Cable yield indicator for earthquake restrainer cables

• US 5,861,557 A
• Filed: 11/07/1997
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen Sahs
• Original Assignee: Stephen Sahs
• Inventors: Sahs, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Biegel, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US08/966,348
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 73/760, 73/761, 73/774, 73/786, 73/862.391, 73/862.621, 73/862.636, 73/862.637, 73/862.471, 411/154-156, 411/8-14, 411/160-165, 411/186-189, 411/544
• US Class Current: 73/761
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/06 using mechanical means G01L5/042, G01L5/045 take precedence

Abstract

An annularly configured device for use on each earthquake restrainer cable of a bridge, which device, will deform due to its internal configuration upon the occurrence of an earthquake, if the earthquake stresses the bridge cable with which the device is associated excessively. The result of the stress is a visual indication of the cable'"'"'s elongation as manifested by a "crowning" of the annular indicator and a shortening of its length. The specific configuration required of the annular member is one of a reduced thickness section of the interior wall, with tapered edges leading to the main cross section of the annular member.

Claims

1. An elongated annular device, fixedly mountable upon a bridge cable and adapted to yield a visible indication of the receipt of excess force upon the cable, whereby the device changes shape when the cable receives an amount of force equal to or greater than the amount of force needed to stress the cable.

2. An elongated annular device to provide a visible indication of the excessive elongation of a bridge cable due to longitudinal stresses when mounted thereon, which device comprises an annular member having an outside wall and an inside wall, said inside wall having a central zone of reduced cross section, said central zone being adapted to form an outwardly crowned area upon the receipt of a predefined amount of force.

3. An elongated annular device to provide a visible indication of the excessive elongation of a bridge cable due to longitudinal stresses when mounted thereon, which device comprises an annular member having an outside surface and an inside surface, the wall of which device has two full thickness mirror image zones, each of which commences at an opposite extreme edge and each full thickness zone is interiorly connected to one end of an inwardly directed angular zone, respectively, and the respective inwardly directed zones each terminate at opposite ends of a central reduced uniform thickness zone.

4. A bridge cable mounting system which includes a tubular cable yield indicator device which comprises:

a. a cable connected to and passing through a first swaged fitting, said swaged fitting having a stud at the end opposite said cable, said stud passing through a mounting plate, and having mounted thereon, on the opposite side of the mounting plate from the first swaged fitting,

b. a tubular cable yield indicator which is adapted to deform when the cable has been excessively stressed.

5. In the cable mounting system of claim 4 further including:

c. at least one spherical washer disposed upon the stud, and

d. a pair of opposed disk washers of predetermined value disposed on said stud and retained by a nut.

6. In the cable mounting system of claim 4 wherein the cable yield indicator is an annular member which forms a crown thereon when the cable is excessively stressed.