Storage and transportation device

Abstract

A demountable cable reel comprising a pair of end flanges, each end flange having an inwardly facing spool connecting boss, and a generally cylindrical spool having two or more spool elements. The spool connecting boss of each end flange is engagable with the spool by axial alignment of complementary teeth on each boss and a respective spool element. A damaged spool element may be removed and replaced without having to unwind a cable on the reel.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A demountable reel for elongate coilable objects, said reel comprising: 
 a) a pair of end flanges, said end flanges each including an inwardly facing spool connecting boss;    b) a generally cylindrical spool comprising two or more spool elements, each said spool connecting boss and said spool being engagable by axial alignment of complementary engagement members and releasably securable by axial misalignment between said complimentary engagement means, said reel being characterised in that an end flange may be removably replaced by a substitute end flange with an elongate object coiled in situ about said spool.    
     
     
         1 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each said end flange includes reinforcement means adjacent a perimetral rim member.  
     
     
         2 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said spool connecting boss is recessed below an inner face of said flange.  
     
     
         3 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, said spool connecting boss projects outwardly from an inner face of said flange.  
     
     
         4 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said boss includes a central shaft aperture.  
     
     
         5 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each said flange includes a plurality of radially spaced apertures to locate, in use, tensionable members extending between opposed flanges.  
     
     
         6 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said radially spaced apertures include reinforcing means.  
     
     
         7 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said spool comprises two or more separate elements releasably connectable adjacent transverse edges to form a cylindrical spool.  
     
     
         8 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said spool comprises two or more spool elements with an integrally formed hinge joint, said two or more spool elements being movable between an extended storage and/or transportation position and a contracted position forming a cylindrical spool.  
     
     
         9 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said spool elements includes axially extending reinforcing members.  
     
     
         10 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said spool elements includes radially extending reinforcing elements.  
     
     
         11 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said reinforcing elements are integrally formed adjacent an inner surface of said spool elements.  
     
     
         12 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said spool elements include shouldered end portions.  
     
     
         13 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said complementary engagement members associated with said flanges include a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially oriented projections and/or recesses on said boss.  
     
     
         14 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the complementary engagement means associated with said spool elements includes circumferentially spaced radially oriented projections and/or recesses in said shouldered end portions.  
     
     
         15 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the spool and respective flanges are releasably secured by engagement of projections on said boss behind projections on said spool by at least partial relative rotation between said flanges and said spool.  
     
     
         16 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one cam member is provided to wedgingly engage said spool with respective end flanges.  
     
     
         17 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said cam member is operative in a radial direction.  
     
     
         18 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein stop means is provided to limit relative rotation between said spool and respective flanges.  
     
     
         19 . The demountable reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein releasable locking means is provided to prevent disengagement between said spool and a respective flange.  
     
     
         20 . The demountable reel as claimed in claim  20 , wherein said locking means is adapted to prevent relative rotation between said spool and a respective flange when said complementary engagement means are engaged.  
     
     
         21 . The demountable reel as claimed in claim  20 , wherein said locking means is actuable from an exterior region of each said flange.