Improved Clip or Gripping Apparatus for Wire Ropes or Cables.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb.,
1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Clip or Gripping Apparatus for Wire Ropes or Cables.
We, ORLANDO OLDHAM, of the Firm of Oldham and Son, Steel Coil Piston
Works, Denton, Engineer, and JAMES FORREST, of Clifton Engineer, both in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 improved apparatus for gripping wire ropes or cables
by which one or more trucks, wagons, or other vehicles may be connected to a
rope for haulage either on a track or suspended from said rope.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation and Fig. 2
an end elevation of our improved clip, Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same
clip with an automatic locking device, Figs. 4 to 9, represent modifications of our
said invention. In these several views shown similar letters refer to similar
parts.
For the purpose of this invention we cut or mould a spiral groove or grooves c in
either one or both of the jaws a and b that clip the rope so that the strands on the
rope can fit into said groove or grooves similar in action to the threads on a
bolt in those of a nut.
In order to cause the aforesaid jaws to grip the rope the link d is fitted firmly
on the ends of a spindle e which passes through the lower portions of both jaws.
With reference to Figs. and 2 the lower part of the jaw b slides vertically in
a box al formed on the lower part of the jaw a.
An elliptical opening j is formed in the lower part of the jaw bin which a
cam that is fitted on the spindle e is placed. In the application of our invention
the clip herein before described is put on the rope by placing the link d at an
angle so that the point f¹ of the cam f will be lowered and the space between the
jaws a and b increased; when the link d is attached to a truck or carriage the
weight or drag of said truck or carriage causes the link to return to a vertical
position and the point f¹ of the cam acting on the jaw b causes the rope to be
gripped between the jaws a and b, and is prevented slipping on the rope by the
strands of the rope fitting in the grooves in said jaws.
If greater security is required a locking clip is provided means of a box k
therein
formed on the face of the clip as in Fig. 3, with a spring catch
which engages with ratchet teeth formed on the edge of the shackle
of the link d. In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the
jaws a and b are caused to grip the rope by the shackles of the link d being
formed on their inner sides with inclined or wedge shaped surfaces which when
the link is vertical act on the inclined faces of the jaws, said jaws being hinged
at . In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 which are respectively a side
elevation and a longitudinal section on line A-B the grip is obtained by the
link when brought from an angular to a vertical position moving the taper
wedge m and the slide rack n which forms a part of said wedge by means of the
tongue that is fitted on the spindle e and works in the slot r the wedge being
retained in position by the spring catch q.

page_text: In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the grip is obtained by the jaws
being formed with inclined faces and hinged in the manner described in reference
to Figs. 4 and 5 but with one of said jaws having a semi-circular rack t formed on
or attached thereto.
The link dis bell cranked, the spring catch 9 passing through said link at the
bend which engages with the rack t the grip on the rope caused by the drag on
the link being thereby retained.
In the clip herein before described the gripping jaws a and b are either both
formed internally with a spiral groove or grooves or one of said gripping jaws
only is formed with a spiral groove or grooves internally and the opposing jaw
plain, and the spiral may be formed either in the gripping jaw or in dies fitted
therein.
We d not confine ourselves to the precise form of mechanism shown on the
drawings by which the drag or weight on the link causes the jaws to grip the
rope or cable as other modifications than those described may be employed without
departing from the nature of our invention, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is-
1. In clips or grips that are employed for connecting to or suspending from
wire ropes or cables either trucks, wagons or other vehicles for the purpose of
haulage, the employment of a spiral groove or grooves on the interior surface or
surfaces of one or both of the gripping jaws, or on a die or dies fitted therein, by
which the clip is prevented slipping on the rope in the manner substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2. In clips or grips that are employed for connecting to or suspending from wire
ropes or cables either trucks wagons or other vehicles for the purpose of haulage
the combination with the gripping jaws of a link that is connected with a cam
as shown in Fig. 1 or formed to act as a wedge as shown in Fig. 5, or equivalent
mechanism, which when the weight is attached to the free end of the link and the
link thereby brought from an angular to a vertical position causes the jaws to
grip the rope substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In clips or grips for wire ropes or cables the combination with the gripping
jaws of locking mechanism for holding the jaws when closed on the rope sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described.
4. A clip or grip for wire ropes or cables that is constructed in the manner and
for the purpose substantially as hereinbefore described.
11
T
1000
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicants, 4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.