| 摘要 |
<p>A cable reel (10) comprising a drum (14) and side flanges (16) molded of plastic is of sufficient size, strength and rigidity to carry loads in excess of 10,000 lbs. without significant distorsion or flattening. The required strength and rigidity are achieved by molding the side flanges (16) so that they tend to assume a dished configuration that is substantially flattened when the side flanges (16) are bolted to the ends of the drum (14), thereby prestressing the side flanges (16). The drum (14) includes end flanges (22) that are bent outwardly by axially-extending tie rods (30) forced between the end flanges (22) after the drum plastic is substantially completely cured, thereby tensioning the drum (14) in the axial direction. The tie rods (30) have threaded ends (32) for receiving the bolts (38) that secure the side flanges (16) to the drum (14) and serve to reinforce the final structure. During curing of each reel component while it is still in the mold, shrinkage of the component is resisted so as to increase the strength of the component. The drum (14) comprises at least two sections (18) and the reel (10) may be easily disassembled and the parts stacked for storage and shipment as a compact package. The reel components are preferably molded of recycled plastic comprising a mixture of high density and low density polyethylene derived from post-consumer plastic waste.</p> |
