ZA200904255B - Cable anchoring device - Google Patents
Cable anchoring device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- ZA200904255B ZA200904255B ZA200904255A ZA200904255A ZA200904255B ZA 200904255 B ZA200904255 B ZA 200904255B ZA 200904255 A ZA200904255 A ZA 200904255A ZA 200904255 A ZA200904255 A ZA 200904255A ZA 200904255 B ZA200904255 B ZA 200904255B
- Authority
- ZA
- South Africa
- Prior art keywords
- cable
- anchoring device
- anchoring
- supporting structure
- cord
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000004873 anchoring Methods 0.000 title claims description 97
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims description 38
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 38
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002265 prevention Effects 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Electric Cable Installation (AREA)
Description
. ~ . 2. oe ~
ADI ~2008/0425
NE = —
THIS invention relates to a cable anchoring device. More specifically, the invention relates to a cable anchoring device for anchoring overhead cables or underground cables to a cable supporting structure thereby to prevent the theft thereof.
Overhead and underground cables are used to distribute power and provide telecommunications to ordinary households and businesses. However, their high copper content makes these cables very valuable and extremely vulnerable to theft. : In particular, overhead cables run between the upper portions of support pylons or poles, and are secured thereto by cable hooks. Thieves cut the cable at two locations, attach one end to a vehicle and simply pull the cut section of the cable through the cable hooks and off the support pylons or poles. A similar procedure is used to steal underground cable, with the cable being cut at two different locations, generally at neighbouring man holes, attaching one end of the cut cable to a vehicle and pulling the cable out of the ground. In so doing, thieves are capable of stealing kilometres of cable at a time and selling the stolen cable for huge amounts of money.
The stolen cables cause massive losses to both government, who have to continuously replace the stolen cable, and businesses where productivity is affected as a result of no power and/or no access to telecommunications. :
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable anchoring device that aims at addressing the abovementioned problems by making cable theft as difficult as possible.
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According to the invention there is provided a cable anchoring device including: first and second clamps, each clamp having: first and second clamping elements for clamping a cable therebetween; means for locking the first and second clamping elements together, gripping formations on clamping faces of the first and second clamping elements for gripping the cable; and an anchoring cord for connecting the first and second clamps to one another, the anchoring cord being of a sufficient length to wrap around at least a portion of the supporting structure supporting the cable in a manner which prevents the anchoring cord extending between clamped first and second clamps from being removed from the supporting structure without first removing the cable from the supporting structure or cutting the anchoring cord itself, such that in use, the wrapped anchoring cord is retainable on the supporting structure by the supporting structure and/or the cable supported thereon, thereby anchoring the clamped cable to the supporting structure.
Typically, the wrapped anchoring cord is capable of being captive on the supporting structure by the supporting structure itself or between the cable and a secondary limit. Generally, the secondary limit is the ground or other surface supporting the support structure.
The supporting structure may be a pole, pylon or post for supporting overhead cables. The supporting structure may also be floor, wall or roof mounted structures for supporting underground cables. Preferably, the clamps are clamped to the cable in such a manner that the supporting structure about which the anchoring cord is in use wrapped around, lies between the first and second clamps.
The first and second clamping elements of each clamp may be substantially similar in shape a and size. Generally, the locking means are a pair of locking means for clamping corresponding opposite ends of the clamping elements to one another. Typically, the first and second clamping elements of each clamp are hingedly connected to one another at a hinged end thereof and lockable to one another by the locking means at an opposite opening end thereof. Preferably, the clamping elements, near the hinged ends thereof, define passageways sized and shaped to receive a pin there through, thereby hingedly connecting the clamping elements to each other.
The locking means may be a releasable or non-releasable locking means. Typically, the releasable locking means is co-operative with locking formations located at or near the opening ends of the first and second clamping elements of each clamp, thereby to lock and/or unlock the opening ends as required. Preferably, the releasable locking means is a pad lock.
The non-releasable locking means may comprise a first locking formation at or near the opening end of the first clamping element of each clamp and a second locking formation at or near the opening end of the second clamping element of each clamp, the first and second locking formations being correspondingly engagable thereby to non-releasably lock the opening ends of the first and second clamping elements of each clamp to one another. Generally, the first locking formation and the second locking formation co-operate to function as a ratchet mechanism allowing the first and second locking formations to move relative to one another in a locking direction while preventing the first and second locking formations from moving relative to one another in an opposite unlocking direction.
Preferably, the first locking formation or second locking formation is a toothed member and the other of the first locking formation or second locking formation is a tooth or pawl engagable with the toothed member. More preferably, the tooth or pawl extends into a passageway defined by _ the respective opening end of the first or second clamping element such that the tooth or pawi is engagebale with the toothed member as the toothed member passes through the passageway.
Most preferably, the tooth or pawl, and the teeth on the toothed member, are angled so as to allow relative movement in the locking direction only.
The gripping formations may be gripping teeth or gripping grooves defined along the clamping faces of the first and second clamping elements. Typically, the gripping teeth or gripping grooves are harder than the cable such that, in use, the gripping teeth or gripping grooves bite into the cable clamped thereby, so as to restrict or prevent the clamp from moving laterally relative to the cable. Preferably, the gripping teeth or gripping grooves are manufactured integrally with the clamping elements and hardened to a hardness greater than that of the cable.
Tightening formations are preferably located at or near the opening ends of the first and second clamping elements for enabling an installer to impart a sufficient force to the clamp to cause the gripping teeth or gripping grooves to bite into the cable while locking the clamp to the cable.
The anchoring cord may be fixed to the one or more clamps either before or after clamping the one or more clamps to the cable. Generally, the anchoring cord is manufactured from a material that is difficult to sever.
Preferably, the cable anchoring device further includes a motion sensor for detecting unauthorized motion thereof and/or a tracking device for tracking the movement thereof and/or an explosive die cartridge for die marking the cable on the occurrence of predefined parameter.
More preferably, the predefined parameter is the unauthorized motion and/or the unauthorized movement of the device or cable clamped thereby as detected by the motion sensor and/or the tracking device respectively. Most preferably, the motion sensor, tracking device, die cartridge or other similar device is in communication with a local or remote alarm system to alert the necessary persons of any cable tampering.
A method of installing a cable anchoring device including the steps of: (A) clamping a first clamp connected to a first end of an anchoring cord to a cable; (B) passing a second clamp connected to a second end of the anchoring cord around at least a portion of a supporting structure supporting the cable, such that the anchoring cord is wrapped around the supporting structure in a manner which prevents the anchoring cord extending between clamped first and second clamps from being removed from the supporting structure without first removing the cable from the supporting structure or cutting the anchoring cord itself; and (C) clamping the second clamp to the cable thereby anchoring the device and cable clamped thereby to the supporting structure.
Typically, the anchoring cord is wrapped around the supporting structure at a location which ensures that the wrapped anchoring cord is captive by the supporting structure itself or between the cable and a secondary limit. Generally, the secondary limit is the ground or other surface supporting the support structure.
. &
Preferably, the first and second clamps are clamped to the cable such that the supporting structure supporting the cable lies between the first and second clamps. Typically, the anchoring cord is fixed to the one or more clamps either before or after clamping the one or more clamps to the cable.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a cable anchoring device installed to an overhead cable and supporting structure;
Figure 2 shows a side view of a clamp of the cable anchoring device in an open position;
Figure 3 shows a side view of the clamp of figure 2 in a closed and locked position;
Figure 4 shows an isometric view of the clamp locked onto the cable; and
Figure 5 shows an isometric view of the clamp in figure 4 in the open position.
A cable anchoring device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is designated generally with reference numeral 10 in figure 1. The cable anchoring device 10 comprises a pair of clamps 12, 14 for clamping to an overhead cable 50, and an anchoring cord 16 for wrapping and anchoring the device 10 to support pylons 52.
Referring now to figure 2 and figure 3, each clamp 12, 14 comprises of a first clamping element 18 and a second clamping element 20 hingedly connected to each other on one end by a hinge 22. Preferably, the first and second clamping elements 18, 20 are similarly shaped halves, which halves when locked together are cylindrical in shape, as illustrated in figure 3 and figure i.
Clamping elements 18 and 20, as illustrated in figure 4, each define hinge passageways 24A and 24B respectively, which passageways 24A, 24B are shaped and sized to receive a pin 26.
The clamping elements 18, 20 are pivotable about the pin 26 between an open position (as shown in figure 2 and figure 5), wherein first and second open ends 28, 30 of the clamping elements 18, 20 are open to receive the cable 50, and a clamped position (as shown in figure 3 and figure 4), wherein the open ends 28, 30 of the clamping elements 18, 20 are lockable together about the cable 50.
The cable anchoring device 10 further comprises of a non-releasable locking means, specifically illustrated in figure 2, in the form of a first locking formation 32 on the first open end 28 of the first clamping element 18 and a second locking formation 34 on the second open end of the second clamping element 20, the first and second locking formations 32, 34 being correspondingly engagable with one another so as to lock the open ends 28, 30 of the clamp elements 18, 20 together, as shown in figure 1, figure 3 and figure 4.
Referring now to figure 2 and figure 5, the first open end 28 of the first clamping element 18 defines the first locking formation in the form of a lock passageway 32 having a locking tooth 32A operable within the lock passageway 32. The second locking formation on the second open end 30 of the second clamping element 20 is in form of a toothed member 34, the lock passageway 32 being shaped and sized to allow the toothed member 34 to pass there through.
The locking tooth 32A and the teeth on the toothed member 34 are preferably angled teeth, such that engagement of the locking tooth 32A and the toothed member 34 cooperate to function like a ratchet so as to allow motion of the toothed member 34 in one direction only, that is, into the lock passageway 32 in the locking direction.
Tightening formations 36, 38 protrude outwardly from the open ends 28, 30 of the clamping elements 18, 20. The tightening formations 36, 38 allow the required force to be imparted to the open ends 28, 30 of the clamping elements 18, 20 to bring the open ends 28, 30 together when clamping the clamps 12, 14 to the cable 50.
Inner clamping faces 40, 42 of the clamping elements 18, 20 define gripping formations in the form of a number of gripping teeth or gripping grooves 44, as illustrated in figure 5, for biting into the cable 50 when the clamp 12, 14 is clamped onto the cable 50. With the gripping teeth or gripping grooves 44 embedded in the cable 50, lateral movement of the clamp 12, 14 relative to the cable 50 is restricted.
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The anchoring cord 16 is preferably of a sufficient length to wrap around a support pylon 52 at least once as shown in figure 1. In use, the first clamp 12, connected to a first end of the cord 16, is clamped to the cable 50 near a support pylon 52. The second clamp 14, connected to a second end of the cord 16, is then passed around the pylon 52 such that the cord 16 is wrapped at least once around the pylon 52 at a location beneath the cable 50 thereby capturing the anchoring cord 16 between the cable 50 and the ground supporting the pylon 52. Thereafter the clamp 14 is clamped to the cable 50, proximate to and preferably on the opposite side of the / pylon 52 on which the first clamp 12 is clamped. In this position the cable anchoring device 10, via the anchoring cord 16, anchors the cable 50 to the pylon 52, thereby making theft of any length of cable 50 anchored to the pylon 52 extremely difficult, particularly by pulling a cut length of cable 50 from the pylons 52. Further, the capturing of the anchoring cord 16 between the cable 50 and the ground prevents the anchoring cord 16 from being removed from the pylon 52 without first removing the cable 50 from the pylon 52 or cutting the anchoring cord 16 itself.
A motion sensor, tracking device, die cartridge, other similar system or any combination of the aforementioned (not shown) may be housed within either or both clamping elements 18, 20.
Unauthorized motion, position or tampering of the device 10 or cable 50 will trigger the motion sensor, tracking device, die cartridge or other similar system which in turn may transmit a signal to a local or remote alarm so as to alert the necessary persons that the cable 50 is being stolen or tampered with, or cause the die cartridge to explode thereby marking the cable 50 so as to make theft detection easier.
Although the invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications or variations of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the cable anchoring device 10 may be applied to the prevention of underground cable theft where cable anchoring device 10 anchors the underground cable to underground supporting structures. Another example is instead of anchoring the clamps 12, 14 to the supporting structure by a single anchoring cord 16 wrapped around the supporting structure, each clamp may be anchored directly to the supporting structure by individual anchoring cords.
Claims (31)
1. A cable anchoring device including: first and second clamps, each clamp having: first and second clamping elements for clamping a cable therebetween; means for locking the first and second clamping elements together; gripping formations on clamping faces of the first and second clamping elements for gripping the cable; and an anchoring cord for connecting the first and second clamps to one another, the anchoring cord being of a sufficient length to wrap around at least a portion of the supporting structure supporting the cable in a manner which prevents the anchoring cord extending between clamped first and second clamps from being removed from the supporting structure without first removing the cable from the supporting structure or cutting the anchoring cord itself, such that in use, the wrapped anchoring cord is retainable on the supporting structure by the supporting structure and/or the cable supported thereon, thereby anchoring the clamped cable to the supporting structure.
2. A cable anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein the wrapped anchoring cord is capable of being captive on the supporting structure by the supporting structure itself or between the cable and a secondary limit.
3. A cable anchoring device according to claim 2, wherein the secondary limit is the ground or other surface supporting the support structure.
4. A cable anchoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and second clamps are clamped to the cable in such a manner that the supporting structure about which the anchoring cord is in use wrapped around, lies between the first and second clamps.
. )
5. A cable anchoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first and second clamping elements of each clamp are substantially similar in shape and size.
6. A cable anchoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first and second clamping elements of each clamp are hingedly connected to one another at a hinged end thereof and lockable to one another by the locking means at an opposite opening end thereof.
7. A cable anchoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the locking means is a releasable or non-releasable locking means.
8. A cable anchoring device according to claim 7, wherein the releasable locking means is co- operative with locking formations located at or near the opening ends of the first and second clamping elements of each clamp, thereby to lock and/or unlock the opening ends as required.
9. A cable anchoring device according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the releasable locking means is a pad lock.
10. A cable anchoring device according to claim 7, wherein the non-releasable locking means comprises a first locking formation at or near the opening end of the first clamping element of each clamp and a second locking formation at or near the opening end of the second clamping element of each clamp, the first and second locking formations being correspondingly engagable thereby to non-releasably lock the opening ends of the first and second clamping elements of each clamp to one another.
11. A cable anchoring device according to claim 10, wherein the first locking formation and the second locking formation co-operate to function as a ratchet mechanism allowing the first and second locking formations to move relative to one another in a locking direction while preventing the first and second locking formations from moving relative to one another in an opposite unlocking direction.
12. A cable anchoring device according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the first locking formation or second locking formation is a toothed member and the other of the first locking formation or second locking formation is a tooth or pawl engagable with the toothed member.
. '
13. A cable anchoring device according to claim 12, wherein the tooth or pawl extends into a passageway defined by the respective opening end of the first or second clamping element such that the tooth or pawl is engagebale with the toothed member as the toothed member passes through the passageway.
14. A cable anchoring device according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the tooth or pawl, and the teeth on the toothed member, are angled so as to allow relative movement in the locking direction only.
15. A cable anchoring device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the gripping formations are gripping teeth or gripping grooves defined along the clamping faces of the first and second clamping elements.
16. A cable anchoring device according to claim 15, wherein the gripping teeth or gripping grooves are harder than the cable such that, in use, the gripping teeth or gripping grooves bite into the cable clamped thereby, so as to restrict or prevent the clamp from moving laterally relative to the cable.
17. A cable anchoring device according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the gripping teeth or gripping grooves are manufactured integrally with the clamping elements and hardened to a hardness greater than that of the cable.
18. A cable anchoring device according to any one of claims 15 to 17 read together with claim 6, wherein tightening formations are located at or near the opening ends of the first and second clamping elements for enabling an installer to impart a sufficient force to the clamp to cause the gripping teeth or gripping grooves to bite into the cable while locking the clamp to the cable.
19. A cable anchoring device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the anchoring cord is fixed to the one or more clamps either before or after clamping the one or more clamps to the cable.
20.A cable anchoring device according to claim 19, wherein the anchoring cord is : manufactured from a material that is difficult to sever.
21. A cable anchoring device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cable anchoring device further includes a motion sensor for detecting unauthorized motion thereof and/or a tracking device for tracking the movement thereof and/or an explosive die cartridge for die marking the cable on the occurrence of predefined parameter.
22. A cable anchoring device according to claim 21, wherein the predefined parameter is the unauthorized motion and/or the unauthorized movement of the device or cable clamped thereby as detected by the motion sensor and/or the tracking device respectively.
23. A cable anchoring device according to claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the motion sensor, tracking device, die cartridge or other similar device is in communication with a local or remote alarm system to alert the necessary persons of any cable tampering.
24. A cable anchoring device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the supporting structure is: a pole, pylon or post for supporting overhead cables; any floor, wall or roof mounted structures for supporting underground cables; or any other similar supporting structure.
A method of installing a cable anchoring device including the steps of: (A) clamping a first clamp connected to a first end of an anchoring cord to a cable; (B) passing a second clamp connected to a second end of the anchoring cord around at least a portion of a supporting structure supporting the cable, such that the anchoring cord is wrapped around the supporting structure in a manner which prevents the anchoring cord extending between clamped first and second clamps from being removed from the supporting structure without first removing the cable from the supporting structure or cutting the anchoring cord itself; and (C) clamping the second clamp to the cable thereby anchoring the device and cable clamped thereby to the supporting structure.
26. A method of installing a cable anchoring device according to claim 25, wherein the anchoring cord is wrapped around the supporting structure at a location which ensures that the wrapped anchoring cord is captive by the supporting structure itself or between the cable and a secondary limit.
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27. A method of installing a cable anchoring device according to claim 26, wherein the : secondary limit is the ground or other surface supporting the support structure.
28. A method of installing a cable anchoring device according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the first and second clamps are clamped to the cable such that the supporting structure supporting the cable lies between the first and second clamps.
29. A method of installing a cable anchoring device according to any one of claims 25 to 28, wherein the anchoring cord is fixed to the one or more clamps either before or after clamping the one or more clamps to the cable.
30. A cable anchoring device substantially as herein described and illustrated.
31. A method of installing a cable anchoring device substantially as herein described and illustrated. Dated this 18" day of June 2009. Sn Sibanda & Zantwijk Applicant's Patent Attorney
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA200904255A ZA200904255B (en) | 2008-06-23 | 2009-06-18 | Cable anchoring device |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA200805449 | 2008-06-23 | ||
| ZA200904255A ZA200904255B (en) | 2008-06-23 | 2009-06-18 | Cable anchoring device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| ZA200904255B true ZA200904255B (en) | 2010-03-31 |
Family
ID=42245903
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA200904255A ZA200904255B (en) | 2008-06-23 | 2009-06-18 | Cable anchoring device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| ZA (1) | ZA200904255B (en) |
-
2009
- 2009-06-18 ZA ZA200904255A patent/ZA200904255B/en unknown
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