GB2090578A - Spool for mounting a coil of flexible pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

A spool for mounting a preformed coil of plastics pipe comprises a central hub 1 and two groups of three legs 2A, 2B and 2C extending radially outwardly from the hub 1 and forming two skeleton-like flanges, only one being shown. Adjacent legs in each group are arranged as radially parallel pairs and each pair of legs is provided with a coil support 21 extending parallel to the hub and radially adjustable relative thereto. The legs 2A, 2B and 2C of one group are each in two portions, there being a radially innermost portion 14 secured to the hub 1 and a radially outermost portion 15 detachable from the innermost portion 14. The coil 23 is mounted on the spool by detaching the portions 14 from the portions 15 so that the coil 23 can be mounted on the supports 21, the detached portions 14 then being replaced. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in spools The present invention relates to a spool for mounting a coil of material, particularly a coil of flexible pipe or tubing of a plastics material such as polyethylene for use as a fluid carrying main particularly a gas main.

Increasingly the older domestic gas mains which are of cast iron are being replaced by plastics mains of, for example, polyethylene and where new domestic mains are being layed these are invariably of plastics also. These plastics mains are generally supplied by the manufacturer to the customer in the form of a coil whose turns are bound together with reinforced plastics tape so that the coil retains its shape. At present these coils are manhandled onto a truck or lorry and are then taken to the site of the mains-laying operations. They are then manhandled from the truck or lorry and are uncoiled for use. Usually they are then cut into discrete lengths for use.

Clearly the above operations are very labour intensive and time consuming and it is an object of the present invention to provide means enabling the transportation and use of the coil to be performed more efficiently.

According to the present invention there is provided a spool for mounting a coil, the spool including a central hub and two groups of at least three legs extending radially in the manner of spokes from the hub and the groups being spaced from each other along the hub, the legs in at least one group having a radially innermost portion connected to a radially outer portion in such a way that the radial length of each leg can be reduced.

Preferably the radially outer portion of each leg is detachable from the radially innermost portion.

Suitably each leg in one group extends radially parallel to an adjacent leg in the other group to form an adjacent radially parallel pair of legs.

Conveniently, each pair of legs is provided with a support radially spaced from the hub for supporting the inner turns of the coil. In this case the radial spacing from the hub of the coil support may be adjustable.

Preferably each pair of legs is provided with means outwardly radially spaced from the coil support for inhibiting any radially outward displacement of the coil from the spool. Suitably these means are radially adjustable relative to the spool hub.

Conveniently a base is provided for engaging each pair of legs to enable the engaged legs to be supported in an upright position so that access can be gained to the remainder of the spool for any desired purpose.

An embodiment of the invention will now be particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the spool showing a coil, in outline, in position thereon and Figure 2 shows an end elevation, from the left hand side of the spool shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the spool comprises a central hub 1 from which extending radially in the manner of spokes are two groups 2 and 3 of cylindrical legs, there being three legs in each group. The first group 2 of legs is spaced from the second group 3 along the hub 1 and as shown in Figure 1 with reference to the legs 2A, 2B and 2C the legs in each group are equiangularly spaced around the hub 1. While not shown it will be appreciated that the legs in groups 3 are similarly equiangularly spaced from each other (two such legs 3A and 3B are shown in Figure 2).

The hub 1 comprises a central cylindrical spindle 4 extending through and fitting within a sleeve 5 on which the groups 2 and 3 of legs are mounted. The sleeve 5 has flanged ends 6 and 7 and between these ends 6 and 7 are located a pair of spaced washers 8 and 9 welded to the outer surface of the sleeve 5 as shown in Figure 2. Each flanged end 6 and 7 forms a recess 10 and 11 with its respective adjacent washer 8 and 9, the recesses 10 and 11 serving as guides for suitable support forks or levers for supporting the spool for transport or in use.

Referring to Figure 2 each of the radially inner ends of the legs is shaped with a suitable concavity to enable each leg to abut with the peripheral outer surface 12 of the sleeve 5 to which the inner ends of the legs are welded, the legs also abutting with the respective adjacent washers 8 and 9. Each leg in group 2 extends radially parallel to an adjacent leg in group 3 so that the legs form adjacent radially parallel pairs of legs.

Thus in Figure 2 legs 2A and 3A form a respective leg pair 1 3A and legs 2B and 3B form a respective leg pair 1 3B while leg 2C (shown in Figure 1) forms a similar pair of radially parallel legs with a further leg (not shown) in group 3.

Each leg in group 2 has a radially innermost tubular portion 14 secured to the sleeve 5 and a radially outermost solid cylindrical portion 1 5 detachable from the innermost portion 14 which each leg in group 3 is of integral tubular section.

The portion 1 5 comprises an inner end 1 6 slidably and closely fitting within the tubular portion 13 and an outer end 1 7 of outer diameter equal to that of the tubular portion 14. The tubular portion 14 is provided with an aperture (not shown) in its wall 1 8 at a point as shown in Figure 1 which lies adjacent the inner end 1 6 of the portion 1 5 when this is in a position on the tubular portion 14. The aperture communicates with the threaded bore of a captive nut 19 which is secured to the wall 18 by welding and the nut 1 9 receives a bolt 20 which when screwed into the nut 1 9 engages with the inner end 1 6 of the portion 1 5 to lock it in position within the innermost portion 14.

Each of the respective pairs of legs is provided with a support 21 radially spaced from the hub 1 for supporting the inner turns 22 of a coil 23 as shown more clearly in Figure 2. The support 21 comprises two tubular members 24 and 25 forming a T piece with the transverse coil engaging member 24 arranged parallel to the hub axis being welded to the upright member 25 of the T. Two radially spaced U shaped channel members 26 and 27 extend between each pair of legs in a direction parallel to the transverse member 24 and each of the channel members 26 and 27 are welded at their ends to the legs. So far as the legs in group 2 are concerned the members 26 and 27 are welded to the innermost tubular portions 14 of the legs.Extending from each of the bases 28 and 29 of the U-shaped members 26 and 27 are guides 30 and 31 for receiving the upright member 25 of each of the supports 21. Each guide 30 and 31 comprises a channel member having a pairoftrapezoidal side plates 32 and 33 as shown in Figure 1 and a base 34 connecting the narrowest edge of the plates 32 and 33. The plates 32 and 33 are welded to the base 28, 29 of each U-shaped member 26 and 27 by way of the widest edge of each plate 32 and 33.

Each of the plates 32 and 33 of the guides 30 and 31 is provided with an aperture to slidably receive the upright member 25 of the support 21 and all the apertures in the plates 32 and 33 of the guides 30 and 31 are radially aligned. In each pair of guides 30 and 31, that which is radially nearer to the hub 1, guide 31 in the drawings, is provided with a cranked locking arm 35 with a threaded portion 36 extending through a threaded aperture in the base 34 of the guide 31. This enables the portion 36 to engage the upright member 25 of the support 21 and lock the support 21 in an selected position on the guides 30 and 31 upon suitable rotation of the arm 35. Each support 21 can therefore be moved within the guides 30 and 31 to adjust its radial spacing from the hub 1 and can be locked into position when the desired adjustment has been made.

Each pair of legs is also provided with an arm 37 which is outwardly radially spaced from each coil support 21 and which, in use, inhibits or prevents any outward radial displacement of the coil from the spool. The arm 37 extends between each of the legs in each adjacent pair of legs and comprises a tube 38 which is welded adjacent its ends to a pair of clamping members 39 and 40, each of which are slidably received on a leg. The clamping members 39 and 40 comprise U-shaped channel members in which the limbs 41 and 42 of the U are provided with apertures slidably to receive the legs and the tube 38 is welded to the arms 41 and 42. The base 43 of the U is provided with a screw threaded aperture for receiving a threaded portion 44 of a cranked locking arm 45.

The threaded portions 44 of the arms 45 can be engaged with a leg by suitable rotation of the cranked arm 45 so that the arm 37 is locked into position between the respective pair of legs. By releasing the cranked locking arms 45, the arm 37 can slide on the legs so that its radial position relative to the hub 1 and the support 21 can be adjusted.

A base 46 is provided for engaging each of the pair of spool legs (in the figures the base 46 is shown engaging the leg pair 1 3B) so as to enable the enged legs to be supported in an upright position. As shown in Figure 2 in broken lines, the base 46 comprises two support feet 47 and 48 connected by a strut 49, each foot 47 and 48 having a socket 50 to receive the end of each leg as shown in Figure 1.

In order to mount a tied coil for transportation to site, the base 46 is first fitted to a pair of the legs, for example, pair 1 3B in Figure 2 and the spool is rocked so that the leg pair 1 3B is in a vertical position supported on the base 46 and the other pairs of legs 1 3A and 1 3C are disposed in mid-air for access. The locking arms 45 are released to enable arms 37 to be removed from the leg pairs 1 3A and 13C. The bolts 20 are then released from engagement with legs 2A and 2C and the detachable leg portions 1 5 of the legs 2A and 2C are removed from the inner leg portions 14.

The coil is then placed upon the supports 21 of leg pairs 1 3A and 13C.

Once in position on the supports 21 the detachable leg portions 15 and the arm 37 are replaced on the legs 1 3A and 1 3C and the portions 1 5 and arms 37 are locked into position.

The spool is then rocked to a new position enabling the base to be removed from legs 1 3B and if necessary the spool is rocked again to enable one of the leg pairs 1 3A or 1 3C to be fitted with the base 46. The spool is then rocked to a position where either leg pair 1 3A or 1 3C is upright on the base 46 so that leg pair 13B is accessible. As previously, arm 37 is removed from leg pair 2B and the coil is pushed home over support 21. The leg portion 15 of leg 2B and the arm 37 are then replaced and locked into position.

It will be appreciated that the radial displacement of the supports 21 from the hub 1 can be adjusted either before or after the coil is fitted onto the spool, the extent of radial displacement being dependent on the diametric distance between the inner turns of the coil.

Preferably the adjustment is performed after the coil has been mounted on the spool as shown in Figure 1. Here the support 21 on leg pair 1 3A has been moved radially outwardly from a position in broken line, by releasing the locking arm 35, to a position in full line where the support 21 is once again locked into position by the arm 35.

Suitable co-operative adjustment of the supports 21 allows these to engage and firmly hold the coil 23 in position on the spool.

The spool now carrying the mounted coil 23 can be transported to site on a suitable truck or trailer having forks or levers to engage with the recesses 10 and 11 on the sleeve 5 of the hub 1.

A suitable trailer is described and shown in UK Patent Specification No. 25699. If the forks or levers are suitably designed the spool can with relatively little manual effort be rocked into position on the forks or levers for transport to site.

Similarly if the forks or levers are suitably designed the coiled pipe, in use on site, can be reeled out from the spool without having to remove the coil or the spool from the truck or trailer, thus again reducing the amount of manual effort required in performing the task of mains laying.

The arms 37 inhibit any radially outward displacement of the coil 23 from the spool during reeling out. More importantly the arms 37 prevent such displacement in the case where the axial section of the pipe expands when the pipe is pressurised for resting while in position on the spool.

Claims (9)

1. A spool for mounting a coil, the spool including a central hub and two groups of least three legs extending radially in the manner of spokes from the hub and the groups being spaced from each other along the hub, the legs in at least one group having a radially innermost portion connected to a radially outer portion in such a way that the radial length of each leg can be reduced.

2. A spool as claimed in Claim 1 in which the radially outer portion of each leg is detachable from the radially innermost portion.

3. A spool as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which each leg in one group extends radially parallel to an adjacent leg in the other group to form an adjacent radially parallel pair of legs.

4. A spool as claimed in Claim 3 in which each pair of legs is provided with a support radially spaced from the hub for supporting the inner turns of the coil.

5. A spool as claimed in Claim 4 which the radial spacing from the hub of each coil support is adjustable.

6. A spool as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 in which each pair of legs is provided with means outwardly radially spaced from each coil support for inhibiting any radially outward displacement of the coil from the spool.

7. A spool as claimed in Claim 6 in which the means for inhibiting the radial outward displacement of the coil from the spool is adjustable radially relative to the hub.

8. A spool as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which a base is provided for engaging each pair of legs to enable the engaged legs to be supported in an upright position so that access can be gained to the remainder of the spool for any desired purpose.

9. A spool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.