WO2005124956A1

WO2005124956A1 - Decoil controller

Info

Publication number: WO2005124956A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/002221
Authority: WO
Inventors: George Mclellan
Original assignee: Macjak Uk Ltd
Priority date: 2004-06-15
Filing date: 2005-06-07
Publication date: 2005-12-29
Also published as: GB0413260D0

Abstract

A device (12) for supporting and facilitating the decoding of a coiled length (10) of flexible elongate cable or pipe (1) has a support structure (14) on which are mounted coil support rollers (20). The rollers (20) are spaced apart and parallel to each other and disposed axially to support a coiled cable or pipe about its inner circumference (24). The coiled cable or pipe (1) is decoiled by pulling an end of the cable or pipe, causing the coiled cable or pipe to rotate about the support rollers (20) as it unwinds.

Description

DECOIL CONTROLLER

The present invention relates to a device for use in the uncoiling of coiled cable or piping. More specifically the present invention relates to the provision of a device to control the decoiling of cables or piping which facilitates the installation of cables onto horizontal or vertical structures. Cables, for example telecommunications cables, are often supplied in coils to be unwound on installation. Such coils are not always provided wound onto a reel or drum, especially where very long lengths are not required. During the installation of such cables, it is normal practice to uncoil the cable and lay it on the ground before pulling the cable into position. Alternatively an operative uncoils the cable by hand as it is being pulled or hoisted into place by a partner or partners. These practices have certain disadvantages. Cables are often dragged over rough ground leading to a risk of damage especially for relatively fragile telecommunication cables. Where the coil is held and uncoiled by hand, additional manpower is required to carry out the task. Similar considerations apply when laying piping that is not supplied on a reel or drum for decoiling. It is an object of the invention to provide a device that permits decoiling of cables or piping whilst avoiding at least some of the aforementioned disadvantages. The present invention provides a device for use in supporting and facilitating the decoiling of a coiled length of flexible elongate cable or pipe, comprising a support structure on which is mounted a plurality of coil support rollers, said rollers being spaced apart and parallel to each other and disposed axially for supporting of a said coiled cable or pipe about its inner circumference, in use of the device, whereby a said coiled cable or pipe can be decoiled by pulling an end of said cable or pipe causing the coiled cable or pipe to rotate about the support rollers as it unwinds, in use of the device. It will be readily understood by the reader that the term 'cable' includes any flexible elongate member such as, but not limited to, ropes, wires, electrical supply cables and telecommunication cables. Any kind of flexible pipe may be used with the invention. In use of the device a coil of, for example, fibre optic telecommunication cable is placed onto the support rollers. Simply pulling an end of the cable decoils the cable. The coil of cable rotates around the rollers and decoils (unwinds) as an operator continues to pull on the cable. Importantly, the smooth decoiling operation prevents kinking of the cable, which can lead to damage or breakage which is a problem found when installing cables by conventional means. By providing a plurality of rollers, which rotate as the cable coil rotates, the decoiling action is smooth and the coiled cable or pipe tends to stay compact without either loosening or tightening up. This avoids interruptions to the installation procedure. A further advantage of using the device (decoil controller) of the invention is that cable installation can often be carried out as a one-man operation with no assistant required for the cable rigger. Advantageously the device of the invention comprises three support rollers. Preferably the device of the invention comprises four support rollers. Where the cable or piping being unwound has sufficient stiffness for the coil to maintain a generally circular form, even when subjected to the pulling force applied, a device with two support rollers can work satisfactorily. However, a three or four roller arrangement is more effective at preventing tightening of a highly flexible cable or pipe. Devices of the invention comprising more than four rollers can be used if desired. Preferably the support rollers are evenly spaced apart. Equal spacing of the support rollers spreads the load of a coil of cable or pipe used with the device. Equal spacing also acts to keep the inner circumference of a coil of cable or pipe from tightening during unwinding (decoiling) operations. In use each roller then contacts the inner circumference of a coiled cable or pipe at equal distances around the circumference. For example, where two rollers are employed in a device of the invention, they are preferably spaced at a distance corresponding to the diameter of the expected inner circumference of coiled cables or pipes to be used with the device. If four rollers are used they are preferably mounted in a square arrangement, the diagonal length of the square corresponding to the diameter of the expected inner circumference of cable or pipe coils to be used with the device. The rollers used can be of metal or plastic construction and mounted on suitable bearings or spindles giving free rotation. Preferably the rollers have a diameter that is in the range of from 5% to 20% of that of the inner circumference of coils of cable or pipe used with the device. Compact rollers reduce the weight of the device and where the decoil controller is collapsible, makes the collapsed unit more compact and easier to transport. The spacing of the rollers is selected to suit the coils of cable or pipe used for a particular application. Advantageously the relative positions of the rollers may be adjustable. Adjusting the positions of the rollers increases or decreases the size of the inner circumference of a coil of cable or pipe that can be mounted on the device. A typical telecommunications cable coil for installation on a mobile telephone communications tower may have a length of 20m to 75m of cable with diameters of between 5mm and 48mm. The diameter of the inner circumference of the coil may be of the in the range of 520mm to 1100mm, typically 520mm and so the spacing of the rollers chosen when decoiling such cable coils would preferably match this diameter. Preferably the device further comprises securing means formed and arranged for, is use of the device, preventing a coil of cable or pipe moving, axially from said support rollers. The securing means may for example be a metal bar or bars that extend at right angles to the rotational axes of the rollers at either or both ends of the rollers, so as to impede lateral movement of a coil of cable or pipe placed on the rollers.

Alternatively the securing means may simply be extensions of members of the support structure. Desirably, the securing means extend from the ends of the rollers further than the outer diameter of a cable or pipe coil expected to be used with the device. This prevents outer turns of cable or pipe slipping sideways off the rest of the coil. Devices of the invention with securing means at only one end of the rollers may be used. In such cases coils of cable or pipe are fitted onto the rollers from the end without the securing means by sliding the coil onto the rollers. However, it is preferred that securing means are fitted to both ends of the rollers to ensure that coils of cable or pipe do not move or fall off the device in use. Where securing means are fitted at both ends of the rollers, the securing means is releasable, at least at one end of the rollers, to allow fitting of coils of cable or pipe. Preferably the support structure of the device further comprises fixing means formed and arranged for, in use, attaching the device to a structure. For example, the support structure may have a member with holes drilled through it to which bolts may be inserted to secure the device to a fixing point. The fixing point may be, for example, on a structural element of a telecommunications tower or simply a post fixed vertically in the ground. Other fixing means such as webbing straps or hooks can be envisaged. Advantageously the device further comprises a stand to which the support structure is releasably attached. The device is preferably formed and arranged to have the support rollers horizontal, in use, so that cable or pipe coils fitted to the device rotate about a horizontal axis. In such a case the device ' is located so as to have sufficient ground clearance to allow coils of cable or pipe to rotate freely around the rollers. The height of the rollers off the ground can also be selected for ease of manhandling coils of cable or pipe onto the device i.e. so that an operator does not have to stoop or stretch. Where a stand is used, it is formed and arranged to support the device whilst giving sufficient ground clearance for rotation of a coil of cable or pipe fitted to the device. Preferably the stand is formed and arranged so as to allow location of the support structure at different heights above the ground. This allows coils containing different lengths of cable or pipe to be fitted to the support rollers whilst still providing ground clearance for free rotation of the coil, in use of the device. For example, the stand may have a plurality of attachment points, at different heights, to which the support structure can be mounted. Alternatively the stand itself may be adjustable in height, by being telescopic in form, for example.

Conveniently the stand is releasably attached to the support structure by the same fixing means that are used, when desired, to attach the device to a structure, i.e. when a stand is not employed. Preferably the device is collapsible. For example, the device is constructed from modular elements, which are releasably joined together and to which the support rollers are attached. The modular element may be, for example metal bars, which are bolted together to form the support structure. A collapsible device made of relatively lightweight materials can be conveniently transported to a site for use and easily set up in a suitable location for decoiling operations. It will be readily appreciated that devices of the invention can be constructed in different sizes and different materials depending on the type of cable or pipe that is to be decoiled. Furthermore, more than one cable coil can be fitted to a decoiler of the invention. Further preferred features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description of some embodiments illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1(a) and 1(b) illustrate the installation of cables to a tower structure according to known practices; Figures 2(a) and (b) show a first embodiment of the device of the invention; Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the device of the invention with alternative securing means and fixing means for securing the device to a structure or a stand; Figures 4 (a) and (b) show further embodiments of the invention comprising two rollers; Figure 5 shows use of the device in Figs. 2(a) and (b) ; and Figure 6 shows the device of Fig. 2 supported on a stand. In the drawings similar features are denoted by the same reference features throughout. In Figure 1 (a) a cable 1 has been uncoiled and laid out along the ground 2. The cable 1 is attached to a rope 4 and hoisted via a pulley 6 onto a telecommunications tower 8. As the cable 1 is hoisted onto the tower 8 it drags along the ground 2 and may be damaged. Furthermore the drag of the cable along the ground increases the force required to hoist the cable

1 onto the tower 8. In Figure 1(b) the cable 1 is kept as a coil 10 and is held by an operator 12 who uncoils it as it is hoisted onto a tower 8 using a pulley 6 and rope 4 in a similar fashion to that of

Figure 1(a). This method of working has the benefit that the cable is not rolled out along the ground, which may be difficult where space is restricted. However, it requires continuous manhandling of the coil 10. Depending on the weight of cable coil employed more than one person may be needed to handle it safely. In Figure 2 a device (decoil controller) 12 of the invention is shown. The device 12 comprises a support structure 14 constructed of metal bars 16 held together by nuts and bolts

18. Four support rollers 20 are mounted in parallel in the support structure 14. The rollers 20 are evenly spaced in a square arrangement whose diagonal 22 defines the diameter of the inner circumference 24 of a coil of cable or pipe that can be fitted to the device as shown schematically in Figure 2 (b) . The rollers 20 are mounted on suitable pivots or bearings (not shown for reasons of clarity) so that they are free to rotate. Four pivoting bars 26 are fixed to the support structure. In a first position shown they each extend outwards from one end of the rollers 20, at right angles. In this position they act as securing means preventing a coil of cable (not shown for clarity) fitted onto the rollers 20 from moving laterally from the rollers. The pivoting bars are each moveable to a second position (shown in dashed line) . When the pivoting bars 26 are in the second position, a coil or coils of cable can be mounted onto the rollers 20. The pivoting bars 26 are then returned to the first position and secured prior to cable decoiling operations. Extensions 28 of the bars of the support structure 14 act as the securing means at the other end of the rollers 20. Once a coil or coils of cable has been mounted and secured to the device it can be simply decoiled by pulling a free end of the cable from the coil. The coil then rotates smoothly around the four rollers 20 as the cable unwinds (see Figure 5) . In use the device is mounted by fixing to a structure or a stand to allow free rotation of a cable coil about the rollers 20. By virtue of its construction of bolted together bars 16, the device 12 can be rapidly assembled and disassembled for ease of transportation. Figure 3 shows a device 12 of the invention with a four roller 20 arrangement much like that of Figure 2 except that alternative securing means are used together with fixing means for attaching the decoil controller 12 to a structure or stand. A coil of cable, when fitted to the device, is secured from lateral movement from the rollers 20 by four ladder like frameworks 32 of metal tubes fitted to the support structure 14. Each framework 32 extends from the support structure 14 at right angles to the rotational axes of the rollers 20. The frameworks 32 are fitted at either end of the rollers 20. Each framework 32 is secured to the support structure by nuts and bolts 18 and can be disassembled to allow fitting of a cable coil. The device 12 can be fixed to a structure or a stand using a support structure member 34, which extends axially from the support structure 14. The end of the member 34 has a bracket 36 shaped to allow easy fixing of the device to the upright post or bar of a structure or stand (not shown) . The bracket 36 can be secured to an upright by suitable straps or other fixings such as bolts and nuts. Figure 4a shows a device of the invention 12 comprising two rollers 20 each secured at only one end to a support structure 14, which is an elongate vertical metal box section 37. The support structure 14 has a bracket 36 for fixing the device 12 to a structure or to a stand. Lateral movement of a cable coil, when fitted (not shown) , is prevented by short removable bars 38 at the end of the rollers distal to the support structure 14 and by extensions 28 of the support structure 14. The rollers 20 rotate about spindles 40 running axially through their centres. Figure 4b shows a similar arrangement to that of Figure 4a except that the rollers are horizontally disposed and the support structure comprises three elongate box sections 37. Two of the box sections 37 are fitted at each end of the rollers 20 and the third runs centrally between the rollers 20 to provide added strength by connecting to the other two box sections. Figure 5 shows schematically use of the device 12 in Fig. 2 assisting the hoisting of a cable 1 onto a tower 8 in a one-man operation. The device 12 has been fixed to an upright member 42 on the tower 8 and a cable coil 10 fitted. The cable coil 10 is decoiled by the operator 44 pulling on the rope 4 attached to one end of the cable 1 which passes over a pulley 6. Figure 6 shows the device 12 of the same general form as that of Figure 2 mounted on a stand 42, which is constructed of elongate box sections 37, and supporting struts 44. The stand allows the device to be set up for use in almost any location, positioned precisely in the most convenient location for decoiling operation. It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAI S

1. A device (12) for use in supporting and facilitating the decoiling of a coiled length (10) of flexible elongate cable (1) or pipe, comprising a support structure (14) on which is mounted a plurality of coil support rollers (20) , said rollers being spaced apart and parallel to each other and disposed axially for supporting of a said coiled cable or pipe about its inner circumference (24), in use of the device (12), whereby a said coiled cable or pipe can be decoiled by pulling an end of said cable (1) or pipe causing the coiled cable or pipe to rotate about the support rollers (20) as it unwinds, in use of the device (12) .

2. A device (12) according to claim 1 comprising three support rollers (20) .

3. A device (12) according to claim 1 comprising four support rollers (20) .

4. A device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the support rollers (20) are evenly spaced apart.

5. A device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the support rollers (20) have a diameter that is from 5% to 20% of that of the inner circumference (24) of coils (10) of cable or pipe used with the device.

6. A device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the relative positions of the support rollers (20) are adjustable so as to increase or decrease the size of the inner circumference (24) of a coil (10) of cable or pipe that can be mounted in use of the device (12) .

7. A device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is provided with securing means (26,28,32) formed and arranged for, in use of the device, preventing a coil (10) of cable or pipe moving axially from said support rollers (20).

8. A device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support structure (14) of the device is provided , with fixing means (34,36) formed and arranged for, in use, attaching the device to a structure.

9. A device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims which is provided with a stand (42) to which the support structure (14) is releasably attached.

10. A device (12) according to claim 9 wherein the stand (42) is formed and arranged so as to allow location of the support structure (14) at different heights above the ground.

12. A device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims which is formed and arranged so that the support rollers (20) are horizontal in use, so that cable or pipe coils (10) fitted to the support rollers (20) rotate about a horizontal axis.

13. A device (12) according to any of the preceding claims which is collapsible, being constructed from modular elements

(16) which are releasably joined together and to which the support rollers (20) are attached.