US 4,945,938 AGranted

Reels and carriers therefor

AssigneeOtis Engineering Corporation

InventorsGeorge L. Ponsford, William H. McCormick, Malcolm N. Council, Albert W. Carroll

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A large diameter reel having a large diameter hollow drum with a flange at each end about which a flexible elongate member, such as coil tubing, electrical conductor cable, or the like, may be wound, the reel having no shaft, but instead, having a large central opening extending therethrough, and having a gear located in the opening or on at least one or both of the reel's flanges. A carrier, such as a skid, trailer or semi-trailer, is provided with rollers for supporting the reel upon edge and with a driving gear meshable with the reel gear for rotating the reel. The trailer or semi-trailer may be provided with a hole in the bed thereof to accommodate the reel in an inset position to permit such vehicles with a reel thereon to freely pass beneath highway overpasses, and other overhangs. Methods of supporting such reels on such carriers are also provided.

Claims14

Dependent claims

The method of emplacing a reel on a carrier such as a trailer, semi-trailer, skid, or the like, for rotational movement, said reel having a drum portion with a flange fixed to each end thereof, an axial opening extending through said reel, and gear means carried on said reel, said carrier having a bed, said bed having an opening therein for receiving a portion of said flanges of said reel, said carrier having support roller means including first roller means for engaging the outer edges of said flanges for supporting said reel, second roller means for stabilizing said reel upon said first roller means, and drive means including a driving gear mounted thereon for rotating said reel, said method including the steps of:

(a) placing said reel on said carrier with a portion of its flanges entering said opening;
(b) supporting said reel in said opening with the outer edges of its flanges resting upon said first roller means;
(c) moving said stabilizing means to a position wherein said second roller means thereof is disposed within said axial opening of said reel to prevent said reel from tilting;
(d) engaging said drive gear with said gear means of said reel;
(e) operating said drive means to rotate said reel;
(f) disengaging said stabilizing means and said drive means from said reel;
and
(g) lifting said reel out of said bed opening and away from said carrier.

5 more elements

A carrier for receiving a reel, said reel having a hollow drum portion with a flange secured to each of its opposite ends, an axial opening extending through said reel, and gear means secured to said reel in concentric relation with said axial opening, said reel further including a bracket attached thereto, said carrier comprising:

(a) body means;
(b) roller means on said body for non-concentrically engaging and supporting said reel when placed thereon;
and
(c) swivel means on said body, including:
(i) first attachment means for connection to a source of pressurized fluid,
(ii) second attachment means for connection to a flexible tubing or hose carried on said reel, and
(iii) swivel means between said first and second attachment means allowing rotation of said reel while pressurized fluids are being conducted to or from said flexible tubing or hose;
and
(d) torque arm means extending from said swivel and having its outer end connectable to said bracket provided on said reel whereby rotation of the reel produces rotation of the rotating portion of the swivel means;
and
(e) drive means on said body, including drive gear means engageable with said gear means on said reel for rotating said reel.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/410,878Filed 22 Sep 1989
Granted: 7 Aug 1990
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B65H 75/425
Attached to, or forming part of, mobile tools, machines or vehicles: attached to, or forming part of a vehicle, e.g. truck, trailer, vessel
B60P 3/035
Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects: for transporting reel units
B65H 49/38
Unwinding or paying-out filamentary material; Supporting, storing or transporting packages from which filamentary material is to be withdrawn or…:…
B65H 75/30
Constructional details: arrangements to facilitate driving or braking