Barrier cable coupler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11208808-B2
Application number	US-202016834796-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2020
Priority date	Oct 4, 2016
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

A barrier cable coupler for coupling two lengths of barrier cable comprises a coupler body including a threaded inner surface, a first end, and a second end; a fixed retaining collar having an outer surface and being retained to the first end of the coupler body, the fixed retaining collar including a tapered inner surface; one or more fixed end wedges positioned within the tapered inner surface of the fixed retaining collar; a tensioning retaining collar having an outer surface, the tensioning retaining collar positioned at least partially within the second end of the coupler body and including a tapered inner surface; one or more tensioning end wedges positioned within the tapered inner surface of the tensioning retaining collar; and a tensioning nut including a threaded outer surface engaging the threaded inner surface of the second end of the coupler body and retaining the tensioning retaining collar therein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A barrier cable coupler for coupling two lengths of barrier cable comprising:
a coupler body, the coupler body including a threaded inner surface, the coupler body having a first end and a second end;
a fixed retaining collar, the fixed retaining collar having an outer surface, the fixed retaining collar retained to the first end of the coupler body, the fixed retaining collar including a tapered inner surface;
one or more fixed end wedges positioned within the tapered inner surface of the fixed retaining collar;
a tensioning retaining collar, the tensioning retaining collar having an outer surface, the tensioning retaining collar positioned at least partially within the second end of the coupler body, the tensioning retaining collar including a tapered inner surface;
one or more tensioning end wedges positioned within the tapered inner surface of the tensioning retaining collar; and
a tensioning nut, the tensioning nut including a threaded outer surface engaging the threaded inner surface of the second end of the coupler body and retaining the tensioning retaining collar therein wherein the tensioning nut is adapted to be completely received in the coupler body and adapted to be advanced into the coupler body using a tensioning wrench that extends into the coupler body.

2. The barrier cable coupler of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the fixed retaining collar is threaded and engages the threaded inner surface of the coupler body.

3. The barrier cable coupler of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second coupler body ends further comprises:
an end spring cap retained within the coupler body; and
an end spring in compression between the end spring cap and the one or more fixed end wedges.

4. The barrier cable coupler of claim 3 wherein the end spring cap further comprises a threading fastener.

5. The barrier cable coupler of claim 3 wherein the end spring cap is not threaded and engages the inner surface of the coupler body by friction.

6. The barrier cable coupler of claim 1 wherein the barrier cable coupler further including a means for preventing rotation of the fixed retaining collar relative to the coupler body wherein the means for preventing rotation is a lock nut.

7. The barrier cable coupler of claim 1 wherein the coupler body has an outer surface and a cross-section that is square, hexagonal, partially square, or partially hexagonal.

8. The barrier cable coupler of claim 7 wherein the outer surface includes one or more outer surface gripping features.

9. The barrier cable coupler of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the tensioning retaining collar is not threaded.

10. The barrier cable coupler of claim 1 wherein the tensioning nut includes a driving head.

11. A method of forming a barrier cable assembly comprising:
a) providing a first barrier cable length and a second barrier cable length, each cable length having an end;
b) providing a barrier cable coupler comprising:
1) a coupler body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end;
2) a fixed retaining collar, the fixed retaining collar having an outer surface, the fixed retaining collar retained to the first end of the coupler body, the fixed retaining collar including a tapered inner surface;
3) one or more fixed end wedges positioned within the tapered inner surface of the fixed retaining collar;
4) a tensioning retaining collar, the tensioning retaining collar having an outer surface, the tensioning retaining collar positioned at least partially within the second end of the coupler body, the tensioning retaining collar including a tapered inner surface;
5) one or more tensioning end wedges positioned within the tapered inner surface of the tensioning retaining collar;
6) a tensioning nut, the tensioning nut including a threaded outer surface engaging the threaded inner surface of the second end of the coupler body and retaining the tensioning retaining collar therein;

c) inserting the end of the first length of barrier cable into the first end of the coupler body such that the end of the first length of the barrier cable enters the fixed retaining collar and engages the one or more fixed end wedges;
d) inserting the end of the second length of barrier cable into the second end of the coupler body such that the end of the second length of the barrier cable enters the tensioning retaining collar through the tensioning end nut and engages the one or more tensioning end wedges; and
e) advancing the tensioning end nut into the coupler body by rotating the tensioning end nut using a tensioning wrench that extends into the coupler body.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein step e) applies tension to at least one of the lengths of barrier cable.

13. The method of claim 11 , further including a step of preventing rotation of the fixed retaining collar relative to the coupler body by at least partially threading the fixed retaining collar into the coupler body and securing a jam nut to the fixed retaining collar.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the tensioning retaining collar has an outer surface that is not threaded and step e) includes sliding the tensioning retaining collar into the coupler body.

Assignees

• Sorkin Felix

Inventors

• Sorkin Felix

Classifications

• E01F15/06 Primary

  essentially made of cables, nettings or the like (E01F15/10, E01F15/12 take precedence; protection against falling rocks E01F7/04; arresting gear for aircraft B64F1/02) · CPC title

• E04H17/24

  Connections for attaching additional wire to frames, posts or railings · 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

• E04C5/125 Primary

  the tensile members are profiled to ensure the anchorage, e.g. when provided with screw-thread, bulges, corrugations · CPC title

• E04B1/4114

  Elements with sockets (E04B1/4107 takes precedence) · CPC title