GB2489739A

GB2489739A - Improved flanged transportation drum

Info

Publication number: GB2489739A
Application number: GB1105936.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Droog; Gareth Williams; Mark Davies
Original assignee: MARLIN IND WREXHAM Ltd
Current assignee: MARLIN IND WREXHAM Ltd
Priority date: 2011-04-07
Filing date: 2011-04-07
Publication date: 2012-10-10
Also published as: GB201105936D0

Abstract

A drum 10 suitable for transporting cable, wire, rope or tube comprises two substantially parallel, circular end pieces 12a, 12b connected by a substantially cylindrical crosspiece or barrel 14, the circular end pieces each comprising an outer flange or wheel (13a, 15a fig. 2), an inner flange or wheel (13b, 15b fig. 2) and a liner 19 secured to the inner flange (13b, 15b fig. 2), each outer flange (13a, 15a fig. 2) being formed around two centre members or spokes (25, 125 fig. 3) of comparable dimension to the diameter of the drum 10 set at 90 degrees to the other to form a cross and the outer flange (13a, 15a fig. 2) and the inner flange (13b, 15b fig. 2) are each comprised of a layer of circumferentially arranged planar segments (40a, 40b, 41a, 41b, 42a, 42b, 140a, 140b, 141a, 141b, 142a, 142b figs. 4 & 5), with each layer offset by 90 degrees to the other layer and forming the circumference of the drum 10 and wherein the circumferentially arranged planar segments link the two centre members to form the wheel or flange. The liner 19 may be made from plywood and may include a central cut out (22 fig 6) by which the barrel 14 is secured to the liner 19. The end pieces may be assembled using bright wire nails and screws. The barrel 14 may be made by joining the ends of a rectangular sheet of plywood and the flanges may be made from timber. Four steel tubes 95 may pass through the barrel 14.

Description

DRUM

The present invention relates to drums for carrying energy, communication or data cables and flexible tubes or ducts.

Timber drums have been utilised for the storage and transportation of wire, tube or cable for many years. The particular product to be stored or transported is normally wound onto the central portion or barrel of the drum, and is held in position by two parallel circular end pieces, often referred to as flanges. That is, typical timber drums usually comprise two parallel circular end pieces connected by a traditionally cylindrical barrel.

It is usual practice for the flanges of the drums to be manufactured by attaching layers of individual softwood timber boards together to form a circular end piece, each layer being comprised of long boards passing through or near the centre piece with the : * boards becoming progressively shorter with distance from the centre.

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* The boards are usually nailed in place. The nails traditionally form a concentric arrangement around the circular end pieces in order to join the two layers together.

* 20 The barrel for receiving the cable is traditionally secured to each end piece by means 55. 555 * of a pair of tie-rods' provided by threaded nuts. This design of cable drum has been in use for over 100 years. The drums are traditionally intended to be stored and transported in the vertical position, that is, with the end pieces extending upwardly from a horizontal support surface.

Whilst in recent years there has been a tendency to turn cable drums onto their side for storage in the horizontal position, thus allowing the cable drums to be stacked one on top of another and thereby reducing the amount of storage space required, this has lead to its own inherent problems as the cable drum can be weakened and may sometimes not be able to withstand movement onto the side edge without resulting in damage to the drum. This has consequently led to strengthened cable drums able to withstand storage and transportation in the horizontal rather than vertical position.

Over recent years significant progress has been made in the cable, wire, rope and tube industries. Design and material advances have lead to the generation of lighter products, yet the packaging on which these products are stored and transported has largely remained unchanged. The packaging percentage content of gross weights has therefore effectively increased as products carried have become lighter through design and material advances.

With the ever-increasing cost of fuel, maximising vehicle load volumes and consequently reducing the number of journeys is an important consideration for drum users. Indeed, reducing the weight of packaging used in the transportation of cable, wire, rope or tube can make a significant contribution to controlling distribution costs.

Consequently there is a need to provide cable drums which are not only sufficiently strong enough to support the weight of for example cable or tube carried by the drums and which are still easy to manoeuvre, but also, which are of a lighter construction in *". : order to reduce the mass of the cable drums and hence lower the transportation costs * : 15 both for loaded and unloaded cable drums.

* S. S* * 0 : ** It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved re-usable drum SO ** * that is able to overcome or at least alleviate the above mentioned drawbacks of existing drum designs and address the transportation of drums used for the 20 transportation of for examp cable, wire, rope and tube in the modern age. S. ** S.. * I

Therefore according to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a drum suitable for transporting cable, wire, rope and tube comprising: two substantially parallel, circular end pieces connected by a substantially cylindrical crosspiece wherein; the circular end pieces each comprise an outer flange or wheel and an inner flange or wheel; and wherein each outer flange is formed around two centre members of comparable diameter to the diameter of the drum, and wherein each centre member is set at 90 degrees to the other to form a cross; and wherein the outer flange and the inner flange are each comprised of a layer of circumferentially arranged planar segments, wherein each layer is offset by 90 degrees to the other layer thereby forming the circumference of the drum and wherein the circumferentially arranged planar segments link the two centre members to form the wheel and wherein the drum further comprises a liner secured to the inner flange.

in the drum of the present invention each layer of circumferenually arranged planar segments comprises six segments. The segments and preferably comprised of timber.

The liner however, is preferably comprised of plywood. Each of the segments abuts an adjoining segment and adjoining segments may be secured together. Adjoining segments are preferably secured together by nails although other fastening means may be employed such as adhesives.

Also in accordance with the present invention each outer flange and each inner flange comprise a first pair of segments and a second set of segments. Each pair of segments is located Ofl Opposing sides of the outer or inner flanges. *. . * S S

*;.. 15 It is also preferred in accordance with the present invention that each segment comprises four sides wherein one of the sides is planar, and one of the sides is arcuate : and wherein the planar and arcuate sides are co-joined by the two remaining sides.

For the first pair of the segments the planar side is joined to each of the two remaining sides at an angle. For the second pair of the segments the planar side is joined to one IS ** of the two remaining sides at a first angle and to the other of the two remaining sides at a second angle. In addition, each drum comprises two sets of the second pair of segments.

According to a first aspect of the present invention the inner and outer flanges are secured together by fastening means. Most preferably the inner and outer flanges are secured together by bright wire nails.

In addition, the liner comprises a central cut out and is secured to the inner face of the inner flange. Furthermore, the barrel is secured to the liner by means of the cut-out in the inner liner.

Most preferably, the inner and outer flanges are comprised of timber and are secured to each by means of nails applied between 30 and 40 cm from the outside edge of the flanges for a drum of one metre diameter.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention for a drum of one metre diameter the mass of the drum will be around 25kg.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a cross piece or barrel formed from a plywood tube, located between and supported by the two end pieces. The barrel is prevented from moving laterally by the provision of timber spokes and the two end pieces. Movement from the central position is further prevented by four metal tubes located on the underside of the plywood tube. Importantly, potential deformation of the barrel arising through cable or tube tension during the winding process is prevented by the location of the barrel ends within a cut-out of precise dimension in the inner plywood flange existing on each end piece. This use of a plywood barrel further reduces the material content and hence weight of the drum according to the first aspect of the present invention. * S S

* 15 According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit for use in assembling a drum comprising segments, flanges, central members, barrel sections and liners as described in relation to the first aspect of the present invention. *SS S..

* According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of a drum *.. 20 according to the first aspect o(the present invention for the transportation or storage of cable, wire, rope or tube. *n.. * 4

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how the invention may be put into effect, reference will not be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an offset view of a drum according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a drum according to the present invention illustrating flanges and barrel.

Figure 3 is a plan view of one end of a flange according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the inner layout of the flange according to the present invention.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the outer layout of the flange according to the present invention.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a flange liner according to the present invention, Referring to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings: In Figure 1 there is illustrated an offset view of a drum 10 in accordance with the present invention which is constructed for storage and transportation of for example cable or tube in a vertical or upright position. The drum 10 comprises a pair of substantially circular end pieces, 12a and 12b connected by a substantially cylindrical cross-piece or barrel 14. This arrangement can also be seen in Figure 2 which illustrates a cross-sectional view of a drum according to the present invention. Each end piece or flange 1 2a, 1 2b comprises an inner liner 19 which is preferably comprised of plywood (and which is illustrated in further detail in Figure 6), and two rings or wheels 1 3a, 1 3b and 1 Sa, I Sb on either side of the barrel 14 respectively.

In Figure 3 there is illustrated a plan view of the general arrangement of the end piece *....: 15 12a. As be seen in Figure 3 the end piece or flange 12a comprises an inner liner 19.

The two rings or wheels 13a, 13b each formed by six segmental sections and one spoke. The segmental sections and spoke are also preferably comprised of timber. A 4. similar arrangement is applied to end piece 12b, with a liner 19 and wheels iSa and 1 5b respectively. 0**

The outer layer 13a, is set at 90 degrees to the inner layer 13b and the outer layer ISa, is set at 90 degrees to the inner layer lSb respectively. A number of bright wire nails are used to secure all the segmental sections and spoke components together (not shown). The nails are inserted at a distance of between 25 to 35mm from the circumference of each flange. In addition, the nails are inserted with a distance of 50 to 60mm between each nail.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the construction of the outer flange or face 1 3a of the circular end piece 12a. The outer flanges are preferably comprised of timber. In Figure 4 the spoke 25, forms a central member around which the segments 40a, 40b, 41a, 41b, 42a, 42b are arranged. The central member spoke 25, has a substantially circular hole, 94 of 80 to 85mm such that it forms a location point in the centre of the drum for winding purposes. The circular hole 94 is preferably between 80 and 85mm in diameter.

The flange 1 3a also comprises two further holes 93 of 22mm are cut either side of the centre hole. These holes 93 are used to locate steel cross tubes 95 (not shown but illustrated in Figure 1). The holes 93 are preferably 22mm in diameter.

In Figure 5 the central member 125 in flange 1 Sb is positioned such that it is at 900 to central member 25 in flange ISa. Likewise segmental sections 140a, 140b, 141a, 141b, 142a, 142b are at 900 to segmental sections 40a, 40b, 41a, 41b, 42a, 42b in flange 13a.

Each of the segments or segmental sections 40a, 40b, 41a, 41b, 42a, 42b in flanges 13a and ISa and 140a, 140b, 141a, 14th, 142a, 142b in flanges 13b and 15b comprises four sides, Considering in further detail segments 40a through to 42b and 140a to 142b, as can be seen from Figures 4 and 5, each has an arcuate shaped outer edge 50 which forms the outer edge of the outside flange and an inner edge 51.

Segments 40a, 40b, 140a and 140b are identical in size and shape. The angle A' * formed at the connection point between the side edges 53 and the inner edge 51 is * * 1170 with no deviation. It follows therefore that angle B is also 1170. Segments 418, **** 41b, 42a, 42b along with 141a, 14th, 142a, 142b are also identical. The angle C' formed at the connection point between side edges 56 and the inner edge 51 is 124°, *..i *..: 20 again with no de'ation.

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if the drum is to be considered as returnable, the two timber layers 13a, 13b and 15a, 15b are secured to each other using bright wire nails in one concentric ring about the centre the wheel. The ring of nails is preferably located between 25 and 35mm from the edge of the circumference and each nail is preferably separated by a distance of between 50 and 60mm. The inner flange liner, 19, preferably comprised of plywood is however secured to the timber construction of the wheels or flanges using screws to allow removal and replacement in the event of damage.

If the drum is considered to be non-returnable, the plywood inner flange liner 19 is again secured to the two timber layers ISa, 13b and 15a, 15b using bright wire nails in one concentric ring about the centre of the wheel. The ring of nails if preferably located at a distance of between 25 and 35mm from the circumference of the wheel and each nail is preferably separated by a distance of between 50 and 60mm.

A key feature of the present invention is the plywood inner flange liner, 191 detailed in Figure 6. The plywood liner is manufactured from plywood with a thickness of preferably between 6 and 8mm. The outer diameter of the plywood liner is equivalent to the finished diameter of the drum. Each plywood liner has a substantially central circular cut out 22. The diameter of the central cut out 22 is equivalent to the barrel diameter plus 2mm.

The barrel 14 comprises a cylindrical tube formed by joining together the two longitudinal ends of a 3mm plywood rectangular sheet using staples or rivets. The barrel 14 locates in the central cut out of the plywood inner flange liner 19. Due to the close fitting arrangement of the barrel in the central cut out in the plywood inner flange liner, no deformation of the barrel occurs up to a rated carrying capacity of 500kgs: *. As seen in Figure 1, the drum 10 of the present invention further Comprises four steel ":" 15 tubes 95. Each of the four tubes passes through the barrel and then each tube locates into one of the four holes 93, cut into each of timber central members 25, and 125 with the ends further pressed to form a flange. A metal washer (not shown) is further applied to prevent the flanged tubes 95 from being pulled through the timber spokes during use. This arrangement prevents movement of the barrel in relation to the flanges. In accordance with the present invention the combination of machining and assembly techniques described above when applied to the barrel and therefore drum of the present invention provides a safe carrying capacity of around 500kgs for a drum with a diameter of one metre.

The barrel preferably comprises a diameter in the range of between 350 and 600mm.

lt is also preferred that the barrel has an internal width between the flanges of between 350 and 600mm.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the segments or segmental sections, plywood inner flange liner and barrel are all accurately machined.

In connection with the present invention tests were prepared in order to ascertain the strength of the drum. Typically a drum manufactured with a plywood barrel which does not comprise a locating cut-out' or recess in the flange for receiving the barrel cannot sustain a load of more than 300kg. Surprisingly it has now been found that a cable drum prepared in accordance with the present invention can withstand a toad of 500kg and may also be utilised multiple times. The results of tests are illustrated below and in each case it was found that the drum was able to withstand significantly more load that traditional lighter weight drums.

in accordance with the present invention a close fitting relationship between the outer flanges and the barrel is achieved as a result of accurate machining of the plywood inner flange liner and accurate culling of the plywood material to form the barrel. Barrel load tests were performed on a range of weights up to and including 500kg. No movement or deformation of the barrel was observed during the winding process or subsequent removal of product.

Also in accordance with the present invention it is preferred that the outer flanges 13a, 13b, iSa, lSb are fabricated from timber to provide the necessary strength for winding *:"* 15 and transportation of cable or tube. A range of winding and handling tests were conducted, which involved the same sample drum. In the test, product was wound onto the drum. The drum was then rolled and handled with a fork truck to observe handling characteristics. The product was then removed from the drum and a visual inspection performed. Testing of the drum in this manner identified the safe working load to be 500kg for a one metre drum. It was established that multiple rewinds could be performed without deformation of the centre hole or circularity of the flange.

Therefore, in summary, the drum of the present invention comprises an external timber skeleton comprising twelve segments. Six of the segments are located on the outer flange of the drum and six of the segments are located on the inner flange of the drum and the inner set of six segments is offset with respect to the outer flange of six segments. The inner and outer flanges are supported and connected by two central members or spokes. The segments and spokes are connected using a ring of nails, most preferably a ring of bright wire nails (not shown on diagram).

The segment and spoke arrangement, coupled to a barrel fixed in position to prevent movement and deformation provides strength, but with reduced weight. The present invention is considered to be both novel and inventive with respect to existing cable drums.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A drum suitable for use in the transportation of cable, wire, rope or tube comprising: two substantially parallel, circular end pieces connected by a substantially cylindrical crosspiece or barrel wherein; the circular end pieces each comprise an outer flange or wheel and an inner flange or wheel; and wherein each outer flange is formed around two centre members of comparable diameter to the diameter of the drum, and wherein each centre member is set at degrees to the other to form a cross; and wherein the outer flange and the inner flange are each comprised of a layer of circumferentially arranged planar segments, wherein each layer is offset by 90 * degrees to the other layer thereby forming the circumference of the drum and wherein the circumferentially arranged planar segments link the two centre * * * members to form the wheel and wherein the drum further comprises a liner secured to the inner flange. S..S
2. A drum according to claim I wherein each layer of circuniferentiajly arranged S...planar segments comprises six segments.S..... * S
3. A drum according to claim I or 2 wherein the liner comprises plywood.
4. A drum according to any of the preceding claims wherein each of the segments abuts an adjoining segment.
5. A drum according to claim 4 wherein adjoining segments are secured together.
6. A drum according to claim 4 wherein adjoining segments are secured together by nails.
7. A drum according to any of the preceding claims wherein each outer flange and each inner flange comprise a first pair of segments and a second set of segments.
8. A drum according to claim 7 wherein each pair of segments is located on opposing sides of the outer or inner flanges.
9. A drum according to any of the preceding claims wherein each segment comprises four sides wherein one of the sides is planar, and one of the sides is arcuate and wherein the planar and arcuate sides are co-joined by the two remaining sides.
10. A drum according to claim 9 wherein for the first pair of the segments the planar side is joined to each of the two remaining sides.
11. A drum according to claim 9 wherein for the second pair of the segments the planar side is joined to one of the two remaining sides at a first angle and to the other of the two remaining sides at a second angle.
12. A drum according to any of claims 7 to 11 wherein each drum comprises two sets of the second pair of segments.S
13. A drum according to any of the preceding claims wherein the inner and outer * 20 flanges are secured together by fastening means.

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14. A drum according to any of the preceding claims wherein the inner and outer flanges are secured together by bright wire nails.
15. A drum according to any of the preceding claims wherein the liner comprises a central cut out and is secured to the inner face of the inner flange.
16. A drum according to claim 15 wherein the barrel is secured to the liner by means of the cut-out in the inner liner.
17. A drum according to any of the preceding claims wherein the inner and outer flanges are comprised of timber and the barrel is comprised of plywood. Ii
18. A drum according to claim 14 wherein the inner and outer flanges are secured by means of nails applied between 30 and 40 cm from the outside edge of the flanges for a drum of one metre diameter.
19. A drum according to claim 17 wherein the barrel is formed from a tube of plywood and wherein the barrel tube is located between and supported by the two end pieces.
20. A drum according to any of the preceding claims wherein the drum further comprises metal tubes located on the underside of the cylindrical crosspiece or barrel.
21. A drum according to claim 20 wherein the drum further comprises four metal tubes. * ***
22. A drum according to any of the preceding claims wherein a one metre diameter drum has a mass of around 25kg. S..

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23. A kit for use in assembling a drum comprising segments, central members, *..* *.. 20 barrel sections, metal rods and liners as described in relation to claims ito 22.* SS *S S * S
24. Use of a cable drum according to any of claims 1 to 22 for the transportation or storage of cable, wire, rope or tube.29. A cable drum as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. -