Method and device for holding and releasing a cable in a pipe splitter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10378688-B2
Application number	US-201715599925-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2017
Priority date	Jan 12, 2009
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

A cable retention and release mechanism includes a cable gripping device including a cable passage. A cable extends through the cable passage. A cable gripping device collar is movably coupled around the cable gripping device. An outer cable gripping device surface is seated against a cable gripping device receiving inner surface preventing movement of the cable gripping device relative to the cable gripping device collar. The cable gripping device receiving inner surface clamps the cable gripping device on the cable and prevents sliding movement of the cable. A jack is movably coupled with the cable gripping device collar. In a first engaged position the jack is engaged against the cable gripping device proximal end. In a second engaged position the jack unseats the outer cable gripping device surface from the cable gripping device receiving inner surface and releases the clamping of the cable.

First claim

I claim:

1. A pipe splitting assembly, comprising:
a gripping device collar;
one or more tapered cable gripping pieces mating with a tapered inner surface of the gripping device collar;
a pipe splitter having a passage to receive a cable, wherein the pipe splitter abuts the gripping device collar when in use; and
an expander coupled behind the gripping device collar, wherein the expander is flexibly coupled to the gripping device collar.

2. The pipe splitting assembly of claim 1 , further including a threaded jack configured to apply a force to the one or more tapered cable gripping pieces.

3. The pipe splitting assembly of claim 2 , wherein the threaded jack includes flats to accept a wrench.

4. The pipe splitting assembly of claim 3 , wherein the gripping device collar includes flats to accept a wrench.

5. The pipe splitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pipe splitter includes a pair of blades.

6. A pipe splitting assembly, comprising:
a leading pipe splitter, including:
a first gripping device body;
one or more first tapered cable gripping pieces mating with a tapered inner surface of the first gripping device body;
a trailing pipe expander, flexibly coupled to, and spaced apart from the leading pipe splitter, including:
a second gripping device body; and
one or more second tapered cable gripping pieces mating with a tapered inner surface of the second gripping device body.

7. The pipe splitting assembly of claim 6 , further including a pipe puller coupled behind the trailing pipe expander.

8. The pipe splitting assembly of claim 6 , further including a threaded jack configured to apply a force to the one or more first tapered cable gripping pieces.

9. The pipe splitting assembly of claim 6 , further including a threaded jack configured to apply a force to the one or more second tapered cable gripping pieces.

Assignees

• Tt Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Tjader Michael

Classifications

• F16L1/06

  Accessories therefor, e.g. anchors · CPC title

• Y10T24/3978

  Screw actuated · CPC title

• F16G11/048

  by moving a surface into the cable · CPC title

• E21B7/30

  without earth removal · CPC title

• Y10T403/16

  with adjunctive protector, broken parts retainer, repair, assembly or disassembly feature · CPC title