Suspended line breakaway device
First Claim
1. A breakaway device for use with a suspended line supported by a support cable having a first cable end and a second cable end, comprising:
- (a) a first body portion having first connecting means for connecting to the first cable end;
(b) a second body portion having second connecting means for connecting to the second cable end;
(c) latching means for engaging said first body portion to said second body portion in a latching engagement;
(d) disengaging means for disengaging said latching means;
(e) a plurality of first component lines, each having a first end embedded in said first body portion;
(f) a plurality of second component lines, each having a second end embedded in said second body portion;
each of said first component lines adapted to establish disengageable connection with a respective one of said second component lines as said first body portion and said second body portion are in said latching engagement;
(g) a plurality of connector cavities, one for each of said first component lines;
(h) a plurality of connector blocks, one disposed in each of said connector cavities;
each said connector block slidable axially along respective said conductor cavity;
each said connector block connected to a respective one of said component lines embedded in said first body portion; and
(i) a plurality of connector springs, one disposed in each of said connector cavities such that respective said connector block is biased toward said second body portion as said first body portion and said second body portion are in said latching engagement.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved suspended line cable breakaway device includes a first body portion for connecting to a first end of a support cable and a second body portion for connecting to a second end of the support cable. The first body portion includes resilient fingers having nubs, which are releasably received by slots contained in a cavity wall of the second body portion. A biased spreader, slidably contained in a cavity in the second body portion, is displacable axially along the cavity by an external force along the support cable to urge the nubs outwardly such that the second body portion is disengaged from the first body portion, simultaneously disconnecting component lines of a first end of a suspended line from corresponding component lines of a second end of the suspended line. A shield protects the component line connections, which are spaced internal to the device, from the elements. One embodiment provides a breakaway device for a three-component line and a first modified embodiment provides a breakaway device for a four-component line. A second modified embodiment provides a breakaway device without internal component line connections.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A breakaway device for use with a suspended line supported by a support cable having a first cable end and a second cable end, comprising:
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(a) a first body portion having first connecting means for connecting to the first cable end; (b) a second body portion having second connecting means for connecting to the second cable end; (c) latching means for engaging said first body portion to said second body portion in a latching engagement; (d) disengaging means for disengaging said latching means; (e) a plurality of first component lines, each having a first end embedded in said first body portion; (f) a plurality of second component lines, each having a second end embedded in said second body portion;
each of said first component lines adapted to establish disengageable connection with a respective one of said second component lines as said first body portion and said second body portion are in said latching engagement;(g) a plurality of connector cavities, one for each of said first component lines; (h) a plurality of connector blocks, one disposed in each of said connector cavities;
each said connector block slidable axially along respective said conductor cavity;
each said connector block connected to a respective one of said component lines embedded in said first body portion; and(i) a plurality of connector springs, one disposed in each of said connector cavities such that respective said connector block is biased toward said second body portion as said first body portion and said second body portion are in said latching engagement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A breakaway device for use with a suspended line supported by a support cable having a first cable end and a second cable end, comprising:
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(a) a first body portion having first connecting means for connecting to the first cable end; (b) a second body portion having second connecting means for connecting to the second cable end; (c) a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots in said second body portion, each slot terminating at an edge formed on said second body portion; (d) a plurality of flexible fingers projecting from said first body portion, each finger terminating in a tip; (e) a nub projecting inwardly on the tip of each finger, said nubs fitting through the respective slots and hooking onto the corresponding edges of the slots when the first and second body portions are assembled, the engagement between the nubs and edges acting to latch the first and second body portions together; and (f) a spreader carried on said second body portion and acting against said nubs in a manner to force the nubs outwardly through the slots to disengage the nubs from the edges of the slots when said first and second cable ends are pulled apart with a force applied at a predetermined level, whereby disengagement of the nubs from the edges of the slot releases said first and second body portions from one another. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification