Patent ID: 7231956

Claim:
A method for making a connection on a mining dragline comprising the steps of: a. providing a multistrand steel mining dragline of between 4 and 7 inches in diameter having a first end and a second end; b. inserting the first end into a mold, wherein the mold comprises a mold opening; c. placing a crucible with a crucible opening over the mold wherein the mold opening is in fluid communication with the crucible opening; d. placing a separator in the crucible over the crucible opening; e. adding an exothermic metallic material to the crucible; f. placing a baffle on top of the crucible; g. igniting the exothermic metallic material forming a molten material which liquefies the separator in the crucible; h. flowing the molten material into the mold around the first end forming a frustroconical termination capable of sustaining a higher break force than the wire rope; i. providing a socket, weighing between 1500 lbs. and 2800 lbs., having a slotted opening parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mining dragline, and having an open frustroconical portion; j. providing a pair of connector holes in the socket generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mining dragline; k. inserting the wire rope into the slotted opening from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mining dragline; l. abutting the frustroconical termination against the open frustroconical portion; and m. connecting at least one of the pair of connector holes to a drag chain connected to a mining excavation bucket.