WO2023027599A1 - A portable fence reel - Google Patents

A portable fence reel Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2023027599A1
WO2023027599A1 PCT/NZ2022/050112 NZ2022050112W WO2023027599A1 WO 2023027599 A1 WO2023027599 A1 WO 2023027599A1 NZ 2022050112 W NZ2022050112 W NZ 2022050112W WO 2023027599 A1 WO2023027599 A1 WO 2023027599A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
reel
portable fence
frame
reel spool
spool
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NZ2022/050112
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert Andrew Wade
Mark William DUDDING
Original Assignee
Gallagher Group Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gallagher Group Limited filed Critical Gallagher Group Limited
Publication of WO2023027599A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023027599A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/04—Kinds or types
    • B65H75/08—Kinds or types of circular or polygonal cross-section
    • B65H75/14—Kinds or types of circular or polygonal cross-section with two end flanges
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K3/00—Pasturing equipment, e.g. tethering devices; Grids for preventing cattle from straying; Electrified wire fencing
    • A01K3/001—Portable, temporary, and collapsible fencing for pastures
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K3/00—Pasturing equipment, e.g. tethering devices; Grids for preventing cattle from straying; Electrified wire fencing
    • A01K3/005—Electrified fencing for pastures
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
    • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
    • B65H75/40—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material mobile or transportable
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
    • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
    • B65H75/40—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material mobile or transportable
    • B65H75/42—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material mobile or transportable attached to, or forming part of, mobile tools, machines or vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
    • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
    • B65H75/44—Constructional details
    • B65H75/4402—Guiding arrangements to control paying-out and re-storing of the material
    • B65H75/4405—Traversing devices; means for orderly arranging the material on the drum
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
    • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
    • B65H75/44—Constructional details
    • B65H75/4402—Guiding arrangements to control paying-out and re-storing of the material
    • B65H75/4405—Traversing devices; means for orderly arranging the material on the drum
    • B65H75/4407—Traversing devices; means for orderly arranging the material on the drum positively driven, e.g. by a transmission between the drum and the traversing device
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
    • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
    • B65H75/44—Constructional details
    • B65H75/4457—Arrangements of the frame or housing
    • B65H75/446—Arrangements of the frame or housing for releasably or permanently attaching the frame to a wall, on a floor or on a post or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
    • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
    • B65H75/44—Constructional details
    • B65H75/4481—Arrangements or adaptations for driving the reel or the material
    • B65H75/4486—Electric motors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
    • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
    • B65H75/44—Constructional details
    • B65H75/4481—Arrangements or adaptations for driving the reel or the material
    • B65H75/4492—Manual drives
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H17/00—Fencing, e.g. fences, enclosures, corrals
    • E04H17/017—Fencing provided with electric elements or components, e.g. fencing member or component, such as fence strands, post, panel or rail, provided with electric elements or components
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H17/00—Fencing, e.g. fences, enclosures, corrals
    • E04H17/02—Wire fencing, e.g. made of wire mesh
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H17/00—Fencing, e.g. fences, enclosures, corrals
    • E04H17/26—Devices for erecting or removing fences
    • E04H17/261—Devices for erecting or removing fences for post and wire handling
    • E04H17/266—Devices for erecting or removing fences for post and wire handling for stretching or winding wire or wire mesh
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
    • B65H2402/40—Details of frames, housings or mountings of the whole handling apparatus
    • B65H2402/41—Portable or hand-held apparatus
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
    • B65H2402/40—Details of frames, housings or mountings of the whole handling apparatus
    • B65H2402/41—Portable or hand-held apparatus
    • B65H2402/412—Portable or hand-held apparatus details or the parts to be hold by the user, e.g. handle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/30—Handled filamentary material
    • B65H2701/36—Wires
    • B65H2701/364—Wires used in fences
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/30—Handled filamentary material
    • B65H2701/39—Other types of filamentary materials or special applications
    • B65H2701/3912—Fences made of wire

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a portable fence reel for the storage and dispensing of fence wire, more particularly a portable fence reel having a wire retraction device.
  • Portable electric fencing is an important aspect of livestock and pasture management. It is usually used in animal containment to ensure that livestock do not graze in an undesired area or to set up temporary enclosures for animals to prevent the animals from extensive roaming.
  • a farmer By controlling the extent of pasture being grazed by livestock, a farmer is able to sustainably manage pasture growth to ensure a year round supply of food for livestock.
  • a farmer On a regular basis, a farmer will partition off sections of the pasture, to exclude livestock. This allows the pasture to recover from grazing activity. The partitioning of pasture is easily achieved with the use of portable electric fencing.
  • a portable electric fence consists of three key components; a conductive strand, an energiser to deliver electric pulses over the strand, and one or more fence posts to support the strand.
  • the conductive strand may take many forms, for example a wire, polywire, polybraid, polytape or any other suitable conductive strand used for electric fencing, but for ease of understanding will be referred to herein as a "wire”.
  • the wire may be stored on a reel, and unwound from the reel to span the desired distance and establish a temporary fence line. Subsequently, when dismantling the temporary fence the wire must be manually wound back onto the reel using a handle to turn the reel. This is a laborious task.
  • PCT Application No. PCT/AU 2018/000063 describes a cradle for a fence reel, having driven wheels on which the rims of the reel sit. When driven, the wheels rotate the reel for automated winding of a fence wire onto the reel.
  • This cradle is cumbersome, and must be mounted to a support structure such as a tractor or all-terrain vehicle. Further, the drive mechanism is complex, presenting a relatively high risk of becoming fouled or otherwise failing under the harsh conditions typically experienced on a farm (both in terms of user handling and exposure to the environment).
  • a portable fence reel including: a reel spool, the reel spool including a barrel, and a first annular flange and a second annular flange at opposing ends of the barrel; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a winding handle configured to be operable by a user to rotate the reel spool; a drive unit configured to be removably mounted to the frame, the drive unit including: a rotary drive; a rotary drive user activation device, configured to activate the rotary drive on selection by the user; a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel, the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel configured to be driven by the rotary drive when activated, wherein the first drive wheel and a second drive wheel contact the first annular flange and the second annular flange respectfully in use when the drive unit is mounted to the frame.
  • a portable fence reel including: a reel spool; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a winding handle configured to be operable by a user to rotate the reel spool, wherein the winding handle is configured to be selectively engaged with the reel spool.
  • a portable fence reel including: a reel spool; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a winding handle configured to be operable by a user to rotate the reel spool, wherein the winding handle is configured to engage the reel spool in a first rotary direction, and permit rotation of the reel spool independent of the winding handle in a second rotary direction opposing the first rotary direction.
  • a portable fence reel including: a reel spool; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a winding handle configured to be operable by a user to rotate the reel spool, wherein the winding handle includes: a crank and a handle portion at an end of the crank, wherein the handle portion is configured to fold relative to the crank; a rotating component to which the crank is connected, and including an internal bore, wherein the crank is configured to pivot between an in-use orientation perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the internal bore, and a storage orientation aligned with the longitudinal axis of the internal bore, wherein the winding handle is configured such that the crank may be slid along the longitudinal axis of the internal bore when in the storage orientation, between a stored position in which the crank is substantially contained within the internal bore, and a retracted position in which the crank is
  • a portable fence reel including: a reel spool; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a securing hook in an inferior position relative to the fixed handle, wherein the securing hook includes a first opening facing in an anterior direction towards the reel spool; a barrier configured to be selectively moveable between a closed position in which the barrier extends at least partially across the first opening, and a retracted position in which the barrier is retracted into the frame away from the first opening, wherein the barrier is configured to pivot between the closed position and the retracted position; and a linear actuator configured to move the barrier between the closed position and the retracted position.
  • the rotary drive user activation device may be configured to require actuation by a user in a direction towards the reel spool to activate the rotary drive.
  • the rotary drive user activation device may include a press-button having an actuation axis directed towards the reel spool.
  • the rotary drive user activation device may be configured to require maintained user actuation for the desired duration of activation of the rotary drive.
  • the rotary drive user activation device may include a momentary switch.
  • the drive unit may be slidably mounted to the frame.
  • the fence reel may include a rail guide interface between the frame and the drive unit.
  • the rail guide interface may include at least one guide rail and at least one groove, wherein the guide rail may be slidably received within the groove.
  • the fence reel may include a securing mechanism configured to releasably locate the drive unit in a fixed position relative to the frame.
  • the drive unit may be mounted to the frame in a manner which permits free movement along one axis (e.g. in a sliding motion).
  • the portable fence reel may include a traverse winder mechanism configured to guide feeding of the wire across the barrel of the reel spool between the annular flanges as the reel spool rotates.
  • the traverse winder mechanism may include a rotating shaft extending across the reel spool.
  • the rotating shaft may include an external helical track.
  • the helical track may include a right-hand helical portion and a left-hand helical portion joined by reversal portions at ends of the rotating shaft.
  • the pitch of the helical track may vary across the rotating shaft.
  • the pitch of the helical track may be coarser at the centre of the rotating shaft than at the ends of the rotating shaft.
  • the traverse winder mechanism may include a wire guide carriage including a track follower configured to engage with the helical track in order to guide the wire guide carriage across the shaft as the shaft rotates.
  • the wire guide carriage may include a guide passage configured to locate the wire relative to the carriage.
  • the traverse winder mechanism may be driven by rotation of the reel spool, directly or indirectly.
  • the traverse winder mechanism may include a bevel gear linkage between the rotating shaft and a bevel gear configured to rotate on rotation of the reel spool.
  • the frame may include a securing hook in an inferior position relative to the fixed handle.
  • the securing hook may include a first opening facing in an anterior direction towards the reel spool.
  • the frame may include a second opening between the frame and the first opening, wherein the second opening faces a substantially inferior direction.
  • the second opening faces a posterior-inferior direction.
  • the fence reel may include a barrier configured to be selectively moveable between a closed position in which the barrier extends at least partially across the first opening, and a retracted position in which the barrier is retracted into the frame away from the first opening.
  • the barrier may be configured to pivot between the closed position and the retracted position.
  • the barrier may be actuated by a linear actuator to move between the closed position and the retracted position.
  • the linear actuator may include a biasing means, for example a spring, configured to bias the linear actuator to maintain the barrier in the closed position.
  • the linear actuator may include a push button.
  • the push button may be provided on a posterior facing surface of the frame. In an example the push button may be located in a position inferior to the fixed handle. In an example the push button may be located in a position superior to the securing hook.
  • the winding handle may be configured to be selectively engaged with the reel spool.
  • the winding handle may include a crank configured to be rotated by a user, a rotating component configured to deliver rotary motion to the reel spool, and an intermediary engaging component configured to interface between the crank and the rotating component.
  • the intermediary engaging component may be selectively engaged and disengaged with at least one of the crank and the rotating component.
  • the intermediary engaging component may be configured to slide along a longitudinal axis of the rotating component between an engaged position and a disengaged position.
  • the winding handle may be configured to engage the reel spool in a first rotary direction, and permit rotation of the reel spool independent of the winding handle in a second rotary direction opposing the first rotary direction.
  • the winding handle may include a one-way clutch (which may also be referred to as a one way bearing, or anti-reverse bearing).
  • the winding handle may include a crank and a handle portion at an end of the crank. In examples the handle portion may fold relative to the crank. In examples the crank may include a recess configured to receive the handle portion when folded.
  • the winding handle may include a rotating component to which the crank is connected. In examples the rotating component includes an internal bore.
  • the crank may be configured to pivot between an in-use orientation perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the internal bore, and a storage orientation aligned with the longitudinal axis of the internal bore.
  • the winding handle may be configured such that the crank may be slid along the longitudinal axis of the internal bore when in the storage orientation, between a stored position in which the crank is substantially contained within the internal bore, and a retracted position in which the crank is external to the internal bore.
  • FIG. 1A is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary portable fence reel according to one aspect of the present technology.
  • FIG. IB is a top perspective view of the exemplary portable fence reel.
  • FIG. 1C is a front view of the exemplary portable fence reel.
  • FIG. ID is a rear view of the exemplary portable fence reel.
  • FIG. IE is a bottom view of the exemplary portable fence reel.
  • FIG. IF is a top view of the exemplary portable fence reel.
  • FIG. 1G is a side view of the exemplary portable fence reel.
  • FIG. 1H is a first perspective view of an exemplary drive unit separated from the exemplary portable fence reel.
  • FIG. II is a second perspective view of the exemplary drive unit separated from the exemplary portable fence reel.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the functional components of the exemplary drive unit according to one aspect of the present technology.
  • FIG. 3A is a front view of an exemplary winding handle and reel spool according to one aspect of the present technology.
  • FIG. 3B is an exploded view of the exemplary winding handle.
  • FIG. 3C is an exploded view of an exemplary gearbox for driving the reel spool.
  • FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an exemplary traverse winder mechanism according to one aspect of the present technology.
  • FIG. 4B is an exploded view of a portion of the exemplary traverse winder mechanism.
  • FIG. 4C is a front view of a rotating shaft of the exemplary traverse winder mechanism.
  • FIG. 5A to 5E are views of an exemplary barrier mechanism according to one aspect of the present technology.
  • FIG. 6A and 6B are views of another exemplary winding handle according to one aspect of the present technology.
  • FIG. 7A to 7C are views of another exemplary winding handle according to one aspect of the present technology.
  • FIG. 1A to FIG. II illustrate a portable fence reel 100 according to one aspect of the present technology there is provided.
  • the fence reel 100 includes a base unit 102, including a reel spool 110, the reel spool 110 including a barrel 112, and a first annular flange 114a and a second annular flange 114b at opposing ends of the barrel 112.
  • the base unit 102 of the fence reel 100 includes a frame 120, the frame 120 including lateral frame portions 122 - in this example including a superior arm portion, an anterior arm portion, and a posterior arm portion.
  • the lateral frame portions 122 are joined by an anterior frame portion 124, and a posterior frame portion 126.
  • a fixed handle 128 is provided on the posterior frame portion 126, for handling of the fence reel 100.
  • Reference to the fixed handle 128 being "fixed” should be understand to mean that the fixed handle 128 remains in the same position relative to the frame 120 during operation.
  • the fixed handle 128 is integral with the frame 120, but in alternative examples the fixed handle 128 may be releasably secured to the frame 120 - e.g. to reorientate the fixed handle 128 prior to use.
  • a portion of the posterior frame portion 126 inferior to the fixed handle 128 includes an enlarged surface area.
  • This enlarged surface area is substantially flat and angled to face in an inferior-posterior direction so as to comfortably rest against the leg of a user when winding wire in with the reel.
  • the reel spool 110 is rotatably amounted between the lateral frame portions 122.
  • the fence reel 100 further includes a winding handle 130, operable by a user to rotate the reel spool 110 in order to manually reel in a wire affixed to the reel spool 110.
  • the portable fence reel 100 includes a drive unit 200 configured to be removably mounted to the frame 120 of the base unit 120.
  • the drive unit 200 includes a housing 202, a first drive wheel 204a and a second drive wheel 204b.
  • the first drive wheel 204a and the second drive wheel 204b contact the outer rims of the first annular flange 114a and the second annular flange 114b respectively.
  • Actuation of a rotary drive user activation device in the form of press-button 206 causes the drive wheels 204 to rotate, and act against the annular flanges 114 to rotate the reel spool 110. Referring to FIG.
  • the drive unit 200 is slidably mounted to the frame 120.
  • the posterior frame portion 126 includes radially outwardly facing grooves 129 receiving guide rails 208 of the drive unit 200.
  • the orientation of the grooves 129 guides the drive unit 200 onto the reel spool 110 from a superior position, with the force applied by the user to the press-button 206 (in combination with gravity) holding the drive wheels 204 on the annular flanges 114.
  • the drive unit 200 includes a momentary switch 210 activated by press-button 206.
  • the switch 210 controls activation of a rotary drive in the form of an electric motor 212, powered by one or more batteries 214.
  • a pinion gear 216 drives a larger gear 218 affixed to axle 220, to which first drive wheel 204a and second drive wheel 204b are secured.
  • the electric motor may be configured to connect to the axle 220 using a belt drive configuration.
  • the electric motor may have a direct connection to the axle 220 or the one or more drive wheels.
  • the axle 220 may be configured to pass through the electric motor 212, and attach at a first end to the first drive wheel 204a, and at the second end to a second drive wheel 204b.
  • the electric motor may be a hub motor as should be familiar to those skilled in the art.
  • the winding handle 130 may be selectively engaged with the reel spool to enable this.
  • the winding handle 130 includes a crank portion 132 configured to be rotated by a user, connected to a base portion 134.
  • An intermediary engaging component 136 is contained by the crank portion 132 and base portion 134, and permitted to be actuated by the user to slide along a longitudinal axis towards, and away from, the reel spool 110.
  • a rotating component 138 is keyed to crank shaft 140 by a complementary shape fit therebetween.
  • the rotating component 138 and intermediary engaging component 136 include complementary engaging features (in this example interlocking teeth), which when engaged effectively lock the crank shaft 140 to the crank 32.
  • the intermediary engaging component 136 may be slid away from the rotating component 138 to disengage the interlocking teeth.
  • Rotation of the crank shaft 140 drives a gearbox 150 to rotate the spool.
  • the gearbox includes a planetary gear train, including planet carrier 152 (secured to crank shaft 140) having arms 154 to which planet gears 156 are attached, and a ring gear 158 surrounding the planet gears 156.
  • Sun gear 160 is keyed to a spool drive aperture 116 to drive rotation of the reel spool 110.
  • the base unit 120 of the fence reel 100 includes a traverse winder mechanism 400.
  • the traverse winder mechanism 400 includes a rotating shaft 402 extending across the reel spool 110 between the lateral frame portions 122.
  • the rotating shaft 402 includes an external helical track 404, having a right-hand helical portion and a left-hand helical portion, joined by reversal portions at ends of the rotating shaft 402.
  • the traverse winder mechanism 400 further includes a wire guide carriage 410, including an anterior portion 412 and a posterior portion 414 configured to be secured to each other on either side of the shaft 402.
  • the posterior portion 414 includes a guide passage 416 configured to locate the wire relative to the carriage 410.
  • a track follower portion 418 is configured to engage with the helical track 404 in order to guide the wire guide carriage 410 across the shaft 402 as the shaft 402 rotates, with the track follower portion 418 located relative to the posterior portion 414 by track follower holder 420.
  • the wire guide carriage 410 interacts with the anterior frame portion 124 to restrict rotation of the wire guide carriage 410 while allowing translation - for example guide rails, or shaping of the wire guide carriage 410 and the anterior frame portion 124 (e.g. adjacent surfaces that do not permit relative rotation).
  • the pitch of the helical track 404 varies across the rotating shaft 402, being coarser at the centre of the rotating shaft 402 than at the ends of the rotating shaft 402.
  • the guide passage 416 has to have a sufficient diameter to accommodate the wire, but also knots which may be formed in the wire (particularly where the wire is a polytape, polywire or polybraid). As a result, there can be some movement within the passage 416 such that the wire is not guided in an ideal fashion across the barrel of the spool 110. It is envisaged that the coarseness of the pitch at the centre of the shaft 402 reduces the dwell time at this point, reducing the likelihood of an uneven buildup of wire at the centre of the spool 110 relative to the sides of the spool.
  • the traverse winder mechanism 430 is driven by rotation of the reel spool llOvia a bevel gear linkage 430.
  • the bevel gear linkage 430 includes a drive bevel gear 432 provided on planet carrier 152.
  • a bevel gear shaft 434 includes a second bevel gear 436 configured to engage with the drive bevel gear 432 at a first end, and a third bevel gear 438 at a distal end.
  • the third bevel gear 438 engages a fourth bevel gear 440 provided to the rotating shaft 440.
  • the frame 120 includes a securing hook 500 in an inferior position relative to the fixed handle 128.
  • the securing hook 500 allows the fence reel 100 to be hooked onto, and located at, a variety of locations - e.g. permanent fence wires, gates, parts of a vehicle such as pipework of an ATV's.
  • the securing hook 500 has a first opening 502 facing in an anterior direction towards the reel spool 110, and a second opening 504 between the frame 120 and the first opening 502, with the second opening 504 facing a posterior-inferior direction.
  • the second opening 504 functions to funnel the component, to which the fence reel 100 is to be attached, to the first opening 502.
  • a barrier mechanism 510 is provided for selectively closing off the hook 500.
  • the barrier mechanism 510 includes a barrier portion 520 which is selectively moveable to pivot between a closed position in which the barrier portion 520 extends at least partially across the first opening 502 (as shown in FIG. 5D), and a retracted position in which the barrier portion 520 is retracted into the frame 120 away from the first opening 502 (as shown in FIG. 5E).
  • the barrier portion 520 includes side walls 522, a concave anterior facing surface 524, and convex posterior facing surface 526.
  • the barrier portion further includes internal guide rails 528.
  • the barrier portion 520 is actuated by a linear actuator in the form of a push button 530 and rod 532.
  • the rod includes guide recesses 534 configured to receive the guide rails 528 of the barrier portion 520. Movement of the rod 532 cases the guide rails 528 to ride along the surfaces of the guide recesses and pivot the barrier portion 520.
  • a spring biases the push button 530 to a retracted position such that the barrier portion 520 is biased towards the closed position.
  • the component may act against concave anterior facing surface 524 to force the barrier portion 520 into an open position to facilitate attachment - but depression of the push button 530 is required to open the barrier portion 520 to release the component.
  • FIG. 6A and 6B illustrate an alternative example of a winding handle 600, configured to engage the reel spool 110 in a first rotary direction, and permit rotation of the reel spool 110 independent of the winding handle 600 in the opposite direction.
  • the handle 600 may be used to wind the wire in, but will not turn with the spool 110 as the wire is fed out.
  • the winding handle 600 includes a crank 602, and a sun gear 604.
  • the sun gear 604 is driven by planet carrier 606 having planet gears 608, in combination with ring gear 610 surrounding the planet gears 156.
  • the winding handle 600 includes a one-way clutch formed from a freewheel portion 620 having a series of ramps in which rollers 522 are located. Rotation of the freewheel portion 620 in one direction causes the rollers to ride up the ramps and create an interference fit with the bore of the planet carrier 606, while in the other direction the rollers 522 remain in the ramps and do not produce the interference fit.
  • FIG. 7A to 7C illustrate an alternative example of a winding handle 700, configured to be retracted when not in use.
  • the winding handle 700 includes a crank portion 702 and a handle portion 704 at an end of the crank portion 702.
  • the handle portion 704 may fold relative to the crank portion 702, with the crank portion 702 including a recess to receive the handle portion 704 when folded.
  • the winding handle 700 further includes a rotating component 706 to which the crank portion 702 is connected, having an internal bore 708.
  • the crank portion 702 may be pivoted between an in-use orientation perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the internal bore 708 (i.e.
  • crank portion 702 (and folded handle portion 704) may be slid along the longitudinal axis of the internal bore 708, between a stored position in which the crank portion 702 is substantially contained within the internal bore 708, and a retracted position in which the crank portion 702 is external to the internal bore 708 (i.e. as shown in FIG, 7A to 7C).
  • invention(s) of the present disclosure may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features. Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Abstract

A portable fence reel includes a reel spool, the reel spool including a barrel, and a first annular flange and a second annular flange at opposing ends of the barrel. The portable fence reel further includes a frame, the frame including at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm, a fixed handle, and a winding handle configured to be operable by a user to rotate the reel spool. A drive unit is configured to be removably mounted to the frame, the drive unit including a rotary drive, and a rotary drive user activation device, configured to activate the rotary drive on selection by the user. A first drive wheel and a second drive wheel of the drive unit are configured to be driven by the rotary drive when activated, wherein the first drive wheel and a second drive wheel contact the first annular flange and the second annular flange respectfully in use when the drive unit is mounted to the frame.

Description

A PORTABLE FENCE REEL
STATEMENT OF CORRESPONDING APPLCIATIONS
[0001] This application is based on New Zealand Patent Application No. 779433, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a portable fence reel for the storage and dispensing of fence wire, more particularly a portable fence reel having a wire retraction device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Portable electric fencing is an important aspect of livestock and pasture management. It is usually used in animal containment to ensure that livestock do not graze in an undesired area or to set up temporary enclosures for animals to prevent the animals from extensive roaming. By controlling the extent of pasture being grazed by livestock, a farmer is able to sustainably manage pasture growth to ensure a year round supply of food for livestock. On a regular basis, a farmer will partition off sections of the pasture, to exclude livestock. This allows the pasture to recover from grazing activity. The partitioning of pasture is easily achieved with the use of portable electric fencing.
[0004] A portable electric fence consists of three key components; a conductive strand, an energiser to deliver electric pulses over the strand, and one or more fence posts to support the strand. The conductive strand may take many forms, for example a wire, polywire, polybraid, polytape or any other suitable conductive strand used for electric fencing, but for ease of understanding will be referred to herein as a "wire".
[0005] The wire may be stored on a reel, and unwound from the reel to span the desired distance and establish a temporary fence line. Subsequently, when dismantling the temporary fence the wire must be manually wound back onto the reel using a handle to turn the reel. This is a laborious task.
[0006] PCT Application No. PCT/AU 2018/000063 describes a cradle for a fence reel, having driven wheels on which the rims of the reel sit. When driven, the wheels rotate the reel for automated winding of a fence wire onto the reel. This cradle is cumbersome, and must be mounted to a support structure such as a tractor or all-terrain vehicle. Further, the drive mechanism is complex, presenting a relatively high risk of becoming fouled or otherwise failing under the harsh conditions typically experienced on a farm (both in terms of user handling and exposure to the environment).
[0007] Aspects of the technology of the present disclosure are directed to overcoming one or more of the problems discussed above. It is an object of the present invention to address one or more of the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
[0008] Further aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.
SUMMARY
[0009] According to one aspect of the present technology there is provided a portable fence reel, including: a reel spool, the reel spool including a barrel, and a first annular flange and a second annular flange at opposing ends of the barrel; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a winding handle configured to be operable by a user to rotate the reel spool; a drive unit configured to be removably mounted to the frame, the drive unit including: a rotary drive; a rotary drive user activation device, configured to activate the rotary drive on selection by the user; a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel, the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel configured to be driven by the rotary drive when activated, wherein the first drive wheel and a second drive wheel contact the first annular flange and the second annular flange respectfully in use when the drive unit is mounted to the frame.
[0010] According to one aspect of the present technology there is provided a portable fence reel, including: a reel spool; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a winding handle configured to be operable by a user to rotate the reel spool, wherein the winding handle is configured to be selectively engaged with the reel spool.
[0011] According to one aspect of the present technology there is provided a portable fence reel, including: a reel spool; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a winding handle configured to be operable by a user to rotate the reel spool, wherein the winding handle is configured to engage the reel spool in a first rotary direction, and permit rotation of the reel spool independent of the winding handle in a second rotary direction opposing the first rotary direction.
[0012] According to one aspect of the present technology there is provided a portable fence reel, including: a reel spool; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a winding handle configured to be operable by a user to rotate the reel spool, wherein the winding handle includes: a crank and a handle portion at an end of the crank, wherein the handle portion is configured to fold relative to the crank; a rotating component to which the crank is connected, and including an internal bore, wherein the crank is configured to pivot between an in-use orientation perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the internal bore, and a storage orientation aligned with the longitudinal axis of the internal bore, wherein the winding handle is configured such that the crank may be slid along the longitudinal axis of the internal bore when in the storage orientation, between a stored position in which the crank is substantially contained within the internal bore, and a retracted position in which the crank is external to the internal bore.
[0013] According to one aspect of the present technology there is provided a portable fence reel, including: a reel spool; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a securing hook in an inferior position relative to the fixed handle, wherein the securing hook includes a first opening facing in an anterior direction towards the reel spool; a barrier configured to be selectively moveable between a closed position in which the barrier extends at least partially across the first opening, and a retracted position in which the barrier is retracted into the frame away from the first opening, wherein the barrier is configured to pivot between the closed position and the retracted position; and a linear actuator configured to move the barrier between the closed position and the retracted position.
[0014] In examples the rotary drive user activation device may be configured to require actuation by a user in a direction towards the reel spool to activate the rotary drive. In an example the rotary drive user activation device may include a press-button having an actuation axis directed towards the reel spool.
[0015] In examples the rotary drive user activation device may be configured to require maintained user actuation for the desired duration of activation of the rotary drive. In examples the rotary drive user activation device may include a momentary switch.
[0016] In examples the drive unit may be slidably mounted to the frame. In examples the fence reel may include a rail guide interface between the frame and the drive unit. In examples the rail guide interface may include at least one guide rail and at least one groove, wherein the guide rail may be slidably received within the groove.
[0017] In examples the fence reel may include a securing mechanism configured to releasably locate the drive unit in a fixed position relative to the frame. However, in alternative examples the drive unit may be mounted to the frame in a manner which permits free movement along one axis (e.g. in a sliding motion). [0018] In examples, the portable fence reel may include a traverse winder mechanism configured to guide feeding of the wire across the barrel of the reel spool between the annular flanges as the reel spool rotates. In examples, the traverse winder mechanism may include a rotating shaft extending across the reel spool. In examples the rotating shaft may include an external helical track. In examples the helical track may include a right-hand helical portion and a left-hand helical portion joined by reversal portions at ends of the rotating shaft. In examples the pitch of the helical track may vary across the rotating shaft. In examples the pitch of the helical track may be coarser at the centre of the rotating shaft than at the ends of the rotating shaft. [0019] In examples the traverse winder mechanism may include a wire guide carriage including a track follower configured to engage with the helical track in order to guide the wire guide carriage across the shaft as the shaft rotates. In examples the wire guide carriage may include a guide passage configured to locate the wire relative to the carriage.
[0020] In an example the traverse winder mechanism may be driven by rotation of the reel spool, directly or indirectly. In an example the traverse winder mechanism may include a bevel gear linkage between the rotating shaft and a bevel gear configured to rotate on rotation of the reel spool.
[0021] In examples the frame may include a securing hook in an inferior position relative to the fixed handle. In examples the securing hook may include a first opening facing in an anterior direction towards the reel spool. In examples the frame may include a second opening between the frame and the first opening, wherein the second opening faces a substantially inferior direction. In an example the second opening faces a posterior-inferior direction.
[0022] In examples the fence reel may include a barrier configured to be selectively moveable between a closed position in which the barrier extends at least partially across the first opening, and a retracted position in which the barrier is retracted into the frame away from the first opening. In examples the barrier may be configured to pivot between the closed position and the retracted position. In examples the barrier may be actuated by a linear actuator to move between the closed position and the retracted position. In examples the linear actuator may include a biasing means, for example a spring, configured to bias the linear actuator to maintain the barrier in the closed position. In examples the linear actuator may include a push button. In examples the push button may be provided on a posterior facing surface of the frame. In an example the push button may be located in a position inferior to the fixed handle. In an example the push button may be located in a position superior to the securing hook.
[0023] In examples, the winding handle may be configured to be selectively engaged with the reel spool. In an example, the winding handle may include a crank configured to be rotated by a user, a rotating component configured to deliver rotary motion to the reel spool, and an intermediary engaging component configured to interface between the crank and the rotating component. In examples, the intermediary engaging component may be selectively engaged and disengaged with at least one of the crank and the rotating component. In examples, the intermediary engaging component may be configured to slide along a longitudinal axis of the rotating component between an engaged position and a disengaged position.
[0024] In examples, the winding handle may be configured to engage the reel spool in a first rotary direction, and permit rotation of the reel spool independent of the winding handle in a second rotary direction opposing the first rotary direction. In an example the winding handle may include a one-way clutch (which may also be referred to as a one way bearing, or anti-reverse bearing). [0025] In examples, the winding handle may include a crank and a handle portion at an end of the crank. In examples the handle portion may fold relative to the crank. In examples the crank may include a recess configured to receive the handle portion when folded. In examples the winding handle may include a rotating component to which the crank is connected. In examples the rotating component includes an internal bore. In an example the crank may be configured to pivot between an in-use orientation perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the internal bore, and a storage orientation aligned with the longitudinal axis of the internal bore. In an example the winding handle may be configured such that the crank may be slid along the longitudinal axis of the internal bore when in the storage orientation, between a stored position in which the crank is substantially contained within the internal bore, and a retracted position in which the crank is external to the internal bore.
[0026] The above and other features will become apparent from the following description and the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] Further aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0028] FIG. 1A is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary portable fence reel according to one aspect of the present technology.
[0029] FIG. IB is a top perspective view of the exemplary portable fence reel.
[0030] FIG. 1C is a front view of the exemplary portable fence reel.
[0031] FIG. ID is a rear view of the exemplary portable fence reel.
[0032] FIG. IE is a bottom view of the exemplary portable fence reel.
[0033] FIG. IF is a top view of the exemplary portable fence reel.
[0034] FIG. 1G is a side view of the exemplary portable fence reel.
[0035] FIG. 1H is a first perspective view of an exemplary drive unit separated from the exemplary portable fence reel.
[0036] FIG. II is a second perspective view of the exemplary drive unit separated from the exemplary portable fence reel.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the functional components of the exemplary drive unit according to one aspect of the present technology.
[0038] FIG. 3A is a front view of an exemplary winding handle and reel spool according to one aspect of the present technology.
[0039] FIG. 3B is an exploded view of the exemplary winding handle. [0040] FIG. 3C is an exploded view of an exemplary gearbox for driving the reel spool.
[0041] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an exemplary traverse winder mechanism according to one aspect of the present technology.
[0042] FIG. 4B is an exploded view of a portion of the exemplary traverse winder mechanism.
[0043] FIG. 4C is a front view of a rotating shaft of the exemplary traverse winder mechanism.
[0044] FIG. 5A to 5E are views of an exemplary barrier mechanism according to one aspect of the present technology.
[0045] FIG. 6A and 6B are views of another exemplary winding handle according to one aspect of the present technology.
[0046] FIG. 7A to 7C are views of another exemplary winding handle according to one aspect of the present technology.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0047] FIG. 1A to FIG. II illustrate a portable fence reel 100 according to one aspect of the present technology there is provided. The fence reel 100 includes a base unit 102, including a reel spool 110, the reel spool 110 including a barrel 112, and a first annular flange 114a and a second annular flange 114b at opposing ends of the barrel 112. The base unit 102 of the fence reel 100 includes a frame 120, the frame 120 including lateral frame portions 122 - in this example including a superior arm portion, an anterior arm portion, and a posterior arm portion. The lateral frame portions 122 are joined by an anterior frame portion 124, and a posterior frame portion 126. A fixed handle 128 is provided on the posterior frame portion 126, for handling of the fence reel 100. Reference to the fixed handle 128 being "fixed" should be understand to mean that the fixed handle 128 remains in the same position relative to the frame 120 during operation. In the illustrated example the fixed handle 128 is integral with the frame 120, but in alternative examples the fixed handle 128 may be releasably secured to the frame 120 - e.g. to reorientate the fixed handle 128 prior to use.
[0048] In this example, a portion of the posterior frame portion 126 inferior to the fixed handle 128 includes an enlarged surface area. This enlarged surface area is substantially flat and angled to face in an inferior-posterior direction so as to comfortably rest against the leg of a user when winding wire in with the reel.
[0049] The reel spool 110 is rotatably amounted between the lateral frame portions 122. The fence reel 100 further includes a winding handle 130, operable by a user to rotate the reel spool 110 in order to manually reel in a wire affixed to the reel spool 110.
[0050] In this example, the portable fence reel 100 includes a drive unit 200 configured to be removably mounted to the frame 120 of the base unit 120. The drive unit 200 includes a housing 202, a first drive wheel 204a and a second drive wheel 204b. When mounted to the base unit 102, the first drive wheel 204a and the second drive wheel 204b contact the outer rims of the first annular flange 114a and the second annular flange 114b respectively. Actuation of a rotary drive user activation device in the form of press-button 206 causes the drive wheels 204 to rotate, and act against the annular flanges 114 to rotate the reel spool 110. Referring to FIG. IF in particular, it may be seen that the drive unit 200 is slidably mounted to the frame 120. In this example, the posterior frame portion 126 includes radially outwardly facing grooves 129 receiving guide rails 208 of the drive unit 200. The orientation of the grooves 129 guides the drive unit 200 onto the reel spool 110 from a superior position, with the force applied by the user to the press-button 206 (in combination with gravity) holding the drive wheels 204 on the annular flanges 114.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 2, the drive unit 200 includes a momentary switch 210 activated by press-button 206. The switch 210 controls activation of a rotary drive in the form of an electric motor 212, powered by one or more batteries 214. A pinion gear 216 drives a larger gear 218 affixed to axle 220, to which first drive wheel 204a and second drive wheel 204b are secured. In other examples, the electric motor may be configured to connect to the axle 220 using a belt drive configuration. In yet further examples, the electric motor may have a direct connection to the axle 220 or the one or more drive wheels. For example, the axle 220 may be configured to pass through the electric motor 212, and attach at a first end to the first drive wheel 204a, and at the second end to a second drive wheel 204b. In a yet further example of the technology, the electric motor may be a hub motor as should be familiar to those skilled in the art.
[0052] Whether it be during use of the drive unit 200, or unreeling the wire from the fence reel 100, there are many instances in which it would be desirable for the winding handle 130 to not rotate with the reel spool 110. Referring to FIG. 3A and 3B, in this exemplary embodiment the winding handle 130 may be selectively engaged with the reel spool to enable this. The winding handle 130 includes a crank portion 132 configured to be rotated by a user, connected to a base portion 134. An intermediary engaging component 136 is contained by the crank portion 132 and base portion 134, and permitted to be actuated by the user to slide along a longitudinal axis towards, and away from, the reel spool 110. A rotating component 138 is keyed to crank shaft 140 by a complementary shape fit therebetween. The rotating component 138 and intermediary engaging component 136 include complementary engaging features (in this example interlocking teeth), which when engaged effectively lock the crank shaft 140 to the crank 32. When the crank 132 is to be isolated from rotation by the reel spool 110, the intermediary engaging component 136 may be slid away from the rotating component 138 to disengage the interlocking teeth.
[0053] Rotation of the crank shaft 140 drives a gearbox 150 to rotate the spool. Referring to FIG. 3C, in this example the gearbox includes a planetary gear train, including planet carrier 152 (secured to crank shaft 140) having arms 154 to which planet gears 156 are attached, and a ring gear 158 surrounding the planet gears 156. Sun gear 160 is keyed to a spool drive aperture 116 to drive rotation of the reel spool 110.
[0054] In order to facilitate even winding and unwinding of the wire from the reel spool 110, the base unit 120 of the fence reel 100 includes a traverse winder mechanism 400. Referring to FIG. 4A to 4C, in this example the traverse winder mechanism 400 includes a rotating shaft 402 extending across the reel spool 110 between the lateral frame portions 122. The rotating shaft 402 includes an external helical track 404, having a right-hand helical portion and a left-hand helical portion, joined by reversal portions at ends of the rotating shaft 402. The traverse winder mechanism 400 further includes a wire guide carriage 410, including an anterior portion 412 and a posterior portion 414 configured to be secured to each other on either side of the shaft 402. The posterior portion 414 includes a guide passage 416 configured to locate the wire relative to the carriage 410. A track follower portion 418 is configured to engage with the helical track 404 in order to guide the wire guide carriage 410 across the shaft 402 as the shaft 402 rotates, with the track follower portion 418 located relative to the posterior portion 414 by track follower holder 420. In examples the wire guide carriage 410 interacts with the anterior frame portion 124 to restrict rotation of the wire guide carriage 410 while allowing translation - for example guide rails, or shaping of the wire guide carriage 410 and the anterior frame portion 124 (e.g. adjacent surfaces that do not permit relative rotation).
[0055] Referring to FIG. 4C, in this example the pitch of the helical track 404 varies across the rotating shaft 402, being coarser at the centre of the rotating shaft 402 than at the ends of the rotating shaft 402. The guide passage 416 has to have a sufficient diameter to accommodate the wire, but also knots which may be formed in the wire (particularly where the wire is a polytape, polywire or polybraid). As a result, there can be some movement within the passage 416 such that the wire is not guided in an ideal fashion across the barrel of the spool 110. It is envisaged that the coarseness of the pitch at the centre of the shaft 402 reduces the dwell time at this point, reducing the likelihood of an uneven buildup of wire at the centre of the spool 110 relative to the sides of the spool.
[0056] Returning to FIG. 4A, the traverse winder mechanism 430 is driven by rotation of the reel spool llOvia a bevel gear linkage 430. The bevel gear linkage 430 includes a drive bevel gear 432 provided on planet carrier 152. A bevel gear shaft 434 includes a second bevel gear 436 configured to engage with the drive bevel gear 432 at a first end, and a third bevel gear 438 at a distal end. The third bevel gear 438 engages a fourth bevel gear 440 provided to the rotating shaft 440. As a result, rotation of the reel spool 110 - whether by winding handle 130 or drive unit 200 - drives rotation of the rotating shaft 402 and therefore the wire guide carriage 410.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 1G the frame 120 includes a securing hook 500 in an inferior position relative to the fixed handle 128. The securing hook 500 allows the fence reel 100 to be hooked onto, and located at, a variety of locations - e.g. permanent fence wires, gates, parts of a vehicle such as pipework of an ATV's. Referring to FIG. 5D and 5E, the securing hook 500 has a first opening 502 facing in an anterior direction towards the reel spool 110, and a second opening 504 between the frame 120 and the first opening 502, with the second opening 504 facing a posterior-inferior direction. The second opening 504 functions to funnel the component, to which the fence reel 100 is to be attached, to the first opening 502.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 5A to 5C, a barrier mechanism 510 is provided for selectively closing off the hook 500. The barrier mechanism 510 includes a barrier portion 520 which is selectively moveable to pivot between a closed position in which the barrier portion 520 extends at least partially across the first opening 502 (as shown in FIG. 5D), and a retracted position in which the barrier portion 520 is retracted into the frame 120 away from the first opening 502 (as shown in FIG. 5E). The barrier portion 520 includes side walls 522, a concave anterior facing surface 524, and convex posterior facing surface 526. The barrier portion further includes internal guide rails 528. The barrier portion 520 is actuated by a linear actuator in the form of a push button 530 and rod 532. The rod includes guide recesses 534 configured to receive the guide rails 528 of the barrier portion 520. Movement of the rod 532 cases the guide rails 528 to ride along the surfaces of the guide recesses and pivot the barrier portion 520. A spring (not illustrated), biases the push button 530 to a retracted position such that the barrier portion 520 is biased towards the closed position. In use, the component may act against concave anterior facing surface 524 to force the barrier portion 520 into an open position to facilitate attachment - but depression of the push button 530 is required to open the barrier portion 520 to release the component.
[0059] FIG. 6A and 6B illustrate an alternative example of a winding handle 600, configured to engage the reel spool 110 in a first rotary direction, and permit rotation of the reel spool 110 independent of the winding handle 600 in the opposite direction. As a result, the handle 600 may be used to wind the wire in, but will not turn with the spool 110 as the wire is fed out. In this example, the winding handle 600 includes a crank 602, and a sun gear 604. The sun gear 604 is driven by planet carrier 606 having planet gears 608, in combination with ring gear 610 surrounding the planet gears 156. In this example, the winding handle 600 includes a one-way clutch formed from a freewheel portion 620 having a series of ramps in which rollers 522 are located. Rotation of the freewheel portion 620 in one direction causes the rollers to ride up the ramps and create an interference fit with the bore of the planet carrier 606, while in the other direction the rollers 522 remain in the ramps and do not produce the interference fit.
[0060] FIG. 7A to 7C illustrate an alternative example of a winding handle 700, configured to be retracted when not in use. The winding handle 700 includes a crank portion 702 and a handle portion 704 at an end of the crank portion 702. The handle portion 704 may fold relative to the crank portion 702, with the crank portion 702 including a recess to receive the handle portion 704 when folded. The winding handle 700 further includes a rotating component 706 to which the crank portion 702 is connected, having an internal bore 708. The crank portion 702 may be pivoted between an in-use orientation perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the internal bore 708 (i.e. as shown in FIG, 7A to 7C), and a storage orientation aligned with the longitudinal axis of the internal bore 708. When in the storage orientation the crank portion 702 (and folded handle portion 704) may be slid along the longitudinal axis of the internal bore 708, between a stored position in which the crank portion 702 is substantially contained within the internal bore 708, and a retracted position in which the crank portion 702 is external to the internal bore 708 (i.e. as shown in FIG, 7A to 7C).
[0061] The illustrated embodiments of the disclosure will be best understood by reference to the figures. The foregoing description is intended only by way of example and simply illustrates certain selected exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.
[0062] The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications cited above and below, if any, are herein incorporated by reference. Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour in any country in the world.
[0063] The invention(s) of the present disclosure may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features. Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.
[0064] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in at least one embodiment. In the foregoing description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art may well recognize, however, that embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced without at least one of the specific details thereof, or can be practiced with other methods, components, materials, et cetera. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
[0065] Throughout this specification, the word "comprise" or "include", or variations thereof such as "comprises", "includes", "comprising" or "including" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to". [0066] Aspects of the present disclosure have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims

1. A portable fence reel, including: a reel spool, the reel spool including a barrel, and a first annular flange and a second annular flange at opposing ends of the barrel; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a winding handle configured to be operable by a user to rotate the reel spool; a drive unit configured to be removably mounted to the frame, the drive unit including: a rotary drive; a rotary drive user activation device, configured to activate the rotary drive on selection by the user; a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel, the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel configured to be driven by the rotary drive when activated, wherein the first drive wheel and a second drive wheel contact the first annular flange and the second annular flange respectfully in use when the drive unit is mounted to the frame.
2. The portable fence reel of claim 1, wherein the rotary drive user activation device is configured to require actuation by a user in a direction towards the reel spool to activate the rotary drive.
3. The portable fence reel of claim 2, wherein the rotary drive user activation device includes a pressbutton having an actuation axis directed towards the reel spool.
4. The portable fence reel of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the rotary drive user activation device is configured to require maintained user actuation for the desired duration of activation of the rotary drive.
5. The portable fence reel of claim 4, wherein the rotary drive user activation device includes a momentary switch.
6. The portable fence reel of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the drive unit is slidably mounted to the frame.
7. The portable fence reel of any one of claims 1 to 6, including a traverse winder mechanism configured to guide feeding of the wire across the barrel of the reel spool between the annular flanges as the reel spool rotates.
8. The portable fence reel of claim 7, wherein the traverse winder mechanism includes a rotating shaft extending across the reel spool.
9. The portable fence reel of claim 8, wherein the rotating shaft includes an external helical track.
10. The portable fence reel of claim 9, wherein the pitch of the helical track varies across the rotating shaft.
11. The portable fence reel of claim 10, wherein the pitch of the helical track is coarser at the centre of the rotating shaft than at the ends of the rotating shaft.
12. The portable fence reel of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the traverse winder mechanism includes a wire guide carriage including a track follower configured to engage with the helical track in order to guide the wire guide carriage across the shaft as the shaft rotates.
13. The portable fence reel of any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the traverse winder mechanism is driven by rotation of the reel spool, directly or indirectly.
14. The portable fence reel of claim 13, wherein the traverse winder mechanism includes a bevel gear linkage between the rotating shaft and a bevel gear configured to rotate on rotation of the reel spool.
15. The portable fence reel of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the frame includes a securing hook in an inferior position relative to the fixed handle.
16. The portable fence reel of claim 15, wherein the securing hook includes a first opening facing in an anterior direction towards the reel spool.
17. The portable fence reel of claim 16, wherein the frame includes a second opening between the frame and the first opening, wherein the second opening faces a substantially inferior direction.
18. The portable fence reel of claims 15 to 17, wherein the fence reel includes a barrier configured to be selectively moveable between a closed position in which the barrier extends at least partially across the first opening, and a retracted position in which the barrier is retracted into the frame away from the first opening.
19. The portable fence reel of claim 18, wherein the barrier is configured to pivot between the closed position and the retracted position.
20. The portable fence reel of claim 19, wherein the barrier is actuated by a linear actuator to move between the closed position and the retracted position.
21. The portable fence reel of claim 20, wherein the linear actuator includes a push button provided on a posterior facing surface of the frame, inferior to the fixed handle.
22. The portable fence reel of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the winding handle is configured to be selectively engaged with the reel spool.
23. The portable fence reel of claim 22, wherein the winding handle includes a crank configured to be rotated by a user, a rotating component configured to deliver rotary motion to the reel spool, and an intermediary engaging component configured to interface between the crank and the rotating component, and wherein the intermediary engaging component may be selectively engaged and disengaged with at least one of the crank and the rotating component.
24. The portable fence reel of claim 23, wherein the intermediary engaging component is configured to slide along a longitudinal axis of the rotating component between an engaged position and a disengaged position.
25. A portable fence reel, including: a reel spool; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle;
15 a winding handle configured to be operable by a user to rotate the reel spool, wherein the winding handle is configured to be selectively engaged with the reel spool.
26. A portable fence reel, including: a reel spool; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a winding handle configured to be operable by a user to rotate the reel spool, wherein the winding handle is configured to engage the reel spool in a first rotary direction, and permit rotation of the reel spool independent of the winding handle in a second rotary direction opposing the first rotary direction.
27. A portable fence reel, including: a reel spool; a frame, the frame including: at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a winding handle configured to be operable by a user to rotate the reel spool, wherein the winding handle includes: a crank and a handle portion at an end of the crank, wherein the handle portion is configured to fold relative to the crank; a rotating component to which the crank is connected, and including an internal bore, wherein the crank is configured to pivot between an in-use orientation perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the internal bore, and a storage orientation aligned with the longitudinal axis of the internal bore, wherein the winding handle is configured such that the crank may be slid along the longitudinal axis of the internal bore when in the storage orientation, between a stored position in which the crank is substantially contained within the internal bore, and a retracted position in which the crank is external to the internal bore.
28. A portable fence reel, including: a reel spool; a frame, the frame including:
16 at least one arm, wherein the reel spool is rotatably mounted to the at least one arm; a fixed handle; a securing hook in an inferior position relative to the fixed handle, wherein the securing hook includes a first opening facing in an anterior direction towards the reel spool; a barrier configured to be selectively moveable between a closed position in which the barrier extends at least partially across the first opening, and a retracted position in which the barrier is retracted into the frame away from the first opening, wherein the barrier is configured to pivot between the closed position and the retracted position; and a linear actuator configured to move the barrier between the closed position and the retracted position.
17
PCT/NZ2022/050112 2021-08-25 2022-08-25 A portable fence reel WO2023027599A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NZ779433 2021-08-25
NZ77943321 2021-08-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2023027599A1 true WO2023027599A1 (en) 2023-03-02

Family

ID=85322039

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NZ2022/050112 WO2023027599A1 (en) 2021-08-25 2022-08-25 A portable fence reel

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AR (1) AR126871A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2023027599A1 (en)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US450030A (en) * 1891-04-07 Fence-wire-spool carrier and winder
US3370699A (en) * 1966-01-28 1968-02-27 United States Steel Corp Barbed-wire bundle
US20040084084A1 (en) * 2002-10-31 2004-05-06 Lyle Rosine Hose reel cart with folding crank handle
US20100133372A1 (en) * 2008-12-02 2010-06-03 Vincent Ying Portable winch assembly actuated by auxiliary handheld torquing device
AU2013242818A1 (en) * 2012-10-11 2014-05-01 Gallagher Group Limited Securing Device
JP2017124399A (en) * 2017-04-06 2017-07-20 リョービ株式会社 High-pressure washer
US20200196565A1 (en) * 2017-04-27 2020-06-25 Munro Engineers Pty. Ltd. Improved modular fencing storage and handling device

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US450030A (en) * 1891-04-07 Fence-wire-spool carrier and winder
US3370699A (en) * 1966-01-28 1968-02-27 United States Steel Corp Barbed-wire bundle
US20040084084A1 (en) * 2002-10-31 2004-05-06 Lyle Rosine Hose reel cart with folding crank handle
US20100133372A1 (en) * 2008-12-02 2010-06-03 Vincent Ying Portable winch assembly actuated by auxiliary handheld torquing device
AU2013242818A1 (en) * 2012-10-11 2014-05-01 Gallagher Group Limited Securing Device
JP2017124399A (en) * 2017-04-06 2017-07-20 リョービ株式会社 High-pressure washer
US20200196565A1 (en) * 2017-04-27 2020-06-25 Munro Engineers Pty. Ltd. Improved modular fencing storage and handling device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AR126871A1 (en) 2023-11-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20070131177A1 (en) Motorized pet leash assembly
EP0955800B1 (en) Line feed mechanism for a line trimmer
AU2016361506B2 (en) Retractable leash assembly
US9414572B2 (en) Retractable leash
US20080072845A1 (en) Retractable rotatable pet tether
US10306830B2 (en) Winding mechanism for a string trimmer head
US10548262B2 (en) Strand trimmer with a strand feed mechanism
EP0865730B1 (en) Fishline guide device for double bearing type reel
TWI638604B (en) Dual-bearing reel and clutch mechanism thereof
TW200819044A (en) Spinning reel
CN102187850A (en) Dual-bearing reel drag sound producing device
TW200913879A (en) Spinning reel handle assembly
EP1994825B1 (en) Fishing reel
WO2023027599A1 (en) A portable fence reel
CN103907577A (en) Dual-bearing reel
CN109619055A (en) Rotary transfer machine and the Spinning wheel type coiling device for angling for having it
AU2021221825A1 (en) A Portable Fence Reel
US20110209383A1 (en) Fishing equipment for fishing rods
EP2823698A1 (en) Tool-holder intended for being fastened to a machine for supporting an accessory
JP3256123B2 (en) Spinning reel for fishing
WO2024039251A1 (en) A portable fence reel
TW200412838A (en) Rotor for a spinning reel
JPH0514779Y2 (en)
JPH0610772Y2 (en) Fishing reel
US7815137B1 (en) Bait casting reel

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 22861785

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 809419

Country of ref document: NZ

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE