Patent ID: 7494087

Claim:
A cable reel handler device for use with a vehicle having a platform for holding a reel, comprising: a slide base for mounting on said vehicle, said slide base having a plurality of channels aligned transverse to the length of said vehicle; a first movable carriage for lateral movement in half of said plurality of channels and a second movable carriage for lateral movement in the remaining half of said plurality of channels; a hydraulic double-acting cylinder in each of said plurality of channels for moving the first and second movable carriages back and forth in said transverse channels; first and second lifting arms for moving said reel, said first and second lifting arms being mounted respectively on said first and second movable carriages at one end thereof and extending out to a reel engaging position, said lifting arms having an extensible torsion bar shaft attached thereto to maintain a fixed alignment there between; first and second hydraulic lift cylinders for moving said first and second lifting arms respectively and in unison to thereby move said reel to and from said platform on said vehicle and a position for winding and unwinding cable on said reel; first and second hydraulic motors mounted at said reel engaging positions on said lifting arms for rotating said reel mounted on said first and second lifting arms respectively and operable in unison to thereby rotate said reel for winding and unwinding cable on said reel, each of said hydraulic motors having output stub shafts for engaging said reel and transmitting rotation from said hydraulic motors to said reel; and a source of hydraulic fluid operably connected to said hydraulic double-acting cylinders in said channels, said hydraulic lift cylinders on said lifting arms, and said hydraulic motors on said reel engaging positions on said lifting arms.