Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Non-Provisional Patent Application Attorney Docket No.
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FLANGE STAND AND ADAPTER FOR FLANGES
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001]
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending U.S. Patent App.
No.
15/482,025, filed April 7, 2017, and titled "Independently Rotatable Flanges
and Attachable
Arbor Hole Adapters," which is a continuation that claims priority benefit of
U.S. Patent App.
No. 15/239,163, filed August 17, 2016, and titled "Independently Rotatable
Flanges and
Attachable Arbor Hole Adapters," which issued on April 11, 2017 as U.S. Patent
No. 9,617,112,
which claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62/313,404,
filed March 25,
2016, and titled "Self-Loading Flange With Moveable Hub Assembly," U.S.
Provisional Patent
App. No. 62/277,748, filed January 12, 2016, and titled "Self-Loading Reel
Flange With Arbor
Hole Adapter," U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62/243,494, filed October 19,
2015, and titled
"Self-Loading Flange With Collar and Spring-Loaded Safety Device," and U.S.
Provisional Patent
App. No. 62/207,374, filed August 19, 2015, and titled "Independently
Rotatable Arbor Hole
Adapter."
This application also claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
App. No.
62/405,084, filed October 6, 2016, and titled "Flange Stand and Adapter for
Flanges." The
contents of each of these referenced applications is incorporated herein by
reference in the
entirety.
SUMMARY
[0002]
A summary of various aspects of the disclosed embodiments is provided here
to
offer an overview of the patent, and to introduce a selection of concepts that
are further
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described in the detailed description section below. This summary is not
intended to identify
key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to
be used as an aid in
isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. In brief and
at a high level, this
patent describes, among other things, independently rotating flanges that are
removably
attachable to material-carrying apparatus, such as a reel.
[0003] The independently rotating flanges allow technicians to maneuver
reels of cable.
For example, it is advantageous to easily move a reel of cable into a position
that is close to
where cable will be unwound from the reel and installed. Embodiments of this
patent provide
a pair of flanges that are attachable to a reel's arbor hole. Each flange in
the pair of flanges is
removably attached to the reel via a hub assembly, in at least one embodiment.
In turn, the
hub assembly allows the removably attached flanges to rotate independently
from one
another, and from the reel to which the removably attached fingers are
attached. The hub may
have an arbor hole adapter that allows the flanges to be removably attached to
the reel. The
arbor hole adapter provides great flexibility, in that the flanges may be
coupled to, and used
with, any width material-carrying apparatus. This is not the case with
solutions requiring an
axle (thus accommodating only a fixed width). Additionally, by eliminating the
need for an axle,
there is less material handling required.
[0004] The pair of flanges, in some embodiments, may be configured with a
mechanism to
allow the reel to be easily loaded and lifted into place. The loading and
lifting mechanism may
be physically separate from the pair of flanges in certain embodiments. In
other embodiments,
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the loading and lifting mechanism is completely integrated into each flange in
the pair of
flanges. Once the reel is loaded and lifted into place, a locking device
within the flanges secures
the reel in place at the center of the pair of flanges. With the flanges
locked on the reel, the
technician may maneuver the reel with its load of wound cable (e.g.,
industrial-grade electric
power cable, fiber optic, hybrid fiber-coaxial, etc.) to an appropriate
installation location.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Illustrative aspects are described in detail below with
reference to the attached
drawing figures, and wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective illustration of a reel, flange,
and reel mount, in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0007] FIGs. 2A and 2B depict a front and perspective side-view
illustration of an
independently rotating flange having a hub assembly and arbor hole adapter, in
accordance
with embodiments of the invention;
[0008] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective illustration of a reel mount, in
accordance with
embodiments of the invention;
[0009] FIGs. 4A-4D depict perspective illustrations of a reel and a
self-loading
independently rotating flange, in accordance with embodiments of the
invention;
[0010] FIGs. 5A and 5B depict another perspective and side-view
illustration of a self-
loading flange with an arbor hole adapter and hub assembly of FIGs. 4A-4D, in
accordance with
embodiments of the invention;
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[0011] FIG. 6 depicts a perspective illustration of a pair of flanges and a
reel of another
embodiment, prior to loading;
[0012] FIG. 7 depicts a perspective illustration of a pair of flanges and a
reel of FIG. 6 after
the flanges have been coupled to the reel;
[0013] FIG. 8 depicts a perspective illustration of a fully loaded reel of
FIGs. 6 and 7
centered onto the flanges;
[0014] FIG. 9 depicts an enlarged, exploded view of one embodiment of the
hub assembly;
[0015] FIG. 10 depicts an enlarged, perspective view of the hub assembly of
FIG. 9 in an
assembled condition;
[0016] FIG. 11 depicts a section view through the hub assembly of FIGs. 9
and 10, as
assembled onto a reel;
[0017] FIG. 12 depicts an enlarged, exploded view of another cam plate and
hook-and-latch
locking mechanism;
[0018] FIG. 13 depicts an enlarged, partial perspective front view of the
locking mechanism
of FIG. 12;
[0019] FIG. 14 depicts an enlarged, partial perspective rear view of the
locking mechanism
of FIG. 12;
[0020] FIG. 15 depicts a chock that prevents rotation of the flanges;
[0021] FIG. 16 depicts an enlarged, perspective view of an assembled
embodiment of the
hub assembly with arbor fingers;
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[0022] FIG. 17 depicts an enlarged, exploded view of the embodiment of the
hub assembly
of FIG. 16;
[0023] FIG. 18 depicts an enlarged, perspective view of the arbor shaft of
the embodiment
of the hub assembly of FIG. 16;
[0024] FIG. 19 depicts a side view of the hub assembly of FIG. 16 in an
assembled condition,
with the arbor fingers in an extended, or engaged, position;
[0025] FIG. 20 depicts a side view of the hub assembly of FIG. 16 in an
assembled condition,
with the arbor fingers in a retracted, or disengaged, position;
[0026] FIG. 21 depicts a perspective view of one aspect of the hub
assembly, similar to that
of FIGs. 16-20, but with other arbor fingers;
[0027] FIG. 22 depicts an enlarged, perspective view of another arbor
finger;
[0028] FIG. 23 depicts an enlarged, perspective view of another arbor
finger;
[0029] FIG. 24 depicts a front view of the outside of an aspect of a flange
assembly;
[0030] FIG. 25 depicts a back view of the inside of the aspect of the
flange assembly of FIG.
24;
[0031] FIG. 26 depicts an enlarged view of a portion of the flange assembly
of FIG. 25,
showing the inside view;
[0032] FIG. 27 depicts a view similar to FIG. 26, showing the outside view;
[0033] FIG. 28 depicts a front view of the outside of an aspect of a flange
assembly;
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[0034] FIG. 29 depicts a partial, enlarged perspective view of a flange
assembly of FIG. 28,
showing another lifting mechanism;
[0035] FIG. 30 shows a perspective view of the modified arbor adapter;
[0036] FIG. 31 shows a partial, cross-sectional view of the modified arbor
adapter of FIG.
30;
[0037] FIG. 32 shows another embodiment of a reel with a removable flange;
[0038] FIG. 33 shows partial, enlarged details of certain components of
FIG. 32;
[0039] FIG. 34 shows a perspective view of a flange stand;
[0040] FIG. 35 shows the flange stand coupled to a flange;
[0041] FIG. 36 shows a side perspective view of a flange adapter installed
on a reel;
[0042] FIG. 37 shows the interior view of the adapter, illustrating the
arbor hole adapter in
an expanded condition;
[0043] FIG. 38 shows a perspective front view of the adapter on the reel,
with the
expansion plates in the extended condition; and
[0044] FIG. 39 shows a side view of the adapter before installation on the
reel, with the
expansion plates abutting one another.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045] The subject matter of select embodiments is described with
specificity in this patent
to meet statutory requirements; however, the description itself is not
intended to define what
the inventors regard as the only embodiments. The claimed subject matter might
be
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implemented in other ways, to include different steps, components, or
combinations of steps
or combination of components similar to the ones described in this document,
in conjunction
with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as
implying any
particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed, unless and
except when the
order of individual steps is explicitly described.
[0046] There are a variety of ways to carry material, such as wires
or cables. For example,
to carry wire or similar material, reels, spools, drums, or coil on a core,
may be used.
Additionally, in what are known as reel-less packages, the wire may be wound
or packaged
without a core, or without a reel. As used in this specification, for
simplicity, "reel" is used to
capture all of these different ways to carry material. The typical cable reel
has a pair of spaced
apart discs separated by a central, cylindrical drum. The cable or wire is
wound onto the drum
and the outer discs contain the spool of cable wire. The discs have a central
arbor hole that
provides an axis about which the reel can rotate.
[0047] To efficiently install the cable wire, a pair of flanges
that offers maneuverability of
the reel is provided. Each pair of the flanges is attachable to a
corresponding disc of the reel,
and each flange rotates independently of the other flange and the reel. In
some embodiments,
a flange is attached to each arbor hole. Before attaching the flanges, the
reel may be
positioned on a reel mount to lift the discs of the reel away from the ground.
When in the
lifted position, the flanges, which include arbor hole adapters, are secured
to the arbor hole of
the reel.
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[0048] In other embodiments, a flange is configured with components that
provide self-
loading of reels as explained below. The flange may include a cam plate with
an elliptical-
shaped aperture. Two maneuverable and attachable independently rotating
flanges may be
attached to the reel. The independently rotating flanges may include a
rotatable arbor hole
adapter that mates with an arbor hole of the reel. The arbor hole adapter may
include a hub
assembly that contains a groove. The groove allows the hub assembly to slide
along an edge of
the elliptical-shaped aperture in the cam plate. The two independently
rotating flanges can be
mounted on the reel at opposing, distal ends of the reel via the arbor hole
adapter. In some
embodiments, a band and collar arrangement secures the arbor hole adapter at a
center
location on each of the independently rotating flanges. Accordingly, the reel
may rotate about
an axis. This rotation may be independent of both independently rotating
flanges.
[0049] In additional embodiments, the arbor hole adapter is a movable
member of the
independently rotating flange. The arbor hole adapter and hub assembly may
move along the
inner circumference of the elliptical aperture in the cam plate. The
elliptical-shaped aperture of
the cam plate receives the grooves of the hub assembly and has a width that
corresponds to
the diameter of the hub assembly. The elliptical-shaped aperture of the cam
plate is positioned
to end at the center of the flange and before the outer circumference of the
flange.
Accordingly, the independently rotating flange provides rotation of the reel
to enable
unspooling of the reel, or maneuverability of the reel for transport to
different install locations.
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[0050] In one embodiment, the independently rotating flange may include a
spring-loaded
safety device that catches a bolt head of the arbor hole adapter as the arbor
hole adapter
travels along the edge of the elliptical-shaped aperture of the cam plate. The
spring-loaded
safety device holds the arbor hole adapter steadily in place once the hub
assembly is centered.
[0051] In additional embodiments, a flange has an arbor hole adapter that
mates with the
arbor hole of the reel via an extension or expansion assembly. The arbor hole
adapter is a
member of the independently rotating flange. The arbor hole adapter may
include a collet,
bolt, 0-rings, and wedge. The collet and the wedge engage the arbor hole of
the reel. The
inner portions of the arbor hole sit on the expanded collet, which fills the
arbor hole without
traversing the entire length of the reel. Other extending or expanding arbor
hole adapters are
also contemplated, including those having a plurality of retractable,
extending fingers or a
plurality of expanding fingers. Accordingly, the independently rotating flange
provides rotation
of the reel to enable unspooling of the reel or maneuverability of the reel to
transport the reel
to different sections of the install location. Accordingly, the reel may
rotate about an axis. This
rotation may be independent of both independently rotating flanges. The
independently
rotating flanges also may rotate about the same axis independent of the reel
and of each other
to maneuver the reel to different install locations.
[0052] In other embodiments, the arbor hole adapter is secured to a jack
that lifts the reel
once the arbor hole adapter is secured to the reel. Accordingly, several
configurations for the
flange and reel are contemplated and are further described below.
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[0053] In some embodiments, a reel mount may be used to lift a reel to a
load position
before the flanges are attached. The reel mount may include a stopper to
ensure that the reel
is in the load position. Once secured on the reel mount, the flanges are
attached to the reel.
[0054] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective illustration of a reel 10 that has
opposed outer discs
separated by a central drum, a pair of independently rotating flanges 20, and
a reel mount 10A,
in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The reel mount 10A, in one
embodiment, is
an inclined trapezoidal pallet as shown in FIG. 3. Once the reel is in place
and the discs are
lifted off the ground, each of the independently rotating flanges 20 is
attached to an arbor hole
16 of the reel 10 illustrated in FIG. 6. The reel mount 10A prevents the
rotation of the reel 10
during installation of the independently rotating flanges 20. The reel mount
10A may include
an adjustable stopper 310A that allows mounting of reels with different sizes,
as shown in FIG.
3.
[0055] Each flange that is secured to the reel may have an attachment
component and a
rotation component. The attachment component may be the arbor hole adapter,
which
secures the flange to the reel. The rotation component is the hub assembly
that provides free
rotation to the flange.
[0056] FIGs. 2A and 26 depict a front perspective and side-view
illustration, respectively, of
an apparatus with the independently rotating flange 20 having a hub assembly
810 and arbor
hole adapter 820, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The
independently
rotating flanges 20 are stationary when a chock 830, which can be seated in a
chock carriage
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840, is placed on the floor just before the flange 20. A bolt head 1640 or
other coupling
mechanism of the arbor hole adapter 820, along with a collet 1410 of the arbor
hole adapter
820, secures the arbor hole adapter 820 to the reel (such as reel 10 shown in
FIG. 1) via the
arbor hole 16 of the reel 10.
[0057] In one embodiment, the hub assembly 810 includes a spindle and
collar 1140 that
supports and secures bearing assemblies (illustrated in FIGs. 9, 11 and 17
below) of the
independently rotating flange 20. The bolt head 1640 of the arbor hole adapter
820 traverses
both the hub assembly 810 and the arbor hole adapter 820. The bolt, among
other things,
connects the hub assembly 810 and the arbor hole adapter 820.
[0058] The arbor hole adapter 820 comprises the collet 1410, 0-rings 1420
or other
expandable circular member, and an expansion assembly 1510. The expansion
assembly 1510
may include a wedge, bolt, and the bolt head 1640. The arbor hole adapter 820
secures the
independently rotating flange 20 to the reel (such as the reel 10 shown in
FIG. 1) by
circumferentially expanding the collet 1410.
[0059] The expansion assembly 1510 advances or retracts the wedge in
response to an
installer turning the bolt head 1640. In turn, the wedge engages the tapered
underside of the
collet 1410. The wedge expands the collet 1410 to the limits allowed by the 0-
ring 1420 and
the size of the wedge. Accordingly, the wedge pushes against the collet 1410
(which may be
segmented into four pieces) to allow displacement of each of the segments as
the wedge
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retracts or advances. While the expansion assembly 1510 engages the collet
1410 in the arbor
hole 16 of the ree110, the ree110 is secured to the flange 20.
[0060] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective illustration of the reel mount
10A, in accordance with
embodiments of the invention. As explained above, the reel mount 10A may be a
steel frame
that receives empty or loaded reels 10. The reel mount 10A secures the reel 10
and prevents
movement of the reel 10 when the independently rotating flange 20 is
installed. The reel
mount 10A has a base and slanted top side that creates a trapezoidal body. The
reel mount
10A also may include an adjustable stopper 310A, which prevents rotation of
the reel 10. The
reel mount 10A includes a base, which may be a steel bar that is longer than
the independently
rotating flanges 20. The top side of the reel mount 10A is longer than the
base and includes the
adjustable stopper 310A. The adjustable stopper 310A is positioned and secured
when the reel
is rolled over and onto the reel mount 10A.
[0061] Accordingly, the reel 10 may be hoisted onto a trapezoidal
platform before the
flanges 20 are secured via the arbor hole adapter 820. In other embodiments, a
self-loading
flange 20' with a collar 1120 and a spring-loaded safety device 1220 secures a
reel (such as the
reel 10) that is rolled into the center location of a cam plate 920 within the
flange 20'. These
embodiments of the invention are illustrated in detail in FIGs. 4A-4D. An
exemplary
independently rotating flange 20' and arbor hole adapter 1020 are described
below. One of
ordinary skill in the art understands that the illustrated subject matter
might be implemented in
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other ways, to include different shapes, sizes, steps, or combinations of
steps similar to the
ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future
technologies.
[0062] FIGS. 4A-4D depict perspective illustrations of a reel, such as reel
10, and the self-
loading independently rotating flange 20', in accordance with embodiments of
the invention.
[0063] FIG. 4A depicts a perspective illustration of independently rotating
flanges 20' and a
reel 10, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The independently
rotating flanges
20' are designed to mate with the reel 10. The independently rotating flanges
20' may include
the cam plate 920, a hub assembly 1021, the collar 1120, and the spring-loaded
safety device
1220.
[0064] The cam plate 920 is positioned within the independently rotating
flanges 20'. The
cam plate 920 may be cut from a single sheet, or made of two sheets, of metal.
In one
embodiment, the cam plate 920 has an aperture 930 is shaped like an ellipse or
kidney bean.
The shape of the aperture 930 is variable and is selected based on the ability
of the aperture
930 to allow the hub assembly 1021 to move from a lower position on the
flanges 20' (FIG. 4A)
to the center of the independently rotating flanges 20' (FIG. 4D). The inner
edge of the
aperture 930 may sit in a groove of the hub assembly 1021 to establish the
path along which
the hub assembly 1021 will move during self-loading of the independently
rotating flanges 20'.
[0065] The hub assembly 1021 is configured to move along the path provided
by the edges
of the aperture 930. The hub assembly 1021 provides rotation for the
independently rotating
flanges 20' and the reel 10. The groove in the hub assembly 1021 is
constructed to receive an
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edge of the cam plate 920. During the self-loading, the hub assembly 1021 is
freely moveable
within the confines of the cam plate 920. At the end of self-loading, the hub
assembly 1021 is
secured to a location at the center of the independently rotating flanges 20'.
[0066] The collar 1120, in at least one embodiment, provides part of a
fastening mechanism
to keep the hub assembly 1021 in position when the reel 10 is lifted from the
floor. The collar
1120 and a band 1122 make up two components that surround the hub assembly
1021 and
secure the hub assembly 1021 to the independently rotating flanges 20'. In one
embodiment,
the two components (collar 1120 and band 1122) may be semi-circular shaped
pieces that are
connectable to form collar around the hub assembly 1021. The collar 1120 and
band 1122 may
be fabricated from metal. The collar 1120 and band 1122 are designed to secure
the hub
assembly 1021 to a position at the center of the independently rotating
flanges 20'. FIGs. 4A-
4C depict only the collar 1120. FIG. 4D shows the collar 1120 and band 1122
completely
surrounding the hub assembly 1021.
[0067] The spring-loaded safety device 1220 is configured to hold the hub
assembly 1021 in
the center position as the band 1122 is tightened to the hub assembly 1021.
The spring-loaded
safety device 1220 may be permanently attached to the independently rotating
flanges 20. In
some embodiments, the spring-loaded safety device 1220 is welded to the
independently
rotating flanges 20. The spring-loaded safety device 1220 may have a
triangular base that is
secured to the independently rotating flanges 20 above the band 1122. The
spring-loaded
safety device 1220 includes an arm and washer that receive a bolt head 1640 of
the arbor hole
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adapter 820. The washer is positioned on the arm proximate to the band 1122.
The arm is
connected to the triangular base by a spring that allows movement of the arm
as the hub
assembly 1021 moves toward the band 1122. Once the hub assembly 1021 is
centered, the
washer surrounds the bolt head 1640 to hold the hub assembly 1021 in position.
[0068] FIG. 4A depicts the reel 10 on the surface or floor, with the hub
assembly 1021
aligned with the arbor hole 16 of the reel 10. In this position, the flanges
20' are secured to the
reel 10, such as with any of the arbor hole adapters described previously
(such as arbor hole
adapter 820) or below. Once secured, the flanges 20' can be rotated to move
the hub assembly
1021 within the aperture 930.
[0069] FIG. 48 depicts a perspective illustration of independently rotating
flanges 20' and
the reel 10 as the flanges 20' are rotated clockwise, in accordance with
embodiments of the
invention. The self-loading action of the independently rotating flange 20'
occurs as the hub
assembly 1021 moves from the position within aperture 930 in FIG. 4A to the
position within
the aperture 930 shown in FIG. 4C. In some embodiments, gravity pulls the hub
assembly 1021
along the aperture 930 in the cam plate 920. As the hub assembly 1021 travels
along the path
provided by the aperture 930, the reel 10 is lifted off the floor. The collar
1120 and the band
1122, along with the spring-loaded safety device 1220, receive the hub
assembly 1021 and
secure the hub assembly 1021 to the center location.
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[0070] FIG. 4C depicts a perspective illustration of the independently
rotating flanges 20'
and the reel 10 as the flanges 20' complete clockwise rotation, with the
spring-loaded safety
device 1220 engaged, in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
[0071] The self-loading action of the independently rotating flange 20' is
completed after
the hub assembly 1021 is positioned in the center location. In some
embodiments, the hub
assembly 1021 is held in the center of the independently rotating flange 20'
by the spring-
loaded safety device 1220. The collar 1120 and the band 1122 further secure
the hub assembly
1021 in place. To secure the hub assembly 1021, both the collar 1120 and the
band 1122 may
be fastened together, as described above.
[0072] FIG. 4D depicts a perspective illustration of the independently
rotating flanges 20'
and the reel 10 as the hub assembly 1021 is secured to the center position of
the flanges 20', in
accordance with embodiments of the invention.
[0073] FIGs. 5A and 58 depict a front perspective and a side illustration
of the self-loading
flange 20' of FIGs. 4A-4D, showing the arbor hole adapter 820 and the hub
assembly 1021, in
accordance with embodiments of the invention.
[0074] In other embodiments of the invention, the flange 20' may be
modified to include a
cam plate such as cam plate 920 with a longer aperture and modified arbor hole
adapters. The
longer aperture may provide loading advantages when positioning the reel 10.
The modified
arbor hole adapters may be configured to increase the grip that the arbor hole
adapter has on
the reel 10. Additionally, in some embodiments, the cam plates 920 may be
replaced with a
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jack-lift that loads the reel 10 on the flange 20' once the arbor hole
adapters are secured.
These embodiments are describes in detail with reference to FIGs. 6-32.
[0075] As best seen in FIG. 6, the reel 10 is shown having a pair of outer
discs 12. The reel
is shown loaded with a spool of wire 14. Each outer disc 12 has a central
arbor hole, such as
the arbor hole 16. The reel 10 as shown is merely exemplary and shown for
context only. Any
number of different reels can be used with aspects of the structure described
below. The reels
can be wood, plastic, or steel, for example, and can be in a variety of sizes.
The outer disc
diameters, and the arbor hole diameters, can vary as well. As stated above,
the use of the term
"reel" throughout is intended to include reels, spools, drums, coil on a core,
or even wound
material forming a reel-less package.
[0076] With continued reference to FIG. 6, a pair of flanges 20" is shown.
Each flange 20"
has an outer rim 22 that defines the outer diameter of the flange 20". A
number of spokes 24
extend radially inward from the rim 22. The spokes 24 provide added structural
strength to the
flanges 20". The flanges 20" are shown with an open-spoke design, but also
could be
constructed with the rim 22, the spokes 24, and a solid backing. So, the
flanges 20" may be
equipped with a covering for the spokes 24 to prevent access through the
spokes 24 from the
outside to the inside. In one exemplary aspect, this covering is a solid disc
with a relief channel
for the movement of a hub assembly 80 (described below). In another exemplary
aspect, this
covering is an outer band extending radially inward from the outer rim 22 a
sufficient distance
to cover the opening between rim 22 and the outer diameter of disc 12. A cam
plate 26 is
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coupled to each flange 20". As one example, the cam plate 26 can be welded to
the adjacent
spokes 24. The cam plate 26 has an overall shape that is roughly an oval with
a slot, or
aperture, 28 formed within the cam plate 26. As best seen in FIG. 12, the
aperture 28 starts at
a lower end 30 and curves upwardly and radially, eventually turning inwardly
at an upper end
32. The upper end 32 of the aperture 28 is also defined by an inwardly
extending lip 34 (see
FIG. 12). The aperture 28 is shaped roughly like a comma.
[0077] Near the upper end 32 of the aperture 28, a latch 36 is pivotally
attached to the cam
plate 26. As best seen in FIG. 12, the latch 36 is shaped like a shallow C and
is pivotally attached
at a lower end with a screw 38. The cam plate 26 has a through hole 40 to
accommodate a
latch spring shaft 42 that is used to pivotally couple the latch 36 to the cam
plate 26. As best
seen in FIGs. 12 and 14, the latch spring shaft 42 also provides an attachment
point for a torsion
spring 44 on the side of the cam plate 26 opposite the latch 36. One leg of
the torsion spring 44
is contained by a dowel pin 46 that is fixedly attached to the cam plate 26,
such as by a press fit.
The other leg of the torsion spring 44 is contained by a dowel pin 48. Dowel
pin 48 extends
through a curved slot 50 in the cam plate 26 and is press fit into the latch
36 near the screw
point 38. The upper end of the latch 36 has a through hole 52 that
accommodates a quick
release pin 54. The pin 54 is also extendable into a hole 56 in the cam plate
26. The pin 54 is
used to retain the latch 36 in position, as is further described below. The
upper end of the latch
36 defines a catch finger 58 that interacts with a hook 60 pivotally attached
to the cam plate 26
with a pivot pin 62. As best seen in FIGs. 12 and 14, the pivot pin 62 is also
used to couple a
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torsion spring 64 to the cam plate 26 on the side opposite the hook 60. One
leg of the torsion
spring 64 is contained by a dowel pin 66 that is fixedly attached to the cam
plate 26, such as by
a press fit. The other leg of the torsion spring 64 is contained by a dowel
pin 68. The dowel pin
68 extends through a curved slot 70 in the cam plate 26 and is press fit into
the hook 60 near
the pivot pin 62. The hook 60 has a terminal end 72 shaped to selectively
engage with the
catch finger 58 of the latch 36, as further described below.
[0078] Returning to FIG. 6, the cam plate 26 carries the hub assembly 80
that travels along
the slot 28. The components of the hub assembly 80 are shown in an exploded
view in FIG. 9.
The hub assembly 80 includes a cylindrical outer follower hub 82. The outer
follower hub 82
has an outer face 84 and an inner face 86. The inner face 86 has a first
recessed area 88 and a
second recessed area 90 formed therein. A number of spaced through-holes 92
extend from
the outer face 84 through to the inner face 86 generally around the
circumference of the first
recessed area 88. Finally, the outer follower hub 82 includes a central bore
94.
[0079] The outer follower hub 82 is coupled to an inner follower hub 96. As
best seen in FIG.
11, the inner follower hub 96 includes a coupling section 98, an outer flange
100 and a collar
102. The coupling section 98 includes threaded holes 104 that are spaced
around the
circumference of the coupling section 98 to correspond to the location of the
through holes 92
in the outer follower hub 82. Bolts 106 are used to couple the outer follower
hub 82 to the
inner follower hub 96 using the through holes 92 and the threaded holes 104.
The coupling
section 98 also includes a recessed area 108. The recessed area 108 in the
inner follower hub
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96 cooperates with the first recessed area 88 in the outer follower hub 82 to
provide a space
for, and contain, a bearing assembly 110. As an example, the bearing assembly
110 can be a
ball bearing, a taper roller bearing, or other type of bearing assembly. The
outer diameter of
the outer flange 100 of the inner follower hub 96 is roughly equal to the
outer diameter of the
outer follower hub 82, in an exemplary aspect. The collar 102 extends away
from the outer
flange 100 and defines a recessed area 112 that is sized to accommodate a
press fit bearing
assembly 114. Like bearing assembly 110, press-fit bearing assembly 114 can be
any type of
bearing assembly.
[0080] As best seen in FIG. 6, the hub assembly 80 further includes
a stop disc 116. The
stop disc 116 has an outer diameter that is larger than the hubs 82 and 96. As
can be seen in
FIG. 9, the stop disc 116 includes a central bore 118 and a series of
circumferentially spaced
through-holes 120. Additionally, the stop disc 116 may include, in an
exemplary aspect, a series
of circumferentially spaced, elongated holes 122.
[0081] With continued referenced to FIG. 9, the hub assembly 80 also
includes an arbor
124. The arbor 124 includes an arbor shaft 126 that extends away from a sleeve
128. The
arbor shaft 126 has an outer diameter sized to extend through the bore 118 of
the stop disc
116, and through the bearing assemblies 110 and 114. The arbor shaft 126
further has a central
bore extending therethrough. As further described below, the arbor shaft 126
has grooves 130
formed therein that accommodate the retaining rings 132. The arbor sleeve 128
forms a
mounting face 131 (as seen in FIG. 11) that includes a series of spaced,
threaded holes located
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to correspond to the through holes 120 in the stop disc 116. A corresponding
number of bolts
133 are used to couple the stop flange 116 with the arbor 124 using the
through holes 120 and
the threaded holes in the arbor sleeve. The arbor sleeve 128 has a series of
circumferentially
spaced, elongated holes 134 formed therein. The holes 134 are each sized to
allow a
corresponding cleat 136 to move through the hole 134. Each cleat 136 has a
lower tab section
138 that extends downwardly from a stop section 140. The lower tab section 138
includes an
angled face that operates as a cam surface as explained below. The arbor
sleeve 128 has an
inner bore 142 that is sized to receive a frusto-conically shaped wedge 144.
The wedge 144 has
a series of slots 146 that are shaped to contain the lower tab sections 138 of
the cleats 136,
such that the cleats 136 can slide within the slots 146. The wedge 144 also
has a central
threaded bore 147, as best seen in FIGs. 9 and 11.
[0082] The hub assembly 80 further includes an arbor cap 148 that has an
outer diameter
corresponding to the outer diameter of the arbor sleeve 128. The arbor cap 148
has a central
hole 149. A draw bolt 150 is used to hold the hub assembly 80 together. The
draw bolt 150, in
an exemplary embodiment, has a hexagonal-shaped head 152 with a shank 154
extending from
the hexagonal-shaped head 152. Below the shank 154, the draw bolt 150 has a
threaded
section 156 and has a terminal end with an annular groove 158.
[0083] The hub assembly 80 is assembled to engage the cam plate 26 and
moves as
constrained by the aperture 28 as illustrated in FIG. 6. More specifically,
with reference to FIG.
9, the outer follower hub 82 is coupled to the inner follower hub 96 with the
bolts 106,
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sandwiching the bearing 110 in between. The arbor 124 is assembled with the
cleats 136
installed within the slots 146, and with the wedge 144 inside the sleeve 128.
The stop flange
116 is coupled to the arbor 124 using the bolts 133. The arbor shaft 126
extends through the
central bore 118 in the stop disc 116 and through the bearing assemblies 110
and 114. The
retaining ring 132 is then snap fit into the groove 130. The shank 154 of the
draw bolt 150
extends through the central bore in the arbor shaft 126. The threaded section
156 is threaded
through the threaded bore 147 of the wedge 144, and the terminal end of the
draw bolt 150
extends through the central hole 149 in the arbor cap 148. Finally, the
retaining ring 160 is
snap fit into place within the groove 158.
[0084] As best seen in the cross-section of FIG. 11, the hub assembly
80 is installed
surrounding the cam plate 26, such that the cam plate 26 is held between the
inner follower
hub 96 and the outer follower hub 82. As installed, the hub assembly 80 is
able to move within
the aperture 28, riding on the outer circumference of the coupling section 98.
[0085] The hub assembly 80 also operates to couple the flange 20 to
the arbor hole 16 of
the reel 10 as illustrated in FIG. 6. More specifically, with reference to
FIGs. 6 and 9, the sleeve
128 of the arbor 124 is aligned with the arbor hole 16, and is inserted into
the arbor hole 16.
Because the hub assembly 80 is freely movable within the aperture 28, the
sleeve 128 is easily
moved into alignment with arbor hole 16. By turning the flange 20", the hub
assembly 80 will
move within the aperture 28. So the vertical position of the sleeve 128 is
adjusted to align with
the arbor hole 16 by turning the flange 20", thereby moving the hub assembly
80.
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[0086] FIG. 6 shows the sleeve 128 aligned with the arbor hole 16 of the a
reel 10, and FIG.
7 shows the sleeve 128 inserted into the arbor hole 16. As shown, the hub
assembly 80 is in the
lower end 30 of the slot 28 to align with the arbor hole 16 of the reel 10.
Turning to both FIGs.
9 and 11, with the sleeve 128 inserted into the arbor hole 16, the head 152 of
the draw bolt 150
is used to rotate the draw bolt 150. A wrench used to tighten the draw bolt
150 may be
conveniently held on the flange 20", the spokes 24, or the cam plate 26,
through a magnetic or
releasable mechanical arrangement. Rotating the draw bolt 150 threads the draw
bolt 150
within the threaded bore 147 of the wedge 144. As the wedge 144 is moved along
the
threaded section 156 of the draw bolt 150, the incline surface of the slots
146 engages the
inclined surface of the lower tab section 138 of each cleat 136 which
positions the stop sections
140 of the cleats 136 radially outwardly, guided by the holes 134 in the
sleeve 128.
[0087] The draw bolt 150 can be turned until the cleats 136 sufficiently
engage the arbor
hole 16 of the reel 10, thereby holding the hub assembly 80 in place within
the arbor hole 16.
The wedge 144 and the movable cleats 136 allow the hub assembly 80 to fit
within the arbor
holes 16 of differing diameters. In the initial position shown in FIG. 7, the
hub assembly 80
resides in the lower end 30 of the aperture 28. With the cleats 136 engaging
the arbor hole 16
to hold the reel 10, the flanges 20" can be rolled forwardly (by exerting a
force in the direction
of the arrow in FIG. 7).
[0088] As the flanges 20" roll, the hub assembly 80 moves via gravity
within the aperture 28
towards the upper end 32 of the slot 28. The curved shape of the aperture 28
allows for this
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movement. Curves other than the particular curved shape shown for the aperture
28 can be
used for the aperture 28 such as that shown in FIGs. 4A-4D and 5A-5B. As the
hub assembly 80
travels along the aperture 28, the hub assembly 80 is lifted away from the
underlying surface.
Larger diameter reels 10, having larger diameter discs 12, will have a
starting position spaced
from the lower end 30 of the aperture 28.
[0089] With continued reference to FIGs. 7 and 8, it has been found
that the larger reels 10
are easier to lift than smaller reels 10, even though the larger reels 10
weigh more. The shorter
starting distance from the arbor hole 16 to the upper end 32 of the aperture
28 allows for this
to be the case. The easily movable hub assembly 80 allows reels, such as reel
10, with arbor
holes 16 of varying heights to be loaded onto the flanges 20".
[0090] When the hub assembly 80 nears the upper end 32 of the
aperture 28, the outer
surface of the outer follower hub 82 engages the hook 60 causing the hook 60
to pivot around
the pivot pin 62 and disengaging the terminal end 72 of the hook 60 from the
catch finger 58 of
the latch 36. Further travel of the hub assembly 80 causes the outer follower
hub 82 to engage
the latch 36. Because the hook 60 is no longer engaged with the catch finger
58, the latch 36 is
allowed to rotate about the screw 38 at a pivot point. This rotation of the
latch 36 allows the
hub assembly to reach the final extent of the aperture 28 at the upper end 32.
In this final
position, the torsion springs 44 and 64 cause the latch 36 and the hook 60 to
return to a
position of engagement, which will effectively lock the hub assembly 80 in
place in the upper
end 32 of the aperture 28. This final loaded position is shown in FIG. 8. To
more positively lock
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the hub assembly 80 in position, the quick release pin 54 (FIG. 12) can be
inserted into the
through hole 52 in the latch 36 and the hole 56 in the cam plate 26.
[0091] It can be seen then, that the flanges 20", with the cam
plates 26 and the hub
assemblies 80 as described, allow the reel 10 to be easily loaded onto the
flanges 20" and held
in place with the latch 36 and the hook 60. Other mechanisms could be used to
lock the hub
assembly 80 in place at the upper end 32 of the slot 28, with the described
latch 36 and the
hook 60 being only one example.
[0092] Once loaded, the hub assembly 80 allows the associated flange
20" to be rotated
independently of the reel 10, and vice versa. Each flange 20" is also
independently rotatable
relative to the other flange 20". This allows the loaded reel 10 to be easily
maneuvered. Using
durable and high-strength materials for the various components, such as wood,
aluminum,
steel and other metals, even the reels 10 having significant weight can be
easily maneuvered.
As an example, loaded or unloaded reels weighing from 200 to 3,000 pounds can
be easily
secured to flanges 20". With the reel 10 lifted off of the underlying floor or
surface, the weight
of the reel 10 is carried by the flanges 20", the cam plates 26, and the hub
assemblies 80. This
redistribution of the weight of the reels 10, and the independently rotatable
flanges with
bearing assemblies 110 and 114 in the hub assembly 80, greatly increases the
ability to roll the
flanges 20", and greatly increases the maneuverability of the assembled reel
10 and the flanges
20".
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[0093] Once in place, chocks can be used to prevent further movement
of the flanges, and
the reel 10 can be rotated independently of the flanges 20" to easily pay off
the wire or cable
that is loaded on the drum of the reel 10. In one exemplary aspect, a chock
200 may be
secured to the cam plate 26, such as with magnets 202. The chock 200 is shown
schematically
in FIGs. 6-9, and is shown enlarged in FIG. 15. The chock 200 has a first face
204 having
embedded magnets 202 (or the face 204 can be formed of a magnetic material in
its entirety).
The magnets 202 can be secured in place, such as with a retaining screw. In
one exemplary
aspect, an additional plate 203 is secured behind the first face 204, with the
magnets 202
countersunk into the additional plate 203.
[0094] The retaining screw extends into this additional plate 203 to
retain the magnets 202
in place. A second face 206 extends orthogonally from the first face 204. The
chock 200 also
has a sliding bracket formed by a retaining hook 208 and a retaining finger
210. The retaining
hook 208 and the retaining finger 210 form a bracket that can be placed around
the outer rim
22 of the flanges 20" that allows the chock 200 to slide downwardly, guided by
the outer rim 22
of the flange 20". The hook 208 extends inwardly along the inside surface of
the outer rim 22,
and the retaining finger 210 extends along an inner face of the flange 20".
This allows the
chock 200, once in place on the outer rim 22 of the flanges 20", to slide
downwardly into
position to retain the flange 20" and prevent the flange 20" from rolling
backward.
[0095] As incremental rotational movements of the flange 20" are
imparted, the chock 200
slides into position to maintain the forward-most position of the flanges 20".
While only one
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chock 200 is shown in FIG. 15, it should be understood that a complementary,
mirror-image
chock 200 is used for the opposite flange 20", so that left-hand and right-
hand chocks 200 are
used. An additional chock 200 can be used to more positively secure the
flanges 20" in place in
both a forward and a rearward direction. This additional chock 200 can be
used, for example,
when the flanges 20" and the reel 10 are moved into a position for the wire to
be paid off of the
reel 10. The chocks 200 ensure the flanges 20" do not move from their desired
positions.
[0096] In other embodiments, the hub assembly 80 may be configured
with a different
arbor hole adapter to secure the flange 20" to the arbor hole 16 of the reel
10. FIG. 16 depicts
an enlarged, perspective view of an assembled embodiment of another hub
assembly 80. Like
the hub assembly 80 of FIG. 9, this embodiment of the hub assembly 80
includes, among other
things, the outer follower hub 82, the inner follower hub 96, the disc flange
116, and an arbor
hole adapter 127. The main difference in the embodiment of FIGS. 16-20 is in
the arbor hole
adapter 127. The additional components of this embodiment of the hub assembly
80 are
illustrated in FIG. 17, which depicts an enlarged, exploded view of the hub
assembly 80
depicted in FIG. 16.
[0097] Like the hub assembly of FIG. 9, this embodiment of the hub
assembly 80 shown in
FIG. 17 includes bolts 106 that secure the outer follower hub 82 to the inner
follower hub 96.
With continued reference to FIG. 17, in some embodiments, the outer follower
hub 82 may
have some minor modifications. For instance, the bolts 106, in some
embodiments, may secure
a dust cover 82A to a face of the outer follower hub 82. The outer follower
hub 82 may also
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include a lock nut 828 that secures the bearing assemblies 110 and 114 of the
hub assembly 80.
The inner follower hub 96 may include the same components and configuration as
the
embodiment described above in FIG. 9. The arrangement of this embodiment of
the hub
assembly 80 is thus largely similar to that described above with respect to
FIG. 9 from the disc
flange 116 rightward (as viewed in FIG. 17).
[0098] As stated above, the main difference between this embodiment and
that previously
described is the arbor hole adapter 127. As best seen in FIGs. 17 and 18,
arbor hole adapter
127 includes an arbor shaft 124 having a central bore 124A. An arbor cap 124B
is secured to (or
made integral with) the arbor shaft 127. Arbor cap 124B has a number of
radially spaced
clevises 124C (FIG. 18). In the embodiment shown, there are three clevises
124C. Additionally,
the arbor cap 124B has a number of radially spaced, threaded holes 124D that
are used (as seen
in FIG. 18) to secure the arbor 124 to the disc flange 116 with bolts 133.
When the hub
assembly 80 is assembled, the draw bolt 150 extends through the central bore
124A, with a
threaded end 150A protruding from the arbor cap 124B. A nut 176 (shown in
FIGs. 19 and 20)
is threaded onto the end 150A of the draw bolt 150 abutting the arbor cap
124B.
[0099] As shown in FIGs. 19 and 20, a number of fingers 170 are pivotally
coupled to the
arbor cap 124B. The fingers 170 are preferably fabricated from metal, such as
steel or iron. In
some embodiments, the fingers 170 may be claw-shaped, fin-shaped, or L-shaped.
Each finger
170 has a rear portion with a hole 170A (FIG. 17). The rear portion fits
within a corresponding
clevis 124C, such that the hole in the clevis 124C aligns with the hole 170A
in the finger 170. A
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pin 178 is press fit into the clevis 124C to pivotally couple the finger 170
to the clevis 124C, and
thus the arbor cap 124B. As an example, the pin 178 can be a spring pin. The
finger 170 also
has a forward portion with an angled slot 170B. As best seen in FIG. 17, the
slot 170B angles
upwardly and outwardly away from the arbor cap 12411
[00100] A yoke nut 172 is used to positively move the fingers 170 inwardly and
outwardly,
rotating about the pin 178. More specifically, the yoke nut 172 has a central,
threaded bore
172B that allows the yoke nut 172 to be threaded onto the threaded end 150A of
the draw bolt
150. The yoke nut 172 has a number of spaced clevises 172A. The number of
clevises 172A
corresponds to the number of fingers 170 and clevises 124C. With the yoke nut
172 threaded
onto the end 150A of the draw bolt 150, each finger 170 is rotated about the
pin 178 into a
corresponding clevis 172A such that the hole in clevis 172A aligns with the
slot 170B in the
finger 170. Thereafter, a pin or screw 174 is placed through the clevis 172A
and the slot 170B in
the finger 170.
[00101] The hub assembly 80 of FIGs. 17 and 18 is shown assembled in FIGs. 19
and 20. FIG.
20 shows the hub assembly 80 with the fingers 170 in a retracted position. In
this position, with
the hub assembly 80 coupled to the flange 20", it can be coupled to the arbor
hole 16 of the
reel 10. Because the hub assembly 80 is freely movable within the slot on the
flange 20", the
fingers 170 are easily moved into alignment with the arbor hole 16. With the
fingers 170
inserted into the arbor hole 16 of the reel 10, the head 152 of the draw bolt
150 is used to
rotate the draw bolt 150. As the draw bolt 150 rotates, the yoke nut 172 moves
inwardly,
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travelling along the threaded end 150A of the draw bolt 150. As the yoke nut
172 moves
inwardly, the pin 174 moves within the slot 170B. As the pin 174 moves within
the slot 170B on
the finger 170, the finger 170 is forced to rotate outwardly, pivoting about
the pin 174. The
fingers 170 thus move from a retracted position as shown in FIG. 20, to an
extended position as
shown in FIG. 19. As the fingers 170 move to the extended position of FIG. 19,
they positively
grip the inside of the arbor hole 16 on the reel 10. When it is desirable to
decouple the flange
20" and the hub assembly 80 from the reel 10, the head 152 of the draw bolt
150 can be turned
in the opposite direction. This causes the yoke nut 172 and the fingers 170 to
move from the
extended position of FIG. 19 to the retracted position of FIG. 20. Because the
fingers 170 are
constrained by the slots 170B and the pins 174, the fingers 170 are forced to
return to a
retracted position, as opposed to relying only on gravity, for example. This
allows a more
positive decoupling of the flange 20" and the hub assembly 80 from the reel
10.
[00102] The above-described flanges 20, 20' and 20" and the hub assemblies 80
thus allow
the reel 10 to be easily loaded and held in place on the flanges 20, 20' and
20". The reel 10 can
then be easily maneuvered into a desired location, and the cable or wire on
the reel 10 can be
easily paid off the reel 10.
[00103] Another hub assembly 80 is shown in FIG. 21. The hub assembly 80 of
FIG. 21 is
similar in all respects to that described above with respect to FIGs. 16-20,
with one exception.
In the hub assembly 80 shown in FIG. 21, the fingers 170 are replaced by the
fingers 300 that
have a curved upper surface 302. The curved upper surface 302 of each finger
300 engages
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with the arbor hole 16 of reel 10. FIG. 23 depicts one enlarged finger 300,
showing the curved
upper surface 302. Curved upper surface 302 can have a textured or knurled
surface 304, as
shown in FIG. 22. The curved surface 302, and the knurled surface 304 may be
used to more
positively grip the inside of the arbor hole 16 of the reel 10. Other contours
for the upper
surface 302, and surface treatments for the upper surface 302, also could be
used. While the
embodiments shown and described with respect to FIGs. 16-23 show arbor hole
adapters
having three fingers, other embodiments are contemplated with more, or less,
fingers.
[00104] Yet another aspect is shown in FIGs. 24-29. FIG. 24 depicts a flange
2400. As with
flanges 20, 20' and 20" described above, in use there will be a pair of
flanges 2400. Each flange
2400 has an outer rim 2402 that defines the outer diameter of the flange 2400.
A number of
spokes 2404 extend radially inwardly from the rim 2402. The spokes 2404
provide added
structural strength to the flanges 2400. The flanges 2400 are shown with an
open-spoke
design, but could also be constructed with the rim 2402, spokes 2404, and a
solid backing. So,
the flanges 2400 may be equipped with a covering for the spokes 2404 to
prevent access
through the spokes 2404 from the outside to the inside. In one exemplary
aspect, this covering
is a solid circular sheet with a relief channel for the vertical movement of a
hub (described
below). In another exemplary aspect, this covering is an outer band extending
radially inwardly
from the outer rim 2402 a sufficient distance to cover the opening between the
rim 2402 and
the outer diameter of the reel loaded onto the flange 2400. A guide plate 2406
is coupled to
each flange 2400. As one example, the guide plate 2406 can be welded to the
adjacent spokes
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2404. The guide plate 2406 has an overall shape that is roughly rectangular
with a defined
rectangular aperture, or slot, 2408 formed within it. As best seen in FIGs. 24
and 25, the
aperture 2408 starts at a lower end 2410 and extends upwardly to a closed
upper end 2412.
Near the upper end 2412 of the aperture 2408 the guide plate 2406 has a hole
2411 (the
importance of which is described further below).
[00105] In FIG. 24, the guide plate 2406 may be further supported by
a pair of support legs
2414, which may be welded between the outer rim 2402 and the lower end 2410 of
the guide
plate 2406. A platform 2416 is secured between the support legs 2414, such as
by welding. As
will be understood by those of skill in the art, rotary motion of the input
shaft 2420 operates to
linearly translate the lifting screw 2422 relative to the input shaft 2420.
The lifting screw 2422
travels within a protective tube 2424 that is coupled between the outer rim
2402 and the screw
jack 2418 to protect the lifting screw 2422 when it extends below platform
2416.
[00106] As illustrated in FIG. 24, the upper end of the lifting screw
2422 is coupled to a
support plate 2426. The support plate 2426 travels up and down as the lifting
screw 2422 is
moved up and down by the screw jack 2418. As shown in FIG. 25, the support
plate 2426 has a
number of roller guides 2428 coupled to it, such as by bolts 2430. The roller
guides 2428 are
spaced from the guide plate 2426 by a shoulder that serves as a roller bearing
surface that rolls
along the edge of the slot 2408. The shoulders of the roller guides 2428 allow
the support plate
2426 to travel (e.g., vertically) relative to the guide plate 2406 and to
support the travel of the
support plate 2426. In other words, the roller guides 2428 provide guided
support to the
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support plate 2426 as it travels within the aperture 2408 of the guide plate
2406. In an
exemplary embodiment, there are two upper roller guides 228 and two lower
roller guides
2428.
[00107] The support plate 2426 has a bearing assembly 2432 coupled thereto, as
best seen
in FIG. 27. The bearing assembly 2432 is coupled to the support plate 2426
with the bolts 2433.
Turning to both FIGs. 26 and 27, the bearing assembly 2432 rotatably supports
a stop flange
2434 (similar to the stop flange 116 described above). A draw bolt 2436 (best
seen in FIGs. 26
and 27) extends through the bearing assembly 2432, and through an arbor hole
adapter 2438
that is coupled to the stop flange 2434. The arbor hole adapter 2438 and the
draw bolt 2436
operate as the arbor hole adapter 127 and the draw bolt 150 described above
with respect to
FIG. 17. The arbor hole adapter 2438 thus similarly has an arbor yoke nut 2440
threaded onto
the end of draw bolt 2436 that operates to engage and disengage a number of
fingers 2442 in
the same manner as the arbor yoke nut 172 and fingers 170 described with
reference to FIGs.
17-20 (or the fingers 300 in FIGs. 22-23). Therefore, the arbor hole adapter
2438 and the stop
flange 2434 independently rotate relative to the flange 2400 using the bearing
assembly 2432.
[00108] In use, the arbor hole adapter 2438 can be vertically positioned to
mate with an
arbor hole of the reel 10. With reference to FIGs. 26 and 27, the arbor hole
adapter 2438 can
be vertically positioned by rotating the input shaft 2420, which in turn
vertically moves the
lifting screw 2422 within the screw jack 2418. With the fingers 2442 inserted
into the arbor
hole of the reel 10, the head of the draw bolt 2436 is used to rotate the draw
bolt 2436. As the
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draw bolt 2436 rotates, the arbor yoke nut 2440 positively moves the fingers
2442 between
retracted and extended positions, and vice versa depending on the rotational
direction of the
draw bolt 2436 (similar to that described above with respect to FIGs. 16-23).
Once the arbor
hole adapter 2438 is engaged within the arbor hole 16, the reel 10 can be
vertically lifted using
the screw jack 2418.
[001091 More specifically, a tool, such as a drill, can be attached
to the input shaft 2420 to
impart rotational movement to input shaft 2420. As the input shaft 2420
rotates, the screw
jack 2418 causes the lifting screw 2422 to travel vertically upward, which
thus moves the
support plate 2426 upward, guided by the slot 2408 (and the roller guides
2428). This upward
movement lifts the reel 10 (coupled to support plate 2426 by the arbor hole
adapter 2438, the
draw bolt 2436, the stop flange 2434, and the bearing assembly 2432). Once in
the upper
position, a hole 2444 in the support plate 2426 aligns with the hole 2411 in
the guide plate
2406. The raised position can be positively locked in place with a locking pin
2446 placed in the
holes 2444 and 2411. As an example, the locking pin 2446 can be a t-handle
push button quick
release pin. Once lifted to the upper position, the bearing assembly 2432
allows rotational
movement of the stop flange 2434 and the arbor hole adapter 2438 (and thus the
reel 10)
relative to the flange 2400, to allow wire to be paid off of the reel 10.
[00110] Yet another aspect is shown in FIGs. 28 and 29, which depict
the flange 2400 similar
to that described with respect to FIGs. 24-27, but showing another lifting
mechanism different
from screw jack 2418. As shown in FIGs. 28 and 29, the platform 2416 is used
to support a lift
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jack 2450. The lift jack 2450 is equipped with a handle 2452 that is operated
to extend a shaft
2454 from the body of the lift jack 2450. The lift jack 2450 is preferably a
hydraulic or
pneumatic jack. As can be seen, the overall construction and operation are
very similar to the
aspects described above with reference to FIGs. 24-27 but with the lift jack
2450 replacing the
screw jack 2418. Both the screw jack 2418 and the lift jack 2450 operate to
move the support
plate 2426 (and thus the arbor hole adapter 2438 and the reel 10, once
attached) within the
slot 2408 of the guide plate 2406.
[00111] FIGs. 30 and 31 provide other constructions for the arbor hole
adapter 3100.
Turning to FIG. 30, the modified arbor hole adapter 3100 includes a central
housing 3120 and
an end cap 3130. The housing 3120 and the end cap 3130 may be integrally
formed, or may be
fixedly coupled together. The housing 3120 is a tube with a series of
circumferentially spaced
slots 3135. The housing 3120 also has a series of spaced through-holes 3140
spaced radially
and longitudinally about the housing 3120. The housing 3120 further has an
internal bore 3136
that extends the length of the housing 3120. The slots 3135 and the through-
holes 3140 extend
from the outer perimeter of the housing 3120 to the internal bore 3136.
[00112] As best seen in FIG. 31, the arbor adapter 3100 further includes a
central threaded
bolt 3050 and end nut 3055 arrangement. The bolt 3050 carries cone-shaped nuts
3020 that
are threaded onto the bolt 3050. The arbor adapter 3100 has locking fingers
3110 pivotably
coupled to the housing 3120 using through-holes 3140 and slots 3135, with pins
3145. When
coupled to the housing 3120, the fingers 3110 can extend from the housing 3120
through the
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slots 3135, and can be retracted into housing 3120 as well. The fingers 3110
may be formed
with a slanted internal edge 3115 that allows the fingers 3110 to be retracted
to a point at
which the slanted internal edge 3115 abuts the housing 3120. The slots 3135
and the fingers
3110 are sized to allow the arbor adapter 3100 to be inserted through the
arbor hole 16 of the
reel 10 when the fingers 3110 are in a retracted position. The outer surface
of at least some of
the fingers 3110 may be formed with a notch 3125. As an example, the fingers
3110 on the
outside of the arbor hole adapter 3100 may include the notch 3125. As best
seen in FIG. 31,
the cone shaped nuts 3020 are threaded onto the bolt 3050 and positioned to
operate as a cam
to extend and retract the fingers 3110 as the bolt 3050 is turned. In
operation, the arbor hole
adapter 3100 is placed through the arbor hole 16 with the fingers 3110 in a
retracted position.
The bolt 3050 may then be turned to move the nuts 3020, which in turn extends
the fingers
3110. This continues until the fingers 3110 engage the circumferential edge of
the arbor hole
16 on both the inside and the outside of the reel 10. The end cap 3130 is
positively engaged
with the reel 10 when the fingers 3110 are in the fully-extended position.
Preferably, the
notches 3125 engage with the circumferential edge of the arbor hole 16.
[00113] While differing embodiments of arbor hole adapters, flanges,
hub assemblies and lift
mechanisms have been described above, one or more of the embodiments, or
portions of the
embodiments, could be used in combination as well. For example, the arbor hole
adapter of
FIG. 10 could be combined with the arbor hole adapter of FIG. 30, resulting in
a coupling having
forces on the inside of the arbor hole and the outer perimeter of the arbor
hole of the reel.
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Moreover, in some embodiments, other components described above might be used
different
hub assemblies might be used with any of the flanges.
[00114] FIGs. 32 and 33 illustrate another embodiment releasably coupling
the reel 10 to a
flange 3202. The reel 10 in this embodiment has a number of receptacles 3200
spaced about
the discs on the reel 10. The receptacles 3200 are fixedly coupled to the reel
10, and are shown
enlarged in FIG. 33. The flange 3202 has a hub assembly 3204 constructed
similarly to those
described above, in that the hub assembly 3204 allows the flange 3202 to
rotate about the hub
assembly 3204. An arbor insert 3206 is coupled to the hub assembly 3204. The
arbor insert
3206 includes a mounting disc 3208, and a truncated, conical projection 3210.
A number of
release locking pins 3212 are coupled to the mounting disc 3208, and
preferably correspond in
number to the number of receptacles 3200 on reel 10. FIG. 32 shows four such
receptacles
3200 and pins 3212, but other numbers of receptacles and pins could be used.
The receptacles
3200 and pins 3212 may be those that are commercially available in the market.
In operation, a
button 3214 on the pins 3212 is depressed and the flange 3202 is moved into
engagement with
the reel 10, and the pins 3212 are inserted into the receptacles 3200. When
the button 3214 is
depressed, a wedge 3216 on the pins 3212 moves a ball 3218 to allow the pin
3212 to be
inserted in the receptacle 3200. When the button 3214 is released, the ball
3218 pushes onto a
taper 3220 on the receptacle 3200, thereby clamping the pin 3212 to the
receptacle 3200 (and
thus clamping the flange 3202 to the reel 10). To release the flange 3202 from
the reel 10, the
button 3214 is depressed while pulling outwardly on the pin 3212. Other
releasable locking
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mechanisms and receptacles may also be used. As only one example, releasable
locking clamps
may also be used with the receptacles 3200.
[00115] The above-described flanges and hub assemblies allow a reel to be
easily loaded and
held in place on flanges. Once on the flange, the reel can be easily
maneuvered into a desired
location, where the cable or wire on the reel can be easily paid off the reel.
[00116] A flange stand 3400 is shown in FIG. 34. The flange stand 3400
includes a base
portion 3402. In one aspect, the base portion 3402 includes spaced apart legs
3404 connected
by a center base member 3406. Midway between the legs 3404, and coupled to the
center
base member 3406, is a support portion 3408. As shown, in one aspect, the legs
3404, the
center base member 3406, and the support portion 3408 are constructed from
square steel
tubing. Other materials, and geometries, could be used to construct the base
portion 3402 and
the support portion 3408. A coupler 3410 is attached to the center base member
3406. The
coupler 3410 is a hollow cylinder sized to accept any of the arbor hole
adapters described
herein. In one aspect, the coupler 3410 is constructed from a piece of narrow-
walled steel
tubing.
[00117] In use, the flange stand 3400 can be coupled to any of the flanges
described above.
When coupled to a flange, the flange stand 3400 supports the flange (such as
flange 2400
shown in FIG. 35) in an upright condition, such as the position shown in FIG.
35. The flange
stand 3400 is able to rotate relative to the flange. This allows a user to
grasp one of the legs
3404, for example, rotate the flange stand 3400 relative to the flange, and to
thereafter use the
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flange stand 3400 as a handle to maneuver the flange as desired. Once in a
desired location,
the user can rotate the flange stand 3400 such that one of the legs 3404 rests
on the floor or on
another support surface and the flange stand 3400 then supports the flange
2400 in the upright
condition. The flange stand 3400 thus operates to support flanges when they
are not in use,
and also operates as a handle to assist users in moving the flanges to desired
locations.
[00118] As seen in FIGS. 36-39, a flange adapter assembly 3600 will
be described that could
be used on any of the flanges described above. FIGS. 36-39 show a simplified
flange adapter
assembly 3600, without the remainder of the overall flange, for simplicity. A
side view of the
flange adapter assembly 3600 is shown in FIG. 39. The flange adapter assembly
3600 includes
an arbor hole adapter 3602, which could be any of the previously described
arbor hole adapters
(such as arbor hole adapter 820 shown in FIGS. 2B and 5B). The arbor hole
adapter 3602 is
operable (as described above) to move between a recessed or retracted
condition/position/configuration, shown in FIG. 39, to an expanded condition
shown in FIG. 37.
As the arbor hole adapter 3602 expands, the outer diameter engages with the
inner walls of the
arbor hole of the reel, as shown in FIG. 37 (note that in FIG. 37, the central
drum of the reel is
not shown).
[00119] The arbor hole adapter 3602 is coupled to a first expansion plate
3604, as best seen
in FIG. 36. Note again that the remainder of the flange is not shown in FIGS.
36-39 for simplicity
in explanation, and that the flange adapter assembly 3600 could be used and
integrated into
any of the flanges described above. The first expansion plate 3604 includes a
number of
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circumferentially-spaced locking slots 3606. The locking slots 3606 are used
to couple the first
expansion plate 3604 to a second expansion plate 3608 using shoulder bolts
3610. The
shoulder bolts 3610 are threaded into the second expansion plate 3608 with the
shoulder
extending through the locking slots 3606 to slidably secure the first
expansion plate 3604 to the
second expansion plate 3608. The first expansion plate 3604, and thus the
arbor hole adapter
3602, can therefore move from the position shown in FIG. 39 (with the first
expansion plate
3604 abutting the second expansion plate 3608), to the position shown in FIGS.
36 and 38 (with
the first expansion plate 3604 spaced from the second expansion plate 3608).
The shoulder
bolts 3610 may include a groove that holds the first expansion plate 3604 in
the position shown
in HG. 36, or that holds the expansion plates 3604, 3608 in other positions
relative to each
other(e.g., an abutting position).
[00120] In use, the flange adapter assembly 3600 operates to allow the
arbor hole adapter
3602 to better engage the arbor hole of the reel when a thin-walled reel is
encountered. When
a flange is installed on a reel, if the arbor hole adapter (such as the arbor
hole adapter 3602)
does not seem to be fully-engaged with the arbor hole of the reel, the flange
adapter assembly
3600 operates to move the arbor hole adapter 3602 relative to the reel to
adjust its
engagement. More specifically, with the arbor hole adapter 3602 in the
extended position as
shown in FIG. 37, the first expansion plate 3604 can be moved away from the
second expansion
plate 3608, guided by shoulder bolts 3610. Once in this position, the first
expansion plate 3604
can be turned relative to the second expansion plate 3608 to lock the first
expansion plate 3604
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in place extended away from the second expansion plate 3608. The movement of
the first
expansion plate 3604 relative to the second expansion plate 3608 moves the
arbor hole
adapter 3602 as well, moving the arbor hole adapter 3602 into a more-positive
engagement
with the arbor hole of the reel (i.e., by moving to a different axial position
relative to the reel).
The flange adapter assembly 3600 thus allows a more positive, or secure,
engagement of the
flange with the reel, even when thin-walled reels are encountered.
[00121] The subject matter described above is provided by way of illustration
only and
should not be construed as limiting. Values disclosed may be at least the
value listed. Values
also may be at most the value listed. Various modifications and changes may be
made to the
subject matter described herein without following the example embodiments and
applications
illustrated and described, and without departing from the true spirit and
scope of the claimed
subject matter, which is set forth in the following claims.
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