with electrical wire wound around its barrel, the device having a manually operable means manually operable from the exterior of the reel and effective through a mechanical coupling of the device to expand shoes of the device disposed within the reel so as to press against the wall of the barrel and wedge the device against withdrawal, the device further comprising means accessible from the exterior of the reel to enable the device, and hence the reel of wire, to be lifted.