Collapsible, reusable spool
阅读说明:本技术 可塌缩、可重复使用的线轴 (Collapsible, reusable spool ) 是由 J·R·卡姆尔 M·J·朔米施 J·J·布兰特 于 2019-03-28 设计创作,主要内容包括:线轴在可操作(即电缆准备)状态和收起(即返回准备)状态之间可转变。在可操作状态下,线轴构造成接收并保持电缆的线圈。与可操作状态相比,在收起状态下,线轴具有减小的三维占地面积,由此便于线轴的储存和返回。线轴可以可释放地锁定在可操作状态。在释放锁定时,线轴可以在两种状态之间自由转变以便于线轴的重复使用。(The spool is transitionable between an operable (i.e., cable ready) state and a stowed (i.e., return ready) state. In the operable state, the spool is configured to receive and retain a coil of the electrical cable. In the stowed state, the spool has a reduced three-dimensional footprint compared to the operable state, thereby facilitating storage and return of the spool. The spool may be releasably locked in an operable state. Upon release of the lock, the spool may be freely transitioned between the two states to facilitate reuse of the spool.)
1. A spool assembly, comprising:
a drum extending along an axis of rotation between a first end and a second end;
a first flange extending radially outward from a first end of the drum;
a second flange extending radially outward from a second end of the drum;
the drum is reconfigurable between a use configuration and a stowed configuration, the second end being spaced from the first end by a first distance when the drum is arranged in the use configuration and the second end being spaced from the first end by a second distance when the drum is arranged in the stowed configuration, the second distance being shorter than the first distance.
2. The spool assembly according to claim 1 wherein said drum defines an at least substantially continuous winding surface when said drum is arranged in said in-use configuration; and wherein the drum does not define a winding surface when the drum is arranged in the stowed configuration.
3. The spool assembly according to claim 2 wherein said winding surface is sized to provide bend radius limiting protection to optical fibers wound around said winding surface.
4. The spool assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a locking device releasably locking said drum in a use position.
5. The spool assembly according to claim 4 wherein said locking means releasably locks said drum in a stowed position.
6. The spool assembly according to claim 4 wherein said locking device has an actuator that rotates relative to said drum.
7. The spool assembly according to claim 4 wherein said locking device has an actuator that rotates relative to said first flange.
8. The spool assembly according to claim 4 wherein said locking device is mounted at said first and second flanges, said locking device being movable relative to said first and second flanges.
9. The spool assembly according to claim 1 wherein said drum comprises a plurality of foldable plates.
10. The spool assembly according to claim 9 further comprising a locking device that inhibits folding of said plate when actuated.
11. A spool assembly, comprising:
a bobbin extending along a height between a first axial end and a second axial end; and
a locking device arranged on the spool, the locking device maintaining the spool in an in-use configuration in which the spool defines an at least substantially continuous winding surface, the locking device being releasable to enable the spool to be transitioned to a stowed configuration in which the spool does not define an at least substantially continuous winding surface.
12. The spool assembly according to claim 11 wherein said spool comprises a plurality of plates that cooperate to provide said at least substantially continuous winding surface when said spool is in said in-use configuration.
13. The spool assembly according to claim 12 wherein said plates are spaced from one another along a majority of a length of each plate when said spool is in said stowed configuration.
14. The spool assembly according to claim 12 wherein each plate defines a retaining member; and wherein the locking device comprises a first ring having a plurality of locking members arranged around the circumference of the first ring; wherein each locking member is sized to fit within a retaining member of one of the plates.
15. The spool assembly according to claim 14 wherein said first ring is rotatable relative to said first axial end of said spool between a locked position and a released position, wherein a locking member of said first ring engages a retaining member of said plate when said first ring is disposed in a locked position, and wherein said locking member is spaced from said retaining member when said first ring is disposed in a released position.
16. The spool assembly according to claim 14 wherein the retaining member of each plate is a first retaining member, wherein each plate further comprises a second retaining member at an end of the plate opposite the first retaining member, and wherein said locking device further comprises a second ring having a corresponding plurality of locking members arranged around a circumference of said second ring, the locking members of said second ring sized to fit within the second retaining members of said plate.
17. The spool assembly according to claim 11 wherein said spool comprises a first radial flange at said first axial end and a second radial flange at said second axial end.
18. The spool assembly according to claim 17 wherein said locking device comprises an actuator disposed at said first radial flange, said actuator being movable relative to said first radial flange.
19. The spool assembly according to claim 18 wherein said actuator is a first actuator; and wherein the locking device further comprises a second actuator arranged at the second radial flange, the second actuator being movable relative to the second radial flange.
20. The spool assembly according to claim 11 wherein said spool assembly is symmetrical about a plane intersecting a height of said spool.
21. A method of using a cable spool, the method comprising:
receiving a collapsed cable spool without cable, the collapsed cable spool having a first height extending between opposing radial flanges of the cable spool;
expanding the collapsed cable spool into an operable cable spool by moving the opposing radial flanges away from each other, the operable cable spool having a second height greater than the first height;
locking the operable cable spool at the second height; and
winding the electrical cable on the operable cable spool.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein locking the operable cable spool comprises releasably locking the operable cable spool.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein winding the electrical cable on the operable cable spool comprises winding the electrical cable around an at least substantially continuous winding surface.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the collapsed cable spool does not define the at least substantially continuous winding surface.
25. The method of claim 21, wherein locking the operable cable spool at the second height comprises rotating an actuator relative to the operable cable spool.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the actuator is a first actuator; and wherein locking the operable cable spool at the second height further comprises rotating a second actuator relative to the operable cable spool.
27. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of expanding the collapsed cable spool comprises expanding a plurality of plates to define a drum of the operable cable spool, wherein the plates of the collapsed cable spool do not form a drum.
28. A method of using a cable spool, the method comprising:
paying out a cable from an operable cable spool having a height;
releasing the locking means of the operable cable spool; and
collapsing the operable cable spool into a collapsed cable spool by moving the opposing radial flanges toward each other, the collapsed cable spool having different heights that are less than the height of the operable cable spool; and
the collapsed cable spool is shipped back to the cable supplier for reuse.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the collapsed cable spool is one of a plurality of collapsed cable spools, and wherein the method further comprises packaging the plurality of collapsed cable spools together to transport the collapsed cable spools back to a cable supplier.
30. The method of claim 28, wherein releasing the locking device comprises rotating an actuator of the locking device.
Background
Communication cables (e.g., fiber optic cables, coaxial cables, twisted pair cables, and power cables) are typically packaged on spools and shipped to the installation site. Larger spools tend to be made strong and durable (e.g., made of metal or plastic) and therefore reusable. However, storage and transportation of these spools can be expensive and/or space consuming. Smaller spools are typically made of cardboard and are intended for single use only. When the cable has been deployed from such a spool, the spool tends to be discarded, thereby creating waste.
Improvements are needed.
Disclosure of Invention
Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a spool that is transitionable between an operable (i.e., cable ready) state and a stowed (i.e., return ready) state. In the operable state, the spool is configured to receive and retain a coil of the electrical cable. In the stowed state, the spool has a reduced three-dimensional footprint compared to the operable state. The spool cannot hold the cable when in the stowed state.
In use, the cable is wound on an operable spool for storage and transport and is prepared for spool deployment from the cable at the installation site. Once the cable is deployed, the spool may transition to a stowed state. For example, the spool may collapse to have a smaller three-dimensional footprint. One or more of the take-up spools may be packaged together and shipped back to the cable supplier. The stowed spool may also be stored more easily (e.g., in a smaller area) than the operable spool. The spool can then be converted back to an operational state by the cable supplier and reloaded with more cable.
In certain implementations, the spool may be locked in the operable state to inhibit the transition state when the electrical cable is wound around the spool. In some examples, the spool may be locked in a stowed state. In some examples, the spool is locked by rotating a dial.
In certain implementations, the spool includes a drum extending between opposing axial end flanges. Transitioning the spool to the stowed state moves the axial end flanges together. In some examples, only the height of the spool is reduced when the spool transitions to the stowed state. In certain implementations, the drum of the spool deforms to expand radially outward to enable the axial end flanges of the spool to move closer together.
Various additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description which follows. The inventive aspects may relate to individual features as well as combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.
Drawings
The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present disclosure. The brief description of the drawings is as follows:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary spool constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, the spool being arranged in an operable state;
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the spool of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the spool of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the spool of FIG. 1 transitioning intermediate between the operable and stowed states;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the spool of FIG. 1 in an intermediate transition between the operable and stowed states, but closer to the stowed state than FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the spool of FIG. 1 configured in a stowed condition;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the spool of FIG. 1 with the parts separated from each other for ease of viewing;
FIG. 8 is an elevational view of an exemplary plate suitable for use in forming a drum of the spool of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the plate of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 shows the plate of FIG. 9 divided into two plate members;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an exemplary flange suitable for use with the spool of FIG. 1;
FIG. 12 is a plan view of the flange of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a first perspective view of an exemplary actuation member suitable for use with the spool of FIG. 1;
FIG. 14 is a second perspective view of the actuating member of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a first perspective view of an exemplary locking member suitable for use with the spool of FIG. 1;
FIG. 16 is a second perspective view of the locking member of FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the spool of FIG. 1 with the locking device disposed in a release position with some of the plate members removed so that the interior of the drum is visible;
FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the spool of FIG. 3 taken along line 19-19;
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the spool of FIG. 1 with the locking device disposed in a locked position with some of the plate members removed such that the interior of the drum is visible; and
fig. 21 is an enlarged view of a portion of fig. 20.
Detailed Description
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
The present disclosure relates to a cable spool transitionable between an operable state and a stowed state. In the operable state, the spool is configured to receive and retain a coil of the electrical cable. In the stowed state, the spool has a reduced three-dimensional footprint compared to the operable state. The spool cannot hold the cable when in the stowed state.
Fig. 1 and 2 illustrate an
When in the operable state, the
The
In certain implementations, the
In some implementations, the
In certain implementations, the locking device is operated by a user via the
In certain implementations, the
In some implementations, the locking device includes a
Referring to fig. 7, the
Fig. 8-10 illustrate an
As shown in fig. 10, each plate member 121a, 121b includes one mounting member 122. Each plate member 121a, 121b also forms part of a hinge on the side of the plate member 121a, 121b opposite the respective mounting member 122. In the example shown, the first plate member 121a includes a pin retainer 123 defining a hole, and the second plate member 121b includes a hinge pin 124 that fits in the hole. Thus, the mounting member 122 of the first plate member 121a may pivot relative to the mounting member 122 of the second plate member 121 b.
In certain implementations, at least one of the plate members 121a, 121b includes a retaining
Fig. 11 and 12 illustrate exemplary
In some implementations, the
In certain implementations, the
In certain implementations, the
Fig. 13 and 14 illustrate an
The
In certain examples, one or more
In certain implementations, the
In certain implementations,
In certain implementations, the
Fig. 15 and 16 illustrate an
In certain implementations, the locking
In some examples, the locking
The locking
In certain implementations, the locking
In certain examples, the locking
As the
Fig. 17-21 illustrate the operation of the locking device of the
As shown in fig. 17-19, the
In fig. 19 and 20, the
Having described preferred aspects and implementations of the present disclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.