GB2053425A - Clips for gripping elongate members, for example haulage ropes - Google Patents

Abstract

A clip for gripping a movable elongate member, for example a haulage rope (4), such that, in use, a vehicle (not shown) to which the clip is secured by a bracket (1) is hauled along by the rope (4), comprises a horizontally extending manually actuated screw arrangement (6 to 10) arranged to urge a pivot element (20) of a pivotal arrangement (22) to urge a first movable jaw (42) of a clamp (35) towards a second fixed jaw (36) of the clamp to grip the rope (4) between the movable jaw (42) and a trough-shaped member (37) carried by the fixed jaw (36). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clips for gripping elongate members, for example haulage ropes This invention relates to clips for gripping a movable elongate member, for example a haulage rope.

In particular the present invention relates to clips which in use are secured to vehicles such that when the clip grips the elongate member the vehicle is hauled along by the vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a clip which is simple to actuate, robust and which grips the elongate member with a sufficiently large force enabling relatively heavily loaded vehicles to be hauled by the elongate member without slip occurring between the engaged clip and the elongate member.

According to the present invention a clip for gripping a movable elongate member, in use the clip being attached to a vehicle such that when the clip grips the elongate member the vehicle is hauled along by the elongate member, comprises a bracket securable to the vehicle, a manually activated screw arrangement adapted to be actuated from at least one side of the vehicle, a pivotal arrangement having a pivotal element arranged to be urged in at least one direction of pivotal movement by actuation of the screw arrangement, and a clamp for engagement with the elongate member, the clamp comprising a first jaw rigid with the bracket and a second jaw movable relative to the bracket under the action of the screw arrangement acting through the pivotal arrangement and co-operable with the first jaw to grip the elongate member.

Preferably, the screw arrangement is actuatable to urge the second jaw of the clamp to release the elongate member.

Advantageously, the pivotal element is of generally triangular shape pivotally mounted to the bracket at a location adjacent to one corner and secured to the screw arrangement and to the second jaw at locations adjacent to the other two corners, respectively.

Conveniently, the location at which the screw arrangement engages the triangular element is more remote from the pivotal mounting location of the element than is the location at which the second jaw engages the element.

Preferably, the first jaw comprises a generally hook shaped member.

Preferably, the second jaw slides along a linear limb of the hook shaped member towards the hook which supports an elongate member gripping element of the first jaw.

Advantageously, the bracket provides two spaced, aligned pivotal mounting bearings, the pivotal element being mounted between the two bearings and carried on a cross pivot pin engaged in the two bearings.

Advantageously, the second jaw is forked, the limbs of the fork providing aligned pivotal mounting bearings, the pivotal element being mounted between the limbs of the fork and engaged by a pivot pin engaged in the associated aligned pivotal mounting bearings.

Preferably, the pivotal element is secured to the screw arrangement.

The present invention also provides a vehicle in combination with a clip as defined above.

By way of example only, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a clip constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view along line 11-Il of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of a detail of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an end view of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a plan of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, the clip comprises a bracket 1 having a base plate securable by bolts 2 to a deck plate 3 (only a part of which is shown in Figure 2) of a rail mounted vehicle which, in use, is hauled along by a driven elongate member for example a rope, the central elongate axis of which is indicated by reference number 4 in the drawings.

The clip also includes a manually actuated screw arrangement comprising a block 7 welded to the bracket 1 and defining a threaded bore 8 for engagement by a screwed rod 6 extending through the threaded bore 8 and a cylindrical tube 9 welded to the block. A nut 10 is fixedly secured to the end of the rod 6 remote from the block 7 by a locking pin 11 and a lock nut 12 is mounted on the rod 6 intermediate the nut 10 and a washer 14 abutting the end of the tube 9. In Figures 1 and 3 a removable box spanner 15 is shown in a position engaging the lock nut 12, the box spanner having a handle 1 6 for rotating the nut engaging portion. Each end of the handle is provided with a collar 1 8 fixedly secured to the handle by lock pin 19.

The end of the screwed rod 6 remote from the nut 10 is domed and abuts a convex portion of a generally triangularly shaped pivot element 20 of a pivot arrangement 22. The domed end of the rod 6 abuts at a location adjacent to one corner of the triangular pivot element, the rod being connected to the pivot element by a bolt 23 the head of which is accommodated in a recess 24 formed in the pivot element and the screwed shank of which is engaged in a threaded bore formed in the domed end of the rod. Thus, in use when the screwed rod 6 is rotated to move in a direction towards the pivot element the domed end of the rod abuts the convex portion of the pivot element enabling substantial forces to be transmitted frorn the rod to the pivot element.However, when the screwed rod 6 is rotated to move in a direction away from the pivot element the pivot element is retained in connection with the rod by the bolt 23.

The bolt 23 is left slack enabling the pivot element to pivot about its pivotal mounting as will be explained later in the specification.

The generally trianguiarly shaped pivot element 20 is pivotally mounted on a cross pivot pin 30 engaged in a bore formed in a location adjacent to one corner of the pivot element which is mounted between two spaced, aligned pivotal mounting bearing bushes 31 carried on two lugs 34 projecting downwardly from the deck plate of the bracket 1 , the lugs being welded to the deck plate.

The cross pivot pin 30 is retained in position carrying the pivot element 20 and bridging the two bearing bushes 31 by two split pins 32.

The clip further includes a clamp 35 comprising a first jaw member 36 of a generally hook shaped form having a linear limb welded to the deck plate of the bracket 1 and projecting downwardly towards the hook shaped portion which carries a generally trough shaped member 37 for engaging the elongate member 4. As can be seen in Figure 5 the trough shaped member 37 is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the elongate member and is supported to the hook shaped jaw member 36 by two lugs 39. In addition the hook shaped jaw member is supported from the deck plate of the bracket 1 by two lugs 40.A movable second jaw member 42 of the clamp 35 is constituted by a downwardly extending plate which is forked at its upper end with the pivot element 20 located between the two limbs of the fork, the pivot element being secured to the movable jaw member 42 by a cross pin 43 located in aligned bores in the two fork limbs and in the pivot element. The pin is retained in the engaged position by two split pins 45.

It can be seen in Figure 1 that the pivot element has a convex portion which abuts the base of the recess formed between the limbs so that, in use, when the second jaw member is being urged downwards towards the first mentioned jaw member forces are transmitted from the pivot element 20 to the jaw member 42 via the abutting surfaces and not solely through the cross pin 43.

Thus, substantial forces can be transmitted to urge the two jaws of the clamp to grip the elongate member 4.

From Figure 1 it can be seen that the convexed location of the pivot element 20 which is abutted by the domed end of the screwed rod 9 is more remote from the pivotal mounting 30,31,32 than is the convexed location abutting the second jaw member 42. Thus the pivot arrangement 22 provides a mechanical advantage effectively increasing the elongate member gripping force compared to the force derived by activation of the screw arrangement.

The lower margin of the movable second jaw member 42 is trough shaped to accommodate gripping the elongate member.

In use, the clip is secured to the vehicle by the bolts 2 as mentioned previously with the screw arrangement 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 extending horizontally towards one side of the vehicle. The screwed rod 6 is wound out of the block 7 so that the movable second jaw member 42 is remote from the first jaw member, the elongate member 4 e.g. a haulage rope running freely through the trough member of the hook shaped first jaw member.

Upon an operator wishing the vehicle to be hauled along by the elongate member 4, he locates the box spanner 1 5 on the nut 10 and rotates the handle 1 6 to screw the rod further into the block 7. Movement of the rod 6 urges the pivot element to pivot about its pivotal mounting 30, 31, 32 urging the movable second jaw member 42 to slide down the vertically extending linear limb of the hook shaped first jaw member towards the lower jaw member to close the clamp 35, the operator first making sure the lock nut 1 2 is clear of the tube 9.Upon the second jaw member being urged to grip the elongate member between the two jaws of the clamp the operator is able to exert substantial force to rotate the box spanner handle such that the elongate member is securely gripped and no slip occurs between the elongate member and the clip. As previously explained the pivot arrangement applies a mechanical advantage to effectively increase the force applied by the operator and the two pairs of abutting surfaces ensure the forces are transmitted efficiently without damaging the clip.

Once the elongate member is securely gripped the box spanner is located to rotate the lock nut 12 into the position shown in the drawings and the clamp thereby is retained in a gripping position.

Upon the vehicle reaching the end of its travel the operator releases the clip by first unscrewing the lock nut 12 and then by rotating the nut 10 and rod 6 assembly to pivot the pivot element anticlockwise as seen in Figure 1 raising the movable second jaw member 42 to release the elongate member.

From the above description it will be seen that that described embodiment of clip is relatively simple to operate, is robust and enables a substantial gripping force to be exerted tending to ensure no slip occurs when heavy vehicles are being transported.

Claims (11)

1. A clip for gripping a movable elongate member, in use the clip being attached to a vehicle such that when the clip grips the elongate member, comprising a bracket securable to the vehicle, a manually actuated screw arrangement adapted to be actuated from at least one side of the vehicle, a pivotal arrangement having a pivotal element arranged to be urged in at least one direction of pivotal movement by actuation of the screw arrangement, and a clamp for engagement with the elongate member, the clamp comprising a first jaw rigid with the bracket and a second jaw movable relative to the bracket under the action of the screw arrangement acting through the pivotal arrangement and co-operable with the first jaw to grip the elongate member.

2. A clip as claimed in claim 1, in which the screw arrangement is actuatable to urge the second jaw of the clamp to release the elongate member.

3. A clip as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the pivotal element is of generally triangular shape pivotally mounted to the bracket at a location adjacent to one corner and secured to the screw arrangement and to the second jaw at locations adjacent to the other two corners, respectively.

4. A clip as claimed in claim 3, in which the location at which the screw arrangement engages the triangular element is more remote from the pivotal mounting location of the element than is the location at which the second jaw engages the element.

5. A clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the first jaw comprises a generally hook shaped member.

6. A clip as claimed in claim 5, in which the second jaw slides along a linear limb of the hook shaped member towards the hook which supports an elongate member gripping element of the first jaw.

7. A clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the bracket provides two spaced, aligned pivotal mounting bearings, the pivotal element being mounted between the two bearings and carried on a cross pivot pin engaged in the two bearings.

8. A clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second jaw is forked, the limbs of the fork providing aligned pivotal mounting bearings, the pivotal element being mounted between the limbs of the fork and engaged by a pivot pin engaged in the associated aligned pivotal mounting bearings.

9. A clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the pivotal element is secured to the screw arrangement.

10. A clip for gripping a movable elongate member, substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A vehicle in combination with a clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.