U.S. patent application number 13/017183 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-02 for reel for minimizing unreeled cable length.
Invention is credited to Lonnie L. FISHER.
Application Number | 20120196455 13/017183 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46577714 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120196455 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FISHER; Lonnie L. |
August 2, 2012 |
REEL FOR MINIMIZING UNREELED CABLE LENGTH
Abstract
A reel for connecting a cable to the reel and power connections
that includes a winding reel housing that has a biasing member and
a connection assembly. The assembly is received in the housing and
has an insulator with two recesses, a return barrel terminal and a
power barrel terminal. One of the insulator recesses receives a
return barrel terminal and the other insulator recess receives a
power barrel terminal. The return barrel terminal is connected to a
return contact, and the power barrel terminal is connected to a
power contact. The power contact is connected to a power output
member and the return contact is connected to a return output
member. The return barrel terminal is rotatable with the return
contact while maintaining electrical contact with the return
contact and the power barrel terminal is rotatable with the power
contact while maintaining electrical contact with the power
contact.
Inventors: |
FISHER; Lonnie L.;
(Hallstead, PA) |
Family ID: |
46577714 |
Appl. No.: |
13/017183 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/72 20130101;
H02G 11/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/13 |
International
Class: |
H01R 39/00 20060101
H01R039/00 |
Claims
1. A reel comprising: a power output member having a power contact;
a return output member having a return contact; a winding reel
housing having a biasing member; and an assembly received in said
housing, said assembly having an insulator, a return barrel
terminal, and a power barrel terminal, said insulator having
opposite first and second recesses, said first recess receiving
said return barrel terminal and said second recess receiving said
power barrel terminal, said return barrel terminal being connected
to said return contact, and said power barrel terminal being
connected to said power contact, wherein said return barrel
terminal is rotatable with respect to said return contact while
maintaining electrical contact with said return contact and said
power barrel terminal is rotatable with respect to said power
contact while maintaining electrical contact with said power
contact.
2. A reel of claim 1, wherein said housing has a first planar
member, a second planar member and a partial cylindrical member
therebetween, said first planar member has a centered circular
opening of at least a circumference to receive said return barrel
terminal and said second planar member has a centered circular
opening of at least a circumference to receive said power barrel
terminal, said circular openings being co-axial.
3. A reel of claim 2, wherein said first planar member has a
recessed area on a side opposite said partial cylindrical member,
said recessed area is formed to accept said biasing member.
4. A reel of claim 1, wherein said assembly has power and return
cable connectors, said return barrel terminal is inserted in a
first circular opening in said return cable connector, and said
power barrel terminal is inserted in a second circular opening in
said power cable connector.
5. A reel of claim 4, wherein a cable is connected to said return
cable connector and said power cable connector of said
assembly.
6. A reel of claim 5, wherein said cable has a locking connector
plug opposite said assembly for securely connecting said cable to
power receiving device.
7. A reel of claim 5, wherein said cable is pulled from the reel in
a first direction and released back to the reel in an opposite
second direction.
8. A reel of claim 1, wherein said return barrel terminal and said
output barrel terminal are radially resilient electrical sockets
having a hollow cylindrical sleeve, and said cylindrical sleeve has
a plurality of elongated contactor strips.
9. A reel of claim 1, wherein said first and second recesses of
said insulator receive said return and power barrel terminals,
respectively, in a tight fit.
10. A reel of claim 1, wherein said power output member has a power
output lug portion substantially perpendicular to said power
contact and said return output member has return output lug portion
substantially perpendicular to said return contact.
11. A reel of claim 1, wherein each of said return barrel terminal
and said power barrel terminal operates up to and including 1,000
amps.
12. A reel of claim 1, wherein said biasing member is a coil
spring.
13. A reel of claim 1, wherein said biasing member is a torsion
spring.
14. A reel comprising: a power output lug portion having a power
pin contact; a return output lug portion having a return pin
contact; a winding reel housing having a coil spring mechanism,
said housing having a center cylinder with an opening; and an
assembly received in said opening of said center cylinder for
connecting a cable to said power pin contact and said return pin
contact, said assembly having an insulator symmetrically divided
into opposite first and second recesses, said first recess being
adapted to receive at least a portion of a return barrel terminal
and said second recess being adapted to receive at least a portion
of a power barrel terminal, and said assembly having a return cable
connector and a power cable connector, said return cable connector
being configured to couple to said return barrel terminal, and said
power cable connector being configured to couple to said power
barrel terminal, said return barrel terminal being inserted into
said return cable connector circular opening and said return pin
contact being inserted into said return barrel terminal, and said
power barrel terminal being inserted into said power cable
connector circular opening, and said power pin contact being
inserted into said power barrel terminal; wherein said return pin
contact rotates with respect to said return barrel terminal while
maintaining electrical contact with said return barrel terminal and
said power pin contact rotates with respect to said power barrel
terminal while maintaining electrical contact with said power
barrel terminal.
15. A reel of claim 14, wherein said return barrel terminal and
said output barrel terminal are radially resilient electrical
sockets having a hollow cylindrical sleeve, and said cylindrical
sleeve has a plurality of elongated contactor strips.
16. A reel of claim 14, wherein said power output lug is
substantially perpendicular to a power output member, and power
return lug is perpendicular to a return output member.
17. A reel of claim 14, wherein said return barrel terminal and
said power barrel terminal operate up to and including 1,000
amps.
18. A reel of claim 14, wherein a cable is connected to said return
cable connector and said power cable connector of said
assembly.
19. A reel of claim 14 wherein said cable has a locking connector
plug at the opposite end of said cable from said assembly, said
cable is pulled from the reel in a direction and released back to
the reel in an opposite direction.
20. A reel of claim 14 wherein Each of said first and second
recesses of said insulator has a shape to accommodate barrel
terminals and hold said barrel terminals in a tight fit.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a reel for winding and
unwinding a cable. More specifically, the reel winds and unwinds
the cable when opening and closing a drawer containing a device
powered by the cable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Electronic devices require power supplied through the
attachment of power cables. Computer servers often contain
components, such as disk drives that are housed in drawers and also
require power cables. To provide access to the components housed in
computer server drawers, the drawers typically slide out to expose
the interior portions of the component for maintenance. The sliding
out process requires a power cable long enough to allow such
movement. That extra cable length presents a problem, however, when
pushing the server drawer back into the server chassis because the
cable may be damaged or may bunch up behind the component, thereby
preventing the drawer from being fully closed. To correct this
problem, some in the industry have tried articulated arms and
harnesses to manage the extra cable length. The set up required for
the use of both, however, is time consuming and difficult, and
requires a large amount of space. Therefore, a need exists for a
compact, self-winding, and easily assembled cable reel with an
extended amperage range.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Accordingly, the present invention provides a reel that
includes a winding reel housing that may have a biasing member and
an assembly for connecting a cable to the reel and power
connections. The assembly may be received in the housing and may
have an insulator with opposite first and second recesses, a return
barrel terminal and a power barrel terminal. One of the insulator
recesses receives a return barrel terminal and the other insulator
recess receives a power barrel terminal. The return barrel terminal
may be connected to a return contact, and the power barrel terminal
may be connected to a power contact. The power contact may be
connected to a power output member and the return contact may be
connected to a return output member. The return barrel terminal may
be rotatable with respect to the return contact while maintaining
electrical contact with the return contact and the power barrel
terminal may be rotatable with respect to the power contact while
maintaining electrical contact with the power contact.
[0004] The present invention also provides a reel that may include
a winding reel housing with a coil spring mechanism. The reel
housing may have a center cylinder with an opening for accepting an
assembly for connecting a power cable to the reel and power
connections. The assembly may have an insulator symmetrically
divided into opposite first and second recesses, the first recess
may be adapted to receive a portion of a return barrel terminal and
the second recess may be adapted to receive a portion of a power
barrel terminal. The assembly also may have a return cable
connector and a power cable connector. The return cable connector
may be configured with a circular opening to couple with the return
barrel terminal, and the power cable connector may be configured
with a circular opening to couple with the power barrel terminal.
The return barrel terminal may be inserted into the return cable
connector circular opening and the power barrel terminal may be
inserted into the power cable connector circular opening. The
assembled portion of the assembly may be placed inside the reel
housing cylinder, a power pin contact may be inserted into the
power barrel terminal and a return pin contact may be inserted into
the return barrel terminal. The return pin contact may rotate with
respect to the return barrel terminal while maintaining electrical
contact with the return barrel terminal and the power pin contact
may rotate with respect to the power barrel terminal while
maintaining electrical contact with the power barrel terminal. The
power pin contact may be connected to a power output lug portion
and the return pin may be connected to a return output lug
portion.
[0005] Other objects, advantages and salient features of the
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,
discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of
the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in connection with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of a reel of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a top planar view of the reel of the present
invention, showing the reel with a top cover removed;
[0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a cable connection
assembly of the reel of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the assembly
illustrated in FIG. 3;
[0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the assembly illustrated in
FIG. 3 showing the assembly with the cable connected;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the barrel
terminals placed in the insulator and the barrel terminals coupled
with cable connector of a cable;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the barrel terminals,
insulator, cable connectors and cable, shown in FIG. 6;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of barrel terminals of the
reel without the cable and cable connectors, showing the barrel
terminals placed into an insulator;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the insulator and the barrel
terminals shown in FIG. 8, showing the barrel terminals placed in
the insulator; and
[0016] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the reel showing the
reel assembled with the cable.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1-10, the present invention relates to a
reel 50 for maintaining the shortest unreeled cable 300 length
while at the same time providing a constant and reliable power
source to the component (not shown). The reel 50 also provides a
compact footprint inside a component drawer, which conserves space.
Additionally, the reel 50 provides unidirectional winding and
unwinding without a manually operated apparatus to control the
stopping and starting of the winding and unwinding, making such a
device usable in a drawer configuration where access to a control
mechanism when the drawer is closed is restricted. Also, the reel
50 solves the problem of easily attaching the power cable 300 to
the reel and power, and connecting the reel to power for service.
Further, the reel 50 provides a much higher amperage range than the
prior art.
[0018] In general, the reel 50 may include a reel housing 100; a
biasing member 150; a cable 300; an assembly 200 (FIGS. 6 and 7)
for connecting the cable 300 to a power source; electrical contacts
401 and 402 for providing power to the cable; and output members
410 and 411 with lug portions 403 and 404.
[0019] As seen in FIG. 3, the reel housing 100 may be formed by
first and second planar members 102 and 103 separated by a partial
cylindrical member 101. The first and second planar members 102 and
103 each may have a centered circular hole 105, the holes being
coaxially aligned. The first planar member 102 may have a recessed
area 104 on the side opposite the partial cylindrical member 101
for securing a biasing member 150 (shown in FIGS. 1-2). The biasing
member 150 may be in the form of a coil spring or torsion spring.
The circular hole 105 for the first planar member 102 also may have
insulation 106 around the hole to provide an insulative barrier
between the biasing member 150 and the return barrel terminal
210.
[0020] The partial cylindrical member 101 provides a protected area
for housing the assembly 200 that may be used to connect the cable
300 to a power source. The partial cylindrical member 101 also may
provide support for wrapping the cable 300 around the inside of the
reel housing 100 between the first and second planar members 102
and 103, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0021] As seen in FIG. 6, the assembly 200 for connecting the cable
300 may have an insulator 205, a return barrel terminal 210, a
power barrel terminal 211, a return cable connector 230, and a
power cable connector 231.
[0022] The insulator 205 may have a first recess 206 for receiving
a portion of the return barrel terminal 210 and a second recess 207
for receiving a portion of the power barrel terminal 211. The
insulator may be made of any nonconductive material, such as
plastic. The first recess 206 and the second recess 207 preferably
provide a tight fit for the barrel terminals 210 and 211 such that
the barrel terminals 210 and 211 do not rotate within the recesses
206 and 207, respectively. In this embodiment the insulator 205 may
be symmetrically divided into the first recess 206 and the second
recess 207 with an insulative middle portion 208 situated between
the first recess 206 and the second recess 207. The insulative
middle portion 208 also may have a portion 209 that extends beyond
the overall cylindrical shape of the insulator 205 to provide
insulation between the return cable connector 230 and the power
cable connector 231.
[0023] As seen in FIG. 3, the barrel terminals 210 and 211 of the
assembly are preferably radially resilient electrical sockets that
may have an internal hollow cylindrical sleeve 220 for receiving
contacts 401 and 402. The hollow cylindrical sleeves 220 (FIG. 8)
may be formed by adding contactor strips to the inside of the
barrel, as described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,063,
herein incorporated by reference. The contactor strips may provide
a continuous electrical connection to an inserted objected, such as
the contacts 401 and 402, while permitting the contacts 401 and 402
to rotate within the cylindrical sleeve 220. The barrel terminals
210 and 211 may operate up to and including 1,000 amps. The purpose
of the barrel terminals 210 and 211 is to provide a robust and
continuous electrical connection at the core of the assembly 200
between the cable connection 230 and 231 and the power connection
contacts 401 and 402 in a configuration that allows the reel 50 to
rotate around the contact contacts 401 and 402 in the barrel
terminals 210 and 211 without power loss. This novel concept of
implementing barrel terminals 210 and 211 in a connection assembly
200 provides a compact and high amperage cable connection solution
that may be easily assembled.
[0024] The return cable connector 230 and the power cable connector
231 provide the electrical connection point between the assembly
200 and the cable 300. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 7, return cable
connector 230 and power cable connector 231 may be substantially
"L" shaped conductive pieces made of an electrically conductive
material. The electrically conductive material is not limited to
but may be copper or aluminum. Each of the return cable connector
230 and the power cable connector 231 respectively may have a
centered circular opening 232 and 233 large enough to allow the
insertion of the respective barrel terminals 210 and 211.
[0025] As seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the end of the cable 300
opposite the assembly 200 may have a locking connector plug 305 for
connecting the cable 300 to a locking connector 310. The locking
connector 310 is attachable to the device to be powered by the
cable 300. The locking connector plug 305 locks into the locking
connector 310 by pushing the connector plug 305 into a snap-in
mechanism. Other suitable connector plugs and connectors may be
used such as nylon force fit plugs or circular connectors. The
locking connector plug 305 may be manually released by depressing
the snap-in mechanism to disengage the locking connector plug 305
from the locking connector 310. The purpose of the locking
connector plug 305 is to insure that the locking connector plug 305
will not be pulled out of the locking connector 310 when the drawer
is opened and the cable 300 is unwound from the reel housing 100,
against the constant pressure supplied by the biasing member
150.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, the assembly 200 may be
assembled by attaching the return cable connector 230 and the power
cable connector 231 to the cable 300 by a crimping process. The
insulator 205 may be inserted between the return cable connector
230 and the power cable connector 231 aligning the first recess 206
opening with the return cable connector circular opening 232 and
aligning the second recess 207 opening with the power cable
connector opening 233. The combined insulator 205 and cable 300
configuration may be inserted through the opening in the partial
cylindrical member 101 between the first planar member 102 and the
second planar member 103 aligning the return cable connector
circular opening 232 and power cable connector circular opening 233
with the centered coaxial circular openings 105. The power barrel
terminal 211 may be inserted through the opening 105 on the second
planar member 103 and through the power cable connector opening 233
into the second recess 207 of the insulator 205. The return barrel
terminal 210 then may be inserted through the opening 105 on the
first planar member 102 and through the return cable connector
opening 232 into the first recess 206 of the insulator 205. The
biasing member 150 may be added to the first planar 102 biasing
member area 104 either before or after the assembly 200 is
assembled.
[0027] As seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 10, power from power output
member 411 and return output member 410 may be provided via return
lug portion 403 and power lug portion 404 connected to return and
power contacts 401 and 402 to the assembly 200 by inserting a power
contact 402 into the hollow cylindrical sleeve 220 of the power
barrel terminal 211 and by inserting return contact 401 into the
hollow cylindrical sleeve 220 of the return barrel terminal 210
along axis 450. The power contact 401 and return contact 402 may be
in the form of a pin.
[0028] While a particular embodiment has been chosen to illustrate
the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art
that various changes and modifications can be made therein without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
* * * * *