Spiral-welded tarping spools for automatic tarping machine

Abstract

A rotating portion, mandrel, or spool for use with an automatic tarping equipment attachment is provided. The rotating portion, mandrel, or spool can including a central portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion. The central portion can be constructed to enhance cylindrical dimensional conformity to aid in prevention of bunching or uneven weight distribution during rolling or unrolling of a tarpaulin therefrom, and the first end portion and the second end portion can be used to reinforce end portions of the central portion.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A spool configured for use in a tarpaulin application attachment, the spool comprising:
 a first end, an opposite second end, a central portion extending between the first end and the second end, a first hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the first end, a second hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the second end,   the central portion being substantially cylindrical, the first hollow portion including a first inner diameter, and the second hollow portion including a second inner diameter;   a first end portion including a first insert portion and a first shoulder portion attached to the first insert portion, the first insert portion being cylindrical and including a first outer diameter sized smaller than the first inner diameter and to have a tight fit within the first hollow portion;   a second end portion including a second insert portion and a second shoulder portion attached to the second insert portion, the second insert portion being cylindrical and including a second outer diameter sized smaller than the second inner diameter to a have a tight fit within the second hollow portion;   wherein the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion, and after the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion, the first shoulder portion abuts the first end of the central portion;   wherein the second insertion portion is received in the second hollow portion, and after the second insert portion is received in the second hollow portion, the second shoulder portion abuts the second end of the central portion;   wherein the first insert portion is attached to the central portion via a first fillet weld between the first end of the central portion and the first shoulder portion, and a first plug weld between the first insert portion and the central portion; and   wherein the second insert portion is attached to the central portion via a second fillet weld between the second end of the central portion and the second shoulder portion, and a second plug weld between the second insert portion and the central portion.   
     
     
         2 . The spool according to  claim 1 , wherein the first insert portion is attached to the first shoulder portion via a third fillet weld therebetween around an exterior portion of the first insert portion, and the second insert portion is attached to the second shoulder portion via a fourth fillet weld therebetween around an exterior portion of the second insert portion. 
     
     
         3 . The spool according to  claim 2 , wherein the first insert portion is hollow, and the first insert portion is further attached to the first shoulder portion via a fifth fillet weld therebetween around an interior portion of the first insert portion, and the second insert portion is hollow, and the second insert portion is further attached to the second shoulder portion via a sixth fillet weld therebetween around an interior portion of the second insert portion. 
     
     
         4 . The spool according to  claim 1 , wherein the central portion is formed from a spiral wound cylindrical section of metallic tubing made of one of steel and aluminum. 
     
     
         5 . The spool according to  claim 1 , wherein the central portion includes a first end portion reinforced by the first insert portion inserted in the first hollow portion, and a second end portion reinforced by the second insert portion inserted in the second hollow portion. 
     
     
         6 . The spool according to  claim 5 , wherein reinforcement of the first end portion and the second end portion of the central portion is configured to accommodate weight of chains provided along first and second lateral sides of a tarpaulin wound around the central portion. 
     
     
         7 . The spool according to  claim 1  and in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment,
 the spool further comprising a first spindle portion attached to the first shoulder portion opposite from the first insert portion, and a second spindle portion attached to the second shoulder portion opposite from the second insert portion; and 
 the tarpaulin application attachment comprising a first capture portion for receiving the first spindle portion and a second capture portion for receiving the second spindle portion; 
 wherein the first spindle portion is rotatably attached to the first capture portion of the tarpaulin application attachment, and the second spindle portion is rotatably attached to the second capture portion of the tarpaulin application attachment. 
 
     
     
         8 . The spool according to  claim 7  and in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment, wherein the tarpaulin application attachment is configured to rotate the spool to facilitate unrolling and rolling a tarpaulin attached to the spool. 
     
     
         9 . The spool according to  claim 8  in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment, wherein rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion in a first rotational direction by the tarpaulin application attachment serves in unrolling the tarpaulin from the central portion, and rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion in a second rotational direction by the tarpaulin application attachment serves in rolling the tarpaulin onto the central portion. 
     
     
         10 . A spool configured for use in a tarpaulin application attachment, the spool comprising:
 a first end, an opposite second end, a central portion extending between the first end and the second end, a first hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the first end, a second hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the second end,   the central portion being substantially cylindrical, the first hollow portion including a first inner diameter, and the second hollow portion including a second inner diameter;   a first end portion including a first insert portion and a first shoulder portion attached to the first insert portion, the first insert portion being cylindrical and including a first outer diameter sized smaller than the first inner diameter and to have a tight fit within the first hollow portion;   a second end portion including a second insert portion and a second shoulder portion attached to the second insert portion, the second insert portion being cylindrical and including a second outer diameter sized smaller than second inner diameter and to a have a tight fit within the second hollow portion;   wherein the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion;   wherein the second insertion portion is received in the second hollow portion;   wherein the first insert portion is attached to the central portion via a first fillet weld between the first end of the central portion and the first shoulder portion, and a first plug weld between the first insert portion and the central portion;   wherein the second insert portion is attached to the central portion via a second fillet weld between the second end of the central portion and the second shoulder portion, and a second plug weld between the second insert portion and the central portion; and   wherein the central portion includes a first end portion reinforced by the first insert portion inserted in the first hollow portion, and a second end portion reinforced by the second insert portion inserted in the second hollow portion.   
     
     
         11 . The spool according to  claim 10 , wherein the first insert portion is attached to the first shoulder portion via a third fillet weld therebetween around an exterior portion of the first insert portion, and the second insert portion is attached to the second shoulder portion via a fourth fillet weld therebetween around an exterior portion of the second insert portion. 
     
     
         12 . The spool according to  claim 11 , wherein the first insert portion is hollow, and the first insert portion is further attached to the first shoulder portion via a fifth fillet weld therebetween around an interior portion of the first insert portion, and the second insert portion is hollow, and the second insert portion is further attached to the second shoulder portion via a sixth fillet weld therebetween around an interior portion of the second insert portion. 
     
     
         13 . The spool according to  claim 10 , wherein the central portion is formed from a spiral wound cylindrical section of metallic tubing made of one of steel and aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The spool according to  claim 10 , wherein reinforcement of the first end portion and the second end portion of the central portion is configured to accommodate weight of chains provided along first and second lateral sides of a tarpaulin wound around the central portion. 
     
     
         15 . The spool according to  claim 10  and in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment,
 the spool further comprising a first spindle portion attached to the first shoulder portion opposite from the first insert portion, and a second spindle portion attached to the second shoulder portion opposite from the second insert portion; and 
 the tarpaulin application attachment comprising a first capture portion for receiving the first spindle portion and a second capture portion for receiving the second spindle portion; 
 wherein the first spindle portion is rotatably attached to the first capture portion of the tarpaulin application attachment, and the second spindle portion is rotatably attached to the second capture portion of the tarpaulin application attachment. 
 
     
     
         16 . The spool according to  claim 15  in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment, wherein rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion by the tarpaulin in a first rotational direction by the tarpaulin application attachment serves in unrolling the tarpaulin from the central portion, and rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion by the tarpaulin in a second rotational direction by the tarpaulin application attachment serves in rolling the tarpaulin onto the central portion. 
     
     
         17 . A spool configured for use in a tarpaulin application attachment, the spool comprising:
 a first end, an opposite second end, a central portion extending between the first end and the second end, a first hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the first end, a second hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the second end,   the central portion being substantially cylindrical, the first hollow portion including a first inner diameter, and the second hollow portion including a second inner diameter;   a first end portion including a first insert portion and a first shoulder portion attached to the first insert portion, the first insert portion being cylindrical and including a first outer diameter sized to have a tight fit and interface with the central portion within the first hollow portion;   a second end portion including a second insert portion and a second shoulder portion attached to the second insert portion, the second insert portion being cylindrical and including a second outer diameter sized to a have a tight fit and interface with the central portion within the second hollow portion;   wherein the central portion is formed from a spiral wound cylindrical section of metallic tubing made of one of steel and aluminum;   wherein the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion, and after the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion, the first shoulder portion abuts the first end of the central portion;   wherein the second insertion portion is received in the second hollow portion, and after the second insert portion is received in the second hollow portion, the second shoulder portion abuts the second end of the central portion;   wherein, to reinforce a first end portion of the central portion, the first insert portion is attached to the central portion via a first fillet weld between the first end of the central portion and the first shoulder portion, and a first plug weld between the first insert portion and the central portion; and   wherein, to reinforce a second end portion of the central portion, the second insert portion is attached to the central portion via a second fillet weld between the second end of the central portion and the second shoulder portion, and a second plug weld between the second insert portion and the central portion.   
     
     
         18 . The spool according to  claim 17  and in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment,
 the spool further comprising a first spindle portion attached to the first shoulder portion opposite from the first insert portion, and a second spindle portion attached to the second shoulder portion opposite from the second insert portion; and 
 the tarpaulin application attachment comprising a first capture portion for receiving the first spindle portion and a second capture portion for receiving the second spindle portion; 
 wherein the first spindle portion is rotatably attached to the first capture portion of the tarpaulin application attachment, and the second spindle portion is rotatably attached to a second capture portion of the tarpaulin application attachment. 
 
     
     
         19 . The spool according to  claim 18  and in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment, wherein the tarpaulin application attachment is configured to rotate the spool to facilitate unrolling and rolling a tarpaulin attached to the spool. 
     
     
         20 . The spool according to  claim 19  in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment, wherein rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion in a first rotational direction by the tarpaulin application attachment serves in unrolling the tarpaulin from the central portion, and rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion in a second rotational direction by the tarpaulin application attachment serves in rolling the tarpaulin onto the central portion.