US3618895A

US3618895A - Spreader for damaged cores

Info

Publication number: US3618895A
Application number: US37225A
Authority: US
Inventors: James J Van Gompel
Original assignee: Brammall Inc
Current assignee: American Capital Financial Services Inc
Priority date: 1970-05-14
Filing date: 1970-05-14
Publication date: 1971-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1988-11-09
Also published as: DE2124072B2; DE2124072A1; GB1324708A

Abstract

An elongated body is provided with a fixed tapered nose portion which facilitates entry of the body into a damaged core. The body is provided with an opening in the upper part thereof which receives a shoe. A shoe is movably supported by the body for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the body, and a guide means is provided for guiding such movement of the shoe. A hydraulic ram is provided for operating the shoe to move it outwardly of the body. An attachment is also provided to enable a larger shoe to be employed with the apparatus.

Description

United States Patent Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 848,507, Aug. 8, 1969, now abandoned.

SPREADER FOR DAMAGED CORES 41 Claims, 25 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 254/93 R,

242/72 Int. Cl B66! 3/24 Field of Search 254/93,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,283,089 5/l942 Pfauscr 254/[04 FOREIGN PATENTS L8 1 3,557 7/1969 Germany 254/93 Primary Examiner- Robert C. Riordon Assistant Examiner-David R. Melton Anorney- Hood, Gust, Irish & Lundy ABSTRACT: An elongated body is provided with a fixed tapered nose portion which facilitates entry of the body into a damaged core. The body is provided with an opening in the upper part thereof which receives a shoe. A shoe is movably supported by the body for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the body, and a guide means is provided for guiding such movement of the shoe A hydrau- Iic ram is provided for operating the shoe to move it outwardly of the body. An attachment is also provided to enable a larger shoe to be employed with the apparatus.

PATENTEnunv 9 I971 SHEET 1 BF 5 INVENTOR P t 1 Attorneys.

James J.VanGon';

PATENTEUuuv 9 Ian v 3,618,895

sum 2 [IF 5 J'a mes J Van GompcL,

Attornegs.

PATENTEUNUV 9 IHYI SHEET 3 OF 5 FIQJS INVENTORZ JAMES J.\/AN GOMPEL BY ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDuuv 9l97| 3.618.895

FIG-25 INvENToR: JAMES J. VAN GQMPEL,

ATTORNEYS SPREADER son DAMAGED corms CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present invention represents an improvement over a construction as shown in copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 689,158, filed Dec. 8, I967, now abandoned. The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 848,507, filed Aug. 8, 1969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Large rolls of paper and the like are supported on central cylindrical nonrigid cores.Transportation and onsite damage often occurs to such cores so they are deformed. Such coredamaged rolls cannot be successfully employed on modern presses or conversion equipment.

ing U.S. patent application, an elongated body is provided which can be inserted in a damaged core, and a shoe is movably supported by the body. This shoe is hingedly connected with the body for swinging movement outwardly thereof to apply pressure to predetermined portions of the core. For example, the shoe may be supported by a hinge pin, and it has been found during actual use that this hinge pin is liable to break when relatively large forces are applied thereto.

A further disadvantage of an arrangement wherein the shoe is hingedly connected with an associated body is the fact that the swinging movement of the shoe produces pockets or indentations in the core due to the toe or heel of the shoe bearing into the core.

An arrangement such as shown in the aforementioned copending application is relatively bulky, complex in construction and heavy. Furthermore, it requires a considerable amount of maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, an elongated body is provided with a fixed nose portion which is tapered to facilitate entry into a damaged core. An opening is provided in the upper part of the body to receive a shoe, and a shoe is movably supported by the body, guide means being provided for guiding movement of the shoe. This shoe moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the body under the influence of a hydraulic ram supported by the body. Accordingly, the shoe does not swing or pivot with respect to the body but moves in a straight line in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the body, thereby eliminating any pockets or'indentations which might be formed in the core with a swinging or pivotally mounted shoe arrangement.

The construction of the present invention is more streamlined, simpler and lighter in weight than an arrangement as shown in the aforementioned copending patent application. In addition, the spreader of the present invention is more maintenance free than prior constructions.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of an attachment including a bottom shoe and a top shoe adapted to fit around the body and the shoe supported by the body respectively whereby the apparatus is adapted to be employed with cores of different size thereby substantially enhancing the versatility of the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a spreader according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. I looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. I illustrating the manner in which the spreader is inserted into a damaged core;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 illustrating the manner in which the spreader tends to spread a damaged core;

FIG. 6 is a view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the shoe in extended position to pull the core in tight about the body of the spreader;

FIG. 7 is an elevation of a shoe in a modified arrangement of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a view of one end of the structure shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view of the opposite end of the structure shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an elevation of still a further modified form of spreader according to the invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 11-11 of FIG. 10 illustrating the manner in which the shoe is guided for movement with respect to the body means;

FIG. 12 is a top perspective exploded view of an attachment for use with the spreader of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side view of another embodiment of the spreader of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the spreader of FIG. 13 with the shoe removed;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, side, cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an end view of the spreader of FIG. 13 as viewed generally along the line 16-16 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 17-17 ofFIG. 13;

FIG. 18 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 18-18 ofFlG. 13;

FIG. 19 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 19-19 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 20 is across-sectional view showinganother embodiment of the' invention employing two rams and particularly suited for use with larger cores;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken line 21-21 ofFIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 22-22 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 23-23 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 24-24 of FIG. 20; and

FIG. 25 is a top view, partly in cross section, taken generally along the line 25-25 of FIG. 20.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, as seen in FIGS. 1-3, a first fonn of the invention includes a body means indicated generally by reference numeral 20 and being formed of two strong, rigid,

steel body portions

22 and 24 of generally channel-shaped cross-sectional configuration disposed in facing relationship to one another and having the legs thereof fixedly secured together as by welding. The lower body portion 22 includes an elongated shank or handle 26 in the form of a longitudinal extension of the body 20 and is provided with an enlarged head portion 28 secured to the outer end thereof to facilitate handling of the spreader. In a typical example, the spreader may have an overall length of about 45 inches and the upper portion 24 of the body means may have a length of approximately 13 inches. The body 20 is hollow and in cross section is substantially rectangular with rounded corners, flat sides and a curved top,

generally along the the outer surface thereof being smooth and free of any projections which might tear or damage a core being repaired.

The upper portion of the body has an elongated longitudinally extending opening 30 for receiving a shoe 80 hereinafter described. That part of the body to the left of opening 30 as seen in FIG. I is the forward end of the spreader and may be termed a nose portion. This nose portion is tapered to facilitate entry of the spreader into a damaged core. The upper surface 32 of the nose portion is curved and tapers toward the forward end. The surface 34 of the upper part of the nose portion tapers more sharply toward a flat point at the forward end of the spreader as shown.

The bottom surface 36 of the nose portion is substantially flat and tapers toward the forward end of the spreader at the same angle as surface 34, portion 36 joining with a portion 38 which tapers more sharply toward the forwardmost end of the spreader and at the same angle as the surface 34. The

tapers

34 and 38 form a relatively large angle tip smoothly merging into the more gradually tapering

portion

32, 36. This

tip

34, 38 is about one-fourth the length of the

taper

32, 36. The

portions

32 and 36 are less steeply tapered than the

tip

34 and 38 so as to be readily forcible into a flattened core 48 (FIG. 4) and also to hold therein by friction and not be pushed out by the pinching force of the flattened core 48.

The flat bottom surface 36 serves to maintain the body 20 in proper orientation with respect to the core 48 (FIG. 4) as it moves into the core. If the nose portion were round in cross section, the nose portion would have a tendency to follow the path of least resistance and could more easily rotate from the desired position.

Once the nose portion of body 20 has been forced into a flattened core (see FIG. 4), tracking means in the form of a longitudinally extending rib 40 extending downwardly from the undersurface of the body 20 resists rotation and tends to insure that the spreader will maintain its proper position relative to the core 48 as the spreader is moved thereinto. The action of this tracking rib 40 may be understood from an inspection of FIG. which shows that the rib 40 engages the inner surface of the core 48 (see FIG. 5) and is forced thereinto to resist rotation of the body with respect to the core 48. It will also be noted from an inspection of FIG. 5 that the opposite longitudinally extending edge surfaces 42 and 44 of the body are of curved cross-sectional configuration whereby they cooperate with the rib 40 to tend to round out the associated core 48. In this FIG., as well as in FIGS. 4 and 6, a conventional cardboard core or heavy paper core is indicated by reference numeral 48.

A flat reinforcing steel plate 51 is attached to the bottom wall of the lower portion 22 of the body means, this plate 51 being suitably secured in place by welding or the like. Plate 51 prevents warping and mushrooming of the bottom of the body when force is applied thereto.

A power-operating means is provided in the form of a hydraulic ram including a cylinder 54 supported on plate 51, a piston 56 being reciprocable within the cylinder 54 and extending therefrom for engaging the shoe hereinafter described. A hydraulic fitting 58 connects to cylinder 54, this fitting 58 also being secured to a flexible hose 60 adapted to be connected with a suitable source of fluid under pressure. A control means such as a manual or electric pump (not shown) is also connected to the hose 60 for controlling the fluid pressure applied to the cylinder 54 whereby actuation of piston 56 can be easily controlled.

A combined guide means in the form of a U-shaped seat 64 formed of ri id steel for the shoe 80 hereinafter described is rigidly secured as by welding to

body portions

22 and 24. As seen in FIG. 3, seat 64 defines a space 66 in the central part thereof which receives fitting 58. Seat 64 fits snugly between the

opposite sidewalls

70 and 72 of upper portion 24 of the body means. Seat 64 not only serves as a locating means for shoe 80 but also serves as a rear abutment for the cylinder 54.

The hydraulic ram is accessible and can be removed through opening 30in the upper part of the body means 20 for maintenance and repair.

A channel-shaped shoe is movably supported by the body means 20, this shoe 80 having a U-shaped cross section which defines depending sides 84. In size and shape, shoe 80 when seated may be regarded as a part of the body 20 as described previously, forming therewith a continuous smooth outer surface. In effect, the shoe 80 may be regarded as being sawed or cut from the upper portion of the body 20 so as to have a shape which fits precisely the shape of the opening 30. The shoe 80 is elongated, having straight edges on the sides 84 which engage complementary

straight edges

70 and 72 of the opening 30. A reinforcing plate 82 is secured to the undersurface of the shoe and is suitably secured thereto as by welding. A guide plate 86 is rigidly affixed to the undersurface of the shoe 80, and extends vertically downwardly therefrom, the opposite edges of plate 86 being slidably guidingly received between the sidewalls of the body 20 for guiding vertical movement of the shoe 80 and preventing canting thereof laterally with respect to the body 20.

Piston 56 engages the undersurface of reinforcement plate 82 for urging the shoe 80 in an upward direction. This reinforcement plate 82 serves to prevent warping and mushrooming of the shoe 80.

When the shoe 80 is in its lowermost position resting upon the upper curved surface of seat 64, the shoe 80 is in its retracted position, and part 90 of the upper portion of the body 20 which may be termed a heel serves as an abutment for the rear end 81 of the shoe 80. This will prevent telescoping of the rear end of the shoe 80 over the heel 90 when the apparatus is being driven into a core. Additionally, when the shoe 80 is in its retracted position, toe part 92 of the upper portion of the body 20, which generally is straight and untapered, bears the greatest amount of friction as the spreader is being driven into a collapsed core whereby the shoe 80 is protected against unnecessary wear. Retracted, the outer surfaces of the shoe 80 are flush with the companion surfaces of the body 20 so as to appear as an integral part thereof, the upper shoe surface 83 being straight and in line with the body toe 92 and heel 90.

FIG. 4 illustrates the manner in which the nose portion of the spreader is driven about halfway into a collapsed core, this nose portion serving initially to expand the core as illustrated. FIG. 5 illustrates the manner in which the spreader serves to expand core 48 while the shoe 80 in its protracted position wherein the formerly creased areas of the core are pulled in against the outer periphery of the spreader.

When utilizing the spreader of the present invention, the spreader is inserted into a damaged core and the hydraulic ram is operated to extend the shoe and exert pressure on various portions of the core. As distending internal forces are applied, an operator impacts the outside of the roll with a suitable tool, the impacting and application of distending force being coordinated to straighten the roll convolutions and thereby to restore the entire roll to perfect or near perfect roundness.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-9 inclusive, a modification is illustrated. In this form of the invention, the shoe 80' is of slightly different construction. Shoe 80' and plate 86' are of the same construction as

corresponding elements

80 and 86 previously described. In the modified shoe construction, a guide member of substantially inverted U-shape (FIG. 9) is suitably secured in place to shoe 80' as by welding. When utilizing the shoe 80' seat 64 may be eliminated, and the opposite legs of member 100 are adapted to fit snugly between the opposite sidewalls of the body 20 to guide vertical movement of the shoe 80'.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is still another form of the invention as illustrated. The body means 20' of this form of the invention is of substantially the same construction as that previously described, and similar parts have been given the same reference numerals with a prime symbol added. In this form of the invention, shoe may simply be in the form of a U-shaped channel.

A vertically extending guide plate 112 is fixedly secured to the body 20 and is adapted to fit within the opposite dependdescribed. An elongated ing legs of U-shaped shoe 110. A further guide member 114 is rigidly secured within the body 20 and comprises a generally U-shaped member 114 as seen most clearly in FIG. 11. The opposite upwardly extending legs of U-shaped member 114 are adapted to fit slidingly within the opposite depending portions of shoe 1 for guiding vertical movement of the shoe.

Referring now to FIG. 12, an attachment is illustrated for enabling a shoe of larger size to be employed with the spreader of the present invention whereby the spreader can be effectively employed with cores of varying diameter.

' The attachment includes a bottom shoe 120 and a separate top shoe 122. The bottom shoe 120 comprises a curved base portion 130 having a longitudinally extending recess or groove 134 receiving the tracking rib 40 of the body 20 previously handle 132 is connected with base portion 130.

Base portion 130 also includes a longitudinally extending tracking rib 136 of its own whereby when the bottom shoe is operatively associated with the body 20 previously described, tracking means will be provided for resisting rotation of the body 20 with respect to an associated core.

A pair of spaced parallel sidewalls 138 extend upwardly from base portion 130, walls 138 being spaced sufficiently apart to embrace and slidingly receive the sidewalls of the body 20 of the spreader. In this manner, the bottom shoe 120 of the attachment can be disposed snugly about the bottom portion of the body 20 of the spreader.

Top shoe 122 includes a curved upper portion 140 and a pair of spaced parallel depending sidewalls 142 and 144. The sidewalls 142 and 144 are spaced sufficiently apart so as to embrace and snugly receive slidingly the upper part of the sidewalls of the body 20 of the spreader.

Sidewall 144 has an elongated vertical slot 146 formed therethrough which is adapted to receive a spring pin 150 which is supported by the body means of the spreader as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 and which extends laterally outwardly thereof. This spring pin 150 is adapted to slide within slot 146 and serves properly to index the top shoe 122 with respect to the spreader.

In the case where the spreader as shown in FIG. 1 issuited for use within cores having a diameter of about 3 inches, the attachment may be employed for providing shoe means for use with cores having an inner diameter of about 4 inches. It is apparent that the attachment may incorporate shoes for use with various size cores as desired.

The rear edge 81 of the shoe 80, as shown more clearly in FIG. 1, is straight and at right angles to the axis of the body 20. This straight edge 81 abuts against and slides on a companion straight edge 91 on the heel portion 90 of the body. Therefore, the shoe 80 is guided for rectilinear movement in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the body during protraction of the piston 56. When the shoe 80 is retracted, the rear edge 81 engages the heel edge 91, thereby preventing the shoe 80 from being forced rearwardly during the forceful entry of the body into a damaged core 48.

The piston 56 is so located within the body 20 as to engage the shoe 80 near its center. Thus, when the piston 56 is protracted, the shoe 80 will be forced outwardly substantially uniformly along its entire length. Stated otherwise, about the same pressure will be applied to the core over the entire area of the shoe.

In effect, the shoe 80 floats on the ram 56 to be rockable fore and aft, thereby to adjust to the profile of the damaged core as the shoe 80 is being protracted. This serves to exert a more even force over an extended area of the core, this extended area corresponding to the area of the shoe 80. This minimizes the tendency of the shoe to bend transversely or for one end of the shoe to dig into the core in preference to the other end.

Additionally, by reason of the rectilinear motion of the shoe 80, there is little if any sliding action between the shoe 80 and the core which would serve either to damage the core or in the alternative consume and waste power as applied by the ram.

182 are similarly formed in sides This latter comment will be better understood by comparing motion of the shoe if it were pivoted at the front end, such that as the shoe is being forced outwardly, it would not only distend the core but necessarily would have to slide therealong at the heel thereby producing frictional losses and possible tearing of the core. The friction of the sliding movement is wasteful of ram power. Thus, by providing the shoe in the fonn of this invention wherein' it is movable rectilinearly, full ram power is efficiently used to distend the core without any tearing action.

In operation for the purpose of restoring roundness to flattened cores, the wedge-shaped

tip

34, 36 is first inserted into the mouth of the core between the flattened portions thereof and a sledgehammer or the like is used to impact the head 28 of the shank 26 for driving the spreader into the core. Initially, little force is required to introduce the

tip portion

34, 38 for spreading the latter; however, the more deeply the penetration, the more difficult it becomes to drive the spreader into the core. Thus, the head 28 must be severely impacted by the hammer in order to drive the spreader. Once'the spreader is driven to the point at which the

gradual taper

32, 36 is substantially entered, friction of penetration increases. Thus, the gradual taper is instrumental in facilitating further'introduction and in assisting in overcoming the frictional resistance. The penetration is continued until the shoe 80 is completely enclosed within the core, at which time hydraulic pressure is fed to the ram 54, 56, causing the shoe 80 to distend as already described and as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The roll itself is impacted with a large mallet, a steel bar shaped like a baseball bat, a relatively heavy iron or lead pipe or the like at various places therearound to cause the convolutions to move and become adjusted to the new shape of the core. This impacting is performed at the same time hydraulic pressure is being admitted to the ram.

After the shoe has been fully protracted and theimpacting operation completed whereby the core 48 assumes somewhat the position shown in FIG. 6, the pressure in the ram 54, 56 is released, thereby permitting the shoe 80 to retract. The spreader is thereupon driven inwardly to a new position within the collapsed core (the core usually is several times longer than the spreader body) and the operation just explained is repeated. This procedure is repeated until the roundness of the core as well as the roll itself has been restored, whereupon the spreader is deactuated and withdrawn from the core.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 through 19, in which similar elements are indicated by primed reference numerals, an embodiment is shown wherein the body 20' is machined from a single block of suitable metal. Body 20 has a longitudinal axis 152, a flat rear end 154 normal to axis 152, flat

opposite sides

156, 158, a curved top side 160, and a bottom side 162 having rib 40 thereon.

Bottom comers

164, 166 are curved, as is rib 40', the curvature of top side 160,

comers

164, 166 and rib 40 defining a circle about axis 152, as indicated by the dashed lines 168 in FIG. 16.

Nose portion 35 of body 20' has flat surfaces 32, 26' respectively tapering toward forward end 37 from top and

bottom sides

160, 162, and flat surfaces 34', 38' whichtaper more sharply from surfaces 32', 36' to the flat portion 37.

Transverse holes

170, 172 may be drilled through nose portion 35 to reduce the weight of body 20'.

Recess 30 is formed in top side of body 20' extending transversely between the

sides

156, 158 and having a flat bottom surface 174. A pair of opposite,

shallow recesses

176, 178 are formed in

sides

156, 158, extending downwardly from recess 30', and another pair of opposite,

shallow recesses

180, 156, 158 extending downwardly from recess 30', recesses 176, 180 and 178, 182 being longitudinally spaced apart to define intermediate side portions 184, 186.

A cavity 188 is formed in body 20 between side portions 184, 186 having an open end communicating with bottom surface 174 of recess 30 and a closed bottom end 190. Cavity 188 has an enlarged portion 192 at its upper end which threadingly receives bushing 194. Opening 188 thus forms a cylinder for the hydraulic ram. Piston 56 is reciprocally seated in cavity 188 and, in its retracted position, has its bottom end 196 abutting closed end 190 of cavity 188. An insert member 198 is seated in recess 200 in upper end 202 of piston 56' and has a curved upper surface 204 which is flush with flat surface 174 of recess 30' when piston 56 is fully retracted. Piston 56' has a conventional seal 206, as shown. A shoulder 208 is formed on piston 56 which engages bushing 194 when the piston is fully extended, thus limiting the extension of piston 56'.

A fitting 58 is threadingly seated in an opening 210 formed in end 154 of body 20 with flexible hose 60' being attached to fitting 58'. Hose 60 is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of hydraulic fluid under pressure (not shown). A passage 212 connects opening 210 to the bottom of cavity 188 for supplying hydraulic fluid thereto under pressure, thereby to extend piston 56' in the direction shown by the arrow 213, as shown by the dashed lines 215.

Shoe 80 comprises a top portion 214 having a curved top surface 83'. In the retracted position of piston 56, top portion 214 of shoe 80' is contained within and substantially fills recess 30 in body 20, the bottom surface 216 of top portion 214 abutting bottom surface 174 of recess 30'. In its retracted position, top surface 83' conforms to the curvature of top side 160 of body 20' and circle 168, forming a smooth extension thereof, and

sides

218, 220 are flush with

body sides

156, 158, and form a smooth extension thereof.

Side 218 of top portion 214 of shoe 80 has a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart

legs

222, 224 depending therefrom, and side 220 has a similar pair of

legs

226, 228 depending therefrom,

legs

222, 226 being opposite and

legs

224, 228 being opposite.

Legs

222, 224, 226 and 228 are respectively slidably received in

recesses

176, 180, 178 and 182 in

sides

156, 158 of body 20, their outer surfaces being generally flush with

sides

156, 158. It will thus be seen that side portion 184 is disposed between

legs

222, 224 and that side portion 186 is disposed between

legs

226, 228.

Pins

230, 232 are seated in transversely extending openings in body 20' and have end portions respectively extending into

recesses

176, 178, 180 and 182. The end portions of

pins

230, 232 are respectively received in elongated slots 234 formed in

leg portions

222, 224, 226 and 228 of shoe 80, the pins and slots cooperating to guide shoe 80 for movement in direction 213 and limiting the extent of such movement.

Side edges 236, 238 of

leg portions

222, 224, 226 and 228 are smoothly curved downwardly toward lower ends 240 in order to accommodate the aforesaid fore-and-aft rocking motion of shoe 80' about curved distal end 204 of piston 56. It will thus be seen that shoe 80' can be extended out of recess 30 by extension of piston 56 to the position as shown in dashed lines at 242 in FIG. 13, and can be rocked fore and aft,

. as indicated by the dashed

lines

244, 246.

It will be observed that in the previous embodiments, a separate ram cylinder 54 was required positioned between the side walls of the body means 20. ln this embodiment, cavity 188 which comprises the ram cylinder is formed in the solid body 20'. Further, it will be observed that the cavity 188 is positioned between side portions 184, 186, and thus that the thickness of the wall sections between cavity 188 and the outer surfaces of side portions 184, 186 is increased so as to provide greater strength against breakage without correspondingly increasing the overall thickness of the spreader.

In this embodiment, the elongated shank or handle 26 is in the form of a member 248 having a generally channel-shaped cross section with its forward end attached to rear end 154 of body 20', as by welding, and having head portion 28' secured to its rear end, as by welding. It will be seen that pressure fitting 58 is disposed substantially within the channel member 248.

The spreader of the embodiments of FIGS. 1349 is employed in the same manner as the spreaders of the previous embodiments, as described above in connection with FIGS. 4, and 6.

The spreaders of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-3, 8-11 and 13-19 are particularly suitable for use with smaller diameter cores, such as three inch cores. Referring now to FlGS. 20 through 24 of the drawings, another embodiment of the invention is shown particularly suitable for use with larger diameter cores, such as 4-inch cores. Here, body 20" comprises a bottom member 250, top member 252, a tip support member 254, and body member 256, all secured in assembled relation, as by welding. Bottom member 250 has a flat bottom surface 258 joined by tapered surfaces 260 to side edges 262. Bottom member 250 has a longitudinally extending slot 264 formed therein in which body member 256 is seated. Top member 252 has a cross-sectional configuration identical to that of bottom member 250 with a flat top surface 266 joined to side edges 268 by tapered surfaces 270. Top member 252 also has a longitudinally extending slot 272 formed therein. Bottom member 250 is preferably initially formed, as by machining, to be straight throughout its length. Tapered portions 36" and 38" are formed by

transverse slots

274, 276 which permit bending bottom member 250 to the desired configuration shown,

slots

274, 276 being subsequently filled by welding. Top member 252 is likewise preferably initially formed, as by machining, so as to be straight throughout its length, tapered portions 32", 34" being fonned by transverse slot 278 which pennits top member 252 to be bent to its desired configuration, slot 278 being subsequently filled by welding.

Tip support member 254 has a rear edge 280 disposed rearwardly of rear edge 282 of top member 252. Body member 256 is seated in slot 264 of bottom member 250 with its front end 284 abutting rear edge 280 of tip support member 254, being welded thereto and to bottom member 250. Body member 256 is rectangular in configuration with its side surfaces 286 respectively extending upwardly from the sides of slot 264, and thus being transversely inwardly spaced from side edges 262 of bottom member 250.

Body member 256 has a flat top surface 288 which is disposed below flat surface 266 of top member 252 at rear end 282, thus defining a recess therewith. Shoe has a top portion 214" having a cross-sectional configuration identical to that of top and

bottom members

252, 250. Top portion 214 thus has a flat top surface 290 joined to side edges 292 by tapered surfaces 294. Top portion 214" has a longitudinally extending slot 296 formed therein. ln the retracted position of shoe 80", top surface 290 of body 256 is received in slot 296 with top portion 214" thus filling the aforementioned recess and forming a continuation of top member 252.

A pair of transversely spaced-apart leg members 298 depend from top portion 214", being secured thereto as by welding. Leg members 298 are respectively arranged in sliding engagement with side surfaces 286 of body member 250, thereby to guide shoe 80 for movement between its retracted and extended positions. A first transversely extending guide plate member 300 depends from top portion 214" at the front ends of leg members 298, being secured thereto as by welding. A downwardly extending slot 302 is formed in rear edge 280 of support member 254. In the retracted position of shoe 80", guide member 300 extends downwardly in slot 302, and has a slot 304 formed therein which receives tip support member 254 (FIG. 24). A transversely extending slot 306 is formed in body member 256 adjacent its rear end 308. A second guide plate member 310 depends from top portion 214" at the rear ends of leg members 298. Leg members 298 extend longitudinally between front and rear

guide plate members

300, 310. In the retracted position of shoe 80", rear guide plate member 310 extends into slot 306 and has a slot 312 therein which receives body member 256.

Guide plate members

300, 310 in cooperation with

slots

302, 306 limit fore-and-aft movement and the rocking motion of shoe 80" when in its extended position.

A pair of longitudinally spaced-apart cavities 314, 316 are formed in body member 256 extending downwardly from top surface 288 thereof.

Pistons

318, 320 are respectively extensibly seated in cavities 314, 316 which form the cylinders for

pistons

318, 320. Distal ends 322, 324 of

pistons

318, 320

' member 256, and passage 212" respectively engage bottom surface 326 tion 214". Opening 210'! of slot 296 in top poris formed in end 308 of body extends between cavity 316 and opening 210". Another passage 328 extends between cavities 316, 314. Hydraulic fitting 58" is threadingly seated in opening 210" and has flexible hydraulic hose 60 connected thereto. It will thus be seen that the application of suitable hydraulic fluid, under pressure, to hose 60" and thus to passage 212' will result in initial slight extensions of piston 320, the fluid then being admitted to passage 328 and cavity 314 with the result that

pistons

318, 320 are thereafter simul taneously extended, thus forcing shoe 80" outwardly.

It will now be readily seen that if during outward extension of shoe 80", either the forward or rearward end of top portion 214" first contacts the interior surface of the core, thus exerting increased resistance against extension of the

respective pistons

318, 320, the other piston will be further extended thereby longitudinally tilting top portion 214" in one direction or the other, the round distal ends 322, 324 of

pistons

318, 320 accommodating this fore-and-aft rocking or tilting motion.

Handle member 26" is similar to handle member 26' of the embodiment of FIGS. 14 through 19, and has its channel member 248 seated in slot 64 of rearwardly extending portion 330 of bottom member 250, being secured thereto and to rear 308 of body member 256, as by welding. Driving pad 28" is similarly secured to the rear end of channel member 248'.

In this embodiment, comers 261 at the sides of flat bottom surface 258, and comers 295 at the sides of flat top surface 290 of shoe 80" (FIG. 21) function as tracking means to resist rotation of the spreader and to insure its proper positioning upon insertion into the damaged core. It will be observed that in each embodiment of the invention, the length of the shoe is less than the length of the front or nose portion of the body, and less than one-half the overall length of the body. It will further be observed'that each embodiment, the ram or rams exert force on the shoe at or adjacent the transverse centerline thereof. Thus, in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 15, pistons 56, 56' respectively apply force on

shoes

80, 80 substantially at the transverse centerlines thereof, while in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 20, the resultant of the forces exerted by

pistons

318, 320 on shoe 80" is applied slightly forwardly of the transverse centerline thereof.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the scope of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A spreader for damaged cores comprising body means for insertion axially into a damaged core, said body means having a longitudinal axis, a shoe mounted on said body means for movement in a direction generally perpendicular to said axis, said shoe having an outer surface facing outwardly of said body means and disposed generally normal to said direction, power means for forcefully moving said shoe in said direction, and means mounting said shoe with respect to said body means for rocking motion independently of said movement whereby said shoe may tilt such that the outer surface thereof will substantially uniformly engage a contiguous core surface which may be at an angle to the core axis.

2. A spreader as defined in claim l-wherein said body means is elongated and said direction being generally normal to the direction of elongation of said body means, said outer shoe surface extending generally longitudinally with respect to said body means.

3. The spreader of claim 2 in which said body means has a continuous outer surface, said body means having a generally orthogonal cross-sectional shape and having front and rear portions, said front portion being tapered so as to facilitate the entry of said body means into a core.

4. The spreader of claim 2 in which said body means includes elongated front and rear ends, the front end being tapered to a wedge-shaped point, the rear end being of substantially unifonn cross-sectional size and shape throughout the length thereof, said shoe being mounted in said rear end.

5. The spreader of claim 4 in which said body means has a continuous outer surface and said shoe being so sized and shaped that when said shoe is in a retracted position its outer surface conforms to and constitutes a smooth continuation of said body means.

6. The spreader of claim 4 in which said shoe is elongated and extends longitudinally of said body means, said power means comprising at least one hydraulic ram which includes a cylinder and a piston in said body means, said ram operatively engaging said shoe and an opposite side of said body means whereby actuation of said ram results in forcing said shoe outwardly from said body means, said shoe being rockably engaged at a point intermediate the ends thereof with said ram.

7. The spreader of claim 5 in which said shoe is channel shaped and when retracted covers an opening in said body means, the shape of said shoe complementing the shape of said opening, the outer shoe surface being longitudinally straight but in cross section having rounded corners, said body means having rounded comers which are smooth continuations of the shoe corners.

8. The spreader of claim 4 in which the tip portion of said tapered front end is tapered at a greater angle than the remaining portion thereof.

9. The spreader of claim 5 wherein the sides, top and bottom of said body means are joined by rounded corners, said bottom having a longitudinally extending rib thereon for guiding said body means in a core during insertion thereof.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said shoe includes a guide plate secured thereto and fitted slidably within a recess in said body means.

11. The spreader of claim 2 including means for guiding said shoe for movement rectilinearly, said means including a generally U-shaped portion on one of said shoe and body means in sliding engagement with the other.

12. The spreader of claim 7 in which said shoe is shorter than and fits within the length of said body means, said shoe having straight longitudinally extending edges and a planar rear edge which is abutable against a planar rear edge of said opening, said planar rear edges lying in planes normal to the axis of said body means.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including an attachment for use with said spreader, said attachment including a bottom shoe engageable with said body means and a top shoe engageable with said first mentioned shoe, and means to align said top shoe with respect to said body means.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said bottom shoe includes a recess for receiving the tracking means said bottom shoe also including a tracking means extending from the bottom surface thereof.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said bottom shoe includes an elongated handle secured thereto.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said first-mentioned shoe has a curved upper surface, said top shoe of the attachment having a curved under surface fitting over said first mentioned shoe.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the means for aligning said top shoe relative to said body means includes pin means supported by said body means, said top shoe of the attachment having an elongated slot for receiving said pin means.

18. The spreader of claim 4 wherein said shoe includes means embracing an exterior surface of a portion of said body means for guiding said shoe for said movement.

19. The spreader of claim 18 wherein said body means has a top portion and opposite sides, said top portion having a recess formed therein, each of said sides having at least one recess formed therein, said shoe having a top portion which when retracted is received in said top recess, said guiding means comprising at least one pair of leg portions depending from said top portion, said leg portions being respectively slidably received in said body means side recesses.

20. The spreader of claim 19 wherein said shoe when retracted has said top portion thereof substantially filling said top recess and said leg portions contained within said side recesses, with the outer surface of said shoe conforming to and forming a smooth continuation of the outer surface of said body means.

21. The spreader of claim 19 wherein said body means has a cavity fonned therein between said sides having an open end communicating with said top recess and a closed end, said power means being a hydraulic ram comprising an extensible piston, said piston having a distal end operatively engaging said shoe whereby actuation of said ram forces said shoe outwardly in said direction from said recess.

22. The spreader of claim 19 wherein said leg portions respectively have curved side edges for accommodating said rocking motion.

23. The spreader of claim 19 further comprising a pin projecting outwardly from said body means in each of said side recesses, each of said leg portions having an elongated slot formed therein which receives a respective pin for guiding and limiting movement of said shoe in said direction.

24. The spreader of claim 19 wherein said body means sides respectively have two of said recesses which are spaced apart in the direction of said elongation to define opposite intermediate side portions, said shoe having two pairs of said leg portions, each of said leg portions being slidably received in a respective side recess.

25. The spreader of claim 24 wherein said power means is mounted in said body means between said side portions.

26. The spreader of claim 19 wherein said body means has a cavity formed therein between said side portions having an open end communicating with said top recess and a closed end, said power means being a hydraulic ram comprising an extensible piston seated in said cavity, said cavity forming a cylinder for said piston, said piston having a distal end operatively engaging the lower surface of said top portion of said shoe whereby actuation of said ram forces said shoe outwardly in said direction from said recess, said lower surface being generally flat, said mounting means comprising a rounded surface on said distal end whereby said shoe is rockably engaged therewith at a point intermediate the ends thereof.

27. The spreader of claim 26 wherein each of said leg portions has curved side edges for accommodating said rocking motion, a pin projecting outwardly from said body means in each of said side recesses, each of said leg portions having an elongated slot formed therein which receives a respective pin for guiding and limiting movement of said shoe in said direction.

28. The spreader of claim 4 wherein said shoe is elongated and extends longitudinally of said body means, said power means comprising a pair of hydraulic rams in said body means, each of said rams including a cylinder and a piston, said rams operatively engaging said shoe and said body means whereby actuation of said rams to extend the pistons thereof forces said shoe outwardly from said body means, said rams respectively being rockably engaged with said shoe intermediate the ends thereof.

29. The spreader of claim 28 wherein said rams are longitudinally spaced apart.

30. The spreader of claim 28 further comprising means for simultaneously actuating said rams.

31. The spreader of claim 28 wherein said body means has a recess formed therein, said shoe when retracted being received in said recess, said body means having a pair of Iongitudinally spaced cavities formed therein, said power means being a pair of hydraulic rams comprising a pair of extensible pistons respectively seated in said cavities, said cavities forming c linders for said pistons, each of said istons havin a dist end operatively engaging the lower su aces of said s oe outwardly in said direction from said recess, each of said distal ends being rounded whereby said shoe is rockably engaged therewith.

32. The spreader of claim 31 wherein said body means has a first hydraulic fluid passage communicating with one of said cavities for admitting hydraulic fluid thereto, and a second fluid passage extending between said cavities for admitting hydraulic fluid to the other of said cavities whereby said rams are simultaneously actuated.

33. The spreader of claim 4 wherein said body means has top and bottom portions and opposite sides, said top portion having a recess formed therein, said shoe having a top portion and opposite side leg portions, said shoe top portion being received in said recess when said shoe is retracted, said leg portions respectively slidably engaging said body means sides for guiding said shoe for said movement.

34. The spreader of claim 4 wherein said body means comprises top and bottom members each having opposite side edges, and a body member mounted on said bottom member and having top and opposite side surfaces, the width of said body member being less than that of said top and bottom members with said side surfaces being respectively transversely spaced inwardly from said side edges, said top surface of said body member defining a recess with the top surface of said top member, said shoe having a top portion which is received in said recess when said shoe is retracted, said shoe having opposite leg portions depending therefrom and respectively slidably engaging said body member side surfaces for guiding said shoe for said movement, said shoe having at least one transversely extending guide member depending therefrom, said guide member having at least a portion thereof received in a transverse slot formed in said body means thereby limiting longitudinal movement of said shoe.

35. The spreader of claim 34 wherein said body member has at least one cavity formed therein between said side surfaces and having an open end communicating with said top surface, said ower means being a ram comprising an extensible piston seated in said cavity which forms a cylinder therefor, said top portion of said shoe having a bottom surface between said leg portions, said piston having a rounded distal end rockably engaging said bottom surface of said shoe intermediate its ends whereby actuation of said ram forces said shoe outwardly in said direction from said recess.

36. A spreader for damaged cores comprising an elongated body for insertion axially into a damaged core, said body having an elongated front portion which tapers generally to a point and which is joined to an elongated rear portion, said body having an outer surface, said rear portion having a recess in said outer surface thereof, a shoe movable laterally from a retraced position in said recess to a protracted position, said shoe having an outer surface which in said retracted position thereof generally forms an extension of said outer surface of said body, and power means in said rear portion of said body for forcefully moving said shoe toward said protracted position thereof.

37. The spreader of claim 36 wherein the length of said shoe is no greater than the length of said front portion of said body, and no greater than one-half the overall length of said body.

38. The spreader of claim 36 wherein said power means exerts force on said shoe generally adjacent the transverse centerline thereof.

39. The spreader of claim 38 wherein said power means comprises at least one hydraulic ram having an extendable piston which engages said shoe.

40. The spreader of claim 38 wherein said power means comprises a pair of axially spaced hydraulic rams respectively having extendable pistons which engage said shoe.

41. The spreader of claim 36 wherein said power means comprises a pair of axially spaced hydraulic rams respectively having extendable pistons which engage said shoe.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 618, 895 Dated November 9, .1971

InventorU!) James J. VanGompel #1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

IN SPECIFICATICEN Column 4, line 43, ---is still in its retracted position. Fig.

6 illustrates the shoe 80--- should be inserted after "80";

Column 6, line 55, "26' should be ---36 Column 6, line 70, "20" should be ---20 Column 9, line 26, ---end--- should be inserted after "rear",-

IN THE CLA IMS Cla im 36, Column 12, line 52, "retracted" should be --retracted---. (applicant's error) Signed and sealed this 2nd day of May 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOITSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC ODS'IG POD W PC7-1050 (10-69) u.s. sovznumzur rim'rmc ornc: nu o-nl-u4

Claims

2. A spreader as defined in claim 1 wherein said body means is elongated and said direction being generally normal to the direction of elongation of said body means, said outer shoe surface extending generally longitudinally with respect to said body means.

4. The spreader of claim 2 in which said body means includes elongated front and rear ends, the front end being tapered to a wedge-shaped point, the rear end being of substantially uniform cross-sectional size and shape throughout the length thereof, said shoe being mounted in said rear end.

7. The spreader of claim 5 in which said shoe is channel shaped and when retracted covers an opening in said body means, the shape of said shoe complementing the shape of said opening, the outer shoe surface being longitudinally straight but in cross section having rounded corners, said body means having rounded corners which are smooth continuations of the shoe corners.

21. The spreader of claim 19 wherein said body means has a cavity formed therein between said sides having an open end communicating with said top recess and a closed end, said power means being a hydraulic ram comprising an extensible piston, said piston having a distal end operatively engaging said shoe whereby actuation of said ram forces said shoe outwardly in said direction from said recess.

29. The spreader of claim 28 wherein said rams are longitudinally spaced apart.

31. The spreader of claim 28 wherein said body means has a recess formed therein, said shoe when retracted being received in said recess, said body means having a pair of longitudinally spaced cavities formed therein, said power means being a pair of hydraulic rams comprising a pair of extensible pistons respectively seated in said cavities, said cavities forming cylinders for said pistons, each of said pistons having a distal end operatively engaging the lower surfaces of said shoe outwardly in said direction from said recess, each of said distal ends being rounded whereby said shoe is rockably engaged therewith.

35. The spreader of claim 34 wherein said body member has at least one cavity formed therein between said side surfaces and having an open end communicating with said top surface, said power means being a ram comprising an extensible piston seated in said cavity which forms a cylinder therefor, said top portion of said shoe having a bottom surface between said leg portions, said piston having a rounded distal end rockably engaging said bottom surface of said shoe intermediate its ends whereby actuation of said ram forces said shoe outwardly in said direction from said recess.