WO1994012422A1

WO1994012422A1 - Knock-down, plastic cable spool

Info

Publication number: WO1994012422A1
Application number: PCT/US1993/004474
Authority: WO
Inventors: Valentine L. Picton
Original assignee: Crusader Plastics Recycling, Inc.
Priority date: 1992-11-20
Filing date: 1993-05-03
Publication date: 1994-06-09
Also published as: AU4372593A

Abstract

A knock-down cable spool (10) is disclosed which can be easily disassembled and the pieces (16, 18, 20, 22) stacked for shipment as a compact package. The main spool components are fabricated of plastic for weather resistance and minimum maintenance. Preferably, recyclable plastic is utilized so that the spool conforms to government regulations encouraging the use of such materials.

Description

KNOCK-DOWN, PLASTIC CABLE SPOOL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to spools for receiving electrical and communication cable and the like, and specifically, to cable spools that are impervious to the elements, require substantially no maintenance and have a knock-down construction for easy disassembly and shipment as a compact package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrical and communication cable is wound on large reels or spools which are transported to the cable installation sites. Such spools, which may carry loads of up to 1-1/2 tons, are usually fabricated of wood treated with a preservative such as creosote, or painted, so as to resist weathering and deterioration. Cable spools made of steel are also known; these, too, are painted so as to provide protection against rusting.

Existing spools have several disadvantages. They are not only heavy but require constant maintenance. Further, wooden spools especially are prone to splintering and breakage and, despite efforts to maintain them and protect them from the elements, they are subject to deterioration. Additionally, nails or bolts projecting from the spools pose a safety hazard. Wooden spools also soak up rain water, increasing their weight by as much as 50%. The dry weight marked on the spool is then meaningless making it impossible for the user to determine how much cable remains on the spool since this determination is usually made by weight. Because existing cable spools are expensive, after all of the cable has been dispensed from a spool it is returned to its point of origin to receive a new load of cable. Because of the space taken up by cable spools, reshipment of empty spools is highly inefficient, limited to relatively few spools per truckload. This inefficiency and the attendant costs are particularly significant for long distance reshipments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cable spool whose main components are fabricated of plastic. Preferably, the plastic is a mixture comprising about 50 to 60% high density polyethylene with the remainder comprising low density polyethylene, a light weight material requiring little or no maintenance and which is impervious to the elements. Moreover, the cable spool of the invention is made of recyclable plastic and therefore helps meet the environmental regulations of a number of states, such as California, encouraging the use of recyclable materials by industry and requiring a certain percentage (for example 10%) of the goods purchased by the state to be fabricated of recyclable material.

Still further, the cable spool according to the present invention is designed to be knocked down and to thereby be easily broken down into several pieces (for example, four) and transported as a compact package. This makes reshipment of empty spools highly efficient, particularly for long shipping distances. Moreover, spools according to the present invention are ultraviolet stable and can be easily cleaned with water. No nails, or other hazardous fastening devices, project from any of the surfaces of the spool of the invention and since the plastic does not absorb water, the dry weight marked on the spool will not vary so as to provide at any time and under any weather conditions an accurate indication of the amount of cable remaining on the spool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become evident from the detailed description below when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cable spool in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view, in section, of a portion of the spool of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevation view of the spool, in section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, there is shown a cable spool 10 having a longitudinal axis of rotation 12 and basically comprising a hollow, generally cylindrical center core 14 and substantially identical end disks 16 and 18. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the center core 14 is divided into two substantially identical half sections 20 and 22 but it will become evident that the core 14 may be subdivided into three or even more sections that are preferably, but are not required to be, substantially identical. The sections 20 and 22 include parallel, longitudinally extending surfaces 24 and 26 which are in abutting relationship in the assembled configuration of the spool 10.

The section 20 of the core 14 includes inwardly directed end flanges 28 and 30 lying generally in planes perpendicular to the axis 12. The end flange 28 has radially extending, inner and outer surfaces 32 and 34, respectively; likewise, the end flange 30 has inner and outer surfaces 36 and 38, respectively. The flange 28 has at least two, and preferably three through-holes 40 in axial alignment with corresponding through-holes formed in the flange 30. Extending between the inner surfaces 32 and 36 of the end flanges are tie rods 44 attached to the inner wall of the center core section 20. Each tie rod 44 lies parallel with the axis 12 and is in axial alignment with corresponding pairs of holes 40 in the end flanges. Thus, three such tie rods are shown in the illustrated embodiment. The ends of the tie rods 44 have threaded bores 46 for receiving bolts 48 adapted to secure the end disks 16 and 18 to the core 14, as will be described in greater detail below.

The section 22 of the core 14 will not be described in detail since it is substantially identical in all respects to the section 20. Similarly, because the end disks 16 and 18 are also substantially identical, only the disk 16 will be described.

The end disk 16 has a diameter substantially larger than the center core 14 so as to define a rim 50 for holding the cable in place on the core. The disk 16 further includes a hole 52, reinforced by a bushing plate 54, centered on the axis 12 for receiving a spindle or axle (not shown) for rotatably supporting the spool 10 while cable is unwound therefrom. A pair of holes 56 positioned along a diameter of the disk 16 is adapted to receive spool drive pins (not shown) in a manner well known in the art. In addition, the disk 16 includes a circular array of bolt holes 58 alignable with the holes 40 in the flange 28 of the core section 20 and the similar holes in the flange of the section 22. The bolts 48 are passed through the holes 58 and 40 and received by the threaded bores in the ends of the tie rods 44 to secure the end disk 16 to the center core sections 20 and 22 which are, as a result, held in abutting relationship thereby. The end disk 18 is attached to the center core sections in an identical fashion. Last, the disk 16 may include several holes 60 adjacent the outer edge of the rim 50 through one of which the end of the wound cable is passed for anchoring by a screw eye 62.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the center core 14 and end disks 16 and 18 are fabricated of plastic to minimize weight and maintenance. To conform to government regulations encouraging the use of recyclable plastics, the spool components are made of a mixture of high density polyethylene (HDP) and low density polyethylene (LDP) for strength. Such mixture may include about 50 to 60% HDP with the remainder comprising LDP.

A cable spool in accordance with the invention may be easily disassembled for shipment as a compact package. All that is required is the removal of the bolts 48. The separated end disks and core sections can then be stacked in various ways to minimize shipping volume. Reassembly of the spool is, of course, equally expeditious.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A cable spool comprising: a center core having opposed ends; and a disk connected to each end of the center core, the center core comprising at least two sections separable along surfaces extending between the ends of the core, the disks being detachably connected to the at least two sections to provide a knock-down spool.

2. A cable spool, as defined in claim 1, in which: the center core and disks are fabricated of recyclable plastic.

3. A knock-down cable spool comprising: a hollow, generally cylindrical center core having a central axis of rotation, the core having opposed ends, each end lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the core being separable along at least two surfaces extending substantially parallel with the axis of rotation to define at least two core sections; and an end disk detachably connected to each end of the center core, each end disk being substantially concentric with the center core and having a diameter larger than the diameter of the center core so as to define, at each end of the core, an annular rim extending radially outwardly from the center core, the spool being easily disassembled into the at least two center core sections and two end disks.

4. A knock-down cable spool as defined in claim 3 in which: the spool is fabricated of plastic.

5. A knock-down cable spool as defined in claim 4 in which: the plastic includes approximately 50 to 60% high density polyethylene with the remainder comprising low density polyethylene.

6. A knock-down cable spool as defined in claim 3 in which: each end of the center core includes an inwardly directed annular flange, the portion of each flange associated with each of the core sections having at least two axially extending holes for receiving fasteners for detachably securing the end disks to the center core.

7. A knock-down cable spool as defined in claim 6 in which: each flange has an outer radially extending surface and an inner radially extending surface, the holes in each of the flanges extending from the outer surface to the inner surface thereof, the holes in the flange at one end of the center core being in axial alignment with corresponding holes in the flange at the other end of the center core to define axially aligned pairs of holes, the spool including tie rods disposed within the hollow center core parallel with the rotational axis, each tie rod extending between a pair of axially aligned holes and having ends adapted to receive said fasteners.

8. A cable spool comprising: a center core having opposed ends and a disk connected to each end of the center core, the core and disks being fabricated of recyclable plastic.

9. A cable spool, as defined in claim 8, in which: the center core comprises at least two sections separable along surfaces extending between the ends of the core, the disks being detachably connected to the at least two sections to provide a knock-down spool structure.