GB2418653A - Lead tensioning and retraction device - Google Patents

Lead tensioning and retraction device Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2418653A
GB2418653A GB0421705A GB0421705A GB2418653A GB 2418653 A GB2418653 A GB 2418653A GB 0421705 A GB0421705 A GB 0421705A GB 0421705 A GB0421705 A GB 0421705A GB 2418653 A GB2418653 A GB 2418653A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
roller
lead
axis
retaining means
rotatable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0421705A
Other versions
GB2418653B (en
GB0421705D0 (en
Inventor
James Barry
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0421705A priority Critical patent/GB2418653B/en
Publication of GB0421705D0 publication Critical patent/GB0421705D0/en
Publication of GB2418653A publication Critical patent/GB2418653A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2418653B publication Critical patent/GB2418653B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
    • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
    • B65H75/44—Constructional details
    • B65H75/4402—Guiding arrangements to control paying-out and re-storing of the material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
    • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
    • B65H75/40—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material mobile or transportable
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
    • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
    • B65H75/44—Constructional details
    • B65H75/48—Automatic re-storing devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G11/00—Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G11/00—Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
    • H02G11/003—Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts using gravity-loaded or spring-loaded loop

Landscapes

  • Storing, Repeated Paying-Out, And Re-Storing Of Elongated Articles (AREA)

Abstract

A lead tensioning and retraction device comprises a base(1, 5), a support (7) mounted on the base and rotatable about an axis, a roller (11) mounted on the support, and a retention mechanism (21, 23) co-operable with the roller to retain a lead (15) on the roller. The roller (11) is rotatable in a first direction to permit passage of the lead (15) over the roller for deployment of the lead. Additionally, the roller (11) is biased, for example by spring (14, Fig 5), so as to urge the roller in a second direction and to apply a tensioning force to the deployed lead and for retracting the deployed lead over the roller. The device is preferably used with a lawn mower.

Description

24 1 8653
LEAD TENSIONING AND RETRACTION DEVICE
This invention relates to a lead tensioning and retraction device and may be used, for example, for tensioning and retracting electrical cables or hoses, such as in a garden.
Many appliances require an electrical cable to connect the appliance to a source of electrical power. The cable may then obstruct use of the appliance, for example the cable may lie in the path of a lawn mower, grass or hedge trimmer. It is inconvenient to the user to have to move the electrical cable out of the path of the appliance, while it is potentially dangerous if the user should neglect to move the cable. If the cable is severed it could give rise to a potentially fatal accident for the user or other person.
There is therefore a requirement for a device to eliminate the risk of the cable falling into the path of an appliance.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lead tensioning and retraction device which overcomes or at least ameliorates the above disadvantages.
According to the present invention there is provided a lead tensioning and retraction device comprising: a base; support means mounted on the base and rotatable about an axis; a roller mounted on the support means; retaining means co-operable with the roller to retain a lead on the roller: the roller being rotatable in a first direction to permit passage of the lead over the roller for deployment of the lead, and the roller having biasing means urging the roller in a second direction so as to apply a tensioning force to the deployed lead and for retracting the deployed lead over the roller.
The axis about which the support means is rotatable may be upright.
The roller may be pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the support means.
The roller may be provided with a circumferential groove for receiving the lead. Retaining means may be provided adapted substantially to close the groove. The retaining means may be rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller. The retaining means may be freely rotatable. The retaining means may be movable towards and away from the roller to retain and release the cable. The retaining means may include guide means to restrain movement of the retaining means in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation thereof. The guide means may comprise a slot engageable with a spindle of the retaining means.
The biasing means may comprise a coiled spring. The coiled spring may lie substantially in a plane. The biasing means may be provided within the roller.
The support means may include a stand having a plurality of legs. The stand may have three legs arranged in the form of a tripod. The legs may be provided with separate or integral pegs for securing the stand to a ground surface. - 4 -
Thus the present invention provides a lead tensioning and retraction device which eliminates slack between the device and an electrical appliance or the like and which maintains the lead under tension.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one embodiment of a lead tensioning and retraction device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of part of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view corresponding substantially to the perspective view shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a roller forming part of the device shown in Figures 1 to 3; and Figure 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, corresponding to Figure 4. - 5 -
The lead tensioning and retraction device shown in the figures comprises a support including a stand 1 provided with three downwardly extending legs 3 arranged in the form of a tripod, that is spaced at substantially 120 degrees.
The arrangement of the stand gives rise to a relatively low centre of gravity and, together with the relatively wide base, results in high stability. The legs may be provided with pegs (not shown) which may be, for example, separate or integral with the legs, for securing the stand to a ground surface.
It should be noted that the legs 3 may be removable from the stand 1 in order to facilitate storage of the device.
The stand 1 also includes an upright tube 5. Rotatably within the upright tube 5 is a further upright tube 7, the tube 7 extending beyond the tube 5 and being rotatable about an axis substantially coaxial with the axis of the tube 5 as shown by the arrow 9.
A roller 11 is mounted on a side of the tube 7 and is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis, that is an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tube 7.
The roller 11 is formed with a circumferential groove 13, the groove being dimensioned to receive a lead 15 or cable which connects, for example, a garden electrical appliance (not shown) to a power supply (also not shown). The roller 11 is provided with a peripheral coating of rubber or other suitable material so as to create friction between the roller 11 and a lead passing over the roller.
As can be seen particularly from Figures 4 and 5, the roller 11 is mounted on the side of the tube 7 by way of a stationary shaft 12, the roller being connected to the shaft by way of a flat coiled spring 14. The spring 14 is provided within an internal recess formed in the roller 11 and is not visible in normal use, allowing the spring 14 to be protected from the atmosphere and from any debris that might otherwise damage the spring. The spring 14 is generally in the form of a clock spring and comprises a plurality of spiral turns of strip material with the planar faces of the strip material being substantially adjacent one another and extending in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the resulting spring. The innermost end of the spring 14 is secured to the shaft 12, for example in a slot 16, while the outermost end of the spring is secured to the roller 11, for example by means of a slot or by welding or other suitable means.
The tube 7 is formed with an axially extending slot 17 in the wall thereof. If desired, the tube 7 may be formed with diametrically opposed slots 17. The tube 7 is provided internally with an axially extending threaded bore 19.
Another tube 21 is slidably fitted coaxially within the tube 7 and is movable in the axial direction of the tube 7.
Extending laterally from the side of the tube 21 is a retaining means for the lead 15, the retaining means being in the form of a freely rotatable roller 23. The roller 23 is rotatable about an axis which extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tube 21 and which extends substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller 11. The circumferential surface of the roller 23 is outwardly profiled to cooperate with the groove 13 formed in the roller 11. That is, the roller 23 is adapted and configured to fit into the groove 13 of the roller 11 so as to retain and grip the lead 15. Moreover, the roller 23 is provided with a peripheral coating of rubber or other suitable material so as to create sufficient friction between the roller 23 and a lead passing between the rollers 11 and 23 to enable the rollers to grip the lead.
The roller 23 is mounted on a shaft 25 which is dimensioned to fit into the slot or slots 17 so as to prevent relative rotation between the tubes 7 and 21 about the axes thereof.
The roller 23 is also movable with the tube 21 towards and away from the roller 11 for adjustment purposes, that is to allow the lead 15 to be inserted between the rollers 11 and 23 and to facilitate adaptation to cables of different sizes. Movement of the roller 23 is effected by means of a handle 27, which may, for example have an inverted frustoconical configuration as illustrated or may have any other suitable configuration. A threaded rod 29 extends from the handle 27 and passes through the tube 21 to engage in the threaded bore 19 in the further tube 7. The handle is of a dimension such that the tube 21 cannot pass over the handle, while a washer 31 is secured, for example by welding, to the threaded rod 29 on that side of the tube 21 remote from the handle 27 in order to retain the tube 21 on the threaded rod 29. Thus, the roller 23 can be moved towards the roller 11 by rotating the handle 27 in a clockwise direction and can be moved in a direction away from the roller 11, or even removed entirely from the device, by rotating the handle 27 in an anti-clockwise direction.
In use of the device according to the present invention, the device is first positioned at a suitable location and the handle 27 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, if necessary, to enable a lead 15, such as an electrical cable, hose or the like, to be inserted between the rollers 11 and 23 and received in the groove 13 provided in roller 11. The handle 27 is then rotated in a clockwise direction - 9 - until the lead is securely gripped between the rollers 11 and 23.
The legs 3 of the stand 1 provide a stable base which reduces to a minimum the likelihood of the stand toppling over during use.
That portion of the lead 15 extending from the device can then be pulled so as to extend the lead from the device.
As the lead 15 is pulled, the rollers 11 and 23 are caused to rotate in a first direction and the spring 14 absorbs the relative rotation between the roller 11 and the shaft 12 giving rise to a biasing force urging the portion of the lead 15 extending from the device in a direction back towards the device. The biasing force maintains the lead under constant tension and prevents any slack in the lead.
Should any slack tend to develop in the lead the biasing force of the spring 14 causes the roller to rotate in a second direction (opposite to the first direction) and to retract the lead towards the device.
In the event the lead is moved in a circumferential direction relative to the device, the upright tube 7 is able to rotate about an upright axis relative to the tube 5 enabling the rollers 11 and 23 to rotate about the upright axis and to track the movement of the lead.
When the free end of the lead is released, the rollers 11 and 23 rotate under the biasing force of the spring 14 to retract the free end of the lead back to the device.
The lead 15 can be released from between the rollers 11 and 23 simply by rotating the handle 27 in an anti-clockwise direction.
For storage purposes, the legs 3 may be removed from the stand in order to reduce the amount of space required. If desired, the various other components may also be disassembled. - 11

Claims (17)

1. A lead tensioning and retraction device comprising: a base; support means mounted on the base and rotatable about an axis; a roller mounted on the support means; retaining means co-operable with the roller to retain a lead on the roller: the roller being rotatable in a first direction to permit passage of the lead over the roller for deployment of the lead, and the roller having biasing means urging the roller in a second direction so as to apply a tensioning force to the deployed lead and for retracting the deployed lead over the roller.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axis about which the support means is rotatable is upright. - 12
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the roller is pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the support means.
4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the roller is provided with a circumferential groove for receiving the lead.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a retaining means is provided adapted substantially to close the groove.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the retaining means is rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller.
7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the retaining means is freely rotatable.
8. A device as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the retaining means is movable towards and away from the roller to retain and release the cable.
9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the retaining means includes guide means to restrain movement of the retaining means in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation thereof.
10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the guide means comprises a slot engageable with a spindle of the retaining means.
11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the biasing means comprises a coiled spring.
12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the coiled spring lies substantially in a plane.
13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the biasing means may be provided within the roller.
14. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support means includes a stand having a plurality of legs.
15. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the stand has three legs arranged in the form of a tripod.
16. A device as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein the legs are provided with separate or integral pegs for securing the stand to a ground surface.
- 14 -
17. A lead tensioning and retraction device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
GB0421705A 2004-09-30 2004-09-30 Lead tensioning and retraction device Expired - Fee Related GB2418653B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0421705A GB2418653B (en) 2004-09-30 2004-09-30 Lead tensioning and retraction device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0421705A GB2418653B (en) 2004-09-30 2004-09-30 Lead tensioning and retraction device

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0421705D0 GB0421705D0 (en) 2004-11-03
GB2418653A true GB2418653A (en) 2006-04-05
GB2418653B GB2418653B (en) 2008-02-06

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GB0421705A Expired - Fee Related GB2418653B (en) 2004-09-30 2004-09-30 Lead tensioning and retraction device

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITBO20090237A1 (en) * 2009-04-15 2010-10-16 C A V S R L HANDLING UNIT AND COLLECTION OF FLEXIBLE PIPES.
CN106641629A (en) * 2016-12-28 2017-05-10 青岛祥智电子技术有限公司 Machine room comprehensive monitoring device
WO2020193477A1 (en) * 2019-03-27 2020-10-01 Movecat GmbH Winch comprising a winding device
RU2778399C1 (en) * 2019-03-27 2022-08-18 Мувкэт Гмбх Winch with winding device

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106838578A (en) * 2016-12-31 2017-06-13 杭州金培科技有限公司 A kind of operation video device

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB105029A (en) * 1916-03-23 1917-03-23 Adhemar Detraux Improvements in and relating to Means for Carrying Electric Cables.
GB270544A (en) * 1926-09-01 1927-05-12 Alfred Maechler Guide roller for the cables of electric laundry irons
GB2236996A (en) * 1989-09-20 1991-04-24 Othmar Schelbert Electric cable take up device
GB2262275A (en) * 1991-09-06 1993-06-16 Roy Clayton Pearce Electric cable store
CA2086589A1 (en) * 1992-12-31 1994-07-01 David Martin Fonseka Portable retractable extension cord
DE19639746A1 (en) * 1996-09-27 1997-03-20 Josef Staltmeir Cable spooler for electric lawn mower

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB105029A (en) * 1916-03-23 1917-03-23 Adhemar Detraux Improvements in and relating to Means for Carrying Electric Cables.
GB270544A (en) * 1926-09-01 1927-05-12 Alfred Maechler Guide roller for the cables of electric laundry irons
GB2236996A (en) * 1989-09-20 1991-04-24 Othmar Schelbert Electric cable take up device
GB2262275A (en) * 1991-09-06 1993-06-16 Roy Clayton Pearce Electric cable store
CA2086589A1 (en) * 1992-12-31 1994-07-01 David Martin Fonseka Portable retractable extension cord
DE19639746A1 (en) * 1996-09-27 1997-03-20 Josef Staltmeir Cable spooler for electric lawn mower

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITBO20090237A1 (en) * 2009-04-15 2010-10-16 C A V S R L HANDLING UNIT AND COLLECTION OF FLEXIBLE PIPES.
EP2241526A1 (en) * 2009-04-15 2010-10-20 C.A.V. S.r.l. Unit for handling and gathering flexible hoses
CN106641629A (en) * 2016-12-28 2017-05-10 青岛祥智电子技术有限公司 Machine room comprehensive monitoring device
CN106641629B (en) * 2016-12-28 2019-07-26 山东诚丰电子工程有限公司 A kind of computer room overall monitor device
WO2020193477A1 (en) * 2019-03-27 2020-10-01 Movecat GmbH Winch comprising a winding device
RU2778399C1 (en) * 2019-03-27 2022-08-18 Мувкэт Гмбх Winch with winding device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2418653B (en) 2008-02-06
GB0421705D0 (en) 2004-11-03

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20180930