Loading tool for towing sock

Abstract

A tool for loading and unloading a towing sock has male and female portions that define an interior cavity. Within the interior cavity, the tool has support structure designed to provide bearing surfaces for the open and closed ends of a towing sock. The ends of a towing sock bear against the support structures defined in the interior cavity of the tool. As the male portion and the female portion of the tool are pressed closer to one another, the towing sock compresses, readying it to receive wire or cable. With the towing sock compressed, the male and female portions of the tool are locked in place with complementary engaging structures. Loading of wire and cable is done through an opening in the end of the tool that coincides with the open end of the towing sock.

Description

LOADING TOOL FOR TOWING SOCKTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a loading tool for a cable towing sock.BACKGROUND

[0002] A towing sock is a device used to pull wire and cable through conduit. Made of braided wire mesh and generally cylindrical in overall shape, a typical towing sock is open at one end to receive a wire or cable and is closed at the other end, usually by an eye splice that creates a loop of wire. Referred to by various names, including cable sleeve, cable sock, wire rope puller, and wire-pulling grip, the towing sock is a simple device with simple properties: when a towing sock is pulled or tensioned axially (i.e., along its length), it narrows, exerting inward pressure to hold whatever has been inserted into its open end; when a towing sock is compressed axially, it widens, releasing pressure. These properties make a towing sock a relatively fast, secure way to attach a loop of wire to a cable. That loop of wire allows the cable to be pulled.

[0003] To pull a cable using a towing sock, a worker would typically hold the towing sock in place while applying a compressive force to its open end. With that compressive force applied, the cable can be inserted into the widened open end of the towing sock. Once the cable has been inserted, the compressive force is released, narrowing the towing sock and thus allowing it to grab and hold the cable. A long line is then fed or dropped through a conduit and attached to the loop of the towing sock, so that the towing sock and the cable that it holds can be pulled through the conduit. Once the cable has been pulled through the conduit, the towing sock is removed by again holding it in place while applying a compressive force to its end to release the cable.

[0004] This process, though simple in principle, is difficult in practice. The wire mesh of the towing sock is resilient and spring-like in nature, and the amount of compressive force required to load and unload the towing sock may be considerable, especially when working with a large towing sock designed for use with heavy cables. Towing socks are also long and relatively flexible, such that they have a tendency to buckle while workers are attempting to compress them in order to load or unload cables. If a towing sock buckles, considerable effort and force may be required to hold it steady and to keep it aligned properly for loading. For these reasons, working with towingsocks may require two people. When workers are placing and removing towing socks many times a day, loading and unloading towing socks can become a serious impediment to productivity.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0005] One aspect of the invention relates to a tool that assists in the loading and unloading of a towing sock with wire or cable. The tool has male and female portions that define an interior cavity. Within the interior cavity, the tool has support structure designed to provide bearing surfaces for both the open and closed ends of a towing sock. The male and female portions of the tool carry complementary engaging structures that allow the male portion to be locked into a particular axial position with respect to the female portion. When a towing sock is inserted into the interior cavity of the tool, its open and closed ends bear against the support structures defined in the interior cavity of the tool. As the male portion and the female portion of the tool are pressed closer to one another, the towing sock compresses, readying it to receive wire or cable. During compression, the sidewalls of the tool support the sides of the towing sock, preventing it from buckling and allowing a simple application of compressive force at the ends of the tool to compress the towing sock. Once the towing sock is in the desired compressed position, the male and female portions of the tool are locked in place, thus keeping the towing sock compressed and allowing easier loading of wire and cable, which can be done through an opening in the end of the tool that coincides with the open end of the towing sock. After the towing sock is loaded, the male and female portions are released from their locked position and the towing sock removed from the tool. Essentially, the tool allows for a more controlled application of force to a towing sock, prevents the kind of bowing and buckling that makes it difficult to apply force to a towing sock, and locks in place to keep the towing sock compressed without any further application of external force. The ends of the tool may include large, grippable flanges and other features that make it easier to apply force to the towing sock.

[0006] More specifically, a tool according to this aspect of the invention has a male portion and a female portion that are interchangeable with one another to define an internal cavity. The male portion and the female portion each have an internal support structure. A first opening is carried by the male portion and a second openingis carried by the female portion. The first opening and the second opening are each open to the internal cavity along an axial direction of the tool. Complementary engaging structures carried by the male portion and the female portion, respectively, are constructed and adapted to retain the male portion and the female portion in one or more engaged positions.

[0007] The male portion and the female portion of the tool may each include a slot extending in the axial direction, each of the slots opening into the internal cavity of the tool body.

[0008] The first and second support structures may be, e.g., radially- extending ledges within the internal cavity of the tool proximate to the first and second ends.

[0009] The complementary engaging structures may be any of a variety of engaging structures, including a post on one portion of the tool and one or more slots in the other portion of the tool, a set of ratchet teeth on one portion of the tool and a pawl on the other portion of the tool, or one or more detents on one portion of the tool and one or more detent openings on the other portion of the tool.

[0010] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for loading a towing sock. The method comprises inserting a towing sock into a tool as described above. The method also comprises moving the male portion of the tool and the female portion of the toward one another in an axial direction to compress the towing sock within the tool and locking the male portion and the female portion of the tool with respect to one another in the axial direction using complementary engaging structures provided on the male portion and on the female portion, respectively. Wires or cables are then inserted through a first opening in the first end of the tool into the towing sock. Finally, the towing sock is released from the tool with the wires or cables in the tool.

[0011] Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a method for unloading a towing sock that is the reverse of the method described above.

[0012] Other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0013] The invention will be described with respect to the following drawing figures, in which like numerals represent like features throughout the description, and in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool according to one embodiment of the invention, shown with a towing sock inserted;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tool of FIG. 1 , shown with its male and female portions disengaged from one another;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tool, taken through Line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIGS. 4-6 are a series of perspective views illustrating the use of the tool of FIG. 1 to load a towing sock with wire or cable;

[0018] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, similar to the view of FIG. 3, illustrating the tool of FIG. 1 with a towing sock installed and wire or cable in the towing sock;

[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the tool, illustrating an alternative way to insert a towing sock;

[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tool according to another embodiment of the invention which uses a ratchet structure to lock male and female portions of the tool together;

[0021] FIG. 10 is a side elevational exploded view of the tool of FIG. 9;

[0022] FIG. 11 is a partially cut-away side elevational view of the tool ofFIG. 9, shown assembled;

[0023] FIG. 12 is another perspective view of the tool of FIG. 9, illustrating the pawls for the ratchet structure in disengaged positions;

[0024] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a tool according to another embodiment of the invention which uses detent structure to lock male and female portions of the tool together; and

[0025] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the tool of FIG. 13.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool, generally indicated at 10, according to one embodiment of the invention. The tool 10 is generally cylindrical inexterior shape, with a male portion 12 and a female portion 14 that engage with one another such that the male portion 12 can slide axially into and within the female portion 14. Both portions 12, 14 of the tool 10 are generally hollow, defining an internal cavity 16, and in the view of FIG. 1, a towing sock 100 is installed within the internal cavity 16 of the tool 10. More specifically, as will be explained below in more detail, in the view of FIG. 1, the tool 10 holds the towing sock 100 in an axially compressed position, readying it to receive or to disengage a wire or cable.

[0027] In this description, the terms “axial,” “axial direction,” and “axially” refer to a direction aligned with the long axis of the tool 10. The terms “radial,” “radial direction,” and “radially” refer to a direction transverse to, and extending outwardly from, the long axis of the tool. It should also be understood that in this description, the terms “wire” and “cable” are used interchangeably, and without regard to the particular properties of either, to refer broadly to the genus of things to which a towing sock 100 can be attached. The nature of the thing or things to which the towing sock 100 is attached is not critical to the invention, although certain embodiments of the tool 10 may be particularly suited for use with certain types of towing socks 100 and certain types of wires or cables.

[0028] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the tool 10, showing the male portion 12 and the female portion 14 of the tool 10 separated from one another. The body of the tool is thus divided into the male portion 12 and the female portion 14. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, although each of the two portions 12, 14 is elongate and has the general shape of a hollow tube, open at both ends, neither portion 12, 14 is a fully enclosed, complete tube in the illustrated embodiment. Rather, each portion 12, 14 has a slot 18, 20 that runs the length of the portion 12, 14, including the respective first and second ends 22, 24. The slots 18, 20 in the illustrated embodiment are not the same width; the slot 20 in the female portion 14 of the tool 10 is larger than its counterpart 18 in the male portion 12. Because of the slots 18, 20, the sidewall 26, 28 of each portion 12, 14 extends only a part of the full 360° circumference of a circle, leaving the male portion 12 and the female portion 14 of the tool 10 open along a portion of their respective circumferences. In other words, each portion 12, 14 has only a partial sidewall. In one embodiment, each slot 18, 20 may open about one-fourth to one-third of the circumference of the sidewall 26, 28.

[0029] As will be described below in more detail, the slots 18, 20 are typically of sufficient width to admit a towing sock 100 its uncompressed state, so thatthe tool 10 can be loaded and unloaded through the slots 18, 20. On the other hand, the slots 18, 20 are sufficiently narrow so that a towing sock 100 that is compressed within the tool 10 will not bulge out or pop out of the slots 18, 20. Of course, while the slots 18, 20 have a constant width over at least a majority of their lengths, they need not be the same width over their entire lengths: as can be seen particularly in FIG. 2, the slots 18, 20 narrow toward the respective first and second ends 22, 24.

[0030] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate that, in their fully engaged position, the male portion 12 of the tool 10 nests concentrically within the female portion 14 of the tool 10. The male and female portions 12, 14 have some form of cooperating engaging structure that allows the two portions 12, 14 to assume, and to be locked in, specific positions with respect to one another. As will be explained below in more detail, this allows a towing sock 100 to be placed and retained in a compressed position for loading and unloading of wires and cables. In the illustrated embodiment, the male portion 12 of the tool 10 has a tab or post 30 protruding from the outer surface of its sidewall 26. The female portion 14 of the tool 10 has one or more receiving openings 32 formed in its sidewall 26. Each of the receiving openings 32 is open at the edge of the slot 20 and is of the proper shape and sufficient dimensions to receive and retain the post 30.

[0031] In this embodiment, there are two receiving openings 32. Only one receiving opening 32 is needed in most embodiments. The presence of two or more receiving openings 32 may be used to allow the male and female portions 12, 14 to assume multiple engaged-and-locked positions with respect to one another. Thus, in turn, may allow the tool 10 to be used with different sizes of towing sock 100, or it may facilitate insertion and removal of towing socks 100.

[0032] As can be appreciated from FIGS. 1-2, in this embodiment, locking the male and female portions 12, 14 involves turning or twisting them relative to one another. Because of that, and to make the portions 12, 14 of the tool 10 generally easier to handle, the first and second ends 22, 24 of the tool 10 flare out into flanges 34, 36 that have flutes or recesses 38 to improve grippability or handling. Regardless of the diameter of the tube-shaped portion of the tool 10, the flanges 34, 36 may, for example, be sized to fit comfortably in the palm of an average user’s hand. This allows the user to use the full strength of the arm, wrist, and hand, and prevents the user from having to hold the ends of the tool 10 with the tips of the fingers, which may be uncomfortable and may limit the strength that can be brought to bear. In the illustrated embodiment,the flanges 34, 36 have a substantial axial thickness, e.g., 1-2 cm (0.5-0.75 cm) to facilitate gripping.

[0033] Of course, the dimensions of handling features like the flanges 34, 36 may vary considerably from embodiment to embodiment. For example, the flanges 34, 36 could have a greater axial thickness, giving them a shape more akin to stout cylinders, and giving the tool a barbell shape. Instead of, or in addition to, flutes 38, the circumferential edge of the flanges 34, 36 could be knurled or otherwise textured to increase grip.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tool 10, taken through Line 3-3 of FIG. 1, shown with a compressed towing sock 100 installed. The towing sock 100 itself has an open end 102, through which it receives wire and cable, and a closed end 104. At the closed end 104, the braided cable of the towing sock 100 is typically spliced into a loop 106 that is usually connected to a line, such as a fish tape, for pulling through a conduit. In the illustrated embodiment, a rubber shrink wrap or boot 108 secures and protects the closed end 104 under the splice that creates the loop 106.

[0035] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the ends 22, 24 of the tool 10 engage the towing sock 100. More particularly, the first end 22 of the tool 10 has an internal radial ledge 40 of sufficient width for the open end 102 of the towing sock 100 to bear against it. The second end 24 of the tool 10 has a similar internal radial ledge 42 to engage the closed end 104 of the towing sock 100. Additionally, the second end 22 has an opening 46 that is wide enough for the loop 106 to pass through, but too narrow for the boot 108 to pass through, such that the first end 24 of the tool 10 engages the closed end 104 of the towing sock 100. The opening 46 is oriented and aligned with the ledge 42 such that there is an at least substantially straight path through the opening 46, past the ledge 42, and into the internal cavity 16 of the tool 10.

[0036] The tool 10 has an opening 44 in the first end 22 which allows wire or cable to be inserted into the open end 102 of the towing sock 100 when the towing sock 100 is within the tool 10. The diameter of the opening 44 is less than the diameter of the internal cavity 16, which establishes the ledge 40 against which the open end 102 of the towing sock 100 bears. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening 44 has inwardly-tapered sidewalls, but the sidewalls may be straight (i.e., parallel to the long axis of the tool 10) in other embodiments. The opening 44 is oriented and aligned with respect to the ledge 40 so as to create an at least substantially straight path through theopening 44, past the ledge 40, and into the internal cavity 16 of the tool 10 in order to allow wires and cables to be inserted.

[0037] Thus, the two ends 22, 24 of the tool 10 retain the towing sock 100 with internal features 40, 42 that provide bearing and support surfaces for the towing sock 100 and block the towing sock 100 from moving axially within the internal cavity 16 of the tool 10. Constrictions or steps in diameter that create ledges 40, 42 are used in this embodiment, but the nature of the features is not particularly critical, and internal radial constrictions or ledges 40, 42 are only one type of the kinds of inwardly- extending engaging structures that could be used. For example, the ledges 40, 42 need not extend over the entire inner circumferences of the tool portions 12, 14; there may be breaks such that, e.g., a ledge 40, 42 actually comprises two to five inwardly- extending separate portions. Individual radially inwardly-extending posts along the inner circumferences of the tool portions 12, 16 and other such features may also be used.

[0038] FIGS. 4-6 are a series of perspective views illustrating the use of the tool 10 to load and unload a towing sock 100 with wire or cable. The first step in this process is the placement of an empty towing sock 100 in the tool 10. With any particular embodiment of the tool 10, there may be more than one way to insert a towing sock 100. The particular method that is used may vary so long as the towing sock 100 is ultimately placed as shown in the cross-section of FIG. 3: with the open end 102 bearing against the interior ledge 40 of the first end 22 of the tool 10 and the closed end 104 bearing against the interior ledge 42 of the second end 24 of the tool 10.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows one possible method for placing the towing sock 100 in the tool 10: the towing sock 100 is inserted into the male portion 12 of the tool 10, and the male portion 12 is then inserted into the female portion 14 of the tool 10. Once the closed end 104 bears against the second end 42 of the tool 10, the towing sock 100 begins to compress axially as the male portion 12 is inserted farther into the female portion 14 of the tool 10. While the ends 22, 24 of the tool 10 keep the ends 102, 104 of the towing sock engaged, the sidewalls 26, 28 of the tool 10, and especially the sidewall 26 of the male portion 12 of the tool 10, perform another function: the sidewalls 26, 28 prevent the towing sock 100 from buckling under the axial compressive force applied to the ends 22, 24 of the tool 10. In other words, the tool 10 keeps the towing sock 100 constrained so that the user can apply a simple, axialcompressive force to the ends 22, 24 of the tool 10, without having to worry about the towing sock 100 bending or buckling in various directions under load.

[0040] In the position of FIG. 5, the male portion 12 of the tool 10 is fully inserted into and engaged with the female portion 14, but the two portions 12, 14 are not locked into place. To lock the two portions 12, 14 into place, the male portion 12 is rotated with respect to the female portion 14 to seat the post 30 within one of the receiving openings 32. FIG. 6 shows the fully engaged and locked position, achieved by rotating the male portion 12 with respect to the female portion 14 so that the post 30 is in the appropriate opening.

[0041] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the tool 10 with the towing sock 100 installed, similar to the view of FIG. 3. In the view of FIG. 7, with the towing sock 100 compressed, a set of wires or cables 200 has been inserted into the towing sock 100 through the opening 44 in the first end 22. The number of wires or cables will vary from use to use, and the towing sock 100 will typically be chosen for its ability to accommodate the wires or cables that are to be pulled.

[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates an additional feature of the tool 10: the conduit 120 through which the set of wires or cables 200 is pulled is typically terminated with a fitting 122. The second end 24 of the tool 10 includes a recessed space 50 that extends in the axial direction, opening to the end face 52 of the second end 24 on one side and contiguous and open to the opening 46 that leads into the internal cavity 16 on the other side. The recessed space 50 is sized and shaped to accept the fitting 122 so that the fitting 122 can bear against the second end 24 of the tool 10. This may be of some assistance during the loading process. The recessed space 50 may, in some cases, be a socket complementary to the shape of the fitting 122, e.g., pentagonal socket, a hex socket, etc. If so, the recessed space 50 may restrict axial movement of the fitting 122 as well as preventing rotation.

[0043] Once the set of wires or cables 200 is appropriately seated in the towing sock 100, the process described above with respect to FIGS. 4-7 is typically reversed, the tool 10 is removed from the towing sock 100, and the towing sock 100, with the set of wires or cables 200 installed, is ready to be pulled through the conduit 120.

[0044] There are any number of possible variations to the sequence shown in FIGS. 4-7, depending on the particular embodiment of the tool 10, the nature of the wires or cables 200, and other factors. For example, as those of skill in the art mayappreciate, there are any number of ways a towing sock 100 might be installed in the tool 10. FIG. 8, an exploded perspective view, illustrates another way to install the towing sock 100 in the tool 10. In this variation, the tool 10 has its male and female portions 12, 14 engaged with the male portion 12 locked into a less-than- fully- inserted position. In this position, the slots 18, 20 are aligned, and the towing sock 100 can be inserted laterally into the tool 10 by pushing it through the opening provided by the slots 18, 20. Once the towing sock 100 has been inserted, the male portion 12 can be rotated out of the locking position shown in FIG. 8 and slid farther into the female portion 14 to compress the towing sock 10.

[0045] The tool 10 may be made of any number of materials, depending, in some part, on the size of the towing sock 100 and the amount of force necessary to compress it. For example, plastics like nylon, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), acrylonitrile- butadiene-styrene (ABS), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) may all be suitable plastics in some embodiments. If made of a plastic, the tool 10 may be machined, injection molded, additively manufactured, or made by any other suitable method. The tool 10 may also be made of metal, e.g., by machining, casting, or by working sheet metal. Wall thicknesses and other dimensions may depend on the material of which the tool 10 is made.

[0046] The tool 10 of FIGS. 1-8 can be engaged and locked in either of two positions. As was explained above, the multiple positions allow the tool 10 to be used with towing socks 100 of different sizes and may also facilitate insertion of a towing sock 100, as in FIG. 8. However, it may be helpful to have more locking positions. In some cases, for example, it may be helpful to compress the towing sock 100 in a more graduated fashion, allowing one to compress the towing sock 100 just enough to accept the wires and cables 200.

[0047] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tool, generally indicated at 300, according to another embodiment of the invention. Unless otherwise indicated, the tool 300 has the same features for engaging the towing sock 100 as described above with respect to the tool 10. The difference between the two tools 10, 300 lies in how the male portion 302 and the female portion 304 of the tool 300 engage with one another: the tool 300 includes a ratchet mechanism that allows the male portion 302 and the female portion 304 to be engaged and locked in a number of axial positions with respect to one another.

[0048] More specifically, the exterior surface 306 of the male portion 302 carries a series of ratchet teeth 308. The profile of the ratchet teeth 308 can be seen more clearly in FIG. 10, an exploded side-elevational view of the tool 300 of FIG. 9. The ratchet teeth 308 may be formed as ridges along the entire exterior surface 306, or they may be formed along only a circumferential portion of the exterior surface 306. Axially, the ratchet teeth 308 cover about half of the length of the male portion 302 in the illustrated embodiment, beginning near the proximal end 310 of the male portion 302 and extending rearwardly therefrom. The ratchet teeth 308 are asymmetrical, oriented to allow insertion of the male portion 302 into the female portion 304 but, in cooperation with latch or pawl structure, blocking the reverse movement. The ratchet teeth 308 slightly increase the overall diameter of the male portion 302 of the tool 300 over the region that they cover. In this embodiment, the proximal end 310 of the male portion 302 is chamfered, with the exterior diameter of the male portion 302 gradually increasing behind the chamfer to the position of the first of the ratchet teeth 308.

[0049] As can be seen in the perspective view of FIG. 9, the female portion 304 of the tool 300 has a set of two raised ribs 312 extending around much of its exterior circumference 314. The ribs 312 are spaced closely together, defining a thin, circumferential slot 316 between them. Two pawl structures 318, 320 are hingedly attached to the exterior circumference 314 of the female portion 304 of the tool 300 on the side opposite the one shown in FIG. 9.

[0050] FIG. 11 is a partially cut-away version of FIG. 9, illustrating the engagement of the pawl structures 318, 320 with the set of ratchet teeth 308. The pawl structures 318, 320 are arcuate in overall shape, generally following the curvature of the exterior circumference 314 of the female portion 304 of the tool 300. Each pawl structure 318, 320 has a free end 322 that engages with the set of teeth 308 on the male portion 302 of the tool 300. The free end 322 forms an angled tip in the illustrated embodiment and is sized and shaped to engage with the ratchet teeth 308. When in the positions shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the pawl structures 318, 320 fit in the slots 316 such that they are supported on each side by the raised ribs 312, thus preventing axial movement of the pawl structures 318, 320.

[0051] With the pawl structures 318, 320 in the position shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the ratchet mechanism is engaged; the male portion 302 of the tool 300 can be inserted unidirectionally into the female portion 304 of the tool 300 and will be held in place against opposing axial force generated by the compressed towing sock 100.

[0052] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the tool 300, similar to the view of FIG. 9. When one wishes to disengage the male and female portions 302, 304 of the tool 300, the ratchet mechanism is first disengaged. As shown in FIG. 12, in the illustrated embodiment, this is done by swinging the pawls 318, 320 away from the body of the tool 300 and thus out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 308. The male portion 302 can then slide out of the female portion 304.

[0053] In some embodiments, the pawls 318, 320 may move relatively freely between the engaged position of FIG. 9 and the disengaged position of FIG. 12. If the towing sock 100 is not particularly large, and not much force is required to keep it compressed, it may not be necessary to provide specific structure to keep the pawls 318, 320 in the engaged position; a tight hinge may be enough. However, in many embodiments, it may be advantageous to include a releasable mechanism to support the pawls 318, 320 and to retain them in the engaged position of FIG. 9. That mechanism could be, e.g., a torsion or tension spring-based mechanism that biases the pawls 318, 320 toward the engaged position, or it could be a locking mechanism, e.g., using detents, locking pins, or latches between the raised ribs 312 and the pawls 318, 320 themselves.

[0054] In the illustrated embodiment, the series of ratchet teeth 308 comprises 18 teeth, each of which may be a few millimeters wide. This means that the male portion 302 and the female portion 304 may be engaged and locked in 18 distinct axial positions with respect to one another. The number of teeth 308, and the number of positions, may vary from embodiment to embodiment. The pitch of the series of teeth 308 may also vary from embodiment to embodiment. In most applications, a relatively coarse pitch that gives each tooth a width of 3-5 mm or more is sufficient.

[0055] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a tool, generally indicated at 400, according to yet another embodiment of the invention. The tool 400 has the same general features as tool 10 described above; therefore, features of the tool 400 not described here may be assumed to be the same, or generally the same, as those of the tool 10. The tool 400 differs from the tools 10, 300 described above in its mechanism for engaging the male portion 402 of the tool 400 with the female portion 404 of the tool 400.

[0056] More specifically, in the tool 400, the female portion 404 of the tool 400 carries several rows of detents 406 along its interior surface 408. Each detent 408 is at least hemispherical in the illustrated embodiment, and each may be a ball detent insome embodiments. The detents 408 are arranged in three rows, with each row having three detents 408 spaced circumferentially evenly over the interior surface 408 of the female portion 404. The male portion 402 carries corresponding rows of receiving openings 410 on its exterior surface 412. Because each of the male and female portions 402, 404 has a slot 414, 416 of substantial width, the detents 406 and receiving openings 410 may be spread, e.g., around about 270-330° circumferentially.

[0057] As with any detent mechanism, the detents 406 engage with the respective receiving openings 410 to prevent movement. In the illustrated embodiment, with three rows of three detent 406 and openings 410, this means that the male portion 402 and the female portion 404 can assume any one of three main axial positions relative to one another. Depending on how many detents 406 must be engaged in order to sustain the expected axial load, the male portion 402 and the female portion 404 may be able to engage and lock in more than one rotational position, but because of the configuration of the tool 400, there is no need to rotate the male portion 402 with respect to the female portion 404 to lock the two portions 402, 404 into an axial position.

[0058] The receiving openings 410 have features that allow them to retain the ball of the detent 408 against significant axial force, but do not prevent axial movement when sufficient force is applied. For example, the receiving openings 410 may be shaped or otherwise configured to retain the ball of the detent 408 and to withstand significant axial force in the axial withdrawal direction, the direction in which a compressed towing sock 100 would apply force, but to sustain less force, and allow easier movement, in the axial insertion direction. The openings 410 may be slightly smaller than the balls of the detents 408, they need not be round, and they may include detent ball ramps and other such structures.

[0059] FIG. 14 is another perspective view of the tool 400, shown with the male portion 402 and female portion 404 engaged with one another in the second of two axial positions. In this embodiment, the first row of detents 406 and the first row of receiving openings 410 are positioned close to the engaging ends of their respective portions 402, 404, e.g., within 1 cm of the respective ends. This means that the male portion 402 and the female portion of the tool 400 may enter a locked position almost as soon as they are engaged with one another. Because the nature of the detent locking mechanism does not require the male portion 402 to be rotated with respect to the female portion 404, the slots 414, 416 in the male portion 402 and the female portion404 remain aligned with one another throughout use, which may make it easier to use the slots 414, 416 to insert and remove towing socks 100.

[0060] The tool 400 (and the tool 300) have flanges 420, 422 that are slightly different from the flanges 34, 36 of the tool 10. More specifically, the flanges 420, 422 are of unequal thicknesses, with the flange 422 being substantially thicker than the flange 420 of the first end 424. Instead of flutes 38, each flange 420, 422 has a scalloped edge.

[0061] Many variations on the tool 400 are possible. For example, in FIGS. 13 and 14, there are multiple rows of detents 406. However, a tool may be implemented with one or two detents that define specific locking positions, and the remainder of the structures may be bearings, e.g., ball bearings, to guide and facilitate engagement. Another form of engaging structure, like a latch, could also be used, with or without bearings.

[0062] Portions of this description assume that the axial force used to compress the towing sock 100 will be provided manually, i.e., a user will press on the ends 22, 24 of a tool 10 to compress the towing sock 100. However, that need not be the case. In some embodiments, one portion 22 of the tool 10 may be fixed while the other portion 24 is free, and force may be applied only to the free portion 24. In other embodiments, the towing sock 100 may be large enough that it is difficult or impossible for a user to generate enough manual force to compress it. In yet other embodiments, producing the necessary manual force may be possible for some users but not for others. In these cases, an external device may be used to apply the necessary compressive pressure. For example, a lever press, a screw press, or any other type of manual or powered load frame could be used to apply compressive axial force. In these cases, the ends 22, 24 of the tool 10 may have features that allow for rapid insertion, alignment, and removal from the loading device. These may include slots, threaded holes, alignment posts, etc. that correspond with features of the loading device. Any type of external loading device may be used, so long as the grips and / or platens allow access to at least the opening 44 used to load wires and cables into the towing sock 100.

[0063] Portions of this description also assume that once the towing sock 100 is loaded with the set of wires or cables 200, the tool 10 is removed. However, there may be applications in which it is desirable not to remove the tool. In these applications, the conduit may be large enough to accommodate the tool, and it may be desirable to leave the tool engaged in order to provide, e.g., additional protection forthe ends of the wires or cables. It may also be that no comparable tool is available at the other end to compress the towing sock 100 in order to remove the wires or cables. In these situations, the tool may be left engaged with the towing sock 100, albeit with the towing sock 100 in an uncompressed state in which it can pull the wires. Tools used in these applications may have less pronounced — or no — flanges 34, 36 and may be made of higher-strength materials, allowing for thinner walls.

[0064] This description uses the term “about.” When used to describe a numerical value or range, the term “about” means that that value or range may vary so long as the described end result stays the same. If it cannot be determined what range would allow the described end result to stay the same, the term “about” should be interpreted as meaning ±10%.

[0065] While the invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting. Modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A tool for loading a towing sock, comprising: a male portion and a female portion that are interengageable with one another to define an internal cavity, the male portion and the female portion each having an internal support structure, the internal support structures being constructed and adapted to apply a compressive force to a towing sock positioned, at least in part, within the internal cavity in response to a compressive force applied externally to respective ends of the male portion and the female portion; a first opening carried by the male portion and a second opening carried by the female portion; and complementary engaging structures carried by the male portion and the female portion, respectively, the complementary engaging structures constructed and adapted to retain the male portion and the female portion in one or more engaged positions.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the male portion and the female portion each include a slot extending in the axial direction, each of the slots opening into the internal cavity of the tool body.

3. The tool of claim 2, wherein the slots are aligned with one another so as to be continuous with one another in the axial direction in at least one of the one or more engaged positions.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the internal support structure of the male portion comprises a radially inwardly-extending ledge at one end of the internal cavity, and the internal support structure of the female portion comprises a radially inwardly-extending ledge at another end of the internal cavity.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first opening and the second opening are each open to the internal cavity along an axial direction of the tool.

6. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first opening and second opening are aligned with the internal support structure of the male portion and the internal support structureof the female portion, respectively, so as to provide paths into the internal cavity through the first opening and the second opening.

7. The tool of claim 1, wherein one of the complementary engaging structures comprises a post extending radially outwardly from an outer sidewall of the male portion, and another of the complementary engaging structures comprises one or more slots sized to receive the post in an outer sidewall of the female portion.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein the male portion and the female portion are slideably engageable with one another such that the post can be moved to a position of one of the one or more slots in the axial direction and rotatable with respect to one another such that the post can be rotated into the one of the one or more slots.

9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the complementary engaging structures comprise a set of ratchet teeth defined in the axial direction along an outer sidewall of the male portion, and a pawl shaped and adapted to engage the set of ratchet teeth.

10. The tool of claim 9, wherein the pawl is mounted such that it may be moved out of engagement with the set of ratchet teeth.

11. The tool of claim 9, wherein the complementary engaging structures comprise a second pawl engageable with the set of ratchet teeth at a position spaced from the pawl.

12. The tool of claim 1, wherein the complementary engaging structures comprise one or more detents and one or more openings sized and configured to at least partially receive the one or more detents.

13. The tool of claim 1, wherein the male portion of the tool and the female portion of the tool each comprise a radial flange at a distal end thereof.

14. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a bearing space constructed and arranged to accept a conduit fitting, the bearing space on an end face of the male portion or the female portion.

15. The tool of claim 13, wherein the bearing space is provided on the end face of the female portion.

16. The tool of claim 14, wherein the bearing space surrounds the second opening.

17. A method for loading a towing sock, comprising: inserting a towing sock into a tool having a male portion and a female portion that are interengageable with one another to define an internal cavity, the male portion and the female portion each having an internal support structure, a first opening carried by the male portion and a second opening carried by the female portion, and complementary engaging structures carried by the male portion and the female portion, respectively, the complementary engaging structures constructed and adapted to retain the male portion and the female portion in one or more engaged positions; moving the male portion and the female portion toward one another in an axial direction; locking the male portion and the female portion of the tool with respect to one another in the axial direction using the complementary engaging structures; and loading wires or cables into the towing sock through a first opening of the tool.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising releasing the towing sock from the tool with the wires or cables in the towing sock after said loading.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said loading comprises inserting the wires or cables into an open end of the towing sock through the first opening.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said inserting the towing sock comprises: inserting the male portion of the towing sock into the female portion of the towing sock;aligning an axial slot in a sidewall of the male portion with an axial slot in a sidewall of the female portion such that there is a continuous axial slot in the sidewall of the tool that opens into the internal cavity; and inserting the towing sock into the internal cavity through the continuous axial slot.

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