Wind-up device for flexible conduits, such as hydraulic hoses

• US 4,224,960 A
• Filed: 09/05/1978
• Issued: 09/30/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bill P.P. Nederman
• Original Assignee: Bill P.P. Nederman
• Inventors: Nederman, Bill P. P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwadron, Martin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chambers, A. Michael
• Application Number:
  US05/939,690
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 137/355.16, 137/355.17, 137/355.2, 137/355.23, 137/355.26, 242/107, 242/107.5
• US Class Current: 137/355.23
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/33 Hollow or hose-like material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4478 relating to handling of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/486 Arrangements or adaptations of the spring motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6943 Biased to retracted position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6954 Reel with support therefor

Abstract

A wind-up device for a flexible conduit, such as a hydraulic hose. The wind-up device includes a drum rotatable on a stationary shaft. A coil spring assembly including a spiral coil spring therewithin is mounted at one end of the shaft and the outer axial end of the drum. The other, opposite end of the shaft includes a fixation portion by which the shaft is fixed in its stationary condition. The radially inner end of the coil spring is anchored with respect to the stationary shaft through a spring hub detachably mounted to the one end of the shaft. The spring hub serves not only to anchor the spring with respect to the shaft but also to provide an axial pressure bearing at the one end of the shaft for holding the drum in place axially on the shaft. One or more fixation elements extend between the spring hub and the shaft to normally prevent relative rotation between the spring hub and shaft. At least one of these fixation elements is eccentrically positioned. Such fixation element is movable out of engagement with the shaft to selectively permit relative rotation between the spring hub and the shaft to effect tensioning or release of the coil spring.

Claims

1. A wind-up device for a flexible conduit, the device comprising:

(a) a wind-up drum on which the flexible conduit is to be wound, said drum including a central drum hub, inner and outer axial ends and inner and outer end walls corresponding, respectively, to said inner and outer axial ends;

(b) a stationary shaft on which said drum hub is rotatably mounted, said shaft having first and second ends, said drum and drum hub being generally disposed between first and second ends so that said outer end of said drum is disposed adjacent said first end of said shaft and said inner end of said drum faces toward said second end of said shaft;

(c) means for fixing said shaft in its stationary condition, said fixing means including a fixation portion of said shaft at said second end of said shaft;

(d) a conduit connection for the flexible conduit, said conduit connection extending from said fixation portion of said shaft, through said shaft and said drum hub, to said drum;

(e) a coil spring assembly including a coil spring having radially inner and outer ends, said coil spring assembly being coupled with said shaft and said drum, whereby said coil spring becomes tensioned when said drum is rotated relative to said shaft upon the unwinding of the flexible conduit from the drum;

(f) said coil spring assembly being detachably mounted to both;

(i) said first end of said shaft; and

(ii) said outer end of said drum;

(g) said coil spring assembly including a spring hub detachably mounted to said first end of said shaft;

(h) means for anchoring the radially inner end of said coil spring with respect to said shaft;

(i) axial pressure bearing means at said first end of said shaft for holding said drum hub in place axially on said shaft;

(j) said spring hub constituting both said anchoring means and said axial pressure bearing means;

(k) means for securing said spring hub to said shaft to normally prevent relative rotation between said shaft and spring hub, said securing means including a fixation element extending from said spring hub into engagement with said shaft, said fixation element being located in an eccentric position with respect to said spring hub and said shaft, said fixation element being movable out of engagement with said shaft to selectively permit relative rotation between said spring hub and said shaft to effect tensioning or release of said coil spring.

2. A wind-up device as defined in claim 1 wherein said coil spring assembly includes a pair of oppositely facing axial ends, one of which is connected to said drum, said coil spring assembly also including means for enabling either one of said oppositely facing ends to be connected with said drum, said enabling means including brackets in said coil spring assembly.

3. A wind-up device as defined in claim 2 wherein said coil spring assembly includes a casing in which said coil spring is disposed, said brackets comprising symmetrically projecting portions of said casing having holes therein and bolts which pass through said holes.

4. A wind-up device as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3 including sealing elements disposed between said drum hub and said shaft and wherein said conduit connection comprises a passageway in said drum hub and a passageway in said shaft, said passageways communicating with each other and being sealed by said sealing elements, said drum hub including grooves therein, said sealing elements including sealing rings disposed in said grooves on respective sides of said drum hub passageway and said shaft passageway.