Method of terminating a stranded synthetic filament cable
AssigneeBright Technologies, LLC
InventorsRichard V Campbell, David W. Hilbig, Kristopher L. Wortham, David E Sediles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for straightening, constraining, cutting and terminating a multi-stranded, non-parallel cable. The method includes: (1) dividing the cable into smaller components which are in the size range suitable for the prior art termination technology; (2) creating a termination on the end of each of the smaller components; (3) providing a collector which reassembles the individual terminations back into a single unit; and (4) maintaining alignment between the terminations and the smaller components while the terminations and the collector are in a connected state.
Claims22
A method for terminating a cable comprising:
- a. providing a cable having a central axis, said cable including a plurality of stands made of synthetic tension-carrying filaments;
- b. splaying said plurality of strands apart in order to gain access to an end on each strand of said plurality of strands;
- c. providing a plurality of anchors;
- d attaching each anchor of said plurality of anchors to a single strand of said plurality of strands, so that each one of said strands is connected to only one of said anchors;
- e. providing a collector, including
- i. an outer perimeter
- ii. said outer perimeter of said collector opening into a plurality of anchor receivers,
- iii. each of said anchor receivers including an aligned cable receiver;
- f. after the each anchor of said plurality of anchors has been attached to the each strand of said plurality of strands, attaching the each anchor of said plurality of anchors to said collector by moving the each anchor laterally inward through said outer perimeter of said collector and into one of said anchor receivers in said collector;
- g, providing an alignment fixture, said alignment fixture including an internal passage configured to surround said plurality of strands and guide each of said strands in said plurality of strands along a smoothly diverging path away from said central axis of said cable;
- h. attaching said alignment fixture to said collector;
- i. wherein said plurality of strands passes through said internal passage of said alignment fixture;
- j. wherein said alignment fixture is configured to be removable from said collector while said plurality of anchors remains attached to said collector;
- and
- k. providing an attachment feature on said collector.
A method for terminating a cable, comprising;
- a. providing a cable having a central axis, said cable including a plurality of strands made of synthetic tension-carrying filaments, said strands being grouped tightly around said central axis;
- b. providing a plurality of anchors;
- c. attaching said plurality of anchors to said plurality of strands, so that each one of said strands is connected to only one of said anchors;
- d. providing a collector, including
- i. an outer perimeter
- ii. Said outer perimeter of said collector opening into a plurality of anchor receivers;
- e. attaching said plurality of anchors to said collector by moving the each anchor laterally inward through said outer perimeter of said collector and into one of said anchor receivers in said collector;
- f. providing an alignment fixture, said alignment fixture including an internal passage configured to surround said plurality of strands and guide each strand of said plurality of strands along a smoothly diverging path wherein each strand of said plurality of strands diverges away from said central axis of said cable;
- g. attaching said alignment fixture to said collector;
- h. wherein said plurality of strands passes through said internal passage of said alignment fixture;
- and
- i. wherein said alignment fixture is configured to be removable from said collector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.