Clamping Device With Adjusting Ring

The present invention relates, generally, to clamping devices for cables, wires and the like. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved cable clamp of the rotary jaw type which may be adjusted to accomodate cables of varying diameters.

Rotary jaw clamping devices are well known in the art and have met with success as terminal connectors both in electrical and non-electrical applications. One problem encountered in the use of prior art devices is that a specific size clamp is required for each size cable or wire. Thus, where a cable is replaced with one of a different diameter, the clamp should also be changed. Similarly, where a number of different sized cables are employed in a given installation, a like number of different sized clamps should be employed.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an improved rotary jaw cable clamp which employs means for adjusting the cable-receiving and cable-clamping capability thereof to enable the use of the device with cables of varying diameters.

The novel features which are characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and attendant advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c are cross-sectional views taken along lines 1a-1a, 1b-1b, and 1c-1c, respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the open position, receiving a cable of relatively small diameter;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the open position, receiving a cable of relatively large diameter;

FIG. 3a is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the closed position, clamping securely a cable of relatively large diameter;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are cross-sectional views taken along lines 4a--4a and 4b--4b, respectively, of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 in the open position, receiving cables of relatively small and relatively large diameters, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 1, the improved cable clamp of the present invention is illustrated in exploded relation. The clamp includes a male member 10, a female member 12 and adjusting ring 14. The male member 10 has a generally cylindrical head 16 having a transverse, cable-receiving bore 17 and a mounting tail 18 which extends from the head 16. The female member 12 has a sleeve 20 and a mounting tail 22 extending therefrom. The sleeve 20 also has a cable-receiving bore 24.

The male and female members rotationally engage in a manner well known in the art to move between open and closed positions. In the open position the male and female bores, 17 and 24, are in substantially linear alignment to receive the cable. In the closed position the bores, 17 and 24, are offset from one another to effect clamping forces on the cable.

In accordance with the present invention, the clamping device is provided with means for adjusting the cable-receiving and cable-clamping capability thereof. Generally, the adjusting means includes a ring disposed between the male head 16 and the female sleeve 20. The ring may be positioned in a number of attitudes to adjust the size of the cable-receiving and cable-clamping bore of the clamp. In this way one clamp can be utilized with a variety of cables having different diameters.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the ring 14 has a cable-receiving bore 26 and at least one, and preferably two, axially extending ribs 28 which are adapted to engage the surface of the male head 16. The male head, in turn, has a plurality of axially extending grooves 30 which will mate with the ribs 28 of the ring 14, thereby preventing the rotational displacement of the ring when the clamping forces are developed through rotation of the female member 12.

The operation of this embodiment is clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 3a. In FIG. 2, the clamp is shown in the open position, receiving a cable C of relatively small diameter. In order to accomodate this small cable, the ring 14 is positioned at its extreme counter-clockwise position. In this position the forward edge 32 partially obstructs the forward opening of the male bore 17 and female bore 24. In addition, the ring bore 26 is positioned in only partial alignment with the rearward end of the male and female bores.

Similarly, in FIG. 3 the clamp is illustrated in the open position, receiving a cable C of relatively large diameter. Here the ring 14 has been moved to the extreme clockwise position such that the forward edge 32 thereof is displaced from the male head bore 17 and the ring bore 26 is fully aligned with the male head bore. In this position the maximum size cable may be utilized with the given clamp. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the number of axial grooves and ribs employed may be varied to meet the requirements of a specific application. Thus, while the present embodiment is shown with four grooves and two ribs for two ring positions, the invention is not intended to be so limited. Likewise, the size of the grooves 30 and ribs 28 have been somewhat exagerated for purposes of illustration, and they may be much smaller in actual practice.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention wherein a ring 34 may be mounted on the male head 16 in two different positions. In this embodiment the ring 34 occupies a greater portion of the circumference of the male head such that the ring bore passes through both sides thereof. In addition, the position of the ring 34 is changed by removing it from the male head and rotating it 180.degree. such that its longitudinal ends are reversed on the clamp.

As is clearly seen in FIGS. 4a and 4b the axis of symetry A about which the ring 34 is mounted on the head 16 is slightly different from the axis B of the bores 36 and 17 in the ring and male head, respectively. Thus, when the ring 14 is mounted in the first mounting position, illustrated in FIG. 6, the bores of the male and female members and the ring 34 all are in substantial alignment. In this position the clamp can receive and secure a relatively large diameter cable.

The ring 34 may be removed from the head 16, rotated 180.degree. and remounted on the head 16 in the second mounting position. In this position, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the bores 36 in the ring 34 are only in partial alignment with the male and female bores, 17 and 24, thereby adjusting the clamp to accomodate a somewhat smaller diameter cable.

The mounting of the ring 34 is accomplished by means of ribs 38 and grooves 40 and, of course, the ribs are positioned such that they will mate with the grooves 40 in either mounting position.

By using adjusting rings 34 having bores of different angular displacement, the male and female members of the same clamp can be used with a number of different sized cables.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the individual components of this improved clamping device may be cast or extruded and may be constructed from a variety of materials, including metals and plastics. The means for securing and rotating the clamp to the closed position may vary for different applications and the bolt 40 shown in the drawings is merely for purposes of illustration.

Similarly, other changes and modifications to the preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and without lessening its attendant advantages. All such changes and modifications are, therefore, intended to fall within the scope of the following claims.