Cable end loop anti-fouling system

A system to prevent fouling in rigging is provided that includes a first plate configured to be received on a first side of a thimble for a cable end, and a second plate configured to be received on a second side of the thimble. The first plate and second plate are configured to enable the thimble to receive a ring of a shackle assembly, but to block at least one end of the shackle assembly from entering an eye of the thimble while the first and second plates are on the first and second sides of the thimble.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates generally to rigging hardware, such as for lifting and towing, and more particularly, to an anti-fouling device placed on a thimble or a cable loop connected to a D-ring, shackle, clevis, or similar structure.

Generally, operators of boats, tractors, trucks, or other equipment often lift or tow large objects. The coupling between the vehicle and the object may be formed by a chain, a rope, a bar, a wire cable, or some other assembly for keeping the object connected to the vehicle while in motion. For example, in one exemplary towing operation, tractors may be coupled to one another to pull one machine away from or out of difficult terrain, such as in a field. The tractors often include a D-ring, shackle, clevis, or other device to facilitate coupling the chain/rope/bar/wire to the tractor. For example, a cable may include a loop at the end which extends around the d-ring/shackle/clevis. A thimble or U-shaped bolt is often installed inside the loop to reduce wear on the chain/rope/wire and to strengthen the connection.

Under certain conditions, such as turning on an uneven surface, the thimble or cable may twist to where an eye of the thimble or cable enters an end of the shackle or d-ring and bind to the end of a shackle or D-ring. For instance, on articulated agricultural tractors, turning while driving over a mound of soil can create slack in the cable. Once slack is created, the cable can twist around the D-ring. If the D-ring bolt is in contact with the thimble when the tractor straightens, the thimble and bolt can bind in a fouled position. This fouling can cause the towed object to be off center or angled, which may increase stress on the D-ring, the thimble, the cable, or a combination thereof. When this occurs, individuals who drive tractors may spend additional time to correct the binding, either with additional driving or physical removal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure block the thimble of a cable end from binding onto the end of a shackle or similar structure. In one embodiment, an anti-fouling system for a cable end includes a first plate configured to be received on a first side of a thimble of the cable end, wherein the first plate comprises at least one first fastener aperture and a first anti-fouling aperture, the first anti-fouling aperture is large enough to receive a shackle of a shackle assembly, but small enough to block at least part of a first end of the shackle assembly from entering an eye of the thimble, and a second plate configured to be received on a second side of the thimble, opposite the first side, wherein the second plate comprises at least one second fastener aperture and a second anti-fouling aperture, wherein the second anti-fouling aperture is large enough to receive the shackle, but small enough to prevent at least part of a second end of the shackle assembly from entering the eye of the thimble.

In another embodiments, a first plate configured to be received on a first side of a thimble for a cable end, and a second plate configured to be received on a second side of the thimble, opposite the first side, wherein the first plate and second plate are configured to enable the thimble to receive a ring of a shackle assembly, but to block at least one end of the shackle assembly from entering an eye of the thimble while the first and second plates are on the first and second sides of the thimble.

In yet another embodiment, an anti-fouling system includes a cable having an eye on at least one end, wherein the cable is configured to receive a ring of a shackle assembly through the eye, a thimble configured to partially surround the cable at the eye, and an anti-fouling device configured to be coupled to a mount, wherein the anti-fouling device is configured to be received through the eye of the cable, wherein the anti-fouling device is configured to secure the thimble in a centered position to substantially reduce or eliminate a possibility of the thimble from binding to at least part of a shackle assembly end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With the foregoing in mind,FIG. 1is a perspective view of an exemplary anti-fouling system10attached to a thimble12which is connected to a shackle14on a towing vehicle16, such as a tractor. As will be appreciated, the tractor is merely an example, and the present embodiments may be used with any type of towing or rigging which may benefit from an anti-fouling system10. The machinery may include the shackle assembly14, a clevis, a D-ring, or some other mechanism to couple objects for towing or lifting purposes.

FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of an anti-fouling system10that may be employed on a towing vehicle. The towing vehicle16includes the shackle assembly14for coupling the end of a rope, chain, cable, or bar. The shackle assembly14includes a shackle18fitted with a bolt20or a pin. The shackle18includes a ring22, and the shackle18may extend from a portion of the towing vehicle that articulates, or it may extend from a vehicle that does not articulate. The shackle18receives the bolt20through a first aperture24and a second aperture26to secure the shackle18to the towing vehicle16. The bolt20may engage an appropriately sized nut28after the bolt passes through the two apertures and a respective aperture of the vehicle. The bolt20is configured to receive a cotter pin30or any other device to block the bolt20from becoming dislodged from the ring22. As illustrated inFIG. 2, an end30of a rope32may be coupled to the clevis ring22. To reduce wear on a rope eye34at the end30of the rope32, the thimble12is installed to reinforce the loop. The thimble12at least partially surrounds the rope32at the rope eye34, such that the rope32is disposed between a first side36and a second side38of the thimble12. The rope32may also have a ferrule or other device for reinforcing the rope eye34.

It should be borne in mind that, while reference is made here to towing, and specifically to towing tractors and other vehicles, the disclosure is not limited to any such application, but may be related to a wide range of uses and systems, including those for towing, lifting, binding, and so forth. Similarly, while reference is made to “rope”, the devices described may be linked to cloth, fiber, and other ropes and lines, but also to wire ropes, cables, chains, rigid links, and so forth.

As discussed above, the anti-fouling system10is configured to block the thimble12from binding to an end of the shackle assembly14, thereby substantially reducing or eliminating the possibility of fouling. InFIG. 2, for instance, a first end40of the shackle assembly14includes a portion of the bolt20(e.g., head) and a portion of the shackle18forming the aperture24. A second end42of the shackle assembly14includes a portion of the bolt20, the nut28, and a portion of the shackle18forming the aperture26. InFIG. 2, for instance, the bolt20is inserted through the shackle ends40,42, each positioned proximate to a respective clevis aperture24,26. If slack is created in the rope32, the rope eye34can twist around the bolt20, the nut28, and/or the shackle end40,42. If the shackle end40,42is engaged with the thimble12when the towing vehicle16straightens, the thimble12and the shackle end40,42can bind in a fouled position. For example, the enlarged end of the ring22can enter into the eye34of the thimble12and cable loop. Thus, the illustrated embodiment includes an anti-fouling system having a first plate44, a second plate46, and fasteners48.

The first plate44is configured to be received on the first side36of the rope eye thimble12. The contour of the first plate44may be selected to match the shape of the thimble12. This contour enables the first plate44to engage the thimble12without blocking the thimble12from a typical range of motion. The first plate44includes fastener apertures50,52,54, a cleanout aperture56, and an anti-fouling aperture58. The fastener apertures50,52,54receive fasteners48, such as bolts or screws. The bolts48extend through the fastener apertures and are secured by nuts and washers60. One embodiment of the anti-fouling system10includes three fastener apertures50,52,54, as illustrated. One aperture50may be located near the base of the thimble eye34, while the two other fastener apertures52,54may be located toward the end of the rope eye in opposite sides of the anti-fouling aperture58. The positioning of the apertures may facilitate effective securing of the anti-fouling system10to the thimble12.

Debris may build up in between the first plate44and the second plate46. Thus, the first plate44may have a cleanout aperture56to facilitate debris removal. The first plate44may have an anti-fouling aperture58that is large enough to receive the ring22of the shackle18, but small enough to block a shackle end40,42(e.g., the bolt20and/or the part of the portion of the shackle18forming the aperture26) from passing into the eye34of the thimble12. As a result, the thimble12is blocked from binding to the shackle assembly14, thereby substantially reducing or eliminating the possibility of fouling.

The second plate46of the anti-fouling system10may be similar or substantially identical to the first plate44. The second plate46may have a similar or substantially identical contour matching the shape of the second side38of the thimble12. The second plate46may also contain similar or substantially identical fastener apertures50,52,54, cleanout apertures56, and/or anti-fouling apertures58to the first plate44. Employing substantially identical plates reduces the number of parts of the overall system. It should also be noted that an advantage of the systems disclosed herein is the ability to retrofit the anti-fouling hardware to existing rigging. Not all rigging requires such hardware, and kits may be created and sold or provided separately, when desired. Finally, in the first exemplary embodiment set forth above, the plates44,46conform to, but do not extend beyond the periphery of the cable or rope32in the loop. As a result, the plates44,46do not form an added impediment to movement of the cable and thimble12. In some embodiments, the plates44,46may have an outer contour that does not extend past the periphery of the thimble12. In general, the plates44,46, when fixed to the thimble12and loop, will come to bear tightly against side flanges62,64of the thimble12to block movement of the shackle or other connecting structure to the reduced area of the anti-fouling aperture.

FIG. 3is a side view of the embodiment of the anti-fouling system10ofFIGS. 1 and 2. Note that the anti-fouling aperture58of the first plate44of the anti-fouling system10is large enough for the shackle18of the shackle18to pass, but not large enough for the shackle40end to pass into the eye34. The first plate44, as depicted inFIG. 3, includes three fastener apertures50,52,54for three fasteners48. The first fastener aperture50is located near the base of the thimble eye. The other two fastener apertures52,54are located toward the end of the thimble eye34on opposite sides of the anti-fouling aperture58.

FIG. 4-8provide alternate embodiments of the anti-fouling system. In certain figures, it should be understood that the fasteners have been removed for purposes of clarity. In alternate embodiments, a single formed part may be used instead of two separate plates. The single formed part may be three sides. Similar to the first plate of the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, a first side (e.g., first plate) is configured to be received on a first side of the thimble. Similar to the second plate of the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, a second side (e.g., second plate) is configured to be received on the second side of the thimble. A third side (e.g., connector) is configured to be received across the thimble, bridging the first and second sides. The first and second sides may include fastener apertures, cleanout apertures, and anti-fouling apertures similar to the first and second plates of the embodiment shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 4is a perspective view of an embodiment of an anti-fouling system70without an anti-fouling aperture. The first side72and second side74form an opening75large enough for the shackle18(e.g., ring22) to pass into the eye34, but not large enough for the shackle end40to pass into the eye34. Additionally, a fastener extends through a fastener aperture76that is located outside of the thimble (i.e., outward from the periphery of the thimble). The position of the aperture76enhances stability of the anti-fouling system70. However, it should be appreciated that fastener apertures may be placed in any variety of locations to enhance stability of the anti-fouling system70. InFIG. 4, a third side78(e.g., connector) that couples the first side72(e.g., first plate) to the second side74(e.g., second plate) is configured to be received across the thimble12, thereby enclosing the rope on the side farthest from the clevis.

FIG. 5is a perspective view of an anti-fouling system80with a third side82(e.g., connector) configured to be received across the thimble12, thereby enclosing the rope on the side of the thimble near the shackle18.FIG. 6is a perspective view of an anti-fouling system90with an anti-fouling aperture92, that is larger than the aperture58ofFIG. 2. The aperture90blocks the shackle assembly end42(e.g., bolt end or shackle end forming the aperture for the bolt) from binding in the thimble eye34.FIG. 7is a perspective view of an anti-fouling system100with only two fastener apertures102. The third side104(e.g., connector) and two fasteners may provide sufficient stability, and the plates may substantially reduce or eliminate the possibility of fouling.FIG. 8is a perspective view of yet another alternate embodiment of the anti-fouling system110. The alternate embodiment has an anti-fouling aperture112similar to the anti-fouling aperture58of the embodiment shown inFIG. 1. A first fastener aperture114is located at the base of the thimble eye, a second fastener aperture116is positioned outside of the thimble eye, and a third fastener aperture118is located near the anti-fouling aperture112.

FIG. 9-10are perspective views of anti-fouling systems120that substantially reduce or eliminate the possibility of fouling. As shown inFIG. 9, a mount122(e.g., for a vehicle124) is configured to receive a shackle126. The shackle126is coupled to the thimble12(e.g., extends through the eye34) to secure the thimble12in a centered position. As shown inFIG. 10, a bolt132may couple a first cable128and second cable130to the mount122. The first and second cables128,130may run to opposite sides of an anti-fouling bolt132to secure the cables to the thimble12. The first and second cables128,130hold the thimble in a centered position. Such arrangements may be effective to reduce unwanted movement of the cable end and/or the connecting hardware so that fouling is substantially reduced or eliminated. The first and second cables128,130or the shackle126may be used, where desired, with thimble eye anti-fouling arrangements of the types described above or used alone.