Patent ID: 12246372

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS.1to4show the tool (A) with a semicircular head (1) with three equidistant perimeter holes (2) and three tubular extensions on the same perimeter holes (3), a central hole in the tool when the semicircles join and form the circle (4), and the extension on the “clamp” type handles (5), joined by a bolt (6).

While inFIG.5, we see the “fixed wrench” type tool (B), with a full circle head (7) with a central hole (4) and six equidistant perimeter holes provided with tubular extensions (3), and a fixed handle (8).

The Proposed Tool

The tool (A) created by the inventors consists of two parts that together form a clamp with a very particular structure and design. Each part, symmetrical to the other, is made of steel with an open semicircular head (1) which extends into a handle (5). This flattened semicircular head has three equidistant holes (2) which each extend into a tubular housing (3) perpendicular to the semicircular plane, so that each semicircle has three holes with its three tubular extensions on the same side; the two parts of the clamp are joined by a bolt in a hole in the handles (6), forming a complete clamp that opens and closes by separating or joining the semicircular heads with their tubular extensions, and which, when kept closed, has a central circular opening (4). SeeFIGS.1to4.

The tubular extension in the perimeter holes has been proposed on one side only, i.e.: from the flat semicircular head with its three holes the tubular extensions emerge on one side only, leaving the other side of the semicircular head free and flat. In such a way that the complete and closed tool presents on one side six perimeter holes and a central one, and on the other side six perimeter hollow tubes and a central opening. The difference in the use of one side or the other will provide a utilitarian advantage as described below.

A different embodiment (B), based on the same functional principle, is also foreseen: transforming the “plier” style into the “fixed wrench” style, in such a way that the tool is made of steel, consisting of a flattened circular annular head (7), with a central hole (4) and six equidistant perimeter holes (2), from which circular annular body emerge perimetrically six tubular extensions (3) perpendicular to the circular annular body and as an extension of each perimetral hole (2) and, said flattened circular annular head (7) extends into a handle (8) of the same material and which allows its manipulation. SeeFIG.5.

Description of how to Use the Tool

First the operator attaches the end of the cable on which he will assemble the load assembly (chain sling and socket with wedges) preferably in a vise, leaving a sufficiently long section free to work on it.

He will pass the first link of the sling chain through the cable, and immediately afterwards pass the socket steel tube, after which he will separate the six strands slightly with ordinary pliers, leaving the ends of the strands sufficiently open to pass them through the holes (2) of the tool here shown, inserting each of the six strands into each of the holes in the circular perimeter of the tool head, and pass through the open space or central hole of the tool (4) the steel core of the cable; This allows the cable to be held in place and can be manually rotated to either side; the operator will turn it in the opposite direction to the winding of the cable, allowing the strands to be separated and the tool will allow him to maintain the strand separation stable and equidistant and even between each strand, so that the placement of the wedges is symmetrical and avoids the risk of inadequately arming the cable, having achieved the necessary free space between the strands, manually insert the new bronze wedges that will press the cable against the inner wall of the socket, and once the wedges are in place, turn the cable again in the direction of its winding to adjust it as far as possible, verifying that the wedges have been evenly placed and that the strands are pressed against the inner wall of the socket; the tails of the strands will always remain outside the socket, together with the tool, which can now be removed without effort.

When the tool is removed and the tips of the stranded strands are visible outside the socket, these tips will maintain a certain even separation between them due to the pressure exerted by the bronze wedges inside the socket against the walls of the socket, the assembly being restrained in such a way as to prevent the cable from slipping during loading operations.

A particular explanation deserves the way to insert the strands of the cable in the tool according to whether it is done from the mouth of the tubular extensions (3) or from the holes on the flat side of the tool (2), the choice will depend on the type of cable and if it is new and more flexible or used and hardened, therefore it has been proposed the tubular extension in the perimeter holes on one side of the tool, so that, for the new cable you can use the tool placing it with the tubes upwards and inserting the strands in the perimeter holes of the head base, since it will be easier to twist to open the strands due to the greater flexibility of the cable; while for the cable used it will be convenient to insert the strands through the holes of the tubes, being the tool with the tubes downwards, and this will allow a greater separation of the strands and an easier manipulation in the task of opening and closing them, the tubular extension that takes the strands lower down allows a better manipulation for the work to be done. The inventors have tried the construction of a tool with tubular extensions towards both sides finding that it did not bring any additional advantage, whereas this way of tubular extension towards only one side gives the advantage of the option of use from one side or the other as explained.

Thanks to this tool, the operator can keep the cable stable, separate the strands, to safely insert the bronze wedges and also push them calmly into place against the inner walls of the socket. Remember that this work, until now, has been done manually, requiring more than one assistant operator to try not to close the strands against the fingers of the operator who places the wedges, often using inadequate tools such as chisels or screwdrivers to insert between the strands, with risks of injuries and accidental jumping of said implements, to which is added the difficulty of having to return the cable to its original winding manually, all of which ends in unavoidable imperfections and subsequent new damages or risks of disassembly, all of which is alleviated thanks to the present invention.

Having described the nature of the proposed tool, its conformation, its variant and the way of use thereof, the following is claimed as of exclusive right of the inventors: