JP7797571B2 - A concentrator that makes it easy to replace wires - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of cable concentrators, and in particular to cable concentrators that allow easy replacement of pull cables.

Figure 1 shows a conventional line concentrator 1. The line concentrator 1 comprises a metal support 11, a winding wheel 12, and a spring tube 13. The metal support 11 has an axial rod 111, a lift handle 112 connected to one end of the axial rod 111, and a base 113 connected to the other end of the axial rod 111. The base 113 comprises two base frames 114 and a fixed part 115. The two base frames 114 are erected at both ends of the axial rod 111, and the fixed part 115 is fixed to the end of the axial rod 111 that is not connected to the lift handle 112. However, when the two base frames 114 are connected to the axial rod 111 using the fixed part 115, an internal space 116 is formed, and a guide rod 117 is connected above the fixed part 115. The winding wheel 12 is axially mounted in the internal space 116 and includes an integral frame 121 and a sleeve 122 connected to one side of the frame 121. The frame 121 has a wire winding area 1211 corresponding to the pull cable 14. One end of the pull cable 14 is fixed within the frame 121, and the sleeve 122 is fitted onto the shaft 111, allowing the winding wheel 12 to rotate freely. One end 131 of the spring tube 13 passes through one end of the guide rod 117 and is fixed thereto. The pull cable 14 in the winding wheel 12 passes through one end 131 of the spring tube 13 and is fed or retracted from the other end 132.

At a construction site, because the ring frame 121 is one piece, it cannot be quickly removed to replace a pull cable 14 of a different type or length, and to do so, it is necessary to first pull out all of the pull cables 14 inside the ring frame 121 and then pull the desired pull cable 14 back into the ring frame 121, which makes replacement difficult and inconvenient. Therefore, to avoid the time it takes to replace the pull cables 14, operators prepare multiple concentrators 1 that are compatible with pull cables 14 of different specifications, types, and lengths, but the metal support 11 of each concentrator 1 is large and quite heavy, making them inconvenient to carry.
<Prior art documents>
<Patent Document 1> International Publication No. 2013/122682

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a cable concentrator that makes it easy to replace pull cables of different specifications, types, and lengths.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a wire concentrator that allows for easy wire replacement. The wire concentrator comprises a main frame including a foot frame, a lift handle connected to the foot frame, a horizontally fixed shaft located between the foot frame and the lift handle, and a fixed frame on one side of the fixed shaft; a winding wheel including a first half frame having a sleeve, and a second half frame assembled corresponding to the first half frame. After the first half frame is assembled to the second half frame, a wire winding area corresponding to the pull cable is provided inside the winding wheel. One end of the pull cable is fixed to the fixed shaft, and the winding wheel is fitted onto the fixed shaft using the sleeve, allowing the winding wheel to rotate freely. The system also includes a winding wheel, multiple fasteners fixed to the first and second half frames, and a spring tube with one end drilled into and fixed to the fixed frame. When the winding wheel rotates freely, the other end of the pull cable is fed out or pulled back from the other end of the spring tube. The pull cable can be easily replaced by removing or assembling these fasteners and the second half frame.

Furthermore, the first semi-ring frame comprises a first outer ring and a first inner ring, the first inner ring having a smaller diameter than the first outer ring and positioned within the first outer ring, and the first inner ring and the first outer ring are arranged on different horizontal planes, the sleeve is connected to one side of the first inner ring and protrudes toward the second semi-ring frame, and the sleeve has a bump formed on one end of the first inner ring, the bump being hollow and communicating with the first inner ring and the sleeve, the first semi-ring frame is between the sleeve and the first outer ring and has a plurality of first arc-shaped long rods connected to it, the first arc-shaped long rods being round rods, and the first arc-shaped long rods are round rods. The first arc-shaped long rod has one end fixed to one end of the sleeve and the other end fixed to the first outer ring, and the second semi-ring frame has a second outer ring and a second inner ring, the diameter of the second inner ring is smaller than the diameter of the second outer ring and is located within the second outer ring, the second inner ring and the second outer ring are arranged on different horizontal planes, and the second semi-ring frame is located between the second inner ring and the second outer ring, and a plurality of second arc-shaped long rods corresponding to the first arc-shaped long rods are connected to the second semi-ring frame, which are round rods and have one end fixed to the second inner ring and the other end fixed to the second outer ring.

Furthermore, the first half ring frame further includes a first fixing sleeve fixed to one of the first arc-shaped long rods and fixing one end of the pull cable.

Furthermore, the second half ring frame further includes a second fixing sleeve and a plurality of fasteners, the second fixing sleeve being fixed to the second outer ring, thereby fixing the other end of the pull cable when not in use, and the fasteners being fixed to the second outer ring.

Furthermore, each of these locking devices includes a plurality of fitting portions and a guide portion, which are spaced apart on the outer surface of the locking device, and each of these fitting portions has a fitting groove and a clamper located inside the outer end of the fitting portion and protruding from the fitting groove, thereby allowing one of the first arc-shaped long rods and one of the second arc-shaped long rods to be fitted into one of the fitting portions, and the guide portions are located on the inner surface of the locking device and each have an arc portion and two diagonal portions extending from each of the arc portions to both ends of the locking device.

Furthermore, these locking devices are arranged in different directions so as to lock one of the first arc-shaped long rods and one of the second arc-shaped long rods.

Furthermore, these fasteners are made from plastic material.

Furthermore, the foot frame includes two support rods that are inclined outward and spaced apart, and a cross rod connected between the bottoms of the two support rods, wherein the fixed shaft includes an axle tube, a threaded hole between the foot frame and the lift handle that connects one end of the axle tube, and a rotation restriction member that connects to the other end of the axle tube relative to the threaded hole, and the axle tube has a first external thread that connects to the threaded hole and a second external thread that connects to the internal thread of the rotation restriction member.

Furthermore, the fixed shaft further includes two locking devices, each of which has an internal thread that is joined to correspond to the second external thread of the shaft tube. One end of the fixed frame is hooked and fixed between the two locking devices of the second external thread of the shaft tube, and the other end of the fixed frame is provided with an annular protrusion that is obliquely arranged and has a through hole.

Furthermore, the annular protrusion further includes a first retainer ring and a second retainer ring assembled to the first retainer ring, the first retainer ring being hollow and having one end inserted into the through-hole and assembled to the second retainer ring.

The present invention configured as described above has the following features compared to conventional devices.
In the present invention, the winding wheel is fitted onto the fixed shaft using a sleeve, allowing the winding wheel to rotate freely, thereby allowing the other end of the pull cable to be fed out or pulled back from the other end of the spring tube. The winding wheel also uses these locking devices to engage or separate the second half frame and the first half frame, making it easy to replace pull cables of different specifications, types, and lengths, and highly convenient to carry.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional line concentrator. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the concentrator of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a combination of a concentrator and a spring tube of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the concentrator of FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first arc-shaped long rod being locked by the locking device of FIG. 4. FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective schematic diagram of the replacement of the pull cable in the concentrator of FIG.

The technical contents of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
Referring to Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, the present invention provides a wire concentrator 2 that is easy to replace, and includes a main frame 3, a winding wheel 4, a plurality of locking devices 5 and a spring tube 6.

The main frame 3 includes a foot frame 31, a lift handle 32 connected to the foot frame 31, a horizontally mounted fixed shaft 33 between the foot frame 31 and the lift handle 32, and a fixed frame 34 on one side of the fixed shaft 33. In actual construction, the foot frame 31 includes two support rods 311 spaced apart and inclined outward, and a cross rod 312 connected between the bottoms of the two support rods 311. The fixed shaft 33 includes a shaft tube 331, a threaded hole 332 located between the foot frame 31 and the lift handle 32 and joining one end of the shaft tube 331, and a rotation restriction member 333 joined to the other end of the shaft tube 331 relative to the threaded hole 332. Specifically, the shaft tube 331 has a first external thread 3311 joined to the threaded hole 332 and a second external thread 3312 joined to the internal thread 3331 of the rotation restriction member 333.

The fixed shaft 33 further includes two locking elements 334, each of which has an internal thread 3341 that corresponds to and is joined to the second external thread 3312 of the shaft tube 331. One end of the fixed frame 34 is hooked between the two locking elements 334 of the second external thread 3312 of the shaft tube 331 and fixed, and the other end of the fixed frame 34 has an annular protrusion 341 that is angled and has a through hole 342.

The annular protrusion 341 further includes a first retainer ring 343 and a second retainer ring 344 assembled to the first retainer ring 343. The first retainer ring 343 is hollow, and one end thereof is inserted into the through-hole 342 and assembled to the second retainer ring 344, thereby allowing one end 61 of the spring tube 6 to be inserted from the first retainer ring 343 into the annular protrusion 341.

The winding wheel 4 includes a first semi-ring frame 41 having a sleeve 411 and a second semi-ring frame 42 assembled to correspond to the first semi-ring frame 41. The interior of the first semi-ring frame 41 assembled to the second semi-ring frame 42 defines a wire winding area 43 corresponding to the pull cable 7. In this embodiment, the winding wheel 4 is fitted onto the fixed shaft 33 using the sleeve 411, allowing the winding wheel 4 to rotate freely. The winding wheel 4 utilizes a rotation restricting portion 333 to prevent the winding wheel 4 from slipping off the second external thread 3312 when rotating freely. The first semi-ring frame 41 includes a first outer ring 412 and a first inner ring 413. The first inner ring 413 has a smaller diameter than the first outer ring 412 and is positioned within the first outer ring 412. The first inner ring 413 and the first outer ring 412 are arranged on different horizontal planes. The sleeve 411 is connected to one side of the first inner ring 413 and protrudes toward the second half ring frame 42. A bump 4111 is formed on one end of the sleeve 411 and on the first inner ring 413, and the bump 4111 communicates with the first inner ring 413 and the sleeve 411 via a hollow space.

Furthermore, the first semi-ring frame 41 has a plurality of first arc-shaped long rods 414 positioned between the sleeve 411 and the first outer ring 412. These first arc-shaped long rods 414 are round bars, and one end of each of these first arc-shaped long rods 414 is fixed to one end of the sleeve 411 and the other end is fixed to the first outer ring 412. These first arc-shaped long rods 414 are used to support the first semi-ring frame 41. The first semi-ring frame 41 further includes a first fixing sleeve 415 fixed to one of the first arc-shaped long rods 414, which secures one end 71 of the pull cable 7 to prevent it from slipping out.

The second semi-ring frame 42 comprises a second outer ring 421 and a second inner ring 422. The second inner ring 422 has a smaller diameter than the second outer ring 421 and is located within the second outer ring 421. The second inner ring 422 and the second outer ring 421 are arranged on different horizontal planes. The second semi-ring frame 42 is located between the second inner ring 422 and the second outer ring 421 and is connected to a plurality of second arc-shaped long rods 423 corresponding to these first arc-shaped long rods 414. These second arc-shaped long rods 423 are round bars, and one end of these second arc-shaped long rods 423 is fixed to the second inner ring 422 and the other end is fixed to the second outer ring 421. The second semi-ring frame 42 is supported using these second arc-shaped long rods 423. The second half ring frame 42 further includes a second fixing sleeve 424 and a plurality of fasteners 425. The second fixing sleeve 424 is fixed to the second outer ring 421, thereby securing the other end 72 of the pull cable 7 when not in use. These fasteners 425 are each fixed to the second outer ring 421, thereby improving stability after the first half ring frame 41 is assembled to the second half ring frame 42. These fasteners 425 may be located between the second arc-shaped long rods 423, and the shape and number of these fasteners 425 may be changed as desired.

These locking devices 5 are made of plastic and have a shape that corresponds to the shape of the first arc-shaped long rods 414 assembled to the second arc-shaped long rods 423. One of the locking devices 5 will be described below. The locking device 5 includes multiple engaging portions 51 and a guide portion 52. The engaging portions 51 are spaced apart on the outer surface of the locking device 5, and each engaging portion 51 has an engaging groove 511 and a clamper 512 located inside the outer end of the engaging portion 51 and protruding from the engaging groove 511. One of the first arc-shaped long rods 414 and one of the second arc-shaped long rods 423 are locked to one of the engaging portions 51 by the clamper 512. The guide portion 52 is located on the inner surface of the fastener 5 facing the second outer ring 421. The guide portion 52 has an arc portion 521 and two diagonal portions 522 that extend from the arc portion 521 to both ends of the fastener 5. The pull cables 7 in the wire winding region 43 are introduced and positioned in the fastener 5 using the two diagonal portions 522. In one embodiment, the fasteners 5 are oriented in different directions to engage one of the first arc-shaped long rods 414 and one of the second arc-shaped long rods 423, thereby providing more stable engagement between the first and second half ring frames 41 and 42.

Referring also to Figures 2 to 5, in this embodiment, one end 71 of the pull cable 7 is fixed to the first fixed sleeve 415 and stored in the wire winding area 43, one end 61 of the spring tube 6 is obliquely inserted into the wire winding area 43 through the through hole 342, and the other end 72 of the pull cable 7 is inserted through one end 61 of the spring tube 6 and led out from the other end 62. During operation, the operator holds the other end 62 of the spring tube 6 with one hand and the other end 72 of the pull cable 7 with the other hand to retract or unwind. The take-up wheel 4 is fitted onto the fixed shaft 33 using the sleeve 411, allowing the take-up wheel 4 to rotate freely, thereby allowing the other end 72 of the pull cable 7 to be unwind or retracted from the other end 62 of the spring tube 6.

Also referring to Figure 6, when an operator replaces the pull cable 7 at a construction site, they first disassemble the fastening devices 5, separate and remove the second half ring frame 42, replace the pull cable 7 with a pull cable 7a of a different specification, type, and length, and then reassemble the second half ring frame 42 to the first half ring frame 41, using the fastening devices 5 to engage the first arc-shaped long rod 414 and the second arc-shaped long rod 423, respectively. The concentrator of the present invention makes it easy to replace pull cables and is highly convenient to carry.

Conventional configuration:
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wire concentrator 11 Metal support 111 Shaft rod 112 Lift handle 113 Base 114 Base frame 115 Fixing part 116 Internal space 117 Guide rod 12 Winding wheel 121 Wheel frame 1211 Wire winding area 122 Sleeve 13 Spring tube 131 One end 132 Other end 14 Pull cable The present invention:
2 Wire concentrator 3 Main frame 31 Foot frame 311 Support rod 312 Cross rod 32 Lift handle 33 Fixed shaft 331 Shaft tube 3311 First external thread 3312 Second external thread 332 Threaded hole 333 Rotation restricting portion 3331 Internal thread 334 Locking device 3341 Internal thread 34 Fixed frame 341 Annular protrusion 342 Insertion hole 343 First retainer ring 344 Second retainer ring 4 Winding wheel 41 First half ring frame 411 Sleeve 4111 Bump 412 First outer ring 413 First inner ring 414 First arc-shaped long rod 415 First fixed sleeve 42 Second half ring frame 421 Second outer ring 422 Second inner ring 423 Second arc-shaped long rod 424 Second fixing sleeve 425 Fastener 43 Wire winding area 5 Locking device 51 Fitting portion 511 Fitting groove 512 Clamper 52 Guide portion 521 Arc portion 522 Diagonal portion 6 Spring tube 61 One end 62 Other end 7, 7a Pull cable 71 One end 72 Other end

Claims (10)

A concentrator that allows for easy line replacement,
a main frame including a foot frame, a lift handle connected to the foot frame, a horizontally fixed shaft between the foot frame and the lift handle, and a fixed frame on one side of the fixed shaft;
a winding wheel including a first half frame having a sleeve and a second half frame assembled corresponding to the first half frame, wherein a wire winding area corresponding to a pull cable is provided inside the first half frame after the first half frame is assembled to the second half frame, and one end of the pull cable is fixed within the winding wheel, the sleeve is fitted onto the fixed shaft, and the winding wheel is freely rotatable relative to the main frame ;
a plurality of fasteners fixed to the first half ring frame and the second half ring frame, respectively;
a spring tube having one end drilled and fixed to the fixed frame;
The spring tube is installed so that the other end of the pull cable is fed out or pulled back from the other end of the spring tube when the winding wheel rotates freely. The first semi-ring frame includes a first outer ring and a first inner ring, the first inner ring having a smaller diameter than the first outer ring and positioned within the first outer ring, and the first inner ring and the first outer ring are arranged on different planes perpendicular to the axial direction of the fixed shaft to form a part of the wire winding area , the sleeve is connected to one side of the first inner ring and protrudes toward the second semi-ring frame, and the sleeve has a bump formed on one end of the first inner ring, the bump communicates with the hollows of the first inner ring and the sleeve, and the first semi-ring frame further includes a plurality of first arc-shaped long rods between the sleeve and the first outer ring, each of the plurality of first arc-shaped long rods being a round bar, and one end of each of the plurality of first arc-shaped long rods being connected to the sleeve. 2. The wire concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the second half ring frame has one end fixed to the first outer ring and the other end fixed to the first half ring frame; the second half ring frame has a second outer ring and a second inner ring, the diameter of the second inner ring being smaller than the diameter of the second outer ring and being located within the second outer ring, the second inner ring and the second outer ring being arranged on different planes perpendicular to the axial direction of the fixed shaft to form a part of the wire winding area ; the second half ring frame further has a plurality of second arc-shaped long rods located between the second inner ring and the second outer ring and corresponding to the plurality of first arc-shaped long rods, each of the plurality of second arc-shaped long rods being a round bar, and each of the plurality of second arc-shaped long rods has one end fixed to the second inner ring and the other end fixed to the second outer ring. A cable concentrator that facilitates cable replacement, as described in claim 2, characterized in that the first half ring frame is fixed to one of the first arc-shaped long rods and further includes a first fixing sleeve that fixes one end of the pull cable. 3. The cable concentrator according to claim 2, wherein the second half ring frame further comprises a second fixing sleeve and a plurality of fasteners, the second fixing sleeve being fixed to the second outer ring, and the other end of the pull cable being fixed when not in use, and the plurality of fasteners being respectively fixed to the second outer ring. 3. The cable concentrator according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of locking devices includes a plurality of fitting portions and a guide portion, the plurality of fitting portions being spaced apart on the outer surfaces of the plurality of locking devices, the plurality of fitting portions each having a fitting groove and a clamper protruding from the fitting groove, one of the plurality of first arc-shaped long rods and one of the plurality of second arc - shaped long rods being fitted into the fitting groove of one of the plurality of fitting portions and locked by the clamper , and the guide portion is located on the inner surface of the plurality of locking devices, each having an arc portion and two oblique portions extending from each of the arc portions to both ends of the plurality of locking devices. The cable concentrator that facilitates cable replacement according to claim 5, characterized in that the plurality of locking devices are respectively arranged in different directions so as to lock one of the plurality of first arc-shaped long rods and one of the plurality of second arc-shaped long rods. 7. The cable concentrator according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of fasteners are made of a plastic material. 2. The wire concentrator that facilitates wire replacement according to claim 1, characterized in that the foot frame comprises two support rods that are spaced apart and extend in a direction away from the lift handle , and a cross rod connected between the bottoms of the two support rods , a threaded hole is provided between the foot frame and the lift handle , the fixed shaft includes an axial tube and a rotation restricting part joined to the other end of the axial tube relative to the threaded hole, and the axial tube has a first external thread joined to the threaded hole and a second external thread joined to the internal thread of the rotation restricting part. The fixed shaft further includes two locking devices, each of which has an internal thread that corresponds to the second external thread of the shaft tube and is joined together. One end of the fixed frame is hooked and fixed between the two locking devices of the second external thread of the shaft tube. The other end of the fixed frame has an annular protrusion that is obliquely arranged and has a through hole. This is a wire concentrator that facilitates wire replacement as described in claim 8. A wire concentrator that facilitates wire replacement, as described in claim 9, characterized in that the annular protrusion further includes a first retainer ring and a second retainer ring assembled to the first retainer ring, the first retainer ring being hollow and having one end inserted into the through-hole and assembled to the second retainer ring.