Adjustable length tensioning member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10479657-B2
Application number	US-201515122473-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2015
Priority date	Mar 3, 2014
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

An adjustable length tensioning member that comprises a rope, a first connector on the rope, a second connector on the rope, and a plurality of connection points between the first connector and the second connector is disclosed. The plurality of connection points have a diameter greater than a diameter of the rope. The rope may be passed through a socket coupled to a first crane component and one of the connectors on the rope is coupled to a second crane component. One of the plurality of connection points engages a seat on the socket to tension the rope between the socket and the connection point.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An adjustable length tensioning assembly comprising:
a rope connector comprising:
a rope having a first end, a second end, and a first diameter;
a first rope connector disposed at the first end of the rope, the first rope connector configured to connect to a first crane component;
a second rope connector disposed at the second end of the rope, wherein the second rope connector comprises a safety hook having a load capacity less than a load capacity of the first rope connector; and
a plurality of connection points disposed between the first rope connector and the second rope connector, the plurality of connection points having a second diameter greater than the first diameter; and

a socket comprising:
a first end having a socket connector configured to connect to a second crane component;
a second end having a recess housing a portion of the rope connector, the recess having a first portion having a third diameter greater than the second diameter and a second portion having a fourth diameter greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter, the transition from the first portion to the second portion forming a seat; and
an access slot extending laterally from a lateral side of the socket to the recess and axially the length of the recess, the access slot having a width greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter.

2. The adjustable length tensioning assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first rope connector comprises two parallel tabs secured to the first end of the rope, the parallel tabs having an aperture there through sized and shaped to receive a pin for connection to a crane component.

3. The adjustable length tensioning assembly of claim 1 , wherein the each of the plurality of connection points comprises a fitting secured to the rope.

4. The adjustable length tensioning assembly of claim 3 , wherein the fitting comprising a sleeve swaged over the rope.

5. The adjustable length tensioning assembly of claim 1 , wherein the socket further comprises an aperture disposed traverse to the recess, the aperture sized and shaped to receive a retaining pin for retaining a connection point of the rope connector in the recess.

6. The adjustable length tensioning assembly of claim 1 , wherein the socket connector comprises two legs having a socket connector aperture sized and shaped to receive a pin for a rotatable connection to a crane component.

7. The adjustable length tensioning assembly of claim 6 , wherein the socket further comprises a retaining aperture parallel to the socket connector aperture, the retaining aperture sized and shaped to receive a retaining pin configured to inhibit rotation of the socket.

8. An adjustable length tensioning assembly comprising:
a rope connector comprising:
a rope having a first end, a second end, and a first diameter;
a first rope connector disposed at the first end of the rope, the first rope connector configured to connect to a first crane component;
a second rope connector disposed at the second end of the rope; and
a plurality of connection points disposed between the first rope connector and the second rope connector, the plurality of connection points having a second diameter greater than the first diameter; and

a socket comprising:
a first end having a socket connector configured to connect to a second crane component;
a second end having a recess housing a portion of the rope connector, the recess having a first portion having a third diameter greater than the second diameter and a second portion having a fourth diameter greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter, the transition from the first portion to the second portion forming a seat;
an access slot extending laterally from a lateral side of the socket to the recess and axially the length of the recess, the access slot having a width greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter; and
an aperture disposed traverse to the recess, the aperture sized and shaped to receive a retaining pin for retaining a connection point of the rope connector in the recess.

9. An adjustable length tensioning assembly comprising:
a rope connector comprising:
a rope having a first end, a second end, and a first diameter;
a first rope connector disposed at the first end of the rope, the first rope connector configured to connect to a first crane component;
a second rope connector disposed at the second end of the rope; and
a plurality of connection points disposed between the first rope connector and the second rope connector, the plurality of connection points having a second diameter greater than the first diameter; and

a socket comprising:
a first end having a socket connector configured to connect to a second crane component, wherein the socket connector comprises two legs having a socket connector aperture sized and shaped to receive a pin for a rotatable connection to a crane component;
a second end having a recess housing a portion of the rope connector, the recess having a first portion having a third diameter greater than the second diameter and a second portion having a fourth diameter greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter, the transition from the first portion to the second portion forming a seat;
an access slot extending laterally from a lateral side of the socket to the recess and axially the length of the recess, the access slot having a width greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter; and
a retaining aperture parallel to the socket connector aperture, the retaining aperture sized and shaped to receive a retaining pin configured to inhibit rotation of the socket.

Assignees

• Manitowoc Crane Companies Llc

Inventors

• Moore Ian M
• Geiser Derrick L

Classifications

• B66C23/823

  Bracing equipment acting in vertical direction · CPC title

• B66C23/70 Primary

  constructed of sections adapted to be assembled to form jibs or various lengths · CPC title

• F16G11/12

  Connections or attachments, e.g. turnbuckles, adapted for straining of cables, ropes, or wire (straining wire in general B21F9/00) · CPC title

• F16G11/025

  Fastening means which engage a sleeve or the like fixed on the cable, e.g. caps (F16G11/143 and F16G11/146 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16G11/00

  Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes (attaching ropes or cables to lift cars or cages B66B7/08, to winch drums or barrels B66D1/34; ground anchors E02D5/00; anchoring devices for prestressed members E04C5/00; rope clamps in earth drilling E21B19/12) · CPC title