US3850399A

US3850399A - Hanger clamp for splicing head

Info

Publication number: US3850399A
Application number: US00370748A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Mcclymont; M Lafond
Original assignee: Plessey Inc
Current assignee: Plessey Inc
Priority date: 1973-06-18
Filing date: 1973-06-18
Publication date: 1974-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-26
Also published as: CA1006190A

Abstract

A hanger clamp adapted to rigidly secure a splicing head at any desired position with respect to a cable. A pair of novel hanger clamps secure an index bar to a pair of cable hangers. Each clamp comprises a lower clamp block having a pair of parallel downwardly extending legs with a clamping cam adapted to engage the cable hanger, and an upper clamp block with a transverse orifice and a second clamping cam adapted to engage the index bar. A rider on the index bar has an adjustable arm for holding the splicing head.

Description

[451 Nov. 26, 1974 2,958,110 11/1960 McBrien.........................248/229X 1 1 HANGER CLAMP FOR SPLICHNG HEAD [75] Inventors: Terence i. McClymont, Stony Brook, N.Y.; Maurice H. LaFond, Sterling, Mass.

Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Plessey incorporated, New York, NY.

ABSTRACT [73] Assignee:

[22] Filed: June 18, 1973 A hanger clamp adapted to rigidly secure a splicing head at any desired position with respect to a cable. A

App]. No.: 370,748

pair of novel hanger clamps secure an index bar to a pair of cable hangers. Each clamp comprises a lower [52] US. Cl. clamp block having a pair of parallel downwardly extending legs with a clamping cam adapted to engage [51] Hm. A47b 96/06 248/226 R, 229, 230, 316 R;

the cable hanger, and an upper clamp block with a transverse orifice and a second clamping cam adapted to engage the index bar. A rider on the index bar has an adjustable arm for holding the splicing head.

[58] Field of Search.

[56] References Cited 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures X 9 2 2 W 4 2 SM m W E" Tm Am M w m AV. T3 SW D E6 1 NH 6 8 6 9 4 2 PATENTEL M2 I 3,850 399 SHEEI 20? 2 FiG. 3.

HANGER CLAMP FOR SPLICING HEAD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to mounts for splicing heads. More particularly, it relates to a rigid clamp for a splicing head on an index bar, adapted to be secured between a pair of cable hangers.

Rapid and effective splicing of telephone cables is a difficult and demanding job. A preferred method of splicing is to employ a flexible strip of channel-type insulated jointing clips having insulation-piercing edge portions. Such clips are described and claimed in US. Pat. No. 3,517,804, issued June 30, 1970 and assigned to the parent company of Applicants assignee. In essense, a magazine or cassette of such clips is mounted in a splicing head and a clip is automatically fed onto a punch plate with each operation. The operator places a pair of insulated wires within the channel and actuates the device. A pair of folding die members close over the clip and the punch rises, thus forcing the sides of the clip down over the wires. Sharp-edged metal excrescences in the bottom of each clip pierce the insulation of each wire and make contact with the metal core. Provision can also be made to shear the loose wire end within the clip. The die then opens as the punch retracts, and a new clip is fed to the punch plate.

While hand splicing tools have been used for many years, a mounted power tool is preferred, since this allows both of the operators hands to be free to manipulate the wires. A power tool also provides a uniform high quality of splice and high splicing rate.

The mounting for such a tool must be very firm, but at the same time it should be easy to move the splicing head in both the lateral and vertical directions. Because ofthe large number of wires in a typical cable, and the desire to have the splice as unbulky as possible, splices are made at a plurality of lateral positions. The splicing head must be accessible to all portions of the cable, so vertical adjustability is also essential. Index bars that allow such movement of the splicing head are known and form no part ofthe present invention, which relates only to the clamping of such a bar to the cable hangers.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A general object of the present invention is to provide an improved clamp for mounting a splicing head between cable hangers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved clamp for a splicing head index bar adapted for easy and firm connection to cable hangers.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved clamp for a splicing head index bar wherein diverse cable hanger sizes and spacings can be accomodated.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description of embodiments thereof, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in connection with the appended claims.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the clamps of the invention with an index bar, splicing head and splicing head mount;

FIG. 2 is a elevation view, partly in section, of the hanger clamp of the invention, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the hanger clamp taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, with the clamp ing cams in the open position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper clamping cam and associated spindle;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3 but with the clamping cams in the closed or locked position; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lower clamping cam.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS The present invention comprises a novel hanger clamp which is adapted to quickly and easily secure an index bar to a pair of cable hangers at any desired position, despite considerable variation in dimensions of the cable hanger.

Cable hangers are generally channel-shaped arms that clip into a wall bracket at one end, the depth of the channel sides decreasing with distance from the wall bracket to form filleted side walls. A pair of cable hangers are indicated at 10 in FIG. 1, and are clipped into wall brackets 12. The hanger clamps of the invention support an index bar 15 on which rides the splicing head mount A and the splicing head B.

The hanger clamp 14 of the present invention comprises a lower clamp block 16 and an upper clamp block 18, which is preferably one piece but could be separate pieces. The lower clamp block 16 is of inverted-U shape and comprises a pair of downwardly extending

parallel legs

20, 22 connected across the top. Block 16 is adapted to fit loosely over and rest upon the cable hanger 10. A rotatable clamping cam 24 is provided in a rectangular opening 25 in leg 22 which, upon rotation to the locking position, clamps cable hanger I0 firmly between cam 24 and leg 20,

The upper clamping block 18 secures index bar IS in position, and has a transverse almost-circular orifice 26 adapted to loosely retain the index bar 15. Block 18 is also of inverted-U shape. A second clamping cam 28 is located in a rectangular opening 29 in the top of block 18 and, when in the locking position, clamps the index bar 15 between cam 28 and the top surface of lower block 16. The latter surface is provided with a chordshaped groove or indentation 30 (FIG. 2) which, together with orifice 26, provides a circular opening 31 slightly larger than index bar 15.

Upper locking cam 28 is mounted on an upper spindle 32 having an eccentric handle 34 at its outer end. Similarly, lower cam 24 is mounted on a lower spindle 36 having handle 38 at its outer end.

Two hanger clamps 14 are required to support index bar 15, and it is preferred that they be mirror images of each other. To lock index bar 15 in position, the left hand upper locking cam is turned counter-clockwise and the right hand locking cam is turned clockwise as indicated by arrows in FIG. 1. This puts bar 15 into compression and strains the cable hangers 10 away from each other. thus increasing the rigidity of the support. Lower clamp blocks 16 are identical, but are secured (by screws 40) to upper block 18 so as to have lower earns 24 on the outside of the respective cable hangers this merely keeps handles 38 away from the work area. As noted, it is preferred to have upper and

lower blocks

16, 18 machined from a single casting.

Each

spindle

32, 36 is journaled into the appropriate portion of the respective clamping block for rotation in suitable bushings (not shown).

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the upper spindle 32 is a steel bar having an intermediate bend of about 120 to provide necessary leverage. Handle 34 is affixed over the outer end of spindle 32 with a set screw 42 engaging a flat machined into the bar. Upper locking cam 28 is a cylinder having its outer surface machined in a concave shape to conform to the outer surface of the index bar 15, and with an off-center bore to accommodate spindle 32 and provide the required cam action. Cam 28 is secured to spindle 32 by a pair of set screws 44 (one shown) engaging suitably positioned flats machined into spindle 32.

The circular opening formed by orifice 26 and indentation 30 is large enough to easily accomodate index bar 15. The positioning of cam 28 on spindle 32 may be such that when the handle 34 is hanging straight down cam 28 is in the open position shown in FIG. 3, so index bar is not impeded when inserted through orifice 26. When handle 34 is rotated, cam 28 moves to the locking position shown in FIG. 5.

Spindles

32 and 36 are similar, and the latter need not be separately described.

Lower cam 24 is best illustrated in FIG. 6. Cam 24 is a cylinder with a longitudinal off-center bore 46 for spindle 36. Cam 24 is provided with a flat 48 on the side of its outer surface closest to the bore 46. As seen in FIG. 3, where cam 24 is in the open position, flat 48 is in approximately the same plane as the inner surface of leg 22, and the channel 50 formed by

legs

20, 22 is completely open. Cable hangers 10 come in a variety of widths (varying by perhaps l/4 inches), and channel 50 is large enough to accommodate such variations, in conjunction with flat 48. In the locked position (FIG. 5) the cylindrical surface of cam 24 will engage the hanger l0 regardless of its dimensions.

In operation, the two hanger clamps. index bar and splicing head mount are provided as an accessory kit for the splicing head unit. the operator places the clamps over the respective ends of bars 15, and slides them to appropriate positions so as to engage hangers I0. He then secures the clamps to the hangers, and thereafter locks the index bar in place. A feature of the present invention is the ability of the clamps in combination with the index bar to function with cable hanger pairs of diverse spacing, the only limitations being (a) the length of the bar and (b) the space required by the splicing head.

The hanger clamps of the invention may be fabricated from any suitable materials, but aluminum is preferred for upper and lower blocks l6, l8 and handles 34, 38, the

spindles

32, 36 may be of steel rod stock, and

cams

24, 28 can be machined from stainless bar stock.

Various changes in the details, steps, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Clamping means for securing a bar to a horizontally extending hanger comprising:

an upper clamping block and a lower clamping block;

said lower clamping block being of inverted-U shape and having a pair of parallel, downwardly extending legs forming a channel wider than said hanger;

first rotatable cylindrical cam means mounted in an opening in one said leg and adapted to clamp said hanger between said cam means and the other said leg upon rotation from an open position to a locked position;

said upper clamping block being of inverted-U shape having a pair of parallel, downwardly extending legs secured to the top of said lower clamping block and forming therewith an orifice of larger dimensions than said bar transverse to the channel in said lower clamping block; and

second rotatable cylindrical cam means mounted in an opening in said upper clamping block communicating with said orifice and adapted to clamp said bar between said cam and the opposite wall of said orifice upon rotation from an open position to a locked position.

2. Clamping means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bar is cylindrical, and said second cam means has a concave surface of the same curvature as said bar, the axis of said second cam means being transverse to the axis of said bar.

3. Clamping means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first cam means has a flat on the surface facing said channel when in the open position.

4. Clamping means as claimed in claim I, wherein said first and second cams are mounted for rotation on spindles journaled into said respective lower and upper clamping blocks, each said spindle including outwardly extending handle means angled away from the axis of rotation of said cam.

5. Clamping means for securing an index bar between a pair of parallel, horizontally extending cable hangers comprising a pair of cable hanger clamps, each said clamp comprising:

an upper clamping block and a lower clamping block;

said lower clamping block being of inverted-U-shape and having a pair of parallel, downwardly extending legs forming a channel wider than said hanger;

said upper clamping block being of inverted-U-shape having a pair of parallel, downwardly extending legs secured to the top of said lower clamping block and forming therewith a cylindrical orifice of larger diameter than said index bar transverse to the channel in said lower clamping block; and

second rotatable cylindrical cam means mounted in an opening in the top of said upper clamping block and adapted to clamp said index bar between said cam and the opposite wall of said orifice upon rotation from an open position to a locked position, said second cam means having a concave surface of the same curvature as said index bar, the axis of said second cam means being transverse to the axis of said bar. 6. Clamping means as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cylindrical orifice includes a chord-shaped indentation in the top surface of said lower clamping block.

7. Clamping means as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first cam means has a flat on the surface facing said channel when in the open position.

8. Clamping means as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first and second cams are mounted for rotation on spindles journaled into said respective lower and upper clamping blocks, each said spindle including outwardly extending handle means angled away from the axis of rotation of said cam.

9. Clamping means as claimed in claim 4, wherein said upper cam means is affixed on said spindle so as to be in the open position when said handle means is hanging straight down.

10. Clamping means as claimed in claim 8, wherein said upper cam means is affixed on said spindle so as to be in the open position when said handle means is hanging straight down.

11. Clamping means as claimed in claim 4, wherein said upper and lower clamping blocks comprise a single, integral piece.

12. Clampling means as claimed in claim 8, wherein said upper and lower clamping blocks comprise a single, integral piece.

Claims

1. Clamping means for securing a bar to a horizontally extending hanger comprising: an upper clamping block and a lower clamping block; said lower clamping block being of inverted-U shape and having a pair of parallel, downwardly extending legs forming a channel wider than said hanger; first rotatable cylindrical cam means mounted in an opening in one said leg and adapted to clamp said hanger between said cam means and the other said leg upon rotation from an open position to a locked position; said upper clamping block being of inverted-U shape having a pair of parallel, downwardly extending legs secured to the top of said lower clamping block and forming therewith an orifice of larger dimensions than said bar transverse to the channel in said lower clamping block; and second rotatable cylindrical cam means mounted in an opening in said upper clamping block communicating with said orifice and adapted to clamp said bar between said cam and the opposite wall of said orifice upon rotation from an open position to a locked position.

4. Clamping means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second cams are mounted for rotation on spindles journaled into said respective lower and upper clamping blocks, each said spindle including outwardly extending handle means angled away from the axis of rotation of said cam.

5. Clamping means for securing an index bar between a pair of parallel, horizontally extending cable hangers comprising a pair of cable hanger clamps, each said clamp comprising: an upper clamping block and a lower clamping block; said lower clamping block being of inverted-U-shape and having a pair of parallel, downwardly extending legs forming a channel wider than said hanger; first rotatable cylindrical cam means mounted in an opening in one said leg and adapted to clamp said hanger between said cam means and the other said leg upon rotation from an open position to a locked position; said upper clamping block being of inverted-U-shape having a pair of parallel, downwardly extending legs secured to the top of said lower clamping block and forming therewith a cylindrical orifice of larger diameter than said index bar transverse to the channel in said lower clamping block; and second rotatable cylindrical cam means mounted in an opening in the top of said upper clamping block and adapted to clamp said index bar between said cam and the opposite wall of said orifice upon rotation from an open position to a locked position, said second cam means having a concave surface of the same curvature as said index bar, the axis of said second cam means being transverse to the axis of said bar.

6. Clamping means as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cylindrical orifice includes a chord-shaped indentation in the top surface of said lower clamping block.