GB2183600A - Coiled pipe dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for dispensing pipe from a coil of pipe has arms (12) extending from a rotatable braked hub (10) which is mounted, in one embodiment, on a trailer (52). Each arm is provided with a coil-supporting cross-member (14) which extends perpendicularly therefrom, and the end of each cross-member is provided with a slidable, clampable coil-retaining bar (18). The bars are retractable to allow a coil to be placed on the device and extensible to secure the coil on the device. Pipe is dispensed between trailer rollers (58) which are moved together to clamp the pipe. One of the cross-members (14) is pivotable in order to facilitate positioning of the coil. In a different embodiment (Figures 4 and 5, not shown), all the cross-members are pivotable inwards by movement of a sleeve along the hub. In a further embodiment, (Figure 3, not shown), the position of the cross-members (14) is adjustable along their associated arms to accommodate coils of different sizes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Coiled pipe dispenser The invention relates to a device for dispensing a length of elongate material from the coil of the same, and in particular, but not exclusively, fordispensing a length of plastics pipe.

After manufacture, lengths of pipe, e.g. plastics pipe, are usually wound into a coil in order to facilitate handling, storage and transportation. The pipe is held in a coil by means of a plurality of cords or ropes tied around the coil atvarious circumferential positions. However, when it is desired to use the pipe it is necessary to be able to dispense it quickly, easily and safely, and preferably without having to wind the pipe onto a large, pivotally mounted bobbin.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a devicefordispensing a length of pipe, tubing or other elongate material from a coil of the same, the device comprising a rotatably mounted core, a plurality of arms extending from the core, a coil supporting portion extending from each ofsaid arms and a coil retaining portion coupled to each of said coil supporting portions, the said coil retaining portion being movable between a first, retracted coilmounting position in which a coil of elongate material may be located on the coil supporting portion and a second, extended, coil-retaining position in which the coil may be retained between the coil retaining portion,thecoil supporting portion and the arm.

Preferably, the arms extend radially from the core.

Preferably, in use, each coil-supporting portion is positioned or positionable substantially perpendicularto its associated arm, and preferably each coil-retaining portion is positionable substantially perpendicularly to its associated coil-supporting portion.

Preferably, in use, the axis of rotation of the device is substantially horizontal.

In a preferred embodiment, at leastonecoil- supporting portion is movable with respectto its associated arm.

There may be three or more arms on the device, and preferably the device is mounted on a trailer.

By way of example only specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view from one side and ahove of a first embodiment of a coil dispensing device according to the present invention; Figure2 is a cross-section view in the direction of arrows Il-Il in Figure 1; Figure3is a view similarto that of Figure 2, of a second embodiment of a coil dispensing device according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of coil dispensing device according to the present invention, in a first, dispensing configuration; and Figure 5is a perspective view ofthe embodiment of Figure 4, in a coil loading configuration.

The embodiment of pipe dispenser illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a hub 10, similartothat found on a motorvehicle, complete with its bearing and internal drum brake (not visible). Equally spaced apart around the hub, at 1200 intervals, and extending radiallyfrom it, are three supporting arms 12, comprising square-section steel tubing. The arms 12 are welded to the hub 10, and also to a metal annulus 13 which is secured to the hub. From each of two of the arms 12, a cross-member 14 of steel tubing extends perpendicularly to the arm 12 and atthe end of the cross-member 14there is a square-section tube 16 within which a square, steel retaining bar 18 is movable parallel to the associated arm 12.The retaining bars 18 may be fixed in different longitudinal position in the tube 16 by means of a hand-operably bolt 20 passing through a screw-threaded hole in one face of the tube 16 and bearing on the bar 18. The bars 18 are provided with feet 19 at each end to pre ventthemfrom passing through the tube 16 completely. Reinforcing struts 22 extend from the wheel hub 10tithe square-section tube 16, and these in turn are reinforced bysubstantiallytrapezoidal metal plates 24 welded to the arms 12, the struts 22 and the hub 10.

On the other arm 12a, the cross-member 1 4a is hingedlyattachedtothearm 12a at pivot26, and as above is provided with square-section tube 16, re taining bar 18 and bolt 20 atthe end remotefromthe pivot 26. At the junction of the cross-member 14a and tube 16 is positioned a second pivot 28, to which is attached one end ofaturnbuckle coupling 30,the other end ofthe coupling 30 being hingedlyattached to the arm 12a at pivot 32. Theturnbuckle coupling comprises two rods 34, 36, one of which hasaleft- hand thread and the other of which has a right-hand thread.The two ends ofthe turnbuckle 38 are com plementarily threaded, such that rotation of the turnbuckle 38 causes the rods 34,36 to move towards or away from each other which causes the crossmember 14a to pivot about its pivot 26 clockwise or anticlockwise (as seen in Figure 2) respectively. This feature facilitates the positioning of a coil of pipe on the dispenser, as will be explained hereinafter.Are- inforcing struct 40 extends between the hub 10 and the arm 12a which is reinforced with a triangular plate 42 welded to the hub 10 and the arm 12a.

The above construction is rotatably mounted on a spindle 44which is positioned on top of a support46 comprising four parallel upright, rectangularsectioned steel spars 48 arranged in square formation and inter-connected by short steel crossmember 50. The support 46 is secured fixedly to the framework of a trailer 52, which isgenerallycon- ventional in construction and will not be described in detail. Two supporting struts 54, 56, extend between the trailer and the support 46. Atthe rear of the trailer 52 are two rollers 58 extending across the trailer, whose distance apart may be varied. In use, pipe is fed through the rollers when being dispensed, and the rollers are then tightened to enable tension to be applied to the end ofthe pipe without rotating the dispenser.The trailer is also provided with four extensible jacks 60, upon which the trailer rests when in use.

In use, the brake in the hub ofthe dispenser is applied and the three retaining bars 18 are withdrawn radially inwardly as far as possible, towards the axis of rotation and are secured in position by means of the bolts 20. The retaining bars 18 are prevented from slipping through the tubes 16 by means ofthe feet 19 at both ends of the bars 18. The turnbuckle 30 is rotated to pivot the cross-member 1 4a clockwise (as seen in Figure 2) so that it is turned inwardly. A coil of pipe 62 is then placed onto the supporting arms 12, l2aand is secured thereon by moving the retaining barsl8radiallyoutwardlytotheirfullest extent and securing them in place with bolts 20. The coil of pipe is thus secured between the ends of arms 12, l2athe retaining bars 18 andthecross-member 14,14a.

It will be appreciated that the cross-member 1 4a will be obliquely inclined to the axis of rotation ofthe dispenser, and thus facilitates fitting the coil of pipe in position on the dispenser, especially if the coil has a smallest diameter which is only slightly greater than the diameter ofthe circle on which the cross member 14,1 4a lie. Once the coil is in position,the turnbuckle 38 may be rotated in the opposite direc tion to bring the cross-member 1 4a substantially per- pendiculartothe arm 12a.

The trailer may then be attached to a vehicle by means of a conventional tow-bar linkage 64 and driven to the required site. When it is required to dispense the pipe, the jacks are applied to supportthe trailer,the brake in the hub is releasedandthefree end ofthe pipe is fed in between the rollers 58. As the pipe is dispensed, the dispenser rotates, feeding out the pipe. If it is desired to apply tension to the free end ofa given length ofthe pipe, the pipe is clamped between the adjustable rollers 58 so that the applied tension will not cause further lengths of pipe to be dispensed.

In an alternative embodiment which is particularly suitable for lighter coils than in thefirst embodiment and which is illustrated in Figure 3, the construction is generallysimilarto that in the first embodiment, exceptthatthe hub 10 is replaced with a lighter hub 10', the struts 22,40 are dispensed with and the cross-members 14 are shorter and are not fixedly connected to the arms 12. Also, an extra reinforcing cross-member 14' is provided. The cross-members 14,14' are each attached to a square-section steel tube 64 which fits around the arm 12 and which may be slid along the arm 12 and secured at different radial positions by means of hand-operable bolts 66.

Afoot 68 on the end of each arm 12 prevents the tubes 64 from falling offthe arms. Since the effective diameter of the dispenser may be varied easily and quickly in order to be able to accommodate coils of different sizes, the pivoted cross-member 14a ofthe first embodiment is no longer provided, but it should be appreciated thatthis pivoting arm arrangement may be used in this embodiment if required.

The second embodiment is used by adjusting the position ofthetubes 64 on the arms 12, according to the size of coil to be dispensed, retracting the retaining bars 18 radially inwardly, positioning the coil on the cross-members 14 and then extending the retaining bars radially outwardly to secure the coil on the dispenser.

The third embodiment, illustrated in Figures 4and 5, is also particularly suitable for dispensing relatively light coils but may, of course, be used to dispense heavier coils if desired. The device illustrated isfree-standing but may equallywell be mounted on wheels or on a vehicle to render it more easilytransportable. The device comprises a central, cylindrical spindle 70, from one end of which extend four equ- ally-spaced arms 72 of square cross-section. The spindle is mounted on a vertical support member74 which is secured to a horizontal base 76 having two parallel feet 78, one at each end of the base 76. Two L-section reinforcing struts 80 extend between the base 76 and the support member 74.

Each arm is provided with a cross-member 82 pivotally mounted thereon, and one end of a reinforcing strut 84 is pivotally connected to the other end ofthe cross-member 82. Each reinforcing strut is pivotally attached to a sleeve 86 which is slidably mounted on the spindle 70 and which is securable in different axial positions on the spindle by means of a hand-operable bolts8 which passes through a threaded hole in the sleeve and bears on the spindle 70. By moving the sleeve towards the support member 74, the four cross-members 82 pivottowards the central spindle 70, and by moving the sleeve away from the support member 74 to its furthest extent, the crossmembers pivot until they are perpendicularto the arms 72.The pivots connecting the struts 84 and the cross-member 82 are each also provided with a re tainingbar90which may be pivoted by hand through a full circle. The device is also provided with a locking device 91, comprising a plate pivotally mountedonthetopofthesupportmember74and provided with a cut-out shaped to receive an arm 72.

In use, the locking device 91 is applied and the retaining bars 90 are movedto lie adjacenttheir respective cross-members 82, as illustrated in Figure 5, allowing a coil of pipe to be loaded ontothedispenser. In order to facilitate loading, the sleeve is moved towards the support member74and is secured in position on the spindle 70, which movement causes the cross-member 82 to pivot radially inwardly and to allow easier positioning of the coil, es pecial Iy if the diameter of the coil is only slightly greater than the diameter ofthe circle on which the cross-members are pivotally mounted on the arms 72. The retaining bars are pivoted through 270 to secure the coil on the dispensing device, and the sleeve is moved to its axially outermost position to bring the cross-members 82 perpendicular to their associated arms 72.

The retaining arms are not secured in position, but remain in a desired position because of the tightness ofthe pivots. Extra securing means are not required since the pipe coils are usually relatively light. However, if necessary, a different means for allowing the loading of a pipe coil, such as in one ofthe previous embodiments, may be used.

Indeed, it will be appreciated thatfeatures ofthe three different embodiments can be used in different combinations to produce a dispenser with the desired characteristics.

Claims (14)

1. A device for dispensing a length of pipe, tubing or other elongate material from a coil ofthe same, the device comprising a rotatably mounted core, a plurality of arms extending from the core, a coil supporting portion extending from each of said arms and a coil retaining portion coupled to each of said coil supporting portions, the coil retaining portion being movable between a first, retracted, coilmounting position in which a coil of elongate material may be located on the coil supporting portion and a second, extended, coil-retaining position in which the coil may be retained between the coil retaining portion,thecoil supporting portion andthe arm.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the arms extend substantially radially from the core.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein atleastoneofthecoil supporting portions is substantially perpendicular to its associated arm.

4. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one ofthe coil supporting portions is adjustable to vary its inclination relative to its associated arm.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each coil supporting portion is adjustable.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the or each adjustable coil supporting portion is pivotally mounted on its associated arm.

7. Adevice as claimed in claims 4to 6,wherein the device comprises a turnbuckle to vary the inclination.

8. A device as claimed in any of claims 4to 7, wherein atleastone-coil supporting portion is connected to a sleeve which is movable along a bar which is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the device.

9. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the or each coil-retaining portion is movable linearly between the first, retracted, coil-mounting position and the second, extended, coil-retaining position.

1U. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, in which the or each coil-retaining portion is rotatable between the first, retracted, coil-mounting position and the second, extended, coil-retaining position.

11. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the coil-supporting portions are movable along the arms in orderto be able to accommodate coils of different sizes.

12. Adevice as claimed in any of claims 1 toll, wherein, in use, the axis of rotation of the device is substantially horizontal.

13. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the device is mounted on a trailer.

14. A device for dispensing a length of pipe, tubing or other elongate material, substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 2, Figure3 or Figures 4and 5 ofthe accompanying drawings.