Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
UN W I N D I N G RE E L
Field of the invention:
This invention relates to a reel for unwinding a
coil of wire and more particularly to a reel for unwinding from
the innermost spire a torus-shaped coil made of wire of
relatively stiff material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
It is common practice for shipping and handling
purposes to wind relatively stiff wire such as electrical cable
into spires forming torus shaped coils which are later unwinded
during installation of the wire.
Since the spires forming the coils are made of
relatively stiff material, they are characterized by a radial
outward urge to unwind. Dur;ng shipping and handling, the coil
is prevented from unwinding by a set of straps tied around the
spires. The straps which encircle the spires are spacedly
disposed around the coil along planes parallel to the radius of
the coil.
Conventional structures used to house the coil
during the unwinding operation include boxes having a front
aperture parallel to the plane of the coil and located adjacent
the longitudinal axis of the coil through which the innermost
spire is pulled out.
When the coil is positioned inside the box, the
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straps are removed and the spires located as the outer periphery
of the coil resiliently abutt against the walls of the box which
restrain their radial urge to unwind.
One of the main problems encountered with thiæ
type of structure is that, since the coil does not rotate, the
wire has a tendency to twist helicoidally on itself as it is
being pulled. The wire being relatively stiff it has a tendency
to resiliently untwist, this situation thus creates a potential
hazard for the person pulling on the coil as it is being
unwinded.
Various structures such as the ones described in
U.S. patents No. 2,448,490; 3,673,627 and 3,662,421 have been
proposed to rotatably unwind relatively stiff material such as
sewer cleaner snakes. However, these structures are both
relatively complex and cumbersome.~ -
Accordingly, the present invention relates to areel for unwinding a coil of relatively stiff material from the
innermost spire. The reel restrains the outward radial urge of
unwinding the coil while allowing the coil to rotate as it is
bein~ unwinded so that the wire will not helicoidally twist unto
itself.
Furthermore, the reel embodying the present
invention is of simple construction in order to provide an
unwinding mechanism which is economical and easy to use.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to a reel for
unwinding a torus shaped coil made of spires of relatively stiff
wire adapted to be unwound from the innermost spire of the coil.
The reel comprises a means for supporting the coil about its
outer periphery, a means for allowing the coil to rotate about an
axis substantially corresponding to the central axis of the coil
and tubular means for threadally guiding the innermost spire.
The innermost spire is adapted to be pulled through the tubular
means.
This tubular means is located adjacent the plane
of the coil between the periphery and the central axis of the
coil. The rigidity of the innermost spire has a tendency to
straighten the spire from its wounded curvature and thus to
create a lever action in the tubular means whlch prevents the
retraction of the spire from the tubular means.
The supporting means comprises radial arms which
extend from the central axis of the coil. Each arm has a U-
shaped member encircling a portion of the periphery of the coil.
At least one of the radial arms is lengthly adjustable which
allows the coil to be fittingly gripped by the U-shaped members.
The means for allowing the coil to rotate
comprises an axle which is located at the intersection of the
arms and the central axis.
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The tubular means comprises a tubular channel which has a
diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the wire. The
channel is generally oriented at right angle relative to the radius
of the coil, so that when the innermost spire is inside the
channel, it has a tendency to frictionally abut against the channel
in a direction away from the central axis.
The tubular channel is preferably provided with a tightening
screw adapted to penetrate in the channel for locking the spire
inside the channel and providing additional security when the reel
is not in operation. The tubular channel is mounted on an
independent arm angularly fixed relative to the axle and has a
longitudinal axis disposed at a slight angle relative to the plane
of the coil. In a particular embodiment of the invention, a loop
member is axially aligned with and in front of the tubular channel.
A circular shield extends in a plane located in front of the
coil. The shield is provided with an aperture for allowing the
passage of the innermost spire.
More specifically, in accordance with the present invention,
there is provided a reel for unwinding a torus-shaped coil made of
spires of relatively stiff wire adapted to be unwound from the
innermost spire of the coil, this reel comprising:
an angularly fixed horizontal axle adapted to be secured at
one end to a fixed support,
a hub rotatably mounted over the axle,
a plurality of arms radially extending from the hub,
means for varying the length of these arms,
a U-shaped member extending from each arm, these U-shaped
members adapted to encircle a portion of the periphery of the coil
and to support this coil, the U-shaped members having two ends, one
of these ends extending from the arms for facing one side of the
coil,
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a rigid tubular member secured to the axle in a plane adjacent
and substantially parallel to the coil between the periphery of the
coil and the axle, the tubular member having a diameter larger than
the diameter of the wire, the tubular member being generally
oriented at about a right angle relative to a radius of the coil
and with a slight angle relative to the plane of the coil for
frictionally braking the wire when released, the tubular member
adapted to threadedly guide the innermost spire,
a circular shield plate centrally fixed to the axle and
located for facing the other ends of the U-shaped members, the
perimeter of the plate overlapping the other ends, the plate being
provided with an aperture substantially facing the tubular member,
the innermost spire adapted to be pulled through the tubular member
and the aperture,
whereby the tubular member is adapted to guide the innermost
spire when the latter is pulled therethrough, and to prevent its
retraction when the wire is released.
The objects, advantages and other features of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following,
non restrictive description of a preferred embodiment thereof,
given as none limitative example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 is a front view of the reel according to the
invention,
Figure 2 is a side view of the reel,
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of
figure 1,
Figure 3a is a cross-sectional view similar to
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figure 3 illustrating a second embodiment of the invention,
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along
line 4-4 of figure 2,
Figure 4a is a cross-sectional view similar to
figure 4 of the second embodiment shown in figure 3a,
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along
line 5-5 of figure 3a,
Figure 6 is a detail top view of a tubular guide
member of the invention taken along line 6-6 of figure 4a,
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along
l;ne 7-7 of figure 5,
Figure 7a is a view similar to figure 7
illustrating the pin in a retracted position, and
Fi~ure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along
line 8-8 of figure S.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
Referring to the figures, there is shown a reel
for unwinding a torus shaped coil 12 made of spires of a
relatively stiff wire. The coil 12 is adapted to be unwound from
an innermost spire 14.
The reel l0 has a set of radial arms 16
supporting the coil 12 about its outer periphery. Each arm 16
has a U-shaped section 18 encircling a portion of the periphery
of the coil 12.
The arms 16 extend from a hub 20 rotatably mounted
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on an axle 22. A set of reinforci.ng ribs 23 are welded to the
hub 20 at one of their ends and to the arms 16 at their other
end. The axle 22 is rigidly fixed by wel.ding lines W to a
supporting post 24 welded to a base plate 26. The base plate 26
is anchored to the ground by anchoring bolts 27.
In order to fittingly accomodate coils of various
diameters, at least one and preferably two of the radial arms 16
are adjustable in length.
In the embodiment more specifically illustrated in
figures 5, 7 and 8, the four arms 16 have a tubular hollow
section 28 adapted to telescopically receive the fork section 18.
A set of aligned locking apertures 30 extend
through a stem portion 32 of the U-shaped section 18. The
apertures 30 are used in conjunction with a plunger having a
locking pin 34 for stopping the telescopi;c arms 16 at a given
length.
The pin 34 extends through a spacing guide 36
welded to the tubular section 28. A spring 38 is used to bias
the pin 34 into one of the locking apertures 30. The spring 38
abuts at one end against an abutting washer 40 and at the other
end against a protuberant head section 42 of the .pin 34. As
illustrated in figure 7a, the pin 34 can be retracted from the
aperture 30 by a pulling action ;n the direction of arrow A on a
gripping ring 43 formed integral with the pin 34.
In one embodiment of the invention illustated in
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figure 3, a sleeve 44 is mounted between the hub 20 and the axle
22 to reduce friction. A longitudinal lubricating channel 46
extends through the axle 22 from the rear end portion of the axle
22 to a set of radial lubricating channels 48 provided in the
axle 22. The channels 48 lead to a set of corresponding
lubricating apertures 49 provided in the sleeve 34. A
lubricating nozzle 5Q seals off the opening of the channel 46.
An adequate lubricating compound such as grease can thus be
injected into the channel 46 to further reduce friction between
the hub 20, the axle 22 and the sleeve 44 during rotation of the
hub 20.
In another embodiment of the invention illustrated
in figure 3a, the lubricating channe] 46a extends from a front
lubricating nozzle 50a of the axle 22a to the radial lubricating
apertures 48a.
The hub 20a is provided with an internal
cylindrical longitudinal recess 52 adapted to receive the
lubricant injected through the lubricating channel 46a.
In this particular embodiment of the invention,
the axle 22a is rigidly attached to the supporting post 24 by a
screw 23 extending through a flat washer 21.
One of the main features of the present invention
resides in the use of a tubular guide 54 located adjacent the
plane of the coil 12, between the periphery of the coil 12 and
t~e hub 20. A longitudinal axis 56 of the tubular guide 54 is
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generally oriented at right angle rel.ative to the radius of the
coil 12 and at a slight angle alpha relative to the plane of a
circular shield 66 mounted parallel to the coil 12.
The tubular guide 54 is adapted to serve both as
guiding means and as a braking means for preventing the
retraction of spire 14. During the unwinding operation, it acts
as a guiding means since the innermost spire 14 is threadedly
pulled through the guide 54. When the innermost spire 14 is not
being pulled, the tubular guide 54 acts as a braking means.
Since the innermost spire 14 ic made of relatively stiff
material, it has a tendency to straighten from its wounded
curvature thus frictionally abutting against the tubular guide 54
in a direction away from the central axis. The innermost spire
14 therefore creates a lever action in the tubular guide 54 which
prevents its retraction.
The tubular guide 54 is providëd wi-th a tightening
screw 58 adapted to penetrate in the guide 54 and positivel.y lock
the innermost spire 14 in its protracted position as shown in
figures 1-6.
In the embodiment i].lustrated in figure 3, the
tubular guide 5.4 is mounted on a guiding arm 60. The guiding arm
is mounted on the axle 22 and prevented from rotating by key
bolt 62.
A locking- nut 64 squeezes the guid;ng arm 60
against the sleeve 20.
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A disk-shaped shield 66 is mounted on the front
end of the axle 22. A retractable locking pin 68 radially
inserted in the axle 22 prevents longitudinal retraction of the
shield 66 from the axle 22. An aperture 70 in the sh;eld 66,
located adjacent the guiding 60, allows for passage of the
innermost spire 14 through the shield 66.
In the embodiment illustrated in figure 3a, the
tubular guide 54a is welded to the shield 66a. The shield 66a is
prevented from retraction by an axle nut 72 and prevented from
rotating by a shield key bolt 74.
The hub 20a is prevented from longitudinal
retraction by a collar 76 mounted on the axle 22a and locked by a
bolt 78.
A loop 80 is axially aligned wlth and in front of
the tubular guide 54. ' ~ -
The loop 80 is adapted to threadedly receive theinnermost spire 14 from the tubular guide 54 and act as an
abutting means creating a greater lever action. The addition of
the loop 80 is preferable to the use of a longer tubular guide 54
because it can be more easily replaced when subject to wear
caused by friction with the wire. In the embodiment illustrated
in figure 3, the loop 80 is mounted on the guiding arm 60 while
in the embodiment illustrated in figure 3a the loop 80 is welded
on the shield 66.
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In an alternat;ve embodiment of the invention,
more than one loop is used. The additional loops are disposed
along the periphery in front of the shield 66 allowing for an
even greater guiding and braking action.
