IES62896B2 - A wire handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

A wire handling device 40 has a central body 42 rotatably mounted on a bearing member 43. Radial arms 48, 49, 50 on the body 42 have holders 60 for engaging and supporting a wire coil. The arms 48, 49, 50 are length adjustable to accommodate different sized coils.

Description

This invention relates to a wire handling device for dispensing and reeling wire.

The term wire as used throughout this patent specification is taken to also include cables, ropes, lines, flexible pipes and the like materials which can be coiled.

Fencing wire is commonly sold in coils secured together by a number of ties. When the ties are released in use the coil of wire tends to unravel and entangle making it more difficult for a person to mount the wire on fencing.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming this problem.

According to the invention there is provided a wire handling device for dispensing and reeling wire, comprising a turntable and a coil core mounted on the turntable having means to support a coil of wire for dispensing or reeling the wire.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, there is provided a wire handling device comprising a coil core formed by a central body having a number of associated outwardly extending wire support arms on the body, with a wire holder on each arm, the core being rotatably mounted on a core bearing member.

Preferably, the arms are radially mounted on the central body. Ideally, one or more of the arms are length aid justable. Preferably, at least one of said length adjustable arms incorporates a bottle screw for length adjustment of said arm. ®9i0 ________ 6 2 6 9 6 In a particularly preferred embodiment three arms are ti provided extending radially from the central body, one arm be demountably attached to the central body and being4 5 length adjustable. Conveniently the arm may be length adjustable by means of a bottle screw incorporated in the arm. 10 In a further embodiment each holder comprises a U-shaped outwardly open wire carrier. Alternatively, each holder comprises an L-shaped wire carrier. In a preferred embodiment , each holder comprises an L-shaped wire carrier having retaining means to retain wire in engagement with the holder. The retaining means may be demountably attached to the wire carrier or may be pivotally or slidably mounted on the wire carrier for movement between 15 released and engaged positions. 20 In a particularly preferred embodiment, the wire handling device comprises a tubular central body mounted on a bearing member having a shaft for rotatably engaging and supporting the body, with a number of ground-engaging legs at one end of the shaft and a cap at the other end of the 25 shaft to retain the body on the shaft, at least three wire support arms extending radially outwardly of the body, one of the arms being length adjustable by means of a bottle screw Incorporated in the arm, the other arms being length adjustable by screw jack means incorporated in said arms, an L-shaped wire holder at an outer end of each arm having an upright leg with an outwardly extending base at a lower end of the leg, and a wire retaining rod releasably <β engageable with the leg spaced-apart from the base. 30 ύ The turntable may be manually operated. In some cases, drive means may be provided for rotation of the turntable. Conveniently the drive means may be electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically operated.

In another embodiment brake means is provided to regulate the speed of the turntable.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichsFig. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a wire handling device according to the invention? Fig. 2 is a perspective of the wire handling device; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a coil of wire for dispensing or reeling using the device? Fig. 4 is an elevational view of an alternative wire holder for the device? and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another wire handling device.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, there is illustrated a wire handling device according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The device 1 has a coil core formed by a tubular central body 2 with three radially extending arms 4, 5, δ mounted on the body 2. At an end of each arm 4, 5, δ there is mounted a U-shaped outwardly open wire holder 7.

It will be noted, that the arm β is demountably attached to the body 2 having a hooked, inner end 10 which is releasably engageable with an eye 11 on the body 2. The arm 6 is length adjustable by means of a bottle screw 14 incorporated in the arm 6.

The turntable is formed by a bore 15 of the body 2 which rotatably engages an upstanding bearing member 16 carried on ground-engaging support legs 17. The bearing member 16 may be secured in engagement with the bore 15 in any suitable manner. It will be noted that the bearing member 16 may be mounted on any suitable support for example a mounting bracket for attachment to a vehicle such a tractor for mounting the wire handling device on the vehicle in any suitable orientation for dispensing and reeling wire.

Fig. 3 shows a coil of wire 20 which can be dispensed using the device 1.

In use, with the arm 6 in a retracted position, the coil 20 of wire can be mounted on the holders 7. The bottle screw 14 is then operated to extend the arm 6 so that the holders 7 all securely engage and support the coil 20. Ties 22 binding the wire coil 20 can then be removed and the wire can be led from the coil 20 on demand. It will be appreciated that the device 1 conveniently allows the wire to be dispensed from the coil 20 in a controlled manner facilitating manipulation of the wire and fixing to a support such as a fence post. If the device 1 is mounted on a vehicle for example, the vehicle can be driven along a. line of fence posts dispensing the wire behind it for attachment to the posts.

It will be noted also that wire can be wound into a coil using the device by simply winding the wire in a coil around the holders 7 and then binding the coil with ties and removing it from the device.

It is envisaged that in some cases drive means may be provided tor rotation of the coil core to facilitate either dispensing or reeling the wire. Brake means may also be incorporated to regulate the speed of the turntable.

Referring now to Fig. 4 an alternative holder arrangement is shown and indicated generally by the reference numeral 30. In this case, an upper leg 31 of the holder 30 is attached by a hinge 32 to a lower portion 33 of the holder 30. The upper leg 31 can be hinged back as indicated in broken outline, to facilitate dropping a wire coil onto the holder 30 or removing a wound coil from the holder 30.

Referring now to Fig. 5, a wire handling device according to another embodiment of the invention is shown indicated generally by the reference numeral 40. The device 40 has a coil core formed by a tubular central body 42 mounted on a bearing member 43 having an upstanding shaft (not shown) passing through the central body 42 for rotatably engaging and supporting the central body 42. At a lower end of the shaft, three radially extending ground-engaging legs 44 are provided. A cap 45 at an upper end of the shaft retains the central body 42 on the shaft. Three wire support arms 48, 49, 50 extend radially outwardly of the body <2. It will be noted that the arm 48 is length adjustable by means of a bottle screw incorporated in the arm 48. The other arms 49, 50 are length adjustable by screw jack means formed by a nut 52 at an outer end of the arms 49, 50 which are tubular, the nut 52 engageable with a threaded shank 53 on a leg 61 of a wire holder 60 on the arm 49, 50.

An L-shaped wire holder 60 is provided at an outer end of each arm 48, 49, 50 having an upright leg 61 with an outwardly extending base 62 at a lower end of the leg 61.

A wire retaining rod S3 is releasably engageable with the leg 61 at an upper end of the leg 61. A bolt at an inner end of the rod S3 engages a complementary nut 64 on the leg 61.

In use, the rod 63 can be removed for dropping a coil onto the holders 60 and then replaced to retain the coil on the holder 60. The arm 48 can be adjusted to securely engage the holders 60 with the coil.

For coils of different sizes, the arms 49, 50 can be 10 length adjusted prior to engaging the coil holders 60. with the The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (5)

1. A wire handling device comprising a coil core formed by a central body having a number of associated outwardly extending wire support arms on the body, with a wire holder on each arm, the core being rotatably mounted on a core bearing member.

2. A wire handling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the arms is length adjustable, and preferably at least one of said length adjustable arms incorporates a bottle screw for length adjustment of said arm.

3. A wire handling device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each holder comprises an L-shaped wire carrier having retaining means to retain wire in engagement with the holder.

4. A wire handling device as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a tubular central body mounted on a bearing member having a shaft for rotatably engaging and supporting the body, with a number of groundengaging legs at one end of the shaft and a cap at the other end of the shaft to retain the body on the shaft, at least three wire support arms extending radially outwardly of the body, one of the arms being length adjustable by means of a bottle screw incorporated in the arm, the other arms being length adjustable by screw jack means incorporated in said arms, an L-shaped wire holder at an outer end of each arm having an upright leg with an outwardly extending base at a lower end of the leg and a wire retaining rod releasably engageable with the leg spaced-apart from the base.

5. A wire handling device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanyxng drawings.