Device for determining a length of a cable which has been unwound from a cable drum

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (40, 50, 60) for determining the length of a cable which has been unwound from a cable drum (100), which device comprises a memory unit (42). The memory unit (42) is designed to store information about a length of a cable which has been wound onto the cable drum (100), information about an outer diameter of the cable which has been wound onto the cable drum (100), and information about an outer diameter of the spool (30) of the cable drum (100). The device also comprises a gyroscope sensor (46) which is designed to measure a rotational speed and / or an acceleration of the device relative to an axis of rotation (XI) of the cable drum (100). A computation unit (48) of the device is designed to calculate the length of a cable portion which has been unwound from a cable drum on the basis of the information stored by the memory unit (42) and the rotational speed and / or acceleration measured by the gyroscope sensor (46). The device (40, 50, 60) is designed to be arranged on the cable drum (100) and to be rotated together therewith about the axis of rotation (XI) of the cable drum.

Description

[0001] Device for determining the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum

[0002] Disclosed here is a device for determining a length of a cable unwound from a cable drum, an associated cable drum and a storage system for cable drums.

[0003] Cables of various diameters and lengths are regularly prepared, transported, traded, and delivered on cable drums, also known as cable reels. From these cable drums or reels, the required cable lengths are unwound and / or prefabricated, for example, at a site of use or in retail stores. The terms "cable drum" and "cable reel" are used synonymously below.

[0004] The length of the cable remaining on a cable reel after unwinding and / or termination is difficult to estimate, at least without technical aids. There is no linear relationship between the number of reel revolutions and the length of each unwound section of cable. The total unwound cable length (and thus the cable length remaining on the cable reel) depends on the number of reel revolutions, the diameter of the cable being unwound, and the diameter of a spool on the cable drum. Therefore, a precise determination of the length of a cable remaining on the cable drum requires technical aids.

[0005] A common method for determining the length of a cable remnant remaining on a cable drum is to manually measure the length of cable sections unwound from a cable drum and subtract the determined cable lengths from the cable length originally wound on the cable drum. However, this requires consistent manual documentation of all cable sections unwound from the cable drum and is therefore impractical for retail and / or warehouse applications. On the other hand, cable reels from which unknown cable lengths have already been unwound cannot be monitored in this way.

[0006] Furthermore, for example, the documents US 11 326 908 B2 and US 10 317 246 B2 disclose technical aids for determining the length of a cable residue remaining on a cable drum. The devices disclosed by these documents have in common that they are external, stationary devices for determining cable lengths, which are designed to interact with cable drums or cable reels. For use with the devices disclosed by these documents, the cable drums must first be prepared, i.e., magnets, detection elements, markings and / or rotation sensors must be arranged on the cable drums, which allow the detection of the rotations of the cable drums when a section of cable is unwound. On the other hand, the parameters necessary for determining the remaining amount of cable residue remaining on the drums, i.e.the diameter of the wound cables, the original length of the wound cables and the diameter of the spool of the cable drum, must be manually entered into the external devices so that they can calculate the length of the remaining cable after a cable has been assembled.

[0007] In addition, the known external tools for determining the length of a cable residue remaining on a cable drum significantly increase the transport effort for the cable drums if they are to be transported together with them, and, moreover, must be set up or parameterized again for each cable drum newly coupled to it.

[0008] The object is therefore to provide a device for determining the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum, an associated cable drum, and a storage system for cable drums. The device for determining the length of the cable unwound from the cable drum should, in particular, be easy to couple to a cable drum without significant installation effort, and should be operational without the manual input of property parameters of the cable and / or the cable drum.

[0009] Such devices and systems are defined by claims 1, 10 and 14. The further claims define advantageous developments of these devices and systems.

[0010] A device for determining the length of the cable unwound from a cable drum comprises a storage unit configured to store information and / or data relating to a length, in particular an original and / or current length, of the cable wound on the cable drum, and to store information and / or data relating to an outer diameter of the cable wound on the cable drum, and to store information and / or data relating to an outer diameter of a spool of the cable drum.

[0011] The storage unit can, for example, comprise a memory chip and / or a magnetic memory. The information and / or data relating to the length of a cable wound on the cable drum can comprise information relating to the original length of a cable wound on the cable drum and / or information relating to the current length of a cable wound on the cable drum. The information and / or data relating to the outer diameter of the spool of the cable drum can comprise information relating to a total diameter of the spool of the cable drum and / or information relating to the outer diameter of the cable drum without a wound cable, i.e. a diameter of the cable drum without taking into account a cable wound on the cable drum.

[0012] The device further comprises a gyroscope sensor for detecting a rotational speed and / or an acceleration, in particular a linear acceleration, and / or a movement of the device relative to a rotational axis of the cable drum. The gyroscope sensor can be configured as part of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) or as part of an IMU chip, or can comprise such a unit.

[0013] A calculation unit of the device is configured to calculate the length of a cable section unwound from a cable drum based on the information stored by the memory unit and the rotational speed and / or, in particular, linear acceleration detected by the gyroscope sensor. The calculation unit can be configured as part of a chip, in particular as part of an IMU chip, or comprise such a chip.

[0014] The device is designed to be arranged on the cable drum and to be rotated together with it about the rotation axis of the cable drum.

[0015] In other words, the device can be arranged on the cable drum, for example by fastening it in a prepared receptacle of the cable drum and / or by gluing or magnetic fastening, so that the gyroscope sensor of the device detects a rotational speed and / or an acceleration, in particular a linear acceleration, and / or a movement of the device relative to the rotational axis of the cable drum when the cable or cable section is unwound from the cable drum.

[0016] The device can, for example, be configured to be arranged on the spool and / or on an axle and / or on a drum pulley of the cable drum. An arrangement of the device on a bearing element connected to the cable drum in a rotationally fixed manner also constitutes an arrangement of the device on the cable drum. In one variant, the device can, for example, be configured to be arranged in a prepared receptacle on the spool and / or on an axle and / or on a drum pulley of the cable drum, for example, using a hook-and-loop fastener.

[0017] An advantage here is that the device can be securely arranged in the area of ​​an RFID transponder and / or RFID-readable memory chip arranged on or in the cable drum, so that wireless communication between the device and the RFID transponder and / or the RFID-readable memory chip is enabled.

[0018] Based on this detection and the information and / or data stored by the storage unit, the device can determine the length of a cable unwound or prefabricated from the cable drum without requiring laborious manual input of parameters and without further preparation of the cable drum. This allows the device to be designed to be particularly space-saving and, for example, simply mounted on a drum pulley of the cable drum, so that the device's use is not tied to a specific location and, on the other hand, does not increase the transport effort for the cable drum.

[0019] The calculation unit can calculate the length of the cable section unwound from a cable drum using a differential equation. An acceleration of the cable drum and / or the device caused by unwinding a cable can be defined as a positive acceleration in this context, and the acceleration of the cable drum and / or the device caused by winding a cable onto the cable drum can be defined as a negative acceleration in this context.

[0020] The gyroscope sensor may further be configured to detect an orientation of the device relative to the Earth's center and / or a change in the orientation of the device relative to the Earth's center.

[0021] An advantage here is that the gyroscope sensor can be used to detect a position of the cable drum and / or the rotation axis of the cable drum in space, whereby the calculation unit can calculate the length of the cable section unwound from the cable drum even more precisely, taking into account the orientation of the rotation axis of the cable drum in space, i.e. relative to the center of the earth.

[0022] Furthermore, the device can have an acceleration sensor, in particular a capacitive sensor, which is configured to detect an acceleration and / or a speed and / or a movement of the device, in particular relative to the rotation axis of the cable drum. The acceleration sensor can be designed as part of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) or as part of an IMU chip, or can comprise such a sensor. The calculation unit can further be configured to calculate the length of the cable section unwound from the cable drum based on the information stored by the storage unit and based on the acceleration and / or speed and / or movement of the device detected by the acceleration sensor and based on the detection of the gyroscope sensor.

[0023] One advantage of this is that the gyroscope sensor's reading can be verified and / or compared with the acceleration sensor's reading, allowing the calculation unit to be provided with further improved input information and / or input data. This can further improve the calculation result of the calculation unit.

[0024] The detection of the acceleration sensor can, in particular, serve to correct an integrated measurement error of the gyroscope sensor when determining or detecting a movement of the device relative to the rotation axis of a cable drum. Furthermore, the detection of the acceleration sensor can be used to detect an unintended movement of the device and / or a cable drum to which the device is attached, in particular a movement deviating from a circular path trajectory, and to take this into account by the calculation unit when determining the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum.

[0025] The calculation unit may further be configured to calculate the length of a cable section or cable residue remaining on the cable drum after a cable section has been unwound from the cable drum, for example by subtracting the calculated unwound cable length from a cable length wound up on the cable drum and stored by the storage device.

[0026] Optionally, the device may further comprise a display unit. The display unit may be separate from the remaining device for determining the length of the cable unwound from the cable drum or formed integrally with this device.

[0027] The display unit can, for example, be or comprise a display unit. In one variant, the display unit can comprise a passive display device, i.e. one that does not independently emit light, and / or use e-paper or e-ink display technology. The display unit can, in particular, be designed to visually display the length of a cable section unwound from the cable drum and / or the length of a cable originally and / or currently wound on the cable drum. Furthermore, the device for determining the length of the cable unwound from the cable drum can have a read-out device, in particular an RFID read-out device, which is designed to read information and / or data from a memory, in particular from a memory of the cable drum. The data read out from the memory of the cable drum can, for example, be stored by the memory unit of the device.

[0028] In other words, the storage unit can, in particular, store the information and / or data that were previously read by the reading device from a memory, for example, from a memory integrated into the cable drum. The information and / or data read from the memory can, for example, include information and / or data relating to a length of a cable wound on the cable drum, information and / or data relating to an outer diameter of the cable wound on the cable drum, and information and / or data relating to an outer diameter of a spool of the cable drum.

[0029] One advantage of this is that manual input of parameters and / or data required by the calculation unit to calculate the length of the cable section unwound from the cable drum and / or to calculate the length of the cable section remaining on the cable drum can be completely eliminated. For example, a cable drum can be factory-fitted, i.e., during its manufacture and / or during the fitting of a cable, with an RFID transponder and / or an RFID-readable memory chip that stores all the parameter information or data required by the calculation unit.The device for determining the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum can then, for example, be arranged in a detection range of an RFID antenna of the transponder or memory chip of the cable drum and read the required information and / or data directly from the cable drum when operation begins, so that manual parameter input is no longer necessary.

[0030] Alternatively or additionally, the device for determining the length of the cable unwound from the cable drum can also be configured to be manually moved into the detection range of an RFID antenna of the transponder or memory chip of the cable drum before being mounted on the cable drum and / or before starting operation, in order to read information and / or data from a memory. The detection range of an RFID antenna of the transponder or memory chip of the cable drum and / or the position of an RFID antenna of the transponder or memory chip on / in the cable drum can be indicated by a visually perceptible marking on / on the cable drum.Optionally, the device for determining the length of the cable unwound from a cable drum may further comprise a data transmission device, in particular an RFID data transmission device, which is configured to transmit information and / or data stored by the storage unit to an external receiving device.

[0031] In particular, the data transmission device can transmit information and / or data about the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum to an RFID transponder and / or RFID-readable memory chip of the cable drum. One advantage of this is that a cable drum or an RFID transponder and / or RFID-readable memory chip of the cable drum can thus store not only the factory-available information about an originally wound cable length, but also the current length of the cable or cable remnant still wound on the cable drum.This makes it possible to determine the current length of the cable still wound on the cable drum using the device for determining the length of the cable unwound from the cable drum, even if the device is temporarily switched off, for example, when changing the battery, and / or when the device is replaced, for example, due to a device defect. Even if the cable drum is transported to a new location without the device for determining the length of the cable unwound from the cable drum being carried along at the same time, information about the length of the remaining cable remaining on the cable drum is retained.

[0032] Optionally, the data transmission device can be configured to transmit the information and / or data stored by the storage unit wirelessly, for example, using near-field communication (NFC), to the external receiving device. For example, the data transmission device can be configured to transmit the information and / or data to a smartphone or other mobile data processing device using NFC.

[0033] Furthermore, in one variant, the device can comprise a sensor housing configured to electromagnetically shield the readout device in one or more directions not facing the cable drum. In other words, the sensor housing can shield one or more sides or surfaces of the readout device from electromagnetic signals.

[0034] One advantage of this is that the reading device communicates exclusively with the RFID transponder and / or the RFID-readable memory chip of the cable drum on which the device is mounted. This prevents unintentional reading of an RFID transponder and / or an RFID-readable memory chip of another adjacent cable drum.

[0035] In a further development, the device for determining the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum can further comprise a WPAN transceiver, for example, a Bluetooth® transmitting and / or receiving unit or a WLAN transmitting and / or receiving unit, which is configured to exchange information and / or data with an external WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit. The Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) is a variant of a Personal Area Network. It refers to short-range radio technology for bridging distances between 0.2 m and 50 m.

[0036] The data exchange with the external WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit can supplement or replace the previously described data exchange via the reading device or the data transmission device. The WPAN transceiver can also be used to read out the information and / or data about a length of a cable wound on the cable drum, about an outer diameter of the cable wound on the cable drum, and about an outer diameter of a spool of the cable drum. The information and / or data can be provided, for example, by an external WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit and / or by a WPAN interface, in particular by a Bluetooth interface, of a cable drum. The function of the WPAN transceiver can be similar to the previously described functions of the reading device and / or the data transmission device.

[0037] In one variant, the device for determining the length of the cable unwound from a cable drum can have an energy storage unit, in particular a battery or an accumulator, which is designed to supply the reading device and / or the storage unit and / or the acceleration sensor and / or the gyroscope sensor and / or the WPAN transceiver and / or the calculation unit and / or the display unit with electrical operating energy.

[0038] Furthermore, the device can comprise an energy-harvesting device configured to generate electrical operating energy, for example, with a device element movable depending on the rotation of the cable drum and / or with an induction element, and to charge the energy storage unit with electrical operating energy. For example, the device can comprise a movable device element which, when the device is attached to a cable drum and rotated together with the drum about a rotation axis, converts kinetic energy into electrical operating energy. Optionally, the device can also comprise an induction element that is moved past an induction coil by the rotation of a cable drum, thereby generating an electrical current to charge the energy storage unit.

[0039] In one variant, the device can be configured to identify a cable drum on which the device is arranged. For example, information that can be uniquely assigned to a specific cable drum, in particular an identifier or ID, can be stored in an RFID transponder and / or in an RFID-readable memory chip of the cable drum and read by the reading device.

[0040] Furthermore, the device can be configured to check regularly, ie at specific time intervals, whether it is arranged on the previously identified cable drum.

[0041] An advantage here is that an erroneous information and / or data transmission to an external receiving device, for example due to an arrangement of the device on a cable drum other than the one originally coupled to the device, can be avoided without changing the information stored by the storage unit.

[0042] A storage system for cable drums comprises a storage device for receiving one or more cable drums, wherein the storage device is configured to receive each of the one or more cable drums rotatably about a rotation axis. Furthermore, the storage system comprises one or more of the previously described devices for determining the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum, wherein the one or more devices are each arranged on cable drums received by the storage device or on connecting elements arranged on the cable drums in a rotationally fixed manner. It is not mandatory to arrange one of the previously described devices for determining the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum on each of the cable drums, although this is of course possible.

[0043] Optionally, the storage system for cable drums may comprise a WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit configured to exchange information and / or data with at least one of the devices for determining the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum.

[0044] The WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit can be configured to determine the position of one of the devices for determining the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum and / or the position of a cable drum on which one of the devices is arranged, within the storage system with the aid of a signal propagation time measurement and / or triangulation of WPAN signals and / or data exchanged with the devices.

[0045] One advantage here is that the WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit can record or determine the cable lengths unwound or pre-assembled from various cable drums at each position in the storage system and / or the cable lengths still available at these positions in the storage system.

[0046] In one variant, the storage system can further comprise a data processing device coupled to the WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit, which is configured to trigger the output of a visually or acoustically perceptible warning signal and / or to initiate an automated replacement or procurement process depending on a position of a device and / or a position of the cable drum on which one of the devices is arranged, and / or depending on a length of a cable residue remaining on the cable drum after a cable section has been unwound from a cable drum.

[0047] This simplifies stockpiling and targeted, needs-based replenishment of various cable types.

[0048] A cable drum rotatable about a rotational axis comprises a drum spool and one or more drum discs. The drum spool and / or at least one of the drum discs further comprises a pre-prepared receptacle for arranging the above-described devices for determining the length of a cable unwound from the cable drum.

[0049] Furthermore, the cable drum can have a memory that can be read by a reading device, in particular an RFID reading device and / or a WPAN transceiver. The memory of the cable drum can, in particular, be configured to store information and / or data relating to an original and / or current length of a cable wound on the cable drum, and / or to store information and / or data relating to an outer diameter of the cable wound on the cable drum, and / or to store information and / or data relating to an outer diameter of a spool of the cable drum.

[0050] Furthermore, the memory of the cable drum can in particular also be configured to store information and / or data transmitted by a data transmission device and / or a WPAN transceiver, for example information and / or data relating to an original and / or current length of a cable wound on the cable drum.

[0051] The variants described above are expressly not mutually exclusive and can be implemented in a mutually complementary manner in a common device.

[0052] Furthermore, it is understood that the exemplary embodiments explained above are not exhaustive and do not limit the subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that they can combine the described features with one another as desired and / or omit various features without deviating from the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0053] Further features, properties, advantages, and possible modifications will become apparent to a person skilled in the art from the following description, which refers to the accompanying drawings. All described and / or illustrated features, individually or in any combination, illustrate the subject matter disclosed herein. The dimensions and proportions of the components shown in the figures are not to scale.

[0054] Fig. 1 shows schematically an example of a cable drum with a spool, two drum discs and a device arranged on one of the drum discs for determining a length of a cable unwound from this cable drum.

[0055] Fig. 2 shows a schematic example of a device for determining a length of a cable unwound from a cable drum with several integrated device components.

[0056] Fig. 3 shows an example of a drum disc of a cable drum with various arrangement options for devices for determining a length of the cable unwound from this cable drum.

[0057] Fig. 4 shows a storage system with a storage device for accommodating several cable drums.

[0058] Comparable, identical, and equivalent components and features are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures. For reasons of clarity, some of the other figures do not include reference numerals for individual features and components, although these features and components are already provided with reference numerals in other figures. The components and features that are not described again in relation to the other figures are similar in design and function to the corresponding components and features in the other figures.

[0059] Fig. 1 shows schematically an example of a cable drum 100 with a spool 30, two drum discs 10, 20 and a device 40 arranged on one of the drum discs for determining a length of a cable unwound from this cable drum.

[0060] The cable drum 100 shown in Fig. 1 currently has no cable wound on it. The drum pulleys 10, 20 are each arranged at the ends of the spool 30, so that the cable drum 100 forms a dumbbell-shaped geometry.

[0061] The cable drum 100 is rotatable about a rotation axis XI. By rotating the cable drum 100 about the rotation axis XI, a cable can be wound onto the cable drum 100, more precisely onto the spool 30 of the cable drum 100 arranged between the two drum discs 10, 20. By rotating the cable drum 100 about the rotation axis XI in the opposite direction, the cable can then be unwound from the cable drum 100.

[0062] Whether and to what length a cable is unwound from the cable drum 100 can be determined using the device 40, which is arranged on the drum disc 20. Fig. 1 discloses only one possible arrangement option for the device 40; further arrangement options are disclosed by Fig. 3.

[0063] The device 40 shown in Fig. 1 stores at least information about the length of the cable originally wound onto the cable drum 100, about the outer diameter of the spool 30 shown in Fig. 1 and about an outer diameter of the cable wound onto the cable drum 100.

[0064] Based on this stored information and a rotational speed and / or acceleration of the device 40 about the rotation axis XI of the cable drum 100, detected by a gyroscope sensor in the event of unwinding or rolling off a cable held by the cable drum 100, the device 40 can determine the length of the unwound or unrolled cable as well as the length of a cable section or cable residue remaining on the cable drum 100.

[0065] Figure 2 schematically shows an example of the components of a possible device 40 for determining the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum. The device shown as an example in Figure 2 has an RFID reading device 41 configured to read information and / or data from a memory, in particular from the memory of a cable drum.

[0066] The information or data read by the RFID reading device 41 can in particular include information about the length of the cable originally wound on a cable drum, about the outer diameter of a spool of the cable drum and about an outer diameter of the cable wound on the cable drum.

[0067] The information and / or data read by the RFID reading device 41 are stored by a storage unit 42, which may comprise, for example, a memory chip and / or a magnetic storage unit, and made available to a calculation unit 48.

[0068] The device 40 further has an acceleration sensor 44 and a gyroscope sensor 46. The acceleration sensor 44 is configured to detect an acceleration, a speed, and a movement of the device 40 relative to a rotation axis. The gyroscope sensor 46 is configured to detect a rotational speed, a linear acceleration, a movement of the device 40 relative to a rotation axis, an orientation of the device 40 relative to the center of the Earth, and a change in the orientation of the device 40 relative to the center of the Earth. The detection of the acceleration sensor 44 and the gyroscope sensor 46 is provided to the calculation unit 48.

[0069] Based on the information stored by the storage unit 42 as well as the detection of the acceleration sensor 44 and the gyroscope sensor 46, the calculation unit 48 calculates the length of a cable unwound or unrolled from a cable drum on which the device 40 is arranged.

[0070] The result of the calculation by the calculation unit 48 is stored on the one hand by the memory unit 42 and on the other hand is visually displayed for an operator of the device 40 by a display unit 49 integrated into the device 40. In contrast to the device 40 shown in Fig. 2, embodiments of devices for determining the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum are also possible in which a display device is not formed integrally with the remaining components of the device, but is arranged dislocated from them on a cable drum or on a storage device. In these cases, the transmission of the calculation result of the calculation unit to the display device can be effected, for example, by a radio signal. The calculation results of the calculation unit 48 stored in the memory unit 42 are further transmitted to the RFID readout device 41, which is arranged in the manner shown in Fig.The example shown in Figure 2 is a combined RFID reading and data transmission device to be transmitted to the memory of the cable drum and also stored there.

[0071] Furthermore, the device 40 shown in Fig. 2 has a Bluetooth® transmitting and receiving unit 47, to which the information stored by the storage unit 42 and the cable lengths calculated by the calculation unit 48 are also made available. The Bluetooth transmitting and receiving unit 47 is configured to exchange data and / or information with an external WPAN transmitting and receiving unit, for example, with the WPAN transmitting and receiving unit 400 shown in Fig. 4. Information and / or data received by the transmitting and receiving unit 47 can also be displayed by the display device 49.

[0072] Furthermore, the device 40 has an accumulator 45, which is configured to supply the other components of the device 40 with electrical operating energy. An energy harvesting device 43 integrated into the device 40 is configured for so-called "energy harvesting." For this purpose, the energy harvesting device 43 converts at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the device 40, which rotates with the cable drum about a rotational axis, into electrical energy and charges the accumulator 45 with this electrical energy. For this purpose, the energy harvesting device 43 shown in Fig. 2 has an element (not shown) that is movable in response to a rotational movement and, when the device is attached to a cable drum and rotated together with it about a rotational axis, converts kinetic energy into electrical operating energy.Other devices, not shown, may also comprise an induction element (for example a permanent magnet) which is moved past an induction coil by the rotation of a cable drum on which the respective device is arranged, so that an electric current is generated to charge the energy storage unit.

[0073] Fig. 3 shows an example of a drum disc 20 of a cable drum 100 with various arrangement options for devices 40, 50, 60 for determining a length of the cable unwound from this cable drum 100.

[0074] As shown schematically in Fig. 3, the devices 40, 50 for determining a length of the cable unwound from this cable drum 100 can be arranged both radially further inward to the rotation axis XI and further outward on or in a drum disc 20. An arrangement radially further outward on or in the drum disc 20 improves the accuracy of the detection of the rotational speed and the linear acceleration by the device 50. An arrangement radially further inward on or in the drum disc 20 improves the recognizability of information and / or calculation results displayed by the device 40 for an operator.

[0075] The arrangement of a device 60 for determining a length of the cable unwound from this cable drum 100 on or in a lateral surface of the drum disc 20 is also possible, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0076] Furthermore, as also shown in Fig. 3, it is also possible to arrange several devices 40, 50, 60 for determining a length of the cable unwound from this cable drum 100 on a cable drum 100 and / or on a drum disc 20.

[0077] Furthermore, Fig. 3 schematically shows that the cable drum 100, here the cable pulley 20, can have an integrated RFID transponder 70 with an RFID antenna integrated into the cable drum 100. For example, if the device 40 shown in Fig. 2 with the RFID reading device 41 is arranged on or in the cable pulley 20 within a detection range of the RFID transponder 70, the RFID reading device 41 can read information and / or data from the RFID transponder 70 and / or transmit it to it.

[0078] If a device 40, 50, 60 for determining the length of the cable unwound from this cable drum 100 is to be arranged on or in the cable drum 100 outside the detection range of the RFID transponder 70, it can first be manually moved into the detection range of the RFID transponder 70 in order to read information or data therefrom. The detection range of the RFID transponder 70 can be indicated to an operator of the devices 40, 50, 60, for example, by visually perceptible markings on the cable drum (not shown).

[0079] Fig. 4 shows a storage system 1000 for a plurality of cable drums 100, 200, 300. The storage system 1000 shown comprises a storage device for accommodating a plurality of cable drums 100, 200, 300, wherein the storage device is configured to accommodate the cable drums so that they can rotate about a rotation axis XI, X2, X3. Furthermore, the storage system comprises two of the previously described devices 40, 50 for determining the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum. The device 50 is arranged on the cable drum 200 accommodated by the storage device, and the device 40 is arranged on a connecting element arranged on the cable drum 100 in a rotationally fixed manner. Furthermore, the storage system 1000 for cable drums shown in Fig. 4 has a WPAN transmitting and receiving unit 400 which is configured to exchange information and / or data with the devices 40, 50.

[0080] The WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit 400 is configured to determine the position of one of the devices 40, 50 within the storage system 1000 with the aid of a signal propagation time measurement and with the aid of a triangulation of the WPAN signals exchanged with the devices 40, 50.

[0081] An advantage here is that the WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit 400 can determine the cable lengths unwound or pre-assembled from different cable drums 100, 200 at the various positions of the storage system 1000 and / or the cable lengths still available at these positions of the storage system 1000.

[0082] Furthermore, the storage system 1000 shown has a data processing device 450 coupled to the WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit 400, which is configured to trigger the output of a visually or acoustically perceptible warning signal and to initiate an automated replacement or procurement process depending on the determined positions of the devices 40, 50 and depending on a length of a cable residue remaining on the cable drum 100, 200 after a cable section has been unwound from the cable drum 100, 200.

[0083] This simplifies stockpiling and targeted, needs-based replenishment of various cable types.

[0084] The variants of the device described here, as well as their functional and operational aspects, serve only to better understand their structure, mode of operation, and properties; they do not limit the disclosure to the embodiments. The figures shown are schematic, with essential properties and effects sometimes shown significantly enlarged to clarify the functions, operating principles, technical configurations, and features. Each mode of operation, principle, technical configuration, and feature disclosed in the figures or in the text can be freely and arbitrarily combined with all claims, each feature in the text and in the other figures, other modes of operation, principles, technical configurations, and features contained in or resulting from this disclosure, so that all conceivable combinations can be assigned to the devices described.This also encompasses combinations between all individual embodiments in the text, i.e., in every section of the description, in the claims, and also combinations between different variants in the text, in the claims, and in the figures, and can be made the subject of further claims. The claims also do not limit the disclosure and thus the possible combinations of all the features shown with each other. All disclosed features are explicitly disclosed here, both individually and in combination with all other features.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Device (40, 50, 60) for determining the length of a cable unwound from a cable drum (100), comprising a storage unit (42) which is designed to (i) information on the length of a cable wound on the cable drum (100), (ii) information on the outer diameter of the cable wound on the cable drum (100), and (iii) to store information on the outer diameter of a spool (30) of the cable drum (100); and a gyroscope sensor (46) configured to detect a rotational speed and / or an acceleration of the device (40, 50, 60) relative to a rotational axis (XI) of the cable drum (100); and a calculation unit (48) configured to calculate the length of a cable section unwound from a cable drum based on the information stored by the storage unit (42) and the rotational speed and / or acceleration detected by the gyroscope sensor (46); wherein the device (40, 50, 60) is configured to be arranged on the cable drum (100) and to be rotated together therewith about the rotational axis (XI) of the cable drum.

2. Device (40, 50, 60) according to claim 1, wherein the device (40, 50, 60) is adapted to be arranged on the spool (30) and / or on an axle and / or on a drum disc (10, 20) of the cable drum (100).

3. Device (40, 50, 60) according to claim 2, wherein the device (40, 50, 60) is designed to be arranged in a prepared receptacle on the spool (30) and / or on the axle and / or on a drum disc (10, 20) of the cable drum (100), for example with a hook-and-loop fastener.

4. Device (40, 50, 60) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the gyroscope sensor (46) is further configured to detect an orientation of the device (40, 50, 60) relative to the Earth's center and / or a change in the orientation of the device (40, 50, 60) relative to the Earth's center 5. Device (40, 50, 60) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an acceleration sensor (44), in particular a capacitive one, which is configured to detect an acceleration and / or a speed and / or a movement of the device, in particular relative to the rotation axis (XI) of the cable drum (100), and / or wherein the calculation unit (48) is further configured to calculate the length of the cable section unwound from the cable drum based on the information stored by the storage unit (42) and on the acceleration and / or speed and / or movement of the device detected by the acceleration sensor (44) and on the detection of the gyroscope sensor (46).

6. Device (40, 50, 60) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the calculation unit (48) calculates the length of the cable section unwound from a cable drum using a differential equation.

7. Device (40, 50, 60) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the calculation unit (48) is further configured to calculate the length of a cable section remaining on the cable drum (100) after a cable section has been unwound from the cable drum (100), and / or wherein the device (40, 50, 60) further comprises a display unit (49) configured to display the length of a cable section unwound from the cable drum and / or the length of a cable wound on the cable drum (100).

8. Device (40, 50, 60) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a read-out device (41), in particular an RFID read-out device, which is configured to read out information and / or data from a memory (70), in particular from a memory of the cable drum (100), and / or a data transmission device, in particular an RFID data transmission device, which is configured to transmit information and / or data stored by the memory unit (42) to an external receiving device.

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the data transmission device is configured to transmit the information and / or data stored by the storage unit (42) wirelessly, for example by means of near field communication, NFC, to the external receiving device.

10. Device according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising a sensor housing which is designed to electromagnetically shield the reading device (41) in one or more directions not facing the cable drum (100).

11. Device (40, 50, 60) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a WPAN transceiver (47), for example a Bluetooth transmitting and / or receiving unit or a WLAN transmitting and / or receiving unit, which is configured to exchange information and / or data with an external WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit (400).

12. Device (40, 50, 60) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an energy storage unit (45), in particular a battery or an accumulator, which is configured to supply the readout device (41) and / or the storage unit (42) and / or the acceleration sensor (44) and / or the gyroscope sensor (46) and / or the WPAN transceiver (47) and / or the calculation unit (48) and / or the display unit (49) with electrical operating energy, and / or an energy generation device (43) which is configured to generate electrical operating energy, for example with a device element movable depending on a rotation of the cable drum (100) and / or with an induction element, and to charge the energy storage unit (45) with electrical operating energy.

13. Device (40, 50, 60) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (40, 50, 60) is configured to identify a cable drum (100) on which the device (40, 50, 60) is arranged, and / or the device (40, 50, 60) is configured to regularly check whether it is arranged on the previously identified cable drum.

14. A storage system (1000) for cable drums (100, 200, 300), comprising a storage device for receiving one or more cable drums (100, 200, 300), wherein the storage device is designed to receive the one or more cable drums so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis (XI, X2, X3), one or more devices for determining the length of a cable (40, 50) unwound from a cable drum according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more devices (40, 50) are each arranged on cable drums (100, 200) received by the storage device or on connection elements arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the cable drums (100, 200).

15. The storage system (1000) according to the preceding claim, further comprising a WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit (400) configured to exchange information and / or data with at least one of the devices (40, 50).

16. The storage system (1000) according to the preceding claim, wherein the WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit (400) is further configured to determine the position of one of the devices for determining the length of a cable (40, 50) unwound from a cable drum and / or the position of a cable drum on which one of the devices (40, 50) is arranged, within the storage system with the aid of a signal propagation time measurement and / or triangulation of WPAN signals exchanged with the devices (40, 50).

17. The storage system (1000) according to the preceding claim, further comprising a data processing device (450) coupled to the WPAN transmitting and / or receiving unit (400), which is configured to trigger the output of a visually or acoustically perceptible warning signal and / or to initiate an automated replacement or procurement process depending on a position of a device (40, 50) and / or on a position of a cable drum (100, 200) on which one of the devices (40, 50) is arranged, and / or depending on a length of a cable section remaining on the cable drum (100, 200) after a cable section has been unwound from a cable drum (100, 200).

18. A cable drum (100) rotatable about a rotation axis (XI), comprising a spool (30) and one or more drum discs (10, 20), wherein the spool (30) and / or at least one of the drum discs (10, 20) has a prepared receptacle for arranging a device (40, 50, 60) according to claim 1.

19. The cable drum (100) according to the preceding claim, further comprising a memory (70) which can be read out by a reading device (41), in particular by an RFID reading device, and which (i) information and / or data relating to a length of cable wound on the cable drum (100), and (ii) information and / or data relating to an outer diameter of the cable wound on the cable drum (100), and (iii) stores information and / or data on an outer diameter of a spool (30) of the cable drum (100).

Images