Apparatus and method for spooling wire

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11117780-B1
Application number	US-201916422614-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 24, 2019
Priority date	May 27, 2018
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A reel apparatus comprising a pipe; an outer flange assembly comprising two outer support walls connected to the pipe and wherein each outer support wall comprises an inner wall and an outer wall; an inner flange assembly comprising two inner support walls, wherein the inner flange assembly is rotated relative to the outer flange assembly and the pipe and wherein each inner support wall comprises an inner wall and an outer wall; and a motor assembly connected to the inner flange assembly and outer flange assembly, wherein the motor assembly is physically connect to the outer flange assembly and wherein the motor assembly is rotationally connected to the inner flange assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reel apparatus comprising:
a reel assembly, wherein the reel assembly is in the shape of a spool, the reel assembly comprising:
a pipe;
an outer flange assembly comprising two circular outer support walls wherein each circular outer wall is connected to the pipe, wherein each circular outer support wall comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, and wherein the two circular outer support walls are not directly connected to each other;
an inner flange assembly comprising two inner support walls, wherein the inner flange assembly is rotated relative to the outer flange assembly and the pipe and wherein each inner support wall comprises an inner wall and an outer wall; and
a motor assembly connected to the inner flange assembly and outer flange assembly, wherein the motor assembly is physically connected to the outer flange assembly and wherein the motor assembly is rotationally connected to the inner flange assembly.

2. The reel apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an outer washer located on the outer wall of one of the circular outer support walls.

3. The reel apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the outer washer is located between the circular outer support wall and a flared end of the pipe.

4. The reel apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the outer washer is located between the circular outer support wall and a threaded pipe and nut.

5. The reel apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the motor assembly comprises:
a motor
a motor rod comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the motor is attached to the first end of the motor rod; and
a motor gear attached to the second end of the motor rod;
wherein the motor rotationally spins the motor rod and the motor gear.

6. The reel apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a gear box located between the motor and the motor rod.

7. The reel apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a toothed gear attached to the outer wall of one of the inner support walls.

8. The reel apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the motor gear rotationally engages the toothed gear, rotating the inner flange assembly without rotating the outer flange assembly.

9. The reel apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the motor gear and motor rod pass through an access hole in one of the circular outer support walls.

10. The reel apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the motor assembly is permanently attached to the circular outer support wall of the outer flange assembly.

11. The reel apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the motor assembly is temporarily attached to the circular outer support wall of the outer flange assembly.

12. The reel apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a connection plate attached to the motor assembly and one of the circular outer support walls of the outer flange assembly.

13. The reel apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the connection plate is bolted to the circular outer support wall of the outer flange assembly.

14. The reel apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the connection plate is temporarily bolted to the circular outer support wall of the outer flange assembly.

15. The reel apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a support bracket attached between the connection plate and one of the circular outer support walls of the outer flange assembly.

16. The reel apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the support bracket comprises a post, wherein the post is inserted in a hole of the circular outer support wall of the outer flange assembly.

17. The reel apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the support bracket comprises a support hole which aligns with the access hole of the circular outer support wall of the outer flange assembly.

18. The reel apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a bracket attached to the connection plate.

19. The reel apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the bracket is attached to one of the circular outer support walls of the outer flange assembly.

20. The reel apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the bracket is attached to one of the circular outer support walls of the outer flange assembly and the outer washer.

Assignees

• Encore Wire Corp

Inventors

• Rhoads John L
• Rodgers Kevin D

Classifications

• B65H75/30

  Arrangements to facilitate driving or braking · CPC title

• B65H75/146

  with at least one intermediate flange between the two end flanges · CPC title

• B65H75/14 Primary

  with two end flanges · CPC title

• B65H54/40

  Arrangements for rotating packages · CPC title

• B65H49/34

  Arrangements for effecting positive rotation of packages · CPC title