Cross-Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2008905563 filed on 29 October 2008, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Introduction to the Invention

This invention relates to the application of preformed spiral wrap protective covering to hoses and the like and in particular relates to a dedicated device to assist in the automation of the application of such wrap to a length of hose or other elongate element in need of protection by way of spiral wrap or similar protective products.

Background to the Invention

Spiral wrap is a protective coating in the form of a plastic tube which in its preformed state has been scored by way of a continuous spiral cut down the length thereof so as to allow the spiral wrap to be unwound from its tubular form and progressively applied over the length of a hose, wire or any other elongate element in such a manner that once applied the spiral wrap adopts its original tubular configuration by way of elastic memory so as to close up and revert to its original tube form and effectively provide a substantially complete covering and protection for the hose, wire or other element to which it has been applied. The spiral feature of the wrap not only assists in the application of the wrap to a hose or other elongate element but also provides a degree of flexibility once supplied so as to minimise any interference with the normal flexible functionality of the hose or element to which it is supplied.

Spiral wrap is available in a wide range of weights and materials allowing it to be applied to a broad range of situations ranging from lightweight applications to electrical wiring through to heavy-duty applications for hydraulic hoses and other situations where hosing and similar materials can be subject to harsh corrosive, abrasive and generally highly fatiguing situations. For example, in the mining industry, where hydraulic hoses are an important component of machinery used in the extraction of iron ore and other products. In the mining industry, such hydraulic hosing plays a vital part in the operation of machinery; but, is constantly subject to severe levels of abrasion where adjacent hoses are constantly chafing as the machinery is used in a dusty, dirty and sometimes corrosive environment. In addition, the hydraulic hosing used on mining machinery are subject to pinch points, which all combine to introduce a high level of maintenance to such machinery; particularly, with regard to the maintenance and repair of hydraulic hoses and the like associated with such machinery.

The mining industry, in particular, is highly dependent on the reliable and nonstop use of expensive and dedicated machinery. Accordingly, any down time involved in the repair and maintenance of damaged hydraulic hosing, introduces a high level of potential expense to the maintenance regime and it would be highly desirable if the mining industry and many other industries to be able to apply preformed spiral wrap protective covering to hydraulic hoses and similar componentary of the machinery used in those industries in an efficient and cost effective manner so as to encourage the use of such spiral wrap to provide protection for hydraulic hoses and the like.

Accordingly one object of the invention is to provide a device to assist in the application of preformed spiral wrap to hydraulic hoses and the like.

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Statement of the Invention

In a first aspect the invention provides a device for applying preformed protective spiral wrap to a hose or other elongate element in need of physical protection, said device comprising an elongate hose conduit for positioning and delivering a length of hose said conduit having a first open end for receiving said hose and a second open end for dispensing said hose, an elongate open hose cradle positioned downstream of said hose conduit with a spaced gap provided therein between; and, a spiral wrap unwinding head positioned in said gap intermediate of said hose conduit and said hose cradle where said unwinding head includes a hose guide for intercepting and positioning said hose between said hose conduit and said hose cradle, and a wrap spindle projecting away from said hose guide at a compound angle to said hose guide in a downward direction deflected away from the path of said intercepted hose wherein said spindle is adapted to receive and direct a length of preformed spiral wrap into the path of a hose fed through said device.

The hose conduit, hose cradle and wrap unwinding head are preferably positioned to maintain said hose in a relatively linear position to minimise hose whip during hose rotation.

The device may include an optional spiral wrap feed tube positioned to feed said spiral wrap onto said spindle. The spiral wrap feed tube may include an uplift output to assist in directing said spiral wrap onto said spindle. The compound angle of deflection of said spindle is about 45° offset from the linear direction of hose feed and about 55° from the vertical.

The spindle preferably terminates in a 45° chamfer.

The device of the invention may include a stand having a horizontal rail for mounting said hose conduit, hose cradle and wrap unwinding head.

In another aspect the invention provides a spiral wrap unwinding and applying head said head comprising a hose guide adapted to receive and guide a length of rotating hose or the like, fed longitudinally therethrough and a wrap spindle projecting away from said house guide at a compound angle to said hose guide in a downward direction deflecting away from said hose wherein said spindle is adapted to receive and direct a length of spiral wrap into the path of a hose fed through said head.

In another aspect the invention provides a method of applying spiral wrap to a length of hose comprising feeding a length of hose through said wrap head, rotating said hose whilst simultaneously drawing the free end of a length of spiral warp fed onto said spindle to said rotating hose until said wrap self feeds by rotation of said hose alone automatically drawing said spiral wrap onto the hose as the hose is rotated and drawn through said head.

The method preferably uses the device as previously described to assist in the control of the hose during rotation, particularly the control of hose whip.

Legend

1. Hose conduit

2. Hose

3. First open end

4. Second open end

5. Open hose cradle

6. Space

7. Wrap unwinding head 8. Hose guide

9. Wrap spindle

10. Wrap (spiral)

11. Spiral wrap feed tube

12. Up lift output

13. Chamfer

14. Stand

Figure 1 shows an overall view of the device;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the device;

Figure 3 shows a side and end view of the device;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the device;

Figure 5 shows a close-up of the head and cradle;

Figure 6 shows a hose conduit and spiral wrap feed tube;

Figure 7 shows a wrap head, conduit, cradle and wrap feed tube;

Figure 8 shows a close up of head/spindle, conduit and wrap feed tube;

Figure 9 shows an end perspective of head/spindle, conduit and wrap feed tube;

Figure 10 shows detail of spiral wrap head; and

Figure 11 shows end view of spiral wrap head.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will now be described with reference to one particularly preferred embodiment as detailed in the figures and legend.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 through to 3, the invention is depicted as a device comprising a number of separate components working together to provide a highly efficient means of applying preformed and pre-wound spiral wrap protective covering to an elongate hose or other element fed through the device. The device is in principal, a guide allowing the hose or other elongate element to be fed through the wrap unwinding head in a controlled manner allowing the hose or other elongate element to be rotated independently of the device of the invention so as to allow the preformed spiral wrap to be unwound and fed onto the rotating hose and applied thereto in a controlled and methodical manner minimising the cumbersome manual application as currently employed whilst minimising any tendency for the hose or other elongate element to whip or otherwise behave in an non-controlled manner during rotation thereof as the spiral wrap is applied. To this end, the device of the invention in one particularly preferred aspect, includes an elongate hose conduit 1 in the form of an elongate tube adapted to receive a length of hose 2 inserted in a first open end 3 and progressed forward through the second open end 4. In this manner the hose conduit allows a substantial length of hose to be rotated in a controlled manner, minimising or controlling any whip which tends to occur as hose or the like is rotated in free space.

The next component of the device is an open hose cradle 5, juxtaposed in axial alignment with the hose conduit so as to receive a length of hose once it has been progressed through the hose conduit 1. The open hose cradle 5 allows the end of the hose to be grasped either manually or by any other mechanical means so as to impose a rotation on the length of the hose throughout its whole length to facilitate the drawing on and wrapping therewith by the spiral wrap.

In order to properly control the motion and juxtaposition of the hose; immediately adjacent the point of application of the spiral wrap, the device of the invention is provided with a wrap unwinding head 7 positioned intermediate the hose conduit 1 and hose cradle 5. The wrap unwinding head includes a hollow or other form of hose guide adapted to receive the hose intermediate of its placement in a hose conduit and hose cradle in a manner ensuring complete control of the position of the rotating hose whilst allowing presentation of the preformed and pre- wound spiral wrap to the rotating hose by way of a wrap spindle projecting away from, and relative to, said hose guide, wherein the wrap spindle is projected at a compound angle to the hose guide in a downward direction deflecting away from the path of said hose. In this manner, the wrap spindle is adapted to receive the in-feed of a length of preformed spiral wrap such that once the commencing end of the spiral wrap is released and manually wound around the hose or other elongate member fed through said hose guide and said hose is rotated by way of engagement downstream from the wrap unwinding head and/or relative to said hose cradle, the continued rotation of the hose draws upon the primarily engaged spiral wrap and therein causes spiral wrap to continue automatically unwinding and feeding onto and wrapping around the rotating hose as it is methodically fed in a controlled manner so as to facilitate the wrapping action around the hose by virtue of the wrap spindle 9.

Referring now to Figures 4 through to 11, the details of the various components of the device shown in more detail, where the manner and operation of the device of the invention can be fully appreciated.

The heart of the invention lies at the wrap unwinding head which is specifically designed to juxtapose and mount both a rotating hose and the length of preformed spiral wrap to be wound around and fitted to said hose. The wrap unwinding head includes a hose guide 8 in the form of a hollow preferably cylindrical segment adapted to receive a portion of the rotating hose 2 and a wrap spindle 9 positioned relative thereto where the spindle 9 is adapted to receive the terminal portion of a length of spiral wrap so as to guide the spiral wrap to unwind and rewind onto and around a length of hose inserted through said hose guide.

The application of the spiral wrap is driven by the rotation of the hose positioned within the guide of the invention and in order to minimise whip and uncontrolled behaviour of an elongate length of hose, the device of the invention preferably includes a hose conduit 1 on the upstream side of the wrap unwinding head and a hose cradle 5 on the downstream side of said wrap unwinding head. The hose cradle 5 is configured as an open cradle in order to allow access to the terminal end of the hose for manual rotation or mechanical rotation thereof whilst still providing a level of physical support for a length of hose particularly as the spiral wrap progresses down the length of hose with the majority of the hose being wrapped and supported by the hose cradle 5.

The spiral wrap is preferably fed onto the rotating hose by way of a dedicated spiral wrap feed tube 11 which most preferably is positioned parallel to the hose conduit 1. The spiral wrap feed tube 11 may be provided with a feed tube uplift 12 in order to facilitate delivery of the spiral tube or spiral wrap 10 onto the wrap spindle 9 for subsequent delivery and application to the hose 2.

The hose can be rotated by any available means including hand rotation or most preferably driven by way of a battery operated drill allowing continuous and smooth control of the rotation of the hose whilst not introducing unnecessary mechanical or electrical elements in the operation of the device which can be detrimental in the environment of a mine or other combustible industrial environment.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.