Wire dispenser with frictional drag

Abstract

A portable wire dispenser is provided having an adjustable frictional drag to prevent overspinning of the spool or spools carried by the dispenser. One or more frictional collars are carried by the same shaft that carries the wire spool or spools. The frictional collar engages the side of one or both hubs of each wire spool. Each frictional collar preferably carries a wavespring on one or both faces of the collar. The wavespring allows the use of adjustable frictional drag applied to the hubs of each spool.

1 . A portable wire dispenser having frictional drag to prevent overspinning of one or more wire spools as wire is pulled off said spools, comprising: 
 at least one wire spool, said spool having first and second hubs;    a shaft carrying said spool or spools, and    frictional collar means carried by said shaft and adapted to frictionally engage one or both of said hubs to prevent overspinning of said spool as wire carried by said spool is pulled off said spool.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising connecting means for removably attaching said frictional collar means to said shaft.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said frictional collar carries a wavespring wherein said wavespring is adapted to frictionally engage one of said hubs.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein two spools are carried by said shaft and are interleaved between three friction collars.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the frictional drag on said two spools is independently adjustable.  
     
     
         6 . A portable wire dispenser carrying a plurality of wire spools and having independent and independently adjustable frictional drag applied to each of said spools, comprising: 
 a plurality of wire spools, each spool having first and second hubs,    a shaft carrying said plurality of spools,    a plurality of friction collar means wherein said wire spools are interleaved between said friction collar means, said friction collar means each carrying a wavespring adapted to frictionally engage one of said hubs, and    connector means for removably attaching each of said friction collars to said shaft.    
     
     
         7 . In a portable wire dispenser having one or more wire spools carried by a shaft, wherein each of said wire spools has first and second hubs, the improvement comprising: 
 frictional collar means adapted to be carried by said shaft and adapted to frictionally engage one or both of said hubs to prevent overspinning of said spools as wire carried by said spools is pulled off said spools.