Clamping members and clamping devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9534660-B2
Application number	US-201113820767-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2011
Priority date	Sep 14, 2010
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A clamping arrangement which includes an elongate member having a plurality of strands wound around one another in a plurality of turns of each strand. The clamping arrangement further includes a clamping device which includes a clamping member for clamping the elongate member. The clamping member has an engaging means for engaging the elongate member. The engaging means is configured to engage half or more of the total number of strands forming the elongate member. The clamping device further includes a fixed reaction member, and urging means to urge the clamping member towards the reaction member. When the elongate member is received between the clamping member and the reaction member, the reaction member provides a reaction against the elongate member to clamp the elongate member in the clamping device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A clamping arrangement comprising:
an elongate member having a plurality of strands wound around one another in a plurality of turns of each of said strands, wherein each of said strands has a pitch, which is the same as the pitch of each other of said strands;
a clamping device comprising a clamping member for clamping the elongate member, the clamping member having an engaging surface with gripping formations for engaging the elongate member, wherein the clamping member comprises a front region and a rear region, the front region leading the rear region when the clamping member is urged into engagement with the elongate member;
the clamping member further including a preliminary engaging projection at the rear region to initially engage the elongate member;
the clamping device further comprising a reaction member comprising a first wall, and a reaction element comprising a second wall, the first and second walls being arranged opposite each other to define a passage for the clamping member, and the clamping device further comprising urging means to urge the clamping member along the passage towards the reaction member;
wherein the first wall is smoother than the engaging surface;
wherein, when the elongate member is received between the clamping member and the first wall, the first wall engages the elongate member and provides a reaction against the elongate member, and the second wall urges the clamping member onto the elongate member, so that a clamping force is applied on the elongate member;
and wherein the engaging surface is configured to engage half or more of the total number of strands forming the elongate member, and the engaging surface has a length which is equal to 67% or more of the pitch of said strands.

2. A clamping arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the engaging surface is configured to engage two thirds or more of the total number of strands forming the elongate member.

3. A clamping arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the engaging surface is configured to engage three quarters or more of the total number of strands forming the elongate member.

4. A clamping arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the engaging surface is substantially equal to 75% or more of the pitch of said strands.

5. A clamping arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the engaging surface is substantially equal to 100% or more of the pitch of said strands.

6. A clamping arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the clamping member is in the form of an elongate wedge, and the front region is thinner than the rear region.

7. A clamping arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein the front region of the clamping member is convexly curved to facilitate engagement of the engaging surface with the elongate member, said curvature extending from the front region to the engaging surface.

8. A clamping arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the curvature of the front region extends between approximately one quarter and approximately one third of the length of the clamping member.

9. A clamping arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the preliminary engaging projection comprises a tooth on the engaging surface.

10. A clamping arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the clamping member comprises a plurality of the aforesaid preliminary engaging projections, each preliminary engaging projection comprising a respective tooth.

11. A clamping arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the engaging surface has an engaging length which is between approximately three fifths and approximately three quarters of the length of the clamping member.

12. A clamping arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the clamping member is movable between a clamping position and a release position, the engaging surface being configured to grip the elongate member when the clamping member is in the clamping position, and the reaction member being configured to allow adjustment of the position of the elongate member relative thereto when the clamping member is in the release position.

13. A clamping arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the clamping device comprises a housing defining the passage, the clamping member being arranged in the housing, and each wall being part of the housing.

14. A clamping arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the first wall is fixed relative to the housing to provide the reaction against the elongate member received in the passage when the clamping member is urged along the passage to clamp the elongate member, and wherein the first and second walls are arranged opposite one another and angled towards one another.

15. A clamping arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the clamping device defines a pair of the passages and a pair of the clamping members, each clamping member being associated with a respective one of the passages, and the clamping device further comprising a pair of urging means, each of which is arranged to urge a respective one of the clamping members towards the passage with which it is associated.

16. A clamping arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein the clamping device comprises a single reaction member associated with both passages, the reaction member having two surfaces, and each surface providing a reaction against a respective elongate member in each passage.

17. A clamping arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein the clamping device comprises two of the aforesaid reaction members, each being associated with a respective one of the passages.

Assignees

• Ferreira Andre
• Gripple Ltd

Inventors

• Ferreira Andre

Classifications

• F16G11/04 Primary

  with wedging action, e.g. friction clamps (F16G11/02, {F16G11/10} take precedence; {eyes for grommet-thimble type fastenings F16G11/146}) · CPC title

• Y10T24/3978

  Screw actuated · CPC title

• Y10T24/396

  Screw clamp with snubber · CPC title

• F16G11/106 Primary

  using a toothed surface · CPC title

• F16G11/10 Primary

  Quick-acting fastenings; Clamps holding in one direction only · CPC title