[0001] The present invention relates to a device for coiling, uncoiling and storing lengths
of flexible elongate material such as wire, cable or tube such that the coiling and
uncoiling operations are effected by urging forces applied to a part of the elongate
material which is not coiled, typically at a distance from the device. In particular,
the device does not require a tension force to be applied along the length of material
to enable it to be coiled, uncoiled or stored, as is required by conventional devices.
[0002] Conventional devices for coiling, uncoiling and storing lengths of flexible elongate
material consist of a spool which is typically cylindrical with radial flanges at
either end. The spool is adapted to be mounted on a spindle such that it can rotate
relative thereto. A length of said material is typically fixed at one end to the surface
of the spool and the spool is then rotated in one radial direction such that the material
is coiled onto the surface of the spool. In order to uncoil the material, a part of
the material which is not coiled or which is partly coiled is pulled away from the
spool such that the spool rotates in the other radial direction, thereby uncoiling
such material from the spool. Said material is usually fed onto or removed from the
spool in a direction that is tangential to the cylindrical surface of the spool to
avoid applying a twist component of force about the cross-section of the material.
The flanges contain the material between either end of the spool.
[0003] However, a significant problem with coiling, uncoiling and storing flexible elongate
material around a conventional spool is that the inherent elastic properties of such
material cause the material to resist being formed around the typically cylindrical
surface of a spool. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a tension force along all
or part of the length of the material whilst the material is being coiled, uncoiled
or stored in order to constrain the material around the cylindrical surface of the
spool. The tension force is at least partly independent of the urging forces that
may be applied to the spool or the material in order to bring about coiling or uncoiling
of the material. Thus, a substantially conventional means of applying such urging
forces, whether manual, mechanical or some other means, is complicated by the need
also to provide the desired tension force. If such tension force is not applied and
maintained, the inherent elasticity in the flexible elongate material tends to cause
the flexible elongate material to straighten along its length relative to the cylindrical
surface of the spool, such that the material moves relative to and in a direction
which is substantially tangential to the cylindrical surface of the spool, causing
said material to become uncoiled.
[0004] According to the present invention, there is provided a substantially cylindrical
hollow housing one end of which is at least partially open, the perimeter of such
opening being typically radial about a radial axis of the cylinder and the other end
of the housing being substantially closed, the housing being supported by and pivoted
about its cylindrical axis from a base structure, said base structure being fixed
or mounted on the ground or some other structure such that the base structure is substantially
constrained against movement relative to the ground or said other structure. The pivot
between the housing and base structure is typically located on the radial axis of
the housing from the end of the housing which is substantially closed, such that the
housing is able to rotate freely in either radial direction about the base structure.
The device further comprises a means of guiding a flexible elongate material such
that a length of such material can be fed or retracted through such guiding means,
the material being substantially constrained in all directions perpendicular to a
line along the length of such material, such guiding means being typically attached
to or forming part of the base structure and being positioned such that one end of
a length of flexible elongate material can be passed through the guiding means and
into the housing through the at least partially open end of the housing such that
the end of the material rests on the inner radial wall of the housing, as further
material is fed through such guiding means and urged along the line of the length
of the material into the housing the urging force along the length of the material
is translated to a force on the housing which is substantially tangential to the radial
wall of the housing about the pivot between the housing and the base structure such
that the housing tends to rotate about the base structure thereby having the effect
of coiling the material initially on the inner radial wall of the housing.
[0005] In order to uncoil the length of material, the material is retracted through the
guiding means by urging the material along its length away from the housing such that
the urging force is translated to a force on the housing which is substantially tangential
to the radial wall of the housing about the pivot between the housing and the base
structure such that the housing rotates, allowing the material to uncoil and retract
from the housing.
[0006] Although the housing is ideally cylindrical to contain the flexible elongate material,
it may also be an open structure with sufficient wall to contain coils of material
and may be other than cylindrical such as polygonal. The housing may be pivoted from
the base structure such that its axis of rotation is in any orientation, although
a typical embodiment of the invention has the housing axis of rotation perpendicular
to the plane of the ground with the at least partially open end facing upwards. In
some embodiments, the housing may be attached to the base structure at the pivot such
that its axis of rotation is parallel to the plane of the ground or angled with respect
to the plane of the ground such that the at least partially open end of the housing
is facing towards the ground or at an angle to the ground, whereby the housing would
tend to move away from the base structure if it were not attached to it. In some embodiments,
there may be a means for securing the end of the length of material which is fed into
the housing. This is especially preferred for material which has an outer surface
such that the coefficient of friction between such outer surface and the inner wall
of the housing is low and where the material may therefore slide relative to the inner
wall of the housing. There may also be holes in the housing for drainage of any liquid
or dust that may collect in the housing.
[0007] In some embodiments, the guiding means may not be attached to the base structure
but may instead be attached to some other feature which remains substantially static
relative to the base structure. There may also be other embodiments that do not have
a specific guiding means, the guiding means being provided in some other way such
as provided by the location and operating of the means for urging the flexible elongate
material into and out of the housing. Whilst, in many embodiments, the means for urging
the material into and out of the housing is manual, the urging means may be by any
other means such as by a powered mechanism.
[0008] In typical embodiments of the invention, the housing is detachable from the base
structure such that the housing may be transported and stored independently of the
base structure. The housing containing coiled flexible elongate material may have
a means for securing an outermost end of such material, the outermost end being the
end that is the later of the two ends to enter the housing during the process of coiling,
such that the outermost end is held away from the coiled material to avoid the possibility
of accidentally passing beneath coiled material and causing the material to become
tangled when uncoiled.
[0009] Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with
reference to the drawings, in which:
- Figure 1
- shows a perspective view of a typical embodiment of the invention with the flexible
elongate material being fed into the housing;
- Figure 2
- shows a perspective view of the above embodiment with the flexible elongate material
coiled inside the housing;
- Figure 3
- shows a perspective view with sectioned detail of the housing;
- Figure 4
- shows a perspective view of a typical portable base structure;
- Figure 5
- shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with a horizontal pivot
axis between the housing and base structure;
- Figure 6
- shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with the housing pivoted
from a ceiling mounted structure;
- Figure 7
- shows a view of the housing with a means for securing the end of the flexible elongate
material, and
- Figure 8
- shows a view of a means of transporting the housing as detached from the base structure.
[0010] As shown in Figures 1 to 8, a spooler comprises a housing 1 which is pivoted from
base structure 2 about pivot 5 such that the housing 1 is free to rotate in either
direction about pivot 5 and base structure 2. Guiding means 3 is fixed to base structure
2. Flexible elongate material 4 is guided though guiding means 3 into and out of housing
1. In all figures excluding Figure 6, housing 1 is typically but not necessarily detachable
from base structure 2.
[0011] In Figure 1, flexible elongate material 4 is fed through guiding means 3 and urged
in the direction indicated by arrow 8 along the length of the material 4 into the
open end of housing 1 such that material 4 is constrained to follow the form of the
inside radial wall of housing 1. Because of the elastic resilience of material 4,
the surface of material 4 is pressed, at least initially, against the inside wall
of the housing 1, the pressing force causing friction between material 4 and the inner
radial wall surface of housing 1 such that further urging of material 4 into housing
1 in the direction indicated by arrow 8 translates into a force on housing 1 which
is tangential to the radial inner wall of housing 1 such that housing 1 is urged to
rotate about pivot 5. Thus, material 4 is coiled within housing 1 by means only of
urging on material 4 in the direction indicated by arrow 8.
[0012] In Figure 2, material 4 is urged in the direction indicated by arrow 9 along the
length of material 4, the urging force being translated to housing 1 as a force on
housing 1 in a direction which is tangential to the inner wall of housing 1 such that
housing 1 is urged to rotate about pivot 5. Thus, material 4 is uncoiled and retracted
from housing 1 by means only of urging on material 4 in the direction indicated by
arrow 9.
[0013] Figure 3 shows housing 1 together with a means of incorporating pivot 5. In Figure
4, a typical portable base structure is shown with legs 10, 11 and 12 to hold the
structure steady relative to the ground. However, the invention could be embodied
with a wide variety of base structures in which pivot 5 is incorporated to enable
housing 1 to rotate about its axis.
[0014] In Figure 5, housing 1 is rotated about pivot 5 such that rotational axis of pivot
5 is substantially horizontal relative to base structure 2. In this configuration,
it may be necessary for housing 1 to be attached to base structure 2 at pivot 5 to
avoid housing 1 becoming detached from base structure 2.
[0015] In Figure 6, housing 1 is suspended from base structure 2 which is fixed to or part
of a ceiling. The operation of coiling and uncoiling material 4 is similar to that
shown in Figures 1 and 2. Therefore, Figures 5 and 6 show that housing 1 may be pivoted
about base structure 2 in any orientation with respect to the angle of the rotational
axis of pivot 5 relative to the plane of the ground.
[0016] Figure 7 shows securing means 13, 14 and 15 for securing the end of material 4 in
order to avoid the end of material 4 from being accidentally passed beneath a part
of coiled material 4 such that material 4 may become tangled along its length when
uncoiled. Although three securing means, 13, 14 and 15 respectively, are shown, one
or more such securing means may be provided in order to secure the end of material
4.
[0017] Figure 8 shows a possible method of transporting housing 1 whereby the housing can
be rolled along ground 18 in either the direction of arrow 16 or arrow 17 in a manner
akin to a cable drum. This is useful if the total weight of the length of material
4 together with the weight of housing 1 is greater than can be easily carried manually.
[0018] Although the invention has been particularly described above with reference to specific
embodiments, it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that modifications
and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the claims which follow.
1. A spooler device comprising a substantially cylindrical hollow housing (1) one end
of which is at least partially open, the perimeter of such opening being typically
radial about a radial axis of the cylinder and the other end of the housing (1) being
substantially closed, the housing (1) being supported by and pivoted about its cylindrical
axis, the arrangement being such that one end of a length of flexible elongate material
(4) can be passed into the housing (1) through the at least partially open end of
the housing (1) such that the end of the material (4) rests on the inner radial wall
of the housing (1), as further material (4) is fed in and urged along the line of
the length of the material (4) into the housing (1), the urging force along the length
of the material (4) being translated to a force on the housing (1) which is substantially
tangential to the radial wall of the housing (1) about the pivot (5) such that the
housing (1) tends to rotate, said rotation having the effect of coiling the material
(4) initially on the inner radial wall of the housing (1).
2. A spooler device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising guiding means (3) for guiding
said flexible elongate material (4) such that a length of said material (4) can be
fed or retracted through said guiding means (3), the material (4) being substantially
constrained in all directions perpendicular to a line along the length of said material
(4).
3. A spooler device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the interior of the housing
(1) is formed of or coated with a material having a coefficient of friction relative
to the surface of the flexible elongate material (4) such that sufficient frictional
resistance exists between the two surfaces to avoid slipping such as would prevent
coiling of the flexible elongate material (4) in the spooler device.
4. A spooler device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the interior of the housing (1) is
formed of or coated with an elastomeric material such as rubber.
5. A spooler device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing (1) is in the
form of a cylinder having returned lip formations to define the opening.
6. A spooler device as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a base structure
(2) about which said housing (1) is adapted to pivot on its cylindrical axis.
7. A spooler device as claimed in claim 6 in which the housing (1) is detachable from
the base structure (2) for ease of storage and/or transport.
8. A spooler device as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a powered mechanism
for urging the material (4) into and out of the housing (1).
9. A spooler device as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising means (13, 14,
15) for securing at least one of the ends of said flexible elongate material (4) relative
to said housing (1).
10. A spooler device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said housing (1) has a
substantially cylindrical outer profile to enable it to be rolled across the ground
in a manner akin to a cable drum.