Release mechanism for a traction apparatus acting on a cable which passes therethrough

• US 4,438,659 A
• Filed: 07/08/1982
• Issued: 03/27/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tractel Ltd. (Tractel International SA)
• Original Assignee: Tractel Ltd. (Tractel International SA)
• Inventors: Desplats, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raskob, Jr., Anthony W.
• Application Number:
  US06/396,540
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 74/529, 74/527, 74/540, 74/542, 254/251, 182/5, 188/65.1, 24/273, 24/132 WL, 24/134 N, 24/248 B, 24/248 E, 24/222, 24/223
• US Class Current: 74/529
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 3/02 Manually-operated, e.g. lever-actuated, devices operating on ropes, cables, or chains for hauling in a mainly horizontal direction B66D3/04, B66D3/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20648 Interrelated lever release
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20714 Lever carried rack

Abstract

A release mechanism is provided ensuring simultaneous opening of the two clamps of a traction apparatus for freeing the cable which passes therethrough.

The release lever is mounted for longitudinal sliding by actuation of the handle while moving the intermediate pin carried by the warping out lever. A pivoting bolt, mounted in a widened end of a longitudinal oblong slit of said lever, prevents the release movement. The release can only be obtained when the user frees said bolt with one hand against the return action of a spring and, with the other hand, operates simultaneously said handle.

Claims

1. In a traction apparatus acting on a cable through two self-clamping jaws by operating either a warping in lever or a warping out lever, the improvement comprising a release mechanism which comprises:

(a) a release lever adapted to longitudinally move in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, said release lever presenting;

(b) a front end portion provided with a first longitudinal slit within which engages a pin carried by said warping out lever, and

(c) an intermediate portion provided with another longitudinal slit comprising a portion of reduced width followed by a portion of larger width,

(d) a release control handle rigid with said release lever, and

(e) a locking mechanism which comprises;

(f) a bolt disposed transversely to the apparatus and passing through said portion of larger width of said other longitudinal slit of the release lever, said bolt being adapted to rotate in registering openings of a casing of the apparatus,

(g) a spring co-acting with said bolt to urge same in a locking position in which said bolt engages a shoulder separating the two portions of different width of the other longitudinal slit, thus preventing to move the release lever in a release direction by sliding along said bolt, and

(h) an actuating member extending outside of the casing of the apparatus and rigid with at least one end of the bolt, said actuating member being adapted to be rotated by a user'"'"'s hand, against the action of said spring, to move said bolt from its locking position to a position in which the bolt is directed along the axis of said another longitudinal slit of the release lever and allows a longitudinal movement of the release lever, so that the release mechanism can be actuated only by pivoting the actuating member of the locking mechanism with one hand of the user while simultaneously the other hand of the user acts on the release control handle to cause the longitudinal movement of the release lever in the release direction thus avoiding any risk of accidental actuation of the release mechanism.

2. In a traction apparatus, the improvement comprising a release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said release control handle has a rear part having a shape allowing actuation thereof by a palm of hand of the user, said handle presenting a front part which is profiled to allow convenient positioning of fingers of the user with a view to carrying the apparatus.