Improvements in Caps or Couplings for Ropes or Cables.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1892-Accepted, 13th Aug. 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Caps or Couplings for Ropes or Cables.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by George Frank Elliott First Lieutenant of the
United States Marines at present stationed at Brooklyn Navy Yard in the State
of New York, in the United States of America) and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to a cap or coupling to be attached to the end of a wire
rope or cable.
The improved cap or coupling is constructed with a ferrule made in two parts
each of its parts being provided with an interior surface formed to match the
conformation of the strands of the rope or cable, and having at, or near, each of
the edges af interior longitudinal recess which bounds the matching surface.
Each of the two parts is preferably semi-circular in cross section and each of the
grooved surfaces which match the cable is less than a semi-circle, the longitudinal
recesses at the edges of the grooved surfaces occupying the remainder of the semi-
circles. When the two semi-circular parts of the ferrule are applied to the cable,
and are pressed or drawn together so that their edges abut or meet, the grooved
surfaces of the said parts fit upon the strands of the cable opposite which they
come, while the cable itself is, by the compression, a little flattened and a portion
of it on each side is forced into and enters or fills the longitudinal recesses which
bound the grooved surfaces.
A cap of this kind will hold the end of a cable with the utmost tightness so that
it can neither be pulled out from, nor be turned in the ferrule. The longitudinal
recesses above referred to on each edge of the grooved surfaces, are important
agents in assuring this result: as they permit of the compression of the cable from
the circular to an elliptical or slightly flattened form, and they provide clearance
spaces or pockets into which the cable when thus compressed can expand or spread
laterally. Moreover they permit the two semi-circular parts of the ferrule to be
readily formed either by casting or by drop forging.
A cap with a ferrule presenting two semi-circular parts having corresponding
grooves to fit the end of the cable strands to which the cap is applied, has long
been a desideratum but heretofore it has been impracticable to obtain such a cap,
inasmuch as in forming the semi-circular mould, the latter would be broken in the
attempt to lift the pattern therefrom. But by making the grooved surface less
than a semi-circle in extent; and by providing the longitudinal recesses along its
edges, this difficulty is entirely obviated. The two parts of the ferrule can be cast
without difficulty and they can also be produced with equal ease by drop
forging.
Although the two parts of the ferrule may each be less than a full semi-circle,
yet it is preferred to make them each a semi-circle, or at any rate so nearly a
semi-circle that when closed and properly compressed upon the end of the cable
their applied edges will meet or nearly meet so that that portion of the cable which
is gripped or fixed in the ferrule is protected from water, grease or acid. The end
of the cable should be covered with red lead before being gripped, and when the
two parts of the ferrule are closed upon the end of the cable thus prepared, all the
joints practically will be sealed. Another advantage of this construction is that it
is easier to insure correspondence of the external screw threads cut or formed
upon each part of the ferrule with the nuts by which the parts are drawn
together.

page_text: In the accompanying drawing-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete cap or coupling adjusted upon a
cable, and provided with a link or other usual connection.
Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 Figure 1-that is to say in the plane of
the joint between the two parts of the ferrule. From this figure the cable and
link are omitted.
Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a cross section similar to Figure 3, but representing the parts as they
appear after the parts of the ferrule have been placed and adjusted upon the cable,
but before they have been drawn together by the clamping or binding nuts.
Figure 5 is a view of a modified form of cap or coupling.
The two parts or sections A, B, of the ferrule may be formed by casting, or by
drop forging, as above stated. Each part is a counterpart of the other so that a
description of one will answer for both.
Each section of the ferrule is preferably of the form of a semi-circle or there-
abouts in cross section. A portion as shewn of its inner surface mid-way between
its two longitudinal edges is cast or otherwise formed with grooves which match
and fit upon the strands of the cable X,-this surface being represented at a; and
beyond this surface at each edge a longitudinal recess is formed in the inner
surface of the section to bound the surface a. The edges or shoulders of these
recesses next to the surface a are preferably rounded as seen at b—to avoid sharp
edges biting upon the cable, and preventing it from spreading freely laterally into
the recesses when the two sections are drawn together.
The two parts or sections of the ferrule when adjusted upon the cable are drawn
together by tapering nuts N; and they are accordingly provided with a tapering
screw threaded exterior s for the reception of these nuts.
In the preferred form of this invention the extreme rear end or base c of each
section is formed with a flat face which when the ferrule is adjusted on the cable,
meets or abuts against the corresponding flat face of the base c of the other section
the two being held solidly together by a bolt and nut d, e; and between this
portion of the ferrule and the adjoining nut N, the two sections are so formed that
when they are put together an eye will be provided for containing the link L or
a ring, hook or other device for coupling the cap with any part to which it is to be
connected.
In lieu of this construction however, the rear ends of the two sections may each
be formed with an eye g, as shewn in Figure 5. These eyes coincide or register
when the two parts of the cap are put together. And through the compound eye
thus formed the link hook or other coupling device can be passed.
In the cap shewn in Figure 5 the tapered exterior of the jaws or sections is
without a screw thread and the parts are held together by two or more taper
rings which are forced tightly on the ferrule; or in lieu of separate rings a
continuous tapering sleeve may be employed. The rings or sleeve can be put on
hot (a good black heat is suitable for the purpose). In this condition they adjust
themselves better to the ferrule, and in cooling they shrink so as to hold tightly in
place.
At the rear end of the opening in the two part ferrule which receives the cable is
an annular chamber h which is slightly larger--say 16 inch larger-in diameter
than the said opening. If a wire rope be not served at the end its strands will
unlay or fly apart for a foot or two and the end can never be exactly relaid or
brought to its original form. The serving which binds the end, and which usually
consists of wire or strong thread is therefore practically indispensable. As this
serving increases the thickness of the extreme end of the cable, it becomes necessary
to provide for its accommodation, and for this purpose the chamber his intended.
The two parts of the ferrule are of such dimensions and proportions that when
adjusted and fitted upon the end of the cable and before being clamped home
thereon, their adjoining edges will be about of an inch apart. The parts in this
position are shewn in Figure 4. Then by screwing the nuts home the two parts

page_text: will be drawn gradually together until their edges meet and by this operation. the
cable will by compression be changed from circular to elliptical or slightly flattened
form and will be caused to spread laterally into the recesses b as represented in
Figure 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim. is :-
1. A two part cable cap, having its two parts or sections formed each with a
grasping surface to fit upon the part of the cable with which it is brought into
contact, and a longitudinal recess along each outer edge of said grasping surface,
substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. The two part cable cap consisting of the two semi-circular or nearly semi-
circular sections A, B, provided each with an interior grasping surface a bounded
by longitudinal recesses b external tapering screw threads s to receive tapering
binding nuts N, and having bases c with flat abutting faces held together by a bolt
and nut or the like, and formed so that when put together they will provide an
eye f, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
с
3. A two part cable cap the sections of which are each provided along each edge
with an internal recess ō which bounds the grasping surface of the section, substan-
tially as hereinbefore set forth.
4. A two part cable cap provided with grasping surfaces to fit upon the part of
the cable with which they are brought in contact, and with a rear enlargement or
chamber to receive the served end of the cable, substantially as set forth.
5. A two part cable cap having sections each provided along each edge with an
internal recess which bounds the grasping surface of the sections, and having the
rear enlargement or chamber h for receiving the served end of the cable, substan-
tially as set forth.
1000
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.