초록 ▼

A reel handler system includes a first arm and a second arm. A first member is coupled to the first arm and a second member is coupled to the second arm. A sleeve has the members movably positioned therein. A first bracket has a first link coupled to the first arm and a second link coupled to the sl

A reel handler system includes a first arm and a second arm. A first member is coupled to the first arm and a second member is coupled to the second arm. A sleeve has the members movably positioned therein. A first bracket has a first link coupled to the first arm and a second link coupled to the sleeve. The links are pivotable relative to one another. A second bracket has a third link coupled to the second arm and a fourth link coupled to the sleeve. The third and fourth links are pivotable relative to one another. The brackets are movable to increase and decrease a distance between the arms from a first configuration in which the first and third links are spaced a first distance apart from the sleeve and a second configuration in which the first and third links are spaced a second distance apart from the sleeve.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A reel handler comprising: a first arm and a second arm;a first member coupled to the first arm and a second member coupled to the second arm;a sleeve having the members movably positioned therein;a first bracket having a first link coupled to the first member and a second link coupled to the sle

1. A reel handler comprising: a first arm and a second arm;a first member coupled to the first arm and a second member coupled to the second arm;a sleeve having the members movably positioned therein;a first bracket having a first link coupled to the first member and a second link coupled to the sleeve, the links being pivotable relative to one another; anda second bracket having a third link coupled to the second member and a fourth link coupled to the sleeve, the third and fourth links being pivotable relative to one another,wherein the brackets are movable to increase and decrease a distance between the arms from a first configuration in which the brackets each have a first length along a longitudinal axis defined by the sleeve and a second configuration in which the brackets each have a decreased second length along the longitudinal axis. 2. A reel handler as recited in claim 1, wherein the members move away from one another as the brackets move from the first configuration to the second configuration. 3. A reel handler as recited in claim 1, wherein the members move relative to the sleeve in unison as the brackets move between the first and second configurations. 4. A reel handler as recited in claim 1, wherein the arms are spaced apart from the one another a first amount when the brackets are in the first configuration and are spaced apart from one another a second amount when the brackets are in the second configuration. 5. A reel handler as recited in claim 1, further comprising hubs that are coupled to the arms and a reel, wherein the hubs are spaced apart from the reel when the brackets are in the first configuration and are positioned within the reel when the brackets are in the second configuration, the hubs being rotatable relative to the arms. 6. A reel handler as recited in claim 1, wherein the brackets each have a first height when the brackets are in the first configuration and an increased second height when the brackets are in the second configuration. 7. A system comprising: the reel handler recited in claim 5; anda vehicle having a platform,wherein the arms are movable about an axis that is parallel to the sleeve in an arc, the arms being movable when the brackets are in the second configuration from a first position in which the reel engages the platform to a second position in which the reel is positioned above the platform. 8. A reel handler as recited in claim 5, wherein the reel comprises cable that is wound about a spool. 9. A reel handler as recited in claim 1, wherein the arms are rotatable about the longitudinal axis in an arc. 10. A reel handler as recited in claim 1, further comprising hydraulic lifts that each comprise a piston therein, the pistons each being coupled to one of the arms such that the pistons move within the lifts to rotate the arms about an axis defined by the sleeve in an arc. 11. A reel handler as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first support that is rotatable relative to the first arm and a second support that is rotatable relative to the second arm, the first support being coupled to the first arm and the second support being coupled to the second arm. 12. A reel handler as recited in claim 11, further comprising motors coupled to each of the arms, the motors being configured to rotate the supports relative to the arms. 13. A reel handler as recited in claim 11, further comprising a reel, wherein the supports each include a hub and a pair of projections configured to extend into the reel to rotate the reel relative to the arms. 14. A reel handler as recited in claim 13, wherein the hubs and the projections are spaced apart from the reel when the brackets are in the first configuration and are positioned within the reel when the brackets are in the second configuration. 15. A reel handler as recited in claim 13, wherein the projections are slidably disposed in slots in the supports to move the projections of each of the supports toward and away from one another. 16. A reel handler as recited in claim 13, further comprising extensions that each extend outwardly from one of the arms, the hubs each being positioned within one of the extensions, the extensions being rotatable to the arms. 17. A reel handler as recited in claim 1, wherein the first arm is rotatably coupled to a first carriage, the second arm is rotatably coupled to a second carriage and the reel handler further comprises a sheath that connects the first carriage to the second carriage, the sheath comprising hydraulic cylinders positioned therein, the cylinders being configured to move the first carriage relative to the second carriage to move the brackets between the first and second configurations. 18. A reel handler as recited in claim 17, wherein the cylinders are double-acting cylinders configured to move carriages relative to one another in opposite first and second directions along the longitudinal axis. 19. A cable reel handler for use with vehicle having a platform for holding a reel, the cable reel handler comprising: a first arm and a second arm;a first member coupled to the first arm and a second member coupled to the second arm;a sleeve having the members movably positioned therein;a first bracket having a first link coupled to the first member and a second link coupled to the sleeve, the links being pivotable relative to one another;a second bracket having a third link coupled to the second member and a fourth link coupled to the sleeve, the third and fourth links being pivotable relative to one another; andhydraulic lifts that each comprise a piston therein, the pistons each being coupled to one of the arms such that the pistons move within the lifts to move the arms about an axis defined by the sleeve in an arc,wherein the brackets are movable to increase and decrease a distance between the arms from a first configuration in which the brackets each have a first length along a longitudinal axis defined by the sleeve and a second configuration in which the brackets each have a decreased second length along the longitudinal axis, andwherein the first arm is rotatably coupled to a first carriage, the second arm is rotatably coupled to a second carriage and the reel handler further comprises a sheath that connects the first carriage to the second carriage, the sheath comprising hydraulic cylinders positioned therein, the cylinders being configured to move the first carriage relative to the second carriage to move the brackets between the first and second configurations. 20. A cable reel system comprising: a vehicle having a platform;a reel; anda cable reel handler comprising: a first arm and a second arm,a first member coupled to the first arm and a second member coupled to the second arm,a sleeve having the members movably positioned therein,a first bracket having a first link coupled to the first member and a second link coupled to the sleeve, the links being pivotable relative to one another,a second bracket having a third link coupled to the second member and a fourth link coupled to the sleeve, the third and fourth links being pivotable relative to one another, andhydraulic lifts that each comprise a piston therein, the pistons each being coupled to one of the arms such that the pistons move within the lifts to move the arms about an axis defined by the sleeve in an arc,wherein the brackets are movable to increase and decrease a distance between the arms from a first configuration in which the brackets each have a first length along a longitudinal axis defined by the sleeve and a second configuration in which the brackets each have a decreased second length along the longitudinal axis,wherein the arms are movable about an axis that is parallel to the sleeve in an arc, the arms being movable when the brackets are in the second configuration from a first position in which the reel engages the platform to a second position in which the reel is positioned above the platform, andwherein the first arm is rotatably coupled to a first carriage, the second arm is rotatably coupled to a second carriage and the reel handler further comprises a sheath that connects the first carriage to the second carriage, the sheath comprising hydraulic cylinders positioned therein, the cylinders being configured to move the first carriage relative to the second carriage to move the brackets between the first and second configurations.