U.S. patent number 3,742,561 [Application Number 05/148,380] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-03 for centered ferrule for holding end loops in wire rope.
Invention is credited to Kenneth L. Wernsing.
United States Patent |
3,742,561 |
Wernsing |
July 3, 1973 |
CENTERED FERRULE FOR HOLDING END LOOPS IN WIRE ROPE
Abstract
A ferrule for holding end loops in wire rope comprises a
swageable sleeve having on one end an opening for a single course
of rope and on the other end an opening for a double course
thereof. The centers of both openings lie on the longitudinal axis
of the sleeve. The sleeve is bulged outwardly in the region
adjacent the smaller opening to provide a pocket for receiving the
dead end of the rope. The smaller opening is defined by a collar
having a length predetermined to maintain the live course of the
rope in a substantially centered condition. A pair of longitudinal
ribs on the inner sidewalls define guideways for guiding the rope
within the ferrule.
Inventors: |
Wernsing; Kenneth L. (Portland,
OR) |
Family
ID: |
22525525 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/148,380 |
Filed: |
June 1, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
403/212;
24/129W |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16G
11/02 (20130101); Y10T 403/4354 (20150115); Y10T
24/3933 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
F16G
11/02 (20060101); F16G 11/00 (20060101); F16g
011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;24/129W,129R,123W,130
;287/78,80 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
825,641 |
|
Dec 1959 |
|
GB |
|
1,186,584 |
|
Apr 1970 |
|
GB |
|
192,694 |
|
Oct 1957 |
|
DT |
|
Primary Examiner: Gelak; Bernard A.
Assistant Examiner: Marquette; Darrell
Claims
Having thus described my invention in preferred embodiments, I
claim:
1. A ferrule for holding end loops in wire rope, comprising
a. a swageable sleeve of generally elliptical cross section having
on one end an opening dimensioned to pass a single course of rope
only and on the other end an opening dimensioned to pass two
courses of rope arranged side-by-side in end-loop-forming
relation,
b. the center portions of both openings lying substantially on the
longitudinal axis of the sleeve,
c. the two opposite side walls defining the thickness of the sleeve
being substantially flat,
d. a pair of central, longitudinally extending ribs on the inner
surfaces of the two opposite side walls defining the thickness of
the sleeve disposed on the longitudinal central plane of the sleeve
and terminating inwardly of the opening on said one end of the
sleeve and dividing the interior of the sleeve into two adjacent
longitudinal passageways each dimensioned to receive one of the
respective rope courses side-by-side within the sleeve,
e. the two opposite side walls defining the width of the sleeve
being outwardly bulged in the region adjacent the opening on said
one end of the sleeve, thereby providing inner pockets dimensioned
selectively to receive the dead course of rope in the region
adjacent the opening on said one end of the sleeve,
f. the opening on said one end being defined by the collar of
length predetermined to maintain the live course of the rope in a
substantially centered condition during use of the rope.
2. The ferrule of claim 1 wherein the two opposite side walls
defining the width of the sleeve are shaped inwardly to provide a
central area of restricted cross section dimensioned to receive the
courses of rope side-by-side in frictional engagement with the
inner walls of the sleeve, whereby to retain the ferrule thereon
preliminary to swaging.
3. The ferrule of claim 1 wherein the two opposite side walls
defining the width of the sleeve are outwardly flared in the region
adjacent the opening on said other end of the sleeve, thereby
providing a guiding area facilitating entry of the rope into the
ferrule.
4. A ferrule for end loops in wire rope, comprising:
a. a swageable sleeve of generally elliptical cross section having
on one end an opening dimensioned to pass a single course of rope
only and on the other end an opening dimensioned to pass two
courses of rope arranged side-by-side in end-loop-forming
relation,
b. the center portions of both openings lying substantially on the
longitudinal axis of the sleeve,
c. the two opposite side walls defining the thickness of the sleeve
being substantially flat,
d. a pair of central, longitudinally extending ribs on the inner
surfaces of the two opposite side walls defining the thickness of
the sleeve disposed on the longitudinal central plane of the sleeve
and terminating inwardly of the opening on said one end of the
sleeve and dividing the interior of the sleeve into two adjacent
longitudinal passageways each dimensioned to receive one of the
respective rope courses side-by-side within the sleeve,
e. the two opposite side walls defining the width of the sleeve
being bell-shaped in contour and providing
1. inner pockets dimensioned selectively to receive the dead course
of rope in the region adjacent the opening on said one end of the
sleeve,
2. a central area of restricted cross section dimensioned to
receive the courses of rope side-by-side in frictional engagement
with the inner walls of the sleeve, and
3. an outwardly flared area adjacent the opening on said, other end
to guide the rope courses as they are threaded through the
same,
f. the opening on said one end being defined by a collar of length
predetermined to maintain the live course of the rope in a
substantially centered condition with respect to the longitudinal
axis of the ferrule.
Description
This invention relates to ferrules for holding end loops in wire
ropes and cables.
End loops in wire ropes commonly are formed by passing one end of
the rope through a ferrule or sleeve. The section of the rope which
has been passed through the ferrule is reversely bent to form a
loop, and the dead end passed back into the ferrule in the opposite
direction. The ferrule then is swaged upon the two courses of rope
received in the ferrule.
In this procedure, it is difficult to thread a stiff and unyielding
wire rope through the ferrule openings. It also is difficult to
form the end loop in such a manner that during its use the pull is
distributed evenly on both sides. Still further, it is difficult to
interlock the contiguous courses of wire rope and ferrule to the
degree required for heavy duty use of the rope.
It is the general object of the present invention to provide a
ferrule which overcomes the foregoing problems in that it guides
the wire rope during threading, centers the rope with respect to
the ferrule, creates a strong interlock between the ferrule and
rope courses, prevents kinking of the rope, and provides equal
holding power on both sides.
In its broad aspect, the centered ferrule which accomplishes the
above purposes comprises a swageable sleeve of generally elliptical
cross section. The sleeve has on one end an opening dimensioned to
pass a single course of rope only and on the other end an opening
dimensioned to pass two courses of rope arranged side by side in
end-loop-forming relation. The center portions of both openings lie
substantially on the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.
The sleeve preferably is bell shaped in contour to form a dead end
recess on the end adjacent the smaller opening, a central are
frictionally gripping the rope courses, and a terminal are adjacent
the larger opening which serves a rope-guiding function.
The opening adjacent the smaller end is defined by a collar having
a length predetermined to maintain the live course of the rope in a
straight, substantially centered condition with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the ferrule. This prevents kinking of the rope
during swaging and insures even distribution of load during use of
the rope.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the herein described
centered ferrule;
FIG. 2 is a front end view of the ferrule;
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG.
1;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are longitudinal sections illustrating the ferrule in
its association with a wire rope threaded therethrough to form an
end loop; and
FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of a wire rope end loop including the
presently described centered ferrule after swaging.
As shown in the drawings, the ferrule of my invention comprises a
sleeve indicated generall at 10 and made of a swageable metal such
as steel. The sleeve is designed to receive a wire rope or cable 12
formed into a loop including a running course 12a and a standing
course 12b terminating in a dead end.
The ferrule is of a sufficient length to accommdate contiguous
courses of wire rope having a length sufficient to form an
interlock of the desired strength after swaging.
The ferrule is flat. It has a thickness "T," as defined by two of
its side walls 14 sufficient to accommodate a singel course only of
wire rope. It has a width "W," as determined by the other two of
its sidewalls 16, sufficient to accommodate two courses thereof,
i.e., the running course and standing course in contiguous
relationship to each other.
The ferrule is open at both of its ends. In one of its ends it has
an opening indicated generally at 18. This is of sufficient
diameter to accommodate a single course only of the wire rope. It
is defined by a collar 20 of sufficient length to center the live
course of the wire rope in the first instance and to maintain it
centered during swaging and use. The opening 22 at the other of its
ends is sufficiently large to accommodate two courses of the rope,
side by side.
Side walls 14 of the ferrule preferably are flat. However, side
walls 16 are arcuate and bell-shaped in outline to divide the
interior into three distinct regions. The region adjacent small
opening 18 is bulged outwardly to provide pockets 24, one on each
side. These are of sufficient size to permit insertion of the dead
end of the wire rope substantially into abutment with the end wall
of the ferrule. This insures the development of maximum strength in
the interlocked bond between the ferrule and wire rope. The
importance of this is illustrated by the fact that in logging
applications the ability to inset the dead end of the wire rope by
an additional distance of only 1/8 inch increases the holding
strength of the loop by 2,000 pounds or more.
The bell-shaped contour of the ferrule also creates a waist, or
restricted central area 26. This is sufficiently restricted to
create a friction fit between the wire rope and the inner walls of
the ferrule in this region. Such a condition is desirable since it
maintains the rope in proper position within the ferrule, as the
assembly is being inserted into the press preliminary to
swaging.
The third region is the enlarged terminal region 28 adjacent
opening 22. In this region there are present outwardly flared
interior surfaces which assist in guiding the wire rope into the
ferrule.
Further to assist in guiding the wire rope into the ferrule and to
maintain the courses in proper relation to each other preliminary
to swaging, there are provided a pair of central, longitudinally
extending interior ribs 30. These divide the interior of the
ferrule into two longitudinal passageways, each of which is
designed to receive one of the rope courses.
In the application of the ferrule, wire rope 12 is threaded through
small opening 18 and out through larger opening 22 on the other end
of the ferrule. It is then bent back into itself and the dead end
inserted into the ferrule as far as it will go, FIG. 4. As noted,
it can be inserted almost completely to the end of the ferrule
because of the clearance afforded by pockets 24.
During the threading operation section 28 of the ferrule assists in
guiding the rope, as do longitudinal ribs 30.
The assembly in its FIGS. 4 and 5 conditions next is inserted in
the swaging press. This is fitted with cylindrical dies which are
slightly undersized. It applies sufficient pressure to deform the
ferrule into a cylindrical contour matching the dies. This is
illustrated in FIG. 7. During the swaging operation, collar 20
serves the important function of maintaining wire rope 12 centered
with respect to the ferrule. In view of this fact, and in view of
the symmetry of the ferrule, tilting of the ferrule to one side or
the other is avoided. Also, during use of the rope in heavy duty
applications, the load is applied equally to both sides of the loop
thereby correspondingly enhancing its performance.
* * * * *