Apparatus and method for rapid respooling

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention comprise a portable device and a method for rapidly collecting tubing, line, wire, or other long, flexible objects onto a spool. The respooling device comprises a fixed compression nut attached to a threaded rod and an adjustable compression nut removably coupled to the threaded rod. The threaded rod and compression nuts have thread selected for mechanical strength, smooth operation without lubrication, and rapid translation of the adjustable compression nut along the threaded rod. A spool clamped around the threaded rod by the compression nuts is automatically centered on the rotational axis of the respooling device. A driver turns the threaded rod, compression nuts, and spool to wind material onto the spool. Some embodiments respool material at rates greater than 30 feet (9.1 meters) per second. Some embodiments include a cordless driver. Some embodiments include a spool adapted for respooling a particular material, for example shock tube.

1 . A device for winding flexible material onto a spool; comprising:
 a threaded rod comprising:
 a multi-start threaded portion; and 
 a polygonal portion; 
   an adjustable compression nut comprising:
 a conical surface; 
 a bearing surface adapted for compression against the spool; and 
 a gripping structure adapted for effective gripping by a gloved hand; and 
   a fixed compression nut comprising:
 a conical surface; 
 a bearing surface adapted for compression against the spool; 
 a means of holding said fixed compression nut on said threaded rod in a fixed position; and 
 a gripping structure adapted for effective gripping by a gloved hand, 
   wherein said fixed compression nut is attached to said threaded rod and said adjustable compression nut is removably assembled to said threaded rod.   
     
     
         2 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 1 , wherein said threaded rod, said adjustable compression nut, and said fixed compression nut further comprise a five-start thread. 
     
     
         3 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 2 , wherein said threaded rod, said adjustable compression nut, and said fixed compression nut further comprise a square thread. 
     
     
         4 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 2 , wherein said threaded rod, said adjustable compression nut, and said fixed compression nut further comprise a trapezoidal thread. 
     
     
         5 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 2 , wherein said threaded rod, said adjustable compression nut, and said fixed compression nut further comprise an Acme thread. 
     
     
         6 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 2 , wherein said conical surface of said adjustable compression nut and said conical surface of said fixed compression nut further comprise a same apex diameter and a same base diameter, and said conical surfaces cause self-centering of a spool having a hub aperture diameter less than said conical surface apex diameter and more than said conical surface base diameter. 
     
     
         7 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 2 , further comprising a driver. 
     
     
         8 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 6 , further comprising a driver. 
     
     
         9 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 8 , wherein said driver is battery-powered. 
     
     
         10 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 9 , wherein the device is a portable, hand-held device. 
     
     
         11 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 10 , wherein said driver is an electric drill. 
     
     
         12 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 10 , wherein said driver is an electric driver. 
     
     
         13 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 10 , wherein said device is adapted to wind the flexible material onto the spool at a selected linear rate of motion of the flexible material. 
     
     
         14 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 13 , wherein said selected linear rate of motion has a value in a range from one inch (0.03 meter) per second to 40 feet (12 meters) per second. 
     
     
         15 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 14 , wherein said selected linear rate of motion has a value in a range from 10 feet (3.0 meters) per second to 20 feet (6.1 meters) per second. 
     
     
         16 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 15 , further comprising a spool adapted for holding shock tube. 
     
     
         17 . The device for winding flexible material onto a spool of  claim 16 , wherein the spool has a size adapted to hold at least 1000 feet (304.8 meters) of shock tube. 
     
     
         18 . A method of winding flexible material onto a spool, comprising:
 attaching a respooling device having a fixed compression nut and a threaded shaft to a driver;   placing a spool on the threaded shaft and against the compression nut;   threading an adjustable compression nut onto an end of the threaded shaft;   rotating the adjustable compression nut relative to the shaft until the adjustable compression nut centers the spool on the rotational axis of the shaft and clamps the spool;   attaching the flexible material to the spool; and   rotating the respooling device and the spool until a selected length of the flexible material is wound onto the spool.