CA2172484A1

CA2172484A1 - A reel assembly

Info

Publication number: CA2172484A1
Application number: CA002172484A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert Francis Charlton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Creative Plastics & Marketing Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1993-10-01
Filing date: 1994-09-30
Publication date: 1995-04-13
Also published as: EP0722419A1; EP0722419A4; JPH09503192A; WO1995009800A1

Abstract

A reel assembly (1) including one or more flexible spool sections (2, 3) forming a spool (8). The spool (8) is releasably secured to opposed end flanges (9, 10) by complementary engagement means (11, 12) associated therewith.
The flexible spool sections (2, 3) may be resilient and ale deformed when forming the spool (8).

Description

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Title: "A REEL ASSE~BL'~"
FIELD QF THE IN~ENTION
THIS I~IVEMTION relates to a cable reel assembl~ for transportlng and storing cable, rope, twine or Gther elongate materials.
BACKGROUi`~ OF THE INVENTION
One common type of reel assembly consists of opposed end tlanges bolted to a respective end of a cylindrical rigid spool. The flanges and rigid spool are usually made from wood although other materlals such as metal, fibreboard or plastics may be used. In practice when cable has been unwound from che reel assembly, it is desirable to return the reel assembly to the cable manufacturer for re-wlnding. However, due to their shape and size, a considerable amount of space is required during transportation and storage.
To reduce transportation and storage space, the reel assembly may be disassembled. Unfortunately,.
unbolting of the end flanges is labour intenslve and even when disassembled, a considerable amount of space is required for transporting and storing the rigid cylindrical spools.
Segmented spool reel assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Patents 2652992, 1767710, 1915825, and German patent 2439488. These reel assemblies have a segmented spool formed from substantially rigid segmented spool sections u-sually made from sheet metal. During assembly securing bolts are guided through respective apertures in one of the end flanges, then through apertures in lugs or flanges in the spool sections and finally through apertures in the other end flange. Muts are then threaded onto the securing bolts and tightened to secure the end flanges ;to respective ends of the spool sections. U.S.
Patents 1767710 and 191i825 further disc1Ose flanged apertures positioned in longitudinal edges (ie. axial length) of the spool sections which allow adjacent AMeNOEDSHEET
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spool edge attachment by nuts and bolts before the spool sections are bolted to the end flanges.
Although it is possible to disassemble segmented spool reel assemblies, considerable space is required to store and transport the spool sections due to their substantially rlgid arcuate shape. In addition, their assembling and disassembling can be both time consuming and skill may be required in guiding the bolts from flange to flange.
Disclosed in U.K. Patent specification 1170714 is a deformable spool reel assembly having a spool formed from a palr of resilient drum forming plates hinged together at their adjacent longitudinal edges. When disassembled the spool is substantially flat and during assembly a wire rope is wound in a loop around the flat spool. The rope is then tightened until the properties of the hinges and resilient drum forming plates are shaped into a cylinder. Opposed faces of the end flanges have annular projections for assisting in positioning and supporting the cylindrical spool during attachment to the end flanges which are attached to the cyllndrical spool by securing bolts in a similar manner to that of segmented spool reel assemblies.
To assemble the deformed spool reel assembly is time consuming and requires tightening of the rope and shape the drum forming plates into a cylinder.
Furthermore, when assembled, ridges may be formed on the spool at or near the hinges which may therefore mark the cable wound thereon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a reel assembly which overcomes or at least alleviates some of the problems associated with prior art reel assemblies.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a reel assembly including:-A~ ~;.
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72484 2~Ll\JcD 2 d ~ 1995 a spool formed from one or more fle.Yible spcol members at least one of the members having one or more reinforced portions for providing reinforcement of -said spool along an axlal length thereo~; and two opposed end flanges for releasable securement to a respective end of said spool, wherein the releasable securement of each one of the end fIanges to said spool is provided by complementary engagement means associated therewith.
Suitably, when formed the spool is cylindrical and has a continuous outer surface.
The one or more flexible spool members may have resilient properties. Preferably, the resilient properties bias the spool members to a shape in which a surface thereof is flat. More preferably, the resilient properties bias the spool members to a shape having an undulating surface.
Preferably each one of the spool members has side edges along the axial leng'th thereof, the side edges having at each end an adjacent one of said complementary engagement means.
Suitably, the complementary engagement means provides the releasable securement by relative rotation between the spool members and a respective end flange.
Preferably, said complementary engagement means are sockets and spigots. Preferably, the sockets are located in the end flanges and the spigots are located adjacent the ends of said spool member.
The sockets may be apertures in said end ~langes.
Suitably at least some of the spigots are integral with a respective one of said reinforced portions.
Suitably, a free end of each spigot has a ''shoulder for abutting an outwardly facing sur-face of a said end flange.
Preferably, opposed side edges of the spool members are releasably attached by complementary edge ~MEN~ED SHEET
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engagement means associated therewith.
Suitably, the complementary edge engagement means are adapted to engage each other by relative axial movement along the opposed edges.
Suitably, one or more of the spool members have a plurality of parallel channels in a surface thereof, the channels being along the axial length and the portions of the spool members therebetween are reinforcement portions. The channels may be substantially "V" shape in cross section.
Preferably, two said spool members are required to form said spool.
Each spool member may be made from a plastics material. Each end flange may also be made from a plastics material.
There may be one or more releasable locking members for engagement with one of said end flanges and said spool to restrict relative rotation.
therebetween. Preferably, the locking members are pivotally mounted to a respective one or said end flanges.
Each of the locking members may be pivotally attachable to an inwardly facing surface of a said end flange.
Suitably, the spool has spool recesses therein for accommodating at least part of a respective locking member. Each said end flange may have flange recesses in an inwardly facing surface thereof to accommodate at least part of said locking member. There may be a release aperture in each of said flange recesses thereby providing a passage to an outwardly facing surface of the end flange.
Suitably, each said locking member is of a - shape and size such that upon engagement with a respective spool recess, a section of said locking member is below the outer surface of said spool. Each said locking member may also be of a shape and size ~MENDED3H~
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such that a section thereof does not protrude out of a respective flange recess.
Suitably, there are complementary gripping ~means associated with said locking member and said spool recess. Preferably, said complementary gripplng means are teeth on abutting surfaces.
There may be a spool guide protruding from the inwardly facing surface of each respective end flange. The spool guide may have an outer radlal surface of a shape and dimenslon which conforms to an inner surface of the spool.
Preferably, there are a plurality of rlbs along the axial length of a respective one of each said spool members, the ribs providing increased rigidity to the spool.
Suitably, pairs of the ribs form guides for alignment with bolt apertures in the end flanges.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to preferred embodiments, in which:
FIG 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a reel assembly;
FIG 2 is a detailed partially exploded perspective view of part of a spool of FIG l;
FIG 3 is an end view of a spool member shown in FIG l;
FIG 4 is an end view of a spool when formed from two spool members of FIG 3;
FIG 5 is a front elevation of part of an inwardly facing surface of an end flange shown in FIG
1 ;
FIG 6 is a detailed perspective view of a locking member shown in FIG l; and FIG 7 is a detailed cross sectional view of an engaged socket and spigot of FIG 1.

AhENDED 8H~' ~A~J

~_,2172484 ~r~ r~ ;D '2 ~ g DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Illustrated in FIG 1 is a reel assembly 1 including a cylindrlcal spool 8 formed from two ~flexible spool members 2 and 3 which are rele~sably 5 attached by complementary edge engagement means on opposed axial edges 4 and 5, 6 and 7.
The reel assembly 1 also includes end flanges 9 and 10 which have sockets in the form of apertures 11. Located adjacent each respective end 13 10 and 14 of spool members 2 and 3 are integral spigots 12 for releasable engagement with complementary apertures 11. At a free end of each spigot is a head 12a having a continuous shoulder 12b (refer to FIG 7).
Four locking members 15 (two of which are hidden) are 15 pivotally attached by a respective pivot pin 16 to end flange 9. Similarly, (although not shown) there are four locking members 15 pivotally attached by pivot pins 16 to end flange 10.
When in an operative position a section of 20 each locking member 15 resides in a recess 17 in an inwardly facing surface 19 of a respective end flange 9 or 10. Each recess 17 has a release aperture 21 to provide a passage to an outwardly facing surface 20 of each respective end flange 9 or 10. Also when in the 25 operative position a section of a locking member 15 - resides in a spool recess 18 at a respective end 13 or 14.
In each end flange 9 and 10 there is a central aperture 22 and in at least one end flange 9 30 or 10 there is an offset aperture 23 for receiving a drive pin. Bolt receiving apertures 28 are also provided in each end flange.
.Referring to FIG 2, edge engagement members 24 are spaced along respective axial edges 4 and 7.
35 Staggered opposed tracks 25 in the form of "U" 26 and "L" 27 shaped members are spaced along axial edges 5 and 6. Engagement members 24 and staggered opposed AME~JD~ 8HEI~
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tracks 25 provide the complementarv edge engagement means for axial edges 4 and 7, 5 and 6.
Illustrated in FIG 3 is a side view of a flexible spool member 2 which is biased to form a shape other than the shape it takes when forming cylindrical spool 8. As shown spool member 2, made from a resilient material, is deformed into part of spool 8. However, when not deformed, spool member 2 returns to a shape having an undulating outer surface 29 in which spigots 12 are positioned adjacent intersections in the undulating outer surface 29.
This biased undulatlng shape and position of spigots 12 allows for spool member 2 to be forcibly formed into a smooth arcuate shape. However, other resilient spool member shapes are possible, for example, the spool member could return to a shape ln which the majority of outer surface 29 is substantially flat.
Channels 31 are formed along the axial length in inner surface 30 of spool member 2, these are "~" shaped in cross section and are formed between ends 13 and 14. As a result, spool member 2 comprises weakened portions provlded by channels 31 and thicker portions between adjacent parallel channels 31 for provldlng reinforcement and strength to spool 8.
Additional relnforcement may be provlded by ribs 32 formed along the axlal length and pairs of ribs 32 can form bolt guides inner surface 30 and when the reel assembly 1 is assembled, guides 32 are aligned with respective bolt apertures 28.
In FIG 4, an end view of cylindrical spool 8 formed from spool members 2 and 3 is illustrated in which spool member 3 ls ldentical to spool member 2 and to avold repetltlon lt ls not described.
FIG 5 shows apertures 11 and a spool guide 33 which protrudes from an inwardly facing surface 19 of end flange 9 (note end flange 10 also has an identical spool guide 33). Spool guide 33 has an A~ENVE~

2172484 REC~IVED 2 ~.~i'R ~gc ; outer radial surface of a shape and dimension which conforms to inner surface 3G,when formed into a spool.
Apertures 1t have a wide section 34 and narrower section 35. Wide section 34 is of a size to allow a respective head 12a of a spigot 12 to be inserted. If relative rotation between an end flange and spool 8 occurs when head 12a is inserted into wide section 34, head 12a will then be captured behind narrower section 35.
10Referring to FIGS 6 and 7, locking member 15 has a pivot pin 16 engaging with pin receiving recesses 36 and 37 on inwardly facing surface 19, thereby pivotally attaching locking member 15 to inwardly facing surface 19.
15A spool recess abutment face 36 of locking member 15 has teeth 37 for engaging and gripping complementary teeth 38 in spool recess 18.
In FIG 7, the engagement of teeth 37 and 38 are illustrated. Further, the engagement of spigot 12 with one aperture 11 is shown in which shoulder 12b abuts on an outwardly facing surface of end flange 2 or 3. As shown a section 15a of section of locking member 15 resides in recess 17, the locking member is of a shape and size such that section 15a does not protrude out of recess 17. Similarly, section 15b of locking member 15 does not protrude outside of recess 18.
Ideally, each component comprising reel assembly 1 is moulded from a plastics material such as polypropylene or high density polyethylene. In use, reel assembly 1 is assembled by firstly forming spool 8 in which for example opposed axial edges 4 and 5 are positioned in substantial abutment with their -respective ends 13 and 14 slightly misaligned by a distance of half the length of a "T" shaped engaging member 24. By relative axial movement of opposed edges 4 and 5, "T" shaped engaging members 24 engage ~ ~H~
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21~2484 ~ECEI'i~D 2 g ~199~-with opposed tracks 25. After a relative movement equal to half the length of a "T" shaped engaging member 24 ends 13 and 14 are aligned and opposed edges -4 and 5 are attached. In a similar fashion edges 6 and 7 are attached.
Flange 9 is placed on the ground wlth surface 19 facing upwards. End 13 of spool 8 is positioned with the assistance of spool guide 33 such that spigots 12 engage apertures 11 in wide section 34. Rotating spool 8 and end flange 9 provides rotation of splgots 12 from wide section 34 to narrower section 35 therefore capturing head 12a behind narrower s-ection 35 and providing releasable securement of spool 8 to flange 9. Locking members 15 are then positioned as shown ln FIG 7 thereby disallowing relative rotational movement between spool 8 and end flange 9 which could cause release of spool 8 from end flange 9.
End flange 10 is secured to end 14 in a similar fashion. Teeth 37 and 38 assist in securing locking members 15 in respective recesses 18.
Further, when spool 8 is wound with cable the cable provides a further securing of locking members 14 in recess 18.
Bolts may be threaded through apertures 28 to provide a means of strengthening the reel (if desired), in which bolt guides 32 assist in guiding the bolts.
When there is no cable on spool 8 the reel assembly can be disassembled by pushing an elongate rod through release apertures 21 which releases locking members 15. Relative rotation of end flanges 9 and 10 with respect to spool 8 then allows release of spool 8 from end flanges 9 and 10. The spool members 2 and 3 are then detached.
The spool is then disassembled into two spool members whlch return to their relisient shape AMENDE~YHEET
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217248~ RÉ~EIVE~ 2 3 ~5R IS9 which do not require large amounts of space when being transported or stored.
Upon returning reel assembly 1 to a cable -manufacturer, it can be relatively easily re-assembled and wound with more cable.
Although the lnvention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment as hereindescribed. For example, spool 8 can be formed from a single spool member or alternatively two or more pivotally attached spool members.

A~END~ SHE~7' ~WAI~

Claims

1. A reel assembly including:-a spool formed from one or more flexible spool members at least one of the members having one or more reinforced portions for providing reinforcement of said spool along an axial length thereof; and two opposed end flanges for releasable securement to a respective end of said spool, wherein the releasable securement of each one of the end flanges to said spool is provided by complementary engagement means associated therewith.

2. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the spool is cylindrical and has a contlnuous outer surface.

3. A reel assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the one or more flexible spool members have resilient properties.

4. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the resilient properties bias the spool members to a shape in which a surface thereof is flat.

5. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the resilient properties bias the spool members to a shape having an undulating surface.

6. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 5, wherein one or more of the complementary engagement means associated with one of the spool members is positioned adjacent intersections of the undulating surface.

7. A reel assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each one of the spool members has side edges along the axial length thereof, the side edges having an adjacent one of said compLementary engagement means.

8. A reel assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the complementary engagement means provides the releasable securement by relative rotation between the spool members and a respective end flange.

9. A reel assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said complimentary engagement means associated with said spool are integral therewith.

10. A reel assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said complementary engagement means are sockets and spigots.

11. A reel assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sockets are located in the end flanges and the spigots are located adjacent the ends of said spool.

12. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the sockets are apertures in said end flanges.

13. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 10, wherein at least some of the spigots are integral with a respective one of said reinforced portions.

14. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 12, wherein a free end of each spigot has a shoulder for abutting an outwardly facing surface of a said end flange.

15. A reel assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein opposed side edges of the spool members are releasably attached by complementary edge engagement means associated therewith.

16. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the complementary edge engagement means are adapted to engage each other by relative axial movement along the opposed edges.

17. A reel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of the spool members have a plurality of parallel channels in a surface thereof, the channels being along the axial length and portions of the spool members therebetween are the reinforcement portions.

18. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the channels are "V" shape.

19. A reel assembly as claimed claim 2, wherein two said spool members are required to form said spool.

20. A reel assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein there are one or more releasable locking members for engagement with one of said end flanges and said spool to restrict relative rotation therebetween.

21. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the locking members are pivotally mounted to a respective one or said end flanges.

22. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 21, wherein each of the locking members is pivotally attachable to an inwardly facing surface of a said end flange.

23. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the spool has spool recesses therein for accommodating at least part of a respective locking member.

24. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 23, wherein each said end flange has flange recesses in an inwardly facing surface thereof to accommodate at least part of said locking member.

25. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 24, wherein there is a release aperture in each of said flange recesses thereby providing a passage to the outwardly facing surface of the end flange of the respective recess.

26. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 25, wherein each said locking member is of a shape and size such that upon engagement with a respective spool recess, a section of said locking member is below the outer surface of said spool.

27. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 26, wherein each said locking member is of a shape and size such that a section thereof does not protrude out of a respective flange recess.

28. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 27, wherein there are complementary gripping means associated with said locking member and said spool -recess.

29. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 28, wherein said complementary gripping means are teeth on abutting surfaces.

30. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein a spool guide protrudes from an inwardly facing surface of each respective end flange.

31. A reel assembly as claimed in Claim 30, wherein the spool guide has an outer radial surface of a shape and dimension which conforms to an inner surface of the spool.

32. A reel assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein there are a plurality of ribs along the axial length of a respective one of each said spool members, the ribs providing increased rigidity to the spool.

33. A reel assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein pairs of the ribs form guides for alignment with bolt apertures in the end flanges.