WO2000001958A1

WO2000001958A1 - Devices for clamping wires etc.

Info

Publication number: WO2000001958A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/001751
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hugh David Facey; Brian Edward Shawcross
Original assignee: Gripple Ltd
Current assignee: Gripple Ltd
Priority date: 1998-07-04
Filing date: 1999-06-03
Publication date: 2000-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 2001-01-04
Also published as: AR019212A1; GB9814425D0; AU4276199A

Abstract

A clamping device for wires (ropes or cables) having a body (12), at least one bore (13) through the body, at least one channel (14) in the body converging at an acute angle and into communication with the bore (13) towards an inlet end (15) of the bore, an abutment (16) at the end of the channel remote from the inlet end of the bore, and a wedge (17) movable along the channel, and usually with a coil compression spring (18) between the abutment (16) and the wedge, whereby, upon attempted withdrawal of an inserted wire (27) through the inlet end (15)of the bore (13), the wedge (17) forces the wire into frictional engagement with the wall of the bore opposite the channel, characterized in that to the face of the wedge (17) facing the abutment is permanently attached one end (19) of a rod (20), and a hole (21) is provided through the abutment (16) for sliding of the rod therethrough with the other end (22) of the rod projecting outwards from the hole for pulling engagement by a tool such as a blind-riveting gun to effect release of the wire from the device, thus enabling the device and the wire to be used again. The device may be used as a terminal for a line wire in a fence or a vineyard, or may be adapted to form part of reusable strapping.

Description

DEVICES FOR CLAMPING WIRES ETC.

This invention relates to devices for clamping wires, ropes or cables, being of the type having a body, at least one bore through the body for an end of a wire (or the like, such as a cable, hereafter referred to simply as wire), at least one channel in the body converging at an acute angle and into communication with the bore towards an inlet end of the bore, an abutment at the end of the channel remote from the inlet end of the bore, and a wedge movable along the channel between the abutment and the region of communication with the bore, (and usually with a coil compression spring between the abutment and the wedge) whereby, upon attempted

withdrawal of an inserted wire through the inlet end of the bore, the wedge forces the wire into factional engagement with the wall of the bore opposite the channel.

Tensioning adjustment of an inserted wire can be effected by pulling the wire end emerging from the other (outlet) end of the bore, causing release of the grip of the wedge until that pull is released and the wedge can again exert a force on the wire.

The device with a single bore, channel, abutment, and wedge (with optional spring) may be a terminal device for a wire, or it may be provided with another bore, channel, abutment, and

wedge (with optional spring), with the inlet end of the second bore at the opposite end of the body to the inlet end of the first bore, to form a connector for oppositely directed wire ends, and the two bores are preferably disposed in close side-by-side lengthwise relationship, with the regions of communication between the respective channels and bores closely adjacent each other, and with the wall portion therebetween capable of localised distortion under the forces exerted

by the wedges through the inserted wires, to increase the frictional contact of the wires with the

respective bores and/or allow the wires to come into contact with each other.

The object of the invention is to provide a wire (or the like) clamping device (or connector)

as described above with means enabling release of the (or either) wedge to allow the wire end (or the respective wire end) to be withdrawn in the opposite direction to that in which it had been inserted, either completely to enable the device (or connector) to be used again or the wire end

(or the respective wire end) to be reset.

According to one aspect of the invention, a wire clamping device of the type having a body, at least one bore through the body for an end of a wire, at least one channel in the body converging at an acute angle and into communication with the bore towards an inlet end of the bore, an abutment at the end of the channel remote from the inlet end of the bore, and a wedge movable along the channel between the abutment and the region of communication with the bore, is characterized in that to the face of the wedge facing the abutment is permanently attached one end of a rod and a hole is provided through the abutment for sliding of the rod therethrough, with the other end of the rod projecting outwards from the hole for pulling engagement by a tool, such as a blind-rivetting gun.

According to another aspect of the invention a wire clamping device having a body, a pair of bores through the body in parallel relationship, a channel in the body converging at an acute angle and into communication with one of the bores towards an inlet end thereof, an abutment at

the end of the channel remote from the inlet end of the respective bore, and a wedge movable along the channel between the abutment and the region of communication with the respective bore, is characterized in that to the face of the wedge facing the abutment is permanently attached one end of a rod, and a hole is provided through the abutment for sliding of the rod therethrough, with the other end of the rod projecting outwards from the hole for pulling engagement by a tool,

again such as a blind-rivetting gun. The other bore, which is plain, may be utilized by threading

into it the loose end of a wire (or cable) that has been secured by the wedge in the first bore, so

that the loose end is prevented from causing damage or injury.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a wire clamping device of the type having a body, a pair of bores disposed in close side-by-side relationship through the body, with respective inlet ends at opposite ends of the body, and with respective channels, abutments and wedges, with the channels converging in opposite directions with the respective bores to regions of communication between the respective channels and bores closely adjacent each other, and with the wall portion therebetween capable of localised distortion under the forces exerted by the wedges through inserted wires, to increase the frictional contact of the wires with the respective bores, is characterized in that at least one wedge has one end of a rod permanently attached to its face facing the respective abutment, and a hole is provided through the respective abutment for sliding of the rod therethrough, with the other end of the rod projecting outwards from the hole for pulling engagement by a tool, again, such as a blind-rivetting gun. Preferably, however, each wedge is provided with a permanently projecting rod, so that a wire (or cable) to be formed into a terminal loop or "eye" can be first inserted through either inlet end.

The (or each) rod may be formed integrally with the wedge (or the respective wedge), or it may be formed separately and be bonded to the wedge or be provided at one end with a screwthreaded end for securing into a tapped hole in the wedge, or be provided at one end with

a pair of lateral projections (e.g., forming a "dovetail") secured in a corresponding groove across the face of the wedge facing the abutment.

The (or each) rod preferably has a diameter not greater than the diameter of the wire (or

cable) to be used with the clamping device, so that a tensioning tool (such as a blind-rivetting gun) for use in tensioning the wire (or cable) can also be used for pulling the rod without needing to

change the tool or the size of nipple in it.

In the absence of a coil compression spring between the (or each) wedge and the abutment

(or respective abutment) the (or each) wedge may be initially urged into contact with the inserted

wire (or the like) by pushing the end of the rod projecting from the (or each) abutment, but it is clearly preferable to provide a spring (or springs) for that purpose.

Two embodiments of the invention and uses therefor will now be described, by way of

example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a side elevation, actual size, of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the device of Figure 1, to a larger scale;

Figure 3 is a view of the left hand end of the device;

Figure 4 is a view of the right hand end of the device;

Figure 5 is a top view of the device;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the device; Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 2 but shows the device in use as a terminal for a line wire in e.g., a fence or a vineyard;

Figure 8 is a side elevation, actual size, of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through the device of Figure 8, to a larger scale;

Figure 10 is a plan showing, to a scale smaller than Figure 8, two devices as in Figures 8 and 9 in use strapping a number of articles together, and

Figure 11 is an end view of the strapped articles of Figure 10.

The wire clamping device shown in Figures 1 to 6 has a body 12, a first bore 13 through the body for an end of a wire (which term includes the alternative of a wire rope or cable), a

channel 14 in the body converging at an acute angle and into communication with the bore towards an inlet end 15 of the bore, an abutment 16 at the end of the channel remote from the

inlet end of the bore, and a wedge 17 movable along the channel between the abutment and the region of communication with the bore. As is optional, but preferred, a coil compression spring

18 is provided between the abutment 16 and the wedge 17.

In accordance with the invention, the face of the wedge facing the abutment has permanently attached to it one end 19 of a rod 20, and a hole 21 is provided through the abutment for sliding of the rod therethrough, with the other end 22 of the rod projecting outwards from the

hole for pulling engagement by a tool (not shown) such as a blind-rivetting gun.

The body 12 is provided with a flat end face 23 (from which the inlet end 15 of the bore 13 extends) enabling the device to abut a surface 24 (see Figure 7) around a hole 25 in, for example, a post 26 of a fence or in a vineyard. In Figure 7 a line wire 27 is shown threaded through the hole and into the bore 13 in the device and past the wedge 17 for the end 28 of the wire to emerge initially from the device adjacent the abutment 16, as indicated in broken line in Figure 7. In the absence of a coil compression spring between the wedge 17 and the abutment 16 the wedge may be initially urged into contact with the inserted wire 27 by pushing the end 22 of the rod 20 projecting from the abutment, but it is clearly preferable to provide the spring 18 for that purpose, insertion of the wire end 28 through the bore 13 pushing the wedge back from its

position shown in Figure 2. After tensioning the wire 27, as by applying a blind-rivetting gun (not shown) to the end

28 of the wire, which tension is held by the wedge 17 gripping the wire, the free end 28 of the

wire may be looped back and inserted in another bore 29 in the body 12, so that the loose end is prevented from causing damage or injury.

When the fence or vineyard is required to be dismantled, the wedge 17 can be withdrawn

to release the wire 27 by applying a blind-rivetting gun (not shown) to the end 22 of the rod 20.

Thus, both the device and wire may be used again. The rod 20 can be seen in Figure 7 as having

a diameter closely similar to the diameter of the wire 27, so that a tensioning tool (such as a blind- rivetting gun) for use in tensioning the wire can be used for pulling the rod without needing to

change the tool or the size of nipple in it. The device shown in Figures 8 and 9 has a body 30, a pair of bores 13 in close side-by-side relationship through the body, with respective inlet ends 15 at opposite ends of the body, and with respective channels 14, abutments 16 and wedges 17, with the channels converging in opposite directions with the respective bores to regions of communication between the respective channels and bores closely adjacent each other, and with the wall portion 31 therebetween capable of localised distortion under the forces exerted by the wedges 17 through inserted wires (not shown), to increase the frictional contact of the wires with the respective bores.

In accordance with the invention, each wedge 17 has one end 19 of a rod 20 permanently attached to its face facing the respective abutment 16, and a hole 21 is provided through the

respective abutment for sliding of the rod therethrough, with the other end 22 of the rod projecting outwards from the hole for pulling engagement by a tool, again, such as a blind- rivetting gun. Again, as is optional but preferred, a coil compression spring 18 is provided between each abutment 16 and the respective wedge 17.

In Figures 10 and 11 two devices as in Figures 8 and 9 are shown in use with two

strapping strands 32 securing together a number of articles 33. Before the ends 34 of the strands

are inserted into the devices the strands are threaded through lengths 35 of plastics tube located to protect the corners of the outermost articles 33X against damage when the strands are tensioned by applying a tensioning tool (not shown) such as a blind-rivetting gun to at least one

end 34 of each strand 32. When the articles 33 are to be separated, at least one rod end 22 of each device is pulled,

as by the same tool as used for tensioning the strands, thus enabling the devices and strands to be

used again.

It will be evident that one release rod 20 will be sufficient in each device as in Figures 8

to 11, but for convenience of manufacture and assembly it may be better to provide two release

rods in each device.

Claims

1. A wire clamping device of the type having a body (12), at least one bore (13) through the body for an end of a wire, at least one channel (14) in the body converging at an acute angle and into communication with the bore towards an inlet end (15) of the bore, an abutment (16) at the end of the channel remote from the inlet end of the bore, and a wedge (17) movable along the channel between the abutment and the region of communication with the bore, characterized in that to the face of the wedge (17) facing the abutment is permanently attached one end (19) of a rod (20) and a hole (21) is provided through the abutment (16) for sliding of the rod therethrough, with the other end (22) of the rod projecting outwards from the hole for pulling engagement by a tool.

2. A wire clamping device having a body (12), a pair of bores (13, 29) through the body in parallel relationship, a channel (14) in the body converging at an acute angle and into communication with one of the bores towards an inlet end (15) thereof, an abutment (16) at the end of the channel remote from the inlet end of the respective bore, and a wedge (17) movable along the channel between the abutment and the region of communication with the respective

bore, characterized in that to the face of the wedge (17) facing the abutment (16) is permanently

attached one end (19) of a rod (20), and a hole (21) is provided through the abutment for sliding of the rod therethrough, with the other end (22) of the rod projecting outwards from the hole for pulling engagement by a tool

3. A wire clamping device of the type having a body (30), a pair of bores (13) disposed

in close side-by-side relationship through the body, with respective inlet ends (13) at opposite

ends of the body, and with respective channels (14), abutments (16) and wedges (17), with the

channels (14) converging in opposite directions with the respective bores (13) to regions of

communication between the respective channels and bores closely adjacent each other, and with

the wall portion (31) therebetween capable of localised distortion under the forces exerted by the wedges through inserted wires, to increase the frictional contact of the wires with the respective bores, characterized in that at least one wedge (17) has one end (19) of a rod (20) permanently attached to its face facing the respective abutment (16), and a hole (21) is provided through the respective abutment for sliding of the rod therethrough, with the other end (22) of the rod projecting outwards from the hole for pulling engagement by a tool.

4. A device as in Claim 3, characterized in that each wedge (17) is provided with a permanently projecting rod (20).

5. A device as in any one of Claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the or each rod (20) is formed integrally with the wedge or the respective wedge.

6. A device as in any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the or each rod (20) is bonded to the wedge or respective wedge (17).

7. A device as in any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the or each rod (20) is provided at one end with a screwthreaded end (19) for securing into a tapped hole in the wedge or respective wedge (17).

8. A device as in any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the or each rod (20) is provided at one end (19) with a pair of lateral projections secured in a corresponding groove across the face of the wedge facing the abutment.

9. A device as in any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the or each rod (20) has a diameter not greater than the diameter of the wire (27) or cable (32) to be used with the

clamping device, so that a tool for use in tensioning the wire (27) or cable (32) can also be used

for pulling the rod without needing to change the tool.

10. A device as in any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a coil compression

spring (18) is provided between the or each wedge (17) and the abutment or respective abutment

(16).