GB2277509A

GB2277509A - Reel support stand

Info

Publication number: GB2277509A
Application number: GB9307192A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stringer
Original assignee: CABLECO DUPLEX Ltd
Current assignee: CABLECO DUPLEX Ltd
Priority date: 1993-04-06
Filing date: 1993-04-06
Publication date: 1994-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2013-04-06
Also published as: AU6288894A; GB9307192D0; EP0714375B1; DE69406934T2; WO1994022753A1; DE69406934D1; EP0714375A1; GB2277509B

Abstract

A support stand for supporting a plurality of cable reels includes a base 11 and opposed walls 12, 13 hinged to the base 11 for movement between erect "operative" positions and transport positions folded flat with the base. The upper edges of the walls are formed with notches in which the ends of red spindles are releasably fitted. A handle may be provided for rotating a spindle which may carry a pair of discs (42 and 43, Fig. 3a, not shown) movable into gripping engagement with a reel. The discs may carry dome-shaped friction pads which have a centring action on a reel which they engage. <IMAGE>

Description

Field of the Invention THIS PRESENT INVENTION RELATES TO A TRANSPORTABLE, FOLDABLE STAND WHICH WILL ACCOMMODATE A PLURALITY OF BOBBINS OR REELS ON WHICH ELECTRIC CABLE OR OTHER SIMILARLY COILED MATERIALS MAY BE SUPPORTED AND REELED OR RELEASED.

Background to the Invention Persons engaged in the installation of electrical cables to supply power to equipment and apparatus in buildings are often required to run different lengths of different sizes or capacities of cable over a plurality of supply routes.

Personnel delivering, transporting or installing such cables operates from customised vehicles and are required to manually move a plurality of reels of cable from such vehicles to the sites of installation, which will include mounting stairways in multi-storied buildings, along confined passageways and even to numerous out buildings at isolated research stations - not excluding ship construction, laboratories, universities, schools and colleges. Installation of single or multi-core cables present problems which delay completiotimes and include coping with cable reels which are damaged and will not unreel satisfactorily or which require to be measured while being transferred from one stock reel on to another.

Problems also occur when a plurality of cables have to be reeled off simultaneously and have to be harnessed together for ducting or 'ganged'for installation or suspension in confined spaces. Difficulty is also experienced when cable reels vary in dimension and carrying capacity and have to be reeled off simultaneously.

It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a stand which is easily portable and is foldable for ease of transportation. The stand will support a plurality of metal bars on different horizons along the angular edges of the stand which will then carry a plurality of reels of cable which may be of similar or varying dimensions.

The stand is ccmprised of a flat metal or other material base which is free standing and supports hingedly on two sides, metal, or other material, equilaterally shaped uprights into which have been cut a plurality of slots to accept and support metal shaftings on which reels of cable may be placed. The shaftings lie horizontally across the two uprights and will be orientated at different horizons so that the cable from the reels may be drawn off without entanglement one with the other. Vertical stability for the hingedly attached uprights is provided by round metal or other sectioned struts which brace the uprights against the base and which may fold inwards to lie within the base when the stand is in its collapsed state for transportation.

A feature of the support shaftings is that they may be of square or round section shape and are provided with end projections which will accept a cranked handle which may be used to wind cable on to reels or unwind cable from the reels. The support shaftings are also provided with annular grooves which are spaced dimensionally equal to the distance between the hingedly attached uprights and so give lateral support to the uprights when placed in position thereon.

The square sectioned shafting is provided with specially designed components which enable a cable reel to be established between horizontally slideable discs and rotated in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. The slideable discs will additionally centralise the cable reel or drum with the shafting and by the action of cam levers can be forceably but releasably secured in that position.

The discs can be space - adjusted along the shafting to accept varying widths of cable reels or drums. The discs can be releasably secured in any width measurement to match the cable reel or drum placed thereon by sliding square holed sleeves against the outer faces and tightening them on the shafting by hexagonal set-screws. Additional lateral pressure can be applied to one disc by turning cam levers on that specific sleeve to abut against the disc.

Each disc is provided with a conceal shaped soft rubber, sponge or foam facing which will be pressed against the exterior faces of the reel or drum and the conical shape fixedly attached to the contact face of the disc will cause the cable reel or drum to centralise on the square sectioned shafting. In the collapsed state for transportation the uprights fold inwards to lie within the base and form a lightweight compact flat-packed case. The base will be provided with appropriately shaped clips which will hold and releasably secure cable reel support shaftings beneath the folded over uprights as well as the cranked handle which is used to manually rotate the said shaftings to wind on or off cable from the reels.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the assembled MULTI-REELhR stand carrying a plurality of reels of cables.

Figure 2 illustrates the MULTI-REELER stand without the support shaftings or spindles.

Figure 3 illustrates a square sectioned shafting or spindle specifically designed to support a cable reel or drum from which the cable may be wound on to or off from the reel or drum.

Figure 4 shows a reel of cable mounted on a spindle or shafting which can be manually rotated to wind out or wind on cable to or from the reel.

Figure 5 illustrates two cable reels mounted on separate MULTI-REELER stands, one being a stock cable from which cable is being transferred on to a smaller reel and the length being recorded as the uncoiling proceeds.

Figure 6 indicates the use of the MULTI-REELER on which a plurality of reels of cable have been mounted and from which the cable is being withdrawn simultaneously to create a gauged assembly at a ball-mounted gathering tube.

Description of the Preferred Eodiments.

According to Figure 1 there is provided a metal or other material stand 10 which comprises of a planar surface base 11 and two vertically orientated sides 12,13 which are each hingedly connected to the base 11 by two or more hinges 14.

ken in the vertical plane the two sides 12,13 are releasably supported by two round section metal strut rods 15,16 which can be releasably secured in the supporting position by wing nuts 17 (unseen in Figure 1) screw threaded on to the upper ends of the said strut rods 15,16 when passed through the edge flanges along the periphery of each of the sides 12,13.

Figure 1 shows two spindles 18 of round section placed horizontally across and held within cut out notches 27 along the stoping upper edges of the sides 12,13.

In another embodiment the spindles 18 could be to any other section shape.

Shown mounted on the two spindles or shaftings 18 is a plurality of reels of cable 19 and it will be obvious therefrom that the cable on the reels mounted upon the upper level spindle or shafting 18 can be uncoiled over the top of the reels 19 mounted on the lower level spindle or shafting 18 without entanglement or confusion with such reels.

It will also be obvious that the reels can carry electric cable of various section size and power carrying capacity or the reels can have wound about them other flexible materials such as steel or other material wire, sisal or hemp rope, polyester cord or other similar coilable substances.

The spindles or shaftings 18 are provided with projections 20 which will accept a cranked handle 21 (shown detached) which will enable the shaftings 18 to be manually rotated in a clockwise or counter - clock wise direction.

Figure 1 illustrates the reels of cable 19 hanging loosely on the spindles or shaftings 18 as would be the case if the reels are not required to be rotated by the spindles or shaftings 18 in which case the said reels 19 would be centralised by special discs - later to be described.

Figure 1 does not fully illustrate the two strut rods 15,16 since they are masked by the reels of cable.

Shown near the forward edge of the base 11 and centrally orientated is a hand hole 22 so provided to act as a means of manually transporting the MULTI - REELER stand 10 when in the collapsed mode.

Reference is now made to Figure 2 which illustrates the MULTI - REELER stand 10 with the spindles or shaftings 18 and reels of cable 19 removed. It illustrates as view 2a the MULTI - REELER stand 10 collapsed or flat - packed ready for transportation.

The notches 27 are shown cut into the sloping edges of the two sides 12,13 - those cut into side 12 must horizontally align with those cut into side 13. Along the vertical edges of the sides 12,13 the sheet metal has been turned inwards at right angles to form stiffening ribs or flanges 25,26.

en the sides 12,13 are folded inwards within the base 11 they form a compact box - like structure and can contain, releasably clipped to the base 11 the cranked handle 21, a plurality of spindles or shaftings 18 and any other relevant components. Figure 2 illustrates one of the stut rods 16 releasably connected to the side 13 and thuswise secured by a wing - nut 17. Strut rod 15 is shown released from side 12 and lying within the base 11 which would be its position when the sides 12,13 are collapsed in the transportation mode. Figure 2 also illustrates the hinges 14 which link the base 11 and side 13 hingedly together. Similar hinges (unseen are provided between side 12 and the base 11 . The said hinges are fixedly attached to the inner faces of sides 12,13 to ensure the sides hinge inwards towards the base llf and not away from it.

Near the front edge 28 of the base 11 is provided a hand hole 22 cut through the base sheet only, thus leaving the upright portion of the edge 28 as a carrying handle.

View 2a illustrates the MULTI - REELER stand 10 collapsed in a transportable mode and further indicates the handle element in the edge 28.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 which illustrates a specially designed spindle as shafting 18a which will accept one or several cable reels or drums 19.

The shafting 18a is of square section metal, the extremities of which are machined to provide two trunnions 29 which act as spindles on which grooved bearings can rotate freely.

The grooved bearings 30 will fit freely into the notches 27 provided along the sloping edges of the sides 12,13 and in that position the shafting 18a is free to be rotated within the bearings.

Projecting horizontally from one outer extremity of the shafting 18a is a hexagonal shaped nut 31 fixedly attached thereto. Dimensionally, the hexagonal nut 31 will fit freely into the socket of the cranked handle 21.

Free to slide horizontally along the square sectioned shafting are two sleeves 32,33. Each sleeve 32,33 may be releasably positioned on the said shafting by hexagonal set screws 34,35 and each set - screw may be tightened in any position to match the width of any cable reel or drum by tightening the set - screws 34,35 with the cranked handle 21.

The sliding sleave 33 is provided with two extension screw threaded 'bosses' 36,37 directly opposite to one another.

The two set - screws 35,38 screwed into and through the 'bosses' 36,37 can each be tightened on to the shafting 18a by the use of the cranked handle 21. The opposite extremity of the spindle or shafting 18a is provided with a removable bolt 31a to enable the sleeves and discs to be threaded on to the shafting 18a.

Free to turn on the exposed length of set screws 35,38 are cam levers 39,40. Rotary movement of the cam levers 39,40 will place the leading edge of the cam forward of or away from the vertical centre line through the set - screws 35,38.

Free to slide along the shafting 18a between the sleeves 32,33 are two discs 41,42 which are preferably circular in outline shape and which have, fixedly attached to each adjacent face a cone or dome shaped friction pad 43 of semi - rigid rubber or pliable plastic material.

The dome shaped friction pads 43 perform two functions, they centralize any cable reel or drum on the shafting 18 a and they will cause the reel or drum to rotate with the shafting 18a. The discs 41,42 are provided with square holes through the centre to match the dimensions of the shafting 18a.

While the preferred section shape of the shafting 18a is square any other section shape would be acceptable within the concept of this embodiment.

It can be seen from figure 3 that the shafting 18a can be used to coil on to or uncoil cable from reels or drums that are sandwiched between the discs 41,42.

Additional lateral pressure against the sides of any reel or drum fitted on to the shafting 18a can be imposed by tightening the cams 39,40 against the outer faces of the discs 41,42 The cams 39,40 will force the friction domes tight against the hub of the reel or drum and cause it to rotate as the shaft 18a is rotated in any direction.

It will be obvious that no special tools are required for the assembly or use of the MULTI - REELER stand 10 or any of the cable reel support spindles or shaftings 18,18a.

Because the cranked handle 21 performs each of the tightening or loosening operations necessary.

Reference to view 3b on Figure 3 indicates an alternative spindle or shafting 18b which is tubular and circular in section shape. Slideable along the periphery of the spindle or shafting 18b are two discs 44,45 each requiring manual effort to effect lateral movement.

The said discs erg,45 would be positioned on the shafting 18b outside any cable reels placed on the spindle or shafting for uncoiling cable therefrom. The discs 44,45 are provided to prevent the flanges of reels or drums from snagging against the sides 12,13 of the MULTI - REELER stand 10.

At each longitudinal extremity of the spindle or shafting 18b there is provided an annular groove 46,47 which will engage with the notches 27 provided in the sloping edges of the sides 12,13. This alternative spindle or shafting 18b is not provided with hexagonal projections at each extremity since the reels or drums would be free to rotate on the said shafting while cable is being withdrawn therefrom.

According to Figure 4 there is shown a MULTI - REELER stand 10 which has been fitted with a square sectioned spindle or shafting 18a and on to which has been releasably secured a cable reel 19. The cranked handle 21 is shown fitted to the end of the shafting 18a and may be used to turn the reel 19 in either a clockwise or counter - clockwise direction depending on which direction it is necessary to rotate to uncoil or coil a cable. Such an assembly would be used to withdraw cable from a stock drum to coil it on to the reel 19 mounted on the shafting 18a. Similarly if the reel 19 is the stock drum the assembly would be used to unwind the cable to transfer it to another reel or drum.

Reference is now made to Figure 5 which illustrates the use of the MULTI - REELER STAND 10 to transfer cable in measured lengths from a stock reel or drum.

Figure 5 shows a MULTI - REELER stand 10 fitted with a spindle or shafting 18b which is rotable by handle 21 and on which is releasably secured an empty reel 19.

Some distance from the stand 10 carrying the empty cable reel 19, is provided a second MULTI - REELER stand 10a to which has been fitted a spindle or shafting 18b and on which has been placed a stock reel of cable 19a.

Between the two stands 10 and 10a is provided any length measuring device 48 through which the cable from reel 19a would be drawn by manually rotating the empty reel 19 by the cranked handle 21. In this manner precise lengths of cable may be uncoiled from the parent drum 19a and transferred to service drums 19 for installation into power circuits.

The further use of the MULTI - REELER stand 10 is illustrated in Figure 6 which shows a simple method of gathering a plurality of cables into a 'harness' or cluster for installation as one multi - core assembly.

Figure 6 shows a MULTI - REELER stand 10 on which is mounted a plurality of reels of cable 19. The reels are free to rotate on their supporting spindles or shaftings 18. On being withdrawn from the reels 19 the cables converge to a bell mouthed tube 49 which draws them together at which point they can be tied, taped or encapsulated within a closure tube or sleeve. (not shown) This specification has described a MULTI - REEL stand 10 which can accomnodate a plurality of cable or other reels and permit them to be manually rotated on square or other sectioned shaftings or be free to rotate on round section shaftings for transfer to other reels or direct to installation routes. The specification has also indicated other uses for the MULTI - REELER stand 10 including ganging cables together into a multi core assembly.

Claims

1. A stand comprising:

a) a base, b) a pair of walls which are hingedly connected to the base so as to be movable relative thereto between operative positions in which they extend substantially at right angles to the base and transport positions in which they are folded substantially flat with the base, and c) a plurality of shafts releasably engageable with mounting formations of the walls when in their operative positions such that the shafts extend substantially parallel to the base but are spaced different distances from the base.

2. A stand as claimed in Claim 1, which includes a handle for rotating at least one of the shafts, and mounting means for mounting a cable reel on one of the shafts for rotation with the shaft.

3. A stand as claimed in Claim 2, in which the base and walls, when in their transport positions, together define a package within which the shafts, handle and mounting means can be contained.

4. A stand as claimed in Claim 1, in which the walls have upper edges which are inclined to the horizontal and the mounting formations for the shafts are afforded by cut-outs or rebates in said upper edges.

5. A stand as claimed in Claim 1, in which struts are pivotally connected to the base and are releasably connected to the side walls when in their operative positions.

6. A stand as claimed in Claim 1, in which the base is of rectangular form in plan view with the walls at the shorter sides of the rectangle and with an opening formed in the base adjacent the centre of one of the longer sides of the rectangle, said opening serving as a hand hole to facilitate transport of the stand when the walls are in their flat-folded transport positions.

7. A stand for supporting a plurality of reels, which stand can be flat-folded for transport -purposes substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of supporting an annular reel on a shaft, said method comprising placing the reel on the shaft which is of such dimensions that the reel is supported with clearance on the shaft, providing a pair of discs which are fitted on the shaft one on each side of the reel, moving the discs into gripping engagement with the reel and providing means whereby the discs are non-rotatable with the shaft so that, when the discs are in gripping engagement with the reel, the reel will rotate in unison with the shaft.

9. A method as claimed in Claim 8, in which the discs are provided with dome-shaped friction pads which engage the reel in such manner that a simultaneous gripping and centring action is obtained.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 8, which includes mounting the shaft releasably in mounting formations of the side walls of a stand and providing a handle at one end of the shaft.

11. A method of supporting an annular reel on a shaft substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. The combination of an annular reel, a shaft and means for mounting the reel on the shaft, said mounting means comprising a pair of discs which can be fitted on the shaft, one on each side of the reel, means whereby the discs can have frictional gripping engagement with the reel and means whereby the discs can be held against rotation relative to the shaft so that, when the discs are in gripping engagement with the reel, the reel will rotate in unison with the shaft.

13. The combination claimed in Claim 12, in which the discs are provided with dome-shaped friction pads which engage the reel in such manner that a simultaneous gripping and centring action is obtained.

14. The combination claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13, in which cam means are provided for obtaining a positive gripping action by the discs on the reel.

15. The combination claimed in Claim 12, in which the shaft is of non-circular section and the discs are formed with openings of corresponding non-circular section.

16. The combination claimed in Claim 15, which includes screw means for preventing movement of the discs longitudinally of the shaft.

17. A reel mounting including discs which frictionally grip the reel to hold it for rotation in unison with a shaft, said reel mounting being constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

18. A stand as claimed in Claim 1 which includes reel mountings as claimed in Claim 17.