Reel handler

A cable reel handler for use with vehicle having a platform for holding a reel, the cable reel handler comprising:

• a first arm and a second arm;
• a first member coupled to the first arm and a second member coupled to the second arm;
• a sleeve having the members movably positioned therein;
• a first bracket having a first link coupled to the first member and a second link coupled to the sleeve, the links being pivotable relative to one another;
• a second bracket having a third link coupled to the second member and a fourth link coupled to the sleeve, the third and fourth links being pivotable relative to one another;
• and
• hydraulic lifts that each comprise a piston therein, the pistons each being coupled to one of the arms such that the pistons move within the lifts to move the arms about an axis defined by the sleeve in an arc,
• wherein the brackets are movable to increase and decrease a distance between the arms from a first configuration in which the brackets each have a first length along a longitudinal axis defined by the sleeve and a second configuration in which the brackets each have a decreased second length along the longitudinal axis, and
• wherein the first arm is rotatably coupled to a first carriage, the second arm is rotatably coupled to a second carriage and the reel handler further comprises a sheath that connects the first carriage to the second carriage, the sheath comprising hydraulic cylinders positioned therein, the cylinders being configured to move the first carriage relative to the second carriage to move the brackets between the first and second configurations.

A cable reel system comprising:

• a vehicle having a platform;
• a reel;
• and
• a cable reel handler comprising:
• a first arm and a second arm,
• a first member coupled to the first arm and a second member coupled to the second arm,
• a sleeve having the members movably positioned therein,
• a first bracket having a first link coupled to the first member and a second link coupled to the sleeve, the links being pivotable relative to one another,
• a second bracket having a third link coupled to the second member and a fourth link coupled to the sleeve, the third and fourth links being pivotable relative to one another, and
• hydraulic lifts that each comprise a piston therein, the pistons each being coupled to one of the arms such that the pistons move within the lifts to move the arms about an axis defined by the sleeve in an arc,
• wherein the brackets are movable to increase and decrease a distance between the arms from a first configuration in which the brackets each have a first length along a longitudinal axis defined by the sleeve and a second configuration in which the brackets each have a decreased second length along the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the arms are movable about an axis that is parallel to the sleeve in an arc, the arms being movable when the brackets are in the second configuration from a first position in which the reel engages the platform to a second position in which the reel is positioned above the platform, and
• wherein the first arm is rotatably coupled to a first carriage, the second arm is rotatably coupled to a second carriage and the reel handler further comprises a sheath that connects the first carriage to the second carriage, the sheath comprising hydraulic cylinders positioned therein, the cylinders being configured to move the first carriage relative to the second carriage to move the brackets between the first and second configurations.