AU725855B3

AU725855B3 - Cable pulling device

Info

Publication number: AU725855B3
Application number: AU63031/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Micheal Clarkin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-03
Filing date: 1999-12-03
Publication date: 2000-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2005-12-03

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: Name of Applicant: CABLE PULLING DEVICE MICHEAL CLARKIN The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:

I

2 CABLE PULLING DEVICE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cable pulling device, and particularly but not exclusively to a device in the form of a flexible strap for handling cables. The device can be applied to improve the safe handling movement of power cables in industrial applications by reducing the likelihood of damage by bending and will primarily be described with reference to this context. It should be remembered, however, that the invention has broader use in applications for moving for all manner of flexible cabling, conduit, tubes and the like where the item being moved is ordinarily sensitive to bending.

Background Art Since the advent of electrically powered mining equipment, damage to power supply cables has been a major problem. When a large machine such as a face shovel or dragline moves forward or backward, the electrical supply cable has to be pulled out of the way to allow the required movement. The cable is usually laying on the ground, sometimes for several kilometres extending from the main power supply source. The movement of heavy duty power cables in industrial applications is made difficult because of the weight of the cable necessitating the use of a prime mover. Power cabling is easily bent when dragged across ground by single point attachment means. The usual device to drag the cables is a rope sling, but these do damage in certain situations because of the small diameter of the rope used. If the cable becomes bent, this renders the cable useless as the internal materials of the cable no longer have equivalent resistance properties.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a cable handling device comprising a flexible strap which is joined to form a 35 continuous loop, and fitted with an element which connects opposing sides of the loop, wherein the flexible strap is Spec: 37173

O

3 arranged such that in use one end of the loop may be passed through the space between the element and the opposing end of the loop to form a sling and whereby the loop and the element provide support for a cable placed in the sling.

Preferably the element is a panel formed from a resilient material.

Preferably the one end has a portion of its opposing sides joined together to form a second loop (or alternatively wherein a second loop is attached at the one end), in use to provide a means of linking the sling to a moving device via a shackle, hook or other pulling attachment.

Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of one embodiment of a strap device in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows an end cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 taken on the line A-A in use positioned around a circular conduit.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

Modes for Carrying out the Invention Referring to the drawings, a cable pulling device comprising a flexible strap 10 is shown which is joined to form a continuous loop 12, and is fitted with an element in the form of panels 14, 16 and 18 which connects opposing sides 20 and 22 of the loop 12. In the present embodiment, panel 14 is sewn to side 20 and panel 16 is sewn to side 22 of the loop 12, and panel 18 itself is sewn to both panels 14 and 16, in order to give a support panel of double thickness with improved strength and resilience properties under load compared with a single layer support. In use, one end 24 of the loop 12 is passed or "reeved" through the (I X Spec: 37173 ii i i 4 space 26 (between the joined panels 14, 16 and 18 and the opposing end 28 of the loop 12) in order to form a sling where the loop 12, the sides 20 and 22 and the panels 14, 16 and 18 provide support for a cable placed in the sling, for example cable conduit In further embodiments, panels 14, 16 and 18 can also simply be a single panel which is attached to both sides and 22 of the loop 12. For either case the attachment means can also include gluing, plastic welding or stapling, for instance. The materials of construction of the panel/s and loop can comprise any suitably resilient materials which can be shaped, formed and fitted in the manner so described, such as plastic or high tenacity polyester. The material can also be luminous or brightly coloured for safety reasons.

At end 24 of loop 12, a portion of opposing sides and 22 is joined together at region 32 to form a second loop in the form of eyelet 34 in use to provide a means of linking the sling to an external moving device with a shackle, hook or other pulling attachment such as a forklift, prime mover, or crane. The method of joining the two sides 20 and 22 at region 32 can include sewing, gluing or plastic welding, for example. In further embodiments, a second loop or eyelet can be attached or affixed at-the end 24.

In use the sling can be placed tightly around the cable to provide improved cradling of the cable and even support of the area being pulled. Such apparatus distributes the pulling pressure over the total area that the device is cradling. Any shape or width of panel which allows good support for the heavy cabling is within the scope of the invention. The width of the panel required is largely dependent upon the diameter of the cable in use, but may be as long as 250mm for large power cables.

Previously it has not been appreciated that such a simple apparatus can provide improved protection for ,W Spec: 37173: 5 lengths of electrical cabling by providing an internal longitudinal support section rather than the single point grip of a rope sling. The panel/s are able to deform resiliently to compensate for some curvature in the cable being pulled while also providing sufficient support for movement to occur without the cable bending or fracturing.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a number of preferred embodiments it should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in many other forms.

In the claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the words "comprised" or "comprising". are used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Spec: 37173 Spec: 37173

Claims

1. A cable pulling device comprising a flexible strap which is joined to form a continuous loop, and fitted with an element which connects opposing sides of the loop, wherein the device is arranged such that in use one end of the loop may be passed through the space between the element and the opposing end of the loop to form a sling and whereby the loop and the element provide support for a cable placed in the sling.

2. A strap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the element is a panel formed from a resilient material.

3. A strap as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the one end has a portion of its opposing sides joined together to form a second loop or wherein a second loop is attached at the one end, in use to provide a means of linking the sling to a moving device. Dated this 24th day of June 2000 MICHEAL CLARKIN By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Spec: 37173 Spec: 37173.-"