Device for cable drum

Abstract

Device (4) dedicated to a drum (1), said drum presenting at least one hole for manutention, said drum having at least one flange (6) and said flange being on a side of said drum, said device being designed to close said hole, the external shape of the device being slightly larger than the hole shape in order to create enough thickness to put a friction torque against the hole to maintain said device in position in order to limit the access to said hole against environmental threat like animals.

Description

[0001] Device for cable drum

[0002] Field of the invention:

[0003] The invention is intended for a cable drum, especially wooden drums. Drums are electrical cable reels, and the invention relates to accessories dedicated to being mounted on those drums during storage. The invention belongs to the field of equipment for electrical cables in various sectors, such as construction or industry. Traditional methods for pulling a cable from a reel drum generally involve using trestles with a steel bar running through the drum. Therefore, drums are usually provided with longitudinal through-holes to support and rotate the drums when suspended. Usually, on the sides of the drums there are flanges with holes.

[0004] The aim of the invention is to prevent access to the drum of either animals or insects during storage to allow an easy handling and ready to use drum with no risk of needing to call the fire brigade to remove a wasp's nest or any other venomous animals from the drum prior first use. Beside human safety risks prevention, drums of the invention being used inside building, it is also important to avoid any smelly bacterial infection, which would lead to odor formation and poor hygiene where drums are unrolled.

[0005] Location of the utmost importance is to avoid such animals or insects is within the trough-holes because it a location very difficult to reach, as holes only open on both lateral flanges of the drums, holes are small, and the longitudinal length of the through hole around which the cable are wound is quite long, about 1 meter. When drums are fully wounded with cable, it is very difficult to move them except to roll them on the ground. Accordingly, it is almost impossible to obtain a gravity or centrifuge cleaning of the through hole.

[0006] Insects and animals being alive, they would feel more secure to remain inside. The use of chemical products is not an acceptable solution when drums are to be used inside. And so far this may contribute to residual matters staying in the through hole, and at some pointing creating friction issue with the trestles.

[0007] Background

[0008] In the art, it is known to close the holes at both end of the trough hole with scotch tape. But in the majority of cases, the problem remains unresolved, as such tape is either too easy to perforate for any rodents and shall be renewed so many times that the solution is not autonomous.

[0009] Summary of the invention

[0010] The device according to the invention solves this problem. The device is preferably made of moldable and compressible material, means that it completely seals the holes in the flanges, blocking access to the inside of the wooden drum. The device is designed to be fitted and removed from the hole in the drum flange.

[0011] The device has a radial thickness to create a friction torque against the hole to maintain said device in position in order to limit the access to said hole against environmental threat like animals.

[0012] A device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes dedicated to a rotatable cable drum, said drum presenting at least one hole, said hole opening into one through hole, said device being designed to close said hole, wherein at least a closing section of the device is larger than a trough hole section in order to be friction fitted inside the trough hole to maintain said device in position in said through hole.

[0013] Preferably, the closing section of the device presents a thickness of about 0.2 to 0.7 of a total thickness of the device, thickness of the closing section and total thickness being measured along a same axis X of the device.

[0014] Said device is preferably intended for a cable drum having at least two flanges, each flange being opposite regarding a symmetric axle of the drum, at least one flange being on a side of said drum, such that said hole opens in at least one flange, preferably the flange being a wooden flange, and the hole being defined by a metal part attached to the wooden flange.

[0015] According to a preferred device of the invention, the device is made of polymeric material. Preferably the device is compressible.

[0016] Preferably the device is designed to be placed by hands in the through hole for closing the full section of said through hole.

[0017] For example, the device is obtained from moulding or from cutting. The device may comprise a transversal section with closed-cell foam. The closing section is inscribed in a circle of a diameter superior to the diameter of the trough hole, and the device comprising at least one manutention section representing 50%, and preferably 75% of the device, the manutention section being adjacent to the closing section, such that the manutention section may be placed flush with the hole whereas the closing section is inserted in the through hole to define an airtight partition in the through hole.

[0018] The device comprises at least one, and preferably two ergonomic notches provided in a manutention section of the device for easy handling. An ergonomic notch being a longitudinal groove with a circular cross section opening over an arc angle of less than 45°.

[0019] The invention is also about a kit comprising a device according to the invention and a handle, said device comprising a single longitudinal blind recess and the handle being mounted in such longitudinal blind recess of the manutention section.

[0020] The invention is also about an assembly comprising a cable drum and a device according to the invention, the cable drum comprising two flanges and a through hole, each flange being opposite regarding a symmetric axle parallel to the through hole, one of the two flange being on a lateral side of said cable drum, the through hole opening via a hole in at least one flange, said device being designed to close said through hole, on one side or both sides of the through hole, wherein the external shape of the device is slightly larger than the through hole section in order to apply a radial force to an inner surface of the through hole to maintain said device in position in order to limit the access to the through hole.

[0021] The device includes, but is not limited to, the following features:

[0022] - Said device is dedicated to a drum, said drum presenting at least one hole for manutention, said drum having at least two flanges, each opposite regarding symmetric axle, said flange being on a side of said drum, said hole may be blind or crossing each flange, said device being designed to close said hole, one side or both sides, in which the external shape is slightly larger than the hole shape in order to create enough thickness to put a friction torque against the hole to maintain said device in position in order to limit the access to said hole against environmental threat like animals. - Said device is designed to be placed by hands for opening or closing the hole.

[0023] - Said device is built with a base of polymeric material.

[0024] - Said device has elastic properties in order to be moldable and compressible by hands and to close the full hole.

[0025] Brief Description of the Drawings:

[0026] The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0027] Figure 1 shows a lateral view of a cable drum of the art;

[0028] Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

[0029] Figures 3 shows an assembly of a cable drum and a device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0030] Figure 4 shows a sectional view of a device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

[0031] Figure 5 shows a sectional view of a device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

[0032] Figure 6 is shows a schematic perspective view of a kit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

[0033] Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

[0034] Detailed description of example embodiments

[0035] Figure 1 is a photo of a wooden drum 1 with an axle hole or through hole 2 and handling holes 3 equally distributed around the through hole 2. Drum 1 comprises two opposite flanges 6 regarding a symmetric axle parallel to a longitudinal axis of the axle hole 2. Axle hole 2 and handling holes opening in a lateral face of the flange.

[0036] The through hole is dedicated to receiving a rotary shaft not represented.

[0037] Holes 2 and 3 may be blind holes. The holes 2 and 3 of Figure 1 are of circular cross section. With internal diameter comprised between 30 mm and 150 mm. According to a specific embodiment of the invention the inner diameter of hole 2 is about 85mm, and the inner diameter of hole 3 is about 50 mm.

[0038] The present invention relates to a device 4 for a drum 1, designed to secure either one of holes 2 or 3 in order to limit the access to said holes 2 or 3 against environmental threat like animals.

[0039] The device 4 is dedicated to plug the holes 2 or 3 of the wooden flanges of drum 1, but the device 4 is also suitable for metal or plastic drums.

[0040] The shape of the device 4 is adapted to holes 2 and 3.

[0041] For the manufacture of this device 4, several flexible materials can be used. Device 4 may comprise either one of thermoplastic plastic, synthetic rubber, polyurethane foam, expanded polyethylene foam (EPE), or mixtures thereof.

[0042] Several manufacturing processes can be used for the manufacture of the device 4, depending on the material chosen:

[0043] Injection moulding.

[0044] Compression moulding.

[0045] Cutting and assembly.

[0046] The device 4 comprises a front face 10 dedicated to being placed flush or semi flush with the flange face. The front face 10 is flat. The front face 10 may be provided with a coloured or phosphorescent sign 20. The sign 20 may also represent a logo or a warning message. The sign 20 may be obtained by printing, or incorporation of coloured and or phosphorescent compound in the material of the device.

[0047] Away from the front face 10, the device 4 comprises a transversal section called closing section 11. A Longitudinal axis X of the device 4 is defined perpendicular to the front face 10. The device comprises a cylindrical part, the longitudinal axis X is parallel to a generatrix of such cylindrical part.

[0048] The closing section 11 is part of the cylindrical part. The closing section 11 may comprise a larger diameter and or a larger perimeter for non-circular shapes. The device may be provided with a friction band around the perimeter in order to help cooperation with the interior wall of the through holes 2 and 3.

[0049] The closing section 11 shall present, before being introduced in a through hole, a cross section covering more than a full section of such through hole.

[0050] The device 4 is preferably obtained from a cylinder with a circular or oval or any other polygonal cross section.

[0051] The device 4 may also be obtained from a pyramidal or conical shape. The closing section 11 according to the invention is larger than the trough hole section 2. Alternatively the closing section 11 according to the invention is larger than the handling hole section 3. The closing section 11 provides an airtight partition of the through hole 2 or 3 when inserted therein.

[0052] Preferably, a maximum diametral dimension "c" of the closing section 11 of the device 4 is set above the inner diameter of the axle hole 2, or respectively the inner diameter of the manutention hole 3.

[0053] In order to create a friction torque against the inside of the through hole 2 or 3, transversal cross section area of the closing section of the device is about 5mm2superior to respectively the inner cross section area of the hole 2 or 3.

[0054] As shown on Figures 2 to 7, the device is also provided with at least one notch 5.

[0055] Notch 5 is not provided in the closing section 11. Notch 5 is provided in a manutention section 12 of the device 4.

[0056] Notch 5 may either be provided on the longitudinal external surface of the device, as shown on Figure 2 to 5 and 7, or also provided internally as shown on Figures 4 and 6.

[0057] On Figures 2, 3, 5 and 7, the device comprises two notches 5.1 and 5.2, opposite to each other. Notches may be of different shapes as on Figure 5.

[0058] Preferably notch 5 defines a radially inwardly hollow circular cross section opening on the periphery of the cross section of the device. The hollow circular cross section of the notch 5 is defined by a radius. On figure 2 and 5, at least one notch 5.1 opens on the outer periphery of the device 4 over less than 90 ° and preferably less than 45° of the hollow circular cross section of the notch 5.

[0059] Alternatively, on Figure 4, the device 4 according to another embodiment of the invention comprises a lateral notch 5.1 with a hollow circular cross section opening on the outer periphery of the device 4 over more than 180° of such hollow circular cross section of the notch 5.1 and a central notch 5.3. Central notch 5.3 is a blind recess opening in the front face 10.

[0060] Notches 5, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 are provided in order to ease manutention of the device while maintaining the device in contact with an inner surface of through hole 2 or 3. In the manutention section 12 a contact is provided over more than 90% of the circumference of the through hole 2 or 3, all along a thickness "b" along the longitudinal axis of the device 4. Thickness "b" is a thickness of the manutention section 12 of the device. The manutention section is defined by the thickness of the notches.

[0061] Thickness "a" along the longitudinal axis X or the generatrix of the cylindrical shape of the device 4 may vary between 20 mm and 60 mm, and is preferably set to 30mm for hole with inner diameter of 55 mm, and set to 40mm for hole with inner diameter of 80 mm.

[0062] Preferably, a ratio "a / b" is defined below 1 and is preferably set between 0.2 to 0.7, preferably between 0.4 and 0.6 in order to ease radial compression of the device 4. The device 4 is designed to be easily handled by hand, simplifying its installation and removal. The device 4 may be placed in position and removed quickly and efficiently, without the need for special tools or skills.

[0063] Both manutention section 12 and closing section 11 are adjacent. In the embodiment of Figure 7, the closing section 11 is located in between two manutention sections 12 and 13 such that the front face 10 is opposite to a back face 14 which is also a face of a manutention section. The device being reversible.

[0064] Manutention section 12 and closing section 11 may be made out of a same material but could either be sections of different material bonded together. For example, only the closing section is compressible whereas the manutention section 12 may be in stiffer material than the closing section 11.

[0065] Manutention section 12 may be of a different shape than the closing section 11 to adapt through hole 2 comprising a first portion of the through hole defined within the width of the flange of the drum, and second portion of the through hole defined as an axle portion of the through hole. The first portion of through hole may either be square, round or oval before joining a round cross section of the axle potion. The manutention section 12 may either be square, round or oval to adapt the specific shape of the first portion of the through hole. According to one embodiment, the device 4 being fully compressible, it is preferably compressed with the hands to ease its insertion into the through hole, and after insertion, the device expands back to ensure that the device 4 remains in position, limiting access to the through hole 2 or 3 and protecting the drum 1 from environmental threats such as animal intrusion.

[0066] The friction force is selected to resist centrifugal forces generated by rotational movement of the drum during transportation or during its handling.

[0067] According to Figure 6, the invention also relies on a kit comprising a device 4 and a handle 8. With such kit, the device may comprise a single notch, preferably in the form of a blind recess 5.3.

[0068] Figure 4 and 6, the device 4 comprises a single lateral notch 5.1 with a hollow circular cross section opening on the outer periphery of the device 4, the device being further provided with a blind recess 5.3.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Device (4) dedicated to a rotatable cable drum (1), said drum presenting at least one hole (2, 3), said hole opening into one through hole, said device being designed to close said hole, wherein at least a closing section of the device is larger than a trough hole section in order to be friction fitted inside the trough hole to maintain said device in position in said through hole.

2. Device according to claim 1, said closing section of the device presenting a thickness (b) of about 0.2 to 0.7 of a total thickness (a) of the device, thickness of the closing section and total thickness being measured along a same axis (X) of the device.

3. Device according to one of the previous claims, said device is intended for a cable drum having at least two flanges (6), each flange being opposite regarding a symmetric axle of the drum, at least one flange being on a side of said drum, such that said hole (2, 3) opens in at least one flange, preferably the flange being a wooden flange, and the hole being defined by a metal part attached to the wooden flange.

4. Device according to one of the previous claims, said device being made of polymeric material.

5. Device according to the previous claims, wherein said device being designed to be placed by hands in the through hole for closing the full section of said through hole.

6. Device according to one of the previous claims, said device being obtained from moulding or from cutting, and said device being compressible.

7. Device according to one of the previous claims, said device comprising a closed-cell foam.

8. Device according to one of the previous claims, said closing section (11) is inscribed in a circle of a diameter superior to the diameter of the troughhole, the device comprising at least one manutention section (12) representing 50%, and preferably 75% of the device, the manutention section being adjacent to the closing section, such that the manutention section is flush with the hole whereas the closing section is inserted in the through hole.

9. Device according to one of the previous claims, said device comprising at least one, and preferably two ergonomic notches (5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3) provided in a manutention section of the device for easy handling.

10. Device according to the previous claim, said ergonomic notch being a longitudinal groove with a circular cross section opening over an arc angle of less than 45°.

11. Kit comprising a device according to one of the previous claims and a handle (8), said device comprising a single longitudinal blind recess (5.3) and the handle being mounted in such longitudinal blind recess of the manutention section.

12. Assembly comprising a cable drum and a device according to one of the previous claims 1 to 10, the cable drum comprising two flanges and a through hole, each flange being opposite regarding a symmetric axle parallel to the through hole, one of the two flange being on a lateral side of said cable drum, the through hole opening via a hole in at least one flange, said device being designed to close said through hole, on one side or both sides of the through hole, wherein the external shape of the device is slightly larger than the through hole section in order to apply a radial force to an inner surface of the through hole to maintain said device in position in order to limit the access to the through hole.

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