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

Abstract

An improved 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. Two stanchions of the stands carry two respective axle cradles, of which on is neighboured by a brake selectively couplable to the axle by a coupling of non-circular profile that cooperates with non-circular internal profiles of the brake and the axle to provide rotational interlocking thereof. The axle cradles are roller cradles serving to self-align the axle into a properly seated position atop two adjacent cradle rollers, and are equipped with hold-downs for positive capture of the seated axle. The axle features a circumferential V-groove for mating with tapered cradle rollers at one of the axle cradles.

1 . 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:
 first and second stanchions spaced apart from one another for respective support thereatop of first and second end-regions of said axle situated axially outward of the spool at said first and second sides thereof to enable rotatable support of said spool between said first and second stanchions;   first and second cradles mounted respectively atop the first and second stanchions for respective receipt of said first and second end-regions of said axle to support said axle in a position rotatably seated in said first and second cradles, thereby achieving said rotatable support of the spool between said first and second stanchions; and   at an outer side of the first stanchion facing away from the second stanchion, and in a mounted position of proximate relation to the first cradle, a brake having a rotatably supported brake rotor and a brake caliper cooperatively associated therewith, of which said brake rotor is selectively couplable to the axle, when received in said first and second cradles, and when coupled to axle, and operable, under action of the brake caliper on said brake rotor, to impart a braking effect on rotation of the axle for tensioned unspooling of the cable from the reel during rotation thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The cable reel stand of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the cradles is a roller cradle comprising an adjacent pair of cradle rollers rotatable about parallel axes for rolling support of the axle of the cable reel atop said adjacent pair of cradle rollers at facing-together top quadrants thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The cable reel stand of  claim 2  wherein said roller cradle comprises a pair of angled axle guides sloping downwardly toward one another. 
     
     
         4 . The cable reel stand of  claim 2  wherein both of said cradles are roller cradles. 
     
     
         5 . The cable reel stand of  claim 1  wherein each cradle is equipped with an openable/closeable hold-down movable between an open position permitting loading of the axle onto the cradle, and a closed position capturing the axle once loaded onto the cradle, and lockable in said closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The cable reel stand of  claim 5  wherein said openable/closeable hold-downs comprise hold-down rollers thereon at positions overlying the axle when loaded on the cradle and captured by the hold-downs. 
     
     
         7 . The cable reel stand of  claim 5  wherein the openable/closeable hold-down of each cradle is adjustably mounted to enable fine tuning of the closed position for best conforming fit thereof with the axle in said closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The cable reel stand of  claim 1  further comprising a coupling pin, and wherein said brake rotor comprises an internal channel passing axially therethrough, through which said coupling pin is insertable into removable engagement with the axle at the first end region thereof, and said coupling pin is of non-circular outer-profile, at least at one or more engagement regions thereof that respectively engage one or both of the brake rotor and the axle at one or more non-circular inner profiles thereof in a fully inserted state of said coupling pin, whereby the non-circular outer profile of the coupling pin cooperates with the one or more non-circular inner profiles of said one or both of the brake rotor and the axle to prevent relative rotation between the coupling pin and said one or both of the brake rotor and the axle. 
     
     
         9 . The cable reel stand of  claim 8  in combination with the axle, wherein said one or both of the brake rotor and the axle comprises at least the axle. 
     
     
         10 . The cable reel stand of  claim 9  wherein the axle comprises an axle shaft, and an end-fitting installed on a first end of the axle shaft, and the non-circular inner profile of the axle at the first end region thereof is embodied by said end-fitting. 
     
     
         11 . The cable reel stand of  claim 10  wherein said end-fitting comprises an externally flanged collar comprising two external flanges and an unflanged area therebetween for supportive engagement of the unflanged area by the first cradle. 
     
     
         12 . The cable reel stand of  claim 8  wherein the second end region of the axle is characterized by absence of a flanged fitting thereon. 
     
     
         13 . The cable reel stand of  claim 8  wherein said one or both of the brake rotor and the axle comprises at least the brake rotor. 
     
     
         14 . The cable reel stand of  claim 1  wherein the brake rotor comprises a tubular brake shaft through which the internal channel axially extends, and a pair of support bearings are disposed on opposite sides of said rotor to rotatably support said tubular brake shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The cable reel stand of  claim 1  wherein the brake is adjustable in position thereon to enable optimal alignment of the brake with the cradles, and with the axle when received by said cradles. 
     
     
         16 . The cable reel stand of  claim 15  wherein said brake is adjustable in both vertical and horizontal directions to enable optimal alignment of the brake with the cradles, and with the axle when received by said cradles. 
     
     
         17 . The cable reel stand of  claim 1  in combination with the axle, wherein said first end region of the axle comprises two external flanges and an unflanged area therebetween for supportive engagement thereof by the first cradle. 
     
     
         18 . The cable reel stand of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the cradles comprises tapered rollers for rolling contact with the axle at a circumferentially V-grooved area thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The cable reel stand of  claim 1  in combination with the axle, wherein the second end region of the axle is characterized by absence of a flanged fitting thereon. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . 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:
 an axle on which said cable reel is carriable by installation of said axle through a central axial bore of said spool;   a cable reel support stand comprising:
 first and second stanchions spaced apart from one another for respective support thereon of said axle thereof to enable rotatable support of said spool between said first and second stanchions; 
 in mounted accompaniment to the first stanchion, a brake comprising a rotatably supported brake rotor and a brake caliper cooperatively associated therewith, of which said brake rotor is selectively couplable to the axle, when received and supported on first and second stanchions, and operable to impart a braking effect on rotation of the axle, when coupled to the brake rotor, under action of the brake caliper on said brake rotor, to impart a braking effect on rotation of the axle for tensioned unspooling of the cable from the reel during rotation thereof; and 
   a coupling pin for coupling the brake rotor to the axle;   wherein:   the brake comprises an internal channel passing axially through the brake rotor, through which the coupling pin is insertable;   the axle, at least at a first end thereof, has a hollow interior, at least part of which is characterized by a non-circular shape profile;   the coupling pin, at least at an engagement region thereof that resides within the hollow interior of the axle in a fully inserted state of the coupling pin, has a non-circular outer profile that cooperates with the non-circular profile of the hollow interior of the axle to prevent relative rotation between the coupling pin and the axle.   
     
     
         22 - 30 . (canceled)