US2264048A - Apparatus for applying protective coatings to suspended wires, cables, pipes, and the like - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 25, 1941. McMAHON Er 2,264,048

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PROTECTIVE COATINGS T0 SUSPENDED WIRES, CABLES, PIPES, AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE N TO R5 Jose- 4 RI MMAHa/v EL wow 6. jPR/NGF/ELD Nov, 25,19 1 J. R. M MAHON ETAL 2 2 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PROTECTIVE COATINGS TO'SUSPENDED WIRES, CABLES, PIPES, AND THE LIKE U Filed Dec. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 aw, v Axr QRNEY Patented Nov. 25, 1941 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING- PROTECTIVE SUSPENDED WIRES, CABLES, PIPES, AND THE LIKE Joseph R. McMahon and Elwood C. Springfield, Glendale, W. Va.

Application December 9, 1939, Serial No. 308,340

Claims. (Cl, 91-44) COATINGS TO This invention relates broadly to apparatus for coating wires, cables, pipe, and the like, and relates more specifically to an apparatus for applying a protective coating or paint to the messenger wires and cables suspended between adjacent supwill economically and effectively coat or paint the i wire and cable with substantially no loss of paint or other protective coating material being applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will coat the wire and cable on all exposed areas including that section of the wire and cable which are attached to a supporting pole.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coating apparatus which may be conveniently and readily passed about a pole supporting the wire and cable with a minimum of time and effort on the part of the ground crew operating the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coating apparatus whose length may be adjusted or varied to accommodate wires or cables located on supporting poles at difierent heights from the ground.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and the combination of parts hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the'apparatus suspended in operating position from a section of messenger wire;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1; V

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional "View taken on line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail plan View of the drip pan as viewed on line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a detail view in top plan of the spraying nozzle;

Figure 8 is an end View of the spraying nozzle,

parts being shown in vertical section toillustrate interior construction;

Figure 9 is a detail view of the mechanism fo r telescoping the depending standard, parts being omitted and other parts being shown in vertical section;

Figure 10 is a detail View illustrating a modified driving means for propelling the apparatus;

Figure 11 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, taken on line I I -l I of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a detail view illustrating the driving gears for actuating the'mechanism shown in Figure 10 and- Figure 13 is a detail view of a fragmentary section of thepipe associated with the spraying nozzle, parts being shown in vertical section.

Referring to said drawings, the apparatus comprises a frame consisting of vertical members I, horizontal members 2, and angular braces 3, this entire structure being integrally formed. The vertical members have their upper extremities bent upon themselves to form inverted U-shaped ends 5 andB, respectively. The U-shapedend 5 has journaled therein a shaft 4 to which is fastened a trolley wheel I. The shaft 4 also carries sprocket wheels 8 and 9. A trolley wheel ii! is fixed. to a shaft H journaled in the U-shaped end 6 and said shaft H also has fixed thereto a sprocket wheel (not shown). A sprocket chain l3 connects the last mentioned sprocket wheel with the sprocket wheel 8.

Located in the frame structure is a rectangular plate 14 which is also formed integrally with the frame. A pin [5 extends through the rectangular plate 14 and supports a complemental plate l6 fastened to the upper end of a depending stud H. The pin 1 5 extends through registering apertures provided inthe plates I4 and 16, said plates being held together by a nut 18 threaded on the pin l5,-a collar It being interposed between the nut l8 and the outer surface vof the plate IS. The pin I5 extends :beyond the nut 18 and has its diameter reduced to form a spindle 20 upon which is freely rotatable a one-piece casting forming dual sprocket wheels 2! and 22. A sprocket chain 23 connects the sprocket Wheels 2| and 9. Fastened to the stud I1 is the upper end of a tube 24 in which latter is telescopable a tube 25 of smaller diameter. The tubes 24 and 25 are maintained fixed by a set screw 26, as shown in Figure 9.

Permanently fixed to the lower extremity of the tube 25 is a frame 21, said frame carrying or housing a reservoir for the coating material,

pump, power unit, etc., as will hereinafter be specifically described.

As shown in Figure 9, the lower end of the stud I1 is provided with an eye 28 which is disposed interiorly of the tube 24. The upper end of a rope or cable 29 is attached to the eye 28 and extends downwardly interiorly of the tubes 24 and 25 and has its lower end attached to and wound about a winch 39 borne by the frame 21 and adapted to be rotated by a hand crank (not shown). between the upper frame and lower frame 21, the set screw 26 is retracted and the cable or rope 29 wound or unwound on or from the winch 39 to cause the tubes 24 and 25 to telescope to raise or lower the frame 21.

A pair of guy wires 3| have their upper ends attached to the plate l4 and have their lower ends attached to and wound about the winch 39. A second pair of guy wires 32 have their upper ends attached to the tube 24 and have their lower ends attached to and wound about a winch 33 which is adapted to be rotated by means of spiral gears 34 borne by the winches 39 and 33. The guy wires 31 and 32 are spaced away from the tube 24 by a spider 35. Obviously, the purpose of the guy wires is to afford the required rigidity between the upper and lower frames. The fact that the guy wires may be wound about the two winches makes it possible to take up the slack in the guy wires as the lower frame 21 is raised or lowered.

A tank 36 is carried by the frame 27 to serve as a reservoir for the coating material. A suitable power unit 31 (which may be operated either electrically or by an internal combustion engine) is also supported upon the frame 21. Power from the unit 31 is transmitted to a pump 38 by a belt 39. A belt 40 connects the rotor of the pump 38 to a pulley 4| carried by a shaft 42. The shaft 42 has fixed thereto a smaller sprocket wheel 43 which is connected to the sprocket wheel 22 by a sprocket chain 44. An idler sprocket wheel 45 is laterally movable in a slot provided in a bracket 49 attached to the frame 21 and the idler sprocket 1 wheel 45 meshes with the sprocket chain 44. The idler sprocket wheel 45 may be adjusted in its slot in the bracket 49 so as to afford tension on the sprocket chain 44 regardless of the position of the lower frame 2! with respect to the upper frame.

A boss 46 is formed on the upper surface of the U-shaped end of the upper frame, said boss having a recess formed in its surface to embrace a stub pivot pin 41 provided on the under surface of a section of pipe 48. A T 50 is provided on the end of the pipe 48, the connection between the pipe 48 and T 50 being such that the T is freely rotatable without chance of leakage. An L 51 is connected to one side of the T 50, this connection also being a loose one so as to permit rotation of the L in the T without chance of leakage. Threaded in the L 5| and depending downwardly therefrom is a length of tubing 52, the lower end of which is closed on an angle, as shown at 53. The inner face of the tubing 52 is provided with a series of vertically aligned discharge ports 54. A discharge port 55 is also provided in the lower end of the tubing 52.

Connected to the opposite end of the T 56 is an L 56, in which is threaded a nipple 51, to which latter is connected an elbow 58. A section of tubing 59 is threaded in the elbow'58 and said tubing depends therefrom. The lower end of the tubing 59 is closed, as shown in Figure 8, and the When it is desired to adjust the space inner face of the tubing is also provided with a series of vertically aligned ports 54. The connection between the nipple 51 and elbow 58 is a loose one so as to permit free rotation of the elbow on the nipple without chance of leakage. A metal shield 60 is fastened to the tube 52, while another metal shield 6| is fastened to the tubing 59.

A length of tubing 62 depends from the T 59 and is appropriately bent so as to extend downwardly and forwardly. A T-shaped nozzle fitting 63 is threaded to the lower end of the tubing 62 so as to directly overlie the messenger wire 82 and cable 83. A slot 64 is provided in the lower surface of the nozzle 63 to serve as a discharge port.

' Extending outwardly from the boss 46 is a bracket 66 having a clevis formed in its free end. Received in the clevis is a trunnion 61 which encircles a pin 68, the latter having one end thereof pivotally received on a stub pin 69 formed on the underside of the pipe 48. Located on opposite sides of the trunnion 61 are oppositely disposed compression springs 10 maintained in position by nuts H, the asserted force of each of the springs 10 being equal so as to normally maintain the pipe 48 in the position shown in the drawings.

Embracing one of the upright members I of the upper frame and freely rotatable thereon is a bracket 12 which supports a drip pan I3 disposed beneath and in vertical alignment with the spraying nozzle hereinbefore referred to. Extending outwardly from the other upright member l of the upper frame is an upwardly inclined race 14 which is designed to underlie and afford support to the bracket 12 in the vicinity of the drip pan 13. A suitable conductor 15 leads from the drip pan [3 into the top of the tank 36.

A conductor line 16 leads from the bottom of the tank 36 to the pump 38, and another conductor line 1! leads upwardly from the pump 38 to a T 18. A section of flexible tubing 19 connects the T 18 to the pipe 48. An appropriate valve is provided in the conductor 16 so that the supply of the protective coating material may be controlled from the tank 36. An appropriate fitting 8| is provided in the conductor I! so that, when desired, air under pressure may be introduced into the line for purposes of cleaning.

When it is desired to apply a protective coating to a section of messenger wire and cable, the apparatus is placed in operating position by placing the trolley wheels I and ID on the messenger wire 82 so that the entire apparatus is freely suspended and depends from the wire 82. In this position, the oppositely disposed tubes 52 and 59 of the spraying nozzle occupy positions on the opposite sides of the messenger wire 82 and the messenger cable 83, which latter is suspended, as usual, from the former by wire clips 84.

Actuation of the power unit 3'! results in power being transmitted to the trolley wheels 1 and I0 through belt 39, belt 40, sprocket chains 44, 23, and I3. Such actuation positively drives the trolley wheels I and I!) so that the entire apparatus is propelled on and along the messenger wire 82 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1.

Actuation of the power unit 31, as aforesaid operates, through the belt 39, the pump 38. Such operation of the pump 38 results in an amount of the liquid or semi-liquid protective coating being continuously pumped from the tank 36 through the conductors 16 and 11, as well as t n rah the fies hl ou i g 19', to. the pipe 4r; Erognthe pipe. 43} the liquid coating is delivered n er pressur to t e pray n nozzles 5 ,v 59. an ,63 through the T 5.0- and is. discharged therethrough the ports 54 and 64, and a portion cf; the discharged coating is impinged against the wire 82 and cable 83; The oppositely disposed shields 60 and BI confine, the discharged coating to that area vertically coinciding with the width, of; the. drip pan 1.3. so that the coating which fails to be imp ngedon the said wire and; cable may gravitate into the drip. pan. 13; an; be drained: back into the tank. 35 through t e drain conductor 1-5. It will be noted, that all. exposed; areas. of the Wire 82;, cable 83 and;

paratus so that the forward trolley wheel I9; isplaced on the wire 82 at the opposite side of the.

pole, 85 and its clamp 86. The apparatus then continues its forward travel and coating operatiqh; until the rear trolley wheel 1 contacts the pole B5 or its clamp 86;, at which time the groundcrew elevates-the rear portion of the upper frameso. as to lift the trolley wheel 1 over the clamp 85; at the opposite side of the pole. Forward travel; of the apparatus is continued. When the spraying nozzle contacts the pole 85,, as illustrated; detail in Figure 7 of the drawings, the L 5l. engages the pole so that the tube 52 of. the spraying nozzle is rotated in an arc of a. circle from a vertical to a substantially horizontal position because of the provision of the loose connection between the L 51 and T 59; Atthe same time the T 50, because of the loose connection between it and the pipe 48, is rotated on the pipe 48 so that the L 5| is elevatedand the L, 56, is lowered. During this. action,

however, the tube 59' of the spraying nozzle is maintained in a suspended vertical position be cause. of the loose connection between the elbow 58.; and the pp 5 a mannerthat it will not become wedged betweenthe. cable and the pole. asthe apparatus. is; propelled forwardly. At the same time, how-.

ever, ittwillbe observedzthat. the wire and cable surface. adjacent the. pole. will be adequately coated because the coating fluid is continuously being dischargedthrough theports 54 whilev this action istaking place. also discharged through the lower port 55 so that the coating is applied between the pole and. cableduring that time that the nozzle is passing the. pivot 41 against thetension of the outer After springv 1'0- exerted on the trunnion 61. the L 5| clears the pole, the outer spring 10 forces the trunnion. 61- inwardly to restore thespraying nozzle and pipe 4B= to their normal positions,

A-t thesameitime that the L 5| engages the pole.85. to.force.the spraying nozzle and pipe-.43

outwardly, the roundedforward endofthe drip pan 13 also-engagesthecircular-surface of the Obviously, this action. swingsthe depending tube 52 upwardly insuch The coating liquid is pole 85. so. that, during forward; travel 'ofthe apparatus, the dripfpan 13 is. also swungyout, wardly about. its. pivotal point on the upper frame member I so that the drip. pan 13 at all times underlies the spraying nozzle to receive the drainage therefrom. During the outward swinging movement of the drip pan 1-3 the frame 12. rides. over the outwardly extending. race 14. After the pan has. cleared the, pole, thesame is returned to normal position by reason of: the inwardly inclined surface of the race 14.

A bracket 81. is attached to;v the pipe 4.8 and: extends forwardly to. overlie the; T 50 and has fixed. thereto a downwardly and. angularly dis.-v posedlimit stop 8.8, the bottom. end of. which is normally maintained: in contacting. relation. with. the T 59 by means. of: a retractile coil; spring 89' which. has one end: attached to. the L .551 and has its. opposite end attached to. the. bracket 81.. Rotation of the spraying nozzle. with respect to the. pipe 48-, is achieved against. the tension ex-. erted. by thespring 89; After the spraying noz.-. zle clears. the pole, the nozzle is. returned. to.its. normal position by the spring 89; the stop 88; limiting the rotation. so; that it will: cease when; the nozzle occupies. normal position;

As hereinbefore pointed out, the; lower frame 21; is suspended from the upper frame by. the telescoping standard: 2.4-and-.25;,the tube: 24 being fastened; tothe stud I] of. the plate IS, the plate l6 being supported on the pinv |5.. Alatch mech: anism. is provided to prevent the lower frame 21 from freely swinging in a pendulum-like manner on its. supporting pin. [.51 As shown. in Figure 4, this latch mechanism consists. of an L-shaped. lever 99: which ispivotally'mountedi to a. bracket 9| attached to the plate [6; A pin 92. is provided. on the upper end of'thelever 99:. and is adaptedto be received in.registering apertures 93; provided in the plates.|.4iand ..I.6-; A compressionspring 941is interposed between .theplate [Bandthe. lower. end. of the lever 99: and a. rope 95: is fastened. to the-end ofthe lever and. extends. through an eye. 96 downwardly where its lower.-

' endterminatcs in the vicinity of the lower frame; When the apparatus is.-. traveling along. a;

93 so that the depending. mechanism will occupy;

a position substantiallyat the: center of gravity; When, however, the apparatusistraveling along an inclined cable, the. pin 92 may be withdrawn from. the, registering apertures 931bypulling therope downwardly so that the suspendingmechanism is free toseek its own center of gravity to compensate. for the angle of angularity of the inclined cable line.

As. shown inFig. l of the drawings; twoadditional apertures93 and 93 are provided in theplate. l4, one such aperture being disposed at a spacedarcuate distance at each side of the cen-= tral aperture93 of the: plate I4. When the for ward portion of the apparatuscontacts a pole 85,

as hereinbefore described, the pin- 92 may be withdrawn from the .registering apertures 93 andthe suspended mechanism: slightly swung rear- I0 off the messenger wire 82 and thereby conveniently maneuver the forward part of' theapparatus" around to the opposite side of the pole 85. Following this, the pin 92 is disengaged from the aperture 93 and the suspended mechanism swings by gravitation to a point where the pin 92 may again engage the aperture 93 of the plate I4. The apparatus then continues its forward travel and coating operation until such time as it becomes necessary to place the rear trolley wheel 1 on the opposite side of the pole. At this point the pin 92 may be withdrawn from the registering apertures 93 and the suspended mechanism slightly swung forwardly on the pivot pin I5 to a point where the pin 92 engages the aperture 93 This alters the center of gravity of the suspended mechanism so that the larger portion of the weight is now borne by the for-.

ward trolley Wheel I0. Consequently, the ground crew may readily elevate the weight relieved rear trolley wheel 1 off the messenger wire 82 and thereby easily maneuver the rear part of the apparatus around to the opposite side of the pole 85. Following this, the pin 92 is disengaged from the aperture 93 and the suspended mechanism swings by gravitation to a point where the pin 92 may again engage the aperture 93 of the plate I4 in its normal relationship.

As shown in Figure 8, removable pins or plugs 91 may be placed in any of the desired ports 54 of the spraying nozzle so as to confine the discharged coating to the region occupied by the wire 82 and cable 83.

A modified form of means of propelling the apparatus is illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings. When this latter is utilized, the belt 40 drives the pulley M which is attached to a stub shaft I journaled in the lower frame 21. Mounted on the inner end of the stub shaft I00 is a bevel gear IOI which meshes with one of a pair of bevel gears I02 borne by a shaft I03, which latter has its opposite ends journaled in the frame 21. A U-shaped plate I04 is fixed to the frame 21 and has a longitudinally extending slot I located intermediate its ends. Received in the slot I05 is the circular end I06 of a vertically extending, telescoping, hexagonal drive shaft I01. A bearing plate I08 also accommodates the circular end of the shaft I06, the plate I08 being attached to the U-shaped plate I04 by a machine screw I09 which passes through a slot I I0 provided in the bearing plate I08.

The upper end of the shaft I01 is journaled in a bearing provided in an L-shaped bracket III which is fixed to the plate I6. A bevel gear H2 is carried by the upper end of the shaft I01 and meshes with a bevel gear II3 borne by a stub shaft II4 journaled in the bracket III. A sprocket wheel H5 is carried by the stub shaft H4 and is connected to the sprocket 9 by means of a sprocket chain I I6. A bevel gear I I1 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft I01 and meshes with one or the other of the pair of bevel gears I 02, as will hereinafter be fully described,

When the latter modified driving means is utilized, power furnished to the pulley 4| is transmitted to the shaft I01 through the bevel gear IIII and one of the bevel gears I02 and bevel gear I I 1, The power is transmitted from the shaft I01 through the bevel gears H2 and H3 to the sprocket Wheel I I 5 and chain I I 6 for rotating and driving the trolley wheels 1 and I0 in one direction.

When it is desired to reverse the direction 01' travel of the apparatus along the wire or rope, the machine screw I09 is retracted and the bearing plate I08 moved longitudinally so as to bring the bevel gear I I1 out of contact with the one gear and mesh the same with the other gear of the pair I 02 after which the screw is again tightened. When operated after making this change, the direction of rotation of the gear I I1 and shaft I01 will be reversed from that above described to reverse the direction of travel of the apparatus alongthe wire or rope.

What is claimed is-- 1. In apparatus for applying a protective coating to suspended cable lines borne by spaced supporting poles comprising trolley wheels adapted to be propelled along the line by a power plant connected to said trolley wheels and borne by a frame suspended from said trolley wheels, a reservoir containing the coating material borne by said frame, a conductor line from said reservoir to a spraying nozzle normally aligned with the cable line, the section of said conductor line to which the nozzle is attached being pivotally connected to the frame so as to be adapted, along with the nozzle, to be moved transversely with respect to the cable line when the spraying nozzle contacts and is passing an obstructing supporting pole in its travel along the line.

2. In apparatus for applying a protective coating to suspended cable lines borne by spaced supporting poles comprising trolley wheels adapted to be propelled along the line by a power plant connected to said trolley wheels and borne by a frame suspended from said trolley wheels, a reservoir containing the coating material borne by said frame, a conductor line from said reservoir to a spraying nozzle normally aligned with the cable line, the section of said conductor line to which the nozzle is attached being pivotally connected to the frame so as to be adapted, along with the nozzle, to be moved transversely with respect to the cable line when the spraying nozzle contacts and is passing an obstructing supporting pole in its travel along the line, a drip pan pivotally connected to said frame and disposed beneath the spraying nozzle and adapted to be moved transversely about its pivot along with the spraying nozzle when said drip pan contacts and is passing said obstructing pole.

3, In apparatus for applying a protective coating to suspended cable lines borne by spaced supporting poles comprising trolley wheels adapted to be propelled along the line by a power plant connected to said trolley wheels and borne by a frame suspended from said trolley wheels, a reservoir containing the coating material borne by said frame, a conductor line from said reservoir to a substantially U-shaped spraying nozzle disposed about said line, one of the perpendicularly disposed legs of the nozzle being pivotally connected to the yoke of the nozzle so as to be adapted to be forced from its normal perpendicular position when said leg frictionally engages and passes an obstructing supporting pole in its travel along the cable line.

4, In apparatus for applying a protective coating to suspended cable lines borne by spaced supporting poles comprising trolley wheels adapted to be propelled along the line by a power plant onnect d to s id trolley Wheels and borne by av frame suspended from said trolley wheels, a reservoir containing the coating material borne by said frame, a conductor line from said reservoir to a substantially U-shaped spraying nozzle disposed about said line, one of the perpendicularly disposed legs of the spraying nozzle being pivotally connected to the yoke of the nozzle so as to be adapted to be forced from its normal perpen said frame, a conductor line from said reservoir, 2. spraying nozzle disposed about said cable line and being pivotally connected in said conductor line so as to be forced about its pivotal point and out of its normal path of travel along the cable line when the nozzle frictionally engages and is passing an obstructing supporting pole in its travel along the cable line.

JOSEPH R. M'CMAHON. ELWOOD C. SPRINGFIELD.

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