Cable-anchoring metal fitting

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a metal fitting (cable-anchoring metal fitting) that is for anchoring a cable such as a wire rope and that uses a wedge, and provides a cable-anchoring metal fitting that is more easily used.　A cable-anchoring metal fitting 1 comprises: an interlocking member 11 having a cylindrical body into which a cable is inserted; and a drive-in member 12 having a wedge-shaped portion that is inserted into the cylindrical body and is brought into contact with the cable in the cylindrical body. In a surface of the drive-in member 12 that makes contact with the cable, a V-shaped groove part 121 configured to make contact with the cable on two surfaces, and a weak fastening part 122 having a smaller fastening force to the cable as compared to that of the V-shaped groove part 121 are formed.

Description

Cable body fastening fittings

[0001] The present invention relates to a cable anchor for securing a cable such as a wire rope.

[0002] A metal fitting using a wedge is used as a metal fitting for holding a cable such as a wire rope. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to such a metal fitting using a wedge (wedge clamp).

[0003] Patent No. 6009611

[0004] The wedge clamp (rope fastening fixture) disclosed in Patent Document 1, as described in Patent Document 1, is configured such that when tension is applied to the rope, slippage between the rope and the wedge member is prevented, and they enter the restraining member (a cylindrical member) as a single unit, resulting in a higher fastening force, and thus has excellent fastening force. The rope fastening fixture utilizing the principle of the wedge clamp disclosed in Patent Document 1 is easy to use and, as described above, achieves high fixing efficiency, and is therefore being used in a wider range of applications. With this diversification of applications, there is a demand for a rope fastening fixture that is easier to use.

[0005] In view of the above, the present invention relates to a wedge-based fitting (rope retaining fitting) for retaining a rope such as a wire rope, and aims to provide a rope retaining fitting that is easier to use.

[0006] (Configuration 1) A rope retaining fitting comprising: a fitting member having a tubular body portion through which a rope is inserted; and a driving member having a wedge-shaped portion inserted into the tubular body portion and abutting against the rope within the tubular body portion, wherein the driving member has a V-shaped groove portion on the surface that comes into contact with the rope, the V-shaped groove portion being configured to come into contact with the rope on two sides, and a weak fastening portion that has a weaker fastening force on the rope than the V-shaped groove portion.

[0007] (Configuration 2) The cable end clamp according to Configuration 1, wherein the weak fastening portion is formed on the front side of the V-shaped groove portion in the driving direction of the driving member.

[0008] (Configuration 3) The cable anchor according to Configuration 1 or 2, wherein the weak fastening portion has a concave shape in a cross section perpendicular to the driving direction of the driving member.

[0009] (Configuration 4) The cable fastening fitting according to any one of Configurations 1 to 3, wherein a ratio of the area where the weak fastening portion is formed to the area where the V-shaped groove portion and the weak fastening portion are formed in the driving direction of the driving member is 40% or more.

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wedge-based fitting (rope anchor) for securing a rope such as a wire rope, which is easier to use.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cable anchor according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a fitting member of the cable anchor according to an embodiment; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a driving member of the cable anchor according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a cable (wire rope) is inserted into the cable anchor according to an embodiment;

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples of how the present invention can be realized, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cable end clamp (with the driving member detached from the mating member) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Also, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a cable (wire rope WR) inserted through the cable end clamp of this embodiment. The diagrams are: FIG. 4(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction (a conceptual diagram showing the relative positions of the components when the driving member is not driven (no fastening force is generated)); FIG. 4(b) is a conceptual cross-sectional view showing the position of the weak fastening portion when the driving member is driven; and FIG. 4(c) is a conceptual cross-sectional view showing the position of the V-shaped groove when the driving member is driven. As shown in FIG. 4, the cable end clamp 1 of this embodiment is used to process an eye into the end of a cable, such as a wire rope WR, in order to secure the end of the cable. The rope end fitting 1 of this embodiment comprises a fitting member 11 having a tubular body portion through which the rope is inserted, and a driving member 12 having a wedge-shaped portion inserted into the tubular body portion of the fitting member 11 and abutting against the rope within the tubular body portion, the surface of the driving member 12 that comes into contact with the rope being formed with: a V-shaped groove portion 121 configured to contact the rope on two surfaces, and a weak fastening portion 122 that has a weaker fastening force on the rope than the V-shaped groove 121. The rope end fitting 1 is configured such that the wedge-shaped portion of the driving member 12 and the rope are inserted into the tubular body portion of the fitting member 11 (the state of FIG. 4(a)), and when the driving member 12 is driven in this state of FIG. 4(a), the rope is restrained by pressure generated by the wedge shape of the driving member. The basic function and the configuration therefor are the same as those of the wedge clamp disclosed in Patent Document 1, and therefore, the following description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

[0014] 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F are diagrams showing the fitting member 11, with Fig. 2A being a top view, Fig. 2B being a front view, Fig. 2C being a side view, Fig. 2D being a rear view, and Fig. 2E being a bottom view. For ease of explanation, the front side of the driving member 12 along the rear of the driving member 12 (the left side in Fig. 2C) is referred to as the "front side," and the opposite side (the right side in Fig. 2C, the side into which the driving member 12 is inserted) is referred to as the "rear side." Furthermore, the side of the driving member 12 that contacts the fitting member (the lower side in Fig. 2C) is referred to as the "bottom side," and the opposite side (the upper side in Fig. 2C) is referred to as the "top side." The fitting member 11 has a tapered cylindrical body portion that restrains the driving member 12 and a rope such as a wire rope. As the driving member 12 and the rope enter the tapered internal space of the fitting member 11, a strong frictional force is generated between the two components, thereby restraining the rope. To achieve this function, a V-shaped groove (a V-shaped groove on the cylindrical body portion) 111 is formed on the inner surface of the upper surface of the fitting member 11's cylindrical body portion, configured to contact the rope on two sides. Because this V-shaped groove 111 itself is similar to the wedge clamp disclosed in Patent Document 1, a description of the V-shaped groove itself will be omitted here. The inner portion of the front opening of the cylindrical body portion is chamfered (tapered) to form a chamfered portion 112, which prevents the rope from being locally subjected to high loads due to corners hitting the rope (reducing the risk of the rope breaking). Through holes 113 are formed in the lower rear portions of both side surfaces of the cylindrical body, and when the driving member 12 is driven to a predetermined position, a pin member can be inserted into the through holes 113 (the pin member can be positioned so as to engage with the engaging portion 123 (see FIG. 3(c)) of the driving member 12). This configuration ensures that the driving member 12 is driven to a predetermined position and prevents the driving member 12 from retracting (loosening the fastening).

[0015] 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 3E are diagrams showing the driving member 12, including a top view (3A), a front view (3B), a side view (3C), a rear view (3D), and a bottom view (3E). In a side view, the driving member 12 has a wedge shape between its bottom surface and its top surface (a V-shaped groove 121 formed with a V-shaped groove (driving member-side V-shaped groove)). Pressure generated when this wedge-shaped portion is driven into the cylindrical body of the fitting member 11 together with the rope creates frictional forces between the fitting member 11, the driving member 12, and the rope, thereby fastening the fitting member 11 to the rope. The V-shaped groove 121 itself provided on the driving member 12 is similar to the wedge clamp disclosed in Patent Document 1, and therefore a description of the V-shaped groove 121 itself will be omitted here.

[0016] The driving member 12 has a weak fastening portion 122 formed on the front side of the V-shaped groove 121. In this embodiment, the weak fastening portion 122 has a concave shape in a cross section perpendicular to the driving direction of the driving member. The weak fastening portion 122, which is a concave groove, has a groove width (the distance between both side surfaces of the concave groove) that is equal to or greater than the diameter of the rope, and the both side surfaces of the concave groove do not generally generate a fastening force to the rope. In addition, the bottom surface of the groove is formed continuous with (on the same plane as) the bottom surface of the V-shaped groove 121. The weak fastening portion 122 is formed so that the ratio of the formation area of ​​the weak fastening portion 122 to the formation area of ​​the V-shaped groove 121 and the weak fastening portion 122 in the driving direction of the driving member is 40% or more.

[0017] The weak fastening portion 122 is not a V-shaped groove that contacts the rope on two sides as described in Patent Document 1, but basically contacts the rope at its bottom (the side of the groove may also come into contact with the rope, but such contact does not generate a substantial fastening force). Therefore, the force that fastens the rope at the weak fastening portion 122 is smaller than the fastening force at the V-shaped groove portion 121.

[0018] For example, a wire rope anchor for fastening a relatively thick wire rope (rope) with a diameter of 18 mm or more naturally becomes larger as the rope diameter increases. Furthermore, thicker ropes are used when high tension is applied, and therefore, the rope anchor used for such ropes requires a corresponding fastening force. As a result, conventional wire rope anchors with a V-shaped groove formed along almost the entire length of the driving member require a large driving force from the driving member, making manual driving using a hammer or other tool difficult. Furthermore, conventional wire rope anchors with a V-shaped groove formed along almost the entire length of the driving member tighten the rope with high fastening force even at the front end (the side where the eye of the rope is formed). Therefore, when fastening a relatively thick rope with high fastening force, the rope also deforms significantly, and the load on the rope at the boundary (the base of the eye) increases, making the rope more susceptible to breakage at this point. Although it is possible to reduce the driving force of the driving member by shortening the driving member (shortening the length of the V-shaped groove in the driving direction), shortening the driving member (shortening the length of the V-shaped groove in the driving direction) requires a longer driving distance to achieve the same fastening force. In other words, a higher fastening force per unit length is required, which requires a greater driving force. Consequently, the amount of deformation of the rope at the fastened point also increases. This results in a problem of greater load on the rope at the boundary of the fastened portion (increasing the risk of breakage, etc.). In contrast, the rope end clamp 1 of this embodiment has a weak fastening portion 122 (shortening the V-shaped groove), making the driving operation easier than conventional rope end clamps that have a V-shaped groove along their entire length. Furthermore, the presence of the weak fastening portion 122 on the front side (the side where the eye of the rope is formed) reduces the increase in load on the rope at the base of the eye, thereby reducing the risk of rope breakage, etc., in this area.

[0019] As described above, the cable fastening fitting 1 of this embodiment can be made easier to use as a fitting (cable fastening fitting) using a wedge for fastening a cable such as a wire rope.

[0020] In this embodiment, the weak fastening portion has a concave shape in a cross section perpendicular to the driving direction of the driving member, but the present invention is not limited to this. The weak fastening portion may have a smaller fastening force on the rope than the V-shaped groove. For example, the V-shaped groove that generates the main fastening force may have a relative angle of less than 42° between the two faces, while the weak fastening portion may have a second V-shaped groove in which the relative angle between the two faces is greater than 42°. Alternatively, the weak fastening portion may be formed as a simple flat portion without sides (not concave). Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bottom surface of the weak fastening portion groove is formed continuously (in the same plane) with the bottom surface of the V-shaped groove, but the present invention is not limited to this. The bottom surface of the weak fastening portion groove and the bottom surface of the V-shaped groove may not be in the same plane. For example, the bottom surface of the groove of the weak fastening portion may have a step relative to the bottom surface of the V-shaped groove portion, or the bottom surface of the groove of the weak fastening portion may be inclined (an inclined surface in which the inner diameter of the cylindrical body portion increases as it approaches the opening at the end of the cylindrical body portion, i.e., a tapered shape in which the inner diameter increases toward the opening), etc.

[0021] In this embodiment, the weak fastening portion 122 is formed on the front side of the V-shaped groove 121 (one V-shaped groove 121 and one weak fastening portion 122), but the present invention is not limited to this, and one in which either or both of the weak fastening portions of the V-shaped groove are provided in two or more locations (for example, one in which multiple weak fastening portions are formed alternately in the V-shaped groove), etc. As can be understood from the above explanation, the weak fastening portion is preferably provided at the front end of the driving member where the eye portion is formed, but it may also be provided at the rear end of the driving member to reduce the load on the rope near the exit of the rear end.

[0022] In this embodiment, an example is given in which there is a step-like transition from the V-shaped groove portion 121 to the weak fastening portion 122 (the V-shaped groove portion 121 switches to the weak fastening portion 122 at a predetermined position), but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, it may be one in which the shape gradually changes from the V-shaped groove portion to the weak fastening portion by having a tapered shape, etc.

[0023] In this embodiment, a V-shaped groove that abuts against the rope on two sides is provided inside the tubular body, and two folded ropes are inserted through it to perform eye processing (see Figure 4), but the present invention is not limited to this, and the concept of the present invention can also be applied to a tubular body that does not have a V-shaped groove inside (one in which a single rope is inserted and fastened), as described in, for example, embodiment 1 of Patent Document 1.

[0024] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the rope retaining fitting 1, the V-shaped groove that contacts the rope on two sides prevents slippage between the rope and the V-shaped groove by setting the angle of the two sides to a predetermined angle, as described in Patent Document 1, and while this is very preferable, it is not essential for the application of the present invention.

[0025] Additionally, although the embodiment exemplifies a case in which the driving member is generally composed of only a wedge-shaped portion and the fitting member is generally composed of only a cylindrical portion, the present invention is not limited to this. Any device may be used as long as it includes a driving member having a wedge-shaped portion and a fitting member that fits into the driving member to restrain the rope by pressure generated by the wedge shape of the driving member (each of these components may additionally have other functions or structural parts).

[0026] 1. Cable body retainer 11. Fitting member 12. Driving member 121. V-shaped groove 122. Weak fastening portion

Claims

1. A cable retaining fitting comprising: a fitting member having a tubular body portion through which a cable is inserted; and a driving member having a wedge-shaped portion inserted into the tubular body portion and abutting against the cable within the tubular body portion, wherein the driving member has a V-shaped groove portion on the surface that comes into contact with the cable, the V-shaped groove portion being configured to come into contact with the cable on two surfaces, and a weak fastening portion that has a weaker fastening force on the cable than the V-shaped groove portion.

2. A cable anchor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the weak fastening portion is formed forward of the V-shaped groove in the driving direction of the driving member.

3. A cable anchor as described in claim 1, wherein the weak fastening portion has a concave shape in a cross section perpendicular to the driving direction of the driving member.

4. A cable fastening fitting as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ratio of the area where the weak fastening portion is formed to the area where the V-shaped groove portion and the weak fastening portion are formed in the driving direction of the driving member is 40% or more.

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