Cable Drive Unit

Abstract

A cable drive unit (1) for use with a free stall cleaning system (101). The cable drive unit (1) includes a base frame (3), a support frame (5) being displaceable with respect to the base frame (3) via a corresponding displacement assembly (7), and a drum (9) pivotably mountable about the support frame (5) and displaceable therewith for receiving a cable (11) to be wound about said drum (9). Also described is a kit for assembling a cable drive unit (1) and a free stall cleaning system (101). Also described is a method of winding a cable (11) of a free stall cleaning system (101) about a drum (9) via the present cable drive unit (1).

1 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) for use with a free stall cleaning system ( 101 ), the cable drive unit ( 1 ) comprising:
 a base frame ( 3 );   a support frame ( 5 ) being displaceable with respect to the base frame ( 3 ) via a corresponding displacement assembly ( 7 ); and   a drum ( 9 ) pivotably mountable about the support frame ( 5 ) and displaceable therewith for receiving a cable ( 11 ) to be wound about said drum ( 9 ).   
     
     
         2 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the cable drive unit ( 1 ) comprises:
 a transmission assembly ( 13 ) operatively connectable between a shaft ( 15 ) of the drum ( 9 ) and the displacement assembly ( 7 ), the transmission assembly ( 13 ) being configured for laterally displacing the support frame ( 5 ) and corresponding drum ( 9 ) with respect to the base frame ( 3 ) by a certain lateral displacement for every rotational displacement of the drum ( 9 ).   
     
     
         3 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein displacement of the support frame ( 5 ) with respect to the base frame ( 3 ) is done in a progressive manner;
 wherein displacement of the support frame ( 5 ) with respect to the base frame ( 3 ) is done incrementally;   wherein displacement of the support frame ( 5 ) with respect to the base frame ( 3 ) is synchronized with a rotational displacement of the drum ( 9 ); and   wherein displacement of the support frame ( 5 ) with respect to the base frame ( 3 ) is synchronized with a rotational displacement of the drum ( 9 ) via a corresponding transmission ratio or step of the transmission assembly ( 13 ).   
     
     
         4 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the transmission assembly ( 13 ) comprises a worm gear ( 17 ) pivotally mountable about the support frame ( 5 ) within a given span, said worm gear ( 17 ) being threadedly engageable within a fixed component ( 19 ) of the base frame ( 3 ) so that a rotation of the worm gear in turn drives a lateral displacement of the support frame ( 5 ) with respect to the base frame ( 3 ). 
     
     
         5 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the transmission assembly ( 13 ) comprises a chain ( 21 ) operatively linking the drum ( 9 ) to the worm gear ( 17 );
 wherein a portion of the shaft ( 15 ) of the drum ( 9 ) is provided with a first gear ( 23 ), and wherein a portion of the worm gear ( 17 ) is provided with a second gear ( 25 ), the chain ( 21 ) being mounted onto said first and second gears ( 25 ) of the transmission assembly ( 13 ), a given gear ratio being established between said first and second gears ( 25 );   wherein the transmission assembly ( 13 ) comprises a chain tensioner ( 27 ) for ensuring a given tension within the chain ( 21 ); and   wherein the gear ratio is selected in relation to a diameter of the drum ( 9 ).   
     
     
         6 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein displacement of the support frame ( 5 ) and corresponding drum ( 9 ) is selected in relation to a diameter of the cable ( 11 ) to be wound about the drum ( 9 ). 
     
     
         7 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the drum ( 9 ) of the cable drive unit ( 1 ) is configured to rotate once for every incremental lateral displacement of the support frame ( 5 ) and corresponding drum ( 9 ), said incremental lateral displacement corresponding substantially to a diameter of the cable ( 11 ) to be wound about the drum ( 9 ); and
 wherein a spacing ranging between about 1/16 of an inch and about ⅛ of an inch is provided between cable segments wound about the drum ( 9 ).   
     
     
         8 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the base frame ( 3 ) comprises at least one rail ( 29 ) on which the support frame ( 5 ) is configured to travel. 
     
     
         9 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the support frame ( 5 ) comprises at least one wheel ( 31 ) for traveling over a corresponding rail ( 29 ) of the base frame ( 3 ). 
     
     
         10 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the base frame ( 3 ) comprises a pair of rails ( 29 ) on which the support frame ( 5 ) is configured to travel. 
     
     
         11 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the support frame ( 5 ) comprises a first pair of wheels ( 31 ) for traveling over a first corresponding rail ( 29 ) of the base frame ( 3 ), and a second pair of wheels ( 31 ) for traveling over a second corresponding rail ( 29 ) of the base frame ( 3 ). 
     
     
         12 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein each wheel ( 31 ) of the support frame ( 5 ) comprises a circumferential groove ( 33 ) positioned, shaped and sized to travel over a corresponding side edge ( 35 ) of a corresponding rail ( 29 ) of the base frame ( 3 ). 
     
     
         13 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , wherein the side edge ( 35 ) of the rail ( 29 ) is a corner bar ( 37 ) rigidly affixable onto the rail ( 29 );
 wherein the circumferential groove ( 33 ) of each wheel ( 31 ) is complementary to the shape of the rail ( 29 ) on which the wheel ( 31 ) is intended to travel;   wherein the circumferential groove ( 33 ) of each wheel ( 31 ) is complementary to the shape of the side edge ( 35 ) of the rail ( 29 ) on which the wheel ( 31 ) is intended to travel;   wherein each axis of rotation ( 39 ) of each wheel ( 31 ) of the support frame ( 5 ) is inclined inwardly towards the drum ( 9 );   wherein each rail ( 29 ) is substantially slanted with respect to the base frame ( 3 ); and   wherein the displaceable support frame ( 5 ) comprises bottom portions ( 41 ) complementary in shape to slanted rails ( 29 ) of the cable drive unit ( 1 ).   
     
     
         14 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a peripheral surface ( 43 ) of the drum ( 9 ) is smooth. 
     
     
         15 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a peripheral surface ( 43 ) of the drum ( 9 ) comprises recessed rows ( 61 ) for receiving corresponding wound segments of the cable ( 11 ) onto the drum ( 9 ). 
     
     
         16 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the drum ( 9 ) comprises at least one toothed peripheral edge ( 45 ), said toothed peripheral edge ( 45 ) being driven by a corresponding driving assembly ( 47 ). 
     
     
         17 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , wherein the driving assembly ( 47 ) is configured for driving the drum ( 9 ) along a first direction of rotation, and along a second opposite direction of rotation, so as to wind and unwind the cable ( 11 ) about the drum ( 9 ); and
 wherein the driving assembly ( 47 ) comprises a least one component selected from the group consisting of motors, gears, sprockets, reducers, chains, links and connectors.   
     
     
         18 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the cable drive unit ( 1 ) comprises a pair of opposite toothed peripheral edges ( 45 ), and thus a pair of driving assemblies ( 47 ), each one being used for driving the drum ( 9 ) along a given direction of rotation. 
     
     
         19 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the cable drive unit ( 1 ) comprises a range-limiting assembly ( 49 ) for limiting a distance of travel of the support frame ( 5 ) with respect to the base frame ( 3 );
 wherein the range-limiting assembly ( 49 ) comprises first and second plates ( 51   a,    51   b ) operatively mounted onto the displaceable support frame ( 5 ) and each being configured for contacting a given switch ( 53 ) at the end of travel, so that at said end of said travel, the corresponding plate ( 51 ) contacting the switch ( 53 ) turns off a given rotational driving direction of the driving assembly ( 47 ) and turns on another opposite given rotational driving direction, thereby urging the displaceable support frame ( 5 ) into a reciprocating back-and-forth lateral movement during operation of the cable drive unit ( 1 ); and   wherein the switch ( 53 ) is mountable onto the fixed component ( 9 ) of the base frame ( 3 ).   
     
     
         20 . A cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the cable drive unit ( 1 ) comprises at least one chain guide ( 55 );
 wherein each chain guide ( 55 ) is fixed with respect to the base frame ( 3 );   wherein each chain guide ( 55 ) is positioned under the base frame ( 3 ); and   wherein the cable drive unit ( 1 ) comprises panels ( 57 ) for covering different sections of the cable drive unit ( 1 ).   
     
     
         21 . A kit with corresponding components for assembling a cable drive unit ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 .