Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – With particular drive
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-16
2001-10-09
Rivera, William A. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
With particular drive
C242S391000, C242S391300, C242S397000, C242S399100, C242S919000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299094
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to machines for laying down and taking up ground covers using reels and particularly to a machine that lays down a ground cover on a road, secures the cover to the road, and takes up the cover for reuse.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous machines have been described which use reel mechanisms to lay down covers on the ground and take them up. Some of these have been for covering baseball fields, football fields, new-laid concrete, winter recreation surfaces, and land fills. Some machines have been described for laying down or taking up plastic piping or grass turf. In those machines, the cover reels cannot raise or lower the cover reel, do not operate with the cover reel on the ground, or do not have a means of pressing the cover reel on the ground. In addition, they may have no means to secure the cover on the ground. Some of these machines may have a high degree of mechanical complexity or require a built-in prime mover.
There exists a need for a practical cover reel assembly that can apply and fasten a cover to a road construction site quickly to protect it from weather and other environmental conditions, and retrieve the cover for reuse. The cover needs to be aligned accurately on the road by uniformly pressing the cover onto the road as the cover is unwound from a reel. The present invention provides a novel, practical means for meeting these needs.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for laying down or retrieving a ground cover. The apparatus is useful for laying a cover over a road or highway to protect the road or highway from weather and other exposure. It is also useful for protecting road construction sites, road preparation sites, and excavation sites, and road beds prior to laying asphalt or concrete. The cover can then be retrieved by the apparatus when there is no longer a need to cover the road or highway. In one embodiment, the invention has a first frame which can be attached to a prime mover such as a forklift or tractor. The first frame has pivotal support arms which are attached to a second frame and a cover reel. Hydraulic means are also connected between the first frame and pivot support arms to raise and lower the cover reel and second frame. Alternatively, the hydraulic means are positioned between the prime mover and first frame. Cable reels with a motor/transmission assembly are located on the first frame. A third frame is attached to the second frame and contains a brush and guide mechanism for the cover.
The cover on the reel can be lowered to the ground and laid onto the road by the action of the prime mover pushing the cover reel forward, freely unwinding the cover. The cables will unwind freely from behind the unit and serve to hold the cover in a fixed position on the ground. A downward pressing force can be applied to the cover reel by the action of the hydraulic means to facilitate unwinding and alignment of the cover on the ground. The cover can be rewound and taken up through the brush/guide mechanism and onto the cover reel by a reverse process. The cover is passed through the brush/guide mechanism and attached to the cover reel. The cover reel is then pushed forward by the prime mover, winding up the cover as the cover reel rotates. Simultaneously, the cables are rewound on the cable reels by action of the cable reel motor/transmission assembly. In both procedures of laying down or taking up the cover, downward pressing force can be applied to the cover reel by the hydraulic means to facilitate winding, unwinding, and alignment of the cover on the ground or on the cover reel.
In an alternative embodiment, the invention has a first frame which can be attached to a prime mover. A second frame is attached rotatably to the first frame and a third frame is attached rotatably to the second frame. Hydraulic means are connected between the first and second frames to raise and lower the second frame. The second frame contains a cover reel with a cover which is wound or unwound by a motor/transmission assembly connected to the first frame. The second frame also contains a brush/guide mechanism. The third frame contains a motor/transmission assembly which winds or unwinds cables from cable reels connected to the third frame. There is a hydraulic means between the first and third frames to raise and lower the third frame. In this embodiment, the cover is laid down by pulling the unit on the ground behind the prime mover. The cover and cables are attached to one end of the ground and unwind freely as the unit is pulled away. The cover is taken up through the brush/guide assembly by pulling the unit behind the prime mover. The cables are taken up by activating the motor/tansmision assembly. The cover can also be taken up by activating the cover reel motor/transmission assembly. In both procedures of laying down or taking up the cover, downward pressing force can be applied to the cover reel by the hydraulic means to facilitate winding, unwinding, and alignment of the cover on the ground or on the cover reel.
The downward pressing force of the present invention makes it possible to lay the cover quickly and accurately.
One object of the present invention is to provide a cover reel assembly that can apply and fasten a cover to the ground at a rate not less than 1,000 feet per minute.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover reel assembly that can take up a cover and fastening means from the ground at a rate not less than 1,000 feet per minute.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a cover reel assembly that employs a cover reel on the ground and that can apply a downward pressing force on the reel to facilitate winding, unwinding and alignment of the cover on the ground or on the cover reel.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a cover reel assembly that can lay down the cover and fastening means by pushing the cover reel.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a cover reel assembly that can lay down and take up the cover and fastening means by pulling the cover reel.
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Caprio Frank M.
James, Jr. Forrest Hood
Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C.
Rivera William A.
Walsh Gerald M.
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