Patent ID: 10953518

Abstract:
An elongated cam pin for use in a clamping assembly, the pin comprising a first half-round portion and a second half-round portion laterally offset from the first half-round portion, wherein the centers of the first and second half-round portions are spaced-apart a distance S along a diametral center line of the pin, wherein each of the half-round portions has a radius R and a diameter D equal to 2R, and wherein the ratio D/S is between approximately 2 and approximately 3. In one embodiment the ratio D/S is approximately 2.3. In some embodiments rotation of the cam pin within the clamping assembly is actuated by a shaft having a relatively short stroke length. In some embodiments the cam pin is rotatable within the clamping assembly through an arc of up to approximately 40°. In some embodiments the actuating shaft is movable within the housing of a compact locking apparatus to cause the clamping assembly to releasably engage a restraint cable in a self-gripping fashion. In some embodiments the locking apparatus may be used in a locking system designed to safely lock a suspended load at a desired location relative to the cable. In some embodiments the cable is at least one inch in diameter and the diameter D of each of the half-round pins is approximately 1.75 times the diameter of the cable. In some embodiments the suspended load may comprise a bin floor and any supported lumber travelling between loading and discharge positions in a lumber sorting apparatus.