US2488247A

US2488247A - Wire rope union

Info

Publication number: US2488247A
Application number: US663023A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence P Sowles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-04-18
Filing date: 1946-04-18
Publication date: 1949-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1966-11-15

Description

NOV. 15, 1949 SQWLES 2,488,247

j, V NNNNNN OR Patented Nov. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to wire rope unions and while capable of a variety of uses is of particular utility in the formation of cable buttons such as are used in wire rope conveyors and in many other applications.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple but strong and improved union in which the ends of two cables are embedded in a body of metal, the invention being illustrated in a preferred form in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a sleeve member appropriate for the purposes below described, the section being on the line I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but with the cable ends in position within the sleeve member.

In the preferred form illustrated, the union employs a sleeve member I, having end openings 2, 3 to receive the ends of cable lengths 4, 5 to be united within the sleeve member. The outer contour of the latter, in this instance, is shown as appropriate for use as a cable button but, of course, the shape will be determined by the use intended. The interior of the sleeve member consists of a cavity 6 of circular section and more or less hour-glass shaped, that is, it has a central section of a minimum diameter and is of progressively increasing diameter on either side of the minimum. In opposite walls of the cavity are provided openings I, 8 (Fig. 2).

In forming the union, or cable button, the strands composing the cable ends are separated and cleaned and the usual hemp center removed. The bunches of strands are then inserted into the sleeve member from opposite ends. By means of a splicing needle or other appropriate tool applied through the opening 1 or 8, the strands are sufiiciently opened up or splayed out to permit the two groups to be advanced toward each other in such fashion as to interlace or intermesh, and the cable ends are inserted far enough to bring the respective strand ends substantially beyond the minimum diameter section of the sleeve member. As will be understood, the movement of the groups of interlaced strands toward one another will itself tend to splay them out so that they take up positions as indicated diagrammatically at 4, 5' in Fig. 3.

One of the openings 1, 8 is then plugged, as with refractory cement; and molten metal, such as zinc, is poured in through the other opening to fill the cavity in the sleeve member. Suitable vent holes (not shown) may be provided to ensure the complete fillin of the cavity.

When the poured metal solidifies, it forms an hour-glas shaped plug in the opposite ends of which the strands of the cable ends are securely embedded. And, due to the necked-in form of the cast metal body, the sleeve member is firmly interlocked with it. An extremely strong union is thus formed.

In the light of the foregoing description of the preferred form of the invention, the following is claimed:

1. A wire rope union comprising a sleeve member having end openings to receive the ends of two wire ropes, and a cavity of circular section extending between the openings, the said cavity having a central section of minimum diameter and being of progressively increasing diameter on each side of said minimum, a wall of the cavity having a filler opening for molten metal, cable ends inserted through the respective end openings, said cable ends being splayed out and the strands of the two ends interlaced in overlapping relation lengthwise Of the sleeve member to an extent sufiicient to locate the free end of each group of strands substantially beyond the minimum diameter section of the cavity, said cavity being substantially filled with solidified metal forming an hour-glass shaped plug in the ends of which, remote from their point of entry, are embedded the splayed out strands of the respective ropes.

2. A wire rope union comprising a solid body of metal having a neck portion uniting two enlarged end-portions, wire rope ends embedded in the metal, the rope ends entering the body through the respective end portions thereof and passing through the neck portion with the strands of one rope end splayed out and interlaced with splayed out strands of the other rope end, and a metallic sleeve member enclosing said body, the interior of the sleeve substantially conformin to the shape of the body of metal.

3. A wire rope union comprising a body of metal having a neck portion uniting two enlarged end-portions, wire rope ends embedded in the metal, the rope ends entering the body through the respective end portions thereof and passing through the neck portion with the strands of one rope end splayed out and interlaced with splayed out strands of the other rope end, and a sleeve member enclosing said body, and interlocked with, the neck portion thereof.

4. A wire rope union comprising a sleeve member having a pair of end openings to receive a pair of wire ropes, said sleeve member having a, cavity extending between said openings comprising a central neck portion and an enlarged portion on each side of the neck portion, a wall of the cavity having a filler openin for molten metal, ropes extending through the respective end openings and through the neck portion so that the end of each rope rests in the enlarged cavity portion remote from the respective end opening for the rope, said rope ends being splayed out, and said cavity being substantially filled with solidified metal in which the splayed out rope ends are embedded. LAWRENCE P. SOWLES.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS