Wire pulling head apparatus with crimp zone indicators and method of using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11228162-B2
Application number	US-201916515975-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2019
Priority date	Feb 29, 2012
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

An enhanced apparatus and method for securing a wire to a pulling cable for pulling wire. Specifically, the pulling cable and wire are attached via a pulling head body. The wire is inserted into an end of the pulling head body and secured by crimping the pulling head body against the wire. Further, crimp zone indicators positioned on the outer surface of the pulling head body indicate the optimal zone of crimping to achieve substantial contact between the pulling head body and the wire. A pulling cable is secured to the pulling head body via a ball swage that comprises a tapped surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for attaching a pulling head body to a pulling cable and a wire, the method comprising:
inserting the pulling cable through a bore of the pulling head body;
attaching a ball swage to the end of the pulling cable inserted through the bore of the pulling head body;
inserting the wire to be pulled in the pulling head body; and
locating the crimp zone indices disposed on the pulling head body and crimping the pulling head body into gripping contact of the wire.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of inserting the wire to be pulled in the pulling head body comprises the step of inserting the wire to be pulled in the end of the pulling head body opposite the end of the ball swage.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of attaching a ball swage to the end of the pulling cable inserted through the bore of the pulling head body comprises the step of attaching a tapped ball swage.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of attaching a tapped ball swage comprises attaching a tapped ball swage wherein the tapped ball swage comprises a neck providing friction between the tapped ball swag and the pulling cable.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the tapped ball swage neck is a textured tapped ball swag neck.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the tapped ball swage neck is a striated tapped ball swag neck.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the tapped ball swage neck is a ridged tapped ball swag neck.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the tapped ball swage neck is a furrowed tapped ball swag neck.

9. The method of claim 4 , wherein the tapped ball swage neck prevents the detachment of the pulling wire from the tapped ball swage neck.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a pulling tension to the pulling cable after the ball swage is attached to the pulling cable.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein after applying a pulling tension to the pulling cable, the ball swage engages the pulling head body.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the ball swage engages a tapered surface of the pulling head body.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the ball swage comprises a neck.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the ball swage neck comprises a spiral groove tapped ball swage neck.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of attaching a ball swage to the end of the pulling cable inserted through the bore of the pulling head body comprises the step of crimping the ball swage onto the pulling cable.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of locating the crimp zone indices disposed on the pulling head body before crimping the pulling head body comprises visually locating the crimp zone indices.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of locating the crimp zone indices disposed on the pulling head body before crimping the pulling head body comprises texturally locating the crimp zone indices.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of locating the crimp zone indices disposed on the pulling head body before crimping the pulling head body comprises locating the crimp zone indices disposed 180 degrees apart on the pulling head body.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of crimping the pulling head body into gripping contact of the wire comprises the step of crimping the pulling head body into gripping contact of the wire with a hydraulic crimping device.

Assignees

• Encore Wire Corp

Inventors

• Bennett Mark D
• Bigbee Jr William T

Classifications

• H02G1/08

  through tubing or conduit, e.g. rod or draw wire for pushing or pulling {(inserting electrical cables into tubes using wallbores E21B17/206; for optical cables G02B6/4401)} · CPC title

• H02G1/081 Primary

  using pulling means at cable ends, e.g. pulling eyes or anchors · CPC title

• H02G3/00

  Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles (installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00) · CPC title