Cable feeder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10763649-B2
Application number	US-201514734273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2015
Priority date	Jun 13, 2014
Publication date	Sep 1, 2020
Grant date	Sep 1, 2020

Abstract

A cable feeder for feeding cables through a structure according to some embodiments of the disclosure includes a housing having a drive roller attached thereto, and idler roller assembly attached to the housing. In an embodiment, the idler roller assembly can be released from the housing to allow cable to be released from the cable feeder. In an embodiment, the housing is formed from upper and lower housings, and the position of the lower housing and idler roller assembly can be adjusted relative to the upper housing and drive roller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cable feeder configured to feed cables through a structure comprising:
an upper housing;
an upper roller attached to the upper housing;
a lower housing movably attached to the upper housing;
a bracket attached to and movable with the lower housing;
at least one lower roller attached to the bracket;
a hinge around which the bracket can pivot relative to the lower housing;
a release mechanism attaching the bracket to the lower housing, the release mechanism capable of being disengaged to allow the bracket and the at least one lower roller to rotate downwardly around the hinge relative to the lower housing, the release mechanism capable of being engaged to prevent movement of the bracket relative to the lower housing;
a shaft connected between the upper and lower housings, the shaft being movable relative to the upper housing, the shaft being threadedly attached to the lower housing;
a hand-actuated handle pivotally connected to the shaft above the upper housing;
a spring mounted on the shaft and engaged with the upper housing and the handle,
wherein pivotal movement of the handle causes movement of the shaft, the lower housing and the at least one lower roller into different positions relative to the upper housing and wherein rotational movement of the handle causes rotational movement of the shaft relative to the lower housing, and vertical translation of the lower housing and the at least one lower roller relative to the upper housing.

2. The cable feeder of claim 1 , wherein the pivotal movement of the handle causes a cam surface on the handle to engage with the spring to cause the movement of the shaft, the lower housing and the at least one lower roller into the different positions relative to the upper housing.

3. The cable feeder of claim 1 , wherein the upper roller includes a plurality of grooves which are separated from each other by ridges, each groove being sized to receive a cable therein.

4. The cable feeder of claim 3 , wherein the upper roller further has a plurality of passageways therethrough which extend from a first end to a second end of the upper roller.

5. The cable feeder of claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises at least one pin housed within a tube, the at least one pin being movable to disengage the release mechanism.

6. The cable feeder of claim 5 , wherein the release mechanism further comprises a compressible member engaged with the at least one pin.

7. The cable feeder of claim 1 , wherein the upper roller is a driven roller.

8. The cable feeder of claim 7 , wherein the lower roller is an idler roller.

9. A cable feeder configured to feed cables through a structure comprising:
an upper housing;
an upper roller attached to the upper housing;
a lower housing movably attached to the upper housing;
a bracket attached to and movable with the lower housing;
at least one lower roller attached to the bracket;
a hinge around which the bracket can pivot relative to the lower housing;
a release mechanism attaching the bracket to the lower housing, the release mechanism capable of being disengaged to allow the bracket and the at least one lower roller to rotate around the hinge and downwardly relative to the lower housing, the release mechanism capable of being engaged to prevent movement of the bracket relative to the lower housing;
a shaft extending through the upper housing and being threadedly attached to the lower housing; and
a motor connected to the shaft, the motor being above the upper housing, wherein the motor is configured to be activated in a first movement to move the shaft, the lower housing and the at least one lower roller into different vertical positions relative to the upper housing and the motor is configured to be activated in a second movement to cause rotational movement of the shaft relative to the lower housing and vertical translation of the lower housing and the at least one lower roller relative to the upper housing.

10. The cable feeder of claim 9 , wherein the upper roller includes a plurality of grooves which are separated from each other by ridges, each groove being sized to receive a cable therein.

11. The cable feeder of claim 10 , wherein the upper roller further has a plurality of passageways therethrough which extend from a first end to a second end of the upper roller.

12. The cable feeder of claim 9 , wherein the release mechanism comprises at least one pin housed within a tube, the at least one pin being movable to disengage the release mechanism.

13. The cable feeder of claim 12 , wherein the release mechanism further comprises a compressible member engaged with the at least one pin.

14. The cable feeder of claim 9 , wherein the upper roller is a driven roller.

15. The cable feeder of claim 14 , wherein the lower roller is an idler roller.

Assignees

• Greenlee Textron Inc
• Greenlee Tools Inc

Inventors

• Dir Corey Britton
• Kerns Joshua Curtis
• Marben Daniel John

Classifications

• H02G1/06 Primary

  for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle · CPC title

• H02G1/08 Primary

  through tubing or conduit, e.g. rod or draw wire for pushing or pulling {(inserting electrical cables into tubes using wallbores E21B17/206; for optical cables G02B6/4401)} · CPC title

• H02G3/0456

  Ladders or other supports · CPC title

• B65H51/10

  with opposed coacting surfaces, e.g. providing nips · CPC title

• H02G11/00

  Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts · CPC title