Thimble Mechanism For Retention Of A Shackle In A Wire Loop Termination

• US 20140150240A1
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crosby Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Crosby Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Beall, Roger E., Boeckman, Paul A., Postelwait, Larry, Garrett, Charles R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,003,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/525.01
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/146 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A thimble mechanism for retention of a shackle in a wire rope loop termination. In one preferred embodiment, a thimble device is provided for a shackle having a pair of opposed legs with each leg having an end with a width smaller than a depth. The thimble device includes a thimble body having an external arcuate edge with a rope groove for receipt of a wire rope therein. A central opening extends through the thimble body with the central opening larger than the width but smaller than the depth of the shackle ends. A keyway is provided in the thimble body extending from the central opening to the arcuate edge of the thimble body.

Claims

1. A thimble device for a wire rope loop termination for retention of a shackle having a pair of opposed legs with each of said legs having an end with a width smaller than a depth, which thimble device comprises:

a thimble body having an external arcuate edge with a rope groove for receipt of a wire rope therein;

a central opening through said thimble body, said central opening larger than said width but smaller than said depth of said shackle ends; and

a keyway in said thimble body extending from said central opening to said arcuate edge of said thimble body.

2. A method of retention of a shackle in a wire rope loop termination wherein said shackle includes a bow and a pair of opposed legs with each of said legs having an end with a width smaller than a depth, which method comprises:

inserting a bow of said shackle into a central opening of a thimble body by passing through a keyway in said thimble body extending from said central opening to an external arcuate edge of said thimble body;

receiving a wire rope around a rope groove in said external arcuate edge of said thimble body; and

forming a wire rope loop termination in order to close said keyway with said wire rope.

3. A thimble assembly for a wire rope loop termination for retention of a shackle having a pair of opposed legs, which assembly comprises:

a thimble body having an external arcuate edge with a rope groove for receipt of a wire rope therein;

a central opening through said thimble body for receipt of said shackle;

a retaining pin; and

a pair of openings in said thimble body to receive said retaining pin across said central opening.

4. A thimble assembly for a wire rope loop termination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said pair of openings in said thimble body are located to retain the proper orientation of said shackle.

5. A thimble assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said opposed legs each terminate in an end with a width smaller than a depth and wherein the central opening is in the shape of a slot.

6. A method for retaining a shackle in a wire rope loop termination, which method comprises:

inserting an end of a leg of a shackle through a central opening in a thimble body;

inserting a retaining pin through a first opening in a thimble body, across said central opening, and into a second opening in said thimble body;

installing a wire rope around an external arcuate edge in a rope groove in said thimble body; and

completing said wire rope loop termination.

7. A thimble device for a wire rope loop termination for retention of a shackle having a pair of opposed legs with a defined space between said legs, which thimble device comprises:

a thimble body having an external arcuate edge with a rope groove for receipt of a wire rope therein;

a central opening through said thimble body for receipt of said shackle;

wherein said thimble body and said wire rope have a combined dimension larger than said defined space between said legs.

8. A method of retention of a shackle in a wire rope loop termination wherein said shackle includes a bow and a pair of opposed legs with a defined space between said legs, which method comprises:

inserting a shackle through a central opening in a thimble body;

receiving a wire rope around a rope groove in an external arcuate edge of said thimble body;

completing said wire rope loop termination; and

preventing said shackle from being removed from said central opening in said thimble body.