GB2370068A

GB2370068A - Wire rope grip

Info

Publication number: GB2370068A
Application number: GB0030315A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Wells
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-12-13
Filing date: 2000-12-13
Publication date: 2002-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2020-12-13
Also published as: GB0030315D0; GB2370068B

Abstract

A wire rope grip (20, 40) for application to a wire rope (29, 49) under load comprises a generally planar body (21, 41) provided on one face (22, 42) with an arcuate jamming cleat (23, 43) having its groove (24, 44) parallel to that face, together with a pair of guide projections (25, 26 or 45, 46) from the same face as the cleat and spaced to each side of the cleat by gaps (27, 28 or 47, 48) exceeding the diameter of the wire rope (29, 49), application being effected by presenting the gap between the cleat and a first one of the guide projections to the wire rope, then rotating the body within its plane to bend the wire rope round within the groove of the cleat, and finally spring the wire rope into the gap between the cleat and the second guide projection. The opposite face of the body may be provided with a hook for supporting or engaging additional items, e.g. electric cables or water or air pipes.

Description

WIRE ROPE GRIP This invention relates to a wire rope grip and has for its object the provision of a wire rope grip having no separate or moving parts and being capable of application to a wire rope under load.

A cable clamp is described and illustrated in GB-A-2266011 comprising a generally planar body provided with a serpentine channel extending about the intended axis of the cable and a jamming cleat portion within the channel, whereby tension exerted on the cable passing therethrough jams the cable in the cleat portion. Because the channel is serpentine it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to apply this cable clamp to a wire rope under load, but a flexible cable can be inserted In released condition and retained whilst in relaxed condition, becoming securely held only upon the cable being tensioned.

In contrast, according to the present invention, a wire rope grip comprises a generally planar body provided on one face with an at least arcuate jamming cleat having its groove parallel to that face, together with a pair of guide projections from the same face as the cleat and spaced one to each side of the cleat by gaps exceeding the diameter of a wire rope with which the grip is intended to be used.

Application of the wire rope grip to a wire rope under load is effected by presenting the gap between the cleat and a first one of the guide projections to the wire rope, then rotating the body within its plane to bend the wire rope round within the groove of the cleat, and finally spring the wire rope into the gap between the cleat and the second guide projection.

Springing of the wire rope into the gap between the cleat and the second guide projection may be facilitated by providing a bevel on the second guide projection. The first guide projection may be similarly bevelled, thus enabling the wire rope grip to be applied either way round.

For security against dislodging of the wire rope grip from a wire rope, as by a push against the cleat in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the body, each of the

guide projections is preferably grooved along the region where the wire rope finally rests ; and the grooves may be in the form of further jam cleats.

The opposite face of the body of the wire rope gnp to the cleat and guide projections may be provided with a hook for supporting or engaging additional items to that loading a wire rope, such as electric cables or water or air pipes, or other means of attachment may be provided, such as a slot for receipt of a wire loop and having a restricted inclined opening thereto, whereby such a wire loop cannot be accidentally disengaged from the slot.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a first embodiment; Figure 2 is an elevation from below in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the first embodiment; Figure 4 is a section of the line IV-IV of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a section on the line V-V of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a section on the line VU-VS of Figure 1; Figure 7 shows the device of Figures 1 to 6 being applied to a wire rope under load by means of a simple hand tool ; Figure 8 shows the device of Figures 1 to 6 in its final position on the wire rope; Figure 9 is a front elevation of a second embodiment; Figure 10 is a rear elevation of the second embodiment; Figure 11 is a section on the lines XI-XI of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a section on the line XII-XII of Figure 9, and Figure 13 shows the device of Figures 9 to 12 in its final position on a wire rope.

The wire rope grip 20 shown in Figures 1 to 6 comprises a generally planar body 21 provided on one face 22 with an arcuate jamming cleat 23 having its groove 24 parallel to that face, together with a pair of guide projections 25,26 from the same face as the cleat and

spaced one to each side of the cleat by gaps 27, 28 exceeding the diameter of a wire rope 29 (see Figures 7 and 8) with which the grip is intended to be used.

This device is a unitary moulding, e. g. a die-casting, and the guide projections 25,26 are formed with grooves 30,31 for location of a wire rope engaged with the cleat, as will now be described.

Application of the wire rope grip 20 to a wire rope 29 under load is effected by presenting the gap 27 between the cleat 23 and a first one of the guide projections 25 to the wire rope, as shown in Figure 7, then rotating the body 21 within its plane (e. g. , assisted by removably mounting the device in a recess 32 in a simple hand tool 33 and swinging the tool as indicated by the arrow in Figure 7) to bend the wire rope round within the groove 24 of the cleat 23, and finally spring the wire rope into the gap 28 between the cleat and the second guide projection 26, the latter step being facilitated by providing a bevel 34 on the second guide projection.

The grooves 30,31 in the guide projections 25,26 afford security against dislodging of the rope grip 20 from the wire rope 29, as by a push against the cleat 23 in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the body 21. The grooves 30,31 may be in the form of further jam cleats, if it is desired or necessary to afford a greater grip.

The opposite face 35 of the body 21 is shown provided with a rib 36 with a slot 37 having a restricted inclined opening 38 thereto, whereby a wire loop (not shown) for supporting additional items, such as electric cables or water or air pipes (not shown).

The wire rope grip 40 shown in Figures 9 to 12 is formed, by contrast, with a sheet metal body 41 to one face 42 of which is secured by rivetting a circular member 43 forming a cleat groove 44, and two portions 45,46 of the sheet metal are bent up from the same face to form guide projections, with gaps 47,48 between them and the cleat exceeding the diameter of a wire rope 49 (see Figure 13) with which the grip 40 is intended to be used.

The bent up portions 45,46 also define grooves 50,51 for location of the wire rope 49

to afford security against dislodging of the wire rope grip 40 from the wire rope, as by a push against the cleat-forming member 43 in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the body Al. Again, the grooves 50,51 may be created in the form of further jam cleats if necessary.

The device 40 may be applied to the wire rope 49 in similar manner to the device 20, e. g. using a hand tool similar to the tool 33.

Rivetting of the member 43 is shown also serving to secure to the opposite face 52 of the body 41 a hook member 53 capable of supporting, directly or through a wire loop (not shown), electric cables or water or air pipes (not shown).

Claims

1. A wire rope grip comprising a generally planar body provided on one face with an at least arcuate jamming cleat having its groove parallel to that face, together with a pair of guide projections from the same face as the cleat and spaced one to each side of the cleat by gaps exceeding the diameter of a wire rope with which the grip is intended to be used, application to a wire rope under load being effected by presenting the gap between the cleat and a first one of the guide projections to the wire rope, then rotating the body within its plane to bend the wire rope round within the groove of the cleat, and finally spring the wire rope into the gap between the cleat and the second guide projection.

2. A wire rope grip as in Claim 1, wherein a bevel is provided on the second guide projection to facilitate springing of a wire rope under load into the gap between the cleat and the second guide projection.

3. A wire rope grip as in Claim 2, wherein the first projection is similarly bevelled, thus enabling the wire rope grip to be applied either way round to a wire rope under load.

4. A wire rope grip as in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the guide projections is grooved along the region where the wire rope finally rests.

5. A wire rope grip as in Claim 4, wherein the grooves are in the form of further jam cleats.

6. A wire rope grip as in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the opposite face of the body to the cleat and guide projections is provided with a hook for supporting or engaging additional items to that loading a wire rope to which the grip is applied.

7. A wire rope grip as in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the opposite face of the body to the cleat and guide projections is provided with a slot for receipt of a wire loop and having a restricted inclined opening thereto, whereby such a wire loop cannot be accidentally disengaged from the slot.

8. A wire rope grip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A wire rope grip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 9 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.