US3799016A

US3799016A - Mobile apparatus for salvaging underground and overhead electrical cable

Info

Publication number: US3799016A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vaugh A Mc
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-03-30
Filing date: 1973-03-30
Publication date: 1974-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-26

Abstract

Apparatus for salvaging underground and overhead electrical cable includes a mobile platform, such as a motor truck, on which a cable-receiving tubular guide assembly is adjustably mounted for guiding cable from a cable-pulling toothed sheave supported at the rearward end of the guide assembly to a travelling guillotine type of cable cutter supported at the forward end. The cable cutter is synchronized to travel with the cable and to cut the cable into short lengths. After each cut of the cable, the cutter is synchronized to travel with the cable and to cut the cable into short lengths. After each cut of the cable, the cutter is retracted to its start position. Additionally, a pusher may be provided to push into the cutter the end portions of cable which have passed forwardly beyond the cable-pulling sheave and which, except for the pusher, may be left in the tubular guide assembly.

Description

[ Mar. 26, 1974 MOBILE APPARATUS FOR SALVAGING UNDERGROUND AND OVERHEAD ELECTRICAL CABLE Arthur K. McVaugh, Box 42, Vernfield, Pa. 18973 Filed: Mar. 30, 1973 Appl. No.: 346,357

Inventor:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1937 Traut 83/3l8 X 7/1956 Siegerist 83/318 3/1965 Smith et'al 83/924 X 4/1973 Chippendale 83/924 X Primary Examiner-Frank T. Yost Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Paul & Paul [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for salvaging underground and overhead electrical cable includes a mobile platform, such as a motor truck, on which a cable-receiving tubular guide assembly is adjustably mounted for guiding cable from a cable-pulling toothed sheave supported at the rearward end of the guide assembly to a travelling guillotine type of cable cutter supported at the forward end. The cable cutter is synchronized to travel with the cable and to cut the cable into short lengths. After each cut of the cable, the cutter is synchronized to travel with the cable and to cut the cable into short lengths. After each cut of the cable, the cutter is retracted to its start position. Additionally, a pusher may be provided to push into the cutter the end portions of cable which have passed forwardly beyond the cablepulling sheave and which, except for the pusher, may be left in the tubular guide assembly.

15 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures gs V PATENTED MARZB I974 sum 1 0r 6 MOBILE APPARATUS FOR SALVAGING UNDERGROUND AND OVERHEAD ELECTRICAL CABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for salvaging cable, particularly underground and overhead electrical cable.

Public utilities use large amounts of underground electrical cable and, to some extent, overhead cable. Electric power companies use large diameter underground cable for transmission of electric power from generating stations to substations and thence to industrial plants and to residential properties. Other public utilities, such as telephone and telegraph companies, railroads, and other public transportation systems also use underground power cables. In addition, in the larger cities separate communication systems are provided for police and fire departments which utilize underground cables for transmission of messages and for transmission of signals, as for the control of traffic lights.

The installation of electrical cable below ground in conduits has many advantages. The cable life is usually longer since the cables are not exposed to the adverse effects of storm and weather. And it avoids disrupting the beauty of the roadside.

Underground cable is usually installed in concrete pipe, terracotta pipe, or the like, which is buried underground, and which may extend for 400 to 800 feet before terminating in a manhole. In the city, the manhole is usually located near an intersection.

The installation of new cable into newly installed underground-conduit, as by a winch or the like, is a relatively simple matter compared to the removal thereof after the cable has become lodged in the conduit for a number of years.

Underground cable deteriorates and eventually must be removed. Or, its removal may be necessitated by the need for a larger capacity cable. The removal of the old cable can be very difficult and costly. The cable, being older, is weaker and is more likely to rupture when strained. The dirt which accumulates in the conduit after many years has the effect of causing the cable to adhere to the walls of the conduit. Sometimes tree roots have penetrated into the conduit, making it extremely difficult to remove the cable from the conduit. For these and other reasons, removing and recovering old cable has been difficult and costly.

The scrap value of the cable, once recovered, is high because of the large amounts of copper, lead, and other metals in the cable. However, the cost of salvaging the cable may be even higher than the scrap value.

One method which has been used to remove cable from underground conduit is to position a winch above each of the manholes at the two ends of the cable and then pull on the cable using a back-and-forth motion until it is finally loosened sufficiently to be pulled out at one of the manholes. The removed cable was then wound directly on an empty reel, which was picked up with special apparatus and hauled away to a scrap yard. At the scrap yard, the cable was unwound from the reel and sheared into short lengths suitable for smelting to recover the copper and other metals.

Another method which has been heretofore used is to pull a length of cable from the conduit with a puller,

then stop the puller, cut the cable into short lengths, and then repeat the procedure until all of the cable has been removed from the conduit. This procedure is unsatisfactory in actual practice. The amount of force required to restart the cable from a rest position is very substantial and places a heavy strain on the puller, so that it had a very short life.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application discloses apparatus for removing and recovering underground and/or overhead electrical cable. The apparatus disclosed is an improvement over the apparatus disclosed in my co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 152,697, filed June 14, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,736,822.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for removing and recovering underground and/or overhead cable.

The foregoing object of this invention is achieved by providing an apparatus in which the cable to be recovered is gripped and pulled by the radial teeth of a motor-driven sheave mounted at the rearward end of an elongated inclined tube affixed to a mobile platform. The cable is pulled from the underground conduit (or overhead line) and then pushed up the tube into a cutter which cuts the cable into small sections as it emerges from the tube. The cut lengths of cable are suitable for recovery in a smelter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of apparatus according to this invention. In FIG. I, the alternate position of the sheave for pulling overhead cable is shown in phantom.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear end view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, the limiting positions of the adjustable-position sheave being shown in phantom.

FIG. 4 is a detailed side view, in partial cross-section, showing the sheave and the rearward part of the inclined tube of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the sheave, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the sheave, taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an end view in partial cross-section of the ball joint at the rearward end of the tube, taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view in partial cross-section of the forward portion of the tube, taken along the line 8-8 of FIGfl.

FIG. 9 is a side view in partial section, taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 2, showing the cable-cutting means, with successive positions of the knife and pusher shown in phantom.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view, in partial cross-section taken along the line 10l0 of FIG. 9, showing the cable-cutting means of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line llll of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, a mobile truck T is illustrated schematically having wheels W resting on the surface of the ground G. Supported on the body of the truck T are a cable-pulling sheave assembly 20, a position adjustable extendible tubular guide assembly 50, and a cable cutter assembly 70.

The truck T is shown backed-up in a position near to or adjacent a manhole M from which a cable C, shown in phantom, is to-be removed. Jacks I support the rear end of the truck against the downward forces which are experienced during the cable-pulling operation.

The illustration of FIG. 1 assumes that the forward end of the cable has previously been pulled from the underground conduit, as by steel rope R wound on the motor-driven capstan 24 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and that the forward end of the cable C has been placed in the sheave 21 and pushed down so as to be gripped tightly by the teeth 22 and 23 (FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, supported on the body of the truck T is a tubular guide assembly 50 whose function is to convey the cable from the sheave to a cutter 70 located at a height and position adapted to drop the cut lengths into a cart-away vehicle. The tubular guide assembly includes an outer tubular sleeve 67 and an inner tubular guide member 51 which. is extendible relative to sleeve 67. The position of the

tubular guide

67, 51 is universally adjustable by means of a plurality of

hydraulic cylinder pistons

54, 56 and 52, the lower ends of which are mounted, by universal mounting means, on the truck body. The upper ends of the pistons of a pair of rearward hydraulic cylinders 54 are connected to a ball connection 60 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) which is connected to and supports the rearward end of sleeve 67. In FIG. 4, sleeve 67 is shown as being integral with ball connection 60, but 67 may be connected to 60 as by welding, or by bolts.

The upper ends of the pistons of a pair of forward hydraulic cylinders 56 are connected to the forward portion of sleeve 67. Thus, by means of the pairs of

hydraulic cylinder pistons

54 and 56, the elevation and angle of inclination of the

tubular guide

67, 51 are adjusted and controlled. Moreover, by extending one of the pistons of a pair and/or retracting the other, the guide sleeve 67 and its tubular inner member 51 may be adjusted rotationally about its own longitudinal axis.

The angular position of the

tubular guide

67, 51 relative to the longitudinal center axis of the truck is also adjustable, being controlled by

elements

52, 52E and 53. Element 53 is a fixed length tie rod which extends from a fixed point on the truck body near the base of one of the hydraulic cylinders 54 to a fixed bracket 153 (FIG. 8.) on the underside of the sleeve 67 near the forward end of the sleeve.

Elements

52 and 52E are respectively a hydraulic cylinder piston and a piston rod extension. The forward end of extension 52B is connected to the tie rod 53 near the forward end thereof. Thus, the angular position of the

tubular guide assembly

67, 51 relative to the center axis of the truck is adjustable by the action of hydraulic cylinder 52 in cooperation with the pairs of

hydraulic cylinders

56 and 54.

As seen in FIG. 4, connected to, or integral with, ball connection 60 is a rearwardly extending tubular portion 62, the function of which is to support the cablepulling sheave assembly 20. Assembly 20 is supported on the rearwardly extending portion 62 by a collar 61 which is retained on the support member 62 by a retaining wedge ring'63. Collar 61 has an extension 64 which extends to one side and rearwardly from collar 61 (FIGS. 1,2 and 4). Secured, as by bolts or welding, to a rearmost portion of collar extension 64 is a hollow cylindrical cross member 128 (FIG. 5) which supports the sheave 21 and the motor drive therefor and which also functions as a bearing surface for capstan 24.

While, so far as the present invention is concerned, the sheave 21 may be driven rotationally by other suitable means, a preferred form of drive is illustrated in FIG. 5. As there shown a hydraulically driven gear motor 25 drives a first planetary drive 26 which is bolted to end plate 28 of cylindrical housing 128. Drive 26 is coupled to and drives a second planetary drive 27 which is bolted to plate 127 which in turn is bolted to capstan 24. Thus, by means of hydraulic gear motor 25 and the two-stage

planetary drive

26, 27 the capstan 24 is driven rotationally, being'supported for rotation on cylindrical member 128.

While not intending to be limited to the following speeds, the hydraulically driven gear motor 25 may, for example, rotate at 3,000 rpm, and the second planetary motor 27 of the two-stage planetary motor drive may be driven at 16 rpm, thereby driving the capstan 24 and sheave 21 at 16 rpm. As already indicated, these speeds are merely illustrative.

Secured to capstan 24 is an'endless chain 30, which (FIG. 4) drives a toothed wheel 31 mounted on a shaft 32 supported in frame member 64. The teeth of the wheel 31 engage the underside of the cable C as it leaves the sheave 21 and provides support for the cable and also assists in moving the cable forwardly into the

guide tube

67, 51.

Sheave 21, whose function is to pull the cable C from its underground (or overhead) installation, comprises two separate halves 21A and 218 (FIG. 5) each of which is mounted on capstan 24 and secured thereto, as by key 121. An annular spacer 29 is placed between the two halves 21A and 218. The halves are held together by a retainer ring 130 which is toothed and which also serves as the drive sprocket for endless chain 30.

Each of the sheave halves is characterized by having inclinded

radial teeth

22 and 23 of truncated conical shape which face each other, and which may preferably be staggered rather than directly opposite each other. The advantage to be derived from staggering the teeth, on one side relative to the other, is that when the cable C, shown in phantom in FIG. 5, is wedged down in the V-shaped notch formed by the inclined

truncated teeth

22 and 23, the sheath of the cable, as it is gripped and pulled by the

teeth

22, 23 of the rotating sheave is forced into a slightly sinuous configuration. This is particularly true of smaller diameter cables. This augments the ability of the sheave 21 to pull the cable.

Once the cable C becomes wedged down into the V- notch formed between the

teeth

21, 22 of the sheave, it (the cable) tends to remain in the notch and would follow a path around the sheave. To prevent this, a plow or pryfinger (FIG. 6) is placed in a position to pry the cable C out of the notch in the sheave. Such pry finger 165 is shown (FIG. 4) to be a projection of a member 65 secured, as by bolts, to frame member 64.

It will be seen from the drawings (FIG. 1-5) that the sheave 21 is supported, by

frame members

128, 64 and 61, on the tubular rearward extension 62 of the tubular sleeve 67. Thus, by means of the

hydraulic cylinder pistons

54, 56 and 52, the position of the sheave 21 may be adjusted, within limits. In FIG. 3, the limit positions of sheave 21, to each side of center position, are shown in phantom. The capability of the apparatus to change the position of sheave 21 enables the apparatus to pull cables out of manholes which are located to one side or the other of the center line of the truck T.

Referring again to FIG. 5, supported on the frame member 64, as by support members 142, is a fluid motor 42 which drives a cam wedge 40 through a portion of one revolution to move the cam wedge 40 from its position shown in FIG. 5, which is the position shown in solid line in FIG. 4, to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 4. The function of cam wedge 40 is to press the cable C down into the V-notch of the sheave 21 to assure that the inclined

truncated teeth

22 and 23 of the sheave dig into the lead sheath of the cable C, preferably all the way down to the copper core.

As has already been described, when the cable C is pulled out of the underground conduit by the gripping action of the inclined

truncated teeth

22 and 23 of the sheave 21, any tendency that the cable has to stay in the teeth of the sheave and to continue on a circular path is prevented by the pry finger 165 of extension 65 of frame 64. Thus, by means of the finger 165, the cable C is forced out of the teeth of the sheave and is guided along the upper surface of the extension 65 (FIG. 4) and then, supported and aided by the teeth of the wheel 31, the cable is pushed into the rearward end of the

tubular assembly

67, 51. The angle of inclination of the

tube

67, 51, and also its elevational position, are determined and controlled by the pairs of

hydraulic cylinders

54 and 56.

It will be seen that if cable C offers a great deal of resistance against being pulled out from the underground duct, the cable C will become wedged even more deeply into the V-notch formed between

teeth

22 and 23 of the sheave 21, thereby assuring that the sheave obtains a good grip on the cable.

As the cable C moves from the sheave 21 into the rearward end of the

tubular assembly

67, 51, the cable is supported first on finger 165 (FIG. 6) and then on the toothed wheel 31 which is driven by endless chain 30 at a speed related to that at which the sheave 21 is being driven. Mounted above wheel 31, and also above cable C is a toothed wheel 33 freely rotatable on a shaft 34 one end of which is supported in an arm 35 which is pivotal about a pin 36. By means of a piston 37, the toothed wheel 33 is brought down to bear on the cable C, thereby pressing the cable into the toothed driven wheel 31, there assuring that the wheel 31 assists in pushing the cable C into the

tubular assembly

67, 51.

At times, the cable to be removed from the conduit (or from the overhead pole line) consists of a plurality of smaller cables, for example, a group of4 or 5 smaller cables. In such cases, the

toothed wheels

31 and 33 are very useful, in that the downward pressure of the upper toothed wheel 33 is used to press the 4 or 5 cables into a single layer which is then pressed against the lower toothed wheel 31 to enable the wheel 31 to push the cables forward into the tubular assembly.

To pull down overhead cable, the sheave assembly is rotated 180 on the tubular support 62 (FIG. 4) to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 1. This is done by loosening the wedge ring 63, rotating the

frame member

64, 61 on the support 62 and then re-tightening the wedge ring 63.

With respect now to the

tubular assembly

67, 51, the outer sleeve 67 is provided with a key 167 which extends the entire length of the sleeve 67. Fitted within sleeve 67 is a slidably extendible inner tubular member 51 having at its rearward end an enlarged portion 151 having therein a keyway for receiving the key 167 of the outer sleeve 67. The key 167 prevents the inner tu' bular member 51 from becoming rotatively displaced relative to sleeve 67. At the forward end of sleeve 67 (FIG. 8) a bushing 267 is provided which functions as a bearing for the slidably extendible inner tubular member 51. Y

The inner tubular member 51 is extendible relative to the fixed outer sleeve 67, by means ofa hydraulic cylinder 58 (FIGS. 1, 2, 8) mounted on the upper surface of sleeve 67. The piston 158 of cylinder 58 is pivotally pinned to a bracket 66 secured, as by welding, to the upper surface of tubular member 51. Thus, when hydraulic cylinder 58 is actuated to extend piston 158, the inner tubular member 51 is slidably extended relative to the fixed outer sleeve 67. In this movement, the enlarged rearward end 151 of tubular member 51 bears against the inner surface of the sleeve 67 and the outer surface of tubular member 51 bears against the bushing 267 at the forward end of sleeve 67.

Mounted on the upper surface of the tubular sleeve 67 (FIGS. 1, 2, 8) are a pair of telescoping hydraulic fluid-conveying

tubes

59A and 59B, one on each side of hydraulic cylinder 58. Within each of the

tubes

59A and 59B is a slidable hollow inner tube, 159A and 195B, respectively, which are secured as by brackets to the surface of tubular member 51. Thus, when tubular member 51 is extended relative to the fixed sleeve 67, the slidable inner hollow fluid-conveying

tubes

159A and 159B are extended forwardly to the same extent that the tube 51 is extended forwardly.

The pair of

extendible telescoping tubes

59A, 159A and 59B, 159B carry hydraulic fluid which is used to drive forwardly, and to retract, the cutter mechanism 70, as controlledby a spool valve 104 (FIG. 9). The operation of the cutter mechanism will now be described.

The cutter mechanism 70 and the associated pusher mechanism is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The cutter mechanism 70 is hydraulically operated by hydraulic pressure applied through the pairs of

fluid tubes

59A, 159A and 59B, 159B (FIGS. 2 and 8). The source of fluid pressure is common to the source of fluid pressure which drives the sheave 21. Thus, there is a constant proportional relationship between the fluid flow applied to actuate the cutter mechanism and the fluid flow applied to drive the sheave 21. As already indicated, and as will be described, the fluid pressure through the

fluid tubes

59A, 159A, 5913 and 1593 is used to extend and to retract the cutter, under the control of spool valve 104. Secured to the forward end of the extendible inner tube 51 is a housing of rectangular cross-section having a relatively heavy floor plate 91 and a cover plate 92. The forward portion 93 of cover plate 92 is inclined downwardly along a convergent path relative to the base plate 91.

Pivotally supported on a bracket 166 on the rearward wall 94 of housing 90 is the rearward end of a hydraulic cylinder 89. The piston head 73 of cylinder 89 is pivotally connected by a pin 74 to the upper extension 71E of a cutter blade 71. Blade 71 may preferably have a width corresponding to that of the housing 90 (FIG. 11). Cutter blade 71 is supported for pivotal movement on a cross shaft 72. Shaft 72 is supported in and carried by a U-shaped carriage 75 having roller bearings 76 which, if no upward force is applied to the carriage 75, ride on side rails 78 secured to the side walls of the housing 90 (FIGS. 9 and 11).

The extension and retraction of the piston of hydraulic cylinder 89 is controlled by the hydraulic fluid in

lines

59A, 159A, 593, 159B (FIGS. 2, 8 and 9). When the piston is fully retracted, the cutter blade 71 is in the folded-up position indicated in phantom in FIG. 9, where 171 is a rubber bumper on the underside of carriage 75. When the piston is first extended, i.e., at the begining of the extension stroke, the head 73 of the piston pushes the upper extension 71E of cutter blade 71 forward within the carriage 75, the carriage remaining stationary. This causes the cutter blade 171 to pivot on its shaft 72 and to move from the phantom position shown in FIG. 9 to the solid-line position, and the edge of the cutter blade 71 digs into the lead sheath of the cable C. Further extension of the piston head 73 causes the extension 71E, which is now in engagement with the rubber bumper 175 in the carriage 75, to push carriage 75 forwardly on its roller bearings 76. As seen in FIG. 9, the cutter carriage track 78 extends along a path which converges with the base 91 of housing 90. Thus, as the piston of cylinder 89 is extended to move carriage 75 more and more forwardly, the edge of the cutter blade 71 is forced deeper and deeper into the cable C until, at the full extension of the piston, when the carriage 75 is in the position shown in phantom in FIG. 9, the blade 71 has completely severed the cable C.

During the extension stroke of the piston and the forward movement of the cutter carriage 75, as just described, as the cutter blade 71 is forced into the cable C, the reaction force forces the carriage 75 upwardly and the roller bearings 76 leave the rails 78 and bear against the upper rails 77, as shown in phantom in FIG. 11.

Fluid in

lines

159A and 159B is applied to spool valve 104 (FIG. 9).

Lines

259A and 259B lead from the spool valve 104 to the hydraulic cylinder 89. Reference numerals 101 and 102 represent a pair of spool actuators which by controlling the positionof the spool in valve 104, control the direction of fluid flow to the hydraulic cylinder 89, thereby controlling the extension and retraction of its piston. Spool actuators 101 and 102 are mounted on a slide plate 103 which is movable to a limited extent in the forward and rearward directions. Just before the cutter carriage 75 reaches its full forward limit, an upwardly projecting portion of the carriage bumps into a depending portion of slide plate 103, at the forward end thereof, causing the slide plate 103 to move forward to a slight extent, thereby moving actuator 101 and 102 slightly forward (to the right as viewed in FIG. 9). This causes the direction of fluid pressure in the fluid lines 259A. and 259B to reverse,

thereby causing hydraulic cylinder 89 to retract its piston.

At the completion of the retraction stroke, the upwardly projection portion of cutter carriage bumps into the depending portion of slide plate 103, at the rearward end thereof, causingslide plate 75 to move rearwardly to a limited extent and causing the actuators 101 and 102m move to the left as viewed in FIG. 9, thereby moving the spool in valve 104 and thereby reversing the direction of the fluid pressure in the fluid lines 259A and 2598, thereby again initiating the extension stroke of the piston of cylinder 89. The action of the cutter already described is then repeated in cyclic manner in coordination with the forward movement of the cable C driven by the cable-pulling sheave 21.

When the terminal end of the cable which is being pulled from the underground duct (or from an overhead pole line) has passed through the sheave 21, the pushing force on the cable, which up to then has been provided by sheave 21, terminates. Accordingly, an auxiliary cable pushing mechanism may, if desired, be provided for pushing the terminal portion of the cable forwardly through the cutter mechanism 70. Such auxiliary pushing mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, and will now be described.

Supported on pin 74 and extending rearwardly therefrom are a pair of rods 79 which at their rearward ends are supported on a cross shaft 83 mounted in a U- shaped carriage 84 having four roller bearings 86 adapted to roll along rails 88 fastened to the sidewalls of housing 90.

Supported pivotally on cross shaft 83 are a pair of side plates 82 having at their lower end a push plate 81 having a scalloped or serrated lower edge (FIG. 12). The side plates 82 are pivotal about a pair of pins mounted in the carriage 84.

When the piston of cylinder 89 is fully retracted, the pusher carriage 84 is in its rearmost position and the pusher plate 81 is resting on the cable C, in the position shown in phantom in FIG. 9 (just rearward of the solidline position shown in FIG. 9). When the piston of cylinder 89 is first extended, i.e., at the start of the extension, when the cross pin 74 is moved forwardly to cause the cutter blade 71 to pivot about its shaft 72 without however any forward movement of the cutter carriage 75, the cross shaft 83 of the pusher carriage 84 is pulled forwardly by the rods 79, and the pusher side plates 82 and pusher plate 81 move to the solid-line position shown in FIG. 9. Thereafter, as the cutter carriage 75 moves forwardly, driven by the cylinder piston, the pusher carriage 84 is pulled forwardly in like manner by therods 79, and the pusher plate 81 digs into the lead sheath of the cable C and pushes the cable along. When this occurs, the pusher carriage 84 is forced upwardly and the roller bearings 86 leave the lower rails 88 and ride along the under-surface of the upper rails 87, as seen in FIG. 12.

At the completion of the forward stroke, the pusher carriage 84 has carried the pusher plate 81 to the forward position indicated in phantom in FIG. 9. When the cutter carriage 75 is returned rearwardly to its start position, the pusher carriage 84 is returned in like manner, being pushed by the rods 79. During this return, the pusher plate 81 rides on the cable C, and the roller bearings 86 ride on the lower rails 88.

The action described above is repeated cyclically until the terminal end of the cable has passed the position of the pusher plate 81 when the plate is in its retracted position. When this occurs, the pusher plate 81 drops pivotally to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 9 (the leftmost phantom position). On the forward stroke, the pusher plate 81 then pushes the last section of cable into the cutting mechanism.

It will be seen that, by the apparatus illustrated in the drawings and described above, that underground (or overhead) cable may be pulled out of its installation position, and fed to the cutter mechanism to be cut into equal, or approximately equal, short lengths and delivered into a truck to be hauled away to the smelting plant where the copper (or other metal) may be recovered.

Important features of the preferred form of the new apparatus include the cable-pulling sheave and the travelling guillotine-type cutter. The sheave, in preferred form, is characterized by teeth of truncated conical shape at spaced intervals, with the teeth on one side of center staggered with respect to the teeth on the other side. The teeth have a height designed to penetrate the lead sheathing of the cable all the way down to the copper core. The spacings between the teeth are adapted to receive the lead sheathing which is pushed aside as the teeth bite into the sheathing. The fact that, in the preferred form, the teeth are staggered, facilitates gripping the cable since the cable tends to assume a slightly sinuous form. The use of a sheave, as described, has the advantage that the tighter the cable is struck in the conduit, the further down into the V- notch of the sheave will the cable be forced, as the sheave pulls on the cable.

The travelling guillotine cutter illustrated and described has been found to effect very satisfactory cutting of the cable into desired short lengths. It also functions to move the cable forwardly. In fact, the ability of the travelling cutter blade to move the trailing cable end forwardly, may, at least in some instances, make unnecessary the provision or use of the pusher plate assembly 80 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

A preferred form of apparatus has been illustrated and described. Various modifications may be made without departing from the basic concept.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for salvaging electrical cable from underground and overhead installations, said apparatus comprising in combination:

a. a mobile platform;

b. a cable-guiding tubular assembly mounted on said mobile platform and adapted to be inclined upwardly in the discharge direction;

c. a cable-pulling sheave;

d. means supporting said sheave on one end of said tubular assembly;

e. said sheave having inclined teeth on opposite sides of the center line forming a V-notch therebetween;

f. sheave-drive means mounted on said sheave support means; and

g. cable-cutting means supported on the other end of i shape and are located at spaced-apart intervals on the inner surfaces of said sheave.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said teeth on one side of said sheave are staggered with respect to those on the other side.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 including cam wedge means mounted on said sheave support means, and means for moving said cam wedge means for forcing the cable down into the V-notch formed by the said teeth of said sheave.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including auxiliary pulling and compression means attached to said sheave-drive means for pulling and flattening bundles of individual cables.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said sheave on one end of said tubular cable-guiding assembly includes a collar rotatable on said tubular assembly for adjusting the position of said sheave.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sheave-drive means includes a fluid gear motor and planetary speed reducer.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein an outer ring of said planetary gear is a cylindrical capstan on which said sheave is mounted and to which it is keyed.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of hydraulic cylinder pistons are employed to mount said tubular cable-guiding assembly on said truck, and wherein said pistons are adapted to adjust the elevation and angle of inclination of said tubular assembly.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein hydraulic cylinder pistons are also employed to adjust the angle of said tubular cable-guiding assembly relative to the longitudinal axis of said mobile platform.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cable-cutting means comprises:

a. a cutting blade;

b. means for carrying said blade forwardly along a path which converges with that of the cable path and for forcing said blade into and through the forwardly-moving cable;

c. means for returning said blade to its start position;

and

d. means for repeating cyclically said forward and return travels of said blade.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said cutting-blade carrying means includes a carriage, a track for said carriage, and hydraulic cylinder piston means for moving said carriage forwardly and rearwardly.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said cutting blade is of the guillotine type.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for returning said cutting blade to its start position includes a spool valve, and means actuated by said carriage at the completion of the piston stroke for moving said spool.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cable-guiding .tubular assembly includes means for extending the length of said assembly for adjusting the location of said cable-cutting means relative to said mobile platform.

Claims

1. Apparatus for salvaging electrical cable from underground and overhead installations, said apparatus comprising in combination: a. a mobile platform; b. a cable-guiding tubular assembly mounted on said mobile platform and adapted to be inclined upwardly in the discharge direction; c. a cable-pulling sheave; d. means supporting said sheave on one end of said tubular assembly; e. said sheave having inclined teeth on opposite sides of the center line forming a V-notch therebetween; f. sheave-drive means mounted on said sheave support means; and g. cable-cutting means supported on the other end of said tubular assembly.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said teeth of said cable-pulling sheave are of truncated conical shape and are located at spaced-apart intervals on the inner surfaces of said sheave.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cable-cutting means comprises: a. a cutting blade; b. means for carrying said blade forwardly along a path which converges with that of the cable path and for forcing said blade into and through the forwardly-moving cable; c. means for returning said blade to its start position; and d. means for repeating cyclically said forward and return travels of said blade.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cable-guiding tubular assembly includes means for extending the length of said assembly for adjusting the location of said cable-cutting means relative to said mobile platform.