Abstract:
The problem of securing a connection in a mechanical structure. fluid line, or electrical line, that can not readily be secured by traditional lock-wiring techniques, is solved through a method and apparatus for securing a connection with a commonly available commercial lanyard and a lanyard retainer. The lanyard retainer has an elongated center section adapted for positioning the retainer adjacent the connection, and means at both ends of the retainer for engaging and retaining the lanyard.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for securing a connection in a mechanical structure, fluid line, or electrical line, and particularly to a method and apparatus for securing connections that cannot readily be secured by traditional lock-wiring techniques.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    It has long been the practice to provide a secondary means for securing connections in mechanical structures, fluid lines, or electrical lines, to preclude undesired or inadvertent separation of the connection during operation. Often this involves a process known as lock-wiring.  
           [0003]    For typical connections made with a connecting device having a rotating part, a length of lock-wire, passed through holes in a rotating part and secured to a non-rotating portion of the connecting device or a nearby stationary structure, is used to prevent the rotating part from loosening during operation in a way that would allow the connection to separate.  
           [0004]    In connections that have no rotating parts, connections are similarly lock-wired by feeding a length of lock-wire through holes in mating halves of the connecting device, and securing the mating halves to one another by twisting the free ends of the lock-wire together in a manner that prevents the mating parts from separating from one another.  
           [0005]    To ensure that the lock-wire is properly installed, and to allow a particular routing of lock-wire for a given connection to be standardized and inspected, the routing is generally recorded on process drawings, and lock-wire pliers are typically utilized for tightly twisting and positioning the lock-wire between the holes in the connecting device and any point of attachment to supporting structure. Some connections are so small, or inaccessible, however, that it is not possible to use traditional lock-wiring techniques as described above. For these connections, other securing methods and apparatus are required.  
           [0006]    It is an object of my invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for securing connections. It is also an object of my invention to provide a securing method and apparatus that does not require passing lock-wire through holes in connecting devices. It is a further object of my invention that the improved securing method and apparatus be applicable to a wide variety of connections, including those that do not have rotating parts. Another object of my invention is to provide a method and apparatus for securing a connection without using tools. It is also an object of my invention to provide an improved securing method and apparatus that can be readily duplicated and inspected on multiple connections to optimize manufacturing and quality control operations.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    My method and apparatus for securing a connection achieve the above objects through the use of a commonly available commercial lanyard, and a lanyard retainer. The lanyard retainer has an elongated center section adapted for positioning the retainer adjacent the connection, and means at both ends of the retainer for engaging and retaining the lanyard.  
           [0008]    In one form of my invention, a connection, formed by a first and a second connector half mating with one another along an axis of connection to join a first and a second line extending respectively from the first and second connector halves, is secured by positioning the lanyard retainer generally along the axis of connection with the first end of the retainer adjacent the first connector half and a second end of the retainer adjacent the second connector half. A first end of a lanyard is then passed about the first connector half, and/or the first line extending from the first connector half, to form a first loop in the lanyard which is secured to the first end of the retainer. The free end of the lanyard extending from the first loop is then routed at least partially along the axis of connection, and passed about the second connector half, and/or the second line extending from the second connector half, to form a second loop in the lanyard which is secured to the second end of the retainer. With the retainer securing the lanyard about the connection in this manner, the first and second connector halves are precluded from moving with respect to one another along the axis of connection, thereby securing the connection against separation.  
           [0009]    In a preferred form of my invention, the lanyard is a commercially available wire cable of small diameter having a metal block larger than the cable diameter welded, swaged, cast or otherwise permanently affixed to a first end of the lanyard. The retainer is formed from a length of wire having an elongated central section adapted for positioning the retainer adjacent a connection formed by a first and a second connector half mating with one another along an axis of connection, with a first end of the retainer adjacent the first coupling half and a second end of the retainer adjacent the second connector half.  
           [0010]    The first end of the retainer is formed into a helical spring with a central opening defining a first eye of the retainer. The first eye is sized to allow a free end of the lanyard extending from the metal block to pass through the first eye twice, to form a first loop in the lanyard. The first eye is too small to allow the metal block of the lanyard to pass through, however, so that the first loop in the lanyard can be tightened like a noose, around the first connector half, by pulling on the free end of the lanyard. The second end of the retainer is formed into a helical spring having closely spaced or abutting coils, adapted for gripping the lanyard between the coils. The closely spaced coils also form a central opening, defining a second eye of the retainer, for passage of the lanyard.  
           [0011]    To secure a connection, the retainer is positioned adjacent the connection. The lanyard is looped and tightened around the first end of the connector. The free end of the lanyard is then routed along the axis of connection, looped around the second end of the connection one or more times, and the free end is secured by passing it though the second eye and pulling it between the coils of the helical spring at the second end of the retainer to secure the lanyard and the connection.  
           [0012]    The specific routing of the lanyard for each type of connection can be varied for optimal installation and security. Once a preferred routing is established, it can be recorded in a series of photographs or process drawings, so that the routing can be duplicated and readily inspected for quality control when securing similar connections.  
           [0013]    Other forms, aspects and advantages of my invention will be apparent upon review of the following detailed description and attached drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 depicts a fluid connector secured with a securing device according to my invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 depicts an electrical connector secured with a securing device according to my invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 depicts a lanyard retainer of a securing device according to my invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial views of the lanyard retainer of FIG. 3, viewed as indicated by arrows  4  and  5  respectively in FIG. 3; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 6 a - n  depict a series of steps in a method of securing a connection using a securing device according to my invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 depicts a connection formed by a first and second connector half  12 ,  14  mating with one another along an axis of connection  16  to join a first and second fluid line  18 ,  20  extending respectively from the first and second connector halves  12 ,  14 . The connection  10  is secured with a securing device, generally designated  22 , comprising a lanyard  24 , and a lanyard retainer, generally designated  26 . The lanyard retainer  26  has an elongated central “leg” section  28  adapted to position the retainer  26  generally along the axis of connection  16 , with a first end  30  of the retainer  26  adjacent the first connector half  12 , and a second end  32  of the retainer  26  adjacent the second connector half  14 .  
         [0020]    As shown in FIGS.  3 - 5 , the lanyard retainer  26 , in the embodiment of my invention depicted in FIG. 1, is formed from a continuous length of resilient wire having a central linear section forming the elongated central body, or leg  28  of the retainer  26 , and defining a longitudinal axis  34  of the retainer  26 . The first and second ends  30 ,  32  of the retainer  26  are terminated in first and second helical springs  36 ,  38 .  
         [0021]    As shown in FIG. 4, the first helical spring  36  at the first end  30  of the retainer  28  provides a means for retaining one end of the lanyard  24  by having the coils  44  configured to define a first eye  40  adapted for receiving and retaining the first end of the lanyard  24 . The second helical spring  38  at the second end  32  of the retainer  26  has closely spaced coils  42   a - g  for gripping the lanyard  24  between adjacent coils.  
         [0022]    The first helical spring  36 , at the first end  30  of the retainer  26 , has a series of coils  44  wound at a first radius R 1  about a first winding axis  46  which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  34  of the retainer  26 . The first winding axis  46  is spaced a distance of R 1  from the leg  28  such that the linear section  28  joins smoothly with a first one of the coils  44  at the first end  30  of the linear section  28 , and such that the linear section  28  does not pass through the eye  40  of the coils  44  of the first helical spring  36  of the retainer  26 .  
         [0023]    As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the closely spaced coils  42   a - g  of the second helical spring  38  are wound at a second radius R 2  about a second winding axis  48  oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  34  of the retainer  26  and passing through the longitudinal axis  34 . In contrast to the first helical spring  36  as described above, the leg  28  of the retainer passes beneath the coils  42   a - g  at the second end  32  of the retainer to substantially bisect a second eye  50  formed by the coils  42   a - g  of the second helical spring  38 , and joins smoothly with the first coil  42   a  in a third radius R 3  which is smaller than the second radius R 2 .  
         [0024]    By virtue of this winding arrangement, the first coil  42   a  of the second spring  38  is really only a “half-coil.” When viewed from the bottom as shown in FIG. 5, therefore, both the first half coil  42   a , and a portion of the second coil  42   b  are visible on alternate sides of the leg  28 . With this arrangement, the free end of a lanyard  24  extending along and below the leg  28  as depicted in FIG. 5 can be easily pulled between the first coil  42   a  and the second coil  42   b , to secure the free end of the lanyard. The configuration of the first coil  42   a  and leg  28  of the retainer  26  thus act as a guide to facilitate pulling the lanyard  24  between the first and second coils  42   a ,  42   b.    
         [0025]    For reasons that will be evident from the discussion below, the radius R 1  of the coils  44  of the first helical spring  36  is smaller than the radius R 2  of the coils  42   a - g  of the second helical spring  38 .  
         [0026]    In the retainer  26  depicted in FIGS.  1 - 5 , the coils  44 , and  42  are wound in opposite directions about their respective winding axes  46 ,  48 , and the first and second winding axes  46 ,  48  are oriented substantially parallel to one another to facilitate winding of the helical springs  36 ,  38 . Other winding arrangements and orientations of the helical springs may be more or less advantageous in other forms of a lanyard retainer in accordance with my invention, and are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims. I also contemplate lanyard retainers in accordance with my invention in which the elongated central body may be neither linear nor substantially straight, and wherein the first end  30  of the retainer may be configured in some manner other than a helical spring  36 .  
         [0027]    As shown in FIG. 1, the lanyard  24  is a commercially available wired cable  52  of small diameter, having a metal block  54  larger than the diameter of the cable  52  welded, swaged, cast, or otherwise permanently affixed to a first end of the lanyard  24 . The Radius R 1  of the first helical spring  36  is sized to form an eye  40  which will allow the free end of the lanyard  24  extending from the metal block  54  to pass through the first eye  40  twice to form a first loop  56  in the lanyard  24 . The first winding radius R 1  is selected to form a first eye  40  which is too small, however, to allow the metal block  54  of the lanyard  24  to pass through the first eye  40 , so that the first loop  56  of the lanyard  24  can be tightened like a noose around the first connector half  12 , or around the first line  18 , by pulling on the free end of the lanyard  24 . After tightening the first loop  56 , the free end of the lanyard  24  is routed along the leg  28  of the lanyard retainer  26  passed and beneath the first coil  42   a  of the second helical spring  38  and secured between the first and second coils  42   a ,  42   b  of the spring  38 . The free end of the lanyard  24  is then passed one or more times above the second connector half  14 , and/or the second line  20  extending from the second connector half, to form a second loop  58 , and possibly a third loop  60 , in the lanyard, and the free end is secured by pulling it between and wrapping it around and between the coils  42   a - g  of the second end of the retainer  26 .  
         [0028]    The exact routing of the lanyard  24 , the number of times the lanyard  24  is wrapped about the second connector half  14 , and/or any intermediate connector parts, will vary depending upon the type of connection being secured. FIG. 2 for instance, illustrates an application of a retaining device  22 , as described above with relation to FIGS. 1 and 3- 5 , applied to an electrical connector  62 . As will be understood by comparing FIGS. 1 and 2, the particular manner in which a securing device  22  according to my invention is configured and applied to secure a given connection, will vary depending upon the configuration of the connection and its component parts. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, however, that a securing device according to my invention provides a convenient means and method for securing a connection without the use of tools, and provides a means and method of securing connection which may not be amenable to traditional lock-wiring techniques FIGS. 6 a - n  depict a series of steps which may be utilized for securing a connection of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. To facilitate clarity in the illustrations, the “connection” in FIGS. 6 a - n , is simulated by a cylinder  64  having a central section  66  depicting a connection extending between a first and a second annular groove  68 ,  70  respectively depicting a first and second line to be joined by the simulated connector  66 . This clarifies the illustrations by omitting non essential detail of the connecting elements.  
         [0029]    As shown in FIG. 1, the retainer  26  is positioned with the leg  28  extending along the central section  66 . The free end of the lanyard  24  is inserted downward through the first eye  40  of the retainer  26 , and then wrapped around the groove  68  and passed back up through the first eye  40  to form a first loop  56  of the securing device  22 . As shown in FIG. 6 b , the free end of the lanyard  24  is then pulled to seat the first loop  56  tightly in the annular groove  68 , removing all excess slack from the lanyard  24 . As shown in FIG. 6 c , the free end of the lanyard  24  is then extended along the leg  28  of the retainer  26  and under the first coil  42   a  of the second helical spring  38  of the retainer  26 . With a firm pull, the free end of the lanyard  24  will “snap-in” between the first and second coils  42   a ,  42   b  of the second helical spring  38 .  
         [0030]    Optionally, as shown in FIG. 6 d , an extra half-hitch  76  can be made around the connection (central section  66 ) to grip the central section and hold it against rotation. If this extra half-hitch  76  is used, it is made before extending and securing the free end of the lanyard  24  to the second helical spring  38 , as shown in FIG. 6 c . For clarity of illustration, this optional half-hitch  76  is not illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, or in FIGS. 6 a - c  and FIGS. 6 e - n.    
         [0031]    As illustrated in FIG. 6 e  the free end of the of the lanyard  24  is then wrapped twice in a clockwise direction around the connection within the second annular groove  70  to form a second loop  58  and a third loop  60 . At the completion of the second wrap of the free end of the lanyard  24 , the free end is positioned along the leg  28  at a point between the first and second helical springs  36 ,  38 , and just to the left of the second helical spring  38  as depicted in FIG. 6 e . As shown in FIG. 6 f , the free end of the cable is then continued across the leg  28  and fed under the second or third loop  58 ,  60 , on the backside of the cylinder  64 , and pulled firmly to remove all slack. By virtue of the construction of the retainer  26 , the free end of the lanyard  24  will engage both loops  56  and  60  and be pulled between the first and second coils  42   a ,  42   b  of the spring  38  to form a locking point.  
         [0032]    As shown in FIG. 6 g , the free end of the lanyard  24  is then looped in a clockwise direction around the outside of the second helical spring  38  and passed under the leg  28  between the leg  28  and the central section  66  of the cylinder  64 , and the free end is pulled to remove all slack from the lanyard  24 . The free end of the lanyard is then fed upward from the bottom of the second helical spring  38  through the second eye  50  as shown in FIG. 6 h . The free end of the lanyard  24  is pulled completely through the second eye  50 , as shown in FIG. 6 i  and inserted under the leg  28  from the far side of the cylinder  64  to form a loop  78  extending out  20  from the top of the second helical spring to the underside of the leg  28 . The free end of the lanyard  24  is then inserted between the second and third coils  42   b - c  of the second helical spring  38  as shown in FIG. 6 j , but the loop  78  thus formed is not pulled tight.  
         [0033]    As shown in FIG. 6 k , the free end of the lanyard  24  is then inserted through the loop  78  formed as shown in FIGS. 6 i  and  6   j  and above the leg  28 , and the free end of the lanyard  24  is pulled firmly to tighten the loops and remove all slack from the cable as shown in FIG. 6 l.    
         [0034]    At this point, the connection is fully secured, and any excess length of the lanyard  24  can be trimmed off. Alternatively, any excess length of the lanyard  24  may be woven around the retainer  26  and through the loops  56 ,  58 ,  60 , as shown in FIG. 6 m.    
         [0035]    In some applications, it may also be desirable to install an identification tag  72 , which can also be used to secure the free end of the lanyard  24 , as shown in FIG. 6 n . In such applications, it is not intended that the identification tag  72  function as a locking device.  
         [0036]    Although I have provided a number of exemplary embodiments in the preceding discussion, and accompanying drawings those having skill in the art will recognize that my invention may be practiced in many alternate forms within the scope of the appended claims. It is understood, therefore, that the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the specific embodiments described and depicted herein.