Patent Publication Number: US-2017362050-A1

Title: All terrain cable reel transport device and system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/352,094, filed Jun. 20, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The following description generally relates to an attachment for transporting a cable reel and a cable reel transport system. 
     Cable reels are used to store, transport, take up and pay out supplies of cables, wires and the like. Known cable reels include opposed, generally circular, end flanges of a first diameter and a spool extending between the opposed end flanges, the spool having a second diameter less than the first diameter. The cable, wire or the like may be wound around the spool and stored thereon for transport. 
     Cable reels may be transported, for example, by truck, from a facility to a work site. Once delivered to the work site, the cable reels may be moved to other locations on-site where the cable or wire may be payed out. The cable reel may be moved, for example, by rolling across a work site on the opposed end flanges. 
     However, some work sites include areas of rough or exposed terrain. The uneven nature of the terrain may make it difficult for a worker to roll the cable reel. Further, the exposed terrain may become soft or muddy, for example, after rainfall or exposure to other sources of moisture. Cable reels can become stuck in soft or muddy terrains. In particular, the end flanges, having a relatively small thickness, tend to sink into soft or muddy terrain due, in part, to a weight of the cable reel and the supply of cable or wire stored thereon. This results in delays at the work site. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide device and system for transporting a cable reel across rough, wet, and/or soft terrain. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one embodiment, there is provided a cable reel transport device. The device includes a chassis, a rolling assembly operably connected to the chassis and a drive assembly coupled to the rolling assembly to drive the rolling assembly. 
     According to another embodiment, there is provided a cable reel transport system. The system includes a cable reel having a spool, a first end flange and a second end flange, the spool extending between the first end flange and the second end flange and a transport device operably connected to each of the first end flange and the second end flange. Each transport device includes a chassis, a rolling assembly operably connected to the chassis, and a drive assembly coupled to the rolling assembly to drive the rolling assembly. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps, and processes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cable reel transport system according to an example described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the present disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described one or more embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered illustrative only and is not intended to limit the disclosure to any specific embodiment described or illustrated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a cable reel transport system  10  according to the examples described herein generally includes a cable reel  12  and a cable reel transport device  14 . The cable reel  12  includes first and second opposed end flanges  16 , that are generally circular in shape. A spool  18  extends between the first and second end flanges  16  to carry a supply of cable or wire  20 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 1 , the cable reel transport device  14  generally includes a chassis  22 , a rolling assembly  24  operably connected to the chassis  22  and a drive assembly  26  coupled to the rolling assembly  24  to drive the rolling assembly  24 . In one example, the cable reel transport device  14  may further include a control lever  28  to selectively brake and release the rolling assembly  24 , and a gear reduction assembly (not shown) operably connected between the drive assembly  26  and the rolling assembly  24 . The control lever  28  may alternatively, or in addition, be operated to de-clutch the drive assembly  26  from the rolling assembly  24 . 
     The drive assembly  26  may be operably connected to the cable reel  12  and can be driven by rotation of the cable reel  12 . The drive assembly  26  may include, for example, a drive gear  30  and a flexible member  32 , such as a chain or belt, connected to and driven by the drive gear  30 . Alternatively, or in combination, the drive assembly  26  may include a gear train (not shown) driven by the drive gear  30 . In some examples, the gear train may serve as the gear reduction assembly. 
     In one example, the drive assembly  26  is coupled directly to the cable reel  12 . For example, the drive gear  30  may be coupled to an axle of the cable reel  12  such that on-axis rotation of the cable reel  12  drives the drive gear  30 , and in turn, the drive assembly  26 . 
     However, it is understood that the drive assembly  26  is not limited to the examples described above. In another example, or in combination with the examples above, the drive assembly  26  may include a motor (not shown) operably connected to the rolling assembly  24  to power the rolling assembly  24 . The cable reel transport device  14  may then be coupled to the cable reel  12  by way of coupling assembly (not shown), for example, a suspension, frame or the like. The coupling assembly may be coupled to the axle of the cable reel  12  to allow for rotation of the cable reel  12  on the coupling assembly. 
     The rolling assembly  24  is configured to engage a surface or terrain to transport the cable reel system  10  over the surface or terrain. In one example, the rolling assembly  24  may include a continuous track, commonly referred to as a tank tread or caterpillar track. Alternatively, or in addition, the rolling assembly  24  may be one or more tires, such as all-terrain or rough-terrain tires. Such tires may have an increased width and/or deep treads suitable for transit over rough, soft or muddy surfaces or terrain. 
     In one example, one or more cable reel transport devices  14  can be operably connected to the cable reel  12  to support the cable reel  12  and hold the cable reel above the surface or terrain upon which the transport devices  14  are positioned. In one example, a cable reel transport device  14  is coupled to each end flange  16  of the cable reel, for example, at or to an axle of the cable reel  12 . Accordingly, the transport device(s)  14  may engage the surface or terrain rather than the end flanges  16  of the cable reel  12 . 
     To transport the cable reel system  10 , a user may rotate the reel  12  in a manner typical to rolling the cable reel  12  across a surface on its end flanges  16 . However, because the reel  12  is held above, i.e., spaced from, the surface, the rotation may be transferred to the drive gear  30  of the drive assembly  26  via the axle. The drive assembly  26 , in turn, drives the rolling assembly  24  causing the cable reel  12  and cable reel transport device  14  to move in the desired direction. The drive assembly  26  may be either directly or indirectly connected to the rolling assembly  24 . 
     As described above, each cable reel transport device  14  may be coupled to a respective end flange  16  at an axle of the cable reel  12 . A height of each cable reel transport device  14  measured from a bottom, surface engaging portion, of the rolling assembly  24  to a portion coupled to the axle, for example, the drive gear  30 , is greater than a radius of the end flanges  16 . Accordingly, the cable reel transport devices  14  may support the cable reel  12  and hold the cable reel  12  (including end flanges  16 ) over the surface or terrain. 
     The control lever  28  on each of the one or more cable reel transport devices  14  may be operated to steer the cable reel transport system  10  as it being driven. For example, one control lever  28  may be actuated to a braking position while the other remains released to skid steer the cable reel transport system  10 . Braking one of the transport devices  14  causes the system  10  to turn in the direction of the braked transport device  14 . 
     Further, in the examples above, the continuous track of the rolling assembly  24  may distribute a weight of the cable reel  12  and any load disposed thereon (e.g., a cable or wire supply) over a wider area compared to the relatively thin end flanges of the reel. As such, the continuous track may allow for easier transport over a rough, soft and/or muddy surface or terrain. Similarly, in examples where the rolling assembly  24  includes all-terrain or rough terrain tires, an increased surface/contact area compared to cable reel end flanges  16  is provided. 
     The cable reel transport devices  14  may be attached and detached from the cable reel  12  as desired. For example, cable reel transport devices  14  may be attached when it is desired to transport the cable reel  12  over a rough, soft, or muddy terrain, and may be removed when the desired destination is reached. It is understood, however, that the cable reel transport devices  14  may remain coupled to the cable reel  12  during pay out of the cable or wire as well. For example, the transport devices  14  may be braked or de-clutched by way of the control lever  28  to allow for free-wheeling rotation of the cable reel  12  while a pulling force is applied to the cable or wire  20  during pay out. 
     It is understood that the features described with respect to any of the embodiments above may be implemented, used together with, or replace features described in any of the other embodiments above. 
     All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety, by reference, whether or not specifically indicated as such within the text of this disclosure. 
     In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
     From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.