US1902459A - Guy wire anchor connection - Google Patents

Description

March 21, 1933. H. E. MELLER GUY WIRE ANCHOR CONNECTION Filed Dec. 14, 1951 gwuentoc fiE/FBEfTEMLLEf I Patented Mar. 21, 1933 PATENT 5 OFFICE HERBERT EDWARD MILLER, 01 ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

GUY WIRE ANCHOR CONNECTION Application filed December 14, 1931.

This invention relates to guy wire anchor connections and similar devices.

The present invention is particularly intended for use in securing guy wires to anchor rods, although it will become apparent that the device is applicable as fastening means for analogous devices and structures. It is the present'practice in the installation of guy wires to employ anchor rods having ground anchoring means at one end and an eye at the other and to mount the anchor rod substantially in alinement with the line of the guy wire. A length of guy wire is then cut from a reel of wire, and the wire commonly is cut to a length substantially greater than that which actually is needed. In installing the wire, one end is connected to the telephone pole or other structure, whereupon the opposite end is threaded through the eye of the anchor rod. The free end of the wire is then bent upwardly along the body of the guy wire, and owing to the stiffness of the wire, this operation is attended with mate rial difliculty. Ordinarily a block and tackle or similar take-up means is connected to the other end of thewire to exert a pull thereon to tighten the wire and pull it through the eye of the anchor rod, and a device commercially known as a Gofiing clamp is engaged against opposite strands of the wire adjacent the eye of the anchor rod to straighten out the wire strands and assist in the taking up of the guy wire through the pulling means employed.

The two-part guy clamp commonly employed is then placed in position and tightened, and this operation also is attended with considerable dilficulty; After the clamp has been properly tightened, a substantial length of the free end of the guy wire will remain, and this wire ordinarily is cut off close to the clamp, and left upon the ground. This piece of wire thus discarded constitutes a loss which is of some consequence considering the fact that thousands of installations of this character are made annually, and the presence of the discarded wire in rural communities constitutes a source of danger to agricultural apparatus such as mowing machines.

Serial No. 580,976.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel guy wire connection which permits the installation of a guy wire with much greater ease, and in much less time than ordinarily is required.

A further object is to provide a device of the character referred to wherein installation of the guy wire is greatly facilitated without the use of clamps'for straightening A further object is to provide a guy'connection which permits the elimination of the usual eye and thimble, and'which eliminates the abrasion of the galvanized surface of the guy strand, which follows the usual practice of driving a partly tightened guy clamp into its proper position near the eye of the anchor rod.

A further object is to eliminate the several parts and operations usually required with the hook types of anchor rods by providing means for insuring against accidental disengagement of the guy strand from the anchor. Other objects and advantagesof the invention will become apparent during the course 8 of the following description.

In the drawing I have shown two embodiments of the invention. In this showing,

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the inven tion applied,

Figure 2 is an edge elevation showing the clamp and upper end of the anchor rod with the guy strand connected thereto,

Figure 3 is a face view of the same,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 4L-4 of Figure 2, 1

Figure 5 is an edge elevation of the upper end of the anchor rod and associated elements illulstrating a modified form of the invention, an

Figure 6 is a face view of the same.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral 10 designates a telephone pole or similar device having its lower end buried in the ground 11. A guy strand 12 is connected at its upper end to the pole 10 and at its lower end to an anchor rod indicated as a whole by the numeral 13, referred to in detail later. The anchor rod is provided at its lower end with the usual ground anchoring means (not shown).

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be noted that the anchor rod includes a shank 14 having a head 15 preferably formed integral with its upper end. The head 15 has its lower portion materially wider than the shank 14,

as shown in Figure 3, while the lower extremity of the head is offset from the shank 1i, as indicated at 1.6. The lower portion of the head merges with the shank 14; in a curved face 17 forming a saddle fora purpose to be described. The inner face portion of the head 15 has its lower portion curved upwardly and inwardly as at 18 and the line of the saddle obviously follows this curvature. Above the curved face 18, the inner face of the head 15 issubstantially flat as at 19. parallel to and slightly spaced fromthe axis of the shank 14, as shown in Figure 2.

The head 15 is providedat its upper end with a guy strand positioning member 20,

preferably formed integral with the head 15 and substantially -C-shaped in transverse cross-section, as indicated in Figure 1. Such structure accordingly provides opposite hooks 21 within which opposite strands of the guy wire :are adapted to be placed under conditions to be described. In order to facilitate the entrance of the wire into the hooks 21, the upper end portion of the shank 14, adjacent the curved face 18 of the head, increases in width as at 22, and accordingly forms apart of the saddle 17. The upper extremity of the shank tapers to decrease in width as at 23, and then curves inwardly as at 24 to merge with the inner face of the head 15. The rear face of the head 15 maybe provided with an integral reinforcing rib 25.

The usual two piece clamp 26 may be employed for clamping opposite strands of the guy wire to prevent relative longitudinal movement therebetween. In Figures 2'and 3, the guy strand is shown arranged between the members of the clamp 26 with the free end 27 of the strand projecting slightly above the clamp. The elements of the clamp are secured against the guy wire by the usual clamping bolts28. The lower ends of the elements of the clamp 26 lie in a common plane and are cut off square at as 29. It also will be noted that the upper extremity of the wire engaging member 20 is cut off square as at 30, and accordingly the adjacent ends of the clamp and member 20 are adapted to engage solidly against each other.

v In Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing a somewhat modified form of the device is illustrated. In the modified form of the device, the upper end of the shank 31 of the anchor rod terminates in an integral eye 32, and above the eye and at right angles thereto an integral grooved thimble 33 is formed. Obviously a guy wire projecting through the eye 32 will be adapted to have its opposite strands lying in the groove of the thimble 33. This thimble is relatively large at its lower portion as at 34:, while the thi-m ble tapers to decrease in width toward its upper end as at 35' I A laterally ofi'set integral extension 36 is carried by the upper end of the thimble 33 and terminates at its upper end in a substantially Cshaped hook member 37 similar in cross-sectional shape to the wire engaging member 20 previously described.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 1 inclusive is as follows:

The anchor 13 is secured in position in the' ground inthe usual manner with the parts at the upper end thereof arranged substantially as shown in Figure 1. Instead o f-cutting offa length of guy strand, the wire merely is unreeled and the free end ofthe wire is connected to the pole 10 in the usual manner. The Wire is then brought downwardly to the upper end of the anchor and placed within one of the hooks 21'. After this operation is performed, the wire is passed around the saddle 17 and since it is unnecessary to thread the wire through an eye, the operator may press the wire close into the saddle as it is being bent to encircle the saddle, whereupon the portion of the wire extending beyond the saddle is placed within the other hook 21. I

The placing of the wire into the positions thus far described readily may be accomplished without the use of clamping means for straightening out opposite strands of the wire, it being relatively easy for the operator to place both strands of wire within the respective hooks 21. The usual block and tackle or other take-up means is then connected to the free portion of the Wire at a substantial distance above the anchor andthe wire is pulled taut in the usual manner. The pulling action readily may be transmitted in a line parallel to the main portion of the strand 12 and in direct alinement with the portionof the wire as it passes through the corresponding hook 21. Accordingly, after the pulling operation is carried on to a sufficient extent, the two strands will be held taut parallel to each other and at the proper distance apart to permit the clamp 26 to be placed in position. In this connection, it will be noted that the hooks 21 definitely determine the spacing of the adjacent portions of the strand, and these hooks are placed apart the proper distance to facilitate the placing of the clamp in position v The twoparts of the'clamp arearranged against the guy strand and move downwardly into snug contact with the upper end ofthe anchor, that is, withthe upper extremity of the wire engaging member 20. The bolts 28 are then tightened, whereupon the free portion of the guy wire is cut off to form a free end 27, as indicated in Figure 3. Obviously, the end of the wire may be cut off as closely to the clamp as may be desired. It will be apparent that since'the clamp contacts with the upper end of the anchor, downward movement of the clamp is prevented when the wire 12 slacks or becomes loosened, and accordingly it is impossible for the loop ofthe strand passing around the saddle to become disengaged therefrom. It will be apparent therefore that a permanent installation is efiected without the use of special tools, and without the use of special means for preventing disengagement between the guy strand and the saddle. V v

Moreover, it will be apparent that the passing of the strand around the saddle is facilitated since the free portion of the strand permits the operator to apply a substantial leverage in bending the strand around the saddle, which operation is impossible when an eye is employed at the upper end of the anchor. The elimination of the eye also permits the strand to be completely installed before being cut, and accordingly a saving in material is effected and danger to agricultural apparatus is eliminated since no loose end of wire is.

permitted to remain on the ground adjacent the guy wire. The provision of the wire engaging member 20 is of great importance. The insertion of the main portion of the strand within one of the hooks 2O facilitates the placing of the wire around the saddle since the bulging of the wire upon the bending thereof is prevented. Moreover, the hooks 21 properly space opposite strands of the wire to facilitate the application of the clamp, while the upper ends of the hooks engage the clamp to prevent downward movement thereof, and accordinglythey function to prevent disengagement of the loop of the strand from the saddle. In this connection it will be noted that the curvature of the face 18 and the placing of the fiat face 19 of the head 15 throws the opposite'strands of the wire into a plane substantially common to the axis of the shank 14, and accordingly the pull on the wire 12 is substantially directly in alinement with the shank 14.

The operation of the wire engaging member 37 shown in Figure 6 is identical with that previously described and need not be referred to in detail. In the modified form of the invention it is necessary of course to cut the wire an approximate length because of the use of the eye 32, and the end of the wire must be threaded through the eye. However, the provision of the member 37 faproperly for positioning within the elements of the clamp. Of course, it is necessary to take up on the free end of the wire to remove the slack therefrom prior to the application of the clamp. While the form of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6 is superior to devices of thistype in common use'because of the provision of the hooks at the upper end thereof and their relationship to the clamp, it is preferred that the form of the invention illustrated inFigures'l to 4 inclusive be employed becauseof'the addi tional advantages inherent therein through the use of the saddle 17 and associated elements. A

It is to be understood that'the formsof the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape. size and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Iclaim:

1."The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection havinga portion adjacent one end around which the guy wire is adapted tobe looped, and hook means carried by said connection adjacent thejlast named .portion thereof. for receiving the strands of the cable on opposite sides of the loop thereof, said connection having a portion engageable with the guy clamp to prevent downward movement thereof with respect to said connection. I I

2. The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection having a portion adjacent its upper end around which the guy wire is adapted to be looped, a member carried by the connection and projecting upwardlybeyond said portion thereof, and hook. means carried by the upper end of said member for receiving the strands of the guy wire, said connection having a portion engageable with the guy clamp to prevent downward movement thereof with respect to said connection.

3. The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor-connection having a portion adjacent its upper end around which the guy wire is adapted to be looped, an integralmember carried by the connection and projecting upwardly beyond said portion thereof, and a substantially C-shaped cable engaging element carried by the upper end ofsaid member and forming opposite inwardly opening hooks for receiving the strands of the cable on opposite sides of the loop thereof, the upper end of said cable engaging element being engageable against the lower end of'the guy clamp to prevent downward movement thereof with respect tosaid connection.

l. The Combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection, a saddle-formed integral'with said connection and around which the guy wire is adapted to be looped, and hook means carried by the connection and adapted to receive the strands of the cable on opposite sides of the loop thereof, the upper end of said hook means being engageab'le against the lower end of the guy clampflto preventdownward movement thereof with respect to said connection. a

5. The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection, a head carried by said connection adjacent the upper end thereof and having its lower end offset from the connection to form therewith a-saddle around which the guy wire is adapted to be looped,

and opposite inwardly opening hooks carried by the head for engaging the strands of the cable on opposite sides of the loop thereof, the upper extremity of said hooks being engageable against the lower end of the guy clamp to prevent downward movement thereof with respect to said connection.

6. The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection, a head carried by said connection adjacent the upper end thereof and having its lower end offset from the connection to form therewith a saddle around which the guy wire is adapted to be looped, the lower portion of said-head being curved upwardly and inwardly toward the axis of the anchor connection to a plane slightly spaced from said axis, and hook means carried by the upper portion of said head for receiving the strands of the cable on opposite sides of the loop thereof, the upper extremity of said hook means being engageable against the lower end of the guy clamp to limit downward movement thereof with respect to said connection.

7 The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection, a head carried by said connection adjacent the upper end thereof and having its lower end ofiset from the connection to form therewith a saddle around which the guy wire is adapted to be looped, the lower portion of said head being curved upwardly and inwardly toward the axis of the anchor connection, the upper portion of said head forming a continuation of the curved portion thereof and having its inner face parallel'to and slightly spaced from the axis of the connection, and a wire engaging member carried by the upper portion of said head, said member being substantially C- shaped in transverse cross-section with respect to the axis of the anchor connection-to form opposite inwardly opening cable receiving hooks having common inner faces lying in the plane of the inner face of the upper portion of said head, the upper extremity of said wire engaging memberbeing engageable against the lower end of the guy clamp to limit the downward movement thereof with respect to said connection.

8. Thecombination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection having a portion around which a cable is adapted to be passed, and'hook means carried by said connection adjacent the last named portion thereof for receiving the opposite strands of the guy wire and for limiting the space therebetween to correspond to the space between the wire receiving portions to the guy clamp.

' 9. The combination with a guy clamp, 'of

an anchor connection having a portion around which the guy wire is adapted to be passed, an integral member carried by said connection and projecting upwardly beyond said portion thereof, and a substantially C- shaped guy wire engaging element carried by the upper end of said'member and forming inwardly opening hooks for receiving the opposite strands of the guy wire to space them a distance apart corresponding to the posisponding to the wire receiving portions of v the 7 guy clamp.

11. The combination with a guy clamp, of an anchor connection, a head carried by'said connection adjacent the upper end thereof and having its lower end offset from the connection to form therewith a saddle around which the guy wire is adapted to be looped, a portion of said head above the lower end thereof being curved inwardly toward the axis of the anchor connection to a plane slightly spaced from and parallel to such axis, and hook means carried by, the upper portion of said head for receiving the opposite strandsof the guy wire to space them apart a distance corresponding to the wire receiving portions of the guy clamp.

12. Av device of the character described comprising an anchor connection having a portion around which a guy wire is adapted to be looped, saidconnection having its upper extremity lying above said loop receiving portion and lying in a plane transverse to the axis of the anchor connection and engageable with the lower end of a guy wire clamp.

'13. A device of the character described comprising an anchor connection, a saddle formed integral with said connection and around which a guy wire is adapted to be looped, the upper end of said connection lying above said saddle and having its upper extremity arranged transverse to the axis of the anchor connection and engageable against the lower end of a guy clamp.

14. A device of the character described comprising an anchor connection having a portion around which a guy wire is adapted to be looped, a member carried by said connection and projecting upwardly beyond said portion thereof, and hook means carried by the upper end of said member for receiving the opposite strands of the guy wire, the upper extremity of said member lying in a plane transverse to the axis of the guy connection and engageable with the lower end of a guy clamp.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERBERT EDWARD MILLER.

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