US2478494A

US2478494A - Reeling mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2478494A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earnest E Martin
Original assignee: UNIVERSAL PROPERTIES Inc
Current assignee: UNIVERSAL PROPERTIES Inc
Priority date: 1947-11-17
Filing date: 1947-11-17
Publication date: 1949-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1966-08-09

Description

Aug. 9, 1949. E. E. MARTIN 2,478,494

REELING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 17, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l Erna-37171427111 I N VEN TOR.

Aug. 9, 1949. E. E. MARTIN REELING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 17, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

JQTfO/P/YE-Y' EPA/[sil M49710 Ill/m IIIIIII/l/ VIII]? Aug. 9, 1949'.

Filed Nov. 17, 1947 E. E. MARTIN REELING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A60 I56 I32 INVENTOR.

I WWW-(4% Patented Aug. 9, 1949 REELING MECHANISM Earnest E. Martin, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to Universal Properties, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 17, 1947; Serial No. 786,418

Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to mechanisms for reeling flexible lines, and has to do particularly with an improved service station reeling assembly' characterized by its adaptability for accommodation within spaces and locations which, together with the functional qualities of the mechanism, render it superior to the conventional types heretofore used. While various features of the invention are applicable to the reeling of flexible lines in general, a major adaptation of the invention is for service station use, and accordingly, will be described herein as illustrative.

Various proposals, some of which have been put into practice, have been made for reeling hose in a manner permitting the hose to be payed out to whatever length needed, and acting to rewind the hose as it is released. A common type of reeling unit is one requiring accommodation within a pit that must be dug a considerable distance below the ground surface. Other types have been proposed for installation above the ground, but have not achieved a particular or outstanding success, for various reasons unnecessary to relate in detail. My general purpose is to provide an improved reeling mechanism capable of accommodation within limited dimensions, whether above or below the round surface, and which because of its structural and functional characteristics, will permit its installation at locations and within housings or standards (which may serve other purposes) to which the conventional mechanisms are not practicably useable.

Structurally, the invention contemplates reeling mechanism comprising a hose carrier subject to rotation and axial bodily movement during its hose withdrawal and winding operations, in a manner permitting maintenance of a tangential take-up of the hose, and if desired, at a substantially fixed location. As will appear, different means may be employed for exertion of an axial force on the drum, as and for the purposes stated. In accordance with one form of the invention, such axial displacement is efiected by exertion against the drum of fluid pressure, preferably air pressure, the effect of which, together with proper angularity of the drum and shaft connection, produces longitudinal travel, and consequent rotation of the drum in a hose winding direction. Instead of so actuating the drum by fluid pressure, other applied force may be used, as a gravitation force created by, in effect, adequately weighting the drum.

Concerning its more specificaspects, the invention may employ a drum or other ho e 11?! having a threaded connection with a stationary support, the angularity of the connection being such as to impart axial movement to the rotating drum while permitting free withdrawal and even take-up of the hose. Thus the drum has what may be termed floating characteristics, and is characterized and distinguished from the conventional reeling units, by the capacity of the drum for longitudinal axial movement in response to a longitudinal, as distinguished from rotationally applied force.

The invention has various additional features and objects, such as the methods of connecting the floating drum with stationary parts such as the water or air supply lines, the relationship between the hose coils and thread angularity permitting maintenance of the hose take-off at a substantially fixed location, and other details, all of which will be understood most readily and to best advantage, from the following description of certain illustrative embodiments shown by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a standard embodying two hose reeling units and supporting a cash box; 1

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Fi 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to, Fig. 2 illustrating a modified form of the invention Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 68 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the nut illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section of the swivel connection on the upper end of the screw;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a variational form of fluid pressure actuated winding drum;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the bottom fitting assembly in Fig. 9:

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view showing the air control valve of Fi 9;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 9 illustrating an additional variational form of the invention employing gravitational force for movement of the winding drum;

Fig. 13 is a cross-section taken on line l3-l3 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings includes a tubular standard In housing a pair of hose reeling units II and I2 arranged in vertical alinement. The standard III is provided with a base l3 adapted to be supported on the usual service station island l4, at a location rendering conveniently accessible the hoses as well as a cash box l5 which may be carried by the housing.

The lower hose reeling unit I I includes generally a drum I8 carrying a coiled supply of hose adapted to be withdrawn from the housing in through a stationary hose guide IS. The drum I6 is mounted in the standard for both rotational and axial movement to permit the hose to be withdrawn tangentially through the fixed location of the guide. The guide |'8 typically includes two pairs of rollers I9 arranged on vertical and horizontal axes 20 within a housing 2| secured to the front side of the standard. An Opening 22 in the guide housing registers with an opening 23' in the standard for freely passing the hose.

The drum i6 is mounted in the standard for rotational and axial movement by a nut and screw mechanism characterized by its capacity for permitting endwise bodily movement of the drum in response to force applied axially or longitudinally thereof. In Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings the mechanism is shown to include a nut 25 stationarily mounted in the standard l0, and a screw 26 carrying the drum and cooperating with the nut for rotational and axial movement relative thereto. The nut 25 is shown typically to include three rollers 28 carried on the upper ends of equally spaced arms 29 by supporting pins 30. The rollers 28 are in vertically stepped relation in correspondence with the angularity of the helical thread on the screw. The several arms 29 are carried by a head 3| on the upper end of a guide tube 32. The lower end of the tube is connected with the base plate l3 of the standard through an attaching ring 33. The tube 32 is attached to the head 3| by a welded or other joint at 34, and is connected to the ring 33 by a set screw 35.

The drum I6 is moved axially in the standard III as the hose is withdrawn from and taken up by the drum. The nut and screw mechanism causes the drum to move axially as the drum rotates, and fluid pressure acting between the nut and drum, in a take-up direction, causes the drum to rotate through the cooperation of the stationary rollers withthe thread on the screw, to subsequently wind the hose onto the drum. Referring to Fig. 2, the drum is carried on a shell or cylinder 38 through a ring 31 located at its upper end and a similar ring 38 at its lower end. The upper end of the cylinder 35 is connected with the screw 26 by plug 39 secured to the screw and cylinder by a pin 40 extending diametrically therethrough. The lower ring 38 is provided with a flange 4| cooperating with the supporting tube 32 to guide the lower end of the drum.

The head 3| at the upper end of the guide tube 32 carries in its groove 43 an O-ring 42 forming a fluid seal against the cylinder 36. Flange 4| of the ring 38 at the lower end of the drum i8 similarly carries in its groove 45 an O-ring 44 which seals against the tube 32. Thus the space between the guide tube 32 and cylinder 36 forms an annular chamber 41 sealed at its opposite ends.

The screw 26 extends through an opening 46 in the head 3| to be received in an inner guide tube 43 and a bottom head 49 slidably engaging the 4 tube 43. The upper end or the latter is attached to the head 3| at 50 by welding or the like, and its lower end is connected with ring 33 by a spaced ring 5| welded or otherwise attached to tubes 32 and 43 to form a fluid tight joint.

Fluid pressure is supplied to the chamber 41 from a supply line 52 connected to the lower end of guide tube 48 by a fitting 53 threaded into a plug 54. A partition 55 adjacent the plug 54 in the lower end of the tube, forms a receiving chamber 56. Lateral ports 51 in the tube put the receiving chamber in communication with the annular passage 58 formed between

tubes

32 and 48. Ports 53 formed in the upper end of the supporting tube 32, put the chamber 41 in communication with the passage 58. Fluid pressure thus is supplied to the chamber 41 from the supply line 52 by way of the receiving chamber 53, ports 51, annular passage 53, and ports 59, to subject the drum to an axial force which imparts rotation thereto by the cooperation of the stationary nut with the threads on the screw.

Fluid, e. g. air, is supplied to the hose H from line 60 which enters the standard I0 through the base plate I3 and has a flattened portion 3| to give clearance between he pipe and hose. The supply line 60 extends to a point above the upper end of the drum l6, and a spiral hose 62, containing a wire 63 for maintaining its spiral formation, connects the upper end of the line with a swivel head 64. The spiral flexible connection 62 between line GI! and the swivel head permits axial movement of the cylinder it, while the swivel head permits free rotation of the drum relative to the head and flexible connection 62.

The swivel head 64 is carried on a stem 55, threaded in the upper end of the screw 28 at 66, and has an annular passage 61, sealed at opposite sides by a pair of O-rings 68, in communication with the flexible connection by a nipple 69. tral port 10 extending axially into the stem from its lower end. Lateral ports H in the upper end 01 the stem put the annular passage 51 in communication with the axial port 10, and lateral ports 12 put the axial port 10 in communication with a tube I3 extending from the upper end of the screw, through ring 31, to the ring 33 at the lower end of the drum IS. The lower end of the tube 13 is received in an opening I4 in the ring 33, and a nipple 15 in communication with the opening 14 connects with the inner end.

of the hose l1, thus putting the hose in communication with the air supply. The outer end of the hose carries the usual bumper 13 engageable with housing 2| of the hose guide II to limit inward movement or take-up of the hose.

The relationship between the diameter of the hose and the pitch of the thread on the screw 26 determines the space between the hose coils on the drum l5. If the diameter of the hose is equal to the pitch of the screw, the hose will lay in coils in close proximity, as illustrated in the drawings. is an important factor in that it must be sumciently great to cause the drum to rotate by a force applied axially thereof.

Referring to Fig. l, the standard I0 contains a second winding unit l2 for accommodation of a water hose, and which may be identical in construction and operation to the above described form. In Fig. 2 the water supply line 30 for the unit I2 is shown to extend upwardly through the base |3 in a manner similar to'the air line 60 for the dispensing unit I The stem 65 is provided with a cen The angle of the thread on the screw.

In operation, the air hose II is withdrawn through the hosefguide Ifl causing a counterclockwise rotation of the drum I3 and consequent axial movement by engagement of screw 26 with the stationary nut 25. The hose is, permitted to be withdrawn since the' fluid inchamber4l is free to back up in the .system, or be compressed in the event air is used. Upon release of the tension on the hose I6, the pressure in the chamber 41 exerts on the drum and screw attached thereto an axial force causing the nut rollers to travel the screwthread and in so doing,

second reeling unit, not shown. l

to axially displace and rotate the drum in a wind- I ing direction. 1

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 is essentially similar to the above described embodiment and has the same mode of operation except for replacing the fluid pressure application by a gravity responsive take-up, and direct connection of the nut with the drum for rotational and axial movement, while the screw remains stationary; Referring to Fig. 5 the housing 90 contains a winding drum 9I-and a hose 92 wound thereon. The drum is mounted for rotational and axial movement on a stationary screw 93 through the ball bearing nut 94.- Screw 93 is connected with a guide tube 95 by thread connection 96 at its lower end, tube 95 being connectedwith the housing 90 through the base plate 9'! by a set screw 98. Nut 94 is connected with the drum 9| through a weight element I00 by the threaded connection 94a retained in place by spaced rings IN and I02. A ring or bearing I03 is threaded into the lower end of the weight element to stabilize the lower end of the drum during its movements on the guide tube 95.

Screw 93 is provided with a helical race I04 for receiving one-half of each ball I05 in the nut 94. The nut carries a complementary helical ball race I06 receiving the other half of each ball I05, and carries also a tube I01 for'by-passing the balls from one end to the other-of their helical travel. Tube I0I is retained in place by a strap I08 secured to the body of the nut by spaced-screws I09. Rotation of the nut relative to the screw causes the balls to'roll up or down in the race on the nut, depending on the direction of its rotation, and the by-pass tube returns the balls fronrone end to the other of the race.

Fluid is supplied to the hose 92 from line H0 connected with the guide tube 95 by an adapter fitting III, and from the tube through an axial port H2 in the screw 93. A swivel head H3 at the upper end of the screw, identical to the swivel head described above, is in communication with the port in the screw. Fluid from the swivel head H3 'is conducted through a flexible connection I attached to a tube H5 extending through 'an opening I I 6 in the weight element.

The lower end of the tube H5 is directl connected to the innerend of the hose 92, and the outer end of the hose carries the usual fitting III for dispensing the fluid. The swivel head H3 permits the drum to rotate while the screw remains stationary, and the flexible coupling II 4 permits the drum to move axiall on the screw, while maintaining a fluid connection between the supply line H0 and the hose. The hose passes outwardly through aguide H3 attached to the outside of the standard 90 and through registered openings H9 and I20 in the standard'and the hose guide body, 'respectively.,' At a point above the upper end of the sta tionary screw 93, a partition I2I within the housing carries a second. guide tube 350' for a The operation of the unit'iust describedis identical with the unit of the first form, except that the drum is actuated by gravitational, instead of fluid pressure applied force. 'The weight element I00 forms an effective connection between the drum 9| and the nut 94, and at the same time adds suflicient weight to the drum to cause its rotation and take-up of thehose, each time the hose is withdrawn from the housing 33. T

It is important to have suflicient inclination in the thread to assure rewinding of thehoseon the drum. 'when a predetermined axial force is ap-.

Fig. 9 illustrates a further variational form of the invention, related to the embodiment of Fig. 2,

in that the fluid pressure is employed to eflect relative'axial movement of a screw shaft and winding drum, but with the screw in this instance -held against axialmovement Here the winding drum assembly I25 is contained within the vertical housing. I26 carrying the roller guide arrangement I21 for passa e of the hose I23. The

housing contains the screw shaft I29 into the lower end of which is screwed a fitting I30 having a convex bottom portion I3I seating at I32 on the housing base plate I33. The upper end of the shaft is held to the support I34 by a screw I35 threaded into the'shaft, the screw head fitting .within ,the support recess I36. The screw I35 afl'ords a simple method of retaining the winding drum screw I29 in fixed position between its bottom seat at I32 and the support I34, while permitting, by the loosening of screw I35, quick and easy dismounting and removal of the entire screw shaft and winding drum assembly.

. The winding drum comprises a shell I33 containing a fixed head I31 to which is attached the nut I33 and the depending cylinder I39. Hose I23 is wrapped about the drum in continguous turns having the previously described relation to the pitch of the screw threads I40. The lower portion of the screw shaft carries a guide tube I H attached to a head I42 fixed to the shaft and having an appropriate fiuid seal engagement at I 43 with the cylinder I39. The lower end of the, latter has a sliding fluid seal engagement at I44 with the guide tube I. The drum shell I33 and cylinder I39 are mutually supported by a ring'I45 placed between them.

Leading from the bottom of the drum, the hose I28 has an open spiral extent. having a connection I46 with a sleeve I4'I packed at I 43 about the fit- Y ting I30, and rotatable with the hose and drum assembly. Air is supplied to the hose from line I43 by way of passage I50, port I52 and annular groove I53 in the sleeve I41, the groove being in constant communication with the hose connection I46. Air pressure is communicated from line I49 to the cylinder chamber I 54 by way of branch line I55, passage I56, the screw shaft bore I51 and the lateral port I58.

Line I55 contains an air control valve I50 comprising a body I62 containing passages I63 and I 54, through which the air flows under control of the needle valve I65. Air flow through the bypass bores I66, I61 and I68 is controlled by a check valve I69 normally seated by the spring I10. At this point it may be mentioned that if desired, a similar control valve I600. may be installed in line 52 of the previously described form shown in Fig. 2.

In operation, assuming the parts to be positioned as illustrated in Fig. 9, withdrawal of the hose I28 causes the drum and cylinder assembly to turn upwardly on the screw shaft I29, rotation of the nut I38 being facilitated by ball bearings I1I' accommodated for return movement as previously described with reference to Fig. '1. During upward movement of the cylinder I39, air is displaced from chamber I54 through the shaft bore I51 and line I55 past the check valve I69. Upon release of the hose, air pressure communicated through line I55 past the needle valve I65 to chamber I54 forces the cylinder and drum assembly downwardly n the screw, causing the drum to rotate and rewind the hose. Needle valve I65 may be set to deliver air to the chamber I54 at a rate sufiiciently high to permit an even progressive take-up of the hose, but without employing continuously the maximum available pressure. In other words, the magnitude of the continuously effective pull on the hose may be regulated by adjustment of the needle valve.

Provision is made in the Fig. 9 form of the invention, for accommodation of the outer nozzle end (not shown) of the hose I28 within the housing I26, at such time as the service station may be closed and the hose therefore is to be rendered inaccessible. The housing contains an opening I13 through which the free end of the hose may be put into the compartment I14, the opening being closed by a cover I hinged to the housing at I16. Opposite the guide I21, the cover has a hose passing opening I11, below which the cover may carry any suitable means for locking it to the housing. As illustrative, the cover is shown to carry a lug I18 which may pass through a bifurcation I19 on the guide housing I80, to permit insertion of a padlock through the lug opening I8I. As illustrated, sumcient clearance exists at I82 inside the cover I15, to permit passage of the nozzle end of the hose into the compartment I14.

The final variational form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 12 to 14, resembles the embodiment of Fig. 5 in that the winding drum is actuated by gravitational force, but in this instance by way of a nut element movable axially of both the shaft and drum. Here housing I83 contains the screw shaft I84 engaging and confined against rotation between the support I85 and base I86, the support being adaptable also to carry a second screw shaft I81 where the housing is to contain two winding drum assemblies. The shaft carries a nut I90 which may comprise a cylindrical body of lead or other heavy material having sufficient weight to displace the winding drum, as will presently appear. The nut proper comprises a sleeve I9I interlocked at I92 to the lead and containing screw threads having at I93 sufficient clearance from the shaft threads for accommodation of the ball bearings I94. The nut or its thread length may be suflicient to permit travel of the balls within the thread extent. during the range of travel of the nut. Expulsion of the balls is prevented by retaining rings I95 and I96.

The winding drum may comprise an open end cylinder I91 carrying spaced internal spline ribs I98 extending the full length of the drum. Enter- 8 ing through the guide 200, the hose passes over the spirally arranged rollers 20! carried on the inside of the housing I83, and winds about the drum. At the top, the hose leaves the drum in engagement with the segmental circular drumcarried guide 202, inclinedin accordance with the pitch of the turns 203, the hose thence being spiraled above the drum to a connection at 204 with fitting 205 on the screw shaft. Air is supplied to the hose from line 206 through the shaft bore 201 and fitting 205.

Rotation is transmitted from the drum to the nut, or vise versa, by way of a key sleeve I89 carrying diametrically opposed splines 208 received between the drum carried ribs I98. The sleeve carries a second pair of splines 209 received within grooves 2I0 extending longitudinally within the nut surface. In the broad contemplation of the invention, the

splines

208 and 209 may be disposed or mounted in any suitable manner permitting full range of relative movements of the nut and drum. Typically, the splines are shown to be carried by the sleeve I89 which is substantially co-extensive with the nut travel and may be supported by the bearing of its closed bottom 2 on the screw shaft flange 2I2.

As illustrative of an actual construction for winding a inch hose, the nut I may be 5 inches in length, traveling within a range of 19 inches, the distance between fitting 205 and the bottom shaft flange 2I2. The drum length may be about 9 inches, indicating that depending upon the length of hose wound upon or removed from the drum, the nut I90 may travel out of and beyond either end of the drum as it approaches extreme positions corresponding to the limits of winding on or withdrawal of the hose from the winding drum.

As the hose is pulled from the housing, the resultant drum rotation is transmitted by the key sleeve I89 to the nut I90, causing the latter to travel upwardly along the screw shaft. With the drum supported on rollers 20I by way of the hose turns 203 and the guide 202, the drum moves downwardly as the hose is pulled out from the bottom of the turn series. Upon release of the hose the weighted nuttravels down the screw shaft, sleeve I89 transmitting its rotation to the drum and turning the latter in a hose winding direction. As will be understood, the drum is progressively elevated as the hose turns are added at the bottom.

I claim:

1. A flexible line reeling unit comprising an annular winding drum movable longitudinally of an axis in response to force applied to the drum in the direction of said axis, means extending inside the drum and positioned about and progressively movable along said axis to exert force against the drum substantially uniformly about and in the direction of said axis, and a mounting supporting the drum for such movement and fcomprising a connection which translates longitudinal movement of the drum into rotational movement thereof. 7

2. A flexible line reeling unit comprising an annular winding drum movable longitudinally of an axis in response to force applied to the drum in the direction of said axis, means positioned about and progressively movable along said axis to exert force against the drum substantially uniformly about and in the direction of said axis, a mounting supporting the drum for such movement and comprising a connection which translates longitudinal movement of the drum into rotational movement thereof, said connection including a screw shaft alined with said axis, and a nut traveling the screw and movable with the drum, the pitch of the screw threads being sufllciently great that the drum moves longitudinally of said axis in response to the force of said exerting means. i

3..A flexible hose reeling unit comprising an annular winding drum movable longitudinally of an axis in response to force applied to the drum in the direction of said axis, a hose carried by the drum, means positioned about and progressively movable along said axis to exert force against the drum substantially uniformly about and in the direction of said axis, a mounting supporting the drum for such movement and comprising a connection which translates longitudinal movement of the drum into rotational movement thereof, a fluid supply pipe, and a flexible conduit rotatable with the drum for connecting said pipe with the drum-carried hose, said conduit being deflectible in accordance with the axial movements of the drum.

4. A flexible hose reeling unit comprising an annular winding drum movable longitudinally of an axis in res nse to force applied to the drum in the direction of said axis, a hose carried by the drum, means positioned about and progressively movable along said axis to exert force against the drum substantially uniformly about and in the direction of said axis, a mounting supporting the drum for such movement and comprising a connection which translates longitudinal movement of the drum into rotational movement thereof, a fluid supply pipe, a swivel fitting connected to said pipe, and a flexible conduit connected to said swivel fitting and to the drum for supplying fluid to the drum-carried hose, said conduit being rotatable with the drum and being deflectible in accordance with the axial movements of the drum.

5. A flexible hose reeling unit comprising a vertically extending tubular housing, an annular hose-carrying drum extending coaxially with and inside the housing, said drum being movable longitudinully of the housing and drum axis in response to force applied to the drum in the direction of said axis, means positioned centrally within the housing about said axis in proximate relation to and in alinement with the drum for exerting force uniformly aboutand in the direction of said axis against the drum to move the drum longitudinally of the axis, and a mounting supporting the drum for such movement and comprising a connection which transmits longitudinal movement of' the drum into rotational movement thereof.

6. A flexible hose reeling unit comprising a vertically extending tubular housing, an annular hose carrying drum extending coaxially with and inside the housing, said drum being movable longitudinally of the housing and drum axis in response to force applied to the drum in the direction of said axis, means extending inside the drum and exerting a force in the direction of said axis against the drum to move the drum longitudinally of the axis, and a mounting supporting the drum for such movement and comprising a connection which transmits longitu- 10 dinal movement ,of the drum into rotational movement thereof. v

7. A flexible line reeling unit comprising an annular winding drum movable longitudinally of an axis in response to force applied to the drum in the direction of said axis, a heavy mass extending inside the drum and positioned about and progressively movable along said axis to exert force against the drum substantially uniformly about and in the direction of said axis, and a mounting supporting the drum for such movement and comprising a connection which translates longitudinal movement of the drum into rotational movement thereof.

8. A flexible line reeling unit comprising an annular winding drum movable longitudinally of an axis in response to force applied to the drum in the direction of said axis, fluid pressure actuated means extending inside the drum and positioned about and progressively movable along said axis to exert force against the drum substantially uniformly about and in the direction of said axis, and a mounting supporting the drum for such movement and comprising a connection which translates longitudinal movement of the drum into rotational movement thereof.

9. A flexible hose reeling unit comprising a vertically extending tubular housing, an annular hose-carrying drum extending coaxially with and inside the housing, said drum being movable longitudinally of the housing and drum axis in response to force applied to the drum in the direction of said axis, a heavy mass positioned centrally within the housing about said axis in proximate relation to and in alinement with the drum for exerting force uniformly about and in the direction of said axis against the drum to move the drum longitudinally of the axis, and a mounting supporting the drum for such movement and comprising a connection which transmits longitudinal movement of the drum into rotational movement thereof.

10. A flexible hose reeling unit comprising a vertically extending tubular housing, an annular hose-carrying drum extending coaxially with and inside the housing, said drum being movable longitudinally of the housing and drum axis in response to force applied to the drum in the direction of said axis, fluid pressure actuated means positioned centrally within the housing about said axis in proximate relation to and in alinement with the drum for exerting force uniformly about and in the direction of said axis against the drum to move the drum longitudinally of the axis, and a mounting supporting the drum for such movement and comprising a connection which transmits longitudinal movement of the drum into rotational movement thereof.

EARNEST E. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS