NZ205187A - Cable clamp with side aperture and wedge lock - Google Patents

Description

205187 Priority Date{s): Complete Specification Filed: ?rT~e^ Class: .. 'JjAk.......

PubSication Date: p 0. Jos' -ns!, No; jarj) Patents form No.5 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "IMPROVED BELL FOR SECURING TRUCKLOADS OF LOGS FOR WATERING AND DEWATERING" i7WE BAKER CABLE LTD. of c/o No. 217, 1717 Third Avenue, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada V2L 3G7, a Canadian Company hereby declare the invention, for which -I-/we pray that a patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it' is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement (followed by page T A.) 205187 . ' The present invention relates to a cable securing device and more particularly to an improved bell for securing the ends of cables used to bundle logs for motorized or water transport.

Typically, cast iron bells of this sort are used to secure wire ropes that pass around bundles of logs which are transported over land to a site from whence they are off-loaded into the water for flotation to a mill or other installation where the logs are processed. Cast iron bells currently in use fixedly receive one end of the cable therein, the other end of the cable being releasably secured to the bell by threading the end of the cable through an opening formed in the bell and then wedging the cable firmly into contact with the bell. Problems arise, however, when the end of the cable releasably secured to the bell kinks, frays or is otherwise deformed, making it impossible to withdraw the cable from the aperture formed in the bell. The cable must then be cut resulting in a considerable wastage in what is becoming an increasingly expensive commodity. Moreover, the cable used is typically 5/8 inches in diameter, requiring the use of relatively large cutters which must be available at all work sites, resulting in another drawback attendant to the use of known clamps of this sort.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new improved cable securing bell to obviate and mitigate from the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the present invention, then, there is provided a cable clamp for securing a cable comprising a body member having a longitudinally extending aperture formed therethrough, the aperture having opposed first and second convergent surfaces, a cable receiving slot formed - 1ft- 205187 between an outer surface of the body member and the aperture, a wedge member insertable into the aperture to define a cable receiving recess between the wedge member and the first convergent surface, the: wedge member being slidable along the second convergent surface, the aperture communicating with the slot laterally of the slot and the aperture to permit the insertion and removal of a portion of the cable to and from the recess by relative movement of the clamp and the cable laterally of the cable, and cable receiving means formed in the body member for connecting the cable clamp to another portion of a cable.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail and will be better understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a frontal perspective view of a cable clamp such as will be described hereinafter; Figure 2 is a rear elevational, partially sectional view of the clamp of Figure .L; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the clamp of Figure 1 securing a cable about a bundle of logs; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified cable clamp as described hereinafter; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the clamp of Figure 4 securing cables about a log boom.

Although for purposes of illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the present invention reference is made to the use of the cable clamp assembly described herein in the context of the logging industry, it will be appreciated that the present clamp may find application in a wide variety of areas involving the use of cables and the need for releasably securing same in an expeditious and economical manner.

With reference now to Figure 1, there is illustrated 51ZJ a clamp 10 including a body member 15, a wedge 18, a first aperture 20, a slot 24 and a second aperture 28. As shown, one end 35 of a cable 38 is releasably secured within aperture 20 as will be more fully described below, the other end 36 of cable 38 being fixedly received within aperture 28.

Body member 15 may be of any suitable shape although the oblongish configuration of Figure 1 has proven advantageous in terms of casting, economy of material and ease of handling in the field. Aperture 20 may also be oblong-shaped in cross-sectional configuration and is defined by first and second convergent surfaces including a cable engaging surface 22 and an opposed tapering surface 21. Surface 22 may parallel the longitudinal axis of body member 15 as shown. As will be appreciated, the cross-sectional diameter of aperture 20 increases in the direction opposite the incoming direction of wedge 18.

Cable receiving slot 24 which parallels the longitudinal axis of body member 15 sub-divides aperture 20 into a wedge receiving channel 30 and a cable receiving recess or channel 31. The radii of curvature of each of channels 30 and 31 are adapted to conform with those of tapered wedge surface 19 and of cable 38, respectively. Generally speaking, cable 5/8 inches in diameter is used in the logging industry such that the diameter of channel 31 is typically formed for 5/8 inch cable. Depending upon the cable size, the width of wedge 18 is chosen to equal or slightly exceed that of the cable diameter.

As shown, wedge 18 is slidably received within aperture 20 with tapered surface 19 thereof abutting and slidably engaging tapered surface 21 of aperture 20. The inner surface 17 of the wedge remains substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of body member 15 and hence with cable engaging surface 22 thereof as wedge 18 is moved inwardly and outwardly 205187 of aperture 20. As shown, inner surfaces 17 of wedge 18 may include a concave groove 16, the curvature of which conforms to that of the outer surface of the cable to be clamped between inner surface 17 and surface 22. This of course enhances the gripping of the cable by the clamp due to- the attendant increase in cable gripping surface area.

It is desirable to slidably connect wedge 18 to body member 15 so that the wedge will not be lost or dropped and additionally to facilitate the operation of the clamp as will be more fully described below. With reference to Figure 2, this is accomplished by mating a groove 40 formed into the inner surface 13 of wedge 18 with a key 14 formed onto the inner surface of aperture 20 at the position shown. Groove 40 parallels the taper of wedge surface 19 and terminates short of the opposed ends of the wedge. It will therefore be appreciated that key 14 and groove 40 cooperate with wedge receiving channel 30, which prevents transverse displacements of wedge 18, to maintain wedge 18 in slidable contact with body member 15 at the extremes of wedge insertion or withdrawal or at any position therebetween.

As mentioned previously, body member 15 is formed with a second aperture 28 to receive and fixedly engage an opposing cable end such as 36. The securing of cable end 36 to body member 15 may be accomplished in any suitable manner readily apparent to those skilled in the art. One advantageous means of so doing is as shown in the drawings wherein aperture 28 is widened as at 28a to securely receive a sleeve 37 that is attached to cable end 36. As will be appreciated, should the need arise to detach cable end 36 from body member 15, the exertion of a pushing force to the incoming portion of cable 36 will dislodge sleeve 37 from aperture 28a.

In operation, wedge 18 may be moved in a back-and-forth sliding motion to widen or restrict access to cable receiving U U J. (J J ' rfOb/g"7 channel 31 via slot 24. By withdrawing wedge 18, cable end 35 ^ may be threaded through slot 24, the diameter of which exceeds that of the cable to provide adequate clearance, and into position within channel 31. Wedge 18 is then moved inwardly of body member 15 into the cable gripping position illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, effectively limiting the diameter of slot 24 to less than that of the cable to prevent any laterally outward displacements of the cable through the slot.

A tamping force applied to end 18a of the wedge will 10 result in the application of a sufficient gripping force upon the cable to resist any reasonably anticipated stress placed thereon. The tamping force may be applied for instance by means of a hammer and of course the slidable connection of the wedge to the body member by means of key 14 and groove 4 0 eliminates the need for the operator to align the wedge within the aperture and to hold it in place during the application of the tamping force.

To release the cable, a tamping force is applied to end 18b of the wedge to propel the wedge into its cable releas-20 ing position as indicated by phantom lines in Figure 1. As will be appreciated, the length and height of wedge IB are chosen to assure the projection of end 18b beyond the adjacent transversely extending surface of body member 15 when wedge 18 is in the cable gripping position thereof.

As will be further appreciated, the appearance of kin*-or bends, flattenings or other deformities to the cable will not necessitate the cutting thereof for the purpose of either inserting or removing the cable from the present clamp. This of course results in substantial savings in terms of reduced 30 cable wastage. <20^1^7 Another embodiment of the present invention illus- f) trated in Figure 4 hereto is particularly adapted to boom together bundles of logs. Like reference numerals are used to designate like elements. When booming bundles together, ropes are required to pass around the girth and the length of the boom much like string about a bundle of newspapers. To this end, an aperture 28' may be formed to pass transversely through body 28 rather than longitudinally therethrough shown in Figure 2.

Reference is made to Figure 5 to illustrate the use 10 of this modified clamp. As will be observed, the first cable 50 extending longitudinally of the logs is received and clamped within cable receiving channel 31 to secure the clamp at any desired position along the length of the cable. A second cable 51 which circles about the girth of the boom passes through aperture 28' such that cables 50 and 51 intersect at approximately right angles to one another. It will of course be appreciated that the actual angle of intersection will vary with irregularities in the shape of the boom. Cable 51 is free to move relative to the clamp and this of course is acceptable for the pur- pose of allowing some latitude for the relative rolling movements of the logs to one another during transport and handling. Cable 51 is not free, however, to move in the longitudinal direction of cable 50 to provide a secure means to maintain proper spacing between adjacent cables 51.

Of course, if longitudinally extending cable 50 is to be removed for de-booming or other purposes, wedge 18 may be released and cable 50 removed via slot 24 without the need for unthreading cable 50 from the clamps as would be required with conventional bells. This of course affords a substantial 30 operational advantage. - 6 - a' * a06\^7 The opposing ends of cables 50 and 51 may of course be secured and fastened together by means of the clamps described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

It will be further appreciated that the size, shape, configuration and relatively short length of aperture 28' will facilitate the extraction of cable 51 therethrough even if the cable is twisted, kinked or otherwise deformed somewhat. In this respect, the diameter of aperture 28' may considerably exceed that of cable 51. Further, the relatively short length of aperture 28' will enable the "working" of any kink or bend through the aperture without undue difficulty.

A ring or aperture 60.may be formed on body member 15 as will be most clearly seen from Figure 4. This aperture may be utilized to hook or otherwise facilitate the handling of the log booms or may indeed receive an additional cable for similar purposes.

To provide added flexibility, aperture 28* may be partially defined by a hinged gate (not shown) so that the aperture may be opened and closed to facilitate the insertion or removal of cable 51.

It will be moreover appreciated that although the present clamp has been described as suitable for gripping the opposed ends of a single cable, the present clamp may also be utilized, for instance, to connect cables to one another. Other uses and methods of construction will also occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the inventive concepts described herein. \

Claims (9)

WHAT 47WE CLAiM !S> 2051S7 jghg eiiibudliiltiilLJj -erf -tefee invenfei-on -irt which- -an e*K)lucive pjjopu.1'Ly •w privilcgc■ i-a* olaimod arc defined «t-s- fallows:

1. A cable clamp for securing a cable comprising: a body member having a longitudinally extending aperture formed therethrough, said aperture having opposed first and second convergent surfaces;

a cable receiving slot formed between an outer surface of said body member and said aperture;

a wedge member insertable into said aperture to define a cable receiving recess between said wedge member and said first convergent surface, the wedge member being slidable along said second convergent surface, said aperture communicating with said slot laterally of said slot and said aperture to permit the insertion and removal of a portion of said cable to and from said recess by relative movement of said clamp and said cable laterally of said cable; and cable receiving means formed in said body member for connecting said cable clamp to another portion of a cable.

2. The clamp of claim 1, wherein said slot is longitudinally coextensive with said aperture.

3. The clamp of claim 2 wherein said first convergent surface parallels said slot and said second convergent surface tapers relative thereto, whereby the distance between said first and second convergent surfaces increases in the direction opposite the direction that said wedge member is moved for insertion into said aperture.

said recess defined between said wedge member and said first convergent surface parallel the longitudinal axis of said body member.

5. The clamp of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said wedge member includes a concave groove extending along the length of a surface thereof disposed opposite said first convergent surface, said concave groove and said first convergent surface defining said cable receiving recess.

6. The clamp of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said wedge member is slidably connected to and retained in said body member by means of cooperating key and groove means formed on said body member and wedge member.

7. The clamp of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said cable receiving means comprise a second aperture extending longitudinally through said body member.

8. The clamp of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said cable receiving means comprise a second aperture extending transversely through said body member.

9. A cable clamp for securing a cable substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

20 5137

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ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is described a cable clamp for securing a cable, the clamp having a body member including a longitudinally extending aperture formed therethrough, the aperture having first and second convergent surfaces, a cable receiving slot formed between an outer surface of the body member and the aperture, a wedge insertable into the aperture to define a cable receiving recess between the wedge and the opposing surface of the aperture, the wedge being slidable along the other convergent surface defined in the aperture, the aperture communicating with the slot laterally of the slot and the aperture to permit the insertion and removal of a portion of the cable to and from the recess by relative movement of the clamp and the cable laterally of the cable and an aperture formed in the body member for connecting the clamp to another portion of a cable.