GB2178727A - Reels for cables - Google Patents

Abstract

A reel comprises two side walls (2) and a drum (1). Each side wall (2) is formed of a series of profiled elements (3) which form an annulus, of which the external edge is welded to a first metal ring (16) and the internal edge to a second metal ring (20) supporting the hub (25). The metal rings are made of L-section members each having two flanges. The rings are disposed so that the free edge of one of the flanges (18) of the first ring (16) is disposed facing the free edge of one of the flanges (21) of the second ring (20). The edges of the profiled elements (3) are welded on the internal face of the flanges (18, 21), of which the free edges are disposed facing one another and the second flange (22) of the second ring (20) has a length such that it projects at the surface of the profiled elements (3) in order to form a seating for the drum (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Reels for cables The present invention relates to reels for supporting and transporting cables.

Known reels are generally formed by a cylindrical drum on which the cable is wound and by two side walls or flanges which are each fixed to one end of the drum.

These reels are large, and therefore the manufacture thereof is costly and complicated.

In French Application No. 82 06 913 of 22nd April 1982, the present Applicant proposed a reel formed of shaped elements assembled side by side to form the side walls, each element being welded by one end to a cylindrical ring supporting the drum, while the other end of each of the elements is inserted between the flanges of a U-section member shaped in the form of a ring in order to form the running surface.

Such a structure is still relatively complicated and the object of the invention is to simplify this manufacture.

The invention provides a reel, comprising: two side walls held to each other, at either end of a drum, each side wall being formed -from a series of elements welded side by side in order to form an annulus, of which the outside edge is welded to a first, outer metal ring, while the inside edge is welded to a second, inner metal ring the metal rings being formed from L-shaped section members each having two flanges, the said rings being disposed so that the free edge of one of the flanges of the first, outer ring is disposed facing the free edge of one of the flanges of the second ring, edges of the side wall elements being welded on the internal face of the flanges of which the free edges are disposed facing one another, and the second flange of the second inner ring having a length such that it projects beyond the surface of the side wall elements in order to form a seating for the drum.

In this way, reels are obtained which are relatively simple to manufacture and which present a high mechanical strength.

In accordance with one particular embodiment, the side wall elements are shaped and have a pressing at each end, the pressings disposed in the vicinity of the second ring forming with the corresponding flange of the latter, a channel for receiving cross-members forming the drum, while the pressing situated in the vicinity of the first ring form, with the corresponding flange of the latter, a channel intended for receiving wooden staves.

In order to provide a drum having high rigidity, when the latter is formed of simple wooden cross-members, these latter are preferably connected to one another by means of tenons which engage in grooves or channels.

Finally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the flange of the first ring of each side wall has cut-out for the passage of the staves and a closure element for the cut-out is provided, this being formed by a cambered plate, of which the convex face comprises at least one projection to cooperate with the edge of the cut-out and at least one hole through which can pass a nail or screw for engaging in the corresponding stave.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an elevation of a reel according to an embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a section on the line Il-Il of Fig.

1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail of one part, Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2, Figure 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 4, of a modification, Figure 6 is a view in perspective of several shaped elements, Figure 7 is a vertical section showing a modification, and Figure 8 is a perspective view showing several shaped elements.

The reel in Figs. 1 to 6 comprises a drum which is represented as a whole by the reference 1 and two side walls 2.

Each side wall 2 is formed of a series of elements 3 (see Fig. 6) comprising a web 4 having the form of an isosceles trapezium with a large base 5 and a small base 6 and two equal sides 7 and 8. The side 8 is extended by a flange 9, while the side 7 is extended by a flange 12 which is terminated by an external gutter 10.

The different elements 3 are assembled by the engagement of the flanges 9 of one element in the gutter 10 of an adjoining element and by spot welds 11 between the flanges 9 and 12.

Each of the elements 3 has a pressing 14 in the vicinity of the small or minor base and a pressing 15 in the vicinity of the large or major base.

The elements 3 are fitted by their major base into a ring 16 formed of an L-section member with two flanges 17 and 18, the gutters 10 resting by their external face on the flange 18 and being welded to the latter.

The small or minor bases 6 of the elements 3 are fitted into a ring 20 which is of Lsection and has two flanges 21 and 22, the external surfaces of the gutters 10 being welded to the flanges 21, while the small bases bear against the flanges 22.

As will be apparent the free edge of the flange 18 of the ring 16 faces the free edge of the flange 21 of the ring 20.

Welded on the external surface of each of the flanges 22 is one of the ends of four U section members 24, which each have their other end welded to a sleeve 25 forming the boss or hub and fast with a member 26, which is also welded to the section members 24.

The flange 22 of the rings 20 is of a length greater than the height of the elements 3 between the gutters 10 and the webs 4, so that the flange 22 projects beyond the elements 3 to constitute a seating for the drum 1.

In this constructional form, the drum is formed by a series of bars made of wood and disposed bearing one against the other, these rest on the flange 22 with their ends inserted into the pressings 14. So as to be able to ensure a good support of the drum, each member 36 has on its side walls, grooves 36a, into which a tenon 36b is inserted, as shown in Fig. 4.

In a modified form which is shown in Fig. 5, each member 36 has a groove or channel 37a on one side wall and a tenon 37 on the other wall, the tenon being adapted to cooperate with the channel of an adjacent member.

The side walls 2 are assembled by means of tie rods 27 which extend through holes in the section members 24 and are threaded at each end to receive a locating nut 28.

The reel may be closed by staves 30, which are inserted between the pressings 15 of the two side walls 2, these staves passing through the cut-outs or channels 31 of the flanges 17 and being slid between the pressings 15 beneath the flanges 17 of the two side walls 2. In order to prevent the staves from coming out of the channels 31, elements, shown in perspective in Fig. 3, are provided, which are formed of a cambered plate 33 with two bulges 34 on its convex face, the spacing thereof corresponding to the dimension of the channels 31, so as to bear against the rims of these, the central portion having one or two holes 35 for accommodating a nail or a screw 36 to extend into the corresponding stave.

Such a member 33 is very simple, inexpensive and can be easily used, since it can be slid on to the stave 30 situated to the right of the channel 31, engaged in this and easily fixed by a screw or a nail 36. Such a member guarantees a high degree of safety and can be very easily and quickly extracted.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a simplified modification of the invention, in which the reel is formed of two side walls 40 and a drum 41.

Each side wall is formed of a series of profiled elements 42 with a web of isosceles trapezoidal form, having a major base 47 and a minor base 48, the sides adjacent to the bases being of equal length and one of the sides being extended by a flange 43, while the other side ends in a flange 44, of which the free side is bent over to form a gutter 45.

The elements 42 are assembled by the engagement of the flange 43 of one element in the gutter 45 of an adjacent element, the flanges being secured or fixed by spot welding 49.

The central part of the reel is identical with that of Figs. 1 to 4 and will not be described here in detail. To designate the parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment are the same references and used bearing, additionally, the letter "a".

The elements 42 are asembled with one another in order to form an annulus, of which the external edge is inserted into a ring 54, while the internal edge is inserted into a ring 50.

The ring 50 is of L-section with two arms 51 and 52 being longer than the arm 51 and the external surface of this arm 52 being fast with section members 24a supporting the sleeve 25a. The ring 54 is of L-section with two arms 55 and 56, and the elements 42 are welded by the external surface of the gutters 45 to the arms 55 and 51.

The drum 41 is formed by a simple cylindrical sleeve engaged in the free ends of the arms 52 and the side walls 40 are held together by the tie rods 27a extending through holes in the section members 24a and receiving nuts 28a at their ends.

The reel which is manufactured in accordance with this modified constructional form has the advantage that the internal surfaces of the side member 40 are smooth, thus avoiding the necessity of having to weld protection plates thereon, as is usually done when the reel is intended for the transporting of fragile cables.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described and illustrated. It will be possible to incorporate numerous modifications as regards details, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A reel, comprising: two side walls held to each other, at either end of a drum, each side wall being formed from a series of elements welded side by side in order to form an annulus, of which the outside edge is welded to a first, outer metal ring, while the inside edge is welded to a second, inner metal ring the metal rings being .formed from L-shaped section members each having two flanges, the said rings being disposed so that the free edge of one of the flanges of the first, outer ring is disposed facing the free edge of one of the flanges of the second ring, edges of the side wall elements being welded on the internal face of the flanges of which the free edges are disposed facing one another, and the second flange of the second inner ring having a length such that it projects beyond the surface of the side wall elements in order to form a seating for the drum.

2. A reel according to claim 1, wherein the side wall elements are profiled or section with a pressing at each end, the pressings disposed in the vicinity of the second ring forming, with the corresponding flange of the second ring, a channel for receiving cross-members forming the drum, while the pressings situated in the vicinity of the first ring form, with the corresponding flange of the latter, a channel for receiving staves to close the reel.

3. A reel according to claims 1 and 2, wherein cross-members forming the drum are connected to one another by tenons engaged in corresponding grooves or channels.

4. A reel according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the flange of the first ring of each side wall has a cut-out for the passage of staves and a closure element for the cut-out is provided, such element being formed by a cambered plate, of which the convex face comprises at least one projection designed to cooperate with the edge of the cut-out and at least one hole through which can pass a nail or a screw for engaging in a corresponding stave.

5. A reel substantially as herein described, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.