GB2450965A

GB2450965A - Securing Wire Rope

Info

Publication number: GB2450965A
Application number: GB0810729A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Boaler
Original assignee: Gripple Ltd
Current assignee: Gripple Ltd
Priority date: 2007-07-12
Filing date: 2008-06-12
Publication date: 2009-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-12
Also published as: GB2450965B; GB0713560D0; GB0810729D0

Abstract

An arrangement for securing a small diameter wire rope (10) having a loop (11) at one end comprises a crimped or swaged ferrule (12) having an annular flange at its end adjacent the loop, and a washer (18) having a slot (19) that is a sliding fit over the wire rope (10) extending from a hole (20) to its periphery (21). The arrangement can be used to secure the wire rope (10) to a post (23) (or a structural member). The hole of the washer is sized so that the flange of the ferrule flange cannot pass through it. The arrangement can be used with a post which has a hole (22) through which the loop (11) and ferrule (18) can be passed. The slotted washer (18) is then slipped over the wire rope (10) to abut the flange (15) at one side and the post (23) around the hole (22) at the other side to prevent the arrangement from being passed back through the hole. The end of the ferrule remote from the flange may protrude through the hole in the post or structural member to prevent the rope from chafing.

Description

I

SECURING WIRE ROPE

This invention relates to securing wire rope, e.g., to an overhead structural member for suspending equipment therefrom, such as heating, lighting, trunking or ventilation units, or to a post.

It is known for a length of small diameter wire rope to be provided with a loop at one end by means of a ferrule crimped or swaged on to an end portion and an adjacent main portion of the wire rope. One way of securing such a wire rope being to pass the free end over an overhead structural member or round a post and through the loop. Another way is to pass the free end through an eye secured to the member or post and through the loop.

However, either of the ways may not be available, especially when securing to a post, so it is the object of the present invention to provide means affording a length of wire rope having a loop as provided above greater versatility as to ways of securing it to, e.g., a post or a structural member.

According to the present invention, there is provided a combination of a length of small diameter wire rope with a loop formed at one end by means of a ferrule crimped or swaged on to an end portion and an adjacent main portion of the wire rope, an annular flange on the ferrule at the end of the ferrule adjacent the loop, and a washer having a slot extending from a hole to the periphery, the slot having a width to be a sliding fit over the wire rope, and the hole being of a diameter such that an area around the hole can abut the flange on the ferrule.

Thus, the loop and the ferrule may be passed through an aperture, e.g., in a post or a structural member, from one side, and then the washer slipped on to the main portion of the wire rope between the other side of the post and the ferrule, the ferrule then being pulled back until one side of the washer abuts the flange and the other side abuts the post to prevent withdrawal of the loop and ferrule back through the aperture. However, the end of the ferrule remote from the flange may protrude through the hole in the post, thus protecting the wire rope from chafing against the hole.

It will be appreciated that the washer can be of any shape, provided it is of such an area as to abut an appreciable area around the aperture, but, conveniently, it will be circular with a central hole and a radial slot.

An embodiment of the invention and its primary manner of use will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1A illustrates one component of the combination in accordance with the invention; Figure lB shows the other component of the combination; Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the upper end of a post having a hole towards which the component of Figure 1A is being directed; Figure 3 is a fragmentary view from the other side of the post showing the component of Figure 1A protruding through the hole in the post and the component of Figure 1 B ready to be fitted to it; Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 3 but shows the two components in final position; and Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the initial side of the post when the two components are in final position.

Figure 1A shows a length of small diameter wire rope 10 with a loop 11 formed at one end by means of a ferrule 12 crimped or swaged on to an end portion 13 of the wire rope and an adjacent main portion 14, and the ferrule has an annular flange 15 at its end adjacent the loop. The cropped ends 16, 17 of the wire rope are sealed against fraying and risk of causing injury.

Figure lB shows a washer 18 having a slot 19 extending from a hole to the periphery 21, the slot having a width to be a sliding fit over the wire rope 10, and the hole being of a diameter such that an area around the hole can abut the flange 15 on the ferrule 12.

Figure 2 shows the loop 11 and ferrule 12 being directed towards a hole 22 in the upper end of a post 23 formed of channel-section metal, as indicated by the arrow A, the hole 22 being larger than the flange 15 on the ferrule. The arrows B and C indicate where the thumb and finger of one hand can be applied to narrow the loop 11 sufficiently for easy passage through the hole 22 in the post.

Figure 3 shows the loop 11 and ferrule 12 having past far enough beyond the hole 22 for the washer 18 to be slipped on to the main portion 14 of the wire rope (and if need be the end portion 13 protruding from the ferrule), the ferrule then being pulled back, as indicated, by the arrow D in Figure 4, until one side of the washer 18 abuts the flange and the other side abuts the post, thus preventing withdrawal of the loop 11 and ferrule 12 back through the hole 22.

However, the end of the ferrule remote from the flange 15 will protrude through the hole in the post, thus protecting the wire rope 10 from chafing against the hole.

Although the length of wire rope 10 appears to be indicated as relatively short in Figure IA because of the break in it, it may well be of such a length that it would be time-consuming to pass it all through a non-slotted washer and through a hole such as 22 in a post starting with the end 17, or it may be that the end 17 is attached to something that will not pass through the hole. However, the slotted washer 18 may be discarded when it proves convenient to pass the loop 11 or the free end 17 over a structural overhead member and thread the wire rope 10 through the loop. Alternatively, the ferrule 12 may be slipped into an open-ended horizontal slot in a structural member and be supported by the flange held therein, provided the slot is of a lesser width than the diameter of the flange 15.

Claims

1. A combination of a length of small diameter wire rope with a loop formed at one end by means of a ferrule crimped or swaged on to an end portion and an adjacent main portion of the wire rope, an annular flange on the ferrule at the end of the ferrule adjacent the loop, and a washer having a slot extending from a hole to the periphery, the slot having a width to be a sliding fit over the wire rope, and the hole being of a diameter such that an area around the hole can abut the flange on the ferrule.

2. A combination as in Claim 1, wherein the washer is circular with a central hole and a radial slot.

3. A combination as in Claim I and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1A and I B of the accompanying drawings.