US3325118A - Cable reel drive mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June 13, 1967 F. c. HALL CABLE REEL DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Oct. 20, 1964 INVENTOR. FIFE!) AL-L.

United States Patent 3,325,118 CABLE REEL DRIVE MECHANISM Fred C. Hall, 820 Sharon Park Drive, Menlo Park, Calif. 94025 Filed Oct. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 405,123 1 Claim. (Cl. 242-865) This invention relates to cable reel drive mechanism, and particularly to such drive mechanism as is used in conjunction with a cable reel lifter, the lifter in turn being of relatively small size and particularly useful in association with light trucks of the pick-up variety.

Cable reel drive mechanism is often complicated by many gears and chains or other connecting means for transferring drive from the source of power to the cable reel, and heretofore there has been no compact simple unit which will operate reels of various sizes equally as eificiently, and without regard for the width or weight within quite wide limits.

Cable reel lifters and drives, are of course primarily useful in utility construction operations, and maintenance as a matter of fact, or in any instance where cable is to be reeled in and payed out with some rapidity in order to economize in the aspect of labor as much as possible.

This particular invention is directed to a novel form of reel drive mechanism in which the cable reel is lifted into position so that it engagesthe drive and is regulated in drive engagement by suitable instrumentalities provided therefor, the drive acting either as a brake, and in either of reverse directions or merely as a support for the reel in its loaded position in conjunction with other mechanism provided therefor.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a simple form of cable reel drive which will operate various diameters of cable reels and both for reeling in and reeling out and for regulating the speed at which such reeling in or reeling out may be undertaken.

It is a primary object of the invention further to effect these various motions and operations by hydraulic means so that a smooth easy operation is effected and control is possible within very close tolerances.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the specification appended hereto and disclosed in the drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view somewhat fragmentary in nature and likewise diagrammatic in certain apsects, illustrating the general arrangement of this invention and positions of reels to be driven thereby.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view, likewise fragmentary in nature showing further details of the mechanism of both the drive and reel lifting elements thereof.

The invention is shown as being incorporated in a unit having a base frame generally designated 1, which includes longitudinally extending base frame members 2, there being one at each side and the distance apart being substantially the width of the interior of a pick-up truck bed designated 3.

In order to connect the longitudinal base frame members 2, at their ends or near thereto, base frame crosspieces 4 and 5 are provided, there being one at the rear and front respectively.

I have thus provided a base rectangular frame generally open in aspect in plan, there being a transversely extending pivot bar 6, which is engaged at the ends of the longitudinal frame members 2, this bar 6 having the lift arms 7 connected thereto for pivotal movement as now to be explained.

It should be first noted that the arms 7 are formed by an initial section 8 pivotally mounted on the bar 6, and a further offset end member in each case designated 9.

At the ends of the arms 7, suitable saddle configurations 3,325,118 Patented June 13, 1967 are provided designated at 10, to receive the headache bar 11, commonly so-called, which headache bar 11 is intended to support the cable reel generally suggested at 12 in dotted lines.

The headache bar is retained in the saddles 10 by means of suitable pins 13 provided.

The arrangement of these saddles is such that when the arms 7 are in the lowermost position indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 1 for example, the reel 12 can be rolled with the headache ba-r extending therethrough into position to engage such saddles and the pins 13 thereupon inserted.

In order to operate the lift arms 7, a parallelogram arrangement is provided including the main link 14 which is pivotally connected at 15 to one of the longitudinal side members or frame members 2, it being noted that this mechanism now described is duplicated at opposite sides, the other end of the link 14 being connected at 16 to a common pivot from which the link 17 extends, this latter in turn being pivotally connected at 18 to the arm 7.

Each of the links and arms now being described is in turn provided with a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit 20, the cylinder section being denoted 21 and the piston rod 22, the piston rod in each case being connected at 16 to the links 14 and 17.

The other end of the piston and cylinder unit 20 in each case is connected pivotally at 24 to a vertically extending member 25 fastened to the base frame 1 as will be readily understood.

It is thus arranged so that by suitable manipulation of the piston and cylinder units 20, the parallelogram arrangement provided by the links 14 and 17 will in turn actuate the lift arms 7 to move the cable reel 12 through the various positions suggested.

Adjacent the forward end of the base frame 1, the base frame in this instance being supported on a pick-up truck generally denoted 26, and specifically in the body 3 thereof, there being a suitable roller 27 extending transversely as indicated in the respective figures, and of fairly large diameter, having a resilient cover which will frictionally drive the reel in a manner to be subsequently explained.

In any event, the roller 27 is supported on suitable pillow blocks such as suggested at 30, there being one at each side of the member and these in turn, of course, being suitably fixed to the respective longitudinal base frame member 2.

The roller 27 is thus supported for rotation and is driven by a. suitable sprocket indicated at 31, having a chain 32 engaged therewith, the forward end of the chain 32 in turn drivably carried by a further sprocket 33 which is mounted on the shaft 34 of a hydraulic motor 35.

The hydraulic motor 35 is in turn supplied by hydraulic fluid under pressure from a suitable pump, which pump is driven by a power takeoff such as 36, this latter being engine operated by the truck upon which the unit is mounted.

A suitable control box 37 is provided to regulate the operation of the motor 35 in forward and reverse actuation or to cause the motor 35 to act as a brake in carrying out the intended operation now to be set forth.

The motor 35 is supported on a suitable base 38 which is in turn connected to the base frame 1 in any suitable or preferred manner.

The cable reel 12 is of common form, including a reel drum suggested at 40 with end covers 41 therefor, the cable normally being reeved around the drum and supported and maintained in position by the covers as is well known.

These cable drums may be of any preferred construction, steel or wood as the case may be, and when positioned as suggested in FIGURE 1 upwardly over the mechanism heretofore described in detail, arranged to bring the periphery of the covers 41 into driving engagement with the roller 27.

This is, of course, effected by manipulation of the hydraulic piston and cylinder units 20 in accordance With any preferred way of operating them as by lever such as 37a in the control unit 37.

A control lever 37b is provided to regulate operation of the motor 35 and thus of the roller 27 to in turn drive the reel 12.

It will be apparent that any desired degree of frictional engagement may be effected by manipulation of the hydraulic piston and cylinder units 20 and depending of course upon the material with which the surface of the roller 27 is covered.

The foregoing has explained in detail the specific operation of the reel loader and drive unit, and it will of course be understood that reels of various sizes are possible to be driven depending upon their position and the ability of the truck or pick-up truck to support the same, as well as the power afforded by the hydraulic piston and cylinder units 20 to raise and lower the same.

Its ability to regulate the rotation of the reel 12 is important under many operating circumstances where construction or re-construction of various types of lines on which the cable would be reeved on a reel such as 12 is undertaken.

The base frame 1 is ar-rangedwith all the various parts shown thereon so as to be removable from the pick-up truck 26, and from within the body 3 although the arrangement suggested necessitates connection and disconnection of the hydraulic lines as will be apparent.

The unit as such however does not occupy the entire truck bed and when no cable reel is supported thereby, is of such a nature as to permit the use of the truck for other purposes.

I claim:

In reel drive mechanism of the class described, in combination, a base frame, lift arms pivotally connected thereto at one end, means including a shaft to support a reel of cable or the like at the free ends of said arms, a reel on said shaft carried by said arms, said reel having at least one end cover, reel drive and control means on said base frame, lift arm operating means connected to said arms and to said base frame, said lift arm operating means being operable to move a reel to and from a position with the periphery of said cover in driving engagement with the drive and control means aforesaid, whereby reel rotation is effected and controlled, said lift arm operating means comprising hydraulic piston and cylinder units and control means therefor, said control means being operable to regulate the degree of frictional engagement exerted by the cover in a driving engagement set forth.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,795,506 3/1931 Reiners et al.

1,949,481 3/1934 Koller 214-38 2,008,612 7/1935 Heath 242-867 X 2,679,987 6/1954 Saliba 242-66 2,843,915 7/1958 Drake 242- X 2,876,916 3/1959 Austrow et a1.

3,091,413 5/1963 Leithiser 242-867 3,150,842 9/1964 Weber 242-865 3,165,214 1/1965 Young 214-77 3,184,082 5/1965 Hall 214-77 3,190,576 6/1965 Stone 242-787 X FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Examiner.

W. S. BURDEN, Assistant Examiner.

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