Reel with replaceable drum and a method for using same

Abstract

A reel and a method for use of same are arranged for supporting a cable drum. The reel comprises a reeling device for controlling the cable and at least one drive unit for provision of rotation of the cable drum for out- and in-winding of the cable, where the reeling device comprises two cable guiding portions which in a position of use are held at a mutual distance and connected to a reeling carriage by brackets arranged in each of the end portions of the cable guiding portions. At least one portion of the reeling device is releasably arranged to the reeling carriage so that the cable guiding portion or parts of this may be lifted out of, or displaced to the side in the framework, so that the cable drum may be removed from the reel.

Claims

1. A reel arranged for supporting a cable drum, the reel comprising a reeling device for controlling the cable, a framework having a reeling carriage, and at least one drive unit for rotating the cable drum for out- and in-winding of the cable, wherein the reeling device comprises two cable guiding portions, each having end portions, wherein each cable guiding portion, in a position of use, is held at a mutual distance and connected to the reeling carriage by brackets arranged in each of the end portions of the respective cable guiding portions, wherein at least a portion of the reeling device is releasably arranged to the reeling carriage so that at least part of each cable guiding portion may be lifted out of, or displaced to the side in the framework, so that the cable drum may be removed from the reel.

2. The reel in accordance with claim 1, where the drive unit is mounted inside of the cable drum which is provided with bearing rings enveloped by bearing brackets and where at least one of the bearing brackets are connected to a motor bracket such that the reel with bearing bracket and the motor bracket and also the drive unit are stationary, while an outlet of the drive unit which is a rotating drive axle is connected to the cable drum and thus transmits the rotational movement to the cable drum.

3. The reel in accordance with claim 2, where bearing brackets of the cable drum are arranged so that together with the guiding brackets, the bearing brackets are configured to guide the cable drum on in-lifting and lowering until the bearing brackets land on a predetermined point on the bearing base, such that fastening bolts may be mounted without any further fine adjustment of the position of the cable drum.

4. The reel in accordance with claim 1, further comprising rotatable guiding brackets for guiding the cable drum in and out of the reel, a portion of the guiding brackets being rotatable from a substantially horizontal, passive position, to a substantially vertical, active position, a portion of the guiding brackets being connected to the framework of the reel.

5. The reel in accordance with claim 4, where the guiding brackets in the active position extend above a top portion of the framework of the reel.

6. The reel in accordance with claim 4, where the guiding brackets in the passive position are below or in plane with a top portion of the framework of the reel.

7. The reel in accordance with claim 4, where bearing brackets of the cable drum are arranged so that, together with the guiding brackets, the bearing brackets are configured to guide the cable drum on in-lifting and lowering until the bearing brackets land on a predetermined point on the bearing base, such that fastening bolts may be mounted without any further fine adjustment of the position of the cable drum.

8. The reel in accordance with claim 1, where the reel is further provided with a removable protective screen.

9. A method for removing and arranging a cable drum in a reel, the reel comprising a framework having a reeling carriage, and a reeling device configured to control out- and in-winding of cable on the cable drum, the reeling device comprising two cable guiding portions, each having end portions, wherein each cable guiding portion, in a position of use, is held at a mutual distance and connected to the reeling carriage by brackets arranged in each of the end portions of the respective cable guiding portions, wherein at least a portion of the reeling device is releasably arranged to the reeling carriage so that at least part of each cable guiding portion may be lifted out of, or displaced to the side in the framework, so that the cable drum may be removed from the reel; and at least one drive unit configured to provide rotation of the cable drum, wherein the method comprises: releasing the reeling device from the reel carriage so that at least part of the cable guiding portion can be lifted out of the reel or displaced to the side in the framework, and removing the cable drum after the cable guiding portion has been lifted out of the reel or displaced to the side in the framework.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising mounting guiding brackets in vertical position such that the cable drum is prevented from unintentional movement of the cable drum on in- and out-lifting in the reel and so that the guiding brackets guide the cable drum in towards a finer control system constituted of bearing brackets and a bearing base.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9, where the cable drum is run out of and into the reel by a hoisting device.

12. The method in accordance with claim 9, where the bearing brackets are bolted to bearing bases as the cable drum is guided into position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following an example of a preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the enclosed drawings, is described, where:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view, seen from above and at an angle, of a reel according to the present invention, where the reel carries a cable drum;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the reel in FIG. 1 where the cable guiding portion is lifted out, and where reel carriages are positioned towards the center of each of the coil screws;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the reel in FIG. 2 after removal of a protective screen, the door panels are open and guiding brackets are rotated from horizontal and to vertical position;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the cable drum as it is about to be removed from the reel;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the reel after removal of the cable drum;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the cable drum, shown partly as a cross section, as it is about to be lifted into the reel, and where guiding brackets are arranged in an upwardly protruding position so that they may guide the cable drum down into the reel;

(8) FIG. 7 shows how the cable drum is guided down into the reel through the given design of the reel, without having construction details or parts of the machinery damaged by the drum; and

(9) FIG. 8 shows how the design of the bearing bracket and the bearing base contribute to the fine adjustment of the position of the cable drum on lowering of the cable drum inside the reel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(10) In the figures the reference number 1 indicates a reel in accordance with the present invention. The reel 1 includes guiding brackets 2, 2, a frame construction 3 with bearing bases 3, 3, a cable drum 13, a drive unit 5, a reeling device 7 with a cable guiding portion 8 and bearing brackets 12, 12. The cable guiding portion 8 includes rollers 8.

(11) For the sake of clarity only a few of the components shown in the figures are denoted with reference numbers. A person skilled in the art will understand the object of the components shown, but which are not further described in the following.

(12) The reel 1 is arranged to be able to carry a cable drum 13 with an on-winded cable 14.

(13) In the shown embodiment, a drive unit 5 is mounted inside of a stationary motor bracket 6 (see FIG. 6). The motor bracket 6 is bolted to a bearing bracket 12 arranged in such a way that it encircles a bearing ring arranged on the right side in FIG. 6. The drive unit 5 is provided with a driving axle 26 which in a known way per se is arranged to go into engagement with fastening means inside of the cable drum 13.

(14) A further bearing ring 11 is placed outside on the left side (see FIG. 6) of the flange of the drum, and is arranged in such a way that it envelopes a bearing bracket 12 and thus supports the opposite side of the cable drum 13 during operation.

(15) In FIG. 1 the reel 1 is shown in a typical position of use. A protective screen 4 is arranged in portions of the framework 3. The object of the protective screen 4 is both to provide protection for the contents of the reel 1 and to reduce the risk of personnel getting into contact with rotating parts present inside the reel 1. The protective screen 4 is arranged to be removable. The reeling device 7 comprises two cable guiding portions 8 which in a position of use are held at a mutual distance and connected to a reel carriage 10, 10 by means of brackets arranged in each of the end portions of the cable guiding portions 8. The cable guiding portion 8 is in the shown embodiment connected to reel carriages 10 and 10 by means of screws such that the brackets of the cable guiding portions 8 may be loosened and removed completely from the reel carriages 10, 10.

(16) In the shown embodiment, the cable guiding portion 8 of the reeling device 7 is provided with an angled design. The cable guiding portion 8 is defined by a plurality if rollers 8. The cable 14 may be able to run steplessly between a substantially horizontal and a vertical position in the cable guiding portion 8, due to the angled design.

(17) In FIG. 2 the reel 1 is shown after the cable guiding portion 8 together with rollers 8 is about to be removed from the reel 1, and the reel carriages 10, 10 are displaced towards the center of coil screws 9, 9. A hoisting device for the cable guiding portion 8 is not shown, neither is a lifting device which connects the cable guiding portion 8 to the hoisting device. It is to be emphasized that the cable guiding portion 8 in a not shown alternative embodiment is arranged such that it may not be lifted out, but may be divided into two separate units for example rotated or turned out to the coil screws 9 and 9.

(18) In FIG. 3 the reel 1 is shown after removal of the protective screen 4 in order to provide access inside the framework 3, a door panel 15 is opened and the guiding brackets 2, 2 are rotated to a vertical position.

(19) Ladder rungs and temporary platforms necessary for running this operation without the use of a hoisting device and lifting devices, are not shown.

(20) In FIG. 4 the door panel 15 is removed and the cable drum 13 is shown as it is introduced into or removed from the reel 1. The hoisting device is not shown, neither is a lifting device connecting the cable drum 13 to the hoisting device.

(21) In FIG. 5 the reel 1 is shown after removal of the cable drum 13.

(22) FIG. 6 shows the operation where the cable drum is about to be lifted into the reel 1 and where the preliminary guiding is provided by means of the framework 3 and the guiding brackets 2, 2.

(23) In FIG. 7 it is shown how the cable drum is guided down into the reel 1 through the given construction design, and where the guiding brackets 2, 2 make sure there is little movement of the cable drum 13 and thus prevent damages of other construction details or parts of the machinery by the cable drum 13.

(24) FIG. 8 shows how the bearing brackets 12, 12 and the design of the bearing base 3, 3 contributes to the fine adjustment of the position of the cable drum 13 on lowering inside the reel 1.

(25) The present invention thus solves the introductorily mentioned problems related to replacing a cable 14 in a reel, where it may be foreseen that the cable drum 13 may get an unwanted movement caused by a wave movement inflicted on the installation or vessel on in- or out-loading. Aspects of the invention concerns design and devices which additionally guide the cable drum 13 in, and possibly out, of the reel 1, where a larger movement in the top portion is tolerated, and where the design of the guiding system guides the cable drum 13 closer to its position in the bearing base 3, 3 on in-loading, and where the guiding system is arranged for preventing damage of the cable drum 13, the framework 3 and other apparatuses or machinery.