Motor operated spool

Abstract

A spool with a hub to carry a spooled hose or cable and first and second couplings to attach the spool to a cradle, wherein the first coupling is arranged to be fixed against rotation as the hub rotates and the second coupling is arranged to rotate in unison with the hub and wherein a drive unit is fitted between the first coupling and the hub to drive the hub around the first coupling and thereby wind the hose or cable around the hub.

The claims defining the invention are as follows: 
     
         1 . A spool with a hub to carry a spooled hose or cable and first and second couplings to attach the spool to a cradle, wherein the first coupling is arranged to be fixed against rotation as the hub rotates and the second coupling is arranged to rotate in unison with the hub and wherein a drive unit is fitted between the first coupling and the hub to drive the huh around the first coupling and thereby wind the hose or cable around the hub. 
     
     
         2 . The spool of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is an electric motor at least partially recessed in the hub. 
     
     
         3 . The spool of  claim 1 , wherein the motor includes a stator component fixed relative to the first coupling and a rotor component keyed for rotation with the hub. 
     
     
         4 . The spool of  claim 3 , wherein an outer housing of the motor is fixed to rotate with the rotor component. 
     
     
         5 . The spool of  claim 4 , wherein the housing includes a flange element fixed to a first side of the spool, to lock the rotor and hub together for rotation in unison. 
     
     
         6 . The spool of  claim 5 , wherein the motor is substantially housed within the hub. 
     
     
         7 . The spool of  claim 5 , wherein the first coupling is in the form of a shaft with a first end projecting from the first side of the spool, for receipt in a first mount of the cradle. 
     
     
         8 . The spool of  claim 7 , wherein the second coupling includes a rotary coupler that has an inlet, an outlet, a gallery that provides fluid communication between the inlet and outlet, and a swivel that allows relative rotation between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the outlet provides a connection for a hose carried by the spool and the inlet provides a connection for a supply line to allow fluid to pass between the supply line and the hose. 
     
     
         9 . The spool of  claim 8 , wherein the gallery and outlet are formed in a body of the coupler that is mounted to a second side of the spool, for rotation in unison with the hub. 
     
     
         10 . The spool of  claim 9 , wherein the body supports a bearing for a second end of the shaft, that extends through the motor and toward the second side of the spool, the bearing allowing relative rotation between the second coupling and the shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The spool of  claim 10 , wherein the second coupling includes an extension piece that is supported in a bearing assembly used to mount the second coupling in a second mount of the cradle. 
     
     
         12 . A spool assembly, including the spool of any one of  claims 1  to  11  and a cradle with first and second mounts arranged to support the first and second couplings of the spool. 
     
     
         13 . The spool assembly of  claim 12 , further including a hose or cable wound onto the hub of the spool. 
     
     
         14 . The spool assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the cradle includes a hose guide. 
     
     
         15 . The spool assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the spool can be remotely operated.