US1811942A - Cable clamp - Google Patents

Description

m 1.931- c. w. KEMPER ET AL CABLE CLAMP Filed Feb. 4, 1930 INVENTOR.

Cl/A n45: IM kgMPE/Z eromv T, KEMPER ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES 1 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES W. KEMPER AND JOHN T. KEMIPER, OF HAY WAR-D, CALIFORNIA CABLE CLAMP Application filed February 4, 1930. Serial No. 425,780.

This invention relates to cable clamps and has for its objects improvements in the type of clamp shown in our prior Patent No.

1,411,731 of April 4:, 1922. I

The type of clamp of the patent mentioned consists of an elongated block opened longitudinally to receive a couple of cables 7 which it is desired to clamp together and wedging rollers which are drawn along in- 1 clined surfaces to tightly wedgethe cables together.

We have found such a clamp to be'very powerful but it has the drawback of requiring the cables to be inserted longitudinally thus making it difficult to apply midway on a rope for clamping another rope thereto, also it is rather costly to manufacture as it does not lend itself to sheet metal construction.

We also have several other patents on such clam s including a clamp made in halves as per atent No. 1,271,912 of July 9, 1918, but this, in common with those of other inventions, which require longitudinal sliding together to lock the cables in place, has not been found as satisfactory as would be expected. r

In the clamp of our present invention we effect a structure which is adapted for making out of sheet steel thereby securing the utmost strength with minimum of weight, and at the same time the clamp separates longitudinally into two pieces so that the ropes may be put in from the side, and further, the two pieces are exactly alike so that in manufacture of the device only half clamps are made and which may be assembled either at the factory or at the job by the workman putting the clamp in lace.

In the drawings Flg. 1 is a side view of our improved clamp shown with cables in place and clamping rollers held in released position by means of cotter pins.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1 as taken along the line 22 thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 except that it shows the cables tightly clamped together and the cotters placed to the outer sides of the rollers.

In further detail the clamp comprises a body generally the shape of an elongated figure 8 formed of two halves 1 and 2 which are each U-shaped in cross section and abut along a diagonal line 3 making the U much deeper at one end of each half than at the other.

The halves have hing loops 4, 5 respectively struck up from their edges in such a manner that two exactly similar haves fit together with the hinge loop sodisposed and locked 66 together that they cannot pull apart longitudinally, and pins 6 are inserted through the aligned holes of the loops so that they are rigidly locked against lateral separation without shearing the pins at numerous places. i I

V The pins 6 may have a head on one end as at 7 and if desired one pin may be riveted at the other end to remain permanently in place, but at least one should be free for withdrawal so that the remaining pin will function as a hinge for opening the halves 1 and 2 like a book.

The hinge loops have each a flat extended portion lylng against the side wall of the clamp body andare preferably spot welded thereto as at 8'. r

The inner surface of the walls against which the cables" lie are preferably scored as at 9 to roughly match the lay of the rope as indicated, while on the opposite sides at both ends of the clamp are wedging rollers 10 preferably made of chilled steel or the like and provided with gripping ridges or teeth 16 around their circumferences, the adjacent inner surfaces of the clamp members upon which they roll being transversely grooved or corrugated as at 11 for gripping by the rollers and drawing them along these 99, surfaces, which are enclosed, to wedge the cables together tightly with increasing force the more it is attempted to pull them out of the clamp.

To prevent loss of these rollers before ap- 5 plying the clamp, the rollers are provided with short projecting axles 9 loosely retained within confronting pockets 12 formed in bosses 13 stamped outward in the walls of the clamp. The pockets are r a ive y very minate a short distance from the outer ends of the clamp so that the rollers cannot fall out before applying to the cables. Also, that in order to hold the rollers apart we insert cotters 15 through the slots as shown in Fig. 1 and after placing the clamp in position over the cables or ropes these cotters are removed, the rollers pushed inward with a screw driver or the like until they get a grip on the ropes, and the cotters are then put back in the slots but at a point beyond the rollers as shown in Fig. 3, thus preventing the rollers from accidentally becoming dislodged while tightening the ropes.

After long use the rollers will have become so tightly wedged into place that it is difiicult to remove them when desired to disconnect the clamp and we therefore provide holes 16 in the top and bottom walls of the clamp adapted for insertion of a rod for punching out the rollers.

In considering our improvements itshould be noted that apart from the roller and pin it requires the manufacture of the half shell only and that the various features are easily impressed into this before it is bent. into U shape, that two of these are locked together by the staggered ears 4, that the two halves open like a book to receive the cables and that the halves may be shipped separate, each with its hinge pin, roller and cotter in place without danger-of becoming lost.

It will also be evident that while our improvements directly contribute to the manufacture of such a clamp out of sheet metal,

may be cast without sacrificing any of its advantages except the light weight of the stamped construction.

o claim:

1. A cable clamp comprising a pair of elongated shells U-shaped in cross section arranged in confronting relation to afford apassage for a plurality of cables, means on the shells interlocking same against longitudinal movement and permitting lateral separation of the shells, means cooperating with both shells locking same against lateral separation, and means within the shells for clamping the cables against withdrawal.

2. A cable clamp comprising a pair of elongated shells U-shaped in cross section arranged in confronting relation to afford a passage for a plurality of cables, spaced hinge lugs along the edges ofthe shells arranged to interlock to prevent longitudinal movement of the shells, pins passing through said hinge lugs, and means within the shells for clamping the cables against withdrawal.

3. A cable clamp comprising a pair of elongated shells U-shaped in cross section arranged in confronting relation to afford a passage for a plurality of cables, spaced hinge lugs along the edges of the shells arranged to interlock to prevent longitudinal movement of the shells, pins passing through said hingelugs, and means within the shells for clamping thecables against withdrawal, the said shells being duplicates, and the hinge lugs on opposite sides being complementally spaced. 7 I

4. A cable clamp comprising a pair of elongated shells U-shaped in cross section arranged in confrontingrelation to afford a passage for a plurality of cables, spaced hinge lugs along the edges of the shells ar-' ranged to interlock to prevent longitudinal:

movement of the shells, pins passing through said hinge lugs, and means Within the shells for clamping the cables against withdrawal, the shells being of sheet metal with the hinge lugs turned up at the edges of the shells and.

extended upon the shell sides and Welded thereto.

5. A cable clamp comprising an elongated tubular body having the general form of a figure 8 and with a passage extending longitudinally of the body for the reception of a pair of superimposed cables, means within the body clamping the cables, said body being longitudinally parted to form two complementary halves, and spaced lugs formed along the edges of both halves in a manner to interlock and overlap the opposite half when the halves are placed together.

6. 'Acable clamp comprising an elongated tubular body having the general formof a" -figure 8 and with a passage extending longitudinally of the body for the reception of a pair of superimposed cables-means within yet if desired the device exactly as shown the bodyclamp-ing the cables, said body being longitudinally parted to form two complementary. halves, and spaced apertured aligned lugs formed along the edges of both

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