US3599297A

US3599297A - Wire grip

Info

Publication number: US3599297A
Application number: US47435A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry T Sievers
Original assignee: Crescent Niagara Corp
Current assignee: Crescent Niagara Corp
Priority date: 1970-06-18
Filing date: 1970-06-18
Publication date: 1971-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-17

Abstract

A wire grip including a novel safety latch device by which the grip is manually applied to and removed from a wire to be stretched; the device automatically serving to provide a temporary lock to retain the grip on the wire as the grip is applied thereto. Upon manipulation of the grip to position the jaws thereof in gripping engagement with the wire, the device is manually movable into a permanent locking position, wherein it assists in transmitting loads between the wire clamping jaws.

Description

Waited States Patent i 1 i l Henry T. Sievers Jamestown, NY. Appl. Nov 47,435 7 Filed June 18, 1970 Patented Aug. I7, 1971 Assignee Inventor Jamestown, N.Y.

WIRE GRIP 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

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Crescent Niagara Corporation 24/132 ws me 11/09, Fl6g 11/12 .1 24/136 LN, 132. 254; 294/104 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.059.955 10/1962 rhursmntnunmm. 24/132ws 3,262,171 7/1966 Scholz 24/134 Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak A!t0meyBean and Bean ABSTRACT: A wire grip including a novel safety latch device by which the grip is manually applied to and removed from a wire to be stretched; the device automatically serving to provide a temporary lock to retain the grip on the wire as the grip is applied thereto. Upon manipulation of the grip to position the jaws thereof in gripping engagement with the wire. the device is manually movable into a permanent locking position, wherein it assists in transmitting loads between the wire clamping jaws.

WIRE GRIP SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in wire grips of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,942,625; 2,245,811; 2,985,933 and 3,262,171.

More specifically the present invention is directed to a wire grip featuring a novel plural position safety latch device by means of which the wire grip is applied to and automatically latched in position on a wire.

The present wire grip includes a body portion; a pair of jaws on said body portion and having a side opening through which a wire to be gripped may be admitted; a fulcrum pin for supporting one of said jaws for movement relative to the other of said jaws for clamping a wire there between; operating means for moving said one jaw; a latch plate; means arranged on one end of said plate for removable connection to an operator manipulated tool; means for mounting said plate adjacent another end thereof on said body portion adjacent said other jaw, said mounting means constraining said plate alternatively for generally vertical reciprocating movement from a first position to a second position wherein said other end of said plate extends across said opening or for vertical pivoting movement from said first position to a third position wherein a portion of said plate intermediate said ends thereof extends across said opening; and means for releasably latching said plate adjacent said one end thereof to said fulcrum pin when said plate is in third position.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1' is a side elevational view of a wire grip embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end clevational view of the wire grip as viewed from the left in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. I, but showing the wire grip in clamping position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view partially in section showing details of construction; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the wire grip in clamping position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Now referring more particularly to the drawings, a wire grip generally designated as l, is shown as comprising a body portion from one end of which extends an arm 12 formed with a guide opening 14. Formed as an integral part of the body 10 at the upper portion thereof is a laterally projecting, stationary, longitudinally extending jaw member 16. As best seen in FIG. 2, jaw 16 is provided with a longitudinally grooved face 18, which may be V-shaped or arcuate.

A bellcrank lever 20 is pivotally mounted on a fulcrum pin 22 and has a pair of angularly disposed, integral arms 24 and 26. Fulcrum pin 22 is in turn nonrotatably fixed to a lower depending portion of body portion 10. Arm 24 has a bifurcated portion 28, which receives an apertured flange forming a downward extension of a second jaw member 32. Flange 30 is pivotally connected to bifurcated portion 28 by means of a pin 34.

Again referring to FIG. 2, jaw member 32 is shown as as being provided with a longitudinally grooved face 36, which is a mirror image of the face of jaw 16. As desired, the faces of

jaws

16, 32 may be provided with transversely extending grooves or the like, not shown, in order to obtain a positive grip on a wire 38 to be clampingly engaged by the jaws.

The arm 26 is pivotally connected at its lower or free end with a link or handle 40 by means of laterally projecting, headed pin 42. As will be apparent from viewing FIGS. I and 3, link 40 is slidably received within guide opening 14 for movement between jaw-opening and jaw-closing positions, respectively. Suitable means, such as a coil spring 44 carried on pin 42 is preferably employed to bias arm 26 and link 40 into their jaw-opening positions; arm 26 and link 40 being normally retained in their jaw-opening position by engagement of link step abutment 45 with arm 12. The outer end of link 40 has an eye 46, which is adapted to be engaged by a tool, not shown, or directly by the operator for the purpose of moving the link longitudinally to move jaw 32 towards or away from stationary jaw 16. When wire 38 is a high-tension cable, a tool in the form of a long insulated rod having a hooked end and commonly referred to as a Hot Stick is employed. More particularly, by moving link 40 inwardly, such as to pivot bellcrank lever 20 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, jaw 32 is moved away from jaw 16, and by moving link '40 outwardly jaw 32 is moved toward jaw 16, as viewed in FIG. 3.

It will be understood that, due to the arrangement of the body portion and jaws, there is defined a side opening, indicated in FIG. 2 at 48, through which wire 38 may be admitted. This arrangement facilitates the insertion of a wire between the jaws, which is accomplished when the jaws are open, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. After insertion of the wire and closing the jaws under control of spring 44 to clamp the wire therebetween, a pulling force exerted on the link 40 will both increase the clamping pressure exerted by the jaws and cause the wire to be stretched.

In accordance with the present invention, the wire grip thus far described, which is of conventional construction, is provided with a novel safety latch device generally designated as 50 in the drawings.

Device 50 generally includes a plural position latch plate 52 having an eye opening 54 arranged adjacent one end thereof for connecting the latch plate to the hooked end of a hot stick." It will be understood that when the latch plate is suspended from a hot stick," the remaining portions of the wire grip are in turn suspended from the latch plate, such as to permit the wire grip to be placedupon or removed from wire 38 when

jaws

16, 32 are open, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Latch plate 52 is movably connected to body portion 10 by a headed pin 56, which is slidably receivable. within an elongated slot 58 arranged adjacent the other end of the latch plate. For purposes of reference, latch plate 52 will be referred to as being bounded by first and second lengthwise extending

side edges

60, 62 and

semicircular end edges

64, 66, whereas slot 58 will be referred to as being bounded by first and

second sidewalls

68, 70 and first and second

semicircular end walls

72, 74. It will be understood that end edge 64 and first end wall 74 are substantially concentrically arranged and that first side edge 60 and first sidewall 68 are arranged in substantially parallel relationship.

Affixed to body portion 10 at a position spaced slightly vertically above headed pin 56 is a pin 76, which defines a cylindrical cam surface alternately engageable with first side edge 60 and end edge 64.

Latch plate 52 is shown in solid line in FIGS. 1 and 2 as being in a first position relative to body portion 10, wherein the weight of the body portion is supported by the latch plate, via pin 56 and slot first end wall 74, prior to the resting of jaw 16 on wire 38. Thereafter, the weight of the wire grip will be supported by the wire, so as to permit the hooked end of the hot stick" to be removed from eye opening 54. Upon removal, the force of gravity acting upon the latch plate automatically causes same to move into its second position, shown in phantom line in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in solid line in FIG. 3, wherein the lower or other end of the latch plate extends across opening 48, such as to prevent accidental dislodgement of the wire from between the jaws. During movement of latch plate 52 between its first and second positions, it is guided for substantially vertical reciprocating movement by

pins

56 and 76, which cooperate with slot first sidewall 68 and first side edge 60, respectively.

The weight of latch plate 52 will thereafter serve to maintain the latch plate in its second position, wherein slot second end wall 72 rests on pin 56, until the latch plate is positively manipulated for the purpose of either removing the wire grip from the wire or to move the latch plate into its permanent locking or third position to be hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The upstanding condition of latch plate 52 in its second position gives a clear visual indication to the operator of the wire grip that final latching has not been completed.

With latch plate 52 in its second position, an operator would then engage link 40 with his hot stick for the purpose of placing

jaws

16 and 32 in their gripping position; spring 44 serving to exert sufficient clamping pressure on the wire to ensure against dislodgement of the wire grip during permanent latching of the latch plate to be now described.

Preferably, latch plate 52 is permanently latched before application of wire-stretching force to link 40. Permanent latching of latch plate 52 is effected by the operator once again employing his "hot stick" to return latch plate 52 to its full line position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and immediately whereafter rotating the latch plate through substantially 180 to its third or permanently latch position, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. It will be noted that during such movement,

pins

56 and 76 slideably engage with slot first end wall 74 and end edge 64, respectively, so as to insure pivotal movement of the latch plate relative to body portion 10. To ensure uninterrupted manipulation of the latch plate by the hot stick during movement between the first and third positions thereof, the upper end of the latch plate is formed outwardly relative to body portion 10, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, to permit the hooked end of the hot stick" to freely clear wire 38.

Latching oflatch plate 52 in its third position is effected by providing a side-opening recess 80 in side edge 62, which is adapted to receive fulcrum pin 22; the latch plate recess having a notch 82 arranged to receive a spring-operated ball detent device 84 to releasably retain pin 52 within recess 80. It will be understood that when latch plate 52 is in its third position, it cooperates with body portion 10 to provide support for both ends of fulcrum pin 22, thereby greatly increasing the clamping load which may be applied to wire 38 prior to failure of the fulcrum pin.

After use, the wire grip may be removed from wire 38 by returning link 40 to its jaw open position, shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, the operator employs his hot stick to return latc'h plate 52 to its first position and lift the wire grip from the wire.

Iclaim:

1. A wire grip comprising:

a body portion;

a pair ofjaws on said body portion and having a side opening through which a wire to be gripped may be admitted;

a fulcrum pin for supporting one of said jaws for movement relative to the other of said jaws for clamping a wire therebetween;

operating means for moving said one jaw;

a latch plate;

means arranged on one end of said plate for removable connection to an operator-manipulated tool;

means for mounting said plate adjacent another end thereof on said body portion adjacent said other jaw, said mounting means constraining said plate alternatively for generally vertical reciprocating movement from a first position to a second position wherein said other end of said plate extends across said opening or for vertical pivoting movement from said first position to a third position wherein a portion of said plate intermediate said ends 5 thereof extends across said opening; and i means for releasably latching said plate adjacent said one end thereof to said fulcrum pin when said plate is in third position.

2. A wire grip according to claim 1, wherein said means for latching said plate includes a side-opening recess in a lengthwise extending edge of said plate arranged to receive said fulcrum pin, a notch arranged within said recess, and spring detent means carried on said fulcrum pin for latching engagement within said notch when said fulcrum pin is received within said recess.

3. A wire grip according to claim 2, wherein said means for connection is an eye opening in said plate immediately adjacent said one end thereof, said side-opening recess is spaced from said eye opening in a direction lengthwise of said plate, and said plate from said side-opening recess towards said one end being formed outwardly from said plate in a direction away from said body portion.

4. A wire grip according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes an elongated slot opening arranged to extend lengthwise of said plate adjacent said other end thereof, pin means carried on said body portion and slideably received within said slot, and guide means carried on said body portion, said guide means being arranged for sliding engagement with said plate and cooperating with said pin means and slot to constrain said plate for movement as aforesaid.

5. A wire grip according to claim 4, wherein said guide means defines a curved cam surface, said slot is bounded by first and second sidewalls arranged to extend lengthwise of said plate and first and second end walls, said other end of said plate is bounded by first and second side edges arranged to extend lengthwise of said plate and an end edge, at least said first sidewall and edge being substantially parallel, said first end wall and said end edge being semicircular and concentrically arranged, said pin means being engageable with said first end wall when said plate is in said first and third positions and with said second end wall when said plate is in said second position, said pin means and cam surface cooperating with said first sidewall and edge to constrain said plate for movement between said first and second positions and cooperating with said first end wall and end edge to constrain said plate for movement between said first and third positions.

6. A wire grip according to claim 5, wherein said plate pivots through about 180 in moving between said first and third positions; said guide means is a pin defining a cylindrical cam surface, the axis of the last said pin being arranged vertically above said pin means relative to said other jaw.

7. A wire grip according to claim 5, wherein said means for latching said plate includes a side-opening recess in said second side edge of said plate arranged to receive said fulcrum pin, a notch arranged within said recess, and spring detent means carried on said fulcrum pin for latching engagement within said notch when said fulcrum pin is received within said recess.

Claims

1. A wire grip comprising: a body portion; a pair of jaws on said body portion and having a side opening through which a wire to be gripped may be admitted; a fulcrum pin for supporting one of said jaws for movement relative to the other of said jaws for clamping a wire therebetween; operating means for moving said one jaw; a latch plate; means arranged on one end of said plate for removable connection to an operator-manipulated tool; means for mounting said plate adjacent another end thereof on said body portion adjacent said other jaw, said mounting means constraining said plate alternatively For generally vertical reciprocating movement from a first position to a second position wherein said other end of said plate extends across said opening or for vertical pivoting movement from said first position to a third position wherein a portion of said plate intermediate said ends thereof extends across said opening; and means for releasably latching said plate adjacent said one end thereof to said fulcrum pin when said plate is in third position.

6. A wire grip according to claim 5, wherein said plate pivots through about 180* in moving between said first and third positions; said guide means is a pin defining a cylindrical cam surface, the axis of the last said pin being arranged vertically above said pin means relative to said other jaw.