Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~N IMPROVED HOIS~ING C~BLE ~ITTING
This invention relates to a hoisting cable fitting, and
more particularly to a hoisting cable fitting especially useful with
a hoisting system o~ a raising and lowering device used to lower
lighting fixtures to the ground from the top of tall poles for the
purpose of maintaining the lighting fixtures.
With most lowering devices, a lighting fixture is connected
to a support ring suspended from at least two and usually three
separate cables. These three cables are attached to a hoisting
cable fitting which in turn is attached to a single cable leading to
a winching device. The hoisting cable fitting may incorporate a
number of features to insure the proper overall operation of the
lowerins device such as an electrical supply cord for supplying
electric power to the lighting fixture on the support ring, a
specific shape to insure that the cables, as well as the hoisting
cable fitting can pass up and down the center of the pole supporting
the lowering device, and provisions for mechanisms to pre~ent the
falling of the support ring should portions of the hoisting system
fail. The cables are us~ally attached to the hoisting cable fitting
by forming a loop at the end of the cable using commercially
available cable clamps and protective thimbles. ~hese loops are
attached to eyebolts which are either rigidly fixed to the hoisting
cable fitting or attached in conjunction with a swivel bearing or
compression spring to the hoisting cable fitting. Unfortunately, a
potential problem exists with such an attachment method inasmuch as
the cable loops may become twisted on the eyebolts so that they are
essentially attached to the bottom portion of the eyebolt instead of
to the top of the eyebolt. In such an instance, if the low~rlng
device is set up and adjusted with one or more of loops improperly
oriented, at a later time the cable loop may twist and fall into
it's proper position placing the lowering device out of adjustment
and possibly inoperable.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hoisting cable
fitting which does not use ayebolts in any form.
It is another object of the present in~ention to provid0 a
hoisting cable fitting ~hich provides attachment points for cable
loops but does not provide a surface on which the cable loops can
improperly catch or enga~e.
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Summary of the Invention
Accordingly, the present inventi~n provides a hoisting
cable fitting which does not use eyebolts in any form but instead
employs clevis-shaped piec0s which provide attachment points for
cable loops.
sr;ef Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hoisting cable fitting
employing three eyebolts for receiYing cable loops.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a hoisting cabls fitting
with ~hree clevis or V shaped pieces which provide attachment points
for cable loops.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a hoisting cable fitting
employin~ three U shaped members to pro~ide attachment points for
cable loops.
Detailed DescriPtion of the Inve tion
Referring now to the Drawings, in Fig. 1 there is shown a
hoisting cable fitting generally identi~ied by the re~erence numeral
10 having a U-Shaped bottom portion 12 extending downward from a
circular plate 14 for attachment to a single cable (not shown)
leading to a winching device (not shown).
As is conventional in the prior art, the hoisting cable 10 is
provided with three eyebolts 16, 18 and 20 extending through holes
in the circular plate 14 and rigidly attached thereto by nuts 22
engaging a threaded portion of the eyebolts 16, 18 and 20. Three
cables 21, 22 and 23 attached to a lightin~ fixture support ring
(not shown~ have loops 22, 24 and 26 formed at their ends for
attachment with the eyebolts 16, 18, and 20.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, a potential problem exists with
the use of these eyebolts when instead of the loop 26 sngaging th~
top of the eyebolt 20, the cable loop becomes twisted on the eyebolt
20 and engages the bottom portion of the eyebolt 20. If the
lowering device is set up and adjusted with the loop 26 engaging the
bottom portion of the eyebolt 20, it i5 possible that the loop 26
may later shift it's position and engage the top o~ the eyebolt 20
in which case the lowering device would be out of adjustment and
pos~ibly inoperable.
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In the present invention, a cable fitting device is
provided which does not use eyebolts in any form. Instead, as
illustrated in Fig. 2, clevice or V-shaped pieces provide engaging
points for the cable loops but do not provide a surface on which the
cable loops can be caught or improperly enga8ed.
In Fig. 2, three cable engaging points 40, 42 and 44 are
fabricated from a formed metal rod which is welded or otherwise
attached to the circular plate 14.
In Fig. 3, engaging points are provided by three U Bolts
52, Sb and 56 with their ends e~tending through holes in circular
plate 14 and rigidly attached thereto by the means of nuts 58 or
other such fasteners.
While the invention has been particularly shown and
described in reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art, that various chan~es of form
and detsils may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
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