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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9537293-B2
Application number	US-201213408586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 29, 2012
Priority date	Feb 29, 2012
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

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 pulling head body for pulling wire, the pulling head body comprising:
a first end and a second end;
a longitudinal bore extending from the first end, and the second end;
one or more crimp zone indicators, wherein the crimp zone indicators are positioned on an outer surface of the pulling head body;
wherein each of the one or more crimp zone indicators indicates an optimal position for crimping the pulling head body against a wire;
wherein a pulling cable is inserted into the first end of the pulling head body through the first end bore; and
wherein the pulling cable is secured to the pulling head body via a ball swage comprising a tapped ball swage neck.

2. The pulling head body of claim 1 , wherein the position of the one or more crimp zone indicators depends on the gauge of the wire.

3. The pulling head body of claim 1 , wherein the pulling head body comprises a first end bore and a second end bore.

4. The pulling head body of claim 3 , wherein the wire is inserted into the second end of the pulling head body through the second end bore.

5. The pulling head body of claim 3 , wherein the one or more crimp zone indicators indicate a position of a tapped surface within the second bore of the pulling head body.

6. The pulling head body of claim 1 , wherein a neck of the ball swage is crimped to the pulling cable.

7. The pulling head body of claim 1 , wherein the one or more crimp zone indicators indicate one or more approximately maximum points of contact between the pulling head body and the inserted wire.

8. The pulling head body of claim 1 , wherein the one or more crimp zone indicators are flush, etched, or raised with respect to the outer surface of the pulling head body.

9. The pulling head body of claim 1 , wherein the one or more crimp zone indicators are notches, grooves, depressions, striations, or ridges.

10. The pulling head body of claim 1 , wherein the one or more crimp zone indicators are positioned on one or more sides of the pulling head body.

Assignees

• Bennett Mark D
• Bigbee Jr William T
• Encore Wire Corp

Inventors

• Bennett Mark D
• Bigbee Jr William T

Classifications

• 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

• 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