CABLE CLAMP

• US 20030122040A1
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Preformed Line Products Company
• Original Assignee: Preformed Line Products Company
• Inventors: Pisczak, Philip J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,595,472 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/74.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/483 Installation of aerial type
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 7/053 Suspension clamps and clips for electric overhead lines not suspended to a supporting wire

Abstract

A cable clamp (10) includes two interchangeable half-portions (14, 16). Each half-portion (14, 16) includes an outer side, an inner side including a cable receiving region (18, 20), a hinge region (30, 32) arranged below the cable receiving region (18, 20), and a suspending region (70) arranged above the cable receiving region (18, 20). The suspending region (70) is adapted to receive an associated support element (72). The two half-portions (14, 16) are adapted to cooperatively form a unitary cable clamp body having a cable channel (22) defined by the two cable receiving regions (18, 20) and a hinge (36) including the two hinge regions (30, 32). A tightener (54) is arranged above the cable channel (22) for drawing the half-portions (14, 16) together about the hinge (36) to clamp an associated cable (12) within the cable channel (22).

Claims

1. A cable clamp comprising:

two interchangeable half-portions, each half-portion having;

an outer side,

an inner side defining a cable receiving region,

a hinge region arranged adjacent the cable receiving region, and

a suspending region arranged adjacent the cable receiving region and opposite from the hinge region, the suspending region adapted to receive an associated support element,

the two half-portions adapted to cooperatively form a unitary cable clamp body having a cable channel defined by the cable receiving regions of the interchangeable half-portions and a hinge defined by the hinge regions of the interchangeable half-portions; and

,

a tightener for drawing the half-portions together about the hinge to clamp an associated cable within the cable channel.

2. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 1, further including:

at least one cushion arranged at an end of the cable channel for cushioning the associated cable extending out of the clamp.

3. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 2, wherein the at least one cushion includes:

two half-cushions, each half-cushion arranged within the cable receiving region of one of the half-portions.

4. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 3, wherein each half-cushion includes:

a hinge cushion portion compressively received within the hinge.

5. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 2, wherein the at least one cushion is formed of EPDM, neoprene, or silicone.

6. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hinge further includes:

a fastener that connects the hinge regions of the two half-portions together to form the hinge.

7. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 6, wherein the hinge further includes:

a retaining element for retaining the fastener in the hinge.

8. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 6, wherein the hinge portions further include:

molded extensions deformable to retain the fastener in the hinge.

9. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 6, wherein the tightener includes:

a tightening fastener that draws the suspending regions of the two half-portions together, the tightening fastener being interchangeable with the fastener.

10. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hinge further includes:

at least two bolt-and-nut fasteners that cooperate with oblong holes in the hinge regions to hingeably connect the hinge regions.

11. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least one of the nut and the bolt is captive hardware.

12. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 10, wherein each oblong hole includes:

a recess adapted to receive at least one of the nut and a head of the bolt in non-rotatable fashion.

13. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 12, wherein the recess is deeper than the nut, and the edges of the recess are deformable about the nut to retain the nut captive in the recess.

14. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 10, wherein the hinge region further includes:

stake pins arranged near the oblong hole that are deformable to retain at least one of the nut and the bolt in the hinge.

15. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 1, wherein a clamp force is exerted against the associated cable at right angles to a bending stress of the associated cable.

16. A piece comprising:

an outer side;

an inner side including a cable receiving region;

a hinge region arranged below the cable receiving region; and

,

a suspending region arranged above the cable receiving region, the suspending region adapted to receive an associated support element;

wherein,

the piece is adapted to cooperate with a substantially identical second piece to form a unitary cable retaining body having a cable channel defined by cooperating cable receiving regions, a hinge including cooperating hinge regions and an associated hinge fastening element, and a clamping element arranged to pivotally close the cooperating pieces about the hinge.

17. A cable-retaining device comprising:

a hinged pair of elements adapted to receive an associated cable therebetween; and

,

a clamp adapted to compress the hinged pair of elements together to fasten about the associated cable.

18. The cable-retaining device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the hanged pair of elements for receiving an associated cable therebetween includes:

a cable channel defined by the pair of elements.

19. The cable-retaining device as set forth in claim 17, further including:

a cushion element selectively disposed within the cable channel for cushioning at least a portion of the cable.

20. The cable-retaining device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the clamp is adapted to act on each of the pair of elements to form cooperating second-class levers that compressively fasten onto the associated cable.

21. The cable-retaining device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the pair of elements include a lifting hole to enable the device to be lowered onto an associated suspended cable with the hinge in an open position.

22. A cable clamp comprising:

a first body member;

a second body member cooperatively associated with the first body member to selectively form a unitary clamp body having a cable channel, a hinge region arranged on a side of the cable channel, and a compression region arranged on an opposite side of the cable channel away from the hinge region;

a hinge fastener hingeably attaching the first and second body members in the hinge region; and

,

a clamp adapted to draw the first and second body members together in the compression region to compressively hold an associated cable arranged within the cable channel.

23. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 22, wherein the hinge fastener non-detachably attaches the first and second body members in the hinge region.

24. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 22, further including:

at least one cushion arranged within the cable channel for cushioning at least a portion of the associated cable clamped therein.

25. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 22, wherein the hinge fastener compressively attaches the first and second body members in the hinge region, the compressive attaching cooperating with the clamp to compressively hold the associated cable arranged within the cable channel.

26. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 22, wherein the compressive hold of the associated cable includes compressive forces directed in a horizontal plane transverse said cable channel.

27. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 22, wherein the first and second body members are substantially identical.

28. A cable clamp comprising:

a first clamp member;

a second clamp member that together with the first clamp member defines a clamp body;

a hinge formed into a lower portion of the clamp body;

a tightening member disposed in an upper portion of the clamp body; and

a cable channel formed into the clamp body and arranged between the hinge and the tightening member.

29. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 28, wherein the first clamp member and the second clamp member are identically formed.

30. The cable clamp as set forth in claim 29, wherein the identically formed clamp members include cast aluminum members.