# US 2014/0191076 A1 · Expandable Drum Assembly For Deploying Coiled Pipe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191076 A1 - Document ID: US20140191076A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/737,816 - Filed: 2013-01-09 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09 - Assignees: FlexSteel Pipeline Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Brian Dillinger; Jagtar Thethy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191076A1 ## CPC - B65H 75/249: {expansion caused by actuator movable in direction perpendicular to or about the axis (B65H75/243 – B65H75/2487 take precedence)} - B21C 47/30: expansible or contractible - B65H 49/30: Swifts or skein holders - B65H 2701/33: Hollow or hose-like material - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - B21C: MANUFACTURE OF METAL SHEETS, WIRE, RODS, TUBES, PROFILES OR LIKE SEMI-MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS OTHERWISE THAN BY ROLLING; AUXILIARY OPERATIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL ## Abstract A drum assembly having a post, and first and second spoke frames. Each of the first and second spoke frames includes expandable spokes and immovable spokes, extending away from the post. Each expandable spoke includes a distal end movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A plurality of first drum segments each are mounted to the distal end of one of the expandable spokes of the first spoke frame and to the distal end of one of the expandable spokes of the second spoke frame. A plurality of second drum segments each mounted to an end of one of the immovable spokes of the first spoke frame and to an end of one of the immovable spokes of the second spoke frame. Mechanical actuators, extending between the post and either the expandable spokes or the first drum segments, move the expandable spokes between the retracted and extended positions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drum assembly, comprising: a post; first and second spoke frames mounted to the post, wherein each of the first and second spoke frames includes a plurality of expandable spokes, and wherein each of the expandable spokes extends away from the post and has a distal end movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a plurality of drum segments each mounted to the distal end of one of the expandable spokes of the first spoke frame and to the distal end of one of the expandable spokes of the second spoke frame, wherein the drum segments extend parallel to the post; and a plurality of mechanical actuators each extending between the post and one of the expandable spokes or one of the drum segments, for moving the expandable spokes between the retracted and extended positions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drum assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second spoke frames each further include a plurality of immovable spokes extending away from the post, the drum assembly further comprising: a second plurality of drum segments each mounted to an end of one of the immovable spokes of the first spoke frame and to an end of one of the immovable spokes of the second spoke frame, wherein the second plurality of drum segments extend parallel to the post. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drum assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of drum segments comprises: a rigid member; and a curved plate mounted to the rigid member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The drum assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of drum segments further comprises: a plurality of gussets each connected to the rigid member and the curved plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drum assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of first struts each extending between the post and one of the expandable spokes; and a plurality of second struts each extending between one of the expandable spokes and another of the expandable spokes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drum assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of mechanical actuators is a hydraulic cylinder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drum assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the expandable spokes comprises: a hollow tube connected to the post; and a rigid member telescopically slidably disposed in the hollow tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The drum assembly of claim 7, wherein the hollow tubes and the rigid members have rectangular cross sectional shapes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The drum assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the rigid members includes a plurality of bearing pads attached to an outer surface thereof. ### Claim 10 A drum assembly, comprising: a post; first and second spoke frames mounted to the post, wherein each of the first and second spoke frames includes a plurality of expandable spokes and a plurality of immovable spokes which extend away from the post, wherein each of the expandable spokes includes a distal end movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a plurality of first drum segments each mounted to the distal end of one of the expandable spokes of the first spoke frame and to the distal end of one of the expandable spokes of the second spoke frame, wherein each of the plurality of first drum segments extends parallel to the post; a plurality of second drum segments each mounted to an end of one of the immovable spokes of the first spoke frame and to an end of one of the immovable spokes of the second spoke frame, wherein each of the plurality of second drum segments extends parallel to the post; and a plurality of mechanical actuators each extending between the post and one of the expandable spokes or one of the plurality of first drum segments, for moving the expandable spokes between the retracted and extended positions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The drum assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second drum segments comprises: a rigid member; and a curved plate mounted to the rigid member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The drum assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second drum segments further comprises: a plurality of gussets each connected to the rigid member and the curved plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The drum assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a plurality of first struts each extending between the post and one of the expandable spokes; a plurality of second struts each extending between the post and one of the immovable spokes; a plurality of third struts each extending between one of the expandable spokes and another of the expandable spokes; a plurality of fourth struts each extending between one of the expandable spokes and one of the immovable spokes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The drum assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of mechanical actuators is a hydraulic cylinder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The drum assembly of claim 10, wherein each of the expandable spokes comprises: a hollow tube connected to the post; and a rigid member telescopically slidably disposed in the hollow tube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The drum assembly of claim 15, wherein the hollow tubes and the rigid members have rectangular cross sectional shapes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The drum assembly of claim 15, wherein each of the rigid members includes a plurality of bearing pads attached to an outer surface thereof. ### Claim 18 A drum assembly, comprising: a post; first and second spoke frames mounted to the post, wherein each of the first and second spoke frames includes a pair of expandable spokes and a pair of immovable spokes which extend away from the post, wherein each of the expandable spokes includes a distal end movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a pair of first drum segments each mounted to the distal end of one of the expandable spokes of the first spoke frame and to the distal end of one of the expandable spokes of the second spoke frame, wherein each of the first drum segments extends parallel to the post; a pair of second drum segments each mounted to an end of one of the immovable spokes of the first spoke frame and to an end of one of the immovable spokes of the second spoke frame, wherein each of the second drum segments extends parallel to the post; and a plurality of mechanical actuators each extending between the post and one of the expandable spokes or one of the first drum segments, for moving the expandable spokes between the retracted and extended positions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The drum assembly of claim 18, wherein each of the expandable spokes comprises: a hollow tube connected to the post; and a rigid member telescopically slidably disposed in the hollow tube. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The drum assembly of claim 19, wherein the hollow tubes and the rigid members have rectangular cross sectional shapes.