DUAL WIRE ROPE MOTOR REEL
20250145405 ยท 2025-05-08
Inventors
Cpc classification
B60L53/18
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H75/4428
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H75/36
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H2701/34
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
F16L3/12
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
B65H75/36
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
F16L3/12
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
A reeling device including a housing, a retraction mechanism, a shaft rotatable by the retraction mechanism, a first drum coupled to the shaft, and a second drum coupled to the shaft, wherein the second drum has an inner diameter greater than an inner diameter the first drum. A first wire rope is attached around the first drum and secured to a first position on an electrical cable with a saddle clamp. A second wire rope is attached around the second drum and secured to a first position on an electrical cable with a saddle clamp, the second position being distal to the first position.
Claims
1. A reeling device, comprising: a housing; a retraction mechanism; a shaft rotatable by the retraction mechanism; a first drum coupled to the shaft with a first wire rope attached around the first drum; and a second drum coupled to the shaft with a second wire rope is attached around the second drum, wherein the second drum has an inner diameter (D2) greater than an inner diameter (D1) the first drum, wherein each of the first wire rope and the second wire rope has a saddle clamp attached at a distal end, the saddle clamp including a first housing part secured to a second housing part, a channel defined between the first housing part and the second housing part, and at least one insert removably positioned in the channel having an inner diameter sized to accommodate an electrical cable.
2. The reeling device of claim 1, wherein the diameter (D2) is at least twice the diameter (D1).
3. The reeling device of claim 1, further comprising: an electrical cable; wherein the first wire rope is secured to a first position on the electrical cable with one of the saddle clamps; wherein the second wire rope is secured to a second position on the electrical cable with another one of the saddle clamps, the second position being distal to the first position.
4. The reeling device of claim 3, wherein the reeling device is operable between a reeled configuration in which the first and second positions of the electrical cable are at an approximately same distance from the reeling device and an unreeled configuration in which the second position of the electrical cable is further from the reeling device than the first position.
5. The reeling device of claim 1, wherein the retraction mechanism is a motor, the reeling device further comprising a gear reducer between the motor and a proximal end the shaft.
6. The reeling device of claim 5, further comprising a rotary limit switch on a distal end of the shaft.
7. The reeling device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a base plate, first and second end plates attached to the base plate, wherein the first and second drums are positioned between the first and second end plates.
8. The reeling device of claim 7, further comprising a wire guide assembly attached between the first and second end plates including an opening to receive a first wire rope from the first drum and an opening to receive a second wire rope from the second drum.
9. The reeling device of claim 8, wherein the wire guide includes a plurality of rollers.
10. The reeling device of claim 1, wherein the retraction mechanism is a spring reel including a spring mounted about the shaft.
11. The reeling device of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock rotation of the first and second drums, wherein the locking mechanism includes a gear attached to the shaft and a pawl configured to engage with the gear.
12. The reeling device of claim 1, wherein the first housing part of the saddle clamp has a first upper portion with a first curved inner surface and the second housing part of the saddle clamp has a second upper portion with a second curved inner surface, the first curved inner surface and the second curved inner surface defining the channel.
13. The reeling device of claim 12, wherein the first housing part of the saddle clamp has a first lower portion with an opening and the second housing part of the saddle clamp has a second lower portion with an opening, the openings defining a handle of the saddle clamp.
14. The reeling device of claim 12, wherein the at least one insert includes a first insert part received in the first curved inner surface of the first housing part and a second insert part received in the second curved inner surface of the second housing part.
15. The reeling device of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert includes a plurality of inserts interchangeable in the channel, each having a different inner diameter to accommodate a different cable size.
16. A saddle clamp for a cable, comprising: a first housing part having a first upper portion with a first curved inner surface; a second housing part having a first upper portion with a second curved inner surface, the first housing part and the second housing part being removably attachable, wherein the first curved inner surface and the second curved inner surface define a channel through the saddle clamp; at least one insert removably securable in the channel, the at least one insert having a first insert part received in the first curved inner surface of the first housing part and a second insert part received in the second curved inner surface of the second housing part.
17. The saddle clamp of claim 16, wherein the first housing part of the saddle clamp has a first lower portion with an opening and the second housing part of the saddle clamp has a second lower portion with an opening, the openings defining a handle of the saddle clamp.
18. The saddle clamp of claim 16, wherein each of the first insert part and the second insert part of the at least one insert has at least one radially extending tab, at least one radially extending tab engaging in the first housing part or the second housing part.
19. The saddle clamp of claim 18, wherein each of the first housing part and the second housing part includes a plurality of cavities adjacent to the first curved inner surface and the second curved inner surface, respectively, for receiving the tabs.
20. The saddle clamp of claim 16, wherein the at least one insert includes a plurality of inserts interchangeable in the channel, each having a different inner diameter to accommodate a different cable size.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045] The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions, or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure.
[0046] Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from about or approximately one particular value and/or to about or approximately another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent about, it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It is also understood that all spatial references, such as, for example, horizontal, vertical, top, upper, lower, bottom, left and right, are for illustrative purposes only and can be varied within the scope of the disclosure.
[0047]
[0048] The reeling device 100 includes a housing 102 (or frame) and a retraction device in the form of a motor 110, such as an electric motor, secured to the housing 102. In the exemplary embodiment, the motor is a 0.33 horsepower vector duty electric motor. The motor 110 is connected to a gear reducer 120 for driving a shaft 130. In the exemplary embodiment, the gear reducer 120 is a 90-degree worm gear reducer with a 60:1 reduction ratio.
[0049] A first drum 140 and at least one second drum 150 are mounted on the shaft 130. In the exemplary embodiment, each of the first and second drums 140,150 have an outer diameter of approximately twelve (12) inches and an inner width of approximately one and a half (1.5) inches. Each of the first drum 140 and the second drum 150 is configured to receive a wire rope about its respective inner diameter. As shown in
[0050]
[0051] In the exemplary embodiment, the guide bracket 108 includes a wire guide assembly 180 (e.g., as a single component or two separate wire guides) having openings positioned over each drum 140,150 for guiding the two wire ropes. The wire guide assembly 180 assists with keeping the wire ropes lined up with each drum 140,150. The housing 102 may further include an adapter plate 122 between the gear reducer 120 and one of the end plates 106.
[0052] In one exemplary embodiment, the wire guide assembly 180 includes a plurality of rollers, e.g., as shown in
[0053] As shown in
[0054] The reeling device 100 may further include two or more shaft bearings 200 with bearing housing components 202. In the exemplary embodiment, a rotary limit switch 160 is also mounted on a distal end of the shaft 130 using a mounting bracket 162. The rotary limit switch 160 limits the amount of travel, when both raising and lowering of the wire ropes. The limit switch 160 may monitor the reeling device 100's travel length, preventing accidental extension or retraction of the reel device 100 too far in either direction. The reeling device 100 may be configured to slowly come to a stop upon triggering either of the limit switch's top and bottom endpoints (e.g., set upon installation), only allowing operation in the opposite direction. Further, if the cable catches somewhere between the limit switch's endpoints, resistance may be detected and the motion of the reeling device 100 stopped, thereby avoiding or at least limiting damage to the reeling device 100 or surroundings.
[0055] The motor 110 may be controlled by a control panel equipped with a variable frequency drive (VFD) to allow the reeling device 100 to be adjusted to meet the customers varying applications. In some exemplary embodiments, the motor 110 of the reeling device 100 is operable remotely with a pushbutton pendant or Blue-Tooth/WiFi phone application to reel and unreel the wire ropes from the drums 140,150.
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[0057] As shown in
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[0060] The reeling device 300 includes a housing 302 (or frame) and a spring motor 310 secured to the housing 302. The spring motor 310 includes a spring 312 (e.g., a clock-type spring in a spring hub) which drives a shaft 330. For example, the spring 312 may be positioned in a spring hub of the spring motor 310 and extend at least partially around the shaft 330. The spring 312 may engage against grooves on the shaft 330 to impart a rotational force. Unlike the previous embodiment, the reeling device 300 may be operated by the user pulling on an attached cable to extend or retract the wire ropes wound about drums 340,350.
[0061] A first drum 340 and at least one second drum 350 are mounted on a shaft 330. Each of the first drum 340 and the second drum 350 is configured to receive a wire rope about its respective inner diameter. As shown in
[0062] The spring motor 310 may include a locking mechanism to keep the drums 340,350 from rewinding after they are unreeled. As shown in
[0063] As shown in
[0064] In one exemplary embodiment, the wire guide assembly 380 includes a plurality of rollers. For example, as shown in
[0065] In some embodiments, at least one of the end plates 306 and at least one of the drums 340,350 have corresponding holes configured to a receive a spool lock (e.g., bolt or other fastener) to lock the position of the reeling device 300 for maintenance. In some embodiments, the reeling device 300 further includes a pre-tensioning assembly 390 connected to the spring motor 310 for use during commissioning and maintenance.
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[0067] A first wire rope 410 is wound around the first drum and attached to an electrical cable 500 at a first position 412, e.g., using a wire rope clamp such as a saddle clamp. A second wire rope 420 is wound around the second drum and attached to the electrical cable 500 at a second position 422, e.g., using a wire rope clamp such as a saddle clamp. The saddle clamps may, for example, be of the type of saddle clamp shown in
[0068] The second position 422 is distal to the first position 412. For example, the second position 422 may be spaced apart from the first position 412 along a length L of the electrical cable 500 by a distance of at least two (2) feet or at least five (5) feet. In the exemplary embodiment, the second position 422 is approximately eight (8) feet from the first position 412 along the length L of the electrical cable 500. Various length wire ropes may be used based on the particular application, such as 10-100 ft wire ropes.
[0069] In
[0070] In
[0071] In
[0072] When used for electrical vehicle charging cables, the reeling devices disclosed herein allows for the charging cable to be retracted against the ceiling or wall of a structure and out of the way of passing vehicles and pedestrians, then selectively lowered to a vertical or near vertical position for charging. For example, a reeling device according to the present disclosure may be mounted next to a charging station for an electric vehicle and positioned above the EV traffic. The reeling device is configured to lift a charging cable vertically to an elevation above the vehicles. The two different wire ropes extending from the dual-drum reel are attached to two different lifting points (at two different elevations) on the electric charging cable. This allows the cable to be lifted from the vertical charging position to the stored position higher than the vehicles in the parking structure. The two different anchor points on the electric cable are lifted upwards at different rates and form two suspended loops.
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[0074] As shown in
[0075] Each of the housing parts 610,620 has an upper portion with a curved inner surface. The curved inner surfaces of the housing parts 610,620, when joined together, define a channel 602 for clamping around a cable such as the electrical cable 500 for charging an electric vehicle (e.g., at the positions 412,422 shown in
[0076] Each of the housing parts 610,620 also has a lower portion with an opening 604 defining a handle for conveniently positioning of and/or pulling down on a cable clamped in the saddle clamp 600. The top of the saddle clamp 600 has a hole 606 for receiving or otherwise connecting to a wire, such as the wire ropes 410,420. Each of the housing parts 610,620 may have a separate corresponding hole 606a,606b.
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[0078] The housing parts 610,620 receive and retain a plurality of inserts in the channel 602 comprised of insert halves or parts. The inserts may be comprised of a plastic material. In the exemplary embodiment, the first housing part 610 has two insert parts 630,632 (e.g., insert halves) which mate with corresponding insert parts 632,630 on the second housing part 620. Each of the insert parts 630,632 has vertically extending tabs 640 on the top and bottom with protrusions 642 on outwardly facing side surfaces. The tabs 640 engage within corresponding cavities 622,624 on the housing parts 610,620, which may have recesses for receiving the protrusions 642, when the saddle clamp 600 is assembled.
[0079] Inserts may be provided with a plurality of different inner diameters to accommodate different cable sizes. The saddle clamp 600 may be provided with one set of inserts for a particular cable size, or as a kit with a plurality of different inserts. In the exemplary embodiment, the saddle clamp 600 supports EV cables with an outer diameter of 1.25 in. to 1.88 in. by interchanging the inserts. However, additional insert sizes and/or different sized saddle clamps may be provided to accommodate any cable size.
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[0081] As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts. While illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the disclosure and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description.