Cable Reel Stands Usable for Hoist Rope Replacement in Electric Rope Shovels

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120 (a) of Canadian Patent Application No. 3,223,433, filed Dec. 18, 2023, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates generally to reel stands for rotatable support of spooled reels of wire rope or other cable, and more particularly to improved reel stands particularly useful in replacement of wire rope in electric rope shovels used in the mining industry.

Electric rope shovels are used for large scale earthmoving operations in the mining industry, and use wire ropes, routed over pulleys at the top front end of an inclined boom, to hoist a dipper carried on a front end of a dipper arm that is pivotable and translatable on said inclined boom. During replacement of the hoist ropes on such equipment, two spooled reels of new wire rope are rotatably supported on a pair of reel stands, which may be hosted on a shared transportable skid, and the new wire rope is unwound from the two spooled reels thereof and onto the hoist drum of the electric rope shovel.

In at least one known type of reel stand used in such hoist rope replacement operations, an individual stand features a pair of stanchions are offset from one another to support a singular spooled reel of wire rope (or cable reel, for short) in rotatable fashion between the stanchions. The cable reel is composed of a flanged spool, and a wire rope (alternatively referred to herein as cable) wound circumferentially around the spool between the two side flanges thereof. The cable reel is rotatably supported on the stanchions by an axle spanning between the two stanchions through a central axial bore of the spool. The axle is composed of a shaft having a fixed engagement bar lying perpendicularly thereof at one end, and is installed on the spool at ground level before hoisting of the reel and axle combination up onto the reel stand. During such installation, a free end of the axle shaft, referring to the end thereof opposite the engagement bar, is passed through the axial bore of the spool from a first side thereof to the other, until the fixed engagement bar is abutted against the first side flange of the spool at the first side thereof. Here, a pair of engagement studs on the engagement bar, at an inner side thereof from which the shaft extends, are engaged into a pair of holes in the first side flange of the spool at points spaced radially outward, in opposing directions, from the spool bore. At the opposing second side of the reel, a detachable lift bar is clamped to the shaft at a protruding end region thereof outside the spool bore, in a position radiating from the shaft in matching direction to a respective half of the engagement bar. The engagement bar and the lift bar thus reside on opposite sides of the spool in abutted relationship against the respective side flanges thereof, whereby the axle shaft is prevented from sliding out either end of the spool bore, and relative rotation between the spool and the axle is prevented by the mated state of the engagement studs of the engagement bar in the holes of the first side flange of the spool.

In this known type of cable reel stand, atop one stanchion is affixed a stationary cradle having an upwardly open mouth, and atop the other stanchion is rotatably supported a brake rotor. The brake rotor has a hollow cylinder rotatably journaled in a pillow block bearing, an engagement flange at an inner end of the cylinder on an inner side of the respective stanchion facing the other stanchion, and a brake disc flange at an opposing outer end of the cylinder on an opposing outer side of the respective stanchion. The engagement flange has a coupling jaw thereon of matable relationship to a corresponding coupling jaw on an outer side of the engagement bar installed on the axle-equipped spool. A hand-cranked mechanical brake is operable to clamp the brake disc flange of the brake rotor with a manually adjustable braking force to impart a selective resistance to rotational movement of the brake rotor in its bearing.

To install the cable reel onto the reel stand, a pair of lifting ropes are respectively shackled to the engagement bar and the lifting bar at matching ends thereof, for the purpose of lifting the axle-equipped cable reel up into the air using a telehandler or other lift-capable equipment, and repositioning the axle-equipped cable reel overhead of the reel stand. The brake rotor is locked in a position placing its coupling jaw in an upward pointing orientation, for engagement thereof by the corresponding coupling jaw of the engagement bar, which points opposingly away from the top end of the engagement bar to which the respective lift cable is shackled, and thus has a downwardly pointing orientation in the suspended state of the axle-equipped cable reel. A flanged collar is fitted onto the axle shaft from the same protruding end thereof from which the lifting bar was previously installed, and is slid into a position on the axle shaft of approximate alignment with the stationary cradle on the stanchion of opposing relationship to that on which the brake is mounted.

A worker attending the reel stand must guide the equipment operator (e.g. telehandler operator) to lower the axle-equipped reel in a manner lowering the downward-pointing coupling jaw of the engagement bar into perfectively aligned engagement to the upward-pointing coupling jaw of the locked brake rotor, while the attending worker also fine-tunes the position of the flanged collar on the axle shaft into proper alignment with the cradle on the opposing stanchion. Attempts to achieve alignment between the coupling jaws, and between the flanged axle collar and the support cradle, can involve manual adjustments by the attending operator in tight spaces between the suspended reel and the reel stand, presenting notable risk of injury. Once the coupling jaws at one end of the axle, and the flanged collar and support cradle near the other end of the axle, are properly mated, in which state the coupling jaws rotationally interlock the axle and the brake rotor, a coupling pin is then inserted through the brake rotor from the disk brake end thereof and into a hollow interior of the axle shaft, whereby this coupling pin serves as extension of the axle, which extension is then locked to the brake rotor by a locking pin engaged diametrically through the brake rotor and the coupling pin via aligned cross-bores found therein at a location between the pillow block bearing and the brake disc flange. This completes the installation of the axle-equipped cable reel onto the reel stand, whereafter the lift cables are disconnected and the brake rotor is unlocked (and set at a desired braking resistance), whereby the reel, being rotationally locked on the axle shaft, can rotate therewith on an axis thereof coincident with the brake rotor axis and a center-point of the support cradle. This enables unspooling of the new cable from the cable reel to the hoist drum of the electric rope shovel.

Having outlined this conventional process for installing a cable reel on a reel stand in preparation for a hoist rope replacement operation on an electric rope shovel, it will be readily apparent that there is a need for an improved reel stand design that can make the forgoing process simpler and safer for the attending worker.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cable reel stand for rotational support of a cable reel comprising a spool and a length of cable wound thereon, which spool is carriable by an axle spanning axially through said spool on a central axis thereof from a first side of said spool to an opposing second side thereof, said cable reel stand comprising:

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a cable reel support apparatus for support of a cable reel comprising a spool and a length of cable wound thereon, said support apparatus comprising:

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an axle assembly for supporting a cable reel on a cable reel stand, said axle assembly comprising:

shows a transportable skidon which there is hosted a matching pair of support standsA,B each designed to rotatably support a respective cable reelA,B (see) from which wire rope, or other cable, can be unwound, for example for the purpose of replacing the two hoist ropes of an electric rope shovel of a mining operation, though it will be appreciated that one or more novel cable reel stands of the present invention may also be used in any variety of applications where a reel stand is useful. The term cable is used herein in a general sense, that encompasses wire rope, but also any other cable that may likewise be stored in similarly spooled fashion. As used herein, a cable reel refers to the combination of a flanged spoolhaving a central drumdisposed between two circumferentially circular side flangesA,B, and a length of cable (not shown) wound circumferentially around the central drumof the spoolin the confined area between the two side flangesA,B. The terms cable reel, spooled reel and reel may be used interchangeably herein to refer to either cable reelA,B. Likewise, the terms cable reel stand, reel stand and stand may be used interchangeably herein to refer to either cable reel standA,B. In the illustrated embodiments, the two cable reel standsA,B are identical to one another, and the reference numbermay be used to refer generically to either individual cable reel stand, and so any description made of one cable standmay likewise be applied to the other stand, without explicit duplication of such description for both stands. Other embodiments of the present invention may include a single-stand embodiment featuring only a singular cable reel stand, whether skid-mounted or otherwise, as well multi-stand embodiments featuring more than two cable reel stands, again whether skid-mounted or otherwise, with the quantity of cable reel stands depending, for example, on particular applications or contexts for which such embodiments are intended or used.

The skidin the illustrated embodiments is of rectangular shape in overhead plan view, which rectangular shape is an elongated one of greater measure in one of its two horizontal dimensions than the other. The directionality of this elongated horizontal dimension is referred to herein as a longitudinal direction in which a length of the skid is measured, while the directionality of a shorter horizontal width of the skid that is measured perpendicularly transverse to the longitudinal direction is referred to herein as a lateral direction. In the illustrated examples, the two cable reel standsA,B are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the skid, and each include a pair of A-frame stanchionsA,B that are spaced apart from one another in the lateral direction of the skid. In another embodiment, not illustrated, the two cable reel stands may be reoriented ninety-degrees about respective vertical axes, such that the A-frame stanchionsA,B of each cable reel standare instead spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the skid. Embodiments of the present invention may include one or more in which the cable reel standsare repositionable between these two different orientations to enable reconfigurability of the skidbetween different modes corresponding to different applications of use (for example, replacing the lift ropes of different types of electric rope shovels).

The skidis a skeletal framework composed, at least primarily, of metal tubing, including a rectangular upper subframe, composed of longitudinally oriented side beams, laterally oriented end beamsspanning perpendicularly between the two side beamsat opposing ends thereof in(and typically also in the embodiment of, despite omission therefrom), and laterally oriented cross beamsalso spanning perpendicularly between the two side beamsat spaced intervals therealong. The illustrated examples each include four such cross beams, between a first pair of which the first cable reel standA is hosted, and between a second pair of which the second cable reel standB is hosted. Each A-frame stanchionA,B is mounted atop a longitudinally oriented support beamspanning perpendicularly between the respective pair of cross beams. As shown, the end beamsmay each have a rounded cross-sectional profile to allows closure of a sling therearound in a manner useful to pull or lift the skidat the respective end thereof denoted by such end beam, while avoiding the comparatively sharp corner edges that would be embodied by square or rectangular end beams that would have wear-inducing impact on such a sling. As shown, all, or at least a subset, of the other tubular members,may be made of square or rectangular metal tubing.

The skidincludes a pair of longitudinally oriented runnerseach underlying a respective one of the side beamsof the upper subframe, which runnersmay likewise be formed of square or rectangular tubing, but which are shorter than the two side beamsso that each runnerstops short of both ends of the skid, whose locations are denoted by the end beamsof the upper subframe. At each end of each runner, an inclined runner endis affixed to and angles obliquely upward from the respective end of the runnerand makes affixed connection to the overlying side beamof the upper subframe at or proximate the nearest end thereof. Angled bracesare fixed between each runnerand the overlying side beamat spaced intervals therelong, in a truss like pattern, and reinforcement beamslying parallel to the cross-beamsof the upper subframe span perpendicularly between the two runnersin fixed attachment thereto at longitudinally spaced apart intervals thereon in theexample. As shown, these reinforcement beamsmay be large enough in cross-sectional profile to fill the entire elevational space between the runnersand the side beamssuch that the side beamsrest atop the reinforcement beams. At or near the four corners of the rectangular upper subframe, the topside of the skidfeatures lift bracketsat which shackles can be connected to enable lifting of the skidby any variety of capable lifting equipment, for example via one or more connected slings. The described structural composition of the skidis merely one non-limiting example of a skid structure on which the support standsmay be mounted.

As referenced above, each cable reel standfeatures a pair of A-frame stanchionsA,B, of which stanchionA is referred to as the first stanchion of the given stand, and stanchionB is referred to as the second stanchion of the given stand. With reference to, it can be seen how when a cable reelis installed on either cable reel stand, the spoolof the cable reelresides in the space between the two stanchionsA,B thereof, and so the side flangeA of the spoolnearest to the first stanchionA is referred to as the first side flangeA of the spool, and the other side flangeB of the spool nearest to the second stanchion is referred to as the second side flangeB of the spool. The side of the installed cable reelon which the first stanchionA resides is referred to as the first side of the cable reel, and likewise the side of the installed cable reelon which the second stanchion residesB is referred to as the second side of the cable reel.

Atop the first stanchionA of each cable reel standis mounted a first axle cradleA, and atop the second stanchionB of each cable reel standis mounted a second axle cradleB. The purpose of the axle cradles is to rotatably and cooperatively support an axle assemblyon which the respective cable reelis rotatable when installed on the cable reel stand. The two axle cradlesA,B of the support standshare common componentry and construction to one another, though with one subtle difference in the present embodiment. First, description is made of the axle cradle componentry shared by the two axle cradlesA,B. Each axle cradle (or simply cradle, for short) features a housinghaving an outer side wallA and a matching inner side wallB, of which the inner side wallB refers to that which faces the other one of the cable stand's two axle cradles, and which therefor faces the nearest side flangeA,B of the cable reel spoolwhen installed on the cable reel stand. Rotatably journaled on the two side wallsA,B of the cradle housingare a pair of adjacent cradle rollersthat are rotatable about parallel horizontal roller axes that lie perpendicular of the cradle housing side wallsA,B, and thus parallel to the direction in which the two stanchionsA,B are spaced apart from one another.

The two cradle rollersare passive rollers lacking any means of driven rotation, and are of closely adjacent but non-touching relationship to one another, whereby the two adjacent rollerscan rotate in matching direction to one another. The two cradle housing side wallsA,B feature matching arcuate cutoutsat the tops thereof, through which cutouts the outer peripheries of the two rollersare exposed only over partial segments of two respective top quadrants thereof, of which these two top quadrants face one another, while the rest of each roller is instead concealed inside the cradle housingbetween the side wallsA,B thereof. On either side of these cutouts, the cradle housingis capped off at the top thereof by an angled axle guideresiding above a respective one of the cradle rollersin a position spanning between the housing side wallsA,B and thereby covering the other top quadrant of the respective cradle roller. Each such axle guideangles downwardly toward the far cradle roller and the other axle guidethat resides above that far cradle roller. At a distal end of each axle guidefurthest from the arcuate cutoutand the exposed top quadrants of the two cradle rollers, a supplemental axle guideangles upwardly and outwardly at a steeper angle than the roller-covering axle guide. During installation of a cable reelonto the cable reel stand, the four axle guides,of each of the two axle cradlesA,B serve to guide the axle assemblytoward the exposed top quadrants of the cradle rollersat the arcuate cutoutsof the cradle housing side wallsA,B so that the axle assemblywill come to rest atop the rollerswhen the cable reelis lowered into place onto the cable reel stand. Once the cable reel installation is completed, the axle assemblycan thus rotate smoothly atop the two pairs of cradle rollers, all of which rotate in the same direction, as the cable is pulled off the spool.

Each axle cradleA,B also includes an openable/closeable hold-downthat, in a closed position thereof, arches over arcuate cutoutsand the exposed top quadrants of the cradle rollers, and in doing so when a cable reelis installed on the cable reel stand, likewise arches over the axle assemblyrotatably seated on those rollers, thus capturing the axle assemblyon the axle cradleA,B. For movement of this hold-downbetween this axle-capturing closed position and an open position that instead permits loading and unloading of the axle assemblyto and from the axle cradleA,, the hold-downhas one endA thereof pivotally pinned to the cradle housingthrough the two side wallsA,B thereof off to one side of the central arcuate cutoutsand the exposed cradle roller quadrants. An opposing endB of the hold-down, in the closed position thereof, is selectively lockable to the cradle housingat the other side of the central arcuate cutoutsand the exposed roller quadrants, for example via insertion of a locking pinthrough alignable lock pin apertures in the hold-downand the cradle housing side wallsA,B.

In the illustrated embodiments, the hold-downis a roller-equipped hold-down, with a pair of hold-down rollersthereon at positions that, in the closed position of the hold-down, overlie the exposed top quadrants of the two cradle rollersat spaced positions thereabove so to overlie the axle assemblyseated on the cradle rollerswhen the cable reel is installed on the cable reel stand. The hold-downof the illustrated embodiments is formed of two arch-shaped plates each pivotably coupled to a respective one of the cradle housing side wallsA,B, and the hold-down rollersare rotatably journaled to the two arch-shaped plates in the space therebetween overtop of the cradle housing. In the illustrated embodiments, the two axle cradlesA,B of each cable reel standdiffer from one another only in that the cradle rollersof the first axle cradleA are tapered rollers with center-peaked peripheries, while the cradle rollersof the second axle cradleB are flat rollers having flat outer peripheries, for reasons that will become apparent further below.

The two respective axle assembliesfor the two identical cable reel standsA,B of the illustrated embodiments are likewise identical to one another, and one such axle assemblyof the present embodiment is shown in isolation in. The axle assemblyfeatures a round axle shaft, an externally double-flanged end-fittingaffixed to a first end of the axle shaft, an engagement baraffixed to the axle shaftadjacent to the end-fitting, and a lift barremovably attachable to the axle shaftat a location adjacent to a second end thereof of opposing relationship to the first end thereof at which the end-fittingresides. The second end of the axle shaftlacks an end fitting of the type found at the first end of the axle shaft, and in the present embodiment, this second end lacks an end fitting of any type. The end-fittingat the first end of the axle shaftserves to modify both an internal and external shape profile of the overall axle cooperatively defined by the axle shaftand the end-fitting, versus the simple round exterior and round hollow interior of the cylindrical axle shaftitself.

The end-fittingis an externally flanged collar that imparts two external flangesto the axle on either side of an unflanged areaof the end-fitting's exterior that resides between those external flanges. The hollow interior of the end-fitting, at least over part of an axial measure thereof unoccupied by the axle shaft, has a non-circular shape profile, and more particularly a square profile in the illustrated example. The unflanged areabetween two external flanges, at least in the illustrated embodiment, is a grooved area containing a V-shaped circumferential groovetherein, for mating receipt of the tapered peripheries of the two rollersof the first axle cradleA of the cable reel stand. Both the external flangesand the V-shaped circumferential grooveof the end-fittingdenote deviation from the plainly cylindrical exterior of the axle shaftitself, and the square or otherwise non-circular inner profileof the end-fittingdenotes a deviation from the plainly circular interior of the hollow, cylindrically round axle shaft.

Like the engagement bars of the prior art referenced above, the engagement barlies perpendicularly transverse of the axle shaftin diametric relation thereto, whereby two halves of the engagement barradiate in opposing radial directions from the shaft. Each such radiating half of the engagement barfeatures a respective engagement studthat projects from the engagement barat an inner side thereof from which the axle shaftextends, and which, in this case, faces away from the end-fitting, so that these two engagement studscan be engaged into a pair of holes in the first side flangeA of the cable reel spoolduring installation of the axle assemblythereon, as described of the prior art. Unlike the engagement bars of the prior art however, the engagement bardoes not occupy the terminal end position of the axle assembly, which in this case is instead occupied by the end-fitting, and the engagement bar also lacks any coupling jaw on its outer side. As described further below, a braking assembly of the inventive cable reel standlikewise lacks any such coupling jaw. The lifting barmay be the same or similar to those of the prior art, having a clampby which is it removably attachable to the axle shaftnear the second end thereof that protrudes from the second side of the cable reel spoolwhen installed on the cable reel stand. As in the prior art, the lifting barneed project only in a singular direction from the clamp, in matching radial directionality to a respective one of the two halves of the diametrically radiating engagement bar. This way, the lifting barand the corresponding half of the engagement barmay be used to lift the cable reel on which the axle assemblyis installed, via attachment of shackles (not shown) to the engagement and lift bars,at matching endsA,B thereof.

The installation of the axle assemblyonto the spoolof a respective cable reelis similar to the axle installation process described above for the prior art, where, prior to attachment of the lift bar, the free second end of the axle shaftfurthest from the engagement baris inserted through a central axial bore of the spooluntil the fixed engagementbar is abutted against the first side flangeA of the spool. Here, the engagement studs are received in two holes in that side flangeA at radial distances from the shaft-receiving central axial bore of the spool. In matching fashion to the prior art, at the opposing second side of the spool, the detachable lift baris clamped to the shaftat a protruding end region thereof outside the spool bore, in a position abutting the lift baragainst the second side flangeB of the spoolin an orientation radiating from the shaftin matching direction to the respective half of the engagement bar, so that the matching endsA,B of the two bars,reside at matching positions around the circumferences of the spool's two side flangesA,B. In the present invention, unlike the prior art, no flanged collar is subsequently installed on this protruding region of the shaftbetween the lift barand the free second end of the shaft. Instead, end-fittingprovides a permanently affixed flanged collar at the opposing first end of the shaft, at a location axially beyond the jawless engagement bar.

In addition to the first axle cradleA, the first stanchionA of each cable reel standalso has a brake assemblymounted thereto, particularly at an outer side of the first stanchionA of opposing relation to the second stanchionB and in closely neighbouring adjacency to the first axle cradleA. The brake assembly includes a rotatably supported brake rotorwhose rotational axis is parallel to those of the two cradle rollersof the neighbouring first axle cradleA, and resides in a vertical plane that bisects the arcuate cutoutsof the axle cradlesA,B and across which the axes of the two cradle rollersof each cradle axle are symmetrically disposed. This rotational axis of the brake rotoris thereby positioned to align with the central longitudinal axis of the axle shaft, and the coincident central axis of the end-fittingthereon, when the axle assemblyis seated on the two axle cradlesA,B. Ther rotational axisof the brake rotoris thus likewise coincident with the central axis of the spoolof the cable reelwhen installed on the cable reel stand. The brake rotorhas an internal channelpassing axially therethrough, which internal channel is of the same non-circular internal shape profile as the end-fittingof the axle assembly. The brake rotor, near an outer end thereof furthest from the first axle cradleA, has a circular brake disc flangeof radiating relationship to a cylindrical hubof the brake rotor.

The brake rotor hubis rotationally supported by a bearing installed in a rotor holderthat stands upright from a brake support shelfmounted to the outer side of the first A-frame stanchionA. Also mounted on the brake support shelfis a hydraulic brake caliperpositioned and operable to impart a hydraulically adjustable braking force to the brake disc flangeat a lower segment of its revolution around the brake rotor axis. As in the prior art, application of an adjustable braking force to the axle assemblyby the brake assemblyis used to impart an adjustable resistance to rotation of the cable reelon the cable reel standduring pulling of the cable therefrom, to impart tension to the pulled w cable.

In addition to the optional, but preferable, replacement of a manually operated braking member with a hydraulic caliper, the brake assemblydiffers notably from that of the aforementioned prior art in the manner by which the brake rotorand the axle assemblyare coupled together during installation of the cable reelonto the cable reel stand. Instead of a coupling jaw on an inner endA of the brake rotorfor mating with a coupling jaw on the engagement barto rotationally lock the brake rotorand the axle assemblytogether, the inventive cable reel standinstead employs a coupling pinof non-circular, and in the illustrated example square, outer shape profile to provide this rotational interlock via cooperation of the coupling pin's non-circular outer shape profile with the correspondingly shaped non-circular inner profiles of the brake rotorand the axle assembly's end-fitting.

The coupling pinis passed through the profiled internal channelof the brake rotorfrom the outer end thereof, and onward through the brake rotorinto the profiled interior of the end-fittingof the axle assembly, until a stop flangeat an outer end of the coupling pinabuts the outer endB of the brake rotor. To lock the inserted coupling pinin place, a lock pinis engageable through a cross-bore in the coupling pinnear the stop flangethereof via a pair of diametrically pin holes likewise provided in the brake rotornear the outer endB thereof. Inside the brake rotorand axle end-fitting, the square or otherwise non-circular outer profile of the coupling pinengages the correspondingly square or otherwise non-circular inner profiles of the brake rotorand axle end-fitting, whereby the axle assemblyand the brake rotorrotate synchronously during rotation of the cable reelinstalled on the cable reel stand.

Having described the design of the two cable reel support stands, attention is now turned to the process of installing a respective cable reelA,B on each of those cable reel support standsA,B, which process is identical for each thereof, and thus described only once. First, the axle assemblyis installed on the spoolof the cable reelin the manner already discussed above, and a respective lift cable is attached to the top endA,B of each of the engagement barand the lift barto thereby connect the engagement and lift bars,to the forks of a telehandler, or similarly suitable lift attachment points of another type of lift equipment. Using said telehandler or other lift equipment (the lifter, for short), the axle-equipped cable reelis lifted up off the ground via the engagement and lift bars,of the installed axle assembly, up to an elevation in which the axle shaftand attached end fittingof the installed axle assembly exceeds the cradle rollersof the two axle cradlesA,B, whose respective hold-downsare both placed in their open positions to accommodate admission of the axle assemblyto the two axle cradlesA,B.

The end-fittingof the installed axle assembly, denoting an externally flanged first end region of the axle assembly, resides outside the first side flangeA of the spoolon the same side thereof as the brake-equipped first stanchionA of the cable reel stand. Outside the second side flangeB of the spool, the axle assembly is characterized by a second end region of the axle assembly embodied by a bare exposed end portion of the axle shaft, that lacks any such end-fitting or external flanges in the present embodiment. Using the lift equipment, the axle-equipped cable reelis lowered into place under the visual guidance of an attending workeron the skid, during which the unflanged and preferably V-grooved central areaof the end-fittingis lowered into the first axle cradleA, and the bare axle shaftat the unflanged second end region of the axle assembly is lowered into the second axle cradleB, during which any minor misalignment of the axle assembly in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the axle shaft(i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the skid, in the illustrated example) is self-correcting, owing to the design of the two axle-cradles, where the axle guides,and cradle rollersall act to urge the axle assembly toward a properly centered and seated position on the facing-together top quadrants of the cradle rollers. Here, the preferably V-grooved areaof the end-fittingrests atop the peaked peripheries of the tapered cradle rollersof the first axle cradleA, and the bare axle shaftrests atop the flat cradle rollersof the second axle cradleB. This lowering and self-correcting alignment of the axle-equipped cable reel into place onto the cable reel standrequires no particular positioning of the brake rotor, omits the level of alignment precision needed to properly align the coupling jaws of the engagement bars and brake rotors of the aforementioned prior art, and omits the installation and alignment of a removable flanged collar outside the lift barnear the second end of the axle shaft, all of which reduces the need for manual interaction of the attending workerwith the cable reeland cable reel stand, for improved worker safety.

Once the axle assemblyis properly seated in the axle cradlesA,B, the hold-downsthereof are closed, and locked in their closed positions, thus capturing the seated axle assemblyin place on the axle cradlesA,B for further safety optimization. Next, the coupling pinis inserted through the profiled internal channelof the brake rotorinto the profiled interiorof the axle assembly end fitting, for which purpose which the hydraulic brake calipermay be placed in a depressurized state to permit rotational adjustment of the brake rotor position to achieve properly aligned relationship between the profiled internal channelthereof and the profiled interiorof the axle assembly end-fittingto enable the full insertion of the coupling pin. Once fully inserted, the coupling pinis locked in place to the brake rotorvia insertion of the locking pin. With the cable reelnow fully installed on the cable reel stand, the shackles and lift cables (not shown) can be removed from the engagement and lift bars,of the axle assembly, and the desired brake force applied to the brake disc flangeof the brake rotorthrough the hydraulic brake caliper.

While the illustrated embodiments use attachment of a separate end-fittingto an end of a plainly cylindrical axle shaftto impart a non-circular internal shape profile to the overall axle cooperatively formed by these two assembled components, other embodiments may instead feature a unitary single-piece axle with a profiled internal shape likewise capable of cooperating with the profiled internal channel of the brake rotorto rotationally couple the brake rotorand the axle assembly. It will also be appreciated that while the coupling pinof the illustrated embodiment possesses its non-circular (square profile) over a substantial entirety of its overall length, varying from such non-circular uniformity only at tapered insertion tipA thereof to ease insertion of the coupling pin into the brake rotor's internal channel, it will be appreciated that an equally effective coupling pincould have more cross-sectional variation, including possible circular profile, at any various fractions of its length, provided that engagement regions of the coupling pin at locations therealong that specifically occupy correspondingly profiled internal regions of the brake rotor and axle at least have non-circular profiles suitably shaped to prevent relative rotation between the coupling pinand each of the brake rotorand the axle.

illustrate second embodiment, which has much in common with the first embodiment, and is described, at least primarily, if not entirely, in terms of the features thereof that are of notably improved, or otherwise changed, in relation to the equivalent, or most closely comparable, componentry of the first illustrated embodiment shown in. In any instance of no described difference, the present embodiment may be presumed identical with the other illustrated embodiment. As with the earlier embodiment, the two standsA′,B′ are identical to another, either of which may therefore also be generally labeled as stand′, as are the two axle assemblies′, and so any description made of one may likewise be applied to the other, even if not explicitly duplicated in the interest of brevity. Among the componentry of each standA′,B′, the two axle cradlesA′,B′ are substantially identical, differing only in the use of tapered rollers in the first axle cradleA′, and flat rollers in the second axle cradleB′. The second illustrated embodiment differs from the first, at least primarily, in modifications to the axle assembly′, the axle cradlesA′,B′ and the brake assembly′.

Referring to, each axle assembly′ again features a round axle shaft, an externally double-flanged end-fitting′ affixed to a first end of the axle shaft, an engagement bar′ affixed to the axle shaftadjacent to the end-fitting′, and a lift bar′ removably attachable to the axle shaftat a location adjacent to a second end thereof of opposing relationship to the first end thereof at which the end-fitting′ resides. As shown, the end fitting′ in the present embodiment may be a multi-piece fitting, where the square (or otherwise straight-sided, or at least non-circular) internal profileof the end fitting′ is embodied in an annular bolt-on headA that defines and outer end of the end fitting′, and is bolted to the outside flangeof a flanged sleeve bodyB that hosts both the two flanges,and the V-groovetherebetween in which the cradle rollersengage the end fitting′ in rollable contact therewith. A square, or otherwise straight-sided, or at least non-circular, central hole of the bolt-on headA embodies the internally profiled end if the shaft assembly for mated receipt of the coupling pinduring coupling of the shaft assembly to the braking assembly.

In the present embodiment, the second end region of the axle shaftthat gets seated in the second axle cradleB′ is not a bare area of the axle shaft like in the first embodiment, and instead is equipped with a sleeve fittingslid onto this second end region of the axle shaftfrom the second end thereof. This sleeve fittingis cylindrical in exterior shape, and lacks any radially protrusive flanges, unlike the flanged end fitting′ at the first end of the axle shaft. So while not bare like in the first illustrated embodiment, the second end region of the axle shaftin the present embodiment is still of unflanged character, in contrast the flanged end fitting′ at the opposing first end region of the axle shaft.

In the present embodiment, it is this cylindrical sleeve fittingthat rides on the cradle rollers of the second axle cradleB′, and atop which the two hold-down rollersof the associated hold-downride in capturing relation to the axle assembly′ to prevent inadvertent ejection thereof from the axle cradleB′. In the illustrated example, the sleeve fittingis welded, or otherwise affixed, to the lift bar′ and an associated half of the lift bar clamp′, whereby the sleeve fittingand the lift bar′ are installed on the axle shafttogether as a singular unit in a singular installation step, in which they are both locked in place on the axle shaftthrough shared use of the lift bar clamp′. So while this embodiment does include installation of both a lift bar′ and a fittingonto the axle shaftat the second end region thereof (where both a lift bar and flanged collar are installed in the prior art), they fit on the axle shaft together as a singular unit, and the unflanged cylindrical sleeve fittingrequires no fine tuning of its installed position in precise alignment to the axle cradleB′, whose cradle rollers can engage any part of the cylindrical exterior of the unflanged sleeve fitting.

shows the first axle cradleA′ of the present embodiment, which lacks the dedicated axle guide pieces,of the first illustrated embodiment, in instead relies on four downwardly sloped top edges′ of the two side wallsA′,B′ of the cradle housing′, each of which possesses a respective pair of such sloped top edges′ that reside on opposite sides of the arcuate cutoutof that side wall, and which sloped top edges′ slope downwardly toward the cutoutin convergent relation to one another. Accordingly, during lowering of the axle assembly′ into place, landing thereof onto either pair of sloped top edges′ on either side of the arcuate cutoutswill gravitationally encourage the axle assembly′ into place onto the facing-together top inside quadrants of the cradle rollersexposed at the cutouts, as described of the functionality comparable axle guidesof the earlier illustrated embodiment.

As illustrated of the earlier embodiment, but not explicitly described, the hold-down′ may be adjustably mounted in a way enabling fine tuning of the closed position thereof to ensure placement of the hold-down rollersinto contact with the axle assembly′ when the hold-down′ is closed, thus holding the axial assembly down into continuous reliable contact with the cradle rollers. In the illustrated embodiments, this adjustability is achieved by hosting of the pin-bore at which one end of the hold-down′ is pinned to the cradle housingin a movable pinning bodythat is raisable and lowerable relative to static componentry (e.g. side wallsA,B and base) of the cradle housing, for example by a screw adjuster. The pinning bodyhosts a cylindrical pin-bore that penetrates horizontally therethrough in the same direction in which the side wallsA,B of the cradle housingare spaced apart. This pin-bore aligns with vertically elongated slotsin the two sidewallsA,B of the cradle housing, so that the location of the pin received through this pin-bore (lock pinin theexample, or pivot pinin the reversedexample) can be raised or lowered via operation of the screw adjuster, thereby adjusting the closed position of the hold-down.

A drive headA of the screw adjuster resides below a baseof the cradle housing, though which the screw shaftB of the screw adjusterpasses upwardly to connect to the movable pinning bodyabove the baseof the cradle housing. The baseof the cradle housingis a double layered base, composed of a bottom base plateA affixed atop the respective A-frame stanchionA,B of the reel stand, and a top base plateB seated atop the bottom base plateA. One of the cradle base platesA,B, particularly the bottom base plateA in the illustrated example, has elongated bolting slotsA therein (see) for bolted fastening of the top base plateB to the bottom base plateA through the bolting slotsA therein and a set of aligned non-elongated bolt holesB in the top base plateB. The bolting slotsA are elongated in the longitudinal direction of the skid, so that when the axle cradle mounting bolts (not shown) are loosened, the position of the top base plateB (to which the sidewallsA,B of the cradle housingare welded or otherwise affixed) can be horizontally slid, longitudinally back and forth, on the bottom base plateA to best align the axle cradlesA′,B′ with one another, whereupon the bolts are retightened to lock adjusted axle cradle in place in this aligned position.

illustrate the brake assembly′, which again features a rotatably supported brake rotor′ and associated hydraulic caliperpositioned and operable to impart a hydraulically adjustable braking force to a brake disc flangeof the brake rotor′. In this embodiment, the brake rotor′ is more robustly supported for optimal stability and alignment with the axle cradlesA′,B′, and the axle assembly′ when received therein. This embodiment sees replacement of the singular rotor holder of the earlier embodiment on one side of the rotor with a pair of pillow block bearingsA,B disposed on opposite sides of the rotor′.

In this embodiment, the rotor comprises a cylindrical and tubular brake shaftto which the brake disc flange′ is rotationally locked, and which brake shaftis journaled, on opposite sides of the brake disc flange′, in the two pillow block bearingsA,B. In the illustrated example, the disc brake flange′ is removably hosted on the brake shaft, which brake shaftis composed of two stub shaftsA,B residing on opposite sides of the brake disc flange′. Each stub shaftA,hosts a respective bolting flangeA,B fixed at a disc-holding end of the stub shaft nearest to the brake disc flange′. Here, an annular inner web of the brake disc flange′, which surrounds a central hole of the brake disc flange′, is sandwiched between the two bolting flangesA,B, which bolting flangesA,B are bolted together through a set of bolts provided in the annular inner web of the disc brake flange′. As visually revealed of one bolting flange in, each bolting flangeA,B of the brake shafthas an annular recessin a disc-opposing face thereof in which the disc-adjacent end of the respective stub shaftA,B is received and welded in place.

Each bolting flangeA,B, at a central position thereon surrounded by the annular recess, has a square-shaped holetherein, whereby the two square holesof these bolting flangesA,B define the straight-sided internal profile′ of the brake rotor′ for engagement by the straight-sided exterior profile of the coupling pinthat is responsible for rotational coupling of the brake rotor′ to the axle assembly′ via insertion of this coupling pininto the straight sided internal profileof the end fitting′ of the axle assembly′. Outside the two bolted together bolting flangesA,B, the hollow interior of the two tubular stub shaftsA,B of the brake shaftdefine a circularly profiled remainder of the axial channel that passes axially through the assembled brake rotor′ to accommodate the insertion of the coupling pininto the end fitting′ of the axle assembly′. In this embodiment, the cross-borefor hosting the lock pinthat locks the inserted coupling pinin place is hosted in the outer oneA of the two stub shafts that penetrates the outside pillow block bearingA furthest from the stanchionA. The lock pin cross-boreresides near an outer end of this stub shaftA that resides outwardly beyond this outside pillow block bearingA.

The housings of the two pillow block bearingsA,B are bolted down onto a base plateof the brake assembly′ of this embodiment, which in turn is bolted down onto the brake support shelfof the stanchionA, through bolt holesin the base plate. The base platealso hosts a caliper support platethat stands upright from the base platebetween the two pillow block bearingsA,B to host the brake caliper. In the illustrated example, the housing of each pillow block bearingA,B has horizontally elongated bolting slotsA therein that are elongated in the longitudinal direction of the skidto enable longitudinally horizontal shifting of the pillow block bearingsA,B relative to a set of aligned non-elongated bolt holesB () in the base plateof the brake assembly to fine tune the positions of the pillow blocksA,B (and the brake rotor′ supported thereby) when brake mounting bolts (not shown) engaged in these bolting slots and holes are loosened. This enables proper horizontal alignment of the braking assembly′ with the axle cradlesA′,B′, and with the axle assembly′ when hosted thereby, whereupon the brake mounting bolts are retightened to lock the brake assembly′, and more particularly the pillow block bearings and rotor thereof, in this properly aligned position.

Which of these components hosts the elongated bolting slots and the non-elongated bolting holes may optionally be reversed from the setup described, as may the case of any cooperative pairing of bolting slots and bolting holes described herein for various adjustment purposes. Another example of such adjustable mounting of componentry to aid in proper alignment between the braking assembly′, the axle cradlesA′,B′ and the axle assembly′ is described now with reference to, which illustrates adjustable mounting of the brake support shelfto the associated stanchionA. The brake support shelfis fixed atop a shelf bracket, which in turn is adjustably mounted to the stanchionA at the outer side thereof in a manner enabling vertical adjustment of the shelf bracket position, thereby adjusting the shelf bracket height. The shelf bracketis composed of two gussetsatop which the brake support shelfis affixed, and a backing plateto which the gussetsare affixed at an outer face of the backing platethat faces away from the stanchionA. The angled A-frame pillars of the stanchionA have a mounting plateaffixed thereto at the outer side of the stanchionA to receive the backing plateof the shelf bracket.

To enable the vertical adjustment of the shelf bracket, the backing platethereof features a set of vertically elongated bolting slotsA therein, for example four such slots at four corner regions of the backing plate, with which bolting slotsA a set of non-elongated bolting holes in the mounting platealign for bolted attachment of the shelf bracketto the mounting plateof the stanchionA by a set of shelf mounting bolts (not shown). With the shelf mounting bolts in a loosened state, the bolting slotsA allow vertical shifting of the shelf bracketup or down to gain optimal alignment of the braking assembly′, which is installed atop the brake support shelf, with the axle cradlesA′,B′, and with the axle assembly′ when received by said axle cradles. Once the brake support shelfis adjusted to the appropriate height for such alignment, the shelf bracket bolts are retightened to fix the self bracketand attached brake support shelfat this properly aligned height.

Since various modifications can be made in the invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.