GB2158808A - Drum underolls - Google Patents

Abstract

A drum underoll comprises a generally rectangular frame having one fixed side member having mounted thereon a pair of flanged rollers 20 and the opposite side frame 16 comprising a pivotable beam 23 having thereon a pair of flanged rollers 20. One or more of the rollers may be motor driven. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Drum underolls This invention concerns wire and cable drum underolls.

Drum underolls are used to enable wire or cables to be removed from the drum easily. Underolls usually comprise a generally rectangular rigid frame which rests on a floor or other surface and four rollers two on each side of the frame upon which the drum rims sit so that the drum can rotate. One or more of the rollers may be motor driven to facilitate removal of the wire or cable.

When used on level surfaces such as factory floors drum rims will usually have good contact with all four rollers. However, on uneven surfaces such as on building sites, jacking facilities, in-built or extraneous, are often needed to level the frame in order to obtain good drum to roller contact, This is particularly important with motor driven rollers since if the drum rims do not have good contact with the driven roller(s), slippage will occur.

An object of this invention is to provide a drum underoll which may be used on uneven surfaces without the need for jacking facilities.

According to this invention there is provided a drum underoll comprising a generally rectangular frame having one fixed side member having mounted thereon a pair of flanged rollers and the opposite side frame comprising a pivotable beam having thereon a pair of flanged rollers.

The pivotable beam may be trunion mounted between a pair of side frame members and may be a single member or may be a pair of members fixed generally parallel to each other. Stops may be provided to limit pivotting movement of the beam.

The stops are preferably adjustable and are advantageously sprung.

One or both side members may be movable to increase or decrease the distance therebetween to accommodate different sizes of drums. Also, means for attachment of stays may be provided on side and/or end members of the frame.

To prevent slewing of cable drums during operation one or more stabilisers for the drum may be provided. These stablilisers may take the form of stirrip-like brackets that are pivotable into a position wherein the drum flange is between arms of the stirrup. The stirrup arms preferably include rollers to reduce friction between the drum flanges and the stirrup arms.

In a preferred embodiment the stabilisers are in two parts, the first part being pivotable on the drum underoll frame and the other part having the aforementioned rollers being adjustable relative to the first part to achieve optimum angular contact of the rollers with the drum flange.

Alternatively, where the lifting plates or other objects protruding from the outer edges of the drum flanges preclude the use of the above-mentioned stirrup-like stabilisers, slewing of a cable drum amy be prevented by adjusting the distance between the pairs of flanged rollers, so that the inner flange of each roller lightly contacts the inside face of the drum flanges. Thus the drum can be held directionally, whilst still being able to revolve.

The distance between the pairs of rollers can be adjusted in several ways, such as by lateral movement of one of the roller carrying side frame relative to the other side frame, by lateral movement of the rollers of one side frame, or by lateral movement of the pivotable beam on its trunion mounting. Alternatively stabilisers having only one roller that acts against the inside or outside edge of a drum flange may be provided on the underoll frame.

Another way of preventing slewing of a cable drum could be by supporting the drum at its centre, say by frames preferably triangular attached to both sides of the underoll each of which frames has a boss that engages the centre of the drum flange.

One or more of the flanged rollers may be motor driven but usually only one or both of the rollers on the fixed side member will be motor driven.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a drum underoll; Figure 2 is a part section along the line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section along the line B-B of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a section along the line C-C of Figure 2 showing an alternative arrangements to that of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side view in the direction of arrow 'X' of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a section along the line Y-Y of Figure 5; Figure 7 is an end view in the direction of arrow 'Z' of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a partial side view of a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 is a section along line D-D of Figure 8; Figure 10 is an end view of the embodiment of Figure 8; Figure ii is an end view of an anti-slewing device for the pivotting beam side of a drum underoll;; Figure 12 is an end view of an anti-slewing device for the fixed beam side of a drum underoll; and Figure 13 is a side view of the anti-slewing device of Figure 12.

Referring to the drawings, a drum underoll 10 has a generally rectangular frame comprising end I-girders 13, 14 and side members 15, 16. The side member 15 comprises a base plate 17 and two Csection girders 18 welded to the base plate 17 back to back but slightly spaced apart. Mounted on the side member 15 are two brackets 19 each carrying a trunion mounted flanged roller 20.

The other side member 16 comprises a base plate 21 having two C- section girders 22 welded thereto back to back but spaced apart slightly more than those of the opposite side member. An I- section beam 23 is pivotably mounted between the Csection girders 22 by virtue of trunions 24 the ends of which are rotatable in holes in the C-section girders 22. The beam 23 has two brackets 25 mounted thereon each of which brackets carries trunion mounted flanged rollers 20.

The side members 15, 16 each have a pair of lugs 27 to which diagonal stays can be attached and both end members 13, 14 are provided with additional attachment points 29 so that the side member 15 can be moved closer to the other side member 16 to accommodate a narrower drum.

One of the rollers 20 on the side member 15 is shown connected to a drive motor 30. More rollers can be motor driven or indeed no rollers may be motor driven. Instead of being trunion mounted the drive roller or rollers may be spherically mounted. Spherically mounted rollers have the advantage of maintaining full line contact with drum ring.

An alternative pivotable beam arrangement is shown in Figure 4 wherein pivotable beam 23' comprises a pair of I-section girders 35 mouted in parallel on trunion 36 the ends of which pivotably mounted in C-section girders 22'. Flanged rollers 20' are trunion mounted between back to back Csection side pieces 37 which are in turn fixed to plate 38 which is fixed op top of the two I- section girders 35.

Stops may be fitted under the beam to limit oscillation thereof. The stops may be fixed or adjustable and may also be sprung.

In use a cable drum 40 rests on the rollers 20 and any uneveness of the ground on which the frame sits is compensated for by the pivotting of beam 23. The beam 23 pivots to distribute the drum weight evenly and ensure good contact on all four rollers to limit slippage between the drum rim faces and the rollers. The limiting of slippage is particularly important when one or more of the rollers is motor driven.

When an empty cable drum is mounted on the drum underoll in order to wind on a cable, the winding-on tension could pull the drum off the underoll. To avoid this, restraining straps 50 (see Figure 5) can be passed over a shaft 53 protruding from the drum and fastened at 51, 52 on the side of girder 18. Alternatively, (also shown in Figure 5) a vertical pillar 55 can be fitted to the underoll frame on top which pillar is a free rolling flanged roller 56 which contacts the drum rim to restrain it from moving off the underoll. The pillar 55 may be removable.

Another alternative would be to have triangular frames fastened at 51 and 52 on the sides of girders 18 with the apex of each triangle having a boss that engages a drum boss.

Turning to Figures 8 to 10, for simplicity like parts are numbered as for the earlier Figures and so only differences therefrom are now described in detail. Briefly, however, the pivotable beam/roller arrangement is similar to that shown in Figure 4 except that the side pieces 25' are not of C-section but are more like those numbered 25 in Figure 2.

The main difference between the embodiment of Figures 8 to 10 and the earlier embodiments is the provisions of stabilisers 60 to counteract slewing of the cable drum. Such slewing is undesirable as it can cause the drum to bind against the flanges of the rollers 20'.

Each stabiliser 60 is of stirrup-like formation having a pair of lower arms 61 pivotably mounted each on one of a pair of underoll frame members 22'. The lower arms 61 are bent and angled at approximately their mid-points so that upper portions thereof are closer together than their lower portions but still parallel. Cross braces 62 are provided between the arms 61 for stability. Pivotably attached to the upper ends of the arms 61 are upper arms 63 that carry rollers 64, preferably of hardened steel and with anti-friction bearings, aligned therewith. The angle of the upper arms 63 relative to the lower arms is adjustable over a range by means of a pin (not shown) inserted through the appropriate corresponding holes 67 in the upper ends of the lower arms 61 and the lower ends of the upper arms 63.The positions of upper and lower arms 61 and 63 are chosen so as to give the best angle of contact for the roller 64 on the drum.

Ideally the roller should be along a radius of the drum flange.

For the instances where lifting plates or other protrusions on the outer edges of the drum flanges precludes operation of the rollers 64, it is preferred that the embodiments described herein be modified so tht the distance between the rollers of the opposing side frames can be adjusted. Thus, the rollers of one side frame may be moved so that the inner flange of each roller contacts lightly the inner faces of the drum flanges to hold the drum directionally, whilst allowing it to revolve.

The position of the rollers or the side frames or the pivotable beam could be adjustable in order to achieve this.

Referring finally to Figures 11 to 13 alternative anti-slewing stabilisers to those of Figure 8 to 10 are shown and which are for use when only the rim of the flange is available for contact due to other items being within the rim of the flange on the inside or outside, such as lifting plate protrusions or overfill of cable. The stabiliser of Figure 11 is for the pivotting beam side of a drum underoll and comprises a roller 70 on bearings 72 on an axle 74. The axle 74 is mounted on a plate 76 in turn welded to the ends of a pair of parallel supporting plates 78, 79. These plates 78 and 79 are themselves welded to a further pair of plates 80, 81 at an obtuse angle thereto. The plates 78, 79 and 80, 81 are supported by a cross bracings 86. Each of the further plates 80, 81 is connected to C-section girders 22' (cf.Figure 1) by means of a pair of bolts 83, 84. The bolts 83 are through the lower end of plates 80 and 81 and the bolts 84 are through approximately the mid-point of plates 80 and 81. The bolts 84 have a series of three connection holes 86 in the sides of the girders 22' so that the position of the roller can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of drum flange.

In any of its connection positions the plates 80 and 81 are inclined to the vertical, that inclination and the angle of attachment of the plate 78 and 79 thereto are intended to put the roller 70 in a posi tion where its axis of rotation is aligned with a radius of the drum flange.

The stabilizer of Figures 12 and 13 is almost identical to that of Figure 11 and so like parts have been given the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail. The main difference between the two stabilizers is that in Figure 12 plats 80 and 81 are attached on the inside of plates 78 and 79 and are bent at 90 and 91 to provide a smaller gap therebetween as the stabilizer is intended for the fixed side of a drum underoll which has C-section girders 18' (cf Figure 1) closer spaced than the girders 22' of the pivotting beam side of the drum underoll.

Claims (15)

1. A drum underoll comprising a generally rectangular frame having one fixed side member having mounted thereon a pair of flanged rollers and the opposite side frame comprising a pivotable beam having thereon a pair of flanged rollers.

2. A drum underoll as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotable beam is trunion mounted between a pair of side frame members.

3. A drum underoll as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the pivotable beam is single member of a pair of members fixed generally parallel to each other.

4. A drum underoll as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 having stops to limit pivotting movement of the beam.

5. A drum underoll as claimed in claim 4, wherein the stops are adjustable.

6. A drum underoll as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the stops are sprung.

7. A drum underoll as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein one or both side members is movable to increase or decrease the distance therebetween to accommodate different sizes of drums.

8. A drum underoll as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 also having means for attachment of stays may be provided on side and/or end members of the frame.

9. A drum underoll as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 having one or more drum stabilisers.

10. A drum underoll as claimed in claim 9, wherein the stabilizers are stirrup-like brackets that are pivotable into a position wherein the drum flange is between arms of the stirrup.

11. A drum underoll as claimed in claim 10, wherein the stirrup arms include rollers to reduce friction between the drum flanges and the stirrup arms.

12. A drum underoll as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein in two parts, the first part being pivotable on the drum underoll frame and the other part having the aforementioned rollers being adjustable relative to the first part to achieve optimum angular contact of the rollers with the drum flange.

13. A drum underoll as claimed in claim 9, wherein the drum stabilisers comprise frames attached to both sides of the underoll each of which frames has a boss for engaging the centre of a drum flange.

14. A drum underoll as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein one or more of the flanged rollers is motor driven.

15. A drum underoll substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.