# US 10,480,137 B2 · Flexible cable connecting structure and bridge structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,137 B2 - Document ID: US10480137B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/079,985 - Filed: 2017-02-24 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-09 - Assignees: Shenzhen Municipal Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Shenzhen Municipal Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Ruijuan Jiang; Yiyan Chen; Fang Yu; Qiming Wu; Jucan Dong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480137B2 ## CPC - E01D 19/16: Suspension cables; Cable clamps for suspension cables {; Pre- or post-stressed cables} - E01D 11/02: Suspension bridges - E01D 19/14: Towers; Anchors {; Connection of cables to bridge parts}; Saddle supports - E01D: CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES, {ELEVATED ROADWAYS} OR VIADUCTS; ASSEMBLY OF BRIDGES (bridges extending between terminal buildings and aircraft for embarking or disembarking passengers B64F1/305; {tracks for special kinds of railways E01B25/00; culverts E01F5/005}) ## Abstract A flexible cable connecting structure and a bridge structure. The connecting structure includes a flexible cable; the first portion connected to a top end and a second portion connected to a bottom end by using a spherical bearing pair. By using a hinge assembly and a spherical hinge assembly, a rotatable connection between the cable and a bridge structure is implemented to avoid force uniformity of steel wires inside the cable due to inclination, thus helps prolong the service life of the cable. The connecting ends of the cable are located in a lower part of an arch rib and an upper part of a bridge floor, respectively located within a line of sight range, making it convenient for maintenance. The cable can be prefabricated in a factory, which ensures construction quality and reduces time of site construction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible cable connecting structure, comprising: a flexible cable; a first connecting portion connected to a top end of the flexible cable; and a second connecting portion connected to a bottom end of the flexible cable, wherein: the cable is rotatably connected to the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, and is connected to at least one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion by using a spherical bearing pair; the first connecting portion comprises a hinge assembly rotating along one direction or a spherical hinge assembly rotating along multiple directions, and the second connecting portion comprises a spherical hinge assembly rotating along multiple directions; and the spherical hinge assembly comprises a spherical hinge cushion block and an anchoring beam, the anchoring beam is provided with a through hole, one end of the through hole comprises a taper hole, the other end of the through hole comprises a groove, the spherical hinge cushion block is provided with an arc-shaped protrusion matching a curvature diameter of the groove, an end part of the cable is inserted from the taper hole and is connected to the spherical hinge cushion block after passing through the through hole, and the protrusion is embedded into the groove to form the spherical bearing pair. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flexible cable connecting structure according to claim 1, comprising an anchoring nut, wherein an end part of the cable is provided with a screw anchor cup, the screw anchor cup passes through the spherical hinge cushion block, and the anchoring nut is in threaded connection with the screw anchor cup. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The flexible cable connecting structure according to claim 2, comprising a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is disposed between the anchoring nut and the spherical hinge cushion block. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flexible cable connecting structure according to claim 1, wherein the cable comprises a steel strand and a protective casing disposed outside the steel strand. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The flexible cable connecting structure according to claim 4, wherein a screw anchor cup is sleeved outside an end part of the cable, and an annular seal ring is disposed between the screw anchor cup and an outer wall of the protective casing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The flexible cable connecting structure according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion each comprise a connecting assembly, and the connecting assembly comprises a pre-embedded anchoring element, or the connecting assembly comprises a steel ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The flexible cable connecting structure according to claim 6, wherein the connecting assembly of the first connecting portion comprises the pre-embedded anchoring element, the connecting assembly of the second connecting portion comprises the steel ring and a hoop steel plate, and the steel ring is disposed at two ends of the hoop steel plate, and is coaxial with the hoop steel plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A bridge structure, comprising an arch rib and a beam, and further comprising the flexible cable connecting structure according to claim 7, a bottom end thereof is pre-embedded inside the beam by using the pre-embedded anchoring element, a top end thereof is sleeved on the arch rib by using the steel ring and the hoop steel plate, so that an anchoring end of the cable is within a visual range, and the steel ring and the arch rib are fixed as a whole by using several rivets.