Patent Application
20150266698
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
This disclosure relates to the control of powered rotating machinery, including powered reels for winding and unwinding a hose or other apparatus.
In various applications, powered rotation may facilitate various useful operations. For example, powered reel assemblies may be utilized to wind various material or devices, such as hoses, cords, ropes or chains, around a rotatable reel core for relatively compact storage and relatively easy transport. As desired, the material or devices may then be unwound for use, rewound again for continued storage or transport, and so on. In certain instances, such winding (or unwinding) may be facilitated by various power sources. For example, electrical or hydraulic motors may provide rotational power to a reel assembly in order to allow for powered winding (or unwinding) of a rope, hose, cord, or chain, and so on.
A control assembly is disclosed for controlling operation of a powered rotation, including powered rotation of a reel core.
According to one aspect of the disclosure, a power source, such as an electrical motor, provides rotational power to a first rotating member, such as a powered wheel. A power-transfer device, such as a belt, extends between the first rotating member and an input portion of a second rotating member, such as an input wheel of a hose-reel core. A control member linked to the first rotating member moves between first and second orientations to move the first rotating member between engaged and disengaged positions. In the engaged position, the power-transfer device is engaged to allow transfer of rotational power from the power source to the second rotating member. In the disengaged position, the power-transfer device is disengaged such that rotational power is not transferred from the power source to the second rotating member.
In certain embodiments, one or more of the following features may be included. At the engaged position, the first rotating member may place the power-transfer device under a first tension to allow transfer of power between the first rotating member and the second rotating member. At the disengaged position, the first rotating member may release the power-transfer device from the first tension, to prevent transfer of power between the first rotating member and the second rotating member. Guide members may restrict movement of the power-transfer device when the first rotating member is in the disengaged position. The first rotating element may be biased toward the disengaged position.
One or more of the power source and the first rotating member may be slidably mounted to a frame, whereby sliding the power source or the first rotating member along the frame may cause the first rotating member to move between the engaged and disengaged positions. The frame may include an opening between first and second sides of the frame, with the power source located, at least in part, on the first side of the frame and the first rotating member located, at least in part, on the second side of the frame. A slide plate may be located, at least in part, on the second side of the frame and between the power source and the first rotating member, such that moving the control member between the first and second orientations causes the slide plate, and the first rotating member, to move along the opening.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like members. Certain features have been omitted from certain figures for clarity of presentation.
The following describes one or more example embodiments of the disclosed control system, as shown in the accompanying figures of the drawings described briefly above. Various modifications to the example embodiments may be contemplated by one of skill in the art.
As noted above, powered rotating machinery may be employed in various useful applications. For example, powered reels may be mounted to vehicles or other platforms, for automated (or semi-automated) winding or unwinding of devices or materials such as ropes, hoses, cords, chains, and so on. In certain embodiments, it may be useful to selectively control the rotation of such devices. For example, it may be useful to provide a control system to selectively control delivery of power to a rotating component, such as a reel core of a powered reel.
In certain embodiments, a flexible power-transfer device (e.g., a belt or chain) may extend between a driven member (e.g., an input wheel of a reel core) and a powered member (e.g., a separate, powered wheel). In such a configuration, a power source may rotate the powered member, which may transmit power via the power-transfer device to the driven member, and thereby cause the driven member to rotate (e.g., in order to wind a hose on a reel). In order to control this flow of power, the powered member may be mounted to a frame such that it may be moved along the frame, with respect to the driven member, by way of a control mechanism (e.g., a lever, rod, or other member or assembly). In this way, the powered member may be moved along the frame between an engaged position, in which the power-transfer device is engaged for transfer of power from the power source to the driven member via the power-transfer device, and a disengaged position, in which the power-transfer device is disengaged and, as such, does not transfer power to the driven member via the power-transfer device.
In an embodiment for a powered reel assembly, for example, a flexible belt may extend between an input sheave attached to a reel core and a powered sheave driven by a motor. The powered sheave may be movably (e.g., slidably) mounted to a frame of the reel assembly, such that it may be moved between an engaged position (or positions) and a disengaged position (or positions) by a control lever (or other control device). At an engaged position, the powered sheave may place the flexible belt under operational tension and thereby allow transmission of power from the motor to the input sheave (and the reel core) via the powered sheave and the belt. At a disengaged position, the powered sheave may release tension from the belt, thereby preventing transmission of power from the electrical motor to the input sheave (and the reel core) via the powered sheave and the belt. Various other embodiments may also be possible, with various additional (or alternative) configurations and features, as will be apparent from the disclosure herein.
Referring now to
Reel assembly 20 is depicted as a hose reel assembly, with features such as hose connections 26 for providing pressurized fluid through assembly 20 to various attached hoses (not shown). For example, each of connections 26 may be configured to provide a different chemical or fluid to a distinct hose for various dual-spray applications. It will be understood, however, that aspects of the disclosed control system may also be implemented with respect to various other reel types, as well as other types of rotating machinery.
Referring also to
It will be understood that various power connections, conduits, control circuits and the like (not shown in the various figures) may be provided to supply power (e.g., electrical power), control signals, or other inputs or control to motor 32 or various other components of assembly 20. In certain embodiments, motor 32 may always provide rotational power to powered wheel 34, so long as power is generally supplied to reel assembly 20. As such, in certain embodiments, powered wheel 34 may continuously rotate so long as power is generally supplied to reel assembly 20. In certain embodiments, however, motor 32 may sometimes not provide rotational power to powered wheel 34, even though power is generally available to reel assembly 20. As such, in certain embodiments, powered wheel 34 may spin only some of the time that power is supplied to reel assembly 20.
Referring also to
In the embodiment depicted, mounting plate 44, with mounting bracket 44a is oriented between slide plate 42 and motor 32, and motor 32 is mounted to slide plate 42 (e.g., via a connection extending through mounting plate 44), with spindle 36 extending from motor 32 through slide plate 42 and mounting plate 44 to provide rotational power to powered wheel 34. In certain embodiments, motor 32 is mounted via bolts that extend past slide plate 42 to form guide pins 54, which are discussed in greater detail below.
In certain embodiments, mounting plate 44 is configured to be slightly thicker than frame 24 at opening 40. Accordingly, when motor 32, mounting plate 44, and slide plate 42 are mounted together and slide plate 42 is seated closely against frame 24, motor 32 clears frame 24 by a small amount. In this way, motor 32, slide plate 42, and powered wheel 34 are collectively secured to frame 24 (i.e., because motor 32 and mounting plate 42, when mounted together, form an assembly that cannot pass through opening 40 in either direction), and are also permitted to slide along frame 24 to a certain degree, in order to vary location of wheel 34, with respect to wheel 28. In certain embodiments, various guides (not shown) may be provided to further secure the combined assembly of plates 42 and 44 and motor 32 to frame 24, or facilitate the sliding of the combined assembly with respect to frame 24. It will be understood that, in certain embodiments, mounting plate 44 and slide plate 42 may be integrally formed, rather than being formed as separate pieces.
Motor 32, mounting plate 42 and powered wheel 34 may be engaged in various ways to slide these features along opening 40 (i.e., in order to change the relative position of powered wheel 34 with respect to input wheel 28 of reel core 22). As depicted, for example, control rod 46 is connected at one end, via mounting bracket 44a, to mounting plate 44 (and slide plate 42), and is connected at the other end, via control link 50, to control lever 48 (see
Although control lever 48 is depicted as being connected to control link 50 with a clevis and cotter pin assembly, it will be understood that various other configurations may be possible (for this and other connections described herein). Likewise, it will be understood that various features, such as control rod 46 and control link 50 or control link 46 and lever 48, may sometimes be formed as unitary bodies rather than as separate elements, and may be configured differently than the embodiment depicted in the figures. For example, the shape, size, or orientation of lever 48 may be varied depending on the particular platform or application for which a particular reel (or other) assembly is intended.
In certain embodiments, various additional (or alternative) features may be provided to control or limit the above-noted movement of motor 32, slide plate 42 and powered wheel 34. For example, from the perspective of
Referring also to
In
In this way, for example, with respect to a hose reel assembly 20, various hoses (not shown) may be manually unwound from reel core 22 for use, then re-wound for storage and transport with the assistance of motor 32. For example, a user (or biasing element, as discussed in detail below) may move lever 48 to the position depicted in
In certain embodiments, various other features may be included, such as various devices to automatically control operation of motor 22. For example, as depicted in the various figures, switch 62 is located along the path of travel of control rod 46, with leads 64 providing control signals to an electrical relay (not shown) to control current flow to motor 32. With the control system oriented as depicted in
Continuing, in certain embodiments, one or more biasing elements may be provided in order to bias the disclosed control system toward a particular orientation. For example, referring again to
In certain embodiments, the disclosed control system may further allow for relatively precise control of the engagement of a drive system for a reel core (or other rotating machinery). As also noted above, certain embodiments of the disclosed system allow a powered rotating member (e.g., wheel 34) to be moved between positions at which a power-transfer device (e.g., belt 38) is fully engaged (e.g., is at full operational tension, as depicted in
Various other configurations are also possible. For example, various mechanisms, including various automated mechanisms such as solenoids, servo motors, or other actuators, may be utilized in addition (or as an alternative) to control lever 48 or control rod 46, in order to move wheel 34 between its engaged and disengaged positions. For example, a user may engage a control switch (not shown) in order to cause a solenoid actuator to move wheel 34 along frame 24, or a sensor (not shown) may detect a desired operation (e.g., a desired unwinding operation) and may cause an actuator to move wheel 34 accordingly.
Continuing, various embodiments may provide for control of power transfer between a powered member (e.g., wheel 34) and a driven member (e.g., wheel 28) without the use of an intervening power-transfer device (e.g., belt 38). For example, with wheel 34 configured to directly engage wheel 28 (e.g., with both wheels configured with durable rubber or polymer rims for direct transfer of rotational power), a user may control rotation of wheel 28 (or a similar component) in a manner similar to that described above (i.e., through re-orientation of wheel 34), but with wheel 34 directly contacting wheel 28 (or a similar component) when in an engaged state in order to power rotation of wheel 28. Additionally (or alternatively) other intervening members (e.g., other rubber- or polymer-rimmed wheels) may be oriented between wheels 28 and 34 (or similar components), such that wheel 28 may be engaged in order to power wheel 34 by bringing wheel 28 into direct (or other) engagement with the intervening member.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, members, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, members, components, and/or groups thereof.
The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Explicitly referenced embodiments herein were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure and recognize many alternatives, modifications, and variations on the described example(s). Accordingly, various embodiments and implementations other than those explicitly described are within the scope of the following claims.
