WO2006048615A1

WO2006048615A1 - Cable drum support

Info

Publication number: WO2006048615A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/004170
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alan Ledgeway
Original assignee: Alan Ledgeway
Priority date: 2004-10-30
Filing date: 2005-10-28
Publication date: 2006-05-11
Also published as: GB2419581A; GB0424128D0

Abstract

A device (1, 21) to support: one or more cable drums (11, 25) comprises a pair of side panels (2, 22) connected, in use, by one or more horizontal crossbars (6, 7). The cable drums (11, 25) are placed over a crossbar (6, 7) so that they are free to rotate and cabling may be dispensed therefrom. When not in use, the crossbars (6, 7) are detached from the side panels (2, 22), which are then connected directly one to the other to form a case to hold the crossbars (6, 7), optionally in recesses (12) shaped to receive them. The same fasteners (9) may be used to secure the crossbars (6, 7) to the side panels (2) and to secure the side panels (2) together to form the case. The device (1) may be carried manually by a handle aperture (3) or a curved portion (8) of one crossbar (7). Larger versions of the device (21) may be provided with wheels (26). The device (1, 21) may be coloured, patterered and/or labelled to indicate the present of a hazard.

Description

CABLE DRUM SUPPORT

The present invention relates to a transportable device to support one or more drums or reels of electrical cable or similar elongate flexible material so that it may conveniently and controllably be unrolled for use. More particularly but not exclusively, it relates to such a device that may be reconfigured into a more compact form for transportation or storage.

There are many forms of electrical cabling that may be installed in a building or the like, such as electrical power cables of various capacities, earth leads, telephone cables, IT network cables, security alarm wiring, fire alarm wiring and so forth, for all of which the term "cabling" will be used herein. In each case, the cabling is normally supplied wound around a hollow cylindrical core of a reel or drum. Each end of the core has an annular flange extending radially outwardly therefrom, to retain the coiled cabling on the drum. This also allows the drum to be rolled along, resting on a rim of each flange. In the UK, such drums are normally provided in standard sizes, with different lengths of cabling wound thereon, depending on the diameter of the cabling in question. For example, a drum capable of holding 100 metres of standard domestic earth lead cable may hold 800 metres of conventional security alarm wire.

It might appear convenient to rest a drum of cabling on its rims and to pull on a free end of the cabling thereon, so as to unroll a desired length. However, in practice, the drum rarely remains conveniently in place, instead rolling and/or skidding around in an unpredictable fashion. It is hence a common practice to place the drum on an ad-hoc support, such as a broomhandle or the like jammed in a vice and passing through the hollow core of the drum. While such improvisations may be successful to some extent, they may also be unsafe. The end of the broomhandle remote from the vice is all too easy to walk into, probably causing bruising and possibly more serious injuries. Such improvisations are therefore generally discouraged on health and safety grounds.

Various devices have been proposed to support one or more drums of cabling safely and conveniently. However, many are too elaborate and costly or simply too large or heavy, in particular for transporting to and from a work site, perhaps in a van already packed with an electrician's tools and equipment. Attempts have been made to provide foldable or dismantleable cable drum stands, examples of which include the devices described in UK Patent Applications Nos. GB 2354997 and GB 2313823 and European Patent Application No, EP 1270482. However, none of these devices appears to have achieved particular commercial success, perhaps because even in their "stored" configurations they remain not particularly convenient to carry by hand or to transport. Additionally, none of the known devices appear to have addressed the question of the support or stand itself being a potential trip or collision hazard, nor that the cabling dispensed therefrom may also be a hazard.

It is hence an object of the present invention to provide a device to support one or more drums of cable or the like so that the cable(s) may be dispensed as required, and which may be reconfigured into a conveniently compact form for transportation and storage, while obviating the above disadvantages of existing devices. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device that may act to alert those in its vicinity of potential hazards associated with its use.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device to support one or more drums of cabling, as defined herein comprising a pair of side elements and one or more elongate spacing means extending, in use, substantially horizontally between said side elements and adapted to support at least one drum of cabling, and when not in use being detachable from each side element and enclosable for storage and/or transportation within case means formed by said pair of side elements connected directly one to the other.

Preferably, the device comprises a plurality of said spacing means.

Advantageously, the or each of said spacing means is adapted to pass through a hollow core of one or more drums of cabling so as to allow rotation of the or each drum.

Optionally, each side element may be provided with stabiliser means detachably mountable thereto and storable within said case means. Preferably, the device is provided with means to mount the spacing means to the side elements that may also serve to fasten the side elements together to form said case means.

Advantageously, each spacing means is provided at a first end with first fastening means and a first one of said side elements is provided with respective second fastening means co- operable therewith, optionally detachably engageable therewith.

Each spacing means may then be provided at a second end remote from the first with second fastening means, and a second one of said side elements may be provided with respective first fastening means co-operable therewith, optionally detachably engageable therewith.

The corresponding fastening means of the first and second side elements may then be co- operable to fasten the side elements together to form said case means.

Preferably, said first fastening means comprises a projecting element and said second fastening means comprises recess means co-operable therewith.

Advantageously, said first fastening means comprises threaded stud means and said second fastening means comprises correspondingly-threaded recess means.

The first fastening means of the second side element may be separable therefrom. The first fastening means of the second side element may comprise bolt means passable through a respective aperture in the second side element into threaded recess means in the second end of each spacing means.

Each said bolt means may be provided with manually graspable head means by which it may be turned.

The or each spacing means preferably comprises an elongate spacer bar, optionally a generally cylindrical elongate steel or aluminium bar.

Preferably, the device is provided with handle means by which it may be carried.

Said handle means may comprise a portion of the or one of the spacing means.

Additionally or alternatively, said handle means may comprise aperture means extending through one or each of the side elements, optionally aperture means in each side element alignable each with the other when the side elements together form the case means.

The device may be dimensioned to be manually transportable.

The device may be provided with wheel means, optionally provided with means selectably to hold the device in a desired position.

The device may be shaped, coloured, decorated and/or bear indicia to indicate presence of a hazard, such as a tripping hazard due to the device or cables extending therefrom. The device may be so adapted that a selectably variable number of spacing means may be mounted thereto.

One or each of the side elements of the device may be provided with recess means configured to hold said spacing means, and optionally other components of the device, when the side elements together act as case means for the device.

Said recess means may be shaped to receive the spacing means conformably.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first cable drum support embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic frontal elevation of the cable drum support shown in Figure 1, erected for use;

Figure 3 is a frontal elevation of the cable drum support shown in Figure 1 , with cable drums in place thereon;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the cable drum support shown in Figure 1 , with cable drums in place thereon;

Figure 5 shows an inner face of a side panel of the cable drum support shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a scrap cross-sectional view of a respective point of attachment of a cross¬ bar to each side panel of the cable drum support shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a schematic frontal elevation of the cable drum support shown in Figure 1, packed for transport or storage;

Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a second cable drum support embodying the present invention;

Figure 9 is a plan view from above of the cable drum support of Figure 8, in a first configuration;

Figure 10 is a frontal elevation of the cable drum support of Figure 8, in a second configuration, with cable drums in place thereon;

Figure 11 is a schematic side elevation of the cable drum support of Figure 8 in a third configuration, with cable drums in place thereon;

Figure 12 is a schematic perspective view of the cable drum support of Figure 8, partially dismantled for transport or storage; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the cable drum support of Figure 8, packed for transport or storage.

Referring now to the Figures, and to Figure 1 in particular, a first cable drum support 1 comprises a pair of triangular side panels 2, each of which has a corresponding elongate aperture 3 extending therethrough which acts as a manual carrying handle for the support 1 , particularly when the support 1 is packed for transportation (see below). Each side panel 2 also has three cylindrical apertures 4 extending therethrough, to which cylindrical cross bars 6, 7 may be mounted, as shown below.

The side panels 2 are preferably brightly coloured (e.g. yellow or even fluorescent yellow) and optionally patterned (e.g. with black striping) for high visibility, and provide a suitable display surface for warning indicia 5. Thus, when the support 1 is in use, there is a much reduced chance of someone tripping over it or walking into it. It is also evident that cables are likely to be trailing from the support 1 , making passers-by aware of a further possible trip hazard.

The side panels 2 comprise a strong, electrically insulating material such as wood, fibreboard, or a plastics material, preferably glass-reinforced polyester resin (grp).

When the support 1 is erected for use, as shown in Figure 2, the side panels 2 extend substantially vertically, and are linked and spaced apart by three substantially horizontal crossbars 6, 7. Two crossbars 6 are straight, while a third crossbar 7 has a curved portion 8 adjacent its midpoint, which may be used as a manual carrying handle when the support 1 is in use. In this embodiment of the support 1, the crossbars 6, 7 are each mounted at a first end to a first 2A of the side panels 2 by means of a respective bolt 9 extending through a respective aperture 4 in the side panel 2 A into the first end of the crossbar 6, 7. At a second end, remote from the first, each crossbar 6, 7 is received into a respective aperture 4 in a second 2B of the side panels 2. (This is shown in more detail in Figure 6; see below).

λ The support 1, when erected, will be self-supporting, and can be placed stably on any reasonably level and generally horizontal ground surface 10, floor, or the like.

To use the cable drum support 1, cable drums 11 are placed over one or more of the crossbars 6, 7, after the crossbars 6, 7 have been mounted to the second 2B of the side panels 2, but before they are mounted to the first 2A. The particular cable drum support 1 shown in use in Figure 3 is capable of holding six cable drums 11 of standard dimensions, each capable of holding eight hundred metres of alarm cable, one hundred metres of mains electrical cable, or the equivalent. (NB: the cable itself is omitted for clarity) Each cable drum 11 is free to rotate on a respective crossbar 6, 7. Thus, when cable from a particular drum 11 is required, it is only necessary to pull on a free end thereof, and the drum 11 will rotate, allowing the cable to unreel controllably. If too much is unreeled, it is straightforward to rotate any drum

11 on the support 1 manually, to reel the excess back on to the drum 11.

Even when six full cable drums 11 are mounted thereon, the cable drum support 1 is stable, as shown in Figure 4. The weight of the cables on the drums 11 is kept well within the base formed by the side panels 2. The drums 11 should normally be free to rotate, but even if one should jam for any reason, a width of the side panels 2 in contact with the ground 10 is such that the support 1 is unlikely to topple if a cable is pulled too hard.

An inner face of each side panel 2 is provided with three elongate recesses 12, each configured to receive a respective one of the three crossbars 6, 7 (see Figure 5). Each recess

12 is so dimensioned that roughly half of a respective crossbar 6, 7 would stand proud of the inner face of the side panel 2.

The mounting of the crossbars 6, 7 to the side panels 2 is shown in detail in Figure 6. A threaded bore 13 extends longitudinally into a first end of each crossbar 6, 7. A bolt 9 (in this case provided with a broad, graspable knurled head 14) has a correspondingly threaded shaft 15 which is passed through a plain cylindrical aperture 4A, extending through a first 2 A of the side panels 2, and is screwed into the threaded bore 13. A shallow recess 16 may be provided to receive the first end of the crossbar 6, 7 to aid alignment of the bolt 9 with the bore 13. At a second end of each crossbar 6, 7 remote from the first, a threaded stud 17 extends longitudinally outwardly therefrom. A second 2B of the two side panels 2 has a correspondingly threaded aperture 4B extending therethrough, into which the threaded stud 17 is screwed.

To pack the cable drum support 1 for storage or transportation, the crossbars 6, 7 are detached from each side panel 2, and are placed in the corresponding recesses 12 in the second side panel 2B. The first side panel 2A is placed on top of the second 2B, the crossbars 6, 7 being partially accommodated in the respective recesses 12 in its inner face. The crossbars 6, 7 are thus sandwiched between the side panels 2A, 2B (as shown in Figure 7). The bolts 9 are passed through the plain apertures 4A in the first side panel 2A and into the threaded apertures 4B in the second side panel 2B. The cable support device 1 is thus held together in a compact form, easy to transport or store, with all its components safely fastened together or nested between the side panels 2A, 2B, which act as a case therefor. The elongate apertures 3 in each side panel 2A, 2B are aligned, together acting as a manual carrying handle for the support 1 in its packed configuration.

Where larger cable drums than those shown in Figures 3 and 4 are to be used, and/or where more drums may be required than the first cable drum support 1 can hold, a larger second cable drum support 21 may be used, as shown in Figures 8 et seq. This comprises a pair of generally vertically extending elongate side panels 22, each of which is detachably mounted to a respective base portion 23. A plurality of straight crossbars 6 extend between the elongate side panels 22, being detachably mounted to each side panel 22, for example as described for the first cable drum support 1. In Figure 8, four crossbars 6 are fitted, although provision is made for up to five, if desired. To allow crossbars 6 to be added, moved or removed without completely dismantling the second support 21, corresponding elongate channels 24 extend generally horizontally across an inner face of each side panel 22 between each point at which a crossbar 6 may be mounted to the respective side panel 22 and an edge thereof. A crossbar 6 may thus be engaged at each end with a respective channel 24 to allow it to be installed or removed without needing to disturb any other crossbar 6.

The number and location of the crossbars 6 may be changed, depending on the number and side of cable drums to be supported. For example, in the configuration shown in plan view in Figure 9, three crossbars 6 have been fitted, staggered horizontally and vertically each from the others to space apart cable drums (not shown) mounted thereon. This view also shows a preferred cross-sectional form of the side panels 22, a shallow D-shape with its inner face being flat and its outer face curved.

In Figure 10, the second cable drum support 21 has only two crossbars 6 fitted, located well apart to provide clearance for three relatively large-diameter cable drums 25 to be fitted to each. Such cable drums 25 may each hold up to eight thousand metres of cable. (The cables themselves are again omitted from the Figure for simplicity).

In Figure 11 , three crossbars 6 are in position between the elongate side panels 22, two of which are supporting smaller cable drums 11 and a lowermost of which is supporting a large- diameter cable drum 25. Figure 11 also shows how the respective base portion 23 is detachably bolted or screwed to each side panel 22, and how castors 26 may be fitted to the base portions 23 to allow easier movement of a loaded second cable drum support 21 around a work site (a fully loaded second support 21 is unlikely to be easily manually portable). The castors 26 are preferably lockable so that the support 21 remains stationary in use. As for the first cable drum support 1, the second cable drum support 21 may be dismantled and packed into a case made up of the respective side panels 22. Figure 12 shows, schematically, how a respective base portion 23 may be detached from each side panel 22 and then nested therewithin. The crossbars 6 may also be nested within one or other of the side panels 22, or in corresponding recesses defined between the side panels 22. (A representative single crossbar 6 is shown for each side panel 22). The two side panels 22 are then fastened together as shown in Figure 13, to form a case for any remaining components of the support 21. In this packed configuration, the second cable drum support 21 is far easier to transport and store than it is when erected.

Each cable drum support 1, 21 may be provided with wire cutters/strippers or the like, built into a side panel 2, 22, or recesses to hold conventional tools.

Both cable drum supports 1, 21 described provide, when erected, safe, stable and convenient dispensing stands for drums or reels of electrical cable (or any other elongate material stored on hollow-cored drums, such as fencing wire, chains or ropes). They are easy to erect and to dismantle and pack for transportation and storage, typically requiring only one or two minutes.

When packed into a case comprising their respective side panels 2, 22, the cable drum supports 1, 21 are far more compact, convenient and easy to store or transport than existing supports. When coloured, patterned or marked appropriately, they not only are highly visible in themselves, but also act as hazard warnings to warn that cable laying is in progress in their vicinity.

Claims

1. A device to support one or more drums of cabling, as defined herein, comprising a pair of side elements and one or more elongate spacing means extending, in use, substantially horizontally between said side elements and adapted to support at least one drum of cabling, and when not in use being detachable from each side elements and enclosable for storage and/or transportation within case means formed by said pair of side elements when connected directly one to the other.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a plurality of said spacing means.

3. A device as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the or each of the said spacing means is adapted to pass through a hollow core of one or more drums of cabling so as to allow rotation of the or each drum.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, provided with means to mount the spacing means to the side elements that may also serve to fasten the side elements together to form said case means.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each spacing means is provided at a first end with first fastening means and a first one of said side elements is provided with respective second fastening means co-operable therewith, optionally detachably engageable therewith.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein each spacing means is provided at a second end remote from the first with second fastening means, and a second one of said side elements is provided with respective first fastening means co-operable therewith, optionally detachably engageable therewith.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the corresponding fastening means of the first and second side elements are co-operable to fasten the side elements together to form said case means.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, provided with handle means comprising aperture means extending through one or each of the side elements, optionally aperture means in each side element alignable each with the other when the side elements together form the case means.

9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or each of the side elements of the device is provided with recess means configured to hold said spacing means, and optionally other components of the device, when the side elements together act as case means for the device.

10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each side element is provided with stabiliser means detachably mountable thereto and storable within said case means.