US3709252A

US3709252A - Dual hose reel

Info

Publication number: US3709252A
Application number: US00042267A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Bishop
Original assignee: Clark Equipment Co
Current assignee: Doosan Bobcat North America Inc
Priority date: 1970-06-01
Filing date: 1970-06-01
Publication date: 1973-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-09
Also published as: CA940509A; BR7102636D0; ZA712340B; FR2095669A5; DE2123179A1; GB1296953A; BE767682A

Abstract

A reel for maintaining in a taut condition two parallel hose operating under different and variable fluid conditions such as encountered in the operation of the upright of industrial lift trucks having a carriage with an attachment thereon. The reel has a pair of reel sections rotatably mounted on a hub having longitudinal fluid passages therein. Each reel section is driven in the direction to wind the hose by a coil spring connected at one end to the reel section and at the other end to the hub, and includes a coupling and passages connecting the hose of each section with one of the fluid passages in the hub. A bracket secured to one end of the hub mounts the reel on a supporting structure, and s plate mounted on the other end of the hub closes the passages in the hub, the plate and bracket being interchangeable to permit the reel to be mounted on either side of a lift truck upright without reversing the reel.

Description

11 3,709,252 [4 1 Jan. 9, 1973 Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott Attorney-Hobbs and Green and Kemon, Palmer & Estabrook [57] ABSTRACT A reel for maintaining in a taut condition two parallel hose operating under different and variable fluid conditions such as encountered in the operation of the upright of industrial lift trucks having a carriage with an attachment thereon. The reel has a pair of reel sections rotatably mounted on a hub having longitudinal fluid passages therein. Each reel section is driven in the direction to wind the hose by a coil spring connected at one end to the reel section and at the other end to the hub, and includes a coupling and passages connecting the hose of each section with one of the DUAL HOSE REEL Inventor: Arlo G. Bishop, Battle Creek, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Clark Equipment Company June 1, 1970 Appl. No.: 42,267

...1 37/355.l7 .B65h 75/36 137/355.17, 355.16, 355.18, 137/355.19, 355.26, 355.28

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent [1 1 Bishop [22] Filed:

51 [58] I Field of Search.......

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures fluid passages in the hub. A bracket secured to one 'end of the hub mounts the feel on a supporting structure, and s plate mounted on the other end of the hub closes the passages in the hub, the plate and bracket being interchangeable to permit the reel to be mounted on either side of a lift truck upright without reversing the reel.

137/355 17 ...l37/355.17 137/355.17 X ...l37/355.17 ...137/355.17 ....l37/355.17 ...137/355.17 l37/355.l7 X

Olson PATENTEDJAH 9:975 v 3.709252 sum 1 OF 4 64 FIG. I

o 0 0i I INVENTOR ARLO G. BISHOP ATTORNEYS PATENTEUJAH 9197a 3.709.252

' SHEET 2 0F 4 INVENTOR ARLO G. BISHOP ATTOR NEYS PATENTEDJAN 9191a 3.709.252

sum 3 0F 4 FIG. 3

ENVENTOR ARLO s. BISHOP BY 74%?M ATTORNEYS DUAL HOSE REEL In certain types of hydraulic and pneumatic systems used on machines and vehicles, the connection between two operating parts, such as power cylinders and the control valves therefor, includes a plurality of hose in place of metal tubes or pipes or other rigid connecting lines, to permit parts to be moved relative to one another during normal operation of the machine or vehicle. For example, the hydraulic system used on industrial lift trucks often contains one or more hydraulic cylinders on the carriage which move relative to the upright and the operators compartment where the control valves for the cylinders are normally located. The hydraulic lines between the control valves often contain two parallel hose arrangements for each cylinder mounted on the lift, connecting the system with the cylinders in such a manner that the connections for the cylinders are free to move upwardly and downwardly as the lift structure expands and contracts. Since the movement between the connections or couplings at two ends of each hose is substantial, relatively long sections of hose are required to permit the lift to fully expand and contract during normal operation. In order to prevent the hose from interfering with the operation or becoming entwined in the operating mechanisms of the lift upright or wheels of the truck, a reel mounted on the lift is used with each pair of hose, to remove much of the slack in the hose section throughout most of the normal expanding and contracting operation of the upright. However, during the operation of each cylinder, only one hose is normally under pressure, and since the hose under pressure tends to expand in diameter and contract in length, the hose are of unequal length from time to time, thus causing the unpressurized hose to become loose and hence easily displaced from the reel and/or guide rollers is varied between the hose connections at opposite ends of the sections.

Another object of the invention is to. provide a dual hose reel which winds the hose section in an orderly manner such that the two unreeled sections are main-.

tained substantially equal in length regardless of the overall length of the two sections at any given time, and which assists in retaining the hose sections on guide rollers or pulleys to maintain the sections in optimum position for following the moving parts to which they are connected.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dual hose reel for a lift truck upright, which is compact in construction and simple in operation and which is so constructed and designed that it can be mounted on either side of the upright by merely shifting the support bracket therefor from one side to the other without otherwise reversing the position of the reel.

A further object is to provide a dual hose reel of the aforesaid type having operating fluid lines and connections for the hose in the hub, in which a simple, easily reached and manipulated coupling arrangement'is provided for connecting the inner ends of the hose sections with the fluid lines in the reel hub, and in which the fluid connections can be readily inspected and serviced without disassembling the reel.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an industrial lift truck with two of the present reels mounted on the upper end of the upright, showing the upright and the carriage thereon in their lowered positions;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upright shown in FIG. 1, showing the upright and the carriage thereon in their raised position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the reel shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of the reel shown in the preceding figures, the section being taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, numeral 10 designates generally an industrial lift truck having front and

rear wheels

12 and 14, steering wheel 16, seat 18, and an upright 20 on the front of the truck having mounted thereon a carriage 22 and reels 24 and 26 on the right and left sides of the carriage, respectively. An attachment (not shown) is mounted on carriage 22 and includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders for manipulating the load engagement parts. The industrial truck on which the present reels are used may be considered conventional for the purpose of the present description and may be of any one of a number of well known suitable types, including those powered by a battery driven electric motor, or by a gasoline engine. Hence,-the details of the industrial truck will not be described in detail herein.

The upright 20 and carriage 22 mounted on the fork front of the truck likewise may be considered conventional for the purpose of the present description, the one shown briefly consisting of outer mast section 30, inner mast section 32 telescopically arranged with respect to the outer mast section, and a hydraulic cylinder assembly 34 for operating

dual chains

36 and 38 to raise and lower the inner mast section and the carriage mounted on the front of the upright. The attachment mounted on carriage 22 may be of any one of a number of types for performing a variety of different operations by the operation of hydraulic cylinders, the cylinders being operated from the hydraulic system of the truck, supplied through

dual lines

40 and 42 to reel 24 and

lines

44 and 46 to reel 26. The hydraulic fluid is transmitted from

reels

24 and 26 to carriage22 by

hose

48 and 50 for reel 24 and hose 52 and 54 for reel 26. The four hose are connected to a hydraulic coupling indicated generally by numeral 60 on the carriage, only one of said couplings being shown in the drawings.

Lines

40, 42, 44, and 46 may be of metal tubing or flexible hose, and the

flexible hose

48, 50, 52, and 54 are of conventional construction used for transmitting hydraulic fluid, normally consisting basically of a rubber and fabric composition.

The two

hose

48 and 50 are trained on pulleys or

rollers

62 and 64 mounted onthe upper right hand end of inner mast 32, and the hose 52 and 54 are trained on pulleys or

rollers

66 and 68 mounted on the upper left hand end of the inner mast. As the carriage is moved upwardly and downwardly on the upright and as the inner mast is raised and lowered, and four hose are unwound and wound on the two reel assemblies, passing over the respective rollers to the coupling on carriage 22. Inasmuch as the two hose on each reel operate a single hydraulic cylinder, only one of said lines is normally pressurized at any given moment. Consequently, the expansion of the pressurized hose in the lateral direction and contraction in the longitudinal direction result in unequal lengths between the two hose; thus on .the conventional reel the unpressurized hose is slack 74 through which the hydraulic fluid is supplied from

lines

40, 42, 44, and 46 to the hose. The two reel sections are essentially the same in construction and operation, and-hence like numerals will be given to like parts with a prime being used to identify the parts of the reel section 72 as distinguished from the parts of reel section 70. Section 70 consists of' a hub 76 with an inner bore 78 for mounting on shaft 74, and discshaped

flanges

80 and 82 secured to the hub by a plurality of

screws

84 and 86, respectively, extending through the flanges into threaded holes in the sides of the hub. An annular member 88 forms the periphery of the hub and the inner wall of the hose-receiving section of the reel. The two

reel sections

70 and 72 are driven in the direction to wind the hose by

coil springs

90 and 92 for

reel sections

70 and 72 respectively, the two coil springs being enclosed

inannular shields

94 and 96 secured to the

inner flanges

82 and 82, by screws 98 and 98'. The outer end of each of the two springs is joined to the respective shield by rivets 100 and 100',

projection 1102 on the inner end of the spring extending into a slot 104 on an annular member 106, which in turn is held fixed by a key 108 to shaft 74. Thus each of the two reel Isections70 and 72gis operated independently of the other and is constantly urged by the respective spring in the direction to wind the hose thereon and thereby retain the respective hose-in a taut condition.

The hose of reel section 70 is connected to line 40 by coupling 110, passages 111 and 112, annular groove 114 in the bore of hub 76 and in the surface of shaft 74, and aperture 116, and the hose of reel section 72 is connected to line 42 by coupling 110', passages 111' and 112', annular groove 114', and aperature 116. Since

hubs

76 and 76 of

reel sections

70 and 72 rotate on shaft 74,

annular seals

120 and 121 of the respective annular slots 114 and 114' seal the slots and prevent seepage of hydraulic fluid therefrom along the bearing surface of shaft 74 and

hubs

76 and 76. Passages 112 and 112' extend the full length of shaft 74 and are closed at their outer ends by a plate 122 secured to the end of the shaftby'screws 123 extending through the plate into threaded openings 124 in the end of the shaft, O-

rings

126 and 126 sealing the ends of passages and the inner end is connected tothe shaft by a radial The dual reel assembly is mounted on and secured to the lift upright byan L-shaped bracket 132 secured to the end of shaft 74 by a plurality of screws 134 extending through the bracket into threaded openings l36 in the end of the shaft. The plate 122 and bracket 132 are interchangeable, and hence permit the reel assembly to be mounted either on the right or left side of the lift upright without otherwise changing the reel mechanism.

Outer flanges

80 and 80 of the two reels are provided with openings 140 to permit a wrench to be inserted into the reel to manipulate coupling 110 to either connect or disconnect the hose at its inner end.

In the operation of the present dual reel, with the reel mounted on the side of the upright of a lift truck and the two hose connected to the respective hydraulic system through couplings 110 and 110' and wound on the respective reel, upward movement of the carriage initially causes both hose to wind on the respective reel sections, when the upright is stationary, i.e., not extended or retracted. As the inner mast moves upwardly as the upright is extended, the hose on the two reel sections are unwound in opposition to the force of the two not, the unpressurized hose is longer than the -pres'- surized hose; thus the two reel sections, operating independently, retain the two hose in a taut condition, as illustrated in FIG. 2, regardless of the expansion or contraction of the pressurized hose. Hence, both hose are held firmly on their respective reels and rollers and continue to operate in the same manner and under like conditions, regardless of thedifferences in pressure conditions between the two hose. Since

springs

90 and 92 are constantly urging the respective reels in the direction to wind the hose, the two hose are retained in the taut condition regardless of whether the upright and/or carriage is being raised or lowered.

The dual hose reels are interchangeable between the right and left sides of the mast, the only changes required to shift the positions being the interchange of thebracket 132 and plate 122. The hose may be left wound on therespective reels and placed in operative position without unwinding and rewinding of the hose 9 on the .reels. This reduces installation time and minimizes service and repair and reduces the inventory necessary for maintenance of the equipment.

While only one embodiment of the present dual hydraulic hose reel has been described in detail herein, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A reel for maintaining in a taut condition two parallel hose operating under different and variable fluid pressure conditions: comprising a shaft having two fluid passages therein extending inwardly into the hub from the same relative position with respect to opposite ends of the hub and from end to end of the shaft, two relatively rotatable reel sections mounted on said shaft and having an annular inner member with a hose coupling therein communicating with different fluid passages in said shaft, and a coil spring for each of said reel sections, each spring being connected at one end to said shaft and at the other end to the respective reel section, a detachable mounting bracket secured to one end of said shaft, and a passage closure means being secured to the other .end thereof and being interchangeable with said bracket.

2. A reel as defined in claim 1 in which each of said reel sections includes spaced radially extending inner and outer flanges, and means connecting the coil spring for each of said reel sections to the inner flange of the respective reel section and to the shaft between said sections.

3. A reel as defined in claim 2 in which the outer flanges contain an opening for receiving a tool to con nect a hose to said hose coupling.

4. A reel as defined in claim 1 in which said mounting bracket is rigidly and removably secured to one end of said shaft and includes ports therein for connecting said passages with sources of fluid under pressure.

5. A reel as defined in claim4 in which said closure means consists of a plate secured to'the end of said shaft opposite said bracket for closing theresp'ective ends of said fluid passages.

6. A reel as defined in claim 5 in which an annular groove enclosed by said reel sections surrounds said annular shaft and a port connects one of said passages other of said passages with theother of said grooves.

7. A feel as defined in claim 5 in which said bracket and plate are interchangeable to permit the reel to be mounted on a supporting structure from either side of the reel I 8. A reel for maintaining in a taut condition two parallel hose operating under different and variable fluid pressure conditions: comprising a shaft having two fluid passages extending from end to end of the shaft, two relatively rotatable reel sections mounted on said shaft and having an annular inner member with a hose coupling therein communicating with different fluid passages in said shaft, and a coil spring for each of said reel sections,each spring being connected at one end to said shaft and at the other end to the respective reel section, a detachable mounting bracket secured to one end of said shaft, and a passage closure means being secured to the other end thereof and being inwith one of said grooves and another port connects the terchangeable with said bracket.

9. A reel as defined in claim 8 in which each of said reel sections includes spaced radially extending inner and outer flanges, and means connecting the coil spring for each of said reel sections to the inner flange of the respective reel section and to the shaft between said sections.

10. A reel as defined in claim 9 in which the outer flange contains an opening for receiving a tool to con nec't a hose to said hose coupling.

Claims

1. A reel for maintaining in a taut condition two parallel hose operating under different and variable fluid pressure conditions: comprising a shaft having two fluid passages therein extending inwardly into the hub from the same relative position with respect to opposite ends of the hub and from end to end of the shaft, two relatively rotatable reel sections mounted on said shaft and having an annular inner member with a hose coupling therein communicating with different fluid passages in said shaft, and a coil spring for each of said reel sections, each spring being connected at one end to said shaft and at the other end to the respective reel section, a detachable mounting bracket secured to one end of said shaft, and a passage closure means being secured to the other end thereof and being interchangeable with said bracket.

3. A reel as defined in claim 2 in which the outer flanges contain an opening for receiving a tool to connect a hose to said hose coupling.

5. A reel as defined in claim 4 in which said closure means consists of a plate secured to the end of said shaft opposite said bracket for closing the respective ends of said fluid passages.

6. A reel as defined in claim 5 in which an annular groove enclosed by said reel sections surrounds said annular shaft and a port connects one of said passages with one of said grooves and another port connects the other of said passages with the other of said grooves.

7. A reel as defined in claim 5 in which said bracket and plate are interchangeable to permit the reel to be mounted on a supporting structure from either side of the reel

8. A reel for maintaining in a taut condition two parallel hose operating under different and variable fluid pressure conditions: comprising a shaft having two fluid passages extending from end to end of the shaft, two relatively rotatable reel sections mounted on said shaft and having an annular inner member with a hose coupling therein communicating with different fluid passages in said shaft, and a coil spring for each of said reel sections, each spring being connected at one end to said shaft and at the other end to the respective reel section, a detachable mounting bracket secured to one end of said shaft, and a passage closure means being secured to the other end thereof and being interchangeable with said bracket.

10. A reel as defined in claim 9 in which the outer flange contains an opening for receiving a tool to connect a hose to said hose coupling.