GB2152476A

GB2152476A - Cable handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2152476A
Application number: GB08500527A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence John Tranter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-01-12
Filing date: 1985-01-09
Publication date: 1985-08-07
Also published as: GB8400776D0; GB8500527D0

Abstract

A cable dispensing device has a support (10) mounting a fixed abutment assembly (20) at an upper end, and a movable abutment assembly (40) therebelow. Cable (54) is wound in a serpentine path between pulleys (46) on the assembly (40) and pulleys (32,36) on the assembly (20). The assembly (40) is biassed to a lowermost position by a weight (48) so that the cable (54) is withdrawn for use under tension and, when no longer required, the cable (54) is automatically drawn back into the device and stored. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cable handling apparatus The invention relates to apparatusforthe handling of cable, which, as used herein, is intended to embrace electrical cable, cord, flex and mechanical cable, rope and any like flexible elongate body. The apparatus is to provide a reservoir for cable, which takes in slack cable and dispenses cable when required, a certain amount of cable being stored in the device under normal circumstances, i.e. unless all the cable is required.

The invention provides apparatus for use in the handling of cable as hereinbefore defined, the apparatus comprising means for carrying a length of cable in a serpentine path, and a supportforthe carrying means, the latter being adjustable between a first position, wherein a maximum length of cable can be carried, and a second position wherein a minimum length of cable can be carried, adjustment from the first position being effected by withdrawal of cable from a downstream end of the path.

Preferably the carrier means comprises a first abutment assembly fixed on the support, and a second abutment assembly mounted on the support to be movable towards the fixed abutment assembly into the second adjustment position, and away from the latter into the first adjustment position. Movement of the movable abutment assembly towards the fixed abutment assembly allows the length of the serpentine loops to be reduced so that cable can be withdrawn from the free end of the apparatus.

Preferably also means is provided for biassing the second abutment assembly away from the first abutment assembly. The biassing means may be provided by a weight attached to or forming part of the second abutment assembly, the support being arranged to be disposed substantially upright in use with the second abutment assembly below the first abutment assembly.

The abutment assemblies may have respective slip means so arranged that cable can be wound in the serpentine path alternately between the slip means on the respective abutment assemblies. The slip means may be rotatable elements around which cable can be wrapped.

The support may be provided with ground engagement means on one end, such as spikes or tines. Alternatively the ground engagement means comprises a base part of such weight and dimensions as to prevent toppling of the apparatus when disposed substantially upright in use.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic cut-away view of part of the apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of a lower portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, on a reduced scale; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the portion shown in Figure 2.

The apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises an upright shaft member 10, approximately 2 metre high, at the top of which is provided a fixed abutment assembly 20 comprising a socket 22 which receives the top of the shaft 10 and is secured thereto, and a pair of opposed limbs 24a, 24b. The limb 24a has a pair of vertical bores 26 therein, these being provided with plastics bushes 28 to receive a cable 30 threaded therethrough with a tight 180 turn so that any attempt to pull cable from the assembly 20 in the direction of arrow A is prevented. The other limb 24b is bifurcated into two arms between which is mounted for rotation a pulley 32, ends of the bifurcated arms being releasably linked by a small roller 34. The fixed abutment assembly 20 at its centre mounts a further pulley 36.

The upright shaft slidably mounts a movable abutment assembly 40, having a bore 42 therein to receive the shaft member 10. The movable abutment assembly 40 has opposed bifurcated limbs 44a, 446 between the arms of which are mounted pulleys 46.

At the base of the movable abutment assembly there is provided a heavy weight 48. Each of the pulleys 46 has a semicircular groove therein to receive the cable 30.

At the base of the upright shaft member 10 there is provided a base 50 having three spikes 52 as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The apparatus is operated as follows: A cable is threaded in serpentine loops 54 between the pulleys 32,36 and 46 on the apparatus, and the spikes 52 are embedded in the ground. The weighted movable abutment assembly falls to the base of the upright shaft member 10 so that the amount of cable 'stored' in the serpentine loops is four times the height of the apparatus. The secured end 30a of the cable is attached to an electrical power supply and a piece of electrical equipment is connected to the remote free end of the cable. When further cable is required this is pulled from the apparatus and tensioned by the urging of the weight 42. The maximum amount of cable is withdrawn when the movable abutment assembly 40 rises up to abut the fixed abutment assembly 20. When the cable is no longer required the weight 48 will draw it back into the apparatus under constant tension.

The abutment assemblies may be constructed so that they can be dismantled to allow the cable to be strung between them without having to thread it through the arms of the bifurcated limbs one after the other.

Any suitable number of pulleys may be incorporated to provide any desired number of serpentine loops of cable.

The weight 48 may be adjustable and may comprise a container either open or closeable by a door to allow the weight to be adjusted to suit the application. Means such as hooks may be provided for the attachment of extra weights.

The apparatus may be made from any suitable material but is preferably of plastics and metal, and the height of the apparatus may be arranged to suit its application.

Means may be provided for the attachment of guy ropes if desirable, to provide extra stability.

In order to temporarily release the tension in the cable, means may be provided for securing the movable abutment assembly against downward movement, for example by means of a peg or other abutment insertable into a hole in the shaft below the lower abutment assembly.

It should also be appreciated that the apparatus may be utilised in other ways. For example, the apparatus may be fixed to a wall or other support, with no need for any ground engagement means.

The apparatus is then useful 'indoors' to provide storage for cable which needs to be of a length accessible to different locations, such as in hospitals, factories and the like. Suitable mounting attachments can be provided such as brackets, mounting plates and the like for fixing the apparatus to the wall or in a cupboard, etc.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the apparatus may be used with cord, wire or any elongate flexible body and need not necessarily be used for electrical cable.

The base of the apparatus may be provided with, instead of the spiked base 50, a heavy broad base.

The base may incorporate a container within which the cable removed from the apparatus may be stored when the apparatus is not in use or alternatively the free ends of the cable when they are not in use and whilst the loops of cable are still threaded around the pulleys.

The securing of the end 30a of the cable may of course be accomplished in any suitable manner other than that described above. Also the abutment assemblies 20, 40 may be rotatable on the shaft 10.

In another modification, the abutment assembly 40 may be designed to mount the pulleys 46 with their axes at substantially right angles to the axis of the pulley 36 on the abutment assembly 20, rather than parallel thereto as shown in Figure 1. The pulley 32 on the abutment assembly 20 may also be arranged with its axis at substantially right angles to the axis of the pulley 36. With such an arrangement the apparatus is of less width and this can be useful, particularly for storage purposes when not in use.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in the handling of cable, the apparatus comprising means for carrying a length of cable in a serpentine path, and a support for the carrying means, the latter being adjustable between a first position, wherein a maximum length of cable can be carried, and a second position wherein a minimum length of cable can be carried, adjustment from the first position being effected by withdrawal of cable from a downstream end of the path.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier means comprises a first abutment assembly fixed on the support, and a second abutment assembly mounted on the support to be movable towards the fixed abutment assembly into the second adjustment position, and away from the latter into the first adjustment position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second abutment assembly is slidably mounted on the support.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein means is provided for biassing the second abutment assembly away from the first abutment assembly.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the biassing means comprises a weight attached to or forming part of the second abutment assembly, the support being arranged to be disposed substantially upright in use with the second abutment assembly below the first abutment assembly.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the abutment assemblies have respective slip means so arranged that cable can be wound in the serpentine path alternatively between the slip means on the respective abutment assemblies.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the slip means comprises rotatable elements around which cable can be wrapped.

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein means is provided for clamping cable upstream of the serpentine path.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the clamping means is adjustable to accommodate different thickness of cable.

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support has ground engagement means on one end.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the ground engagement means comprises spikes or tines.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the ground engagement means comprises a base part of such weight and dimensions as to prevent toppling of the apparatus when disposed substantially upright in use.

13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein there is provided a chamber for storage of cable.

14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein means is provided for selectively varying the adjustment between the first and second positions.

15. Apparatus for use in the handling of cable, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.