Cable storage assembly

The invention relates to an assembly for storing lengths of cables, chains, or conduits wound on a spool. The assembly has a stationary portion that supports a motor and a removable portion that supports a spool for receiving a length of a cable, chain or conduit. The motor is operationally connected to a sprocket wheel, which forms a part of the stationary portion, and when the sprocket wheel is moved into engagement with the chain fitted on the spool, the rotating force is transmitted to the spool, allowing winding of the cable, chain or conduit thereon. Any number of removable portions can be used for winding of a predetermined length of cables, chains, or conduits using the same stationary portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a cable storage equipment, and in 
particular to an assembly for storing a length of cable typically found on 
offshore platforms. 
Offshore oil and gas exploration and production is conventionally conducted 
from floating platforms that are positioned at a desired location some 
distance from the shoreline and are equipped with the necessary facilities 
for conducting well operations. The floating offshore platforms serve not 
only as a base for well equipment but often times provide living quarters 
for the personnel working on the platform for weeks, even months, at a 
time. Therefore, the platforms are designed to accommodate the living 
facilities, as well as equipment that is necessary for conducting the 
desired type of operation. The space on such platforms is of a premium 
value, since any additional platform size translates into a considerable 
increase in the cost of manufacturing and operating the offshore platform. 
In order to maximize the available space for conducting of the necessary 
operations, a service barge or vessel often accompanies an offshore 
platform. The service vessels store spare equipment, replacement parts, 
buoys and other similar items which are not of immediate need on the decks 
of an offshore platform. The cost of oil production and operation, 
therefore, takes into account the expense of operating the service barges 
or boats assigned to work alongside the offshore platform. 
During an offshore operation, it often becomes necessary to store 
considerable lengths of cable, anchor chains for securing buoys used to 
mark the position of a pipeline in the open seas. Oftentimes, the cable is 
stored in a heap somewhere on a deck of a platform, or on a service 
vessel, requiring untangling and organizing when the cable needs to be 
re-used. The present invention contemplates provision of an assembly for 
storing lengths of cables, chains or conduits in an organized manner, 
making it ready for use in a matter of minutes. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an assembly 
for storing lengths of cable, an anchor chain or conduits. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide an assembly for 
storing cable and similar items in a relatively small amount of space, 
ready to be used upon demand. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cable storage 
assembly which is particularly suitable for use in situations where 
storage space is at a premium. 
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a 
provision of a cable storage assembly that comprises a stationary portion 
and a removable portion detachably engageable with the stationary portion. 
The stationary portion carries an operational part of the assembly, 
comprised of a motor supported by an upright frame, a driving shaft, and a 
second elongated shaft connected to the drive shaft by an endless chain. 
When the drive shaft is rotated by the motor, rotation is transmitted 
through the endless chain to the elongated shaft. 
One end of the elongated shaft is provided with a sprocket wheel, the 
second end of the wheel being telescopically engaged in a sleeve. The 
second end of the elongated shaft carries a rotating handle that allows 
the elongated shaft to move in and out of engagement with the removable 
portion. 
The removable portion comprises a base and an upright support which carries 
a spool adapted for receiving a length of cable, chain, or a similar item 
wound thereon. One end of the spool carries a chain fitted on the interior 
wall of the spool. The links of the chain correspond to the size and shape 
of the sprocket wheel of the stationary portion. When the removable 
portion is moved to rest on the base of the stationary portion, the 
sprocket wheel is advanced by rotation of the handle toward the spool. The 
teeth of the sprocket engage the chain mounted in the spool and transmit 
torque from the motor to the spool, allowing winding of the chain on the 
spool. 
After a predetermined length of the chain, or cable is wound on the spool, 
the sprocket wheel is moved out of engagement with the chain of the spool, 
thereby disengaging the removable portion from the driving shaft of the 
motor. The removable portion can then be lifted by a crane or other 
suitable means and moved to a location convenient for storage of the cable 
wound on the removable portion. 
Another removable portion with an empty spool is then moved into engagement 
with the stationary portion, and another length of chain, or cable is 
wound on the second spool in a manner similar to that described above. As 
a result, any desired lengths of cables, chains, or conduits can be 
conveniently stored on a plurality of removable portions, away from the 
main operation areas of a platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10 designates an 
assembly for storing lengths of cable in accordance with the present 
invention. The assembly 10 comprises a stationary portion 12 and a 
detachably removable portion 14. The stationary portion 12 comprises a 
support base 16 adapted to rest on a horizontal surface, for example a 
deck of an offshore platform. The base 16 has a bottom plate 18, a 
vertically extending wall 20 and an upper plate 22. The base 16 has an 
opening 24 formed in the top plate 22 and the bottom plate 18. The 
perimeter of the opening 24 is defined by the vertical wall 20. 
Mounted on the top plate 22, adjacent to opening 24, is an operational 
portion 30, or drive mechanism of the assembly 10, as can be better seen 
in FIG. 5. The operational portion 30 comprises a motor 32 which can be a 
pneumatic, hydraulic or an electric motor, as selected, connected to a 
source of power by a plurality of cables or hoses 34. The motor 32 has a 
driving shaft 42 which rotates in response to a force generated by the 
motor 32, moving a sprocket 33 and transmitting torque to a driver 
sprocket 46 via endless chain 44. 
A second rotating shaft or sleeve 70 is adapted for rotation about its axis 
in response to the rotational force transmitted by the endless chain 44 to 
the sprocket 46, which is rigidly engaged with the shaft 70, thus, 
allowing rotation of the shaft 70 in unison with the shaft 42. 
The sprocket 46 is mounted midway on the shaft 70, and a pair of bearings 
50, 52 receive opposite ends of the shaft 70. The bearings 50, 52 are 
fixedly secured, such as by bolts, or the like, to a top plate 54 of a 
motor support frame 56. The support frame 56 has a plurality of vertical 
legs, or support members 58 that rest on a platform 60, as shown in FIGS. 
1 and 2. The platform 60 is engaged, by suitable engaging brackets 62, to 
the top plate 22 of the base 16. 
An opening 64 is formed in the plate 54 to accommodate an upper portion of 
the chain 44 extending therein. If desired, the support frame 56 can be 
further reenforced by one or more angular beams 66 secured to the plate 54 
and the vertical frame legs 58. The lower end of the angular support 
members 66 rests on the plate 60 and is engaged thereto by welding or 
other suitable means. 
With reference to FIG. 5, the rotating cylindrical shaft, or sleeve 70 
(shown in greater detail in FIG. 10) is seen supported by bearings 50 and 
52. Within the sleeve 70 is seen an inner elongated shaft 36 (shown in 
greater detail in FIG. 11) with adjusting screw 39 (shown in greater 
detail in FIG. 6). The rotating cylindrical shaft, or sleeve 70 is bored 
and keywayed (shown in greater detail in FIG. 12) to the size sufficient 
to accommodate the elongated shaft 36 and to allow for a longitudinal 
movement of the elongated shaft therein. 
The elongated shaft 36 is fitted with a key 35 (see FIG. 11) that engages 
with keyway 73 (see FIG. 12) in the sleeve 70. This allows the elongated 
shaft 36 to be telescopically extended or retracted in relation to the 
sleeve 70. It also allows the two shafts to rotate together when torque is 
applied via motor 32. The elongated shaft 36 is fitted with a female 
threaded opening 31 for receiving the adjusting screw 39. The adjusting 
screw 39 is fitted with a bearing 71 that is kept in place by stops 78. 
Handle 74 is a removable part of the screw 39. A pin 77 allows the handle 
74 to be attached or readily disengaged from the screw 39. When the pin 77 
is removed, the handle 74 can be disengaged which leaves the screw 39 free 
floating. 
Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, the elongated shaft 36 and adjusting 
screw 39 are seen in place with sleeve 70. The adjusting screw bearing 71 
is fixedly secured to the sleeve 70 by a plurality of set screws 75. The 
inside end of the adjusting screw 39 is seen threaded into the female 
threaded opening 31 (see FIG. 11) on the end of the elongated shaft 36. 
With longitudinal movement of adjusting screw 39 prevented by the stops 78 
and the set screws 75, clockwise rotation of the handle 74 causes the 
adjusting screw 39 to move into the female threaded opening 31 on the end 
of the elongated shaft 36, thus retracting the shaft backward into the 
sleeve 70. Likewise, the opposite occurs when the handle 74 is rotated 
counter-clockwise thus extending the elongated shaft outward toward the 
front of the sleeve 70. 
During operation, when the necessary alignment of the sprocket 38 in 
relation to the chain 40 is made and the teeth of the sprocket 38 are in 
place with the chain 40, as seen in FIG. 4, the handle 74 is removed from 
the adjusting screw 39, and the adjusting screw is free to rotate along 
with sleeve 70 and shaft 36. Thus, telescopic movement of the shaft 36 in 
relation to the sleeve 70 is prevented. Telescopic movement is also 
prevented when the teeth of the sprocket 38 are meshed with the chain 40. 
As further shown in FIG. 5, the drive mechanism is provided with a flow 
control device 150 connectable to a hydraulic conduit 152 that connects to 
the hose 34, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A valve 154, for example a 
directional valve, is positioned downstream from the flow control means 
150 to allow a fluid flow through the drive mechanism. 
The removable detachable portion 14 comprises a support base 80 formed by 
an upper plate 82 and vertically extending perimeter wall 84. A cutout, or 
recess 86 is formed in the perimeter wall 84 to allow engagement with a 
protruding part of the support frame 56, as shown in FIG. 2. A plurality 
of corner brackets 88 securely engage the four comers of the support base 
80 when the removable portion is mounted on the base 18. When resting on 
the plate 22, the support base 80 is prevented from lateral movement by 
the shoulders 90 defining the cutout 86, as well as by the corner brackets 
88. 
Extending upwardly from the top plate 82 are a plurality of supporting legs 
92 that have a length sufficient to allow a transverse beam 94 to reach an 
upper part of the bearings 50 and the chain 44. The transverse beam 94 has 
a U-shaped cross section and is provided with a central opening 95, which 
receives an upper portion of the bearings 50 (See FIG. 4). 
An opening 96 is formed in the support base 80, the opening 96 having 
dimensions similar to the opening 24 of the base 16. A plurality of 
lifting members 98 with openings 100 are secured to the top plate 82 in 
order to allow lifting of the removable portion 14 by crane, or other 
suitable means. 
A cable receiving bobbin or spool 110 is carried by the legs 92. The spool 
110 comprises a cylindrical body 112 carrying a pair of ring, or 
circumferential flanges 114 secured to an exterior thereof a distance from 
opposite ends of the cylindrical body 112. The diameter of each of the 
flanges 114 is greater than the outside diameter of the cylindrical body 
112 to allow retaining of a predetermined length of a cable, or an anchor 
chain wound on the bobbin 110. 
Turning now to FIG. 7, the cylindrical body 112 is fitted with flanges 114 
secured by, for example, welding to the wall of body 112. A shaft 118 
extends between opposing beams of the transverse frame 94 and through the 
spool 110. The shaft 118 is fixedly secured at both ends to the transverse 
frame 94 by attachment brackets 120 and 124, seen in FIGS. 4 and 9. A 
closer view of the brackets 120 and 124 is provided in FIGS. 3 and 4. The 
brackets consist of a lower portion 124 that is secured to the frame 94 
by, for example, welding. The bracket 124 has in inverted U-shaped cross 
section and engages upwardly extending walls of the transverse beam 94. 
The upper attachment bracket 120 clamps over the ends of the drum shaft 
118 that rests in the lower attachment bracket 124 and is firmly secured 
to the lower bracket 124 with bolts 122, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, thus 
holding the drum shaft 118 firmly in place. 
Attached and secured to the drum shaft 118 are thrust bearings 162 (see 
FIG. 7) which prevent the lateral movement of the drum assembly 110 in 
relation to the drum shaft 118. The drum assembly 110 is further fitted 
with second bearings 163 that allow easy rotation of the drum 110 on the 
shaft 118 when torque is transmitted through the motor 32, the rotating 
sleeve 70 and the shaft 36. The thrust bearing assemblies 162, 163 are 
provided with conduits for delivering lubricant, as needed. The conduits 
can be as simple as grease nipples 164, as shown in FIG. 7. 
Turning now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 of the drawings, the end of the cylindrical 
body 112 and the drum shaft assembly can be seen in more detail. The 
endless chain 40 is fitted on the interior wall 126 of the body 112 and is 
secured thereto in a conventional manner. The chain 40 is retained in 
place by an annular inwardly extending lip 128 formed about the 
circumference of the cylindrical body 112. The links of the chain 40 are 
sized and shaped to engage the plurality of teeth of the sprocket wheel 38 
when the sprocket wheel 38 is rotated. As a result, a rotating force is 
transmitted from the shaft 36 to the spool 110. 
If desired, the drive mechanism can be a hydraulic motor, with an oil pump 
that delivers oil under pressure to a motor and drives the sprockets for 
rotation of the drum, or spool 110. 
To ensure safety of operation, the second end 126 of the spool 110 is 
provided with a braking means. The braking means comprises a band 128 (see 
FIG. 2) positioned about the exterior circumference of the cylindrical 
body 112 between the flange 114 and the end 126. The ends of the band 128 
are engaged in a gripping member 130 and are secured together by a 
threaded screw 132. The threaded screw 132 passes through the gripping 
member 130 and through the openings (not shown) formed in the ends of the 
band 128, causing the ends of the band 128 to come closer together when a 
wheel 134 is rotated. The wheel 134 is fixedly secured to the screw 132, 
allowing to apply an emergency brake on rotation of the spool 110, when 
necessary. 
Turning now to FIGS. 8 and 9, a means for lifting the drive mechanism is 
illustrated. A lever bar 170 is shown pivotally connected by a pin 172 
fixed between two brackets 174 and 176 (FIG. 9). When the bar 170 is 
pushed downward, it acts as a fulcrum that raises the platform 60 on which 
the drive mechanism rests. The opposite end of that platform is hingedly 
attached, as at 180, to the base 20, so that the drive mechanism is lifted 
by the lever 170 at one end, while being hingedly attached to the base at 
the other side. The lifting of the drive mechanism is sufficient to allow 
the sprocket 38 to clear the chain 40 and thus clear the spool 110, so 
that the spool can be removed or placed on the base 12, if necessary. Once 
the sprocket 38 is raised above chain 40, it may be extended or retracted 
via handle 74 for engagement or disengagement with the chain 40, 
respectively, as desired. By lowering the lever 170, the drive mechanism 
is raised allowing the sprocket 38 to clear the chain 40 and allowing the 
elongated shaft 36 to be retracted away from the spool 110. The spool 110 
can then be removed, a new spool put in its place, the elongated shaft 
extended, and the drive mechanism lowered to bring the sprocket 38 in 
contact with the chain 40. 
Once the lever 170 is moved downward, it will remain in the desired 
position without the necessity to hold it in the downward position. The 
lever 170 is sufficiently stable to hold itself against the bottom of the 
base on which the drive mechanism is supported. When necessary, the lever 
170 is moved up again, releasing the hinge mechanism and allowing the 
drive portion to return to its original position. During operation, the 
weight of the drive mechanism is sufficient to maintain the sprocket 38 
engaged with the chain 40 on the drum assembly 110 and if desired, it 
could be further secured by wing nuts 183 (see FIG. 9). 
In operation, the removable portion 14 is lifted by crane cables engaged 
with the lifting brackets 98 by hooks 142 and moved to rest on the 
stationary portion 12, that is stationed on a platform deck at a location 
where winding of the cable is convenient. 
The removable portion 14 is manipulated to securely engage with the base 
16, resting between the corner brackets 88 with the cutout 86 engaging at 
least a portion of the motor support frame 56, as shown in FIG. 2. The 
lifting cables 140 may be disengaged, if desired, from the lifting 
brackets 98, and an operator turns the handle 74 to advance the shaft 36 
and thus the sprocket 38. Rotation of the crank handle 74 continues until 
the sprocket wheel 38 advances to a position in alignment with the chain 
40. If necessary, the lever 170 is manipulated to align the driving chains 
40 and the sprocket 38 to permit transmission of torque from the motor 32 
to the spool 110. 
Once the teeth of the sprocket 38 are firmly engaged with the chain 40, an 
operator secures one end of the cable with the cylindrical body 112, 
between the flanges 114. The cable is schematically shown in phantom lines 
200 in FIG. 2. The operator then pushes control buttons on a control panel 
210 (schematically shown in FIG. 1) connected to the motor 32. 
The motor 32 causes rotation of the drive shaft 42, transmitting torque to 
the shaft 36 through the chain 44. Torque is then transmitted to the 
sprocket 38 and thereby, to the chain 40 and the spool 110. Rotation of 
the spool 110 causes winding of the cable 200 on the cylindrical body 112. 
The rotation continues until the desired length of the cable, or anchor 
chain is positioned on the spool 110. The free end of the cable is 
securely fastened, in a conventional manner, to the spool 110 to prevent 
accidental unwinding thereof. 
After the sprocket 38 is lifted out of engagement with chain 40 by lifting 
the drive mechanism with lever 170, the handle 74 is then rotated to move 
the shaft 36 away from the spool 110 and disengage the sprocket 38 from 
engagement with the chain 40. An operator then attaches the hook 142 to 
the lifting brackets 98. The entire removable portion 14, along with the 
spool 110 and the cable wound thereon is lifted from the stationary 
portion 12 and moved to storage in a convenient location. The spool 110 
can be stored either on the deck of the platform, away from the main 
operation areas, or on a service barge, or vessel attached to the 
platform. 
Another removable portion 14 with an empty spool 110 is then positioned on 
the stationary portion 12, allowing to wind another length of cable or 
chain on the fresh spool in the manner described above. As a result, the 
stationary portion 12 can be used for winding of any length of cable, as 
long as there are enough spools 110 to store the cable. 
The present invention allows to efficiently and expeditiously prepare for 
storage a considerable length of cables, as they are retrieved from the 
ocean, and store them in an organized manner, ready for future use. Cables 
do not occupy more space than the dimensions of the removable portions 14, 
they can be easily unwound, when necessary, by moving the removable 
portion 14 to a location where the cable, or chain or required. The wound 
cable, or chain can be transported to another convenient location, if 
desired, in an efficient, timely manner. 
This invention of course, is not limited in its application to offshore 
platforms as it can be successfully used in any location where lengths of 
cables, ropes or chains need to be stored. 
For example, the device of the present invention can be successfully used 
for winding up a length of pipe or conduit, that is conventionally laid on 
the bottom of the ocean floor at an oil or gas production site. Such pipes 
are usually manufactured as continuous lengths of conduits at an iron, or 
steel mill, and then are cut into predetermined lengths. The present 
invention can be used for transporting such lengths of pipe to a site 
where the pipe is to be positioned. In such a case, the diameter of the 
drum 110 can be sufficiently enlarged to allow winding of considerable 
lengths of pipe on the drum. The sprocket and chain mechanism of the 
present invention can be substituted by a gear and spline arrangement, if 
necessary. 
Many other changes and modifications can be made in the design of the 
present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I, therefore, 
pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope 
of the appended claims.