GB2305650A

GB2305650A - Cable drums

Info

Publication number: GB2305650A
Application number: GB9619778A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan George Rogers; Roy Gerald Bellfield; Ian Peter Fletcher
Original assignee: PENTRE GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: PENTRE GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 1995-09-29
Filing date: 1996-09-23
Publication date: 1997-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2016-09-23
Also published as: GB2305650B; GB9619778D0; GB9519830D0

Abstract

A cable drum or the like comprises two end flanges (1, 3) and a core made from two or more segments (5, 7). The segments are releasably engageable with the end flanges each of which provides a core support surface (9) facing radially outwardly. The drum can be readily assembled and dismantled by providing at least one of the core segments with at least one location member (15) which provides cooperating engagement with the end flange and means (eg. flange 20, bolt, and nut 26) providing cooperating engagement with another core segment. The location means conveniently comprises a spigot projecting axially beyond the end edge of the core segment and serves to locate the core segment non-rotatably with respect to the end flange. Tightening of the cooperating means between adjacent core segments serves to draw the core segments into cooperating engagement with the support surface.

Description

Title: Improvements in and relating to cable drums DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to drums on which cables or other flexible elongate items are wound for transport and/or storage purposes.

Cable drums and the like comprise a core and a pair of opposed flanges and the cabling is wound onto the core between the flanges. Empty cable drums are bulkier than they need be if it was possible to break down the components. This gives rise to increased transportation costs which has resulted in attention being directed to making drums which can be dismantled for transportation purposes. The flanges may be designed to bolt onto opposite ends of a cylindrical core. Even so the core is space consuming and it has been proposed to make a cylindrical core in two halves which have flanges along the longitudinal edges whereby the two halves can be bolted together. However, assembling and dismantling such a construction is timeconsuming which can detract from the advantages of dismantlability. In our British Patent No. 2269157B we describe one solution to the problem.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide am improvement over the solution described in our above patent by macing the core segments even easier to install.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a drum for cable or the like comprising a pair of end flanges, and a core which is made in two or more segments which are releasably engageable with the end flanges, the drum having an axis of rotation and each core segment having two end edges and two side edges, and each end flange having a core support surface facing radially outwardly and against which the core segments abut in use, at least one of the core segments having at least one location member providing cooperating engagement with the end flange and further comprising cooperable engagement means with another core segment.

The location member is advantageous in locating the core segment non-rotatably with respect to the end flange. Preferably each end edge of the core segment has at least one location member for engagement with the respective end flange. Preferably the location members projects axially beyond said end edge of the core segment. More preferably still it is disposed radially inwardly of the core support surface and engageable with a radial abutment so as to provide a radial location function for the core segment.

The location members may conveniently comprise a cylindrical spigot. It is preferred for the spigot to be located adjacent the side edge of the core segment.

It is further preferred for both side edges to have a respective location member. In one embodiment, the or both side edges of the core segments are reinforced by welding a length of bar (conveniently circular in crosssection) along the inside thereof. A typical core segment will be arcuate when viewed in cross-section.

The location member may be an extension of the aforedescribed side reinforcement bar. More conveniently still the location member is offset radially inwardly so that it will cooperate with a radially inward facing surface of the core support surface.

Most usually, the core support surface will be relieved circumferentially to receive radial abutment means of the core segment which is conveniently provided by said side reinforcement member. Alternatively the circumferential relieving may be eliminated where the reinforcing terminates short of the end edges of the core segment.

Circumferential location of the location member is by cooperation with an abutment of the end flange.

Usually, both of the end flanges will be provided with a pair of relatively closely spaced drive spokes which extend generally radially. Where the spacing between the spokes is greater than the cross-section of the location member and usually not more than 50mm the location member is entrant into said spacing to provide circumferential location of the core segment. Where the drive spokes are unsuitable, a purpose designed circumferential reception member is provided on the flange to receive the location member.

For any set of core segments it is usually only necessary for two of the segments to have location members which are cooperable with circumferential abutment means.

The cooperable engagement means by which adjacent segment side edges are secured together conveniently comprises one or more pairs of apertured flanges secured to adjacent core segments and adjustable securing means (eg. a bolt and nut) by which the flanges are drawn together.

For the case of a two segment core, it is preferred for both segments to have axially projecting location means for each side edge, but only those associated with one side edge are received in the circumferential abutment (eg. space between the drive spokes). The other side edges have the aforesaid flanges (usually two spaced along the edge). As the securing means is tightened the core segments are pulled into cooperating engagement with the core support surfaces. At both side edges the offset location members are received through the circumferential relieving of the core support surface.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of assembling a drum comprising two end flanges and two or more core segments, the method comprising inserting an axially extending location member of a first core segment in a circumferential abutment of one end flange and with the core segment disposed radially outwardly of a core support surface of said flange, inserting an axially extending location member of a second core segment in a circumferential abutment therefor of said one end flange, mating with the end flange any additional core segment(s) to make up the complete core and inserting securing means between location flanges of any two adjacent core segments so provided, mating the other end flange with said core segments and tightening the securing means to draw the core segments into contact with the core support surfaces, securing together the end flanges either directly or indirectly.

Securement of the end flanges may be by tie rods extending from one flange to the other or by means of bolts cooperable with the end flanges and with abutment means of the core segments.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end view of one embodiment of drum according to the invention; Figure 2 is a practically broken away side view of the drum of figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view on A showing connection of one end of the segments to a flange; Figure 4 is a part section on C-C showing the method of fixing the segments together; Figure 5 is a part view on E of figure 4; and Figure 6 is an end view of figure 4 in the direction of arrow B.

Referring to the drawings, cable drum comprises two flanges 1, 3 and a cylindrical core/barrel made up in the illustrated embodiments of two core segments 5, 7. The axis of the drum is shown at 2. Each flange is provided with a circumferential core support ring 9 having, in the illustrated embodiment, two cut-outs 11, 13. The core support flange is supported by a plurality of radial spokes 2. More particularly in the illustrated embodiment, each flange 1, 3 comprises a pair of closely spaced drive spokes 10, 12. Each core has opposite ends 6, 6' and opposite longitudinal sides 8, 8'. The core segments in the illustrated embodiment have approximately 180 degrees of arc and their longitudinal side edges are reinforced using elongate cylindrical bar 14 welded thereto. Each bar has a radially inwardly offset axially projecting location member 15.These project beyond the ends 6, 6'. The flange 9 provides a support for the arcuate cores 5, 7.

The length of the support surface between the cut-outs 11, 13 corresponds approximately to the arcuate length of the core segments 5, 7 such that the side reinforcing members 14 surfaces 9 are received in the cut-outs. The axially projecting location member fits on the radially inner side of the core support surface 9 and it is intended that the projecting member 15 at one end of each segment be received in the space X between the two drive spokes. This serves to locate the core segments non-rotatably and radially with respect to the flanges.

Each of the side edges of each core segment, designated 8' in the illustration, is provided with two apertured flanges 20 to receiving a securing a bolt 24 and cooperating nut 26.

Assembly calls for one flange to be placed on a surface with its support flange 9 disposed upwardly and for the respective core segments to be lowered into position onto the flange with the projecting location members 15 coinciding with the circumferential receiver, and one of each coinciding with the drive spokes.

The-bolts 24 are then passed through the adjacent flanges and the nuts fitted to draw the segments together. Final tightening is done after the second flange 3 is lowered into position with the opposite ends of the core segments brought into corresponding engagement. Alternatively the two core segments may be loosely assembled and lowered into position simultaneously. Thereafter the drum flanges are secured together in a standard manner, for example by tie rods extending between and cooperating with the end flanges to hold them in contact with the ends of the core segments. Usually these are positioned within the core and cooperate with the radial spokes of the end flanges.

Where the drive spokes are too far apart to be suitable for locating the sides 8 of the core segments in close proximity a dummy abutment member is welded to the inside of the core support flange, in the manner of a hoop with an aperture large enough to receive two projecting members 15.

It will be understood that the circumferential cut-outs 11, 13 may be eliminated with suitable relief to the location member to clear a continuous support flange and in such a case is not essential for the location members to project beyond the ends of the core segments.

Claims

1. A drum for cable or the like comprising a pair of end flanges, and a core which is made in two or more segments which are releasably engageable with the end flanges, the drum having an axis of rotation and each core segment having two end edges and two side edges, and each end flange having a core support surface facing radially outwardly and against which the core segments abut in use, at least one of the core segments have at least one location member providing cooperating engagement with the end flange and further comprising cooperable engagement means with another core segment.

2. A drum as claimed in claim 1 in which the location member locates the core segment non-rotatably with respect to the end flange and each end edge of the core segment has at least one location member for engagement with the respective end flange.

3. A drum as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the or each location member projects axially beyond said end edge of the core segment.

4. A drum as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the or each location member is disposed radially inwardly of the core support surface and engageable with a radial abutment so as to provide a radial location function for the core segment.

5. A drum as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the at least one location member comprises a cylindrical spigot.

6. A drum as claimed in claim 5 in which the spigot is located adjacent the side edge of the core segment.

7. A drum as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which both side edges have a respective location member.

8. A drum as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which one or both side edges of the core segments are reinforced by welding a length of bar along the inside thereof.

9. A drum as claimed in claim 8 in which the at least one location member is an extension of the aforedescribed side reinforcement bar.

10. A drum as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the location member is offset radially inwardly so that it will cooperate with a radially inward facing surface of the core support surface.

11. A drum as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the core support surface is relieved circumferentially to receive radial abutment means of the core segment.

12. A drum as claimed in claim 11 when appendant to claims 8 or 9 in which the radial abutment means is provided by said side reinforcement member.

13. A drum as claimed in any one of claims 8 or 9 in which the reinforcing terminates short of the end edges of the core segment.

14. A drum as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which circumferential location of the location member is by cooperation with an abutment of the end flange.

15. A drum as claimed in claim 14 in which the abutment of the end flange is provided by a pair of relatively closely spaced drive spokes which extend generally radially and into which space the location member is entrant.

16. A drum as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a set of core segments and in which only two of the segments have location members which are cooperable with circumferential abutment means.

17. A drum as claimed in any preceding claim in which the cooperable engagement means by which adjacent segment sides are secured together comprises one or more pairs of apertured flanges secured to adjacent core segments and adjustable securing means (eg. a bolt and nut) by which the flanges are drawn together.

18. A drum as claimed in claim 17 and comprising a two segment core in which both segments have axially projecting location means for each side edge, but only those associated with one side edge are received in the circumferential abutment and the other side edges have the aforesaid flanges.

19. A method assembly a drum comprising two end flanges and two or more core segments, the method comprising inserting an axially extending location member of a first core segment in a circumferential abutment of one end flange and with the core segment disposed radially outwardly of a core support surface of said flange, inserting an axially extending location member of a second core segment in a circumferential abutment therefor of said one end flange, mating with the end flange any additional core segment(s) to make up the complete core and inserting securing means between location flanges of any two adjacent core segments and tightening the securing means to draw the core segments into contact with the core support surfaces, securing together the end flanges either directly or indirectly.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising securing together the end flanges by tie rods extending from one flange to the other or by means of bolts cooperable with the end flanges and with abutment means of the core segments.

21. A drum constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

22. A method assembling a drum substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.