Retractable cable reel

• US 6,220,413 B1
• Filed: 10/19/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Siecor Operations, LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mitchell, Todd E., Morgan, Kevin L., Walters, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US09/421,169
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 191/12.R, 191/12.2 R, 191/12.4, 191/12.2 A
• US Class Current: 191/12.4
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

A cable storage device has a reel rotatably mounted in a frame. The reel has a hub that rotates with the reel. A connector panel has a plurality of connectors for interconnecting with an end of the cable on the reel. The connector panel will fit on a reel docking station for rotation with the reel. The connector panel also fits on a frame docking station while the reel is not to be rotated. A locking member is engaged by the connector panel when the connector panel is mounted to the reel docking station to allow rotation of the reel. The locking member is biased to a locking position when the connector panel is removed from the reel docking station. A cable presence sensor locks the reel against rotation if substantially all of the cable is pulled from the reel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for retracting and extending a length of cable, comprising:

a frame;

a reel for storing cable rotatably mounted to the frame;

a connector panel having at least one connector for interconnecting a proximal end of the cable on the reel with a line leading to electrical equipment;

a reel docking station on the reel for rotation therewith, the connector panel being removably mounted to the reel docking station, allowing the connector panel to be rotated with the reel while the line to the electrical equipment is disconnected; and

a connector panel locking member having a locked position engaging the reel with the frame for preventing rotation of the reel relative to the frame and an unlocked position that allows rotation of the reel relative to the frame, and wherein mounting the connector panel to the reel docking station moves the connector panel locking member to the unlocked position and removing the connector panel from the reel docking station moves the connector panel locking member to the locked position.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a frame docking station on the frame for removably mounting the connector panel to the frame while the line is connected to the connector panel.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reel has a hub that rotates with the reel, and the reel docking station is mounted to the hub.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the reel has a hub that rotates with the reel;

the hub has a plurality of apertures;

a portion of the frame is located adjacent the apertures;

the reel docking station is mounted to the hub;

the connector panel locking member is pivotally mounted to the hub and has a finger that inserts through one of the apertures into engagement with said portion of the frame while the connector panel locking member is in the locked position;

a spring urges the connector panel locking member to the locked position; and

the connector panel contacts the connector panel locking member and pivots it to the unlocked position while being mounted to the reel docking station.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cable presence sensor mounted to the reel for sensing the presence of the cable on the reel, the cable presence sensor having a locked position that is adapted to engage the frame with the reel to prevent rotation of the reel relative to the frame while not sensing the cable on the reel, the cable presence sensor having an unlocked position that is adapted to allow rotation of the reel relative to the frame while sensing the presence of the cable on the reel.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reel has a hub and a pair of spaced apart flanges extending generally radially outward from a perimeter of the hub relative to an axis of rotation of the reel, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a cable presence sensor mounted to the reel, the cable presence sensor having a first portion adapted to be contacted by the cable as the cable wraps between the flanges, and a second portion that is adapted to protrude through an aperture provided in the reel into engagement with the frame while the cable is not contacting the first portion, defining a locked position that prevents rotation of the reel relative to the frame, the second portion adapted to be disengaged from the frame while the first portion is contacted by the cable; and

the cable presence sensor has a spring that urges the cable presence sensor to the locked position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a rectangular enclosure.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the reel has a circular perimeter;

the frame comprises a rectangular enclosure having four side walls; and

wherein the apparatus further comprises;

a backing located in the enclosure between the side walls and the perimeter of the reel for retaining the cable within the reel.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shaft protruding from the reel along an axis of rotation of the reel, the shaft having a polygonal surface for being engaged by a tool for rotating the reel.

10. An apparatus for retracting and extending a length of cable, comprising:

a frame;

a reel for storing cable rotatably mounted to the frame, the reel having a hub that rotates with the reel, the hub having a plurality of apertures;

a connector panel having a plurality of connectors for interconnecting a proximal end of the cable on the reel with lines leading to electrical equipment;

a reel docking station mounted on the hub for rotation therewith, the connector panel being removably mountable to the reel docking station, allowing the connector panel to be rotated with the reel while on the reel docking station and the lines to the electrical equipment are disconnected from the connectors;

a frame docking station mounted on the frame, the connector panel being removably mountable to the frame docking station while the lines to the electrical equipment are connected to the connectors;

a locking member mounted to the hub adjacent the reel docking station, the locking member having a platform that is contacted by the connector panel while the connector panel is mounted to the reel docking station, the locking member having a finger that protrudes through one of the apertures in the hub into engagement with the frame for preventing rotation of the reel relative to the frame while the connector panel is removed from the reel docking station, defining a locked position that prevents rotation of the reel relative to the frame; and

wherein

the locking member has a spring that urges the locking member to the locked position.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the locking member is pivotal relative to the hub about a pivot point, with the platform being on one side of the pivot point and the finger being on an opposite side of the pivot point.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the reel has a pair of spaced apart flanges extending generally radially outward from a perimeter of the hub relative to an axis of rotation of the reel, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a cable presence sensor mounted to the reel, the cable presence sensor having a first portion adapted to be contacted by the cable as the cable wraps between the flanges, and a second portion adapted to protrude through a hole provided in the hub into engagement with the frame while the cable is not contacting the first portion, defining a locked position that prevents rotation of the reel relative to the frame, the second portion adapted to be disengaged from the frame while the first portion is contacted by the cable; and

the cable presence sensor having a spring that urges the cable presence sensor to the locked position.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the reel has a circular perimeter;

the frame comprises a rectangular enclosure having four side walls; and

wherein the apparatus further comprises;

a backing located in the enclosure between the side walls and the perimeter of the reel for retaining the cable within the reel.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a shaft protruding from the hub along an axis of rotation of the reel, the shaft having a polygonal surface for being engaged by a tool for rotating the reel.

15. A method for connecting remote electrical equipment with proximal electrical equipment, comprising:

(a) providing a reel with a reel docking station and a locking member;

(b) rotatably mounting the reel to a frame, wherein the locking member has an unlocked position out of engagement with the frame to allow rotation of the reel relative to the frame, and a locked position engaging the frame to prevent rotation of the reel relative to the frame;

(c) winding cable around the reel;

(d) connecting a proximal end of the cable to a connector panel;

(e) mounting the connector panel on a reel docking station provided on the reel and simultaneously engaging the locking member with the connector panel to move the locking member to the unlocked position;

then

(f) rotating the reel, unwinding at least a portion of the cable;

then

(g) connecting a remote end of the cable to remote electrical equipment, removing the connector panel from the reel docking station, thereby causing the locking member to move to the locked position, and connecting a line leading to proximal electrical equipment to the connector panel.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

mounting a cable presence sensor to the reel that has a first portion that senses the presence of cable on the reel and a second portion having a locked position that automatically locks the reel against rotation in the absence of cable being on the reel; and

during step (f) if substantially all of the cable is unwound from the reel such that the first portion of the cable presence sensor ceases to sense the presence of cable on the reel, moving the second portion of the cable presence sensor to the locked position.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

biasing the locking member and the cable presence sensor to the locked positions.