US3156354A

US3156354A - Device for blocking wire lay

Info

Publication number: US3156354A
Application number: US260389A
Authority: US
Inventors: William M Laymon
Original assignee: Phelps Dodge Copper Products Corp
Current assignee: Phelps Dodge Copper Products Corp
Priority date: 1963-02-25
Filing date: 1963-02-25
Publication date: 1964-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 1981-11-10

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A T TOPNEYS.

W. M. LAYMON DEVICE FOR BLOCKING WIRE LAY Nov. 10, 1964 Filed Feb. 25, 1965 Nv Rm mA NL E V mM Z a @lf/@MMM \m FIG.

Flo 5;;

Nov. 10, 1964 w. M. LAYMON 3,156,354

DEVICE FOR BLocxING WIRE LAY Filed Feb. 25, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGA- INVENTOE WILL/AM M- LAYMUN @YEEWE A770? YS- United States Patent O 3,156,354 DEVICE FOR BLOCKING WIRE LAY William Ni. Layman, Fort Wayne, Ind., assigner to Phelps Dodge Copper Products Corporation, New York, NX., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 260,389 Claims. (Cl. 20e-53) This invention relates to the packaging of wire, such as magnet wire, in packages of the type comprising a container in the form of a pail or drum in which the wire is coiled in a lay around a central core, and a blocking device disposed in the void between the container lid and the coiled wire lay for maintaining the latter under compression. The invention has particular reference to an improved blocking device for the wire lay in such packages. v

Packages of the type described are subjected to considerable and, at times, rather rough handling incident to shipment and other operations. Accordingly, it is a function of the blocking device to maintain pressure on the wire lay and thus prevent shifting of the wire coils relative to each other or 'to the container in which they have been placed. Otherwise, serious tangling and kinking of the wire will result as the wire is being uncoiled from the container.

Heretofore, this blocking of lthe wire lay in the container has generally been accomplished by placing a filler of cushioning material, such as foamed plastic blocks, rubberized hair or coiled springs, on top of the wire to fill the void in the container above the wire lay. The cushioning material is then compressed and held under compression until the cover or lid ot the container is positioned and sealed, so that the pressure on the wire lay is maintained by the removable lid of the container. However, since the depth of the Wire lay will usually differ in different containers, such blocking means have the disadvantage that they require resort to varying the amount of filler material used in the different containers, in order to compensate for variations in the distance between the top of the Wire lay and the top opening of the container. In practice, even this compensating measure does not make it possible to maintain a standard amount of pressure on the wire lays in the different containers. Substantial variations from a predetermined amount of such pressure are undesirable because if the pressure is too high, the lid may be loosened or forced oli the container during the handling; and if the cushioning material is insuiiiciently compressed, it may permit shifting of the wire lay in the container during handling. Moreover, application of the ller material, in varying amounts or thicknesses for diierent containers, is an exacting and time-consuming operation.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a wire lay blocking device which overcomes the above-noted disadvantages of the yblocking devices commonly used.

The blocking device of the present invention does not depend upon the container lid to maintain the wire lay under compression, nor does it require any variation in the dimensions of the device to compensate for diierent depths of the wire lay in the container. It may be properly positioned in the container quickly and easily and may be readily removed.

A blocking device made according to the invention comprises a cushion mounted on top of the Wire lay in the usual annular space dened by 'the cylindrical outer Wall of the wire container and by its central core forming the inner wall of this space. The device comprises also a clip in this space overlying the cushion in position to hold it compressed against the Wire lay and thereby press the latter against the container bottom.

3,155,354 atented Nov. 10, 1964 ICC The clip includes releasable prong means embedded in either the inner or the outer wall of the annular space to hold the clip against upward displacement by the cushion. Preferably, the clip is mounted on a retaining member engaging the top of the cushion and fitting closely between the inner and outer walls to hold the prong means embedded in one wall, and this retainer member is movable relative to the other wall to release the prong means from the one wall.

With this construction, the wire lay may be effectively blocked, regardless of its depth in the container, by simply pushing the clip downwardly to subject the underlying cushion to the desired compression, and then locking the clip by embedding its prong means in the opposing inner or outer wall of the annular space. Conversely, the wire lay may be readily unblocked by tilting or otherwise moving the clip to withdraw its prong means from the opposing wall to permit lifting the clip and cushion from the annular space in the container.

A better understanding of the invention may be had be referring to the following description in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of a container having a center core around which the wire lay is wound, the container having therein a preferred form of the blocking device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the assembled blocking device; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional View on line 4 4 in FIG. 2.

The blocking device is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as being located in a shipping and storage container indicated generally by the reference numeral 1t). Container 11i comprises outside cylindrical Wall 11, a bottom 12 integral with wall 11, a removable cover 13, and a cylindrical core 14 extending upwardly from bottom 12 substantially coaXially of the Wall 11. Thus, container 1G provides an annular space 10a defined by outer wall 11 `and the inner wall formed by core 14. The wire to be packaged is coiled in the usual manner in the annular space 19a around core 14, to form a wire lay 15 seated on the container bottom 12.

The blocking device is shown generally at 16. As illustrated, three of these devices overlie the wire lay 15 and are spaced around the core or inner Wall 14, in order to block the wire lay at different locations and thereby hold the wire coilsy more securely against shitting in the container. Since the blocking devices 16 are identical to each other, a description of one will suflice.

Each blocking device 16 comprises a clipy 17, a clipretaining member in the form of a pressure pad 1S to which clip 17 is attached, and a block of cushioning material 19 which may also be attached to pad 18. The clip 17 makes locking engagement with inner wall 14, through releasable prong means 22 embedded in this wall, and thereby holds pad 18 in a predetermined vertical position along the core. In this position of pad 18, the cushion 19 is compressed between pad 1S and Wire lay 15, so that the wire lay is held under compression against the container bottom 12.

The container 10 may be of conventional construction for packaging wire, such as magnet wire. The cylindrical wall 11, bottom surface 12 and cover 13 will generally be The clip 17 may be formed from a rectangular ilat strip of hard-temper spring steel. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a section is partially punched from the lat strip ot steel and angularly bent at the point where it still adjoins the flat strip, to form a center leg 20 extending below and parallel to the two side legs 21 also formed due to the punching. The distance that center leg 20 extends below side legs 21 will be of the order of the thickness of pressure pad 18, or less, so that clip 17 may be tirmly attached to the pad by inserting center leg 20 through" a hole 18a in the pad. At its inner portion, beyond where the legs 329-21 begin, the strip is bent upward as shown at 17a. This upwardly inclined portion 17a terminates in prongs 22 formed by bending the corners downward. These prongs 22 may be embedded in fiber core 14 to lock pad 13 and cushion 19 in a iixed vertical position on wire lay 1S. The prongs 22 provide a strong but easily released locking action between clip 17 and core 14. It has been found that the locking and release will also be facilitated by bending the inclined portion 17a at an angle of about 45 to the horizontal portion of element 17.

Pressure pad 1S of blocking device 16 is formed from relatively thin die-cut corrugated fiber board in the preferred embodiment of the invention. This pad, as illustrated in FGS. 2 and 3, is of arcuate shape and lits snugly between wall 11 and core 14 of container 1t), so that the arcuate inner and outer edges of the pad conform to the contours of core 1- and wall 11, respectively. The outer arcuate edge of the pad i8 is serrated, as shown at 23, to accommodate minor variances in diameter of outer wall 11 and core 14 in different containers; that is, the teeth 23 will collapse when the radial distance between wall 11 and core 14 is slightly smaller than the radial dimension of pad 1S. This serrated edge Z3 also permits pad 13 to fit snugly against wall 11 and thereby aid clip 17 in resisting any upward movement of wire lay 1S within container 1G.

The cushion 19 may be a block of foamed plastic, such as polyurethane. As shown, this block is attached to the overlying pressure pad 18 by suitable means, such as a staple 24, to keep the block in fixed position relative to the pad. Because of the resiliency of block 19, it may be compressed into tight-fitting relationship with wire lay 15 by setting pad 18 in a given vertical position along core 14. The cushioning block 19 will then continue to exert downward pressure on wire lay 1S as the wire settles in the container. 0f course, the cushion 19 may take other forms than that illustrated, such as a coiled spring.

In the use of the blocking device as illustrated, the wire lay 15 is tirst wound around core 14 of container 1t). The assembled blocking device 16 is then positioned in annular space 10a so that cushioning block 19 is in contact with the top of wire lay 15. Generally, at least three of the blocking devices 16 are spaced equidistantly around core 14. Downward pressure is then applied by hand to pad 18 of each blocking device 15, thereby placing its cushioning block 1S? under compression against wire lay 15. When the hand pressure is released from pad 1S, the resulting upward expansion of the compressed block 19 causes the points 22 of clip 17 to cut and lock into liber core 14 and thereby prevent further expansion of the block. The block or cushion 19 is thus held under the desired compression, which serves to hold the prong points 22 embedded in core 1d so as to resist upward displacement of the device. The blocking device 16 is easily removed by applying downward pressure to the pad 1S at its outer portion adjacent the wall l1. This pressure acts to tilt the clip 17 so as to disengage its prongs 22 from core 14, whereby the blocking device 16 can be lifted from container 10.

The ease and speed of thus blocking or unblocking the wire lay 15 atord a definite advantage over conventional blocking means involving the packing and unpacking of considerable ller material in the container. Moreover, no additional filler material is needed as compensation to CII eliect tight re-blocking after wire is removed from wire lay 15, since the blocking device 16 can be readily locked in different vertical positions to accommodate different depths of the wire lay. Additionally, the blocking action of the device 16 is not dependent upon exerting an upward force on cover 13, tending to loosen or remove it.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of the construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereafter claimed.

I claim:

1. The combination of a wire container having a bottom, a generally cylindrical outer side wall and a generally cylindrical core disposed substantially coaxially of said outer wall and surrounded thereby in spaced relation thereto, said core forming the inner wall of an annular vertical space delined by said outer wall and the core, a lay of wire coiled in said space around the core and surrounded by said outer wall, a cushion in said space mounted on top of the wire lay, and a clip in said space overlying the cushion in position to hold the cushion compressed against the wire lay and thereby press the wire lay against the container bottom, said clip having releasable prong means embedded in one of said walls to hold the clip against upward displacement by the cushion.

2. The combination according to claim l, comprising also a retaining member on which the clip is mounted and which lits closely between the walls to hold the prong means embedded in said one wall, the retaining member being movable relative to the other wall to release the prong means from said one wall.

3. The combination according to claim l, in which the prong means are embedded in said inner wall formed by the core.

4. The combination according to claim l, comprising also an arcuate retaining member on which the clip is mounted and which fits closely between the walls to hold the prong means embedded in said inner wall, the retaining member engaging the cushion and being movable relative to the outer wall to release the prong means from the inner wall.

5. The combination according to claim l, comprising also an arcuate retaining member on which the clip is mounted and which lits closely between the walls to hold the prong means embedded in said inner wall, the retaining member engaging the cushion and being movable relative to the outer wall to release the prong means from the inner wall, said retaining member being of flexible material and havino a serrated edge abutting said outer wall.

6. The combination according to claim 1, comprising also a retaining member on which the clip is mounted and which lits closely between the walls to hold the prong means embedded in said one wall, the clip having a base portion secured to the retaining member and also having a portion inclined upwardly from said base portion toward said one wall and terminating in said prong means, the retaining member being movable relative to the other wall to release the prong means from said one wall.

7. The combination according to claim l, comprising also a retaining member on which the clip is mounted and which tits closely between the walls to hold the prong means embedded in said one wall, the retaining member being movable relative to the other wall to release the prong means from said one wall, and means securing the retaining member to the cushion.

8. ln a device for blocking the lay of wire coiled in an annular space between inner and outer cylindrical walls of a container, the combination of a clip-retaining member adapted to tit closely in said space above the wire lay, said member having inner and outer arcuate edges, and

per surface of said member, said inclined portion terminating in prong means overlying one of said edges.

10. The combination according to claim 9, comprising also a cushion secured to the lower surface of said member.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,889,921 Hubbard June 9, 1959

Claims

1. THE COMBINATION OF A WIRE CONTAINER HAVING A BOTTOM, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL OUTER SIDE WALL AND A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL CORE DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIALLY OF SAID OUTER WALL AND SURROUNDED THEREBY IN SPACED RELATION THERETO, SAID CORE FORMING THE INNER WALL OF AN ANNULAR VERTICAL SPACE DEFINED BY SAID OUTER WALL AND THE CORE, A LAY OF WIRE COILED IN SAID SPACE AROUND THE CORE AND SURROUNDED BY SAID OUTER WALL, A CUSHION IN SAID SPACE MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE WIRE LAY, AND A CLIP IN SAID SPACE OVERLYING THE CUSHION IN POSITION TO HOLD THE CUSHION COMPRESSED AGAINST THE WIRE LAY AND THEREBY PRESS THE WIRE LAY AGAINST THE CONTAINER BOTTOM, SAID CLIP HAVING RELEASABLE PRONG MEANS EMBEDDED IN ONE OF SAID WALLS TO HOLD THE CLIP AGAINST UPWARD DISPLACEMENT BY THE CUSHION.