Actuated wedge socket assembly

• US 8,375,527 B1
• Filed: 08/05/2010
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crosby Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Crosby Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Postelwait, Larry, Crow, Stephan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): DO, ROWLAND
• Application Number:
  US12/851,208
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 241/36.R, 241/36.L, 241/15.M, 241/36.K, 241/36.B, 403/211, 403/314, 403/374.1, 403/409.1, 187/411, 187/412, 187/404, 187/406, 294/102.1
• US Class Current: 24/136.L
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/046 by bending the cable around a surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3969 Sliding part or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3973 Rope clamped between cone and socket

Abstract

An actuated wedge socket assembly. The assembly includes a wedge socket having an elongated hollow basket with a large opening at a first end, a small opening at an opposed second end, and an open interior cross-section tapering from the large opening to the small opening. A wedge includes a large end, an opposed small end, and a peripheral groove to receive a wire rope therein. A mechanism is provided to mechanically move and seat the wedge and the wire rope in the wedge socket to a controlled depth.

Claims

1. An actuated wedge socket assembly which comprises:

a wedge socket having an elongated hollow basket with a large opening at a first end, a small opening at an opposed second end, and an open interior cross section tapering from said large opening to said small opening;

a wedge having a large end, an opposed small end, and a peripheral groove to receive a wire rope therein; and

a mechanism to mechanically move and seat said wedge and said wire rope in said wedge socket to a controlled depth including a fork assembly having a pair of extending legs that straddle said wedge and that react against said second end of said wedge socket, and a threaded bolt extending through said fork assembly and received in a threaded opening in said small end of said wedge.

2. An actuated wedge socket assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mechanism to mechanically move and seat to a controlled depth includes applying a desired rotational torque force to said threaded bolt.

3. An actuated wedge socket assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a wire rope clip base surrounding said wire rope and a pair of fasteners passing through said base and into said fork assembly.

4. An actuated wedge socket assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a clamp to attach said wire rope to said large end of said wedge.

5. An actuated wedge socket assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a connector extending from said first end of said wedge socket.