GB2201129A

GB2201129A - Trailer for handling reels

Info

Publication number: GB2201129A
Application number: GB08804054A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Williams
Original assignee: Indespension Ltd
Current assignee: Indespension Ltd
Priority date: 1987-02-21
Filing date: 1988-02-22
Publication date: 1988-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2008-02-22
Also published as: GB8704097D0; GB8804054D0; GB2201129B

Abstract

The trailer comprises a chassis 10 and a cradle 20 pivotably mounted on the chassis about an axis parallel to the axis of the trailer road wheels 12. The cradle can be tilted towards the rear of the trailer to receive a reel 30 which can be rolled into the cradle. The cradle is then moved by a winch into an upright position. A yoke 22 extends over the cradle when in the upright position to prevent the turns of the pipe expanding off the reel. <IMAGE>

Description

TRAILER This invention relates to a trailer and more particularly a trailer for transporting a drum or reel of cable or pipe.

One of the major problems with large reels of cable or pipe is loading them onto a trailer for transport to the place where the cable or pipe is to be used. One solution to that problem is disclosed in British Patent Specification No.2082982 which provides for the reel to be picked up and supported by an axle, about which the reel is rotatable. The lifting of the reel nto position on the trailer is brought about by moving the trailer chassis as a whole. For heavy reels this required considerable effort. Moreover it meant that the trailer had to be unhitched from the towing vehicle on each occasion that a reel was to be loaded thereon.

Some kinds of plastic pipe do not naturally remain wound on a reel. The coils tend to spring outwardly from the reel thus making further unreeling difficult.

In addition it may not be safe to transport the partiaIly unreeled drum with loose coils unless provision is made to restrain the coils -from further movement.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of these problems.

According to the invention there is provided a trailer for a wound drum or reel comprising a chassis, a cradle pivotably mounted on the chassis for movement relative to the chassis between a loading position and a loaded position, means for moving the cradle between the loading position and the loaded position, means in said cradle for supporting the drum or reel therein and for permitting rotational movement of the drum or reel about its axis and relative to the cradle and means extending above the cradle for holding the wound coils onto a drum or reel.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig.l is a diagrammatic side elevation of a trailer with the cradle in the loaded position; Fig.2 shows the trailer of Fig.l with the cradle in the loading position; Fig.3 is a plan view of the trailer of Fig.l; and Fig.4 is a rear end elevation of the trailer of Fig.l.

With reference to the drawings the trailer comprises a chassis 10 mounted on road wheels l2. The chassis is equipped with a conventional jockey wheel 14, adjacent the towing hitch 16 and rearwardly of the road wheels, one or more prop stands 18 which can be raised when the trailer is being moved and lowered in order to steady the trailer when it is being loaded and unloaded. A cradle 20 in the form of an open framework is pivotally mounted on the chassis about an axis parallel to the axle of the road wheels.

The cradle comprises a first substantially triangular frame 21 comprising sides 40, 42 and a base 44 and a second substantially triangular frame 21' comprising sides (not visible in the drawings) and a base 44'. The triangular frames are held in parallel spaced apart relationship by struts 23 having rollers 25 mounted thereon. The cradle is mounted on the chassis so that the triangular frames 21 and 21' are disposed with their major planes substantially vertical and with their apices directed downwardly. The struts 23 and rollers 25 are substantially horizontal.

As can be seen in Fig.2 the apices of the triangular frames are flattened and the sides 40 and 42 are connected by a frame member 46. A similar frame member is provided for the other triangular frame 21.

The struts 23 with rollers mounted thereon are provided at the intersections of the bases 44 and 44' with the respective sides, of the frames and at the intersections of the sides of the frames with the respective frame member 46 and the frame member for frame 21' (not visible in the drawings). The strut and roller extending between the intersection of side 42 and base 44 and the corresponding intersection on the other triangular frame is removable. Further rollers 27 are provided inside the cradle having their axes at right angles to struts A yoke 22 is fixed to the chassis and extends adjacent the sides of the cradle and transversely across the top of the cradle. The height of the yoke is determined having regard to the size of drum or reel to be loaded onto the trailer. Rollers 29 are provided on the inner sides of the yoke 22 with their axes substantially vertical.The cradle is attached by cable 24 to a winch 26 at the forward end of the trailer.

In order to load a drum or reel onto the trailer the cradle is rotated clockwise from the position shown in Fig.l until it rests on the ground at the rear of the trailer. The rear light assembly 28, the removable strut and roller assembly 23, 25, and the guide rollers 36 are removed. A drum or reel 30 is then rolled into the cradle and lodged against rollers 25 at the bottom of the cradle. The removable strut and roller 23, 25 is replaced at the rear of the cradle. Using the winch the'cradle is hauled back to the position shown in Fig.l with the drum or reel therein and fastened in position by a pin 32 which extends between the yoke 22 and the cradle. The rear light assembly 28 and guide rollers 36 are then replaced.

As shown in Fig.l the pipe or cable 34 on the reel or drum is pulled off rearwardly of the trailer through the guide rollers 36 mounted at the rear of the trailer for rotation about a vertical axis. During unreeling, the drum or reel rotates in the cradle by virtue of rollers 25, 27 and 29. The turns of the pipe or cable are held in place by the assembly of cradle and yoke so that they cannot spring outwardly.

Claims

1. A trailer for a wound drum or reel comprising a chassis, a cradle pivotably mounted on the chassis between a loading position and a loaded position, means for moving the cradle between the loading position and the loaded position, means in said cradle for supporting the drum or reel therein and for permitting rotational movement of the drum or reel about its axis and relative to the cradle and means extending above the cradle when in the loaded position for holding the wound coils onto said drum or reel.

2. A trailer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cradle is pivotable about an axis parallel to the axis of the road wheels of the trailer.

3. A trailer as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the means for moving the cradle between the loading position and the loaded position comprises a winch mounted on the chassis.

4. A trailer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for supporting the drum or reel in the cradle comprises one or more rollers.

5. A trailer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein means are provided for securing the cradle in the-loaded position.

6. A trailer substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.