Patent Application
20240109749
The present disclosure relates to a novel system and method for cable pulling. More particularly, and not by way of limitation, the present disclosure is directed to a system and method for cable pulling that is attached to an excavator and can wind a cable onto a reel.
Cable-pulling apparatuses permit a cable to be pulled through various mediums, such as a pipe, a conduit, or a container. Also, such devices can serve as an organizational mechanism to wrap the cable in an orderly fashion. While small projects can allow the cable to be pulled by hand, larger or more sophisticated jobs can be assisted by a cable-pulling apparatus.
Generally, cable pulling apparatuses have, in some manner, a spool that spins to pull or push on a cable. The pulling action can be achieved by human or machine strength. Often machines have used pneumatic systems, though these systems often have a length restriction on the size of job possible with the machine. In action, a cable puller is transported to the job site and needs to be run off either construction implements or another host vehicle. Another common application of the apparatus involves hooking the cable puller up to an excavator to utilize the moveable front trunk. The spool can have various embodiments to pull a cable and potentially provide a braking mechanism. The housing and spool can be attached to the bucket of an excavator or take the place of a bucket on an excavator.
In the construction industry, the ability to work quickly and efficiently is at a premium. Job sites are often in remote or undeveloped sites requiring cable pulling apparatuses to be operable and transportable to job site locations. Also, greater power and torque by a cable puller translates to increased pulling speed and capability. Further, the construction industry works on dead cables, and as such, the cable puller needs to be set up, executed, and deconstructed as quickly as possible. Typical embodiments have sought to provide cable pulling capabilities in a more efficient, powerful, or speedy fashion for construction practitioners.
It would be advantageous to have a system and method for cable pulling that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. The present disclosure provides such a system and method.
Novel aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a cable pulling apparatus. In a non-limiting embodiment, the apparatus improves performance over past cable pulling designs. The apparatus includes a housing that can be attached to an excavator. The motor may be attached to the housing on the opposite housing side to the power reel spool. Apertures on either side of the housing allow for the drive shaft to connect to the motor and the power reel spool on either side of the housing. The power reel spool can expand and contract radially. The present disclosure includes the balancing effect of placing the motor outside the housing opposite the power reel spool. This placement promotes balance, efficiency, and speed of operation for the cable pulling apparatus.
In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed towards the power reel spool to collect the cable. The spool can contract and expand the segments radially, allowing the cable to be removed from the spool without having to reverse the cable out of a wound position.
In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed towards the power reel spool and bucket embodiment, including a quick connect to connect the apparatus to the excavator. This allows the housing to be quickly attached or removed from an excavator. Also, the quick connect between power reel and the rest of the apparatus allows for the power reel spool to be disconnected from the housing and drive shaft with similar enhanced speed.
Other aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures. In the figures, each identical, or substantially similar component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a single numeral or notation. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure. Nor is every component of each embodiment shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the present disclosure.
The novel features believed characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Cable pullers have traditionally been used to collect or pull wire through a conduit but have struggled due to design constraints or job characteristics to efficiently aid in completing the job. Being overly large, cable pullers have commonly been considered out of the question if work is being completed in a remote area or if the cable puller must be transported a long distance due to the bulk and cost associated with transport.
Further, the power and capabilities of common designs sometimes limit the usefulness of a cable puller due to the length of pulling necessary, the power needed, or alternatives available, such as human strength. Without the ability to use machinery or power onsite, cable pullers also tended to lack value on a construction site when lacking connection of previously connected structures to the grid. Also, depending on the location, a cable puller needed to be mobile enough to get into position. Trailers, cars, and other common machinery sometimes lack the ability to orient the cable puller for the most efficient operation of the present disclosure.
The design of a cable may limit the speed at which a crew can complete a job. For example, the crew may be limited by the power or torque available in the cable puller. Too little power or torque is prohibitive, and too much could tear up the newly built infrastructure. There is also the concern of setup time as the cable puller must be assembled on the construction site. Any advancements to speed up the cable pulling process are helpful for the crew and make the cable puller more valuable.
The present disclosure overcomes these deficiencies by incorporating numerous features to improve the power, torque, and balance of the cable puller. Also, features have been added to allow for quick setup and breakdown of the cable puller. Further, added functionality to allow for power reel collapsibility improves speed and practicality for removing a cable from the power reel after the cable has been wrapped into place.
The cable puller 100 includes a first side wall 102 and a second side wall 104 of the housing. The housing 102 may be connected via a quick connect 103 to an excavator to allow for easy attachment and removal of the cable puller 100. The housing 102 provides a foundation to hold a motor 108 on the second side wall 106 of the housing. Adjacent to the first side wall 104 is a convertible power reel 112. A drive shaft 110 provides a connection between the motor 108 and the convertible power reel 112 by running through the housing 102. In this example, the convertible power reel 112 is formed by numerous segments 114 extending in a radial direction to provide an area to interact with a cable.
The motor 108 is on the opposite side of the housing 102 from the collapsible power reel 112 providing balance to the cable puller 100 as it is attached to the excavator 103. Balance allows the cable puller 100 to work at higher power and torque than less balanced or structurally sound designs. Balance is achieved by evenly distributing the motor 108 and the collapsible power reel 112 across the housing 102 rather than having a cantilevered style design.
To connect the housing 102 and the collapsible power reel 112, the drive shaft 110 extends in a horizontally from an aperture in the first side housing wall 104.
The collapsible power reel 200 can be detached from the device by way disengaging from the drive shaft. The collapsible power reel 200 is configured to interact with any cable on the radially extended segments 202. These segments 202 can be manipulated by a handle 204 when turned to either extend or limit the circumference formed by the segments 202. The handle 204 manipulates the segments 202. This manipulation happens as the segments 202 are connected to two links with locking pins that can move from a vertical orientation pointed away from the central fixed spider piece 208 to horizontal with the turn of the handle 204, thereby decreasing the outward extension of the segments 202 away from the central spider piece 208. In other words, the altering of the link position by turning the handle 204 can decrease the overall circumference of the aggregate segments 202. The links and locking pins are built into the central fixed spider 208 and the central sliding spider 210 that operate as the backbone of the power reel.
The handle is anchored into the center of the sliding central spider. Anchoring is completed by a screw that, through a spacer, spring, and a plug, is secured through the central sliding spider into the spindle. The spindle is fitted into the central fixed spider adjacent to the sliding spider. The spindle pieces include a spring, roll pin, and a nut to allow for connected operation of the handle. The spindle and handle are connected and secured together by the screw, so both pieces move in tandem. This movement facilitates the radial expansion or contraction of the segments. The loaded springs in the handle promote differing orientations of the links to alter the segments in a radial fashion. The links are connected to both spindles at apertures on the spindles.
While this disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
While various embodiments in accordance with the principles disclosed herein have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of this disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with any claims and their equivalents issuing from this disclosure. Furthermore, the above advantages and features are provided in described embodiments, but shall not limit the application of such issued claims to processes and structures accomplishing any or all of the above advantages.
Additionally, the section headings herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under 37 C.F.R. 1.77 or otherwise to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specifically, and by way of example, although the headings refer to a “Technical Field,” the claims should not be limited by the language chosen under this heading to describe the so-called field. Further, a description of a technology as background information is not to be construed as an admission that certain technology is prior art to any embodiment(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Brief Summary” to be considered as a characterization of the embodiment(s) set forth in issued claims. Furthermore, any reference in this disclosure to “invention” in the singular should not be used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty in this disclosure. Multiple embodiments may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure, and such claims accordingly define the embodiment(s), and their equivalents, that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of such claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of this disclosure, but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.
