The novel technology relates generally to the mechanical arts, and, more particularly, to a system and apparatus for supporting a rotatable wire or cable spool and facilitating the supply of cable during the installation thereof in a structure.
Electrical cable or wire is typically supplied wound on large wooden or plastic spools. The spools are typically several feet in diameter and may weigh many hundreds of pounds. One of the more common applications of electrical cable is in the electrical wiring of buildings and structures. Typically, during the wiring installation process, the cable is supplied on spools that are typically lifted via screw jack onto support stands for unreeling. The placement of the spool onto the stand and the actuation of the screw jack are manual processes. The spool axels are set directly onto the support stand, and so during unreeling the spool must be manually lifted and turned; this process typically takes at least two men, and more typically several men, to accomplish.
Unreeling the cable is likewise labor-intensive, as the cable typically weighs about one pound per foot. The unreeling and positioning of the cable thus occupies at least 5 and more typically 8 or 9 men. Moreover, both the screw jacks themselves and the stands are prone to tipover, and the unreeling process inherently generates a torque on the stands and jacks, creating an inherent danger to the process that increases with the number of technicians involved when they are not all working in harmony (typically the situation). Thus, there is a need for an improved system for lifting and positioning cable spools and dispensing cable. The present invention addresses this need.
The present novel technology relates generally to the field of mechanical devices, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for positioning and dispensing cable. One object of the present novel technology is to provide an improved system of dispensing cable. Related objects and advantages of the present novel technology will be apparent from the following description.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the novel technology, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the novel technology is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the novel technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the novel technology relates.
Referring to
The lifting actuators 60 are typically pneumatic or hydraulic jacks, and are typically manually actuated, but may also be any type of jack 60 and further may be automatically actuated. The support members 20, 35, 45 are typically made of a structural material, and are more typically made of steel; however, any convenient structural material may be used. Likewise, the structural members 20, 35, 40, 45 are typically substantially straight and flat members, but may alternately have any convenient shape. The vertical support members 35 typically include grooves or recesses 90 formed in at least one surface for engaging and guiding the axel support members 45.
In operation, the axel member 65 is extended through the axial core of a cable spool 80 and each support member engaging portion 75 of the axel member 65 is positioned above a respective axel support member 45, such that energization of the respective jacks 60 will urge the axel support members 45 to slide upwardly along the respective vertical support members 35 and engage the support member engaging portions 75 with the axel engaging portions 55. Further energization of the jacks 60 will urge the axel support members 55 to continue to move upwardly along the vertical support members 35, thus raising the axel member 70 and spool 80 to an elevation convenient for transport and unspooling.
After the spool 80 is lifted into the spool holding space 30, the support members 45 are typically locked into place, such as by extending a pin 85 through one or both of the vertical support members 35 below the axel support members 45, or the like. The device 10 may then be rolled on its wheels/casters 15 to a desired unspooling location, where the wheels/castors 15 are typically locked to prevent unwanted drifting of the device 10 and the loaded cable spool 80. The spool 80 may then be unreeled by exerting a force on the end of the cable and unspooling a desired amount (this is typically accomplished by one or more workmen pulling the cable to its desired location). This process is facilitated by the bearings 77 operationally connected to the axel 65 and engaging the support members 45. When the desired amount of cable has been extracted, the remaining cable may be left on the spool 80 and the spool 80 transported to the next job site, or the device 10 may be moved to a suitable storage location, the axel support members 45 unlocked and lowered, and the cable spool 80 disengaged from the device 10 and axel 65 for storage.
While the novel technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the novel technology are desired to be protected.
This patent application claims priority to co-pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/955,505, filed on Aug. 13, 2007.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60955505 | Aug 2007 | US |